This article is part of the Spring 2026 edition of the Volunteer Newsletter, a quarterly update meant to equip, empower and encourage RMEF volunteers. More articles are available on our dedicated Volunteer Newsletter page.

At the heart of every successful RMEF banquet is something that cannot be ordered, emailed, printed or bought…

Relationships.

While national programs, marketing materials and digital outreach all play crucial roles, the biggest driver of attendance and long-term banquet support continues to be grassroots efforts. Local RMEF volunteers, you, building genuine relationships with local supporters is what fills seats, strengthens chapters and ultimately fuels our conservation mission.

Why Grassroots Effort Matters

Fundraising events are not merely transactional. They are community gatherings. When someone attends a banquet for the first time, it is almost always because someone they trust invited them: a neighbor, coworker, friend from church, hunting buddy, local business owner, volunteer.

People show up for people. That is community, and it has a ripple effect.

That personal connection is what makes the difference. Volunteers are not simply organizing an event. They represent RMEF in their local communities. They serve as the connection between RMEF’s mission and the people who live, work and care about wildlife in their own backyard.

When local volunteers invest their time and energy into planning a banquet, they are building something. Communities respond to that. People want to support individuals they know and respect. They want to attend something their friends and neighbors have worked hard to create.

What Grassroots Effort Looks Like in Practice

Grassroots effort does not have to be complicated. It simply needs to be intentional.

Here are some practical steps chapters can take to increase their attendance and support.

Personal Invitations

  • Identify individuals who have never attended and personally invite them.
  • Call past attendees who have not returned in recent years.
  • Share event information through personal social media accounts.
  • Text or email the event link directly to friends and colleagues.

Business Outreach

  • Stop by local businesses with your volunteer toolkit and speak directly with owners about attending, donating or sponsoring.
  • Leave event posters where appropriate and follow up with a conversation.
  • Ask owners if they know customers who may have interest in wildlife or conservation.

Community Presence

  • Attend local events and wear RMEF apparel.
  • Mention the upcoming banquet in everyday conversations.
  • Share recent conservation accomplishments that resonate locally.

Table Sales and Relationship Building

  • Reach out to potential and past table buyers.
  • Thank them for their past support and help them understand how their contributions have impacted the success of your banquet.
  • Explain how chapter success impacts the RMEF mission.
  • Share recent conservation accomplishments that resonate locally.
  • Focus on the relationship, not just the sale. A genuine personal conversation builds long-term support beyond a single banquet.

Follow Up

  • Personally recognize and welcome new supporters at your banquet. Have your emcee ask “all first-time attendees to please stand” and ask the crowd for a round of applause.
  • Thank attendees after the event through your personal social media account or when you see them in public.

The Big Picture

RMEF was built from the ground up. Our mission moves forward because people step up in their communities and take initiative.

Growing attendance does not require a large marketing budget. It requires conversations, follow-up and consistent relationship building.

People want to support something that feels personal. When they see their friends and neighbors leading the effort, they are more likely to attend, participate and stay involved.

Grassroots effort works. And it begins within each local community, through the strong relationships built by RMEF volunteers.