Alpha Phi Foundation - Focus on Philanthropy

Philanthropy trends, chapter spotlights, and advice from peers and Foundation staff to inspire and highlight the philanthropic success of Alpha Phi’s collegiate chapters.

[alphaphiphilanthropy]

Chapter Spotlight: Delta Kappa (Wisconsin La Crosse)

This week’s Chapter Spotlight is Delta Kappa (Wisconsin La Crosse), who recently planned an entire philanthropy event from scratch! Kylie Anderson, Delta Kappa’s VP of Marketing, shares the process of planning the first PhiSPN event, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.

What inspired you to start a brand-new philanthropy event on campus? Delta Kappa has stayed consistent each year by hosting two philanthropy events: Red Dress Brunch in the fall, and Mr. Heartthrob, a male beauty pageant, in the spring. Because we were having trouble finding ways to involve our student body in our Red Dress event (due to the ticket price being outside of a typical college student’s budget), we decided to create a brand-new event that was tailored specifically to our campus community.

How did you decide on the event PhiSPN? What factors did you take into account when brainstorming potentially successful events for your campus? Originally, we wanted to host an Alpha Phifa soccer event. But due to formal recruitment and the Midwest’s unpredictable fall weather patterns, we decided to host an indoor basketball tournament instead. UW-La Crosse is a very active campus, and basketball is one of the most popular recreational activities on campus. Basketball can also be played indoors and outdoors, so regardless of the weather our event could go on as planned.

Walk us through the step-by-step process of planning this event. When did the planning begin, and who helped with the preparations? First, I (VP of Marketing) started the PhiSPN marketing campaign about two months prior to the event. This campaign included a cover photo, electronic advertisements, and organizing tabling dates in high-traffic areas of campus. Our Director of Philanthropy booked the UW-La Crosse Recreational Eagle Center (REC), which is easily accessible and consistently filled with students using the gym and playing basketball on the courts.

Three weeks prior to the event, I set up a page online for students to register for $15.00 per team. A Facebook event was then created, and UWL students and members of the La Crosse community were invited. Around that same time, we ordered PhiSPN t-shirts for our chapter sisters and the winners of the tournament.

One week before the event, our Director of Philanthropy created the brackets for a double-elimination tournament. Our PhiSPN committee also gathered to help assign chapter members to be coaches for specific teams. This committee also tabled on campus prior to the event, and helped with scoring and cheering on the teams during the event.

In what areas of your event did you see successes? How would you like to improve things for next year’s event? For not having any money in our philanthropy budget set aside for this event, I think PhiSPN went very well. Our PhiSPN t-shirts were a huge hit – we were even asked if we had extras available for purchase! Several teams have already expressed that they’re excited to participate again next year, and we received a lot of compliments on how much fun PhiSPN was. It was our first time planning any sort of event like this, so there is always room for improvement. Our first priority for next year is finding a larger venue to give us the space to house all of the teams and spectators comfortably. We also want to have concessions open for spectators and teams throughout the event!

If you could start the event all over again, what would you change? I would have definitely started the planning, marketing and registration for the event at least two months earlier than we did. I also would’ve made sure to allocate money from our philanthropy budget to PhiSPN in order to have more decorations and a higher-quality event. We didn’t have experienced referees, and that caused brief hiccups that could have been easily avoided. Participating teams also were upset that they didn’t get PhiSPN t-shirts, so I would have definitely closed the event sooner in order to receive shirt sizes ahead of time.

What advice would you share with other chapters looking to start an event from scratch? Make sure you start planning well in advance! It’s also important to make sure that the event fits well with the environment and interests of your student body. Also, set the price per team appropriately to what a typical college student can afford. Although the main goal of philanthropy events is to raise money for a wonderful cause, students won’t sign up if the price is set too high. Make sure that you have the budget for all that you plan to execute – if you don’t, get creative and ask local businesses if they’re willing to make donations for exchange for publicity from your chapter. Planning a new event can be stressful, but it is so rewarding to see all your hard work pay off!

[alphaphiphilanthropy]

Chapter Spotlight: Eta Sigma (Lafayette)

This week’s Chapter Spotlight is Eta Sigma (Lafayette), who recently hosted their second annual Red Dress Gala. A key focus of their event is alumnae engagement and involvement which led to a festive, philanthropic evening for all.

Event Name: Red Dress Gala Location: The Eastonian, Easton, PA

How long has the Eta Sigma chapter been hosting Red Dress Gala?

We’ve been hosting Red Dress Gala since September 2015, so this coming September will be our third Gala. We host Red Dress Gala on the same weekend as Lafayette College’s Parents’ Weekend because it not only enhances event attendance and donations, but also introduces our chapter to our newly initiated members’ families.

