How Sarasota’s Diversity Choir Raised $10K With a “No Go Gala”

If you’ve ever planned a gala or auction fundraiser, you know how exhausting they can be. Booking the venue, managing catering, selling tickets, wrangling silent auction items, making sure people actually show up…the list goes on. For small choirs and nonprofits, pulling off an event like that often feels impossible.

But here’s the good news: fundraising doesn’t always have to mean big ballrooms, black-tie outfits, and months of planning. Florida-based choir Diversity: The Voices of Sarasota (Diversity) recently proved that a successful fundraiser can be as simple as asking people to stay home.

Yes, you read that right.

Last summer, the LGBTQ+ chorus launched their first-ever “No Go Gala” — and it was a hit. The idea was simple: instead of attending an in-person event, donors were invited to skip the stress (and the Spanx) and simply make a gift. The invitation even came with a ticket that said: “Just don’t come. We don’t want you there.”

The bold, funny twist resonated — and in just 48 hours, the choir raised $10,000. We sat down with Diversity to chat about how they did it. And it’s your lucky day, because we’re here to share how your choir might borrow some of their strategies, too!

From Silent Auction Burnout to a Lightbulb Moment

Like many choirs, Sarasota Diversity Choir had relied on more traditional fundraisers in the past, including silent auctions. Sure, the fundraisers were successful, but the physical toll on organizers to put together in-person events was enormous. One day, a chorus member jokingly suggested, “Just ask people to give us money and tell them to stay home.” And with that, the “No Go Gala” was born. Even though it was a joke at first, the idea caught on among chorus members and they decided to test it out. After all, it was a low-risk experiment, so what did they have to lose? The chorus said they would have been happy to raise a couple grand, but much to their surprise (and shock) they raised a total of $10,000.

The Invitation That Made It Work

To make their “No Go Gala” idea come alive, the chorus put together a playful email invitation and sent it to their list. The design was nothing fancy — just a simple PDF with clever copy, a faux “ticket,” and a tongue-in-cheek cost comparison chart (think: tuxedo rental vs. sweatpants). The message leaned hard into humor and even encouraged supporters to take a picture of themselves NOT attending.

The images above are screenshots of the “No Go Gala” email invitation sent by Diversity: The Voices of Sarasota. As you can see, it’s very simple and has no bells and whistles except a basic QR code to donate.

The invitation was so simple that it just goes to show: you don’t necessarily need slick graphic design, custom landing pages, or a huge marketing budget to make a big impact. Sometimes, a well-written email with a strong concept can be more than enough to spark laughter, create buzz, and (as they proved) raise thousands of dollars. Diversity was even kind enough to provide a PDF copy of their email invitation, so you can use it for inspiration! Don’t forget to customize it to make it your own and relatable for your audience.

Keeping It Simple: The 48-Hour Format

Instead of a weeks-long campaign, Diversity kept things short and sweet with a two-day (48-hour) online event. They modeled it loosely on their community’s annual giving challenge but stretched the timeline a bit longer so people wouldn’t miss out. The only real hiccup? They teased the event the day before, and some people thought the donate button was already live. Next time, they said, they’d simply open donations earlier to catch the early birds.

Making Donors Part of the Fun

What’s a gala without a little social buzz? Even though no one attended in person, Sarasota Diversity Choir found a way to bring donors into the spotlight: they invited them to share photos of what they were doing instead of attending.

The results were quirky, authentic, and highly shareable. There were photos of people fishing, photos of people’s feet at the pool, and of course, a few photos of wine glasses. One member even posted a photo of himself holding a cocktail in front of a “Trashy But Classy” dumpster — it turns out he was renovating his home while celebrating the “No Go Gala.”

About a dozen people submitted photos, which were then posted on the choir’s Facebook page and website gallery. The team hopes to expand this element next year, encouraging members and donors to send pictures in advance so they can schedule posts and keep engagement high throughout the campaign. For now, many photos came through old-fashioned nudges, like phone calls and text messages.

The Payoff: Raising $10,000 Without the Overhead

At the end of the first day, donations had already hit nearly $6,000. By the close of the second day, the total had almost doubled, to which the chorus said they were jumping up and down.

The best part? There were no rental fees, catering bills, or venue contracts. The beauty of the whole thing is that it cost nothing but the time it took to write and send the email. 

The money raised is already making a tangible impact. Diversity will be using funds to:

• Support two new outreach ensembles (“Out Front” for tenors/basses and “Glimmer” for sopranos/altos), including weekly conductor and accompanist fees.
• Invest in local advertising to grow their audience.
• Cover rising venue costs and rental fees for risers.

Winning Over the Skeptics

Not everyone was convinced at first. Several chorus members and board members were skeptical — even dismissive.

“About three-quarters of the chorus members and board were very skeptical, and there were some very vocal naysayers… but after it was all over, the notes that we got from choir members saying, ‘I thought this was stupid. I was wrong.’”

The success not only silenced the doubts; it also boosted morale. Board members described it as a “vote of confidence in the organization” and a much-needed spark during the quiet summer months when performances slow down.

Why It Worked

So, what made Sarasota Diversity Choir’s “No Go Gala” so effective? A few key factors stand out:

1. Humor and relatability: The cheeky invitation made people laugh — and made giving feel easy.
2. Low risk, high reward: With virtually no overhead costs, every dollar raised went straight to the choir.
3. Simplicity: No complicated logistics, no dress codes, no silent auction spreadsheets. Just a link to give.
4. Participation without pressure: Donors could opt into the fun with photos, but there was no obligation.
5. Momentum: The short timeline kept excitement high and encouraged quick action.

Lessons for Other Choirs

If you’re considering a similar fundraiser, here are some practical takeaways from Sarasota Diversity Choir’s experience:

• Lean into humor. As one member put it: “If you can’t serve it with humor, it’s not as much fun to me. So, and I think people really embrace that part of it.”
• Don’t overcomplicate it. Use the tools you already have — an email list, a donation link, and social media.
• Ask directly. “The number one reason why people give [is] because you ask. And if you don’t ask, they’re not going to give.”
• Encourage personal outreach. Phone calls, texts, or social nudges can really help boost engagement and are more personal than just sending emails.
• Say thank you. Diversity wrote personal thank-you notes to every donor, no matter the gift size. It really goes a long way in making donors feel seen and appreciated.

Looking Ahead

The choir is already thinking about how to improve the “No Go Gala” next year. Ideas include adding a donation “thermometer” on the website to track fundraising progress, creating scheduled posts featuring staged photos of singers, or even introducing fun themes like Broadway night. While they don’t know for sure whether they’ll do the event again in 2026, they admitted that it was too easy not to try it again.

The Big Takeaway

For choirs with small budgets and limited staff, the thought of planning a traditional fundraiser can feel daunting. Diversity: The Voices of Sarasota’s “No Go Gala” proves you don’t need an elaborate event to make a big impact. With creativity, humor, and a clear call to action, even a shoestring campaign can energize donors, raise serious funds, and build community spirit.

So the next time someone suggests a gala, consider flipping the script: invite people not to come — and watch the support roll in.

How could your chorus invite supporters into the fun without asking them to show up in person? And what might fundraising look like for your chorus if you let go of “the way it's always been done”? We’d love to read your thoughts and ideas in the comments.