Porch Parties Are a Charming, Intimate Way to Raise Money Rasheeda Childress - Philanthropy.com
go to original October 3, 2022

With many organizations returning to in-person gatherings, porch parties — smallish, high-touch gatherings held at people’s homes — are popping up as a fundraising option.

The parties are typically hosted by a supporter, such as an enthusiastic volunteer or a board member. They are generally held in the supporter’s home, leading some fundraisers to call them house parties. In the wake of COVID-19, the term “porch party” has gained favor because porches are outside, which appeals to donors wary of germy indoor events.

“I think, especially during our COVID world, it is a great opportunity to be outside, walk around, and see these beautiful homes,” says Nicole Babie.

Gail Perry, a nonprofit consultant, says porch parties generally fall into one of two categories: an “ask event” or a “door-opening event,” where guests learn about the charity.

“You can make a general ask at a door-opening porch party,” Perry says. “But it’s a very charming one: ‘We want everybody to get involved. We want everybody to become a supporter.’ But that is not like a hard ask, which is where you have pledge cards, and you talk for 20 minutes about why this is so important and hope everybody will put in.”

Reasons to Party on the Porch

Perry says porch parties work well as door-opening events because the guests are friends of the homeowner, so it feels more intimate and allows staff to get meaningful, high-touch moments. These include chances to get a warm introduction from the host, chat in small groups, and learn about the personal interests of the potential donor. This is especially important if donors have the potential to make a big gift.

“In fundraising, the more touches you have with the donor before you ask, the bigger the gift,” Perry says. “So, using a porch party as a warmup is a smart fundraising strategy to move into some sort of ask relationship.”

She added that hosts are often more willing to invite potential big donors to parties that are door-opening events, rather than ask events. When having door-opening events, Perry suggested “triaging the guest list” with the host to help fundraising staff identify critical guests to make contact with.

That being said, porch parties aren’t just a path to big donors. They can help spread the word about your organization, drive more volunteerism, and secure small, immediate donations.

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