Did you know that wine is not only one of the most popular beverages - it's also a great tool to raise more money for your organization? A wine pull fundraiser is a great addition to your next event or stand-alone fundraiser. Read on to learn how to throw a successful one and uncork your next event success!
If you’re looking for a fun and lucrative way to raise more funds, a wine pull may be just the answer! Wine pulls can be hosted as a stand-alone fundraiser or as part of a larger event, and can be used to reach a new audience and excite your existing donor base.
In this article, we’ll share more on what a wine pull fundraiser is, steps to run one successfully, and how to boost your wine pull with online ticket sales.
A wine pull, also known as a wine wall, is a popular fundraiser on its own or it can be added to any event.
The way it works is simple – the host of the wine pull purchases several bottles of wine (or has them donated) of varying values. Then, each bottle is wrapped in a way that conceals the label as well as the cost of the bottle.
To participate in this game of chance, guests donate a set amount and then select a bottle. This amount is typically about $20-25 and can be determined by the average cost of the wines available. Donors may get a deal, such as a $40 bottle for a $20 donation, or they may get a bottle worth just $15.
If your nonprofit’s event caters to adults, a wine pull can be a great way to raise more funds. For example, Gathering Ground’s Dinner in the Vineyard is the perfect event and venue for this type of fundraiser. With several wine options at their fingertips, the wine pull has become an activity to look forward to at this annual dinner.
Ready to host a wine pull or add one to your next event? Here are a few steps to follow to ensure a successful fundraiser.
If you want to run a wine pull or add it to your event, you’ll first want to choose the right venue. For example, an excellent way to increase participation in your wine pull is to serve the wine to your guests after they buy it. If you’d like to do this, you’ll need to choose a location with a liquor license. Check your local liquor laws as well for any other limitations!
Also, make sure there is enough room to display your wine wall so guests can easily see it. This is especially crucial if your wine pull is the main activity.
The last thing you want to do is run an event on your own. An event committee of passionate supporters gives you a resource for unique ideas, personal connections, and hands-on support. Determine who is best suited to each activity and let your volunteers show you what they can do.
The question most nonprofits ask is, “How do I get enough wine for a wine pull?” We recommend looking for wine bottle donations – donated bottles will increase your revenue!
Luckily, there are several ways to get these donations.
Before you start, decide on how much wine you’ll need. The recommended amount is three bottles for every five guests.
Then, if you’re near a vineyard, you can go directly to the source. If not, grocery stores and other wine sellers are always an option. Consider forming a community partnership with a local business and asking them to sponsor the wine pull through an in-kind donation of several bottles or a financial contribution that will allow you to purchase the wine.
Wine pulls are an excellent way to connect with a new audience as well as bring long-term supporters back. But, you must promote the event in the right ways in order to reach them!
Event promotion and online ticket sales can help boost awareness of your event and raise funds for your nonprofit. Consider a multi-channel approach to reach all of your target audiences, including social media posts, email campaigns, mailed invitations to VIPs, flyers to post around town, and more.
A great way to promote your event is with an online events page. Donorbox Events makes it easy to create an events page with text and images to describe your event and entice more ticket sales. Create unlimited ticket tiers, collect additional donations on top of ticket sales, and set deadlines and limits for ticket sales. Plus, ticket purchasers will receive an automated receipt, streamlining your workload for the event.
Check out how HELP of Beaufort used Donorbox Events to sell tickets to their event. We love how they included a graphic with tons of details about their event!
If you choose mailed invitations or event postcards to get the word out, add a QR code to link guests directly to your online event page. A free code is generated for each event.
Pro tip: Social media is the best way to excite supporters about your wine pull. Share posts with images and details on the best wines you have available and explain how guests can get their hands on them.
Wrapping your wine bottles can be a fun way to decorate around the theme of your event. Use holiday or festive wrapping paper for an affordable way to make your wine pull stand out. Have a little bit more in the budget? Purchasing decorative wine bags can save a little time and make your wine wall look great!
A wine pull can also be an excellent way to display your organization’s branding. Wrap the bottles in plain paper bags and add a sticker with your organization’s name and logo.
Before adding a wine pull to your event, you must ask yourself if you’ll raise more money by hosting this event virtually or in person.
Instant-buy wine pulls are popular because they add another level of excitement to your nonprofit’s event. Donors can buy a bottle right away from the wine wall! If you’re hosting a silent auction as well, your nonprofit can also auction a few high-end wine choices at a higher price point, or put together a raffle basket.
Use a donation kiosk to easily collect payments for your wine pull. The Donorbox Live™ Kiosk app helps you turn your Android tablet or iPad into a giving kiosk that collects contactless payments with cards, smartphones, and smartwatches.
