The Mini Summit on Fundraising Events
In short, the Mini Summit on Fundraising Events is a bi-annual gathering hosted by Red Element Studios for fundraising leaders to share event ideas and strategy to raise more money for worthy causes. Read more and sign up below!
Gathering the sharpest fundraising minds
At Red Element, we’ve been working with nonprofits since we started creating videos and producing events back in 2011. Well over half of our clients are nonprofits and working with these organizations to help raise money for important causes is not only fun for us, it’s part of our identity. It’s a very intentional choice and we love it.
As we reflected on our love of nonprofit work, we had an idea: what if we could use our network, our client list, and our physical studio here to provide a space and platform for sharing, learning, and networking. We’re experts in video storytelling, show flows, live streaming, and all things audio/visual for fundraising events. But those things are only a small part of successful fundraising.
We’re not experts in the OTHER 6,000 things orgs have to do well in order to raise money – registration, major gifts, silent auctions, recruiting co-chairs, and on and on. But our event director clients and colleagues have deep expertise in these areas. Many of our clients have asked us, “What are your other clients doing when it comes to hybrid…” or “What are your other clients doing about silent auctions…”, or “How do we take best advantage of board member participation?” There is no better answer to those questions than to connect orgs directly with each other for some show-and-tell and networking. No lectures or podiums here. We simply aim to provide a forum for nonprofit representatives to share what they already know.
We hope these summits are a practice in “the rising tide floats all boats.” After two summits so far, in January and June of 2024, we’ve received great feedback from attendees.
“There are many conferences and networking opportunities for frontline fundraisers and private event professionals, but seemingly very few options for fundraising event planners! The nonprofit mini summits at Red Element Studios are an oasis of information, connection and community that I was missing. I appreciate the honesty, candor, and real experience shared at these summits. I feel like I now have access to the Avengers of the fundraising event world, and I’m so grateful!” — Samantha DeLuna, Director of Events & Special Projects, Seattle Symphony
“The nonprofit summits have been extremely helpful. To share information with other event professionals, is invaluable. I love learning about what others are doing and to know that others have the same pain points I do. It’s a great group of professionals and I always walk away feeling rejuvenated.” — Jennifer Fischer, Special Events and Corporate Relations Officer, Overlake Medical Center Foundation
“Red Element’s mini-summits help me source ideas and troubleshoot sticky event issues with other fundraisers. They are also a wonderful occasion for networking and community-building within the Seattle non-profit space.” — Nina Gerber, Associate Director of Development, Year Up
"The mini-summit was an occasion to get together with other fundraisers, discuss the hardest challenges, and share the successes of organizing fundraising events in the Seattle area. I learned a lot and met amazing fellow fundraisers!" — Camilla Pusceddu, Development Manager at NW Education Access
By sharing successes, challenges and ideas, we all help raise more money for the significant need and worthy causes in our community. Sign up below to be informed of our upcoming gatherings!