How to Organize a Charity Benefit
Though people may love the purpose of your charity, you won't stay in business long without the funds necessary to provide the services related to your organization. Charity benefits give you the opportunity to raise funds and promote the values and mission of your charity. The key to organizing a successful charity benefit is to start your planning months in advance, and to select the best type of event to showcase your charity's goals.
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Instructions
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Decide on a fundraising goal. To properly plan your benefit, you need an idea of how much money you want to raise, which will help determine the kind of benefit you hold. For example, a $1,000,000 goal will require a much bigger event than a $25,000 goal.
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Determine the kind of benefit you want to host. Choices include a live auction of products and services, a fashion show and a formal dinner. Make your selection based on your fundraising goal and any business contacts you have who are willing to donate goods, services and even a venue. If your fundraising goal is modest, a formal dinner with an auction may be enough to meet your needs. If your fundraising goal is large, a bigger event such as a golf outing or fashion show gives you the opportunity to attract more people, including local or national celebrities.
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Select a date for the benefit and research venues in your area that can accommodate your event. Whether you're planning a large or small event, many venues require you to book months in advance and pay a deposit. Choose a date that gives you ample time to prepare.
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Make a budget for the benefit. Keep the budget low by reaching out to corporations for sponsorship in exchange for advertising at your event. Sponsorship takes on many forms. Some companies will donate money in exchange for premium advertising, some will donate products and services, while others will provide use of a venue to host the benefit. The kind of sponsorship you seek will depend on your fundraising goal, but in general, you should be willing to accept any form of sponsorship that you can transform into money for your organization. For example, if a company donates tickets to an event, you can price those tickets for a raffle or auction.
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Compile a list of potential donors and send them invitations. Target corporations, local businesses and organizations with a demonstrated history of supporting charities in general, or your specific charity. Try to match your event to that of a potential donor. For example, if you're holding a sports-related benefit, such as a tennis exhibition, target tennis companies since they're a natural fit for your event.
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Reach out to the publicists of local or national celebrities who may be wiling to appear at the benefit or agree to appear in advertising for your event. Many celebrities have a number of charities and causes with which they're involved, and convincing them to attend your benefit may help increase your event's profile. You can contact celebrity publicists by buying reference books such as the "Hollywood Creative Directory" or "The Celebrity Black Book," which list contact information for thousands of celebrity representatives, including publicists.
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Advertise your benefit about six weeks before it takes place. Take out ads in your local paper, buy radio spots, create a website and buy television commercials (if it's in the budget).
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Tips & Warnings
If you can't book a celebrity, consider reaching out to local talent, such as a musical group or singer that can provide free entertainment in exchange for the chance to perform to a large group.
If you don't send reminders a month prior to the benefit to confirm that people who've responded will attend, you may end up with a poorly-attended event.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Taken by Evstafiev found on http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Afghan_girl_begging.jpg
