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Ideas for charity events

By: David Yuri

Charity events represent a noble way of showing people how much we care. But when it comes to organizing such an event there are certain things you should take into consideration. You may have not known, but nonprofit events have to be carefully planned, and the activities should match your goals and, most importantly, should appeal to people you are hoping to contribute. The first thing that you could do is look up fundraising on the net and find lots of companies that are willing to help you sell their stuff.

Also, many direct sales companies, like Avon, have a fundraising catalog you can sell from, giving you a portion of the sales. Of course, there's always the time honored ones like bake sales, brat & hot dog sales, car washes, garage sales, auctions, golf events, walks & rides (for miles traveled), raffles and other such activities. You can put cans out at several businesses, with your particular event listed on the side. Hold a spaghetti, chili, chicken, steak, soup, salad, or other such dinner. The problem with all of the above nonprofit events is that they are stale by now – as good ideas as they are, everyone has had these ideas put into practice.

We are not implying that the above charity events ideas are not good; they're good, but you should try looking for something unique that will get people's attention. For instance, one organization did something called Shanty Town, where everyone goes around getting pledges to sleep in a cardboard box overnight. They create whatever kind of box they want, decorating it and coming up with themes or whatever. This nonprofit event was turned it into a real festival, with rides and games, music and food. It was so successful that it was held ever yearly since, raising over $12,000...and in a rural community too! Being creative is extremely important in this field, because there are hundreds of other organizations trying to do the same thing.

Here is another inventive idea that may work: you could host an auction or silent auction by enlisting the donations of small businesses throughout your community. Small businesses are always eager to advertise their services, and to donate their goods or services to a good cause. You can also arrange for food and beverages to be donated as well. Put together a program that advertises all the businesses involved in your charity events and sell ad space in the program to the ones that did not donate their goods or services to the auction, but want to contribute.

You can make it a formal affair and charge $20 or more, depending on the type of event. You can usually charge more if it is a cocktail event or an actual sit-down dinner. As well as that you could see if a local hotel will allow you to hold your event in their banquet hall, or if a church parish hall will allow you to do it. You should know that charity events mostly depend on the kind of nonprofit organization you represent. You could have a golf tournament and ask people to become members of a club with the promise of a newsletter to keep them posted on all the happenings of the organization.

Bear in mind that people who play golf are usually rich people who may attend nonprofit events of a certain type; they may not be interested in the same charity events as people who go to church regularly. Your local businesses could help you with your cause by contributing a percentage of purchases towards your organization (even if it is only on certain dates of the year); but they will most likely only be interested if your event is somehow connected to their activity.

Charity events are a great way of fundraising. But anyone who wants to do it should think of all the aspects of organizing nonprofit events.

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