It’s not always easy to get your motivated supporters together in one place at one time. But don’t let this discourage you from putting on a truly awesome event! FirstGiving’s Account Management team will walk you through how to turn potential no-shows for your event into active fundraisers by offering a virtual participant option. We’re excited to share with you some noteworthy examples of nonprofits that have creatively set up virtual participation for their event. In addition we’ll warn you of common pitfalls some nonprofits have fallen into, and of course tackle your toughest fundraising questions.

1. It’s Electric! Spark Engagement
with Virtual Participation
Presented by: Jeff Love and Meg Savin,
FirstGiving Account Managers

2. How this webinar works
• A link to the slides and a recording will be sent
after the webinar
• If you’d like to ask a question during the
webinar, you can type it in the box on the right
side of your screen
• Tweet about this webinar using the hashtag
#fgwebinar

3. Who is FirstGiving

4. Online Fundraising Solutions
Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Pages
and Event Registrations Online Direct Donations
Personal Support for your nonprofit, donors, and fundraisers
Easy, tested, and secure transaction processes for the donor

5. Jeff Love Meg Savin
FirstGiving FirstGiving
Account Manager Account Manager
@FirstGiving
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6. Questions we will answer
in this webinar
• What is virtual participation?
• Why and when would you use virtual participation?
• How do you set this up on FirstGiving?
• How do you keep your virtual participants engaged?
• Where are the pitfalls?
@FirstGiving
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7. How can you creatively involve
more participants in your event?
@FirstGiving
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8. Make them Virtual!
@FirstGiving
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9. @FirstGiving
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10. “Why?”, you may ask…
• Feel apart of the event
• Deeper sense of engagement
• Ownership of fundraising through custom
fundraising pages
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11. Participate in event activity locally
Photo courtesy of: Charles Miles @FirstGiving
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12. Or…throw a party!
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13. When?
• Geographic spread of supporters
• Event is taking place during a traditionally
busy time of year
• Logistical barriers to create a live event
• Always good idea as an additional option!
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14. @FirstGiving
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15. @FirstGiving
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16. Steps for Students 2012
• 549 virtual participants “Hit Snooze for Students”
• $5700 raised through fundraising pages
@FirstGiving
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17. Who is your Virtual Participant?
Important questions to determine who your
Virtual Participants are:
• What additional value do they bring to your event?
• Does their location impede them from participating?
• Can they not make it the day of the event?
• Do they not meet age requirements of your event?
@FirstGiving
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18. Things to consider for your
Virtual Participants
Your participants are part of an experience by
participating in your event, make sure your Virtual
Participants feel the same way!
• Will you provide swag to Virtual Participants?
• Encourage them to participate in their own way.
• Will they have fundraising minimums?
• Use discount codes for registration – don’t
charge them, encourage them to participate in
any way shape or form!
@FirstGiving
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19. Don’t Forget them!
Your Virtual Participants are every bit as valuable
to your success as your other participants, make
sure they feel the love!
• Keep them on the same timeline
as your actual participants.
@FirstGiving
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20. Reach out and support them
Facebook – Provide them with sample posts
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21. Tweet at them!
Twitter – Provide them with tweeted event
updates they can easily Re-Tweet
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22. Blog about it!
Blogs – Keep them interested in your event by
mentioning them on your blog and website
• Include them in email blasts, event
leaderboards, etc.
@FirstGiving
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23. Ready for Virtual Participation?
Have any questions?
@FirstGiving
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24. FirstGiving Fundraising Bootcamp
Interested in jump starting your online fundraising?
Email: Bootcamp@firstgiving.com to sign up!
Include:
• Your organization name
• Whether or not you have a
FirstGiving nonprofit account
• You upcoming event type & date (if applicable)
@FirstGiving
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25. Connect with us in our
Social Community!
Facebook: facebook.com/firstgiving
Twitter: @FirstGiving
Online Fundraising blog:
http://blog.firstgiving.com
@FirstGiving
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26. Thank you!
Interested in learning more about FirstGiving?
Contact: Chris Collins (Eastern Territory)
Email: chris.collins@firstgiving.com
Telephone: 617-542-0010 x. 4
Contact: Laura Reino (Western Territory)
Email: laura.reino@firstgiving.com
Telephone: 505-508-5635
@FirstGiving
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