A successful gala fundraiser involves meticulous planning and coordination, from choosing the right venue to arranging entertainment and finalizing your guest list. But there’s a critical element that’s easy to overlook: your event ticketing infrastructure.
A glitchy or unintuitive online ticketing system results in decreased ticket sales, lower engagement, and unnecessary strain on internal resources when staff need to troubleshoot errors or manually process ticket purchases.
Using a ticketing solution that is seamless and customizable to your event requirements starts donors and your team off on the right foot. By reducing friction in the ticket sales process, you ensure that your supporters have a positive experience and that your nonprofit achieves its fundraising goal. Couple these best practices for ticketing with other effective digital solutions, and you will turn each ticket into a catalyst for fundraising impact.
Why Is Event Ticketing Important for Nonprofit Organizations?
Ticketing software supports advanced registration and quick sign-in when guests arrive for your fundraising event. Beyond the immediate benefits, digital ticketing solutions also play a big role in simplifying the process of managing donor contact information, ultimately helping you stay in communication with supporters year-round.
All-in-one fundraising and donor management software should have ticketing options built right in. When donors buy tickets, their information is automatically saved in your CRM. This makes it easy to pull reports post-event and track donor participation over time to identify your top supporters and numerous other giving trends.
What Are Some Nonprofit Event Ticketing Features to Look For?
Upgraded ticketing lets you focus on what matters most: creating a memorable and impactful event. As you look to improve ticketing at your event, the following capabilities will help make your event a success.
1. Online and Mobile Ticket Sales
Online ticket sales are convenient for attendees and staff. They simplify the purchase process while making it possible to reach a wider audience through social media, email marketing, and other engagement channels.
2. Donations Integration
Robust ticketing solutions include functionality that enables ticket purchasers to contribute additional donations at checkout. By making it easy for attendees to give extra funds, you will amplify your event’s fundraising impact.
3. Secure Payments and Onsite Payments
When selecting an event ticketing solution, make sure it offers secure payment processing with PCI Level 1 compliance to keep sensitive personal data safe. The system should also work directly with your nonprofit CRM solution to effectively manage donor profiles and their ticketing information. The result is smoother operations and a positive experience for event attendees.
Additionally, you should look for an option that allows for onsite payment as well. For example, credit card payment terminals are extremely convenient for collecting funds from people who didn't pre-buy their tickets or when you are selling raffles, drink tickets, or other items for purchase.
💡The best part? When your donor engagement system and fundraising software work together, all your donor info and giving behaviors are stored automatically. This is helpful because it eliminates tedious tasks like importing/exporting donor data.
4. Customizable Ticketing Pages
Personalize your event's online presence with customized ticketing and donation pages that reflect your organization's branding and create a cohesive experience for attendees. Customization goes beyond aesthetics. Consider the names you give ticket options and packages to create a sense of identity and familiarity, all while reinforcing your organization's mission and cultivating a high-quality event experience.
5. Social Media Integration
Amplify your event's visibility by utilizing social media features that allow attendees to share their participation and engage with your organization's online community. Harnessing the power of social networks extends your event's reach by leveraging attendees’ enthusiasm to attract a broader audience.
6. Discount Codes
Lean into discount codes as a strategic tool to drive ticket sales for your fundraising event. Encourage pre-sales by creating a discount code only valid until a specific date, after which point attendees must pay full price.
Another proven tactic is to offer exclusive discounts to longtime supporters. This approach shows donors you value them and recognize their ongoing commitment to your cause. For more tips on how to use promo codes to drive urgency, read our post on overcoming ask shyness.
7. Minimum and Maximum Number of Tickets
Maintain control over event capacity by setting minimum and maximum ticket limits. You can assign limits for a single item, such as the number of drink tickets an individual can pre-purchase, or limits for the total capacity of the item, such as the total number of drink tickets sold for the event. This feature enhances logistical planning and event profitability while creating an event environment that balances exclusivity and inclusion.
8. Group Tickets or Tables
Another benefit of ticketing solutions is the ability to facilitate group attendance by setting up special packages for purchasing a full table or large group of tickets. You also have the option to collect guest names if needed. This is especially advantageous when you want to highlight corporate sponsors at your gala.