Hybrid wine pulls are hosted both online and in person. Anyone can purchase a bottle of wine online and pick it up at the event, at your office, or have it delivered.
Pro tip: Using this fundraiser to excite supporters before the event can help sell more event tickets. Nonprofits that livestream their wine pull can unwrap the bottles online and show guests’ excitement over which wine they won.
Nonprofits can also hold a wine pull entirely online. Add pictures and descriptions for each bottle to an event page. Since it’s a game of chance, you can sell raffle tickets using Donorbox Events or let them choose a number to get a bottle. Collect funds online and ask donors to pick up their wrapped bottles at your location or deliver them to their door.
Pro tip: Ask guests to take a picture of them enjoying their wine and add it to your social media page. This will drive excitement for your next wine pull!
In-person events allow nonprofits to add various ways to collect funds from their supporters. Some of the most popular fundraising activities include:
Another way to raise funds during your wine pull is to choose one of the bottles to raffle. Make sure you select a wine that encourages the most participation, such as a limited-release bottle or one at a higher price point. Sell raffle tickets to see who gets to take it home.
To collect even more funds during your event, use these powerful in-person fundraising tools to make it easy for your donors to give on the go:
These tools will help you raise more funds during your event – without taking the focus away from your wine pull!
In-person events make wine delivery less complicated, but if you choose to serve your guests their purchases, make sure every team member knows who bought what.
Communicate how guests can get their wine if you host a virtual event. Give only a few choices for pick-up and delivery so you don’t overwhelm your team.
Pro tip: Download our free event planning checklist to find more to-dos that will guide you as you plan your next wine pull fundraiser.
The best way to find the wine for your wine pull depends on your organization. One of the easiest ways to collect enough wine is to ask your supporters for donations. Wine is an affordable and popular gift. Many of your donors have impressive collections of their own. Below are a few unique ideas to encourage your supporters to donate wine before your event.
Note: Be sure to check local laws to ensure you can solicit donations of alcohol from your supporters.
There’s no better way to get people excited about your event than a party! This can be the first responsibility of your event committee. Let them decide on the location and food, and contact supporters best suited to this type of party. Ask all guests to bring one or two bottles and collect them at the event. Remember to send them an acknowledgment for their in-kind gifts.
You don’t have to have a wine-pull stocking party to collect in-kind gifts from your supporters. Another way to collect wine donations is to reach out via social media or email and ask for in-kind wine gifts. If you choose to skip the party, do your best to reach out personally in as many cases as possible. This will give you a much better return on your requests.
Companies are more likely to donate if they receive something in return. When hosting a wine pull, have your event committee contact local vineyards and wine sellers to see which ones are interested in advertising their products through a sponsorship. Your event will be full of these companies’ target markets. Be sure to explain how many potential clients will learn about their brand.
Common Grace’s 20th Anniversary Gala was the ideal time to pull in high-end sponsors for their event. With a guest list of high school mentors, parents, and educators, businesses connected with an exciting new audience, and the nonprofit raised more funds.
We love how they included information about sponsorship opportunities right on their events page!
Pro tip: Learn more about how to find and secure more event sponsorships in this guide.
Donorbox Events helps nonprofits promote in-person and virtual events with simple-to-use event ticketing online. In minutes, you can set up and customize your event page and embed it into your website or host it on Donorbox. Guests can purchase tickets and make additional donations using multiple payment options.
This Events tool also helps nonprofits be transparent about the amounts guests can deduct by calculating the tax-deductible values on their event tickets when given the fair market value. Nonprofits can even add more excitement to their event by setting a deadline to purchase tickets or limiting the number of tickets sold.
Additional Donorbox Events perks include:
And more!
Donors can also cover your processing fees to ensure their gifts go entirely to the nonprofit.
Learn more about Donorbox Events and how other nonprofits use it to spread their mission and raise funds in this short video!
Get Started With Donorbox Events
A wine pull is a fun and exciting way to connect with existing donors and a new audience. Whether your wine is donated by sponsors or supporters, or purchased, be sure to stock your wine wall with a good mix of expensive and less expensive options. This will help you drive excitement and sell more bottles!
If your nonprofit is looking for the best online event tool to raise funds, visit our website to learn more about our features. Donorbox is an affordable option that helps nonprofits, charities, and churches of all sizes scale their fundraising.
For more fundraising event tips, check out the rest of our Nonprofit Blog. Subscribe to our newsletter for a curated list of blog content delivered to your inbox every month.
Kristine Ensor is a freelance writer with over a decade of experience working with local and international nonprofits. As a nonprofit professional she has specialized in fundraising, marketing, event planning, volunteer management, and board development.
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Kristine Ensor