Special Events: Proven Strategies for Nonprofit Fund Raising [Hardcover]

Alan L. Wendroff (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471249912 | ISBN-13: 978-0471249917 | Publication Date: January 14, 1999 | Edition: 1

A practical and accessible guide to organizing and producing special events "Special Events: Proven Strategies for Nonprofit Fund Raising is a clear guide for staff and volunteers planning and staging special events. But its most significant contribution may be Alan Wendroff’s discussion of the role that special events play in the organizations’s total development program and the various contributions special events make to a nonprofit organization in addition to fund raising." —Eugene R. Temple, Executive Director Indiana University Center on Philanthropy "Many organizations have learned the art of successful special events from Alan through his classes—now many more organizations can get the full training through this comprehensive and practical book. Alan shows us that special events are no mystery. They succeed with consistent planning, follow-through, and lots of heart. This book puts us on the path to making an event achievable, creative, and memorable." —Jan Masaoka, Executive Director Support Center for Nonprofit Management "Special Events is a practical, step-by-step guide that takes the mystery and risk out of event-based fund raising. For the novice or seasoned professional alike, this ready reference is sure to become a trusted companion, chock-full of scribbled margin notes and folded page corners. Alan Wendroff’s wit and wisdom make for engaging reading, revealing the many financial and organizational rewards that accrue from well-planned special events." —Richard S. Hirschhaut, Director Greater Chicago/Upper Midwest Region, Anti-Defamation League "Charitable events can be very, very good, as they can be horrid. Alan Wendroff’s book provides sound advice and practical tools that should ensure both donor satisfaction and nonprofit financial success. The easy-to-read text plus the attached disk provide all you’ll ever need to hold impressive winning events." —Claude Rosenberg, author, Wealthy and Wise founder and Chairman, The Newtithing Group

Editorial Reviews

Review

Even if you feel (as I admit I did) that you don't really have that much more to learn about special events, you may well find you are wrong when you read this book or use the forms on the disk that comes with it. -- Reviewed by Kim Klein

From the Inside Flap

If carefully planned, special events can be a monetary and marketing bonanza for nonprofits; however, many organizations end up running into the red because of poor budget planning, insufficient volunteers, mediocre media attention, badly negotiated service contracts with caterers and hotels, or careless oversight of other essential elements. In this practical and comprehensive guide, Alan L. Wendroff, CFRE, shows you how to sidestep potential mistakes by covering the do’s—and don’ts—of running a successful special event. Special Events: Proven Strategies for Nonprofit Fund Raising presents the essential knowledge necessary for organizing and holding events that will meet your objectives. It starts by helping you determine your particular goals, from raising money, marketing and public relations, and building and expanding a donor base to building and motivating a volunteer pool, training the board to solicit funds, educating the public about your mission, and gathering endorsements. It then provides the fundamentals necessary for achieving your organization’s multidimensional goals. The Master Event Time Table, the ultimate special event tool, will walk you step-by-step through each stage of the process, and this 26-week checklist can be abridged or modified based on your organization’s needs. Packed with practical insights, planning tips, as well as common misconceptions, pitfalls to avoid, and warning flags, this invaluable resource also includes sample worksheets, checklists, both as illustrations and on an IBM-compatible disk. Some of the need-to-have information that you will find in this book includes:

• Models for a special event—auctions, theater and gallery openings, sports tournaments, testimonial events
• Monetary goals and budgets—calculating revenue sources and expenses, estimating attendance, figuring gross revenue
• Recruiting volunteer leadership—stakeholders, agency governing boards,
• honorary chairpersons, event chairs
• Administration—choosing a location, contract negotiations, staffing, postal and financial matters, insurance
• Final preparation—documents, reception, guest seating, the PDQ checklist
• Post-event duties—how and when to say "thank you," evaluating outcomes

Written for nonprofit organizations, Special Events is an indispensable guide for any and all who are looking to capitalize on a key component of nonprofit success.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 214 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (January 14, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471249912
• ISBN-13: 978-0471249917
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #537,412 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #52 in Books > Business & Investing > Small Business & Entrepreneurship > Raising Capital

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Give this book to your next special event chair., June 6, 1999

By 

Skip Henderson ([e-mail]) (Northern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Special Events: Proven Strategies for Nonprofit Fund Raising (Hardcover)

From NSFRE- Golden Gate Chapter Newsletter

"Biblio Tech" by Skip Henderson

"Use Alan -

You're planning a gala. The Chair has been selected. You want to establish a meaningful bond early in the process. Here's what you do. Buy an inexpensive brass trophy plaque. Engrave it with the Chair's name and proper motivational sentiments. Glue the plaque on a copy of "Special Events - Proven Strategies for Nonprofit Fund Raising." Present the book to the Chair and the bonding is complete. "Special Events" by Alan Wendroff, published by John Wiley & Sons, 1999, $29.00, provides the answers to what appear to be any questions that might arise in your event planning and management. The catch phrase, tossed out when any problem or question arises, will become the event committee's password

Use Alan.

"Special Events" is structured around four key special event elements; goals, planning, organization, and administration. Each element is analyzed with strategies and worksheets guiding organizational decisions. If you want to know how to clarify an event's objectives, estimate attendance, market the event, recruit volunteers, manage with only one committee meeting (!), even properly assign seating -

Use Alan.

"Special Events" comes with a disk providing work sheets and checklists you can adapt to your particular event's style and scope. These utilitarian tools complement Wendroff's all-inclusive organizational tool, the "Master Event Timetable." As questions arise and problems occur you won't be bothered. You will be remembered fondly as the Chair gratefully reflects on the plague and reaches to -

Use Alan."