Golf Tournaments have long been a popular, effective and fun way for charities to raise funds at key times throughout the year. But as with most events, the more it becomes a reliable staple fixture in a charity's event calendar, the greater the risk it may become overly predictable, tired and in need of a makeover. Hosted by Mike Prentice, Director of Client Development & Fundraising, this webinar will help you kick your golf fundraiser up a notch. Mike will facilitate an energetic conversation with two guests; Linda Yielding from Reach for the Rainbow, and Kelly Hagerman from Kids Help Phone. Both Linda and Kelly have managed charity golf events for their respective organizations that have proven to be innovative as well as wildly successful. Through our guests' expert experience and advice, this webinar will share some simple strategies and best practices for ensuring that your event achieves maximum potential, and never becomes "just another golf tournament." On second thought, forget "a notch"...let's kick it up a few notches!

1. Give Your Golf Fundraiser
a Makeover

2. Webinar Tips
 This webinar is being recorded and will be available on
our website shortly
 If you have any technical troubles, please use the “chat”
feature
 We will take all questions at the end. Please use the
“raise hand” or “chat” feature to ask a question.

3. Our Presenters
HOST PRESENTERS
Mike Prentice Kelly Hagerman
Director, Client Development & Fundraising Program Manager – Events (GTA)
Artez Interactive Kids Help Phone
www.kidshelpphone.ca
Linda Yielding
Senior Manager, Special Events
Reach for the Rainbow
www.reachfortherainbow.ca

4. The Charity Golf Fundraiser
 Very popular fundraising event (for orgs and participants)
 Very well suited to peer-to-peer and team fundraising
 BUT: Can easily become formulaic & predictable
 Like everything, you need to stand out from the crowd
 Often caters to the “higher end” of your donor profile,
and requires strong corporate involvement so clean
execution is a MUST

5. Objectives
 Draw out helpful tips and
best practices for increasing
event participation and
awareness
 Learn to keep things clean,
simple and effective
 Learn how to use online tools
to your advantage
 Focus on raising more $$$
while lowering admin costs

6. Kids Help Phone
Kelly Hagerman
Program Manager – Events (GTA)
Kids Help Phone
www.kidshelpphone.ca

7. BMO Golf Tournament History
 Began in 2003
 Tournament created by 2 BMO Executives
 Participants golf for 10 hours straight; all golfers collect
pledges before the tournament. Some on a per-hole
basis, which resulted in fiercely competitive and speedy
golfing!
 Minimum pledge amount to participate: $3,500
 How funds were raised: Predominantly pledged based
fundraising, some sponsorship as well

8. Evolving the Event
 NEW in 2007 (re-vamped Golf-a-thon)
 Theme – ‘Ryder Cup’ style golf tournament - Blue vs.
White; event occurs every 2 years
 Invitation only solicitation to Senior Executives at BMO
and their business lines
 Participants must raise $3,500 minimum through pledges
in order to participate
 How funds are raised: Pledged based fundraising,
sponsorship as well

9. Online Components
 Event website:
 BMO, Kids Help Phone, event branding and messaging
 Pledge a golfer button; Donation button
 Event details
 Online Pledging:
 Much easier for golfers to manage and communicate;
saves a lot of admin time
 Pledge page template created for the golfers by Kids Help
Phone, golfers customize: messaging, images, video etc.
 Online Donation:
 Teams are competitive so general donation option is good
so Executives don’t need to upset either team!

10. Key Learnings
 Know your audience – in this case, simple is best:
 Online fundraising tools help keep it simple, easy AND
personal
 Goal is to raise the most amount of money in the most
cost effective way
 Each organization plays to their strengths:
 BMO: reaches out to their contacts to raise funds for a
great service
 KHP: Manages the online and fundraising tools
 Event success due largely to BMO’s commitment to Kids
Help Phone:
 Securing the right Committee Chair is key to ensuring the
tournament’s success

11. Online Benefits
 2009: 80% of golfers raise
money online
 2009: Over 55% of golfers
raised more than 50% of
their money online

12. Online Benefits
 Consistent messaging and marketing:
 Customized pledge page with event
branding, pictures, Kids Help Phone
videos/PSA’s
 Easy for golfers to use and solicit
pledges
 Sponsor logo recognition online and
day of
 BMO Golf-athon:
 Average amount of total funds raised:
$200,000/year
 BMO Presidents’ Cup:
 Average funds raised $355,000/year

13. Pledge Page Sample

14. Thanks Kelly!
(remember, save questions for the
end of the webinar)

15. Reach For The Rainbow
Linda Yielding
Senior Manager, Special Events
Reach for the Rainbow
www.reachfortherainbow.ca

16. The Event

17. Registration
 Clear and concise
 Incentives and prizes
 Essential event info
 Strong sponsorship
recognition
 Time Management
 Reconciliation/Tracking
 Tax Receipting

18. Sponsorship
 Consistent branding
 Connected via event
homepage
 Extra Revenue Stream
 Recognition

19. Results
 Exceeded budget
 Time Management = Administration
 Time Management = Accounting
 Awareness and Branding for RFTR via personal page
(Social Media)
 Logistics = sorting of information ie: golfer shirt sizing,
accommodations, manifest, foursome lists etc.
 Donor Acknowledgement and Recognition

20. What We Learned
 Con - Graphics was a struggle, webmaster essential
 Pro - Time Management / Streamlined Process
 Pro- Logistics
 Pro - 2010 – Back of house training, freedom to do
changes ourselves
 Pro- 2010 - Strong support from Artez

21. Thanks Linda!
(we will start taking questions in about 2 minutes)

22. KEY TAKEAWAYS

23. Key Takeaways
 Keep it simple
 Know your audience
 Messaging and marketing are key
 Friendly competition drives
fundraising success so find ways
to keep teams engaged

24. Key Takeaways
 Utilizing online tools makes it
easier for registrants to raise
more pledges
AND
 Can help ease your
administrative burden
 Keep things FUN! (pre-, during
and post-event)

25. QUESTIONS
Kelly Hagerman
kelly.hagerman@kidshelpphone.ca
Linda Yielding
lyielding@reachfortherainbow.ca

26. Upcoming Webinars
 The Brits Are Coming! Fundraising in the UK
 April 1st @ 10:00 AM EDT (North America)
 The Peeps Who Tweet
 April 7th @ 2:00 PM EDT (North America)

27. Calendar Notes
 March 30th: Artez InterAction USA (Washington DC)
 Hear from top fundraising strategists and digital experts
including: Dan Palotta, Ted Hart & Dharmesh Shah
 More info at www.artez.com
 April 8-10: NTEN Conference (Atlanta, GA)
 April 11-14: AFP Conference (Baltimore, MD)
 Please come by and say “Hi” to us at the Artez booth!

28. THANK YOU ! ! ! !
 Check Out “Digital Fundraising Podcast” on iTunes
 Follow Artez on Twitter: @artezonline
 Become our friend on Facebook: /artezinteractive!