9. Seating Chart Feature
Ticketing solutions with built-in seating chart features eliminate administrative hurdles for your staff. Create a diagram for each room that will be used in your event, including room dimensions and objects or features such as dance floors or stages. Then, simply drag and drop groups or individual guests to assign them to tables.
10. Guest Check-In for Attendees
An easy check-in process sets the tone for the event and lets you combine ticketing and auction activities. Use your ticketing system to capture attendee information upfront and deliver a hassle-free auction closeout. This eliminates the need to chase attendees for payment, simplifies the payment process, and enhances the overall efficiency of the event.
11. Donor Covers the Fee
Standard payment processing fees are necessary for an organization looking to bring its fundraising to the next level with software that improves supporters’ giving experiences and reduces internal teams’ workloads. A great way to raise even more? Use a ticketing system that offers donors the option to cover these fees themselves—the majority of supporters will be more than happy to.
What Are the Benefits of Using Nonprofit Event Ticketing?
Unlock the full potential of your events by harnessing the many opportunities and benefits of robust ticketing.
Increased Efficiency
Nonprofit event ticketing enhances operational efficiency by automating processes and payment collection, reducing manual workload, and minimizing the risk of errors. This approach accelerates administrative tasks and allows organizations to allocate more resources toward strategic planning, creating a positive experience for event attendees.
Improved Fundraising
Streamlined ticketing experiences with built-in donation options contribute to nonprofit fundraising success, empowering your organization to achieve its goals. The fusion of ticketing and fundraising encourages attendees to actively contribute to their cause beyond initial ticket purchases.
Once a supporter purchases tickets and their data is securely captured in your donor management system, they are able to take part in auctions, raffles, and more without the hassle of repeatedly inputting their personal info on separate, disconnected websites.
Enhanced Data Collection
The capture of participant information through ticket sales makes the giving experience more enjoyable for your supporters on the front end. That’s in part because it helps you generate valuable insights that enable targeted marketing, personalized communication, and informed decision-making for future events.
Information capture transforms each ticket sale into an opportunity to understand your audience better so you can tailor future events to their preferences and increase donor engagement; it allows you to effectively track and communicate with donors, personalize their experience, and cultivate stronger relationships.
Better Attendee Communication
Email communication tools that pair with the ticketing system enable timely updates, event details, and post-event gratitude, enabling you to foster connections with your audience. Keep in mind that effective communication extends far beyond ticket sales—it’s vital for nurturing relationships and ensuring that attendees remain engaged and informed throughout the event lifecycle.
Database for Future Events
Build a comprehensive database of attendees to lay the groundwork for future events and develop an engaged audience base. A database is a strategic asset, allowing your nonprofit to cultivate a community of supporters who are primed to participate in additional fundraisers, campaigns, your monthly giving program, and other events that promote your organization’s good work in the local community.
How to Choose the Right Nonprofit Event Ticketing
Choosing the right ticketing can be a challenging process—and there are plenty of options to choose from. As you consider your choices, the following steps will point you in the right direction:
Research Your Options
Conduct research on available ticketing solutions, considering features, user reviews, and compatibility with your nonprofit's needs. An informed decision at this stage lays the foundation for an effective and tailored ticketing solution.
Consider Your Budget
Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of various solutions, and determine which ones fall within your nonprofit's budgetary constraints. Balancing features with costs is essential to maximize the value you receive from your ticketing platform. For example, ask yourself: Are you looking for a disconnected ticketing solution or one that is already built into your other donor engagement and fundraising solutions?
Evaluate User-Friendliness
An intuitive, easy-to-use interface reduces the learning curve for both your organization and event attendees. It also enhances overall satisfaction and ensures participants have a positive experience from ticket purchase to event attendance.
Look for Customer Support
Choose a ticketing provider with excellent customer support to minimize delays or disruptions. Responsive customer support is crucial for quickly resolving issues and maintaining a smooth event planning process.
How FrontStream Can Help in Nonprofit Event Ticketing
FrontStream offers a powerful all-in-one donor engagement, volunteer management, and fundraising solution for nonprofits that elevate events to the next level. From seamless online ticket sales to customizable event pages and auctions with a risk-free marketplace, FrontStream empowers your organization to rely on ticketing in dynamic ways and unlock the full potential of your events.
Request a demo now to explore how FrontStream supports ticketing to help make your gala season memorable and impactful.
