Everyone who has ever tried to dream up a nonprofit fundraising idea has faced the same question: What is going to bring people out and separate them from their cash? It sounds brutal to phrase it that way, but that is the cold hard fact. We all need funding to keep doing the good work in which we believe so passionately.
The way to engage most people is to offer them an idea that sounds fun. Give them good music, something cool to do or a chance to dress up and act silly, and you have a better chance to get them to your event. Then once there, you need clever ideas to get them to feel the joy of the phrase “tax deductible”.
I’m not talking about the ubiquitous silent auction items. Anyone who can unfold a plastic cafeteria table can figure that much out. What can make the difference in attendance and success is a name and games that make women say, “Oh, how cute,” and make men say, “Sure, honey, that doesn’t sound so bad.”
In other words, you need a theme.
Some hugely successful ideas are also hugely simple. The Houston Rockets do an annual fundraiser for their charities called “Tux and Tennies”. Now, what makes it a sold out event every year is not that fashion purists are agog at the scandalous concept of shoes that don’t match the suit. They just have a boatload of folks willing to fork over a fair amount to rub elbows with professional basketball players, or maybe rub elbows to thighs. Plus there is the curiosity factor in finding out how much material goes into a seven foot six dude’s cumberbund.
Originality is nice, but not a necessity. One theme that you’ll find being used all across the great U.S. of A. is the “Denim and Diamonds” party. It’s brilliant, if you think about it. It’s a clever name. Alliteration is always catchy. More importantly, it gives the well-to-do an excuse to show off their fancy jewelry, or better yet, a reason for that doctor to buy a new necklace or for that attorney to splurge for a gaudy pinky ring.
If you have a devoted following for your charity, some of them will show up for a “Paint Drying Shindig”, but I wouldn’t count on them bringing friends. It’s better to do a “Beach Blanket Bash” than to simply hold a “Fall Fundraiser”. It lets people know ahead of time to wear Hawaiian shirts and Jimmy Buffett shark fins. You know what kind of band you need to book. Figuring out the decorations is a snap, and the food also has a theme you can follow. It makes for easier planning and advertising and a much more cohesive event.
In browsing around while writing this piece, I stumbled across a British site that has my new favorite (or favourite) fundraiser idea of all time: Ferret Races. Now, we all know the Brits love to gamble, but the idea here is give weasels a pithy name, run them through a maze of drain pipe and get tipsy party goers to wager on the outcome, with the house pocketing a cut. Aside from the fact that it sounds possibly illegal, it seems like smashing fun. Or you could just opt to risk the wrath of PETA and go straight for the fighting roosters.
The bottom line is that a good theme makes for a better event. And something that sounds like a good time is much easier for you to promote and for your members and volunteers to hype to their friends. You’re trying to get new faces out to your fundraiser, so give them a nice reason to come donate. One good place to start might be with a fiver on Ferreteriat.
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Tags: friendly advice, fundraiser, party
we found that having an earth friendly theme and tying it in with stuff the kids were learning in the classroom worked really well at our school!