First, event-goers know why they’re at an event. So, you don’t have to be-labor the point. Statistics show that long speeches are the biggest turn off at any event. As with thank you notes, brief and heartfelt works best. Challenge yourself to summarize what it is your organization does, what milestones you’ve reached, and where you see yourself going as quickly and succinctly as possible. Also, focus less on having officers and presidents communicate the charity’s mission, and more on including speeches or interviews from people afflicted or affected by the cause your organization represents. Respondents of a survey said they are not impressed by speeches made by presidents and conversations with board members.
Granted, though the president of an organization should speak, it should be more like a short, light commercial rather than a long speech. Organizations should view this as a sales pitch- fast and targeted for support. Another idea to include the president is to mix up roles. Have the president be the event’s emcee. Let him or her introduce a guest who has been affected by the work of the charity (someone who can speak clearly, movingly, and briefly about why the charity’s work is so important).
A touching, short video is also a great way to get information across. These can be effective alternative strategies to this necessary pause-it provides the president with some spotlight at the event and gives the constituency a chance to understand the impact they can have on the charity’s work.
Event goers that have attended countless charity events, thanks to the popular organization, Charity Happenings, and their online ticketing service have said that the best ways for organizations to show their mission is to remember that less is more as evidenced in a recent report. It is better for an organization to interest the audience and leave them wanting to know how else they can help rather than to bombard them with facts and seemingly unattainable goals. Ultimately, the organization should not have to make speeches to communicate the benefits of its work; preferably the people or constituency the organization has served should do the talking instead. Remember, communicating a charity’s mission should be a pause at the event, not a show-stealer.
*Chart is from the 2010 Charity Event Research Report. You can download it here