Beats for Relief x Best Buddies: Events That Build Inclusion
From Madrid to the world: what we shared with Best Buddies
In October 2023, Beats for Relief joined Best Buddies International in Madrid for the 2023 Global Staff Forum, held October 4 to 7. Staff from 14 countries, from Ireland and Croatia to Qatar, the Philippines and the United States, came together to share what works and what is hard about growing the Best Buddies mission locally.
We were invited to speak about cause marketing: how digital tools and events can turn awareness into real donations for NGOs. In the middle of the training days, Best Buddies in Spain hosted its gala on October 5, with more than 200 guests celebrating inclusion and the relaunch of Best Buddies in Spain. It was the perfect reminder of why events matter.
Three years later, a lot has changed in how people give. Here is what we shared in Madrid, updated for 2026, and how Beats for Relief can help Best Buddies chapters around the world put it into practice.
Why cause marketing matters for Best Buddies chapters
Cause marketing is where purpose meets promotion. Done well, it gives people a reason to care and an easy way to act, and for local NGOs it can be a lifeline.
Two principles came up again and again in Madrid, and they still hold:
Authenticity and transparency. Supporters give when they can see real people and real impact, not polished slogans.
Strong partnerships. Chapters rarely have big marketing teams. Partners like venues, artists, local businesses and volunteers multiply what a small team can do.
Five strategies for 2026 and 2027
These are the strategies we presented in Madrid, refreshed with the latest data. Figures below come from Double the Donation's 2026 fundraising statistics and mostly reflect US and Canadian donors, but the patterns hold for chapters everywhere.
1. Tell a story, not a list of facts
Every strong story has a hero, a setting, a challenge and a turning point. For a chapter, the hero is your community, the setting is your city or country, and the challenge is the exclusion people with intellectual and developmental disabilities still face. Then invite the reader in: their support helps write the next chapter.
In 2026, 55.6% of nonprofit professionals say high-impact storytelling in event emails is the tactic that converts best for peer-to-peer campaigns. A real friendship, a first job, a photo from your last event: these beat statistics every time.
2. Meet donors on social media
Social media is now the channel that most inspires people to give, cited by 32% of donors. Facebook still leads among them (56%), followed by Instagram (21%). Built-in donate buttons, fundraisers and link stickers make it easy to go from scrolling to giving in a few taps.
With 57% of nonprofit website traffic now coming from mobile, every post should point to a donation page that works perfectly on a phone. Partnering with local creators, artists and ambassadors can carry your story far beyond your own followers.
3. Keep email at the heart of your plan
Email is a close second, inspiring 30% of donors, and 48% say regular emails are what keep them engaged and giving again. It is affordable, fast and fully in your control.
Our tips are the same as in 2023, only more important now:
Keep growing your list at every event and touchpoint
Show tangible impact with one short story per email
Use one clear call to action and a one-click path to donate
Thank people quickly, by email, and tell them what their gift made possible
4. Bring people together with events
Events turn supporters into a community. 81% of US donors say they regularly attend nonprofit fundraising events, and an event gives every other channel something to talk about: the invitation, the countdown, the photos, the thank-you.
The Best Buddies in Spain Gala in Madrid showed exactly this. A single evening brought more than 200 people together, relaunched a chapter, and created content and relationships that are still being shared three years later.
Events also power peer-to-peer fundraising, where supporters raise money from their own networks. The 2026 Best Buddies Champion campaign is a great example: individual Champions in different countries rally friends, family and colleagues around one shared goal.
5. Open an online store
45% of donors say they buy from online stores that benefit a nonprofit. Branded merchandise raises funds, spreads your message every time someone wears it, and helps you build your supporter list. Platforms like Shopify, Wix and Square make it simple to launch with low overhead, and event merch is an easy place to start.
How Beats for Relief can help Best Buddies chapters
Beats for Relief brings people together through music to raise awareness and funds for causes that matter. Over the years we have produced more than 150 events and partnered with NGOs including Oxfam, ILGA Europe, Open Arms, Save the Children and Best Buddies.
For Best Buddies chapters anywhere in the world, we can help with:
Benefit events: concept, venue and artist partnerships, ticketing and run-of-show for galas, concerts and community nights
Event marketing: social content, email invitations and storytelling that fill the room and keep donations coming after the night ends
Partnerships: connecting chapters with hotels, venues, brands and artists who want to support inclusion
Campaign support: turning an event into a wider push, from peer-to-peer campaigns like Champions to merch and year-end appeals
What we saw in Madrid is just as true today: inclusion, friendship and meaningful work are universal, and so is the power of a great night out for a good cause.
If your chapter is planning an event or wants to start one, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch at info@beatsforrelief.com or visit beatsforrelief.com.