The Future of Event Fundraising: Hybrid Events
COVID-19 has changed the face of event fundraising forever. Sure, we’re slowly moving back to in-person events, but virtual events won’t be going anywhere, soon.
In fact, there’s a growing trend for ‘hybrid events’ that combine the best of both worlds.
Let’s put hybrid events under the microscope.
What are hybrid events?
Hybrid events are, quite simply, a mix of live and virtual events.
You take your live event, complete with an audience, content, and more, and add a virtual component to it so your audience can participate online.
What do hybrid events look like?
There’s no set formula for a hybrid event. You can have as much or as little virtual interaction as you want. But the best hybrid events treat their live and online audiences equally, so everyone gets the most from the event.
For example, during the pandemic, Vietnam-based charity, Saigonchildren could have cancelled their annual charity ball and taken a big fundraising hit.
Instead, they pivoted to a hybrid virtual and in-person event.
To minimise the number of people at the venue, guests had the option to enjoy the event from the comfort of their homes.
Guests who chose this option were sent pre-packaged food and drink, and televisions were set up so they could watch a live-streamed broadcast of the event.
The benefits of hybrid fundraising
Not convinced by hybrid fundraising events? You should be. The benefits are endless. Here are three for starters:
They enable people to participate who might be unable to attend in person, due to travel or time zone constraints, lack of COVID jabs etc.
They open up new revenue streams (online donations, auctions, raffles) and engagement opportunities. As virtual audiences actively participate from mobiles or laptops, they can still talk, share, like, and get involved.
You can host a high-quality hybrid event with accessible technology that doesn't require years of experience to master. Platforms like Enthuse can do it all for you.
Three tips for running a smooth hybrid fundraising event
Now you know the what and why, here are a few tips to help ensure your hybrid event runs smoothly:
1. Merge the in-person and virtual experience
If you want your hybrid event to be a success, make sure your virtual attendees aren’t missing out on key engagement opportunities. Here are a few tips:
Before the event starts, build a sense of community through an event-specific Facebook group. This is a great place to post event details and encourage attendees to engage with each other.
During the event, use features that in-person and virtual attendees can interact with, such as live polling and Q&As.
Implement a live Twitter feed that displays donations from physical and virtual attendees. This can be shown on a screen at the event and on the cast that people are enjoying from home.
2. Provide a quick and easy way to give
Your hybrid fundraising event is not just about your guests having a good time. It’s a key opportunity to raise funds. So make sure your in-person and virtual guests know how to give. Invite physical and virtual guests to donate by text. And make sure the text-to-donate number is clearly displayed on screens and event signage.
3. Be mindful of your timing
According to 2Connect, ‘the attention span of a typical audience lasts about 7 minutes’.
If you’re hosting a conference and your sessions are engaging, you may hold their attention for longer, but to be safe, stick to ten minutes, with breaks in between.
Also, be mindful of time zones. If you’re catering to a global audience be sure to record and upload the event so people can watch it at a time that suits them.
Final Word
Pandemic or no pandemic, hybrid events open up events to more donors. And more potential donations. What charity doesn’t want that?