The widespread usage of the internet and mobile devices has deeply influenced how nonprofits raise funds, making it easier than ever before for them to connect with donors. For years, we have been witnessing a growing trend in the nonprofit sector—nonprofits turning to virtual fundraisers. This ranged from simply having a donation page online to running full-fledged fundraising campaigns online.
However, it was the COVID-19 pandemic that accelerated the adoption of online fundraising. Because of social distancing guidelines, in-person fundraising events were difficult to organize, compelling nonprofits to find other ways of soliciting donations. And online fundraising turned out to be the only viable option.
Research shows that of the nonprofits that postponed their in-person events, 62% converted to virtual events and 70% described their events as successful.
But now as the world returns to normal, nonprofits no longer have to restrict themselves to online-only fundraisers; they have the option to run hybrid fundraisers—which have been a growing trend in recent times. In this article, we will look at what these are and how you can use them in conjunction with charitable gaming-based fundraisers like 50/50 raffles.
Related: 5 Nonprofit Fundraising Trends for 2022 and Beyond
What are hybrid fundraisers?
A hybrid fundraiser refers to a fundraising event that happens both in-person and virtually simultaneously. So, your audience has two choices to participate—they may do it either in-person or online, or both. This gives nonprofits a chance to capitalize on the benefits of both types of events.
Even though the COVID-19 pandemic is almost under control, some people are still apprehensive about being in crowded places. Allowing them to participate in the event virtually means you don’t miss out on their donation.
Hybrid events aren’t new. In the past, the largest audience used to be in-person, with a few people participating virtually. Moving forward, this trend will likely be reversed.
So, as you are designing your events, it’s best to prioritize online engagement—it takes creativity and planning to successfully engage people online.
Examples of hybrid events
There are plenty of ways on how to design a hybrid event. Here are just some of the examples:
- A hybrid fun run, where participants can run at a preferred time wherever they are and report their mileage and time.
- A gala with online pledges and payments for donors attending virtually.
- Hybrid golf, where golfers will participate at a course of their choice, and report their scores afterward.
- A group dinner where 8-10 people gather in one home and join other groups virtually from all over the world.
Running a hybrid fundraiser with online charitable games
One of the best ways to amplify the engagement of your hybrid fundraiser is by using gamification. And you can do this by hosting raffles and sweepstakes along with your in-person events. The prospect of winning excites participants and serves as a gesture of appreciation for their support of your nonprofit.
These games are easy and affordable to set up (when compared to other forms of fundraisers). And yet, they are known to have a high ROI (Return on Investment). You can encourage people that have registered to attend the in-person event to buy tickets online to enter the contest. The whole process is automated, quick, and easy (rather than running physical raffles).
Plus, having the game online means participants can share the link for the charitable game with others not attending the event. Popular games to try are 50/50 raffles, Catch the Ace and sweepstakes.
Related: An Introduction to Online Gaming-based Fundraising for Nonprofits