Giving to charity is a way for people to give back to their community by assisting individuals or groups that may be less fortunate. There are many charities available to which a person can contribute, but because charity organizations typically are non-profit, they often have to hold fundraisers as a means of obtaining monies for operation. The way a charity organizes its events can make or break the organization's success. Does this Spark an idea?
Written Instruction/Schedule
Put everything that is supposed to happen during the event in writing, including when each thing is supposed to occur. This allows you to minimize miscommunication among any staff members or volunteers, and this in turn increases the odds that the event will proceed smoothly. Making sure everyone knows the schedule prevents events from running too long or too short, and if the schedule is communicated to the guests, the guests can get the impression of sufficient organization that makes the organization appear more professional. Additionally, having everything in writing allows substitute workers to step in more easily if needed.
Outside Help
Have someone from outside the charity organization run the charity event. You do not need to hire or pay anyone to do this if you can find a volunteer--sometimes those who are going into nonprofit work professionally do this type of work for free to build their resume. The amount that you would pay someone, if you needed to do so, will vary based on the type and length of event, but in general you can figure a bare minimum of 10 hours of work. You can find such volunteers or workers through placing advertisements, announcing the need through your personal and business networks, etc. Getting outside help will allow the members of the board, as well as volunteers, to concentrate on being part of the event and pleasing the guests rather than being responsible for the tasks associated with the event. Having an outside party run the event also provides charity organization members with fresh ideas and perspectives that may heighten the creativity---and thus the success---of the event.
Clarity of Purpose
Make sure that the purpose of the event is clear to everyone, including guests. For instance, on programs or fliers for the event, list where or to whom proceeds will go---guests are less likely to donate if they do not know how monies will be used.
Appreciation Budget
Allow a portion of the event budget to go to guest and donor appreciation. For instance, thank you cards can be mailed to those who contribute, or small tokens such as coupons from a sponsoring restaurant can be given out at the end of the night. These tokens keep the event fresh in the mind of the guest and make them feel as though their donation has been noted, increasing the likelihood of repeat donation.
Tags: charity organization