Dear Friends,
The best entertainment for nonprofit events does more than fill a slot on the program. It warms up the room, lifts up your story, and walks your guests right up to the moment of giving. So before you book anyone for your banquet, ask one question first: will this person help my donors GIVE?
That’s the question I want to help you answer today!
I’ve been making people laugh since the nightclubs of Philadelphia, BUT GOD had bigger plans. These days most of my nights are spent at pregnancy center banquets, church fundraisers and ministry galas. And here’s what I’ve learned: when the entertainment fits the mission, the whole night lifts. When it doesn’t, even a great cause can feel like a long evening.
How Do I Choose Entertainment for a Nonprofit Fundraiser?
Choose entertainment that serves your mission, not just your audience. Look for someone with a track record at fundraisers like yours, who understands your cause, keeps it clean, connects with every age in the room and knows how to hand the evening back to you for the ask. Laughs are great. Gifts are the goal!
Here’s the list I’d use if I were sitting in your chair:
- They’ve done YOUR kind of event. A comedy club set and a banquet program are two very different animals! Ask how many fundraisers they do each year and what usually happens to giving when they’re on the program.
- They understand your mission. At a pregnancy center banquet, your speaker should celebrate life and the people who serve, never poke fun at the work you do.
- They’re clean. Every time. Grandma at table four and your pastor at table one should both be laughing, and nobody should be checking the exits!
- They connect with everyone. Your room has young families, business owners, church members and retirees. The right person reaches all of them.
- They’ll plan with you. Ask if they’ll talk through your goals, your program and your ask before the big night. A good partner wants your night to win.
- They can show results. Don’t be shy about asking for numbers! Here are mine: 70% of my fundraising events set fundraising records, and about 70% of centers book me again the next year. Some have had me back three times or more!
Where do you see your event on that list?
Should a Fundraiser Have a Comedian or a Speaker?
If you can, find both in one person. A speaker shares a message and a comedian makes people laugh, but a fundraiser needs someone who does both: laughter that opens hearts, and a clear, hope-filled message that points guests back to your mission and the gift they’re about to give.
Did you ever notice what the Bible says about giving? “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). CHEERFUL! Not guilty. Not pressured. Cheerful!
That’s why I tell every director the same thing: sell hope, not guilt. People invest in what’s working. When your guests laugh together, hear real stories of changed lives and see what God is doing through your ministry, they WANT to be part of it.
Some planners worry that a comedian might feel too light for a serious cause. I understand! But laughter isn’t the opposite of serious. “A cheerful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22). The laughs open the door, and your story walks right through it.
What Does a Fundraiser Speaker Do During the Program?
A good fundraiser speaker does three jobs: celebrates what God is already doing through your ministry, connects with the room through stories and laughter, and casts your vision so guests are ready to partner with you when the ask comes. The speaker supports your ask. They don’t replace it.
Here’s how I think about the night:
- Celebrate. We start by celebrating the lives touched and the volunteers and staff who made it happen.
- Encourage. Stories and laughter remind people that their support matters. Folks remember how they felt long after they forget the details.
- Inspire generosity. By the time the pledge cards come out, the room is full of hope instead of heaviness.
And one practical tip from years on the road: never put your speaker up while people are still eating. Folks can NOT laugh with food in their mouths!
Does it work? One center raised $60K the year before. At the banquet we did together, they raised $140K! That wasn’t magic. It was a room full of people who saw what was working and wanted in.
Let’s Talk About Your Next Banquet
So let me ask you: what do you want your guests to FEEL when they reach for that pledge card?
If your answer is hope, joy and a real sense that they’re part of something God is blessing, I’d love to help. I’ll bring the laughter, and we’ll make sure the spotlight stays right where it belongs: on your mission.
If you’re planning a Valentine’s or sweetheart event, or already thinking about next year’s spring and fall banquets, now is the time to check dates.
Book Gordon: check my availability for your banquet or gala
Not ready to book yet? Use my contact form to ask for my free 20-point banquet checklist. It’s practical help for your planning team, no strings attached.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should we book a fundraiser speaker?
Start looking three to six months before your event, and earlier for popular dates. Fall banquets are usually planned in spring and summer, and Christmas and Valentine’s events fill up fast. When you reach out, send a first-choice date and a back-up date.
Is Christian comedy appropriate for a pregnancy center or church banquet?
Yes, when it’s clean and mission-minded. My comedy is family-friendly and faith-filled, and I will never make fun of your ministry or make light of the work you do. The goal is joy that points people back to your mission.
What should we include when we ask about availability?
Send your primary date and a back-up date, the purpose of the event, how many guests you expect and the best way to reach you. That helps me give you a quick, clear answer.
Who is Gordon Douglas?
Gordon Douglas is a Christian comedian and fundraising speaker who helps pregnancy centers and nonprofits raise more through laughter, stories and hope.
In hope and laughter,
Gordon