If Your Galas Barely Break Even, You Might Be Missing This One Thing

Every year, nonprofits across the country pour massive amounts of time, energy, and money into fundraising galas. 

The planning starts months or even a year in advance, with the team spending a lot of time brainstorming ideas that aren’t boring, or figuring out how to keep their vendor budget in check. 

The staff and volunteers stretch themselves thin, and the night of the event everyone is running on adrenaline.

It’s a lot of time, energy, and resources put into one single evening - and it doesn’t always pay off.

Here’s the hard truth: if your gala isn’t bringing in at least three to five times its cost, it’s not worth it.

Think about it this way: if it costs $100,000 to put on your event, you should be netting at least $300,000–$500,000. Otherwise, you’re spending a tremendous amount of organizational bandwidth for very little return.

And yet, I see it all the time: galas that barely break even. Some don’t even cover costs. 

So what separates the galas that raise millions from the ones that barely get by?

The One Thing You Might Be Missing: Stories That Inspire Action

Donors don’t give transformational gifts because of the food, the decor, or the silent auction. They give because they are moved by a story that connects your mission to their deepest values.

When leaders and staff learn to tell transformational stories – stories that connect the dots between lived experience, organizational impact, and donor motivation – everything changes.

That’s the missing link for most events: not just telling any story, but telling it in a way that inspires donors to take bold action.

Learning how to tell transformational stories is a skill you can learn - and it’s one we teach here at TGP. 

(Read more about our framework in The Power of Telling Transformational Stories).

Case in Point: How Covenant House 5xed their Gala profit

When we worked with Alison, the CEO of Covenant House Alaska, she came to us with a gala strategy that had plateaued. We guided her through our signature transformational storytelling process and helped her recraft her story in a way that resonated with donors’ deepest motivations.

The result? She went from raising $20,000 one year… to $100,000 the next.

It was so valuable that she brought us in to train her entire team.

The same was true for Julia, CEO of Covenant House New Jersey. After reworking her story with our process, the gala raised $1.7 million – the highest amount ever raised in their gala’s history.

Make Your Gala the Gift That Keeps Giving

When you get the storytelling right, the impact doesn’t end when the event does. Donors who are inspired by your story often go on to give again, give more, and deepen their engagement with your mission.

That’s how a single night can become the gift that keeps on giving.

Want Your Next Event to Deliver True ROI?

If your gala is falling short of a 3x–5x return, it’s time to rework the stories you’re telling. Because in the end, it’s not the flowers or the band that move donors to give. It’s the story.

👉 Start crafting stories that inspire action: From trainings with your team to custom coaching, we’ve got you covered. Connect with us HERE.