With COVID-19 causing waves worldwide, we are finding a divide in the United States, with many states extending stay-at-home orders while others are slowly working to reopen with restrictions in place. 

During this time at home, the event industry has taken a big hit. Many non profits rely on the funds raised through galas, and with the orders in place restricting large gatherings and events, raising money during this time may seem somewhat impossible. Events Unleashed wants you to know you can still raise the money you need during this time, and that we are here to help!

More options than you think
​As a non-profit, you have more options than you think when it comes to raising money during this pandemic. Even through devastating times, people are still willing to help, so it's important not to get discouraged!

1. Raise through your website and social media
Now more than ever, engaging with your audience on social media is a great way to gain support. Revamp your website and/or social media, create content that really gets your mission across, and let your followers know they can donate (big or small) with an easy click of a button. Create an easy donation process on your website or use Instagram's new donation sticker option.

2. Postponing your event
Postponing your event is a great alternative to canceling. The event industry is working hard to get all the events that needed to be canceled moved to late 2020 or early 2021. It's not too late to postpone yours!

3. Online/Virtual Gala 
Turning your event virtual is a great way to keep your fundraising goals up to date. With easy ways to go live (like Facebook Live), you're still able to have silent auctions, live auctions, paddle-raises, online donation options, text-to-donate, and more! You can provide your audience with fun and entertainment from the comfort of their homes. Reaching out to guest speakers or performers and asking them to participate can also help raise engagement. 

To learn more about a virtual gala or event, contact us today! We'd love to help you navigate the online event space while providing support during planning.

​Articles in Tech Crunch, Mashable, and others can support you by walking you through the new Instagram launch of fundraising for non-profit organizations with 100% of funds raised directly to the non-profit organization! 

For Instagram Live Donations:
To start a Live Donation, open Instagram on your phone, tap the camera icon on the top left, choose Live on the bottom of the screen, select Fundraiser, and choose a nonprofit you want to support. Instagram says that all of the money raised will go directly to that organization.

As an added bonus, Instagram has also launched another new feature for donations through Story stickers. Now, when someone donates to a nonprofit through a sticker, they get to unlock an "I donated" sticker for themselves. 

Taking advantage of Fundraising for Non-Profits on Instagram:
First things first, in order to take advantage of fundraising on Instagram as a non-profit organization while live streaming, you will have to meet the requirements below and follow these steps: 

To raise money on Instagram, your nonprofit must:

• Enroll and be approved to use Facebook Charitable Giving Tools.
• Switch to an Instagram business account, if you haven't already.
• Link your nonprofit's Instagram business account with your nonprofit's verified Facebook Page.
• If this is your first time linking to your Page or enrolling with Facebook Charitable Giving Tools, check to make sure that people are able to add donation stickers on Instagram for your nonprofit. You can do this by clicking Publishing Tools at the top of your Facebook Page and selecting Donation Settings below Fundraisers. Click to check the box next to Allow people to add donation stickers on Instagram Stories and click Save.

If your nonprofit has further questions or requires support, please contact them on Facebook.

Adding a donate button to your nonprofit's Instagram business account
To add a donate button to your nonprofit's Instagram business account:

1. Confirm that your nonprofit organization has taken the steps above to become eligible to fundraise on Instagram.
2. Go to your profile and tap .
3. Tap Settings.
4. Tap Business > Donations.
5. Tap  next to Add Donate Button to Profile.

If you're unable to find Donations, please update your Instagram app to the latest version.

Share with us, what does that mean for your organization? 

Feel lost at home with not much to do? Craving some romantic time with your partner? The new stay at home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic have turned normal life upside down. Having a date night at home be refreshing and be a nice change from the new everyday norms. Below we are sharing 7 of our favorite date night ideas to bring you and your partner closer and have a great time, at home!

4. Paint n Sip
Paint n Sip companies like Pinot's Palette and Painting with a Twist are now offering virtual paint n sip classes. Head to your local Walmart and grab some paint supplies and wine, and you're on your way to having a great date night!

5. Cooking Together
Choose a yummy recipe that you both would like to learn to make. Cook the meal together and enjoy it afterwards. You can opt to decorate the table with candles and flowers to set the mood!

6. At Home Salsa Lessons
Youtube has tons of free salsa lessons. This is a fun way to try something new and spice things up with your partner!

7. Relaxing "Spa" Day
Grab some relaxing spa goodies on your next trip to the grocery store. Offer each other couples massages, do some face masks, and soak in a tub full of bubbles! Maybe even a mimosa or two?!

It can be tricky to know what the first steps are when it comes to planning a wedding. There are many places you can start and a lot of resources you can look into, but let's be honest... it can be very overwhelming. Events Unleashed likes to start with our 10 questions for getting to know our client's and their wedding value. The following questions are a great baseline for getting to know your couple and understanding their overall wedding goals and values. If you are a bride or groom-to-be reading this post, welcome! These questions are a great start for planners and couples.

