How many "hearty salads" can one person eat?: Deciding which nonprofit luncheons to attend.

In the last six hours, I attended a fundraising luncheon for the Seattle YWCA, was invited to a different fundraising luncheon, and reminded that I should be attending a third fundraising event this weekend.  As the spring luncheon/breakfast/auction season begins, I'm wondering, how should I decide which events to attend?  And at what point do I stop being a community volunteer and start being a lady who lunches?

Don't get me wrong.  I  enjoy supporting friends who are serving as table captains.

 I love a great speaker, inspirational stories, and a chance to catch up with like-minded friends.  I don't even mind the hearty salads that have become the fundraising luncheon standard. 

But would it be more effective to write a check to the organization and spend the two hours doing something else?  At the very least, it's time to develop some criteria for deciding whether to attend a fundraising event.

Here's my first draft:

1.  Is the organization's mission in line with my giving priorities?

2.  Are the organization's programs effective in carrying out its mission?

3.  Do I have a personal connection to the organization?

4.  Will the speakers be inspiring or thought provoking?

5.  Will the event be fun?

6.  Who is inviting me?

7.  Does the event conflict with other appointments?

8.  Have I attended this event before?

What do you think, am I missing any important criteria? How should I weigh the criteria?

And don't get me started on whether big events are the most effective and efficient ways to raise money.  That's a topic for another post. 

NOTE:  For more on the YWCA event and Patty Stonesifer, please see my Twitter feed.

The Effect of the Economic Downturn on Non-Profits

I serve on the board of a local non-profits and am involved with many others.  One question a lot of folks involved with non-profits are pondering these days is, how will the grim economic news impact non-profit fundraising?

Experts argue that the impact will be limited, especially in historical context.  Yet, stories are circulating about non-profits struggling to raise money and feeling pessimistic about fundraising efforts.

Next week I need to motivate my fellow board members to keep working on our largest fundraising campaign of the year.  It's hard when every time I turn on the radio or open the paper I seem to learn more depressing economic news.  My usual motivational tools, cupcakes and tokens gifts, are only so effective.

I plan on looking deeper into the advice, tips and suggestions that seem to be everywhere.  A number of sources agree that continuing to ask, cultivate and acquire new donors is essential.  

Has the economic news changed your giving? What does effective solicitation look like to you in this economy?