Understanding charity fundraising events

The paper analyses fundraising events, in terms of the motivations for supporting an event, the costs and income streams and the efficiency of events. Events vary from sponsored bike rides to fashion shows to annual balls but all events share one defining attribute, the participant or attendee gains some private benefit, be it a sense of personal achievement, an opportunity to show their generosity or simply having fun. The fact that the participants are supporting the charity may come secondary to the private benefit they gain from attending the event. Fundraising events therefore provide a means for charities to broaden their donor bases beyond those whose only motivation to support the charity is their fundamental belief in the particular charity's cause. Copyright © 2004 Henry Stewart Publications