Smarter Fundraising: What Nonprofit Events Drive a High ROI?

by Brittany LaGanke, VP, Project Management, CGC

Imagine spending months organizing an event for your nonprofit. Your team coordinates vendors, secures sponsors, and rallies volunteers only to break even—or worse, lose money.

For nonprofits with limited staff and tight budgets, this scenario is a serious setback. In the nonprofit world, where every dollar counts, your events must do more than fill seats. They need to deliver measurable results and raise enough money to push your mission forward. Luckily, some events consistently deliver a high return on investment (ROI).

Why This Is Important: Strategically choosing high-ROI events allows you to build long-term donor relationships, strengthen your organization’s brand, and raise more for your cause.

This article explores fundraising formats that combine engagement and efficiency. First, let’s explore important elements of high-ROI events, so you can pick the ones worth your energy.

What Defines a High-ROI Nonprofit Fundraising Event?

High-ROI events are designed with both revenue generation and resource efficiency in mind. Here are some common traits to keep an eye out for:

Low overhead costs: Events with minimal expenses for venues, staffing, and materials
Broad audience appeal: Activities that resonate with a wide supporter base
Recurring potential: Initiatives with the ability to become annual traditions
Scalability: Events with the capacity to grow over time through higher attendance and increased sponsorship

By focusing on events with these traits, your fundraising team can make smarter decisions about where to invest your nonprofit’s time and resources. Bear in mind that high-ROI events aren’t always the flashiest, but they consistently deliver results. Also, the best options depend on your unique supporter base, so consider asking what events would interest them.

Top 5 High-ROI Nonprofit Fundraising Events

Galas

With their formal atmosphere, elegant venues, and high-profile guests, galas offer an opportunity to build prestige and raise significant funds. They are especially effective for engaging major donors and corporate sponsors who value face-to-face interactions and recognition.

Despite their higher upfront costs, galas can deliver a strong ROI when executed well. The key to success is leveraging sponsorships to offset expenses and designing a program that connects the event to your mission.

To maximize your gala’s ROI, try the following strategies:

Partner with local vendors and service providers for in-kind contributions, such as donated catering, floral arrangements, or AV support. These collaborations reduce event costs and build lasting community relationships.
Include additional revenue drivers like live auctions and raffles to capture spontaneous generosity. These activities add energy to your program while maximizing on-the-spot contributions. They require additional planning, though. For instance, Qgiv’s silent auction planning guide highlights additional steps like procuring auction items and investing in auction software to run this part of your event.
Showcase compelling stories through live testimonials, videos, or multimedia to connect guests with your mission emotionally. When donors see their impact in action, they’re more likely to give generously.

Galas can become flagship fundraising events that anchor your annual calendar. They offer a chance to celebrate your mission and create unforgettable moments that inspire supporters to attend each year.

Golf Tournaments

Golf tournaments are a classic choice for organizations looking to attract high-net-worth individuals and corporate sponsors. These events offer a full day of social engagement in a relaxed, outdoor setting, making them ideal for donor cultivation.

Their value lies in quality over quantity: fewer participants but higher per-head contributions. The ability to customize sponsorship opportunities—from branded holes to catered meals—adds flexibility and revenue potential.

Try these strategies to maximize your tournament’s revenue:

Reach out to local golf courses early to negotiate discounted rates. Courses are often willing to offer nonprofit discounts or waive fees in exchange for promotion and goodwill.
Develop multi-tiered sponsorship packages that provide ascending benefits, such as logo placement, speaking opportunities, or branded giveaways. Think beyond standard signage by offering the chance to present awards during the closing ceremony or sponsor a hole.
Add fun, competitive elements like closest-to-the-pin contests, hole-in-one challenges, and awards for best team performance to create memorable experiences that encourage higher turnout.

A well-run tournament can also double as a donor cultivation opportunity, offering extended face time with supporters. Use this time to learn more about their interests, provide mission updates, or introduce them to board members or program staff.

