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Do big events mean big money?

One of the things we want GoodCause to examine is whether the expense and effort required to produce big events is worth the return of donations and money raised from the event.

A post on The Chronicle of Philanthropy's blog, Give and Take (I put the feed on my blog, bottom left) notes Newsday and Don't Tell the Donor ask the same question.

I've helped put together some of these big events, and I can tell you - as can a lot of people who work for nonprofits - that they're not always the biggest bang for your buck. At least not directly. When I talk about big events, I'm talking about galas in particular, but it can mean golf tournaments or concerts, too. It's a lot of work to put on these mutual-admiration-society parties, and they don't always bring in the big money you'd hope.

But maybe we should consider the indirect support they earn the nonprofit. Maybe after tickets sales and auction bids and checks written at the table are all tallied up, the number only just covers the expenses. But what are some of the other positive outcomes?

For one, I know it can be a lot of fun for the regular supporters of that nonprofit to get dressed up and pat each other on the back a bit. There's definitely value in that. Everyone likes to be recognized for the work they do, and it's big boost to the organization's morale to celebrate for a night.

Secondly the publicity and buzz around the event can help raise the organization's stature in the community. Who hasn't heard of the Heart Ball (benefiting the American Heart Association) or the Jewel Ball (benefiting the Austin Symphony)?

Thirdly, they involve more people than most people think. Consider that gala planning committees can include about 100 people - 100 people who are then committed to that nonprofit for life, most likely. Also, think about those galas that manage to solicit a few hundred silent-auction items from local businesses, that now are aware of the nonprofit and its mission if they weren't before. There's also all the caterers, slide-show creators, ballgown sellers, hotels, valets, hairdressers, tailors, bartenders, musicians, impersonators, golf resorts, A/V specialists... all of them learning a little bit more about the nonprofit behind the event.

Any and all of these can have a positive impact on the nonprofit long after the glitter from the gala's been swept off the dance floor.

Yes, there are more efficient ways to raise money. But to think of these events only in terms of how much money they raise that night is to sell them short.

1000 bags of Thanksgiving groceries

One of the stories we have planned for the first issue of GoodCause is about Thanksgiving volunteering. Thanksgiving kicks off the season of giving, after all, and there are lots of opportunities around town to serve and feed needy folks on Turkey Day.

But we wanted to highlight other opportunities to give back around Thanksgiving, and we wanted to tell the story from the volunteer's point of view.

So Torquil had the great idea of arming volunteers from a few events with disposable cameras, which would let them document their day. This past weekend, we gave cameras to three volunteers with El Buen Samaritano's Thanksgiving Baskets event, which gives away Thanksgiving dinner to 1000 families, most of them non-native, Hispanic Americans.

El Buen's event is different from most in that they give away the groceries - including the frozen turkey - rather than the cooked meal. Ivan Davila, community relations coordinator, told me this is to give the mother of the family the opportunity to fulfill her role as nurturer and caregiver. It also introduces these families to the uniquely Amercian holiday, complete with the traditional meal.

Bags and bags of Thankgiving groceries

HEB provides the turkeys, the groceries are donated or purchased with monetary donations, and Univision radio promotes and covers the event. This thing is huge. Don't think for one minute that 1000 people show up to pick up their groceries. Most people bring the whole family, so now you're talking about 3000+ folks, most between 9 and 11 am.

I gave cameras to two volunteers from State Farm, which came as a group, and another who had previous connections with El Buen. State Farm employee, Ed Rodriguez is married to a woman who works at El Buen, and he brought his baby daughter along. Dolores Foust from State Farm brought her husband Gary. And Tom Ball, who works with El Buen, brought his teenage son.

I can't wait to get the photos back and talk to them about what it was like volunteering that day. I stayed and took some photos, too.

Ed Rodriguez and Victoria

We're also working with CARITAS and a few Turkey Trot volunteers. I've always wondered what it's like to set-up and work a fundraising 5K, and Turkey Trot's one of the best-known races.

I'll post some of their photos here, but the complete story will run in our first issue next quarter.

I know why you volunteer

Actually, I don't know why you, in particular, volunteer. But I can guess. What do you think? Be honest. What's the real reason why you volunteer?

I'm going to do something crazy and offer up three major reasons. Now, I know I don't have but three readers out there (if that many), but I'm hoping to get some feedback on this one.

Am I missing one? Are these reasons too simple? Which one do you fall under? If a little of each, what's the ranking?

Okay, here are my three guesses as to why people volunteer.

1. To do good
2. To feel good
3. To look good

And, just to be fair, I'm going to throw myself under reason #2. There, I said it.