What makes a charity fund raiser successful?

You want to reach your target and earn enough money to justify the cost of the event, of course, but there’s more to it than that. Many organisations find that their supporters are happy to purchase an event ticket at a price of $100 or more to attend an evening in support of a cause they truly support, but with that event ticket comes certain expectations. While your guests want to help you with their donation, they want a degree of luxury in return!

Choice of venue is imperative. Upscale and unusual locales help justify the price of entry, but you can also spend less if you are creative and willing to decorate and cart in amenities. Consider fun spaces:

• Museums
• Zoos (if there is sufficient space, so dinner is not marred with animal smells)
• Parks
• Very fine homes (if you can find a wealthy supporter willing to host)

Consider the members of your group. What sort of thing would amuse or intrigue them? Might any of them has possession of a large space you could transform for a single evening. A truly unusual venue will help you sell more tickets to the event. A space usually off-limits to the public may gain you new supporters who are willing to but tickets simply to see backstage, behind-the-scenes, or into a usually secret building.

As for food and entertainment, not for profit organisations can often find people to donate upscale experiences. Once again, to justify the price of admission, you want truly scrumptious meals and talented musician. If your supporters are not prone to dancing, perhaps a comedian would be willing to serve as an emcee and keep the night lively.

Of course, while you do hope to earn a certain amount from ticket sales, you’ll want to make your event a real success with multiple options for donating. A cash bar is one way to earn more money, but an open bar can be even more effective if paired with other events:

• Silent auction
• Prize draw
• Casino night
• Carnival games

Once again, it’s important to know your group. Will publicly praising big spenders motivate others to up their donation? Will they enjoy fun and games in exchange for their money, or would they prefer an honest, intelligent, and heartfelt plea (perhaps a Power Point presentation highlighting your work, with moving images of whatever you wish to help) to write an additional check?

Create an appropriate atmosphere for your guests and start printing tickets to your next charity fundraising success.