How to ask event attendees for donations

By Jamy-Lee Holt 

Guest content writer, Donorbox

Despite economic uncertainty and volatility across the sector, a new report revealed that 77% of nonprofits hit their event goals in 2025.

From galas to community gatherings, fundraising events are a fantastic opportunity to build organizational awareness, strengthen connections with supporters, and raise more for your mission.

Once someone attends your event, they’ve taken that important first step towards building a relationship with your organization. They may have heard about your mission through a friend or been moved by a touching beneficiary video online.

However, your event may also be the first time a supporter hears about or engages with your organization. Not every supporter is ready to donate immediately after they’ve attended. And asking too soon or too often can cause the relationship to feel transactional instead of meaningful.

So how do you know when it’s the right time to make an ask?

In this article, I’ll share proven strategies on how—and when—to ask your event attendees for donations while cultivating lasting relationships.

Before you make the ask, know who you’re asking

Every attendee has different interests, preferences, and giving behaviors, which is why it’s important to personalize your post-event outreach so it appeals to them specifically.

Similarly, not every supporter leaves your event feeling connected to your cause in the same way. Some may be long-term supporters, while others may be hearing about your work for the first time.

To ensure your messaging resonates with each attendee, start by segmenting your audience. This will enable you to tailor your follow-up communications so they feel as relevant and considerate as possible.

Here are some useful audience segments to consider:

• First-time attendees who haven’t donated: Instead of leading with an appeal, steward new supporters by thanking them for attending, sharing impact stories, and inviting them to get more involved by volunteering or subscribing to your mailing list.
• Attendees who are existing donors: Acknowledge their generosity before asking for additional donations. Showcase the impact of their gifts and explain how their continued support can make a difference.

• VIPs and long-term donors: Sponsors, major donors, and long-term supporters will appreciate more personalized communication. Have a board member send a tailored follow-up to thank them and share/discuss future giving opportunities.
• Highly engaged attendees: Certain guests may have stayed longer, visited information booths, or spent extra time speaking with your team. Personalize your messaging and share how they can get more involved in your work.

It’s also important to acknowledge attendees who donated during your event. Make them feel valued by sending them a heartwarming thank you message and letting them know exactly how their donation will be used. 

Remember that relationship-building should be at the heart of every email you send. When people feel appreciated, they’ll be more inclined to continue supporting your organization.

Decide exactly what you’re asking attendees to support

Before you make a fundraising appeal, define what you’re asking your event attendees to help you accomplish.

People want to know what their gift will achieve, and providing a specific, clear ask will inspire confidence. Instead of a generic appeal, focus on one clear need, such as a specific program or event objective.

Make sure your ask is impactful and immediately communicates the potential outcome of their gift.

Instead of:

“Please support our organization.”

Consider something more action-inspiring, like:

“Your gift of X will provide one student with a semester’s worth of essential school supplies.”

This way, supporters know exactly how their gift can make a measurable, meaningful difference.

Additionally, while it’s appropriate to include an ask at different stages of your event, choose one specific appeal to centralize your fundraising efforts. Concentrating your attention on one clear request will minimize the risk of donor fatigue and supporters feeling overwhelmed by too many appeals.

When should you ask event attendees for donations?

The answer to this question depends on the nature of your fundraising event, your attendees, and how they engage with your mission.

Here are a few general guidelines on when to ask attendees for a gift:

• Before the event: If fundraising is the primary objective of your event, invite supporters to donate during the invitation or registration process. Explain the impact they can have and encourage them to make an early contribution. Paperless Post makes it easy for you to design a customized event invitation and include a link to your donation page!
• During the event: Attendees often feel an urge to give after they hear a beneficiary testimonial, keynote speech, or impact story you share. Asking for a contribution here will feel like the natural next step to take.
• After an event: Follow up with attendees within 24-48 hours, while the connection is still fresh. Thank them for their support, share early event outcomes, and provide those who haven’t donated yet with an opportunity to give. Introduce recurring giving, membership, and other ways to get involved to existing donors.

Remember to steward your attendees and thank them for their support wherever possible.

How to ask for donations without creating pressure

How you word your appeal can make or break the success of your ask, even if you’ve meticulously planned your audience, timing, and objectives.

Here are some tips to take the pressure out of your fundraising appeal:

• Connect the ask to the event experience: Link your appeal to something your attendees experienced first-hand at your event, such as a keynote speech or impact story. Sparking emotion through shared moments will reinforce the impact their gift can have.

• Explain the need and the next step clearly: Clearly articulate the fundraising need, its urgency, and how their contributions can make a difference.
• Use inviting, pressure-free language: Supporters are more likely to give when they feel respected and aren’t pressured to do so. Use language like “We invite you to give…” or “If you can, make a small gift toward…” to encourage participation.

Keeping your messaging warm, clear, and connected to the event experience will create more space for generosity.

Make it easy for event attendees to give

Even the most compelling appeal can lose momentum if attendees have to wait in a long queue or struggle to access your online donation form.

Your supporters expect their generosity to be met with a fast and frictionless giving experience. That’s how you’ll show them you value their time and support.

Here are a few ways to make giving convenient during your event:

• QR codes: Include QR codes in visible areas, such as on event signage, information booths, and walls, so donors can quickly scan and complete their gift via your donation page.

• Giving kiosks: Place donation kiosks in high-traffic areas to make giving quick and hassle-free. It should only require a quick tap of a card or digital wallet to donate.
• Text-to-give: Allow attendees to give quickly via text. Display your campaign ID or custom keyword along with the number or short code they need to text on your presentation.

Instead of juggling multiple platforms, use a comprehensive fundraising solution like Donorbox, which offers all the fundraising features mentioned above, as well as a robust event ticketing tool. Using an all-in-one solution can significantly streamline your campaign execution and post-event reporting while enabling a frictionless donor experience.

The easier you make it for attendees to support your cause, the greater your revenue potential.

Over to you

Your event is designed to build stronger connections with attendees and inspire them to continue supporting your work long after it ends. When every touchpoint feels convenient, thoughtful, and personalized, giving will feel like the natural next step.

Paperless Pro provides you with all the tools you need to plan a successful fundraising event. From customized event invitations to tracking RSVPs, it streamlines the entire event planning process so you can focus on what matters most: fundraising.