Fund-raising is a necessary part of many organizations such as private schools, medical research, and other organizations---such as camps for children with disabilities or the Relay for Life association. Parties allow the guests to have fun as a return for their donations and allow the organization promoting the fund-raising to thank the sponsors for their generosity. Does this Spark an idea?
A Night on the Town
A Night on the Town is a formal themed dinner party complete with appetizers, drinks, dinner, and dessert followed by a band and dancing. Guests pay one hundred dollars per ticket for the food, to dress up and be a part of the fun. Add in a silent auction, a balloon pop (where the balloons contain small prizes donated by local stores), or a treasure chest (where guests buy keys and the winning key wins the contents of the chest) as fund-raisers within the fund-raiser. Ask a local photographer to donate their time and make a photo backdrop. The guests pay a small donation for the photos, and the photographer may gain some new clients.
Caberet-style Dinner
Host a cabaret-style night by providing dinner and a show. Invite the guests to arrive in time for appetizers and wine, if appropriate. Serve a simple, elegant dinner to be followed by a talent show provided by the staff of the fund-raising organization or with local talent donating their time and skills. This idea works especially well for schools. Have the students serve the food to the guests and provide the talent. Singing, dancing, martial arts, baton twirling, and playing musical instruments are all talents that students can perform while the extended family buys tickets to see their little star in the show.
Festival of the Trees
This idea began in Utah at the Primary Children's Medical Center but can be adapted to suit any organization in need of a fundraiser. Plan a cocktail party with appetizers, sit-down dinner for organizations, or a potluck for a school or church. Each family or area of the corporation can decorate a tree according to the family's traditions. The school children can make the ornaments for their tree by grade level or subject. Host a live or silent auction where individuals or corporate sponsors buy the whole tree with ornaments included. This idea would also work in the fall with Halloween jack-o-lanterns or baskets of eggs at Easter.
Tags: This idea, Night Town, silent auction, their time, with appetizers