Covid-19 variants have complicated our industry’s return to in-person fundraising events. While many audiences are eager to be a part of a live audience again, others are not yet ready to re-enter the realm of live events. These varied opinions have created uncertainty for many nonprofit organizations in deciding how to effectively raise funds.
OneCause, an online fundraising software provider, states in a 2021 study, “Though the world changed, the key reasons to donate remain constant: ease, mission, and impact” (OneCause). Acts Of Kindness Cabaret’s hybrid and virtual fundraising events have been very effective in meeting these key donor requirements for many nonprofits in the Chicagoland area.
Over the past 15 years, Acts Of Kindness Cabaret fundraising events have helped over 55 Chicago-area nonprofit organization with missions ranging from homelessness and hunger to rare medical conditions. [See a complete list of our past beneficiaries here.] As a nonprofit ourselves, it is our mission to help other nonprofits raise funds using the art of cabaret. Because of this, we are able to offer our services at next to no cost.
How Our Virtual Fundraisers Create Ease
For an engaging, entertaining virtual fundraiser that will motivate giving, Acts Of Kindness Cabaret provides you with a proven template for seamlessly communicating your organization's mission, entertaining attendees, and collecting donations without requiring donors to leave the comfort of home. We make it easy by offering:
Professionally recorded entertainment content. Click here for a large menu of individual clips to choose from. We’ll help you select the best material to support your message.
Storyboarding & script guidance. We’ll help you create an arc to your event – including testimonials, photos/video of your work, impact statements, and case-making asks that will keep your viewers engaged.
On-camera coaching. Not everyone is comfortable on camera. We'll help coach those who need it to make your content as polished as possible while keeping it natural and real.
Referrals. We have access to trusted professionals (e.g., video editors) and services (e.g., raffle/auction platforms) to create a finished product that’s ready to go.
Downloadable digital programs
Pre-designed, customizable publicity materials, upon request.
Skilled guidance from start to finish.
“Acts of Kindness Cabaret is a wonderful resource for a fundraising event. Our guests were blown away with the professional quality of the talent
...a fresh idea to gain support and raise funds." ~ Greg Battle, Lake County Center for Independent Living
If your audience is ready for a live event, but you want to provide a viewing option for those who have safety concerns, a hybrid event is an easy solution. Hybrid events are the best of both worlds, they allow your donor base to experience your event the way that suits them best. We will provide you with:
One- or two-hour cabaret performances, featuring three professional cabaret singers accompanied by a professional pianist.
Quality pro lighting and sound equipment and a pro sound person.
Helpful staff of AOK Cabaret volunteers for set-up and tear-down of lights and sound, ushering, and other tasks as needed.
Nicely printed programs, with a digital version for virtual attendees.
Pre-designed, customizable publicity materials, upon request.
Skilled guidance from start to finish.
Guidance on the technical aspects of the broadcast and how to merge the live elements of the event with pre-recorded elements to create the best experience for your virtual attendees.
How Our Virtual Fundraisers Highlight Your Mission
A 2021 study by Ogiv, Inc., a digital fundraising platform, found that, among donation requests, “... asks that focused on the nonprofit’s mission – and not the pandemic – were most effective (at 30%); asks that mentioned the mission and the pandemic were just behind (at 29.6%); but emergency reuests that only reference pandemic response logged in far behind (at 13.8%).”
This means that, as always, you have to do a great job of telling your story. Our virtual fundraisers allow you to communicate your mission clearly, concisely, and memorably to your audience. We will help you customized your event to highlight your organization’s mission. Your event will include host spots/asks, video footage of your organization at work, photo montages, and AOKC entertainment throughout.
Whether you prefer the performances to be humorous, heartfelt, or a combination of both, you can select cabaret performances from our vast library to suit the tone of your event. Performance clips, which can be used in whole or in part, are played between key messaging segments, keeping donors engaged through the duration of the event.
Studies show that brief events (from 30 to 45 minutes) are best for maintaining the attention of your audience, helping them to remain engaged for key, mission-focused messages.
How Our Virtual Fundraisers Demonstrate Your Impact
A clear understanding of an organization’s impact plays a key role in the decision making process of donors. AOKC’s virtual fundraisers give you the opportunity to concisely and powerfully showcase your impact with event features.
"We were honored that Acts Of Kindness Cabaret donated their time and talents to our event. Their level of professionalism and their attention to detail exceeded our every expectation." ~ Susan King, Watts of Love
Acts Of Kindness Cabaret will encourage you to collect testimonials from past clients or beneficiaries to be played during your event. A study by Social Fresh reveals that “Customer testimonials have the highest effectiveness rating for content marketing at 89%. (Social Fresh). Likewise, Wyzowl finds “ 2/3 of consumers say they’re more likely to make a purchase after watching a testimonial video demonstrating how a business, product or service helped someone like them.”
Allowing potential donors to join you in celebrating your successes and milestones is a great way to help them to understand the difference their donation will make. This has the potential very positively impact fundraising.
"Hilary Ann Feldman and her group created an experience that showed what magnificent voices, creative writing and storytelling can achieve." ~Janet Rhines, Audience Member
Diversifying your communication offerings through virtual and hybrid fundraising is simple and effective with Acts Of Kindness Cabaret. It is our mission to help other nonprofits through our art. Please contact us if you’d like your organization to become and Acts Of Kindness Cabaret beneficiary.
Acts of Kindness Cabaret
(847)-419-7664
info@aokcabaret.org
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