Type of Event: Fundraiser Festival

Attendance: 2,000

Venue: Liberty Station, San Diego

Affiliations: The San Diego House Rabbit Society (SDHRS)

Introduction

The San Diego House Rabbit Society (SDHRS) is a nonprofit charitable organization focused on the rescue and rehabilitation of domestic rabbits, also has been in existence since 1992. Their largest annual fundraising event is BunnyFest, a festival that supports their mission and engages the community. To streamline event management and enhance the attendee experience, SDHRS  used EventHub.

Background

BunnyFest began as a simple gathering event in 1993, but over the years, it grew into a major fundraiser for SDHRS, attracting families, vendors, and animal lovers in San Diego. Despite its success, SDHRS faced challenges, especially in terms of registration and ticketing. Prior to 2020, all event registration and payments were handled manually.

“We weren’t digital until about 2020, maybe… it was all manual, all at the door payments,” Jennifer Lee, Executive Director of SDHRS recalls.

Transition to Digital and EventHub

The turning point came when SDHRS used Eventbrite for their event. While Eventbrite was okay, it was just used for ticketing, and was saddled with hidden costs and fees.

That’s when SDHRS discovered EventHub in 2024,during a local fair in San Marcos:

“I stumbled upon EventHub because of a fair in San Marcos. What I liked about Eventbrite was that it had its own environment, and EventHub had similar features I wanted,” says Jennifer Lee. EventHub platform offered more than just ticketing, providing the flexibility to handle all aspects of event management. The value of having everything integrated into one system meant easier coordination, better data management, and streamlined operations.

Biggest Wins for Bunnyfest on EventHub

The onboarding process with EventHub was smooth and efficient. The EventHub team provided hands-on support to ensure a  transition from the previous systems. SDHRS  adapted to the platform, leveraging several key features to enhance BunnyFest:

  • Vendor Management: EventHub vendor platform simplified the process of coordinating with vendors, allowing SDHRS to manage applications, payments, and communications in one place.
  • Interactive Mapping and Booth Management: The Interactive Map feature allowed attendees to easily navigate the event, while the booth management tools helped vendors optimize their setups.
  • Ticketing Platform: The ticketing system streamlined ticket sales, offering a user-friendly experience for attendees and providing valuable data for SDHRS.
  • Support and Assistance: The EventHub team provided exceptional support, addressing any issues promptly and offering customization options to meet the specific needs of BunnyFest.

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Transformative Results: Bunnyfest Reaches New Heights

The results of implementing EventHub for BunnyFest were impressive. The event saw an increase in both attendance and vendor participation, and sponsorship: 

Attendance Growth

The impact of EventHub on BunnyFest was noticeable in terms of attendance. This year, SDHRS achieved over 60% increase, with 2,000 attendees, compared to the previous year that recorded 900 attendees. ” Our numbers definitely were a lot higher this year. I think we were at 2,000 this year. Whereas last year we were at 60%, says Jennifer Lee.

This growth highlights the effectiveness of EventHub in driving engagement and helping SDHRS increase visibility for their event.

Growth In Number of Vendors

Vendor participation also saw growth with EventHub support. “We had a record number of 52 vendors, and 10 of them were new, so that’s huge for us in the space that we have, we didn’t quite expect that. And some of the vendors were completely brand new because they learned about us through your platform too.”Jennifer Lee shares.

The ease of vendor management through EventHub Marketplace made it easier for new vendors to get involved, expanding the diversity of offerings at the event. Furthermore, the increase in vendors helped create a more event atmosphere, attracting more attendees. The platform’s ability to streamline vendor communication and registration was a key factor in this growth.

Sponsorship Growth

EventHub platform helped SDHRS attract new sponsors and manage sponsorships effectively as well. “We got a couple new ones that we didn’t know about, like Realm and other ones. Your advice is really key in terms of opening our minds into how we work with these corporate vendors,” says Jennifer Lee. With EventHub clear, intuitive tools to manage sponsorships, SDHRS could track and engage potential sponsors in real-time, which helped convert leads into partnerships.

Building Revenue

The event saw a 20% increase in revenue being $10,000 from EventHub Marketplace, surpassing expectations. “We usually raise $40,000 to $50,000, but with the help of EventHub, we were able to surpass expectations,” says Jennifer Lee. EventHub not only helped with vendor management but also contributed to the event’s overall success by improving operational efficiency, allowing SDHRS to allocate more time to focus on fundraising efforts and increasing revenue.

In a nutshell, Bunnyfest achieved measurable results in increase in Attendance and Vendor Participation, New Sponsors, Revenue Growth,  Time Saved and Efficiency Improvements

SDHRS Favorite Features of EventHub

Jennifer Lee, Executive Director of SDHRS praised EventHub for its easy-to-use platform and excellent customer support. “The Interactive mapping was so much easier once we got it… all I had to do was flip it to the booth numbers,” she says. The vendor data management also streamlined the process: “It was nice that a lot of our vendors were already in EventHub. I could tell when they registered, and their phone numbers were pre-registered.”

The platform’s ability to simplify communication was another highlight. “The Interactive map was the easiest part for me because I could flip it to know the booth… and also blast email vendors all at once. I didn’t have to email them one by one.” Jennifer Lee noted”

Future Plans

Looking ahead, Jennifer Lee, Executive Director of SDHRS plans to continue using EventHub for BunnyFest in 2025 and beyond. “2025 will be a new year for us to see how much time we really save because we’re going to start promoting the event early,” Jennifer Lee reflects. She anticipates further improvements in vendor and sponsor engagement, with even greater efficiency in event management.

Conclusion

EventHub has transformed the way SDHRS organizes and executes BunnyFest, leading to increased attendance, higher revenue, and better vendor participation. With ongoing support from the EventHub team, SDHRS is excited to continue using the platform for future events, ensuring that BunnyFest remains a major success for years to come.

“As a nonprofit, EventHub has helped us elevate our event while maintaining our budget,” says Jennifer Lee, Executive Director of SDHRS.

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Feature Customer

Jennifer Lee, Executive Director, The San Diego House Rabbit Society (SDHRS)