Fundraising Event Planning Template

If you’ve taken any of NDTC’s fundraising courses in the past, you’ll remember the five primary sources through which campaigns raise money: call time, digital fundraising, direct mail, people & partners, and campaign events.

This resource focuses on campaign events — specifically fundraising events, where the campaign brings together a large number of supporters for things like a backyard barbecue or a cocktail-hour meet & greet (though virtual events are also an option, if less lucrative) with the purpose of raising money for the campaign.

Events typically raise money by way of ticket sales and sponsorships — but they require lots of preparation and planning ahead of time. That’s where NDTC’s Fundraising Event Planning Template resource comes in.

You can’t just close your eyes and throw spaghetti at the wall while hoping for a Pollock-esque masterpiece — like with all campaign strategies, you have to know what you’re going into before actually diving in! Using this template, your campaign can map out the overall goals for your fundraising event and fill in any details you’ve already established:

• Does the event have a name?

• When will the event be held?

• Where will the event be held?

• Do you have any hosts helping with the event?

• What is the amount of money you hope to raise from the event?

• What is your event budget?

  • If you need help figuring out your event budget, our Event Budget Template resource can help.

• How many attendees do you expect?

• How many volunteers are needed to staff the event?

Determining the answers to these questions is key to throwing the most successful and lucrative fundraising event possible.

Once you’ve got a bird’s-eye view of your prospective event, NDTC’s Event Planning Timeline and Checklist can help you actually plan and execute it. And if you need a better understanding of organizing campaign events, check out our course “Organizing Political Fundraising Events.”