Galas Aren't Good Fundraising

Quotable excerpts on the danger of "fundraising" galas by leading advisors to nonprofits. From a thread last week on Charity Channel.


"I refer to galas as the "hail mary pass" of the fundraising world. When the clock is running and you don't think you have the time, energy, expertise, or money to engage in a more effective means of fundraising, someone decides it's time to do a gala...

"...just about ANYTHING makes more sense than an event as a fundraiser."

--Renata J. Rafferty



"I would define a gala or other fundraising event as an event that has nothing to do with your mission, or so little to do with your mission that a funder would laugh if you tried to fund it as a real mission-related activity."

--Hildy Gottleib