The Community Table: Effective Fundraising through Events

by Susan Cole Urano

Overview

In resource-challenged Athens County, Ohio, staff and volunteers at the nonprofit Athens County Foundation came up with a daring idea: to host a locally sourced, gourmet dinner for four hundred people. The meal would be held on the brick-paved main street of the city of Athens, to raise funds for the food bank, and increase awareness of the persistent local struggle with food insecurity, as well as raise the visibility of the foundation. The logistical challenges were daunting, but the plan would unite the community around the common theme of providing for its own.

Since then, Bounty on the Bricks has become a touchstone event that raises close to one hundred thousand dollars for the food bank. In The Community Table, Athens County Foundation executive director Susan Urano translates her years of nonprofit experience with large-scale annual fundraisers into a step-by-step guide for development professionals, community leaders, and volunteers.

Urano guides readers to consider when to mount a fundraiser, who the stakeholders are, what social and financial value the event will bring to the community, and how partnerships might augment the payoff. Using real-life examples, she explains how organizers can learn from mistakes and illustrates methods of team building, conflict resolution, and problem solving. Sample ideas, timelines, budgets, publicity plans, and committee structures round out The Community Table.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780804011808
Publisher:	Ohio University Press
Publication date:	01/15/2019
Edition description:	1
Pages:	130
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Susan Cole Urano, CFRE, has directed four nonprofit organizations and has served on numerous nonprofit and statewide boards. Susan lives in rural Ohio with her husband, David.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Introduction xiii

Chapter 1 Ask the Right People: Teamwork 1

Chapter 2 The More the Merrier: Volunteers 16

Chapter 3 Great Ideas: Event Concepts 21

Chapter 4 Raising Money: Financial Goals 32

Chapter 5 Invite Them and They Will Come: Marketing 40

Chapter 6 Cover the Basics: Sponsors 50

Chapter 7 Don't Dance Alone: Partnerships 57

Chapter 8 What's the Plan? Logistics 63

Chapter 9 The Key to a Donor's Heart: Food and Beverages 75

Chapter 10 Keep Them Dancing: Entertainment 81

Chapter 11 Tell Your Story: Communication 87

Chapter 12 Make More Money: Adding Value 93

Chapter 13 Now What? Share Your Results and Remember Lessons Learned 98

Chapter 14 Why We Do This: The Big Picture 104