What is an Essential Events page?
Essential Events pages are a specific type of Fundraising Page that are designed to make hosting your organization’s events easier, while keeping your guests excited and engaged during those events.
These pages integrate directly with your Donor Management platform, so you can create, manage, run, and report on your event – all from one singular system. (They also integrate seamlessly with any Auctions pages that you've created, too!)
What specific features are included with Essential Events pages?
Essential Events pages include the following features:
Multiple ticketing or registration options
Livestreaming functionality with virtual attendee chat
In-person event check-in functionality
Ability to create and use “promo codes” or “discount codes”
Real-time giving thermometer
Text-to-Give capabilities
Built-in event invitations
Sponsorship solicitation and management
Multi-channel communication tools
Full integration with Donor Management and Auctions
Custom questions
3% transaction & processing fee
Updated layout design
Do you offer additional support during an Essential Event?
Our standard support hours are Monday through Friday, 8AM to 7PM ET. During that time our agents are able to answer any questions or concerns that you may have surrounding your event. Additionally, any major outages to our system (planned or otherwise) will be reflected on our Bonterra Status Page, which we recommend that you subscribe to, or bookmark for future reference.
We strongly encourage users with upcoming Events and/or Auctions to attend our related trainings prior to your events, and perform a "test run" prior to the actual day of your event.
What’s the difference between our Essential Events page and our Events Lite pages?
Our Events Lite pages are another type of events page that we offer. Events Lite pages are included at no additional cost with your current subscription, and look and feel similar to our Essential Events pages - but do not include some of the enhanced functionality and features unique to Essential Events pages.
They’re designed to be perfect for smaller events like classes, or for events where you might not be focusing as much on your fundraising efforts.
Events Lite pages, in comparison to Essential Events pages, include the following:
Unlimited attendance for free (registration) events, or up to 50 attendees for paid events
$1 cost per paid ticket over the initial 50 attendees (note: includes offline ticket purchases)
One (1) ticket type
Custom questions
3% transaction & processing fee
Full integration with Donor Management and Auctions
Ticketing or registration option (for one ticket type)
Built-in event invitations
For more information on our Events Lite pages, please check out our corresponding FAQ.
How do I know whether Events Lite pages or Essential Events pages are right for my upcoming event?
Essential Events pages are a great fit for:
Events-focused organizations that run large, complicated, fundraising events (such as galas, dinners, concerts, or sporting events)
Organizations that use Auctions as part of their event
Organizations that will utilize livestreaming as part of their event
Organizations that are currently using multiple systems to manage their events, communications, and donors
Organizations that need to solicit for and manage sponsorships to cover the cost of their events
Organizations that want to maximize donations and participants for their events
Events Lite pages are a great fit for:
Organizations that run frequent, uncomplicated fundraising events (such as classes, happy hours, VIP events, or competitions)
Organizations that run frequent, larger events for free, non-fundraising events, such as classes, seminars, webinars, performances, art exhibits, or museum exhibits)
Organizations that don’t want to or expect to fundraise heavily at the event
If you’d like to speak to someone further about what pages might be best for you and your events, click here to schedule a call with us.
Are Essential Events pages limited to events hosted virtually/online?
Nope! Essential Events pages are designed to help you manage all of your events, no matter whether they are held in-person, virtually, or in a hybrid format.
What if I have more questions about using a livestream during my event?
For more information on livestreaming with an Essential Events pages, please check out our FAQ on that process – or sign up to attend one of our virtual Essential Events trainings!
Can the Support Team help out with troubleshooting the livestreaming aspects of my Essential Event?
Our Support Team agents are experts in the Essential Events platform, and will be able to assist with troubleshooting issues, such as “my participants aren’t able to donate,” or “I need help flipping my page from ‘Pre-Event’ to ‘Live.’”
For questions specific to the livestreaming functionality, it may be best in most cases to reach out directly to YouTube or Vimeo support, as they are the best-equipped to troubleshoot livestreaming issues, such as “why is my camera not streaming my video correctly,” or “why am I receiving this error when I try to turn on my livestream?”
How can I contact YouTube or Vimeo for issues specific to my livestream?
While YouTube does not have a direct support line, they do have a YouTube Help Center that provides answers to the most common questions they receive (and there is a whole section on livestreaming available).
Vimeo has 24-hour assistance available for account holders, either paid or free. (Just be sure to log in before reaching out for assistance!)
Do you have any additional resources for nonprofits who are setting up a livestream?
YouTube Resources
Vimeo Resources
What are my options if I do not currently have Donor Management as part of my subscription?
Essential Events and Events Lite pages are only available for our All-In-One customers with Donor Management at this time. For our nonprofit customers who currently only utilize Fundraising Pages, you will need to upgrade to our All-In-One platform in order to use these types of event pages.
How do Essential Events pages work with Auctions pages?
We’ve created a whole guide for you on how to best use your Essential Event and Auctions pages together!
How long are tickets available for on an Essential Events page?
By default, a ticket will remain available on your Essential Events page until the time that your event is scheduled to end. You also have the ability to set a ticket "end time" when creating tickets as well, if you'd prefer a ticket be available to purchase for a more limited time.
NOTE: If you are running a livestream through your Essential Events page, and you would like your tickets to remain available after the livestream has ended, you will need to switch your page back to the "Pre-Event" status in your Livestream Dashboard. Otherwise, your tickets will not be visible or accessible to your participants.
What if I would like to use the Essential Events pages for my event?
We’re happy to chat with you about adding this to your subscription. If you click this link, you can schedule a call with a member of our team to discuss your options.