Gala Changes Aim for an RSVP Without Regrets
Twenty years ago, a few charities launched what they thought would be a sure-fire hit: The "stay-at-home" fundraiser. Donors were asked to buy tickets, but didn't have to show up for yet another black-tie dinner in a hotel ballroom. No tux, no traffic, no hassle. Just the thing after all the excess of the '80s, right?</br></br>Wrong. After a few embarrassing flops, the idea was quickly abandoned when organizers realized that their patrons liked going to parties.</br></br>Fast-forward two decades, when nonprofits face shrinking resources, fewer donors and boards keeping nervous eyes on the bottom line. Arts organizations have a tougher time making their case when people feel their spare dollars should go to human services rather than culture.</br></br>So: What to do? Cancel the galas and just ask for direct donations instead? Risky move, even in this economy.</br></br>"Events are about creating memorable moments," said David Adler, founder of Bizbash, the party industry bible. "Doing nothing or cutting back so much kills the gala's future more than the recession."