Fundraising events

Numerous community events took place at Arnos Vale Cemetery during the year I was its Development Manager – a Spring Fair, Christmas Market, "Raise the Roof" gospel concert and regular tours.

The Spring Eternal event invited 'the great and the good' to experience the life of the cemetery. Comedian, Mark Olver, kindly persuaded his colleagues to perform free-of-charge. Both events raised money and, as importantly, welcomed new people into the charity's community of supporters.

Spring Eternal fundraising gala*

Event: Spring Eternal fundraising gala
Role: event organiser, event branding, gained sponsorship, project management.

Click to see gala video

Video and event photography: Harrison Dowling:

Strongly branded, simply dressed event with thrift (flowers in jam jars, volunteer-made desserts) made a feature and reason to suuport.
Budget:  Reduced projected event costs from £21k to just £1,600 by re-shaping planned formal event to an informal evening of entertainment – local and national business sponsorship and pro-bono performances.
Attendance: over 70 guests;  Bristol philanthropists and AVCT supporters including Bristol's Mayor, Lord Mayor and High Sheriff.
Raised:  £7,500 after costs, doubled to £15k by HLF match-funding.
Stewardship: invited non-attendees and interested parties to ‘Breakfast bacon butty tours” elicting further £2,250 donations and interest in future ambassadorship

 

 

 

AVCT comedy weekend fundraiser*

Role: event co-ordinator, publicity designer, community fundraiser.

mark olver, comedy, fundraising, charity

As Development Manager, I connected with comedian, Mark Olver to put on two fundraising gigs. Comedians waived their fees.
Raised: £2,500 (£5,000 HLF-matchfunded) from ticket sales, a bucket collection and bar run by the ever-supportive Friends of Arnos Vale Cemetery (100 seater venue).
Engaged: new audience (many drawn from outside the Cemetery’s local area of support – postecode analysis), 25–30% had never before visited the site.