Afterglow Foundation
Afterglow Foundation is a Vermont-based nonprofit dedicated to suicide awareness and prevention. Each September, they host the Afterglow Music Festival, a community event designed to bring people together through music, healing, and hope.
For the past 6 years, their team managed social media on their own and last year, sold 326 tickets through grassroots promotion. While their mission resonated deeply with local audiences, they wanted to expand their reach, attract new attendees, and increase pre-event fundraising through more strategic, story-driven marketing.
That’s where The Winfield Creative came in.
The Challenge
Services Provided
The Results
Pre-sold tickets increased from 326 to 954, nearly tripling attendance.
Ticket revenue rose from $9,951.90 to $23,370, a $135% increase in pre-event sales.
Combined community efforts helped raise over $130,000 for suicide prevention and mental health initiatives across Vermont.
The Strategy
Our focus was to amplify Afterglow Foundation’s story,not just their event.
We optimized the festival’s Facebook event with full event details, engaging visuals, and consistent updates to keep the momentum going. Through continuous engagement and a boosted ad campaign, we expanded reach far beyond their existing followers - connecting with new audiences throughout the greater Saint Albans area.
Facebook Event Optimization
We made sure the message remained at the heart of every post. Yes, we were asking for sponsorships and encouraging people to come out for a fun event, but every piece of content circled back to the why: bringing education, awareness, and hope to the community.
Organic Storytelling
Our team showed up ready to capture the energy of the festival in real time so the founders could focus on enjoying their day and managing logistics. We went live to encourage day-of online donations, interviewed bands to boost last-minute ticket sales, and celebrated the day’s joy with both in-person attendees and the online community.
Day-Of Content Creation