We recently spoke with experienced event organizer Melissa Estepp about how the right event strategy for your summer events can skyrocket your return. If you aren’t tapping into summer fundraising events, you might be missing out on a huge potential revenue stream. Estepp notes that:

“People are actively looking for offline connections. Around 32% of attendees report that live events help them feel connected to their local communities.”

Summer fundraising events can be particularly effective because they provide a space for socialization and give attendees an opportunity to support a cause they care about, connecting them to their community in multiple ways.

You can see Melissa's full webinar here, but let’s dig into ticketed events more specifically. In this article, we’ll cover:

  • What is a Ticketed Event?
  • 3 Key Steps to a Successful Ticketed Event
  • How to Take Your Ticketed Event to the Next Level
  • How Using Auctria Can Make Your Ticketed Event a Success!

Let’s break down ticketed events so you can start planning yours!

What is a Ticketed Event?

Let’s start with the basics: what do we mean when we say “ticketed event”, and why do they work?

A ticketed event is, at its core, is simply an event that you sell tickets for. It typically has a scheduled date and time, a location (either physically in-person or online), and a fee for attending that helps your organization cover the cost of the event. Often, the ticket fee will cover the cost of the guest experience! You might sell just a base ticket to everyone, or have tiers like general admission and VIP tickets with different prices and benefits.

Ticketed and non-ticketed events can each have their own pros and cons. For instance, a non-ticketed event might be better for awareness and growing your audience, since people can attend for free. A ticketed event, however, gives you a set guest list that allows you to plan for things like catering and seats, and income to pay speakers or for other activities. Both types of events have their place in your yearly calendar, so consider your organization’s goals and the time of year when deciding which type of event to run.

With ticketed events, you’re also tapping into your most committed supporters: by asking for a time and monetary commitment up front, your attendees will largely be people already energized and engaged with your mission. This makes them the ideal audience to tap for additional fundraising efforts! Adding an auction or another fundraising activity during a ticketed event can be a great way to maximize your earnings.

3 Key Steps to a Successful Ticketed Event

Since ticketed events have different goals than non-ticketed events, there’s a few specific things to keep in mind when planning one in order to maximize its effectiveness. Estepp cited research from the University of Georgia that highlights, “…that attendees feel the most socially connected when they go in-person recurring events where they can actively participate”.

1. Activate your interested attendees by curating an engaging event. Summer gatherings like group yoga, volunteering booths, or interactive food tents that include active participation and a shared sense of responsibility amongst attendees help tap into that socially connected feeling. Communal, hands-on environments break down social barriers and help build community friendships.

2. Consider low commitment versus high commitment activities. Depending on the time of year, attendees may be more or less willing to commit to events. Around the holiday season, it’s common for people to attend holiday parties and galas. They’re already primed to want to dress up for a fun night out, so it’s a good time of year for a higher commitment event like a gala! In the summer, however, families may be juggling kids who are out of school and summer travel plans. A lower commitment event that’s kid-friendly or has more flexible, drop-in timing might be more successful in the summer. You can still sell tickets, but consider a lower ticket fee to encourage better attendance. Check out this article to learn more about hosting events at various times of the year!

3. Tailor your event to your community and audience. Depending on where your organization is based, your potential attendees may prefer different kinds of events. Based in a college or university town? Your local community may be more interested in academic ticketed events with speakers who are experts in their field. Live in a rural area? Consider an outdoor activity like a guided hike with a nature expert. Is your organization focused on mental health work? Consider a de-stressing activity like yoga. Do your attendees tend to have children? Plan a fair with rides or a bounce house! Younger generations typically value experiences over formality, so if you tend to have younger volunteers and donors, keep that in mind. If you have older donors, they may prefer a more formal gala or event.

There are so many different types of events you can put on! Adding ticketing to your event could give you additional funds to put on more creative or robust events while still earning a profit for your organization. As any good event planner knows, it’s a balance to maximize profits while putting on a rewarding event for attendees—and any extra income you have to work with helps!

How to Take Your Ticketed Event to the Next Level

Once you’ve gotten the basics of your event nailed down, there’s a few ways you can level up your event.

1. Sell different tiers of tickets. Some of your attendees will be happy to pay a higher ticket price for different perks. You could have a meal or drink add-on, host an event after-party, or offer VIP packages that allow attendees to speak one-on-one with your speakers and other experts. Alternatively, you could sell a lower priced ticket for attendees who just want to spectate a competition event, like a pickleball tournament, rather than participate. Different ticket tiers will allow attendees to opt-in at their preferred level, potentially capturing more attendees as well as allowing others to give more if they want to.

2. Add a raffle, auction, or additional fundraising method. Your ticketed event may not always immediately center around a fundraiser. It could be a community gathering event, an educational event, or an outdoor activity. If that’s the case, consider adding an additional fundraiser to increase your organization’s profits beyond just accepting additional donations. A raffle or auction can provide additional engagement during your event while also generating revenue! This is also a great opportunity to activate community partners for donations and sponsorships.

3. Remember to communicate your “why”! These ticketed events are a wonderful opportunity to build community and engage with your supporters. Since they’re already attending, make the most of having all those eyes and ears at your disposal. Include a way for them to learn about your organization’s mission and the impact you’ve had in the community. If you have a speaker, include a slide with data and stories about your impact. If it’s an outdoor event like a fair, have an information booth staffed with volunteers who can speak to attendees about the organization. If you want to maximize your profits during the event, it’s important to always communicate your organization’s story and remind attendees of why it’s important for them to support you!

How Using Auctria Can Make Your Ticketed Event a Success!

You can turn your ticketed event into a record-breaking success by using Auctria to manage your tickets, sponsorships, and more. With Auctria, managing your event becomes one connected experience. With everything in one place, it’s easier for attendees to participate, engage, and donate.

Our smart ticketing platform has a host of benefits, outlined in this article. We can help you set up versatile ticketing options like VIP tickets, provide QR codes that can be easily scanned at the entrance, seamless integration with your event website, secure payment processing, real-time analytics, and more.

Many organizations have already used Auctria’s platform to host successful events. ArtReach held an art auction and sold tickets directly through their website for a seamless attendee experience. Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County used Auctria’s advanced table management features for their annual gala, allowing them to offer sponsorship packages including premium seating and additional perks to attract higher-value donors. Our mobile-friendly ticketing options helped First Tee—South Dakota enhance attendee satisfaction and pull off a successful event.

No matter what kind of event you’re planning, Auctria has the tools to help your organization maximize profit, ease the planning process, and keep all the details running smoothly. Let us take the stress off your plate and empower you with real-time data and analytics to create the best event possible!

Yes—a Ticketed Event with Auctria’s Support is Right for You!

Hopefully this article has given you some tips and tricks to help plan your next ticketed event, this summer or beyond! Ticketed events are a powerful and flexible approach to organizing successful fundraising events at any time of year, for any community. They’re a great way to activate your supporters and tell your story, sharing your “why” with your attendees. Want to see how other organizations are using Auctria to power their fundraisers? Check out our Public Auction and Fundraising Events page! This page features live updates with currently active events so you can see exactly how other nonprofits are running their events.