​#1: Tell me about you and your fiancé. How did you guys meet, strengths, things you like about each other?
Getting to know your couple and their story not only creates a more personal relationship, but gives you more insight to their goals and vision for their big day.

#2: What brings you to us and why do you find it valuable to have a planner in your corner? 
This question allows you to gain insight on how you're acquiring potential clients, and in return allows you to provide more insight about the value you can bring as a planner to the potential client.

​#3: What aspects of your event are most important to you (food, entertainment, timely start, attendance)?
Every couple is unique with what aspects of the wedding are most important to them. Finding out which are most important to each couple allows you to prioritize when creating the budget.

​#5: What are some of your current concerns related to your event and why?
Finding out your couples concerns allows you to talk them through the concern and help with a preliminary solution and/or suggestion. This allows you to show value upfront, while providing your potential clients some peace of mind.

​#6: Who is going to be the best point of contact for the services?
Establishing the point-of-contact upfront allows for better follow-ups and communication.

#7: What are some areas you feel you need expertise in?
Get to know the areas where your client feels like they need your help. This allows you to learn their expectations, learn what level of service they need from you, and establish a baseline for services.

#8: What is your budget and how have you allocated spending thus far?
It's important to understand your client's budget and what they have spent thus far. This will affect how budget management will go moving forward.

#9: What vendors are currently on your radar and why (cake, photography, venue)?
Asking this question allows you to learn what vendors your client is interested in and what vendors they may need your help in learning about/acquiring. 

#10: What would it take for us to earn your business?
Establish open communication to learn exactly what the client is looking for and how you can be a part of their dream day.

We hope our 10 questions for getting to know your client's and their wedding value helps you create better relationships, gain more insight, and plan more beautiful weddings. 

Be sure to check back for more planning tips & advice and follow us on our Instagram and Pinterest to stay up to date with our recent events and inspo. Let’s Unleash Together!
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​Post written by Kaley M. for Events Unleashed.

Planning a wedding can be stressful... but planning your day-of timeline can be even crazier! Planning a day down the exact minute can be time-consuming and intimidating, but don't worry— Events Unleashed has your back. We're sharing our top tips on how to craft the perfect wedding day timeline! Be sure to download our FREE step by step guide on crafting your wedding day timeline at the end of this post.

Tips for Crafting Wedding Day Timelines

1. Start from scratch.
It may be tempting to download a blank template and fill in the blanks, but we recommend starting from scratch. Although sample templates are great to work from, every wedding has unique logistics. The last thing you want is to fill in a template that doesn't have a space for a special moment you wanted to incorporate— this can lead to having to restart or shift your timeline you've been working hard on, or forgetting to include the moment all together.
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2. Remember to include the whole day. 
Sometimes we get so excited about laying out the details for the ceremony and reception, that we forget to include important times for the vendors such as your photographer and hair and makeup artists.

3. Decide on if you want to have a First Look.
First looks are a sweet intimate moment with you and your partner before the start of the ceremony. The photographer is present to capture all the feels. If you prefer to have you walking down the aisle being the first time you see your partner, this will create a different flow in your wedding timeline. Most couple portraits can be done during the first look if a couple chooses to partake in one. If they opt out of a first look, all portraits need to be taken after the ceremony, during cocktail hour.

Lisa + Alex's beautiful wedding took place at St. Austin's & South Congress Hotel. The light & airy feel, unique centerpieces, and gorgeous florals made this day a dream. Take a look below at the photos taken by Paige Vaughn Photo for some major inspiration.

The Coronavirus has done a lot of damage but there is some good that we can attribute the our current situation, specifically innovation. As a successful non-profit event planner in Austin, Texas it is imperative that in a tech city that virtual events meet tech. Below are 4 key things that you should know to setup a successful virtual event. 

1. Not all platforms are created equal. The exist but a SWOT analysis is necessary for you to  ensure that you are on the right platform for your audience. A quick and dirtly list of great plaforms to consider are: 

• WebEx
• Facebook Live
• Hopin
• Zoom
• GoToMeeting
• YouTube
• Vimeo
• Twitch
• ON24
• Skype
• Microsoft Teams
• IceBreaker

We have our thoughts on the right plaforms so be sure to continue coming back to the blog for important content as you innovate and take your events virtual! 

2. A live event is not an online event and should be treated as such! A live event should be at or less than 30 minutes. The following graphic outlines an example event flow. 

3. Is this thing on? The best thing you to do is test, test, and test again. If your audience cannot hear the brilliant live event that you planned it would be a real bummer! Consider investing in high-quality sound and even higher quality camera/video. 

4. Engagement is critical. Comments in live events should be expected and having a clear communication strategy is key to leveraging the opportunity to develop even more raving fans! Plus, there are tools out there that allow organizations maximize donations during the live event!

If you are looking to get assistance or find the right tool for a virtual event, we would love to chat about your unique online experience. Contact us by email at info@eventsunleashed.com, we are here to help! 

