Behind the Production of the Monthly Giving Summit

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This podcast is brought to you by LinkedIn for Nonprofits. We’re so grateful for their partnership. Explore their incredible suite of resources and discounts for nonprofit teams here.

Behind the Production of the Monthly Giving Summit

Hosting a large-scale virtual event takes more than just a great idea—it requires a strategic approach, meticulous planning, and a dedicated team.

In this behind-the-scenes look at the Monthly Giving Summit, we’re diving into how we attracted 4,693 nonprofit professionals from 58 countries, the marketing strategies that made it happen, and the team effort that brought it all together.

Marketing Strategy: 

Our marketing approach played a crucial role in the success of the summit. A combination of paid ads, influencer collaborations, and strategic partnerships helped drive registrations, making the event a global success.

• Meta Ads: A $2,500 investment brought in 1,228 registrations at $2.04 per sign-up.
• Influencer Partnerships: Nonprofit consultants helped secure 10% of registrations.
• Speaker Promotions: Teaser videos boosted engagement.
• Strategic Outreach: Adding our event to nonprofit conference lists expanded reach.
• Email & LinkedIn: Consistent outreach drove steady sign-ups.

Understanding Attendee Interests

Analyzing registrants’ interests and challenges helped us tailor our content effectively:

• 55.5% wanted to learn about acquiring new monthly donors.
• 20% were interested in starting a monthly giving program.
• 13.5% wanted to integrate monthly giving into their fundraising strategies.
• 67% had annual online revenue under $100K, indicating they were in the early stages of their monthly giving journey.

Delivering a High-Engagement Live Event

The event’s success wasn’t just in the numbers—it was in the experience.

• 50% live show-up rate thanks to strategic reminders.
• 4 hours 24 minutes average session time per attendee.
• 10,000+ chat messages exchanged, fostering community interaction.
• Giveaways and interactive elements kept interest high.

Speaker Strategy: Investing in Quality

We hosted 31 incredible speakers, of which 18 were paid. Our speaker investment totaled $5,000, ensuring top-tier content:

• Panel Sessions: Paid $250 (donation or direct payment) for 15-30 minute segments.
• Keynotes: Paid $750 for 30-minute presentations.
• Post-Event Appreciation: Personalized thank-you cards through Lettrlabs left a lasting impression.

Sponsors: More Than Just Financial Support

Our event wouldn’t have been possible without our sponsors—Givebutter, Fundraise Up, MissionWired, Tatango, iDonate, and DonorPerfect. Their contributions extended beyond financial support; they provided valuable insights and resources that attendees found beneficial.

Team & Execution

Our core team of six, plus additional support, ensured seamless execution:

• A $4,500 investment in staff time.
• Small perks like DoorDash gift cards kept morale high.

Lessons & Improvements

With an average attendee recommendation score of 9.1/10, we’re building on success:

• Longer breakout sessions.
• More networking opportunities.
• Additional downloadable resources.
• Tailored content for different growth stages.

The Monthly Giving Summit proved that authenticity, strategic marketing, and strong partnerships drive meaningful engagement. As we plan next year’s event, we’ll refine our approach to make it even more impactful. Want to host your own high-impact virtual event? Start with authenticity and community-driven content!

Resources & Links

This show is presented by LinkedIn for Nonprofits. We’re so grateful for their partnership. Explore their incredible suite of resources and discounts for nonprofit teams here.

Thank you to our amazing partners who made the Monthly Giving Summit possible: Givebutter, Fundraise Up, MissionWired, Tatango, iDonate, and DonorPerfect.

I used LettrLabs to send thank you notes to speakers.

My book, The Monthly Giving Mastermind, is here! Grab a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.

Join The Sustainers, my Slack community for nonprofit professionals growing and scaling a recurring giving program.

Want to make Missions to Movements even better? Take a screenshot of this episode and share it on Instagram. Be sure to tag @positivequation so I can connect with you.