How to Hold a Fund Raising Cocktail Party

When deciding on a fundraising event, consider hosting a cocktail party. Cocktail parties are fashionable and exciting, and your guests will love the idea that they're contributing to a worthwhile cause. A successful fundraising cocktail party depends on an engaging blend of drinks, food and atmosphere. With creativity and advance planning, your event will be the talk of the town and will prove to be lucrative as well.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Search for a low-cost or free venue in which to hold your cocktail party. Keep in mind convenience for your guests, and choose a local establishment such as a restaurant or bar or someone's home or backyard.

2. Estimate your costs and decide on an amount to charge guests for attending the cocktail party event. Generally, ticket prices from $15 to $25 per person will cover your expenses with a bit left over and are considered economical by your guests.

3. Choose a theme for your cocktail party. Seasonal themes based on holidays, such as Halloween or Christmas, or a garden party or luau motif in the summer never fail to please. A Hollywood theme, a retro style reminiscent of a decade of your choice or something colorful such as a Mardi Gras party are perennial hits.

4. Style your cocktail party invitations to reflect your theme, limiting the number of people invited. Remember to include the name of the host or organization, name of the event, place, date, time, RSVP number, cost of attendance and additional instructions such as special dress required.

5. Decide what type of cocktails you will serve, limiting guests to two to four choices. Simple mixers such as Screwdrivers, Cuba Libres or Cape Coolers are easy to prepare and enticing. Estimate two drinks per hour for each guest, and remember to provide sodas, water and coffee for those who prefer a non-alcoholic beverage.

6. Strive for eye appeal, variety and interesting arrangement in your food offerings. Depending on your budget and theme, you may choose comestibles that speak of elegance, like caviar, crab cakes and truffles, or trays of simple nibbles and finger foods such as a fruit and cheese platter, chips and dip, nuts and sliced cold cuts. Plan to offer enough for each guest to eat six bites per hour.

7. Decorate your cocktail party venue in keeping with your theme. Candles always provide a suitable backdrop for relaxing and mingling, while colorful dinnerware, chair covers, tablecloths and centerpieces set a festive tone.

Tips & Warnings

• Rally volunteers to help with planning, set-up and execution of your fundraising cocktail party. You can coax volunteers with free admission and a guaranteed good time.
• Check with local beverage providers and caterers for donations. They may be willing to contribute all or some of their product in exchange for a prominent display of their company name at your event.
• Have plenty of coffee and the telephone number of your local taxicab company handy for any guests that have more fun than they expected.
• Background music can be the essential element in creating the ideal atmosphere for your fundraising cocktail party. Select your sounds based on your party theme or simply rely on something light and funky to set the mood.
• Start planning your fundraising cocktail party at least six months prior to your chosen event date. There will be many details to be worked out, so be sure to give yourself enough time.
• When planning your cocktail party fundraiser, be sure that your expenses are less than the revenue you expect to receive. A lack of careful planning can cause a fundraising event to cost your organization money, although the publicity generated may be so worthwhile as to offset expenses.

Resources

• Epicurious covers cocktail party planning tips, food and drinks.
• Squidoo has oodles of suggestions and cocktail party advice.
• Inthespirit lets you browse numerous easy cocktail concoctions.
• Webicurean offers decorating tips and food and drink recipes.

[CBPope]

on 11/15/2008 I just love a reason to have a cocktail. Great ideas.