--- title: Data-Driven Tips for Your Virtual Fundraising Event description: Virtual fundraising event tips and recommendations based on results of 100+ virtual nonprofit events image: https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Virtual%20Fundraising%20Events%20(2).jpg --- [Client Login](http://manage.swellgives.com) - [![Twittee](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Swellfundraising-Mar2017-Theme/Images/twitter_secondnav.svg)](https://twitter.com/swellfunds) - [![Facebook](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Swellfundraising-Mar2017-Theme/Images/facebook_secondnav.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/swellfundraising) - [![LinkedIn](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Swellfundraising-Mar2017-Theme/Images/linkedin_secondnav.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/3605977?trk=tyah&trkInfo=clickedVertical%3Acompany%2CclickedEntityId%3A3605977%2Cidx%3A2-1-2%2CtarId%3A1459363657085%2Ctas%3Aswell%20fund) [![Swell logo](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hs-fs/hubfs/swell_just_website.png?width=144&name=swell_just_website.png "swell_just_website.png")](https://www.swellfundraising.com) # Blog ### Categories - [Fundraising (53)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/fundraising) - [Event Tips (52)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/event-tips) - [Event Tech (20)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/event-tech) - [Peer to Peer (7)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/peer-to-peer) - [Online Fundraising (6)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/online-fundraising) - [technology (5)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/technology) - [Junior Board (4)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/junior-board) - [Social Media (4)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/social-media) - [Event Ideas (3)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/event-ideas) - [Management (1)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/management) [See all](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/data-driven-tips-for-your-virtual-fundraising-event#) # Data-Driven Tips for Your Virtual Fundraising Event ![Brooke Battle](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/18d185227359438da80da2f804090157) Written by : ### [Brooke Battle](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/author/brooke-battle) Categories: [Event Tips](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/event-tips) With hundreds of virtual events behind us, the following tips are derived from data-driven results such as attendance relative to registrations, attendance related to time of day, guest login/logout pace, time spent at the event and peak logout times. All of these indicators drive a nonprofit's ultimate success with a virtual fundraising event. Here are our current recommendations based on event data since Swell's first 100% virtual event on April 23, 2020. **Event registration.** The event registration process is the most important driver of a successful virtual nonprofit event. Attendance at a virtual event is a factor of the pre-registrations. While there were a few outliers, attendance ranged from 50%-65% of registrations. Furthermore, events that followed a table captain/team invitation process enjoyed the highest attendance and engagement as a percentage of pre-registrations. Virtual events that did not connect a healthy registration process were the least successful universally. [**Learn More About How Swell Registration Impacts Fundraising**](https://www.swellfundraising.com/virtual-fundraising-events) **Live streaming.** Invest in a professional company. First, the live production IS the event and serves as a reflection of you, your sponsors and all who support you. *After a well-produced virtual event, a nonprofit CEO received a message from a smaller sponsor bemoaning the fact that they weren’t the signature sponsor this year.* *It’s an investment in the future.* Second, the footage can be reused in many locations - on your social channels, blog and even an encore event.Virtual guests remained on professional streams three times longer than guests on a DIY event. Third, the time you and your team will spend practicing and figuring out how to produce a live streamed event can is better spent communicating with donors and guests. **What should your program be? Run-of-Show.** Characteristics of the most successful virtual fundraising events include the following:   **Time of Day.** While we have witnessed successful events at all times of the day, the data suggests that lunch events perform best (higher percentage of pre-registered guests, higher engagement with chat/giving), evening events performed slightly better than breakfast fundraisers. The lowest attendance and engagement occurred for Saturday evening events. **Test the Experience Completely. ** ![_THANK YOU and Team Swell! How fun was that_! Most appreciated - and what an awesome software._](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hs-fs/hubfs/_THANK%20YOU%20and%20Team%20Swell!%20How%20fun%20was%20that_!%20Most%20appreciated%20-%20and%20what%20an%20awesome%20software._.jpg?width=232&name=_THANK%20YOU%20and%20Team%20Swell!%20How%20fun%20was%20that_!