--- title: "Virtual Fundraising Ideas for Choruses: Host a Non-Event" description: COVID-19 may negatively impact small nonprofits. One way to overcome financial burdens is to host virtual fundraising events like non-events. Here's how. image: https://blog.chorusconnection.com/hubfs/My%20Post.png --- - [About](https://www.chorusconnection.com/about) - [Features](https://www.chorusconnection.com/features) - [Pricing](https://www.chorusconnection.com/pricing) [![Chorus Connection](https://blog.chorusconnection.com/hubfs/Chorus_April2019%20Theme/image/download.png)](https://www.chorusconnection.com) - [Blog](https://blog.chorusconnection.com/) - [Login](https://app.chorusconnection.com/sign_in) - [Book a Demo](https://pages.chorusconnection.com/request-a-demo) [![Chorus Connection](https://blog.chorusconnection.com/hubfs/Chorus_April2019%20Theme/image/download.png)](https://www.chorusconnection.com) - [About](https://www.chorusconnection.com/about) - [Features](https://www.chorusconnection.com/features) - [Pricing](https://www.chorusconnection.com/pricing) - [Blog](https://blog.chorusconnection.com/) - [Login](https://app.chorusconnection.com/sign_in) - [Book a Demo](https://pages.chorusconnection.com/request-a-demo) # Virtual Fundraising Ideas for Choruses: Host a Non-Event [Tori Cook](https://blog.chorusconnection.com/author/tori-cook) Mar 23, 2020 Learn more: [fundraising](https://blog.chorusconnection.com/topic/fundraising), [managing during the pandemic](https://blog.chorusconnection.com/topic/managing-during-the-pandemic) ![My Post](https://blog.chorusconnection.com/hubfs/My%20Post.png) COVID-19 has the potential to greatly and negatively impact small nonprofits. I'm on a mission right now to help community choruses overcome the challenges that COVID-19 brings and come out on the other end stronger than ever before. One of the ways I will do this is to provide you with information for bringing in revenue during this critical time. You might have already seen my post on how to [transform your live fundraising event into a virtual one](https://blog.chorusconnection.com/transforming-your-choruss-live-fundraising-event-into-a-virtual-event). Another fundraising opportunity, perhaps an even simpler one, is to host what's called a "non-event." ## What is a Non-Event? A non-event is exactly what it sounds like... not an event. Non-events were initially created as a way for nonprofits to raise money while eliminating any expenses typically required for a physical fundraising event — venue, catering, and entertainment costs, for example. Over time, these events became popular in the nonprofit world seeing varying levels of success.   ## How Does a Non-Event Work? Here's how it works: 1. You determine a date, time, theme, and ticket fee/suggested donation for your non-event. 2. You send out "non-invitations" encouraging people to *not attend* from the comfort of their own home. 3. During the non-event's scheduled date and time, people will hang out in their homes doing whatever was suggested on the invitation and donating to the organization.   ## How Do I Make Money with a Non-Event? You might be wondering: *how do I make money with this "non-event?"* Non-events usually make money by ticketing the event. You heard me. Organizations [sell tickets](http://www.chorusconnection.com/ticketing) to an event that isn't actually happening — it's brilliant! Typically the ticket fee is determined by how much money attending a live event *would have* cost your attendees. If they had gone to your fundraising event in-person, what would it have cost them? Would they have needed to rent a suit, park at the venue, take cabs to and from the venue, etc.? Calculate the cost up and that's your ticket fee for the non-event. Alternatively, you can collect donations for your non-event in lieu of a ticketing fee.   ## What Should My Non-Event Invitation Include? Non-events usually have a theme such as an ice cream party, pizza party, BBQ, pajama party, reading party, or TV night, for example. And the organization encourages non-event participants to "grab a pint of ice cream," "snuggle up in a blanket and read a book," or do some other theme-related activity during the designated time. The invitations to the non-event center around that theme and are also super cheeky. Most invitations say things like "Don't come!" or "You're NOT invited!" During the non-event, the organization raising money will usually post a reminder about the non-event and to *not* come! They'll also post status updates throughout the night as donations come in.   ## How Can I Engage Donors in My Non-Event? To make non-events more fun, you can engage your participants a little bit by asking them to post selfies of them at home. But don't ask for too much engagement... this is a non-event, after all. It's important to note that usually non-events come with a risk: not everyone likes them. Many donors look forward to attending events and so they usually prefer a live event over a non-event. But given the circumstances with COVID-19, I think every donor would understand the situation. And I think they would appreciate the creative thinking on the organization's part to move to a virtual fundraising model!   ## Summary A non-event is just one tool in your toolkit to help your chorus overcome the financial battles ahead. Use this tool alongside other [fundraising tools](https://blog.chorusconnection.com/7-fundraising-focus-areas-for-community-choruses) to help your chorus raise money during this difficult time.  ## Additional Non-Event Resources: - [Valeo: The 5 W's of a Non-Event](https://www.valeomarketing.com/the-non-event-fundraiser-throw-an-event-your-alumni-want-to-attend/) - [Fundraising Coach: Have You Thought About a Non-Event](https://fundraisingcoach.com/2006/08/25/have-you-thought-of-a-non-event/) - [Gather 2Gether Non-Event Example](https://cause2give.unxvision.com/P2PWeb/eventPage.aspx?PageId=3887&EventId=183&LanguageId=1)   [![The Chorus Management Network](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/1860171/92000e0c-8cb5-4f3e-8b98-9f693fdb10ec.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/1860171/92000e0c-8cb5-4f3e-8b98-9f693fdb10ec) ![Tori Cook](https://blog.chorusconnection.com/hubfs/Tori%20200%20x%20200-1.jpg) Tori Cook is the former Director of Sales & Marketing at Chorus Connection, an active board member of the Greater Boston Choral Consortium, and a soprano with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus. In a past life, she was the Music Director of the Harborlight Show Chorus and President of Chorus pro-Musica. When not making music, she daydreams about adopting a golden retriever puppy and scuba diving to exotic locations around the world. [Tori Cook](https://blog.chorusconnection.com/author/tori-cook) Share this article [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20new%20post%20from%20Chorus%20Connection:%20Virtual%20Fundraising%20Ideas%20for%20Choruses:%20Host%20a%20Non-Event&body=https://blog.chorusconnection.com/virtual-fundraising-ideas-for-choruses-host-a-non-event](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20new%20post%20from%20Chorus%20Connection:%20Virtual%20Fundraising%20Ideas%20for%20Choruses:%20Host%20a%20Non-Event&body=https://blog.chorusconnection.com/virtual-fundraising-ideas-for-choruses-host-a-non-event) Newer Post [Two COVID-19 Relief Grants Your Chorus Should Apply For Today](https://blog.chorusconnection.com/two-covid-19-relief-grants-your-chorus-should-apply-for-today) Older Post [Transforming Your Chorus's Live Fundraising Event into a Virtual Event](https://blog.chorusconnection.com/transforming-your-choruss-live-fundraising-event-into-a-virtual-event) ## **Chorus Management Resources** - [What is Choir Management Software?](http://chorusconnection.com/what-is-choir-management-software) - [Ticket Sales Strategies for Choruses](https://www.chorusconnection.com/chorus-management-101-sell-more-tickets) - [Fundraising Strategies for Choruses](https://www.chorusconnection.com/chorus-management-101-fundraising-for-choruses) - [The Ultimate Guide to Singer Recruitment](https://pages.chorusconnection.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-singer-recruitment) - [Volunteer Handbook for Community Choruses](https://pages.chorusconnection.com/the-volunteer-handbook-for-community-choruses?__hstc=21858660.c48cd284471f2fc781b85ec7cd6920fb.1554964062887.1554964062887.1554964062887.1&__hssc=21858660.3.1554964062885&__hsfp=2151446153) - [Share Your Chorus Management Stories](https://www.chorusconnection.com/share-your-chorus-management-success-story) ## **Get in Touch** - [Login](https://app.chorusconnection.com/sign_in) - [Book a Demo](https://pages.chorusconnection.com/request-a-demo) - [Sign Up for a Free Trial](https://www.chorusconnection.com/free-trial) - [Customer Success Stories](https://www.chorusconnection.com/customer-success-stories) - [Help Center](https://help.chorusconnection.com) - [Contact](https://www.chorusconnection.com/contact-us) ## **Policies & FAQs** - [FAQs](https://www.chorusconnection.com/chorus-connection-faqs) - [Terms of Service](https://www.chorusconnection.com/terms-of-service) - [Ticket Purchaser Terms of Service](https://www.chorusconnection.com/ticket-purchaser-terms-of-service) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.chorusconnection.com/privacy-policy) - [Cookie Policy](https://www.chorusconnection.com/cookie-policy) - [Jobs](https://www.chorusconnection.com/join-our-team) Copyright © 2026 Chorus Connection. 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