Clarity for Charity

Planning for a charity event but don't know where to start? That's OK because I do, and I want to help you. I want to create some clarity so we can start planning your charity event!

I love planning charity events because of the bigger picture- the bigger purpose.

Charity events are a fun way to bring everyone together. The best thing about it is that they're all there for the same reason.

So, I have to start by asking, what is the purpose of the event? Who are you raising money for? What are you raising money for? This is by far the most important part of any charity event.

Once we have the reason for the event, we need to set a fundraising goal. While this goal should we reasonable, it never hurts to set a higher goal. It makes exceeding it that much sweeter.

After clarifying the fundraiser goal, we will need to set a budget. After these two areas are clarified, we can move on to the venue. The venue should be based on two things: the theme of the event and the size of the event. How many people are expected to come? We want to make sure the venue feels big and welcoming, not crammed and crowded!

When deciding a theme, let's try to be fun and creative. Here are a few ideas:

- Pancake Palooza

- Crawfish Boil

- Backyard Bar-B-Q

- Cupcake Cook-off

The number of ideas is endless. There's always the option of doing a dance or ball. These can be themed anywhere from the disco to the red carpet. Arcades, casinos, rodeos, circuses- just about everything under the sun can be used for a charity event theme.

In order for the event to run smoothly, it's important to have the day planned beforehand, which means different vendors, activities, and decorations will need to be bought and booked in advance. Keep in mind, we want the food, drinks, and activities to match the theme.

Now that we have the budget, venue, and theme decided, we will need to set a date. After these steps are finalized, it's time to advertise the event. In order for people to come to the event, they have to know about it. There's no such thing as too much advertising, plus, the more people the merrier! TV commercials, radio ads, flyers, newspapers and social media platforms are all good forms of advertisement when wanting to reach your target audience. Your target audience is important when choosing your way of advertising. Is your target audience older? Maybe the newspaper would be a good option. Is your audience young adults? Social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram might be the better option. Advertising depends on who you are trying to reach.

Sponsors and donors are important people to keep in mind when planning a charity event. Don't be afraid to ask businesses to help you reach your goal. The worst thing they can say is no. And then what? You go to the next business and try again!

Speaking of sponsors and donors, how will you be accepting donations? Having multiple ways people can donate is key. A website is a good option. If your target audience is teenagers and young adults, I suggest having a mobil app, like Venmo, where people can instantly donate to the charity. Venmo is popular in today's generation, so having that option can only help you reach your gaol. Of course, aside from the digital world, there's always the cash and check options for donations.

When it comes to the actual day of the charity, who will be making sure the event runs smoothly? By this I mean who will work the activity booths or the concession stands? Who will be letting people in at the gate? There's no such thing as having too much help.

Now that we have created a guideline for planning your charity event, I say it't time to start planning. What do you say? Are you ready to raise some money? I know I am!