What did you change that contributed to the success of this year’s Red Dress Gala?

We changed quite a bit from 2015 to 2016. Our first Gala was a brunch, but this year we switched to a formal dinner. We also changed venues; while our current venue is smaller, parents noted that they preferred and enjoyed having all aspects of the event (seating, silent auction, dance floor, games) in one room. This was different from our first Gala’s venue, which was held in multiple rooms.

What games and activities did you have at Red Dress Gala to keep your attendees engaged?

Our latest Gala was very successful in engaging parents and guests, as well as raising more donations for Alpha Phi Foundation than ever before. The combination of organized activities, a sit-down dinner, a silent auction, and dancing, made for a great evening that engaged all of our guests.

Our silent auction featured very generous baskets put together by our families, and we organize games of Heads or Tails. Guests participate by guessing whether a coin will land on heads or tails. This continues until there is one guest left standing, who receives the winning prize. We also host a balloon game, where we sell balloons to our guests for a chance to win a bottle of wine. When the time comes for our guests to pop their balloons at the same time, if the guest’s balloon holds a piece of paper they win! We were also very fortunate to have an Alpha Phi alumna, Susan Sherman (Epsilon Nu-Delaware), speak about the Foundation and the importance of raising awareness of women’s heart health.

How do you involve both local and chapter alumnae in your event?

In order to improve our chapter’s relationship with area alumnae, we send invitations for our Red Dress Gala with the hopes that they would not only attend but also strengthen their involvement. We’re also getting ready to debut a chapter newsletter, which will be sent at the end of every semester to keep alumnae informed and included in what we are doing.

How does this event empower you and your chapter members?

As this is my first year as a member of Alpha Phi, I feel extremely empowered by Red Dress Gala. We hold the event only a few weeks after Bid Day, so as a new member it made me proud to be a part of this sisterhood and to show it to my parents. Red Dress Gala has become very special to our chapter. It is unlike any other event that any Greek organization on campus hosts and we’re raising awareness for an important, but often overlooked, cause.  

Do you have any advice for other chapters hosting Red Dress Galas?

First and foremost, staying organized is key. This is a big event, and it is easy to feel overwhelmed. I would recommend making a checklist for the event, starting with the event date and venue. Then, I would recommend starting to look at a list of local alumnae on the Alpha Phi website. For Eta Sigma alumnae specifically we found that the most recent alumnae showed the most interest, so I would prioritize them. With a well-organized calendar and a reliable team behind you, any chapter can host a successful Red Dress Gala!

[alphaphiphilanthropy]

Chapter Spotlight: Eta Theta (San Francisco State)

This week’s Chapter Spotlight is Eta Theta (San Francisco State), our Western Quadrant’s Most Improved Fundraiser! Chapter President Jessica Medina shares Eta Theta’s secrets to their fundraising success during the 2015-2016 academic year.

2014-2015 Giving: $324.70 2015-2016 Giving: $15,677.99 Percentage Increase: 4828%

You increased your donations to Alpha Phi Foundation by over $15,000 last year. How did you accomplish this?

With a lot of hard work, Eta Theta was able to increase donations to Alpha Phi Foundation by working together as a whole. We held our Red Dress Gala at a venue near campus, allowing us to save a considerable amount of money. We also received discounted flower arrangements from a local flower market as one of our many donations.

During the event, we introduced a raffle, silent auction, and a crowd favorite: the balloon pop. Tickets were sold for the balloon pop, and every balloon held a ticket that matched with a gift card. This activity was fun and interactive for our attendees, as they had to pop their balloons. Overall, we had a very successful event filled with family and friends.

What other philanthropy events does Eta Theta host throughout the year?

This year, Eta Theta also introduced Alpha Phifa, an all-day soccer tournament, as a brand new philanthropy event! Because it was our first year hosting Alpha Phifa we didn’t have a lot of teams pre-register, but holding the event on our campus’ main soccer field brought several teams to participate and register the day-of. T-shirts were made to promote the event, and with such a high interest the shirts were fairly inexpensive. We also sold extra t-shirts at the event which was very profitable, and brought out snacks and water.

How did you involve your chapter in preparing for and executing your philanthropy events?

As a chapter, we have implemented committees to help set up and organize each event alongside the Marketing department. We involve as many girls as we can by breaking down the event into several tasks. Sisters with different skills and preferences can then choose what they would like to contribute towards. Each Alpha Phi was also required to find one donation item valued at $50 or more, allowing our department to have more donation items to work with. Several of our members ventured into San Francisco for donations and brought back a lot of great items.

What advice would you share with other chapters looking to improve their philanthropy events?

