Why Creative Fundraising Events Matter for Hospital Foundations

Rising competition for donor attention, the need for diversified revenue streams, and the growing shift toward community-anchored fundraising are changing how hospital foundations engage supporters. 

Today's donors, especially younger donors, prefer experiential giving: personal, Meaningful experiences they can feel and remember. In fact, 75% of Millennials and two-thirds of Gen X say they’re  more likely to donate after a fantastic event experience. 

These trends are reshaping donor engagement and nonprofit fundraising, especially as hospital foundations look for fresh healthcare fundraising ideas that spark connection and long-term loyalty. 

Small fundraising events offer alternatives to traditional hospital gala ideas for hospitals and are quickly becoming a reliable way to engage donors and inspire repeat giving — an urgent problem since ​​fewer than 20% of first-time healthcare donors ever return.   

Almabase helps make your event planning, and donor follow-up easy, automated, and intuitive, with automated ticketing, branded event pages, QR check-ins, and TrueSync which ensures data that flows directly into Raiser's Edge NXT. What once took days or weeks of manual cleanup now takes minutes, freeing your team to focus on donor relationships instead of administrative tasks.

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5 Creative Fundraising Events That Deepen Donor Engagement  

Let's look at five fun ideas that can turn your fundraising event into the talk of the town, and how Almabase’s technology makes them easier, faster, and more cost-effective to execute. 

1. Salon-Style Gatherings: High-Touch Donor Engagement Ideas for Hospitals

These invitation-only events, typically hosted in private homes or unique venues, create the kind of meaningful access that donors never get from a ballroom full of 300 people. 

CommonSpirit's Dignity Health Foundation--Inland Empire turned its board-hosted salons into high-impact donor cultivation tools. They’ve hosted salons in unforgettable locations: a board member's airplane hangar dressed up for the holidays, an animatronics studio, and even a physician's exceptionally gorgeous home. 

The results speak for themselves. CommonSpirit’s salons have attracted three major gifts, a new bequest, new relationships with donors showing major giving potential, and deeper board engagement. The team is already planning multiple new salons for FY26.

2. 50/50 Raffles: A Timeless Fundraising Tool for Hospital Foundations

Raffles remain a staple across nonprofit fundraising, and in healthcare they offer an easy entry point for supporters who may not attend a gala. They’re relatively simple and inexpensive to execute, and can be incredibly effective when you add a little urgency or exclusivity.

Manitoba-based Boundary Trails Health Center Foundation raised more than $36,000 (after paying out the raffle winner) in its winter 2025 raffle. Attractive ticket bundles kept momentum rolling—from 10 tickets for $20 up to 200 tickets for $100.

Virginia’s Martha Jefferson Hospital Foundation capped tickets at 200, sold each for $100, and offered a top prize of up to $10,000. With odds of just 1 in 200, its raffle turned into something exclusive and talked about.

3. Tea Party: Small Fundraising Events With Big Impact

High tea fundraising events reach supporters who prefer something small and elegant and are a great way to attract community leaders, long-time volunteers, and donors of all ages who appreciate tradition, hospitality, and a clear sense of purpose.

Peace Arch Hospital Foundation hosts its "Steeped in Elegance" event at a private ocean-side estate, combining a refined luncheon, themed attire, and a tightly curated guest list. The British Columbia-based healthcare foundation tied every detail back to a clear need: renovating the hospital's production kitchen to improve the quality and dignity of patient meals.

4. Craft Beer or Wine-Tasting Events 

Tastings offer a relaxed atmosphere where people can socialize while staying connected to your mission. These fundraising events attract a wide mix of healthcare supporters—donors, business leaders, board members, and younger professionals who respond well to casual, social formats.

Ohio-based Magruder Hospital Foundation hosts its Grapes & Grains fundraising event at a local brewery, offering curated beer and wine tastings, guided brewery tours, food pairings, and an online auction that opened two weeks before the event. Proceeds helped the hospital foundation fund a new operating table designed specifically for hip surgeries—a direct, tangible story that donors could rally around.

5. Retail “Round-Up” Campaigns 

Round-up campaigns literally meet people where they are—at the checkout counter—and keep your hospital's mission visible in daily life.

Washington-based Tri-State Hospital Foundation runs its Annual Retail Round Up every May. Local businesses encourage customers to round up or make small add-on donations at checkout. Participating retailers include local hardware stores, pharmacies, and fast-food locations.

Let Almabase Automate Your Next Hospital Fundraising Event

Creative events don’t have to create more work. Here are just some of the ways Almabase makes your events turnkey and intuitive with automation and TrueSync functionality with Raser’s Edge NXT:

• Build custom event microsites that make it easy to set up premium tables, themed seating, sponsorship packages, RSVPs, or specialty add-ons like dessert auctions.
• Automate invitations and outreach with Almabase’s AI Email Builder.
• Sync attendee data into Raiser’s Edge NXT through our TrueSync functionality. Every ticket purchase, payment, and donor interaction syncs quickly and easily.  
• Use QR-code check-ins to keep the arrival experience polished and fast, especially for upscale events where donors expect seamless entry.
• Collect payment with built-in compliance and payment processing. Payments flow through Blackbaud Merchant Services, so teams don’t have to worry about fragmented payment tools or reconciliation headaches.
• Create flexible ticketing and sponsorship bundles to offer general admission, VIP tastings, early-access pours, commemorative items, or bundled packages that drive higher revenue.

Instead of spending days cleaning data or chasing down payments, your team can spend more time building relationships, deepening donor engagement, and turning your memorable events into lasting support.

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See how Almabase helps hospital foundations automate event logistics, strengthen donor relationships, and free up staff time for the work that actually moves your mission forward.

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About the author

Wendy Johnson brings over 20 years of expertise in content strategy and digital marketing to help healthcare foundations and mission-driven nonprofits connect deeply with their audiences. Her unique approach blends behavioral psychology, SEO, and strategic messaging to build high-impact campaigns that drive donor conversions and boost engagement. Having partnered with major organizations like Johns Hopkins Hospital and Geisinger Health Foundation to simplify complex issues and inspire action.