%20Most%20appreciated%20-%20and%20what%20an%20awesome%20software._.jpg) Prior to signing up with a software company, we strongly recommend attending an event using that software as a guest (if possible). Once your event is launched, go through the registration, communication and virtual event entry/experience. With virtual, your board and constituents will look to you. If the nonprofit team shows confidence in the process and experience, your guests will respond accordingly. Your leadership with a new experience matters. PS… Event Registrations. It’s absolutely the key to success. ![Brooke Battle](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/18d185227359438da80da2f804090157) ### [Brooke Battle](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/author/brooke-battle) [![Share on facebook](https://7528309.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528309/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/facebook-color.png?width=24&name=facebook-color.png) ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.swellfundraising.com%2Fdata-driven-tips-for-your-virtual-fundraising-event%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on linkedin](https://7528302.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528302/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/linkedin-color.png?width=24&name=linkedin-color.png) ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.swellfundraising.com%2Fdata-driven-tips-for-your-virtual-fundraising-event%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on twitter](https://7528304.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528304/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/twitter-color.png?width=24&name=twitter-color.png) ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.swellfundraising.com%2Fdata-driven-tips-for-your-virtual-fundraising-event%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.swellfundraising.com%2Fdata-driven-tips-for-your-virtual-fundraising-event%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=) [![Share on pinterest](https://7528311.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528311/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/pinterest-color.png?width=24&name=pinterest-color.png) ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.swellfundraising.com%2Fdata-driven-tips-for-your-virtual-fundraising-event%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dpinterest&media=) Brooke Battle Creating Personalized Donor Experiences at Your Events ## Why? A Personalized Donor Experience The difference between a forgettable gala and one that leads... [Read More ![Read More](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Swell_Fundraising_May_2016_Images/tile_arrow.svg) ![Read More](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Swell_Fundraising_May_2016_Images/tile_arrow_hovered.svg) ](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/creating-personalized-donor-experiences-at-your-events) Brooke Battle Why We Canceled the Auction at Our Nonprofit Fundraising Event *“Join us on November 2nd for our annual gala. Guests will enjoy cocktails, dinner, a silent...* [Read More ![Read More](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Swell_Fundraising_May_2016_Images/tile_arrow.svg) ![Read More](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Swell_Fundraising_May_2016_Images/tile_arrow_hovered.svg) ](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/why-we-canceled-the-auction-at-our-nonprofit-fundraising-event) Brooke Battle Peer to Peer Fundraising: A Nonprofit Guide to Fundraiser Communication Effective communication is the cornerstone of successful peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns. This... [Read More ![Read More](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Swell_Fundraising_May_2016_Images/tile_arrow.svg) ![Read More](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Swell_Fundraising_May_2016_Images/tile_arrow_hovered.svg) ](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/peer-to-peer-fundraising-a-nonprofit-guide-to-fundraiser-communication) - [**](http://www.facebook.com/swellfundraising) - [**](https://instagram.com/swellfundraising) - [**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/swellfundraising) Newsletter sign up form it’s fast and easy ```   ``` [About Us](https://www.swellfundraising.com/about) [Affiliate Program](https://go.swellfundraising.com/referral-program-channel-partners) [Bloomerang Integration ](https://go.swellfundraising.com/en/bloomerang-integration-1)         info@swellfundraising.com ### Recent Blog Posts   Copyright Swell Fundraising 2026 [Terms of use](https://www.swellfundraising.com/terms-and-conditions) | [Privacy policy](https://www.swellfundraising.com/policy) ** ![](https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/viewthroughconversion/877713489/?guid=ON&script=0) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Brooke Battle", "url" : "https://blog.swellfundraising.com/author/brooke-battle" }, "dateModified" : "2020-12-04T15:35:58.163Z", "datePublished" : "2020-12-04T15:35:57.000Z", "headline" : "Data-Driven Tips for Your Virtual Fundraising Event", "image" : [ "https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Virtual%20Fundraising%20Events%20(2).jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.swellfundraising.com/data-driven-tips-for-your-virtual-fundraising-event", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/SwellBrand/Swell%20Logos/Swell_SOLO_blue.png" }, "name" : "Swell Fundraising" } } ```