Last updated on September 26th, 2018 at 06:10 am
Fundraising banquets are usually organized once every year by nonprofit organizations, and they are a true and tested way to generate awareness and raise money for your cause.
The size of the event may differ from organization to organization, but no matter the size of the crowd, the banquet needs to be memorable and, most importantly, your guests need to get attached to your cause to make donations.
That is why you need to keep in mind a few important aspects which will help you organize a successful fundraising banquet.
1. Plan in Advance
For a banquet, you may want to rent a venue which is designated for special events, such as dinners. Because of this, you will have to book it ahead of time to make sure that you get the best option for your event.
Then, you also need to set up your team and assign different members to certain tasks, so that you can cover all the organizational details.
2. Choose the Host Committee
For the host committee, try to reach out first to people who have already shown an interest in supporting your cause. They will be more likely of responding to your proposal.
You can also reach out to the main stakeholders from companies which decided to sponsor your fundraising banquet.
3. Set Your Fundraising Goal
Your fundraising goal needs to be linked to a concrete objective because it will be much easier for you to raise the money.
For example, you may want to renovate a school in a village. After you have decided on this objective, think about how much money it would take for you to accomplish this. Most importantly, be realistic when setting your goals.
4. Decide on the Food
If you are going to rent a place which has its kitchen, you can make create a team and cook the food on the spot.
However, you have the possibility to cater the event. You also need to decide whether it is going to be buffet style, sit-down meal if there’s going to be dessert or alcohol.
The more you spend on food, the higher your budget will be. This means that you will have to find ways which can help you reach your donation goal, such as selling tickets or fixing a minimum amount that people can donate.
5. Book Entertainment
You cannot have a fundraising banquet without entertainment.
If the dinner it is going to be more formal, then consider hiring a speaker, a live music band or even an entertainer from America’s Got Talent.
For a more relaxed banquet, you can go for a magician, a clean comedian or a ventriloquist.
6. Create Your Budget
This can be done only after you list all of your expenses, such as:
- Entertainment
- Staff
- Invitations
- Venue
- Security
- Food
- Unforeseen costs.
7. Get the Word Out
Before promoting the banquet, you need to know who your audience is and whom you would like to join the event.
Then, you can use a combination of these strategies to promote the event, depending on your budget:
- Word of mouth
- Social media
- Advertising
- Press releases.
Make the Best of Your Fundraising Banquet
Banquets represent an exceptional occasion for you to expand your reach as a nonprofit organization and raise awareness about your cause. Moreover, most importantly, don’t overlook the importance of entertainment when it comes to making your guests feel good and become more connected to your purpose.
With the right support and by keeping in mind these seven tips, you will be on your way to organizing a successful fundraising banquet.
If you are looking for the best entertainment which you can hire for this type of event, then feel free to reach out to us, and we will help you out with any information.
Also published on Medium.
