How to Host a Themed Charity Ball

If you've always wondered how you can do your part to help a great cause, wonder no more. Hosting a charity ball allows you to combine two of your favorite things: having a party and helping people in the process. Throwing a themed charity ball is much simpler than it sounds. By the time you finish reading this, you'll have everything you need to get your party planning under way. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Party budget
• Food
• Beverages
• Charity

1. Choose a charity or cause for your ball. Consider a local charity as the recipient of your donations, but ultimately the choice of the charity is all yours. Make sure that the charity is one that you care deeply about, but also one that you will be able to get your friends, family, and coworkers to donate to.
2. Contact the charity you choose. Speak with someone in the fundraising or development department and find out how they'd like to receive their donations. Let them know about the charity ball and invite charity administrators to the ball. You may also want to see if you can get a banner for the ball. Often the charity may provide you with buttons, ribbons, or t-shirts for your charity if you ask.
3. Pick a theme for your charity ball that is fun but also relevant to the cause. Your theme doesn't have to be outrageous, just fun. For example if you have an AIDS ball, you can have a red theme in which all your guests must wear red. Any theme will do, just be certain that your guests won't have to spend too much money to adhere to your theme. After all, you want more money going to charity than to their costumes.
4. Send out invitations at least 3 weeks before the date of the ball. Provide all the relevant details including: date, location, dress attire, RSVP date, charity information for donations. Be sure to decorate invitations in the theme of the ball and give as much information as possible.
5. Buy food, beverages, decorations and party favors. Ideally you should wait until your guests RSVP so you can have an accurate head count for your ball. You should buy additional items to accommodate guests that show up who did not RSVP.
6. Prepare a speech. It doesn't have to be long, but at some point during the ball you should acknowledge why everyone has come together and request donations to the charity. Keep it simple and upbeat so your guests can commence partying without a guilty conscience.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep the theme simple, your guests should be able to find appropriate attire in their closets.
• Consider inviting a few recipients of the charity.
• Don't force guests to donate, but make it clear on the invitations that donations are expected.

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