It is so fitting in this time that we band together to share great information when we come across it. We all know that we need to communicate and stay top of mind but to whom and when?  The blog post below outlines some key tips that you can implement in your non-profit organization today! 

As is the case during any situation, the more you segment your communications for specific audiences, the more likely those communications are to resonate with the recipient. Now, however, is a critical time to take inventory of your most valuable supporters (can’t lose people) and reach out contextually.

The following list of 10 supporter segments should be your top priority. What you say to these folks doesn’t have to look wildly different. Pick up the phone, break out the stationary, or fire up your personal email. Say thanks, recognize the type of supporter that they are/their past support, and remind them you’re still here and that you’re still providing services that are invaluable (or will resume doing so soon). But most importantly, check in to see how they are doing.

Here’s the list:
1. Top 80% of your funding (probably <20% of your donors) – Following the Pareto Principle, a majority of your funding is likely coming from a small, select group of donors. This is the only segment where gift amount comes into play.

2. “Long-term-loyals” (3-5+ years of giving) – According to Jerry Panas, these are the donors most likely to leave you a bequest later in life, regardless of their age, wealth and giving amount right now.

3. Monthly donors – With household budgets about to tighten, it’s possible that monthly expenses will start to go on the chopping block. Support for your org won’t be if you have checked in to say how much they’re appreciated. Do it now before the economy worsens.

4. Longtime corporate sponsors – Some of these folks may be especially hurting right now. Check in to see how they are doing. Perhaps have a board member or the head or your org reach out to their owner or CEO.

5. P2P fundraisers – Not, P2P donors. P2p fundraisers, the folks that in the past have gone out and done Facebook birthday fundraisers or ran a 5k for you. You might be leaning on them very soon to raise money for you again on social media.

6. Those who actively engage with you on social media – These are ideal, future P2P fundraisers, as well as those who can spread the word more broadly when you might need it. Start keeping track of who is and has in the past liked, commented and shared your posts.

7. Volunteers/members who have not donated – With in-person volunteerism likely prohibited, perhaps monetary support can be a replacement for volunteer hours. Members or direct service recipients (think YMCA) who cannot come on-site for classes, workouts, etc. may be willing to donate above their membership fees to keep the facility afloat.

8. Those with scheduled pledges – Similar to monthly donors, this is expected revenue that you don’t want to miss.

9. Board members – Do you have 100% board giving? Now is the time to ask if you’ve been avoiding the issue. Get them involved in calling, emailing or writing the other nine groups in this list. Messages coming from board members will have just as much if not higher significance than your staff.

10. New donors within 90 days (this should include Giving Tuesday and Year-End donors) – These are the donors at most risk of lapsing (other than P2P and Memorial/Tribute donors). Retention rates here are around 20%, and your window to retain them is already closing. Research shows that the faster you thank a new donor, the better:

• first-time donors who get a personal thank you within 48 hours are 4x more likely to give a second gift.
  (McConkey-Johnston International UK)
• a thank-you call from a board member to a newly acquired donor within 24 hours of receiving the gifts will increase their next gift by 39%. (Penelope Burk)
• the faster you get a second gift, the higher the gift amount (AnalyticalOnes)
• Bloomerang research found nearly-identical results.

A lot of these folks may be waiting to hear from you – if they’re anything like the donors interview in Penelope Burk’s Donor Survey – so don’t delay.

“I could always expand giving a little, but I try to hold back in case there is a major need at one of the organizations I support. I always like to have a little in reserve in case a special need comes along.”

“There were two instances this year where I made gifts over and above what I had intended and they both involved personal contact from someone in the development office (director or gifts officer). Being thanked for my previous gift was much more persuasive than receiving multiple emails and direct mail letters.”

Many of these segments will include small donors. They are now more important than ever!

SOURCE: ​​https://bloomerang.co/blog/10-important-donor-types-to-communicate-to-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/

According to Wedding Wire's 2019 NewlyWed Report, the average couple spends $38,700 for their wedding ceremony and reception, rings, and honeymoon. With the ever-so-increasing cost of having a wedding, some couples are opting to micro-weddings. Micro-weddings are a way to simplify planning and decrease costs while still having the pinterest and instagram-worthy wedding of your dreams. 

Intimacy
Planning a wedding can be stressful when it comes to not only how many people to invite but who. When you only include immediate family and your closest friends, your ceremony and reception will be filled with intimate, close-knit love and support.

Personalization
Having a guest list of 20 vs 120 allows for more freedom and choice when it comes to your wedding day. When catering to a smaller guest count, you may have the room to splurge on those smaller details that you wouldn't have been able to before. 

Budget
Nowadays it's less common to have parent's cover all or even half of the wedding costs. With student loans and demanding jobs, a sure way to keep a small wedding budget is by decreasing the guest count.

Simplicity
Not having to keep track of 150 RSVP responses never hurt nobody, right?! A tiny guest count makes daunting wedding planning tasks more simple.

Less Stress
By making things more simple, having more freedom to personalize your day, having your closest friends and family by your side, and spending less money, you can make for a less stressful, more joyous day.