Thank guests for their donation with a delicious dinner.
A dinner fundraiser is an effective way to raise money for a worthy cause. Hosts are responsible for planning the dinner, attracting donors and executing the dinner on the day of the event. Turn your dinner into a successful, money-raising venture by including entertainment and activities that encourage your guests to donate. Work closely with the charity or cause, and include representatives from the charity at your dinner to rally support.
Instructions
1. Find a venue that can accommodate your dinner fundraiser. Look for a church hall or school gymnasium. These venues can accommodate a large group, and you can often use them for free if you're a member of the church or have kids at the school. Once you find your venue, set a date for your dinner fundraiser.
2. Attract volunteers. Volunteers are the key to making your fundraiser run successfully. Put ads in the local newspaper, school newsletter and church bulletin seeking volunteers. Meet with them before the dinner fundraiser, and tell them exactly what they will be doing. A pre-fundraiser meeting will eliminate any confusion on the day of the event.
3. Recruit businesses to donate items. Raise money by selling table naming rights to businesses, who can in-turn include marketing materials on the table they purchase. Ask a local restaurant to donate food and a bakery to provide desserts. Offer the businesses something in exchange for their generosity, like free advertising or an acknowledgment in the fundraiser program.
4. Advertise for the event. You need to attract donors to your dinner fundraiser to raise money. If guests can attend by invitation only, then send out your invites at least one month in advance. However, you can potentially raise more money if you open the dinner fundraiser to the public and sell tickets for admission. In this case, publicize your event in the local media and on community bulletin boards.
5. Set up fundraising activities. Ticket sales can go toward your fundraising goal, but schedule some activities during the dinner that raise more money. Raffle off items donated by local businesses or hold a silent auction to raise more funds.
6. Decorate for the fundraiser on the day of the event. Thank guests for coming by turning your space into a welcoming environment. Drape tables with linens and top them with floral centerpieces. Hang pictures of the charity you're supporting around the room, and provide literature about your cause on tables. Guests will appreciate the extra effort.
7. Serve as the emcee of the dinner fundraiser. The host should make sure that guests are enjoying themselves. Thank them for coming, make sure dinner comes out on time and run any fundraising activities like the raffle. Talk to guests about the charity to encourage them to donate as well.
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