The Alliance to Cure Cavernous Malformation
The Alliance to Cure Cavernous Malformation is a nonprofit, patient advocacy organization whose mission is to inform, support, and empower individuals affected by the disease and eventually find a permanent cure for it. Cavernous malformations, also known as cavernous angiomas, are blood vessel lesions in the brain and spinal cord that can cause strokes and seizures when they hemorrhage. They can be inherited and are a leading cause of stroke in children and young adults. The Alliance connects patients and advances research. Their unique assets are a DNA/Tissue Bank, an International Patient Registry, an annual international Scientific Meeting attended by every major cavernous malformation research laboratory in the world, a free genetic testing program, and a network of Centers of Excellence. To support their programs, the Alliance hosts multiple events throughout the year, focusing on in-person community events across the country to encourage personal connection and relationship building.Navigating Uncharted Waters
In 2020, the Alliance, like many nonprofits during the pandemic, faced the dilemma of shutting down in-person events. As a small organization heavily reliant on community support, they were concerned they wouldn’t be able to hit their goals for the year and fund crucial research needed to battle the disease. They knew that in order for things to change, they had to rethink how they were running events. They needed to host both virtual and hybrid events. That’s when the Alliance discovered ClickBid’s Event Fundraising Software.A Strategic Pivot to Hybrid Events
After leveraging our Event Fundraising Platform, the Alliance had some of its biggest fundraising success ever. They were able to engage more donors using our
Virtual Broadcasting feature via EventStream and raise more money with Silent Auction Mobile Bidding.
In 2021, the nonprofit raised just under $100,000 by conducting four in-person events throughout the United States. They allowed both in-person and online bidders the opportunity to participate in their silent auction and broadcasted a virtual presentation to encourage a sense of community.
In 2022, the Alliance saw a 39% increase in total money raised by reducing their in-person events in half. Through this strategic shift, the nonprofit effectively minimized expenses associated with venue, catering, and event logistics. The continued virtual broadcast attracted more donors worldwide, yielding greater sponsorship commitments compared to prior years.
Last year, the Alliance transitioned into a fully virtual event, conducting six virtual internationally broadcasted events with no in-person gatherings. This approach led to higher sponsorship commitments, increased new donors, and expanded viewership. Reaching this greater audience and viewers was significant for this nonprofit, and kick-start to their virtual community engagement.