With each New Year, there is a new opportunity for growth and change – for individuals and organizations. January is the perfect month to start planning the fundraiser event for your non-profit or charity organization. Plan a gala under a clearspan tent or host a marathon! You turned over a new leaf – now you can do so for your organization, too!
Asking for money is never exactly easy. That is what makes fundraising events so fantastic – you get to receive money for your organization or charity and have fun at the same time!
If you are looking to revamp your organization this year and gain some fundraising dollars to do so, then keep reading to discover the cream of the crop in fundraiser event ideas to get you moving!
The Talent Show
How fun would it be to see all your employees, co-workers, friends, or family up on stage showing off their talent? Whether you choose to have dinner and a show or just the show, this is sure to be one of the most fun and entertaining fundraisers.
Have people you know sign up to participate in the talent show. To make it more interesting, inviting, and well-rounded, set categories such as: most musical, funniest talent, weirdest talent, no one else can do your talent, and best overall. Have prizes for each category. This will entice everyone to participate – not just those looking to land a spot on the next America’s Got Talent.
Themed Ball or Gala Under a Clearspan Tent
Themed dinner party events are always a hit – especially the extravagant ones. Choose a theme and create a uniquely decorated space for your party. To maximize your options, it is best to find an open area and rent a tent. Clearspan tents offer wide open areas with no poles or inside barriers and have many of the perks of an indoor venue – including climate control, flooring, protective walls, etc.
A clearspan tent rental will allow you open decorating space to match your theme in the best way you can. Make sure your theme is spread throughout your food selection, decorations, entertainment and music choices, as well as any goodie bags or gifts for guests. Keep it uniform and eye-catching.
To get you started, here are a few themed ideas:
- Under the sea theme –Use lighting in your clearspan tent to bathe the entire event space in hues of blue. Create decorations in the shape of sea life.
- Black and white – This is the blanket idea for a formal gala. It calls for a classy dress code and your decorating should be classy and tasteful, too – in black and white, of course.
- Casino night – Use a Vegas theme and get the games rolling. Decorate with casino-flair and get some of your friends to dress as cocktail waitresses. Make sure to check your local gambling laws first.
- Caribbean night – Turn your clearspan tent into a tropical oasis. Tiki torches, palm trees, sand, and steel drum bands can give your guests a vacation without having to go anywhere!
- Fiesta – Complete this party with a piñata, a taco bar, and tequila.
Remember, your guests are paying for a memorable and good time – and your organization needs their support.
Any of the many a-thons
There are jump-a-thons, bike-a-thons, dance-a-thons, bake-a-thons, and many, many more. Have your friends, employees, or co-workers sign up to participate at this fundraiser event. They will then collect donations from everyone they know who want to support them while they do something like tip-toe in ballet slippers wearing a tutu for 24 hours. The more participants you can gather up, the more money your organization can make. Does anyone really ever make it to the 24-hour mark at these things?
Guest Speaker
Find someone noteworthy who supports your cause and reach out to see if you can get them to donate their time by speaking at your event. It is highly unlikely you will get Matthew McConaughey to come speak at your auto show fundraiser, but there are many influential people out there that will be willing to. Use your network and see who you can come up with – you may surprise yourself!
Turn it into an event – including dinner, and sell your tickets. You will be well on your way to raising money!
Race – Ready, Set, Go!
Are you into fitness? Are you trying to motivate others? Do you have a large outdoor space available? You can always create a race. Plan a 5k course and have runners and walkers alike sign up. They can solicit donations for their participation and for the support of your organization. That gives you the opportunity to obtain further funds for your fundraiser event in addition to the registration fees.
You can rent a clearspan tent for registration and a post- race snack. Use donated prizes for the runners who place in each category.
If you are into the idea that you must spend money to make money, you can also use various race companies that will take care of the logistics for you.
Wine Tasting
If you are familiar with wine or know someone who is, you could set up a wine tasting. Depending on the turnout, you will need to purchase bottles of several different wines. Combine this with platters of cheese, crackers and other pairings and you have a wine tasting! It is also a good idea to talk to a local liquor stores to see about getting discounts on bulk purchases.
If wine isn’t your thing, don’t rule this idea out just yet. You can always turn it into a beer tasting or, say, a whiskey tasting.
You can also use this platform combined with a raffle or silent auction using donated items.
A fundraiser event doesn’t have to be boring and it doesn’t have to be torture. Everyone likes to have a good time. If you can make an exciting event happen, then you can raise the much-needed funds for your organization. New year, new growth opportunities – go for it!