Bloomerang Report Reveals Gap Between Fundraising Events and Donor Preferences
New Data in Bloomerang’s Engagement Amplified Report Reveals How to Design Fundraising Events That Drive Engagement and Lasting Impact
Bloomerang, the industry’s leading fundraising, donor, and volunteer management platform, today released its Engagement Amplified: A Modern Guide to Fundraising Events report, highlighting the key elements of an engaging and impactful fundraising event. The study, which surveyed more than 250 fundraisers and 1,000 donors, reveals a growing disconnect between how nonprofits are planning events and the engagement donors want. While many fundraisers continue to rely on gala events, donors are increasingly seeking unique and interactive experiences centered on connection, energy, and clear purpose.
“Nonprofits can no longer afford to think in terms of ‘event season.’ Fundraising needs to be always-on, with events playing a strategic role in nurturing donor relationships year-round. Financial pressures, reduced federal funding, and staffing challenges demand a smarter approach,” said Dennis Fois, chief executive officer at Bloomerang. “Our research equips organizations with the insights and tools to design experiences that do more than raise money—they build lasting connections and power long-term impact.”
Key findings from the Engagement Amplified report include:
- Galas don’t match supporter preferences: Galas are the most commonly hosted event type, yet they rank eighth in popularity among supporters – trailing races, concerts, breakfasts, peer-to-peer fundraisers, and more
- Donors prefer text more than fundraisers think: Fundraisers rank text messaging as the sixth most effective way to promote events, while donors rank it as their third most preferred method.
- Staffing is a major planning hurdle: Limited staffing is the top challenge for event planning (68%).
- Feedback collection is underused: Only 50% of fundraisers collect feedback from event attendees.
- Post-event engagement is often overlooked: 58% of fundraisers do not implement any post-event engagement strategies.
“Effective attendee engagement doesn’t end when the event is over,” said Ann Fellman, chief marketing officer at Bloomerang. “Our findings make it clear that post-event follow-up is one of the most underutilized yet most important strategies available to fundraisers. Whether it’s a thank-you message, an invitation to volunteer, or an update on the event’s impact, these moments of continued connection are essential to turn one-time attendees into committed supporters.”
The Designing Events That Stick report offers a fresh and strategic approach grounded in donor expectations, enabling fundraisers to design more meaningful moments, spark deeper participation, and strengthen long-term relationships.
To learn more and download the full report, click here.