Charity Runs

Races like 5Ks and 10Ks are a powerful way for your cause to reach the broader community. They are family-friendly and easily adaptable to various scales and budgets.

Digital registration platforms and social media make it much easier to find and sign up for your race. Plus, a charity run can become an anticipated annual tradition.

Here’s how to set your charity run up for success:

Allow registrants to create personal and team fundraising pages. Bloomerang highlights races as one of the best opportunities for peer-to-peer fundraising because it enables you to spread the word about your event ahead of time and allows supporters who can’t attend to still contribute. Even if peer-to-peer isn’t one of your campaign’s main focuses, this simple addition can boost engagement and open a secondary revenue stream.
Offer training tips and fundraising updates via email. This touchpoint motivates participants to stay involved while also creating additional opportunities to share your mission.
Create a branded swag bag for registrants. Include items like water bottles, T-shirts, and discount vouchers to local businesses (great for highlighting sponsors like local sporting goods stores).

Charity runs also offer excellent visibility when you choose thoughtful marketing strategies. Reach out to local publications, radio stations, and community calendars to boost registrations. To help supporters discover your event online, create a registration page on your website that includes the event time, fees, route map, and parking information. Then, link to it in your nonprofit’s email newsletter, social media, and marketing texts.

A-Thon Events

From schools to grassroots organizations, any group can host an a-thon event. Events like walk-a-thons, dance-a-thons, and read-a-thons are especially effective when your audience includes students, families, or digital-native supporters.

The model is simple: participants commit to a challenge, gather pledges to support their efforts, and track their progress over a set time. Participants earn pledges based on their efforts, so the greater their participation, the more money they’ll raise.

For instance, let’s say your nonprofit hosts a walk-a-thon. Participants would request pledges from their networks on a per-lap basis. If a family member pledged $10 per lap, and the participant walked 15 laps, that would add up to a $150 donation.

Set your a-thon event up for success with the following strategies:

Choose an activity aligned with your mission. For instance, a school, public library, or literacy-focused organization might host a read-a-thon. They will simultaneously raise donations and cause awareness.
Offer digital tracking tools and progress dashboards. Specialized fundraising software makes participating easier. Gamification features like leaderboards will spark friendly competition as people race to the top.
Encourage participants to post updates. Provide templates and hashtags they can use to promote their efforts and drive donations.

A-thon events also offer built-in storytelling moments. Highlight participant milestones or feature team spotlights in your communications to keep everyone engaged throughout the campaign. This type of event is a great way to connect with new supporters as your community rallies together to support participants.

Food Festivals and Competitions

Few things bring people together like food. Culinary fundraisers—such as cook-offs, bake sales, or food truck festivals—offer broad appeal. These events spotlight local vendors, encourage sponsorships, and draw attendees from beyond your usual supporter list.

Food-based events are particularly effective when they integrate competitions, tasting experiences, and community voting elements. Their social and visual nature also makes them a natural fit for digital promotion and user-generated content.

To make the most of your food festival or competition, keep these best practices in mind:

Recruit well-known chefs or food enthusiasts as participants or judges. Their involvement can elevate your event’s credibility and generate buzz among food-loving community members.
Sell tickets online in advance. That way, you can forecast attendance, streamline admission on event day, and generate early revenue to support your planning.
Incentivize social sharing with giveaways. For instance, you might encourage participants to share event photos and tag your organization for a chance to win a gift card to a featured restaurant.

Once your event wraps up, celebrate its success by sharing recap photos, fundraising totals, and vendor highlights. This content can power your follow-up emails and even serve as promotional material for next year’s event.

Wrapping Up

As competition for supporters’ attention increases, event planners must do more than just think big—they must think smart. Rather than spreading your team thin, focusing on events with high return potential means more time spent building relationships and advancing your mission.

By selecting event types with proven ROI potential and tailoring them to fit your audience, you can ensure sustainable growth. Start by piloting one or two new event formats this year, and track your results to see what works.