Things won’t be perfect; be prepared if things go wrong. If they do, go with the flow; it’s not the end of the world if a minor detail changes. Finally, be proud of your accomplishments. It takes a lot of hard work to coordinate a large event like this, but it’s ultimately so rewarding.

[alphaphiphilanthropy]

Chapter Spotlight: Eta Omega (Towson)

This week’s Chapter Spotlight is Eta Omega (Towson), our Eastern Quadrant’s Most Improved Fundraiser! Vice President of Marketing Steffani Pacitti shares what improvements the chapter made to accomplish a significant increase in their chapter giving this year.

2014-2015 Giving: $1,145.64 2015-2016 Giving: $13,472.10 Percentage Increase: 1,176%

You increased your donations to Alpha Phi Foundation by over $12,300 last year. How did you accomplish this?

We accomplished this because of our passion. One thing I can say about my sisters at Towson University is that their hearts are so full of love for our philanthropy, and it really hits close to home. Bonding over fundraising for a good cause has brought us even closer together, and has motivated us like never before. Lifting each other up and setting goals to “do even better next time” keep us going. We are so proud of our accomplishments within the past year and are so grateful for the past and current VPs of Marketing for all of their hard work. Having sisters in the VP of Marketing, Director of Philanthropy, and Red Dress Chairman positions that are extremely passionate about the cause makes these officers go the extra mile to make each event the best it can be.

Did you introduce anything new this year at your philanthropy events? 

For Red Dress Gala, we took an event that was medium-sized and launched it to new heights. We’ve never invited alumnae before this year, and including them was a nice touch. Now that our chapter is larger, we also incorporated more social media leading up to the gala. Parents and attendees enjoyed the Facebook reminders and previews of what items we would be featuring. We also implemented a balloon raffle and both silent and live auctions in efforts to keep the night fun and entertaining. The balloon raffle was a great, inexpensive way to keep attendees involved.

This year was also our first year hosting Alpha Phifa, a live soccer tournament. Fraternity men love sports and especially competition, so this event got many student organizations excited! We raised about $800.00 from this tournament alone.

At what event did you see the most fundraising success? What aspects of the event led to this success?

Red Dress Gala was by far our most successful event. The Red Dress team worked for about eight months to ensure a successful event. Organization, timeliness, and deadlines are crucial in implementing a successful Red Dress Gala. We aimed to secure donations from big companies that would appeal to our families. We focused on the important things first, like securing donations and sponsorships, followed by the other details. Sponsorships changed the fundraising game for our chapter by opening up doors to more fundraising opportunities than we’ve ever had in the past. Some local businesses, such as law and doctor’s offices, that didn’t have material items to donate became sponsors of the event. Another great sponsorship source came from companies that our families are employees of. We made sure to thank each and every sponsor and donor after the event to ensure a long-lasting relationship.

How did you involve your chapter in preparing and executing your events?

Various events involve sisters more than others during the actual event. For example, we have sisters keep score and ref for Alpha Phifa, and hand out wings at our annual WingBowl chicken wing eating contest. We also ask sisters that have strong connections with other student organizations to encourage those organizations to participate. We also created graphics for sisters to share on social media.  

What advice would you share with other chapters looking to improve their philanthropy events?

First, try to utilize spaces on your campus. They are usually available at little to no cost to the organization. All of our events are hosted on campus for free, and that helps us to cut down event costs significantly.

Second, social media is SO important, especially for on-campus events. Learn how to properly utilize social media platforms that are popular on your campus. For example, Instagram is widely used at Towson, so we make graphics specifically for followers to see.

Lastly, go big or go home. Put your all into these events, and encourage your sisters to be excited. It will go a long way!

[alphaphiphilanthropy]

Chapter Spotlight: Zeta Delta (Iowa State)

This week’s Chapter Spotlight is Zeta Delta (Iowa State), our Northern Quadrant’s Most Improved Fundraiser. Past Red Dress Brunch Chairman, Maggie Feldmann, and Current Vice President of Marketing, Adrianna Huff, share the evolution of their philanthropy events and the growth they’ve seen.

2014-2015 Giving: $503.50 2015-2016 Giving: $5,130.19 Percentage Increase: 1019% 

You increased your donations to Alpha Phi Foundation by more than $4,600 last year. How did you accomplish this?

Our increase in donations was due to hosting more philanthropy events. In the 2015-2016 academic year, we hosted three different philanthropy events: Mom’s Day Red Dress Brunch, Alpha Phifa and Pizza Parlor, and participated in both the Greeks Give Back Luncheon and Lollipop Pull on campus. Hosting our very first Red Dress Brunch helped us tremendously in increasing our donation to the Foundation.

What was it like to hold your very first philanthropy event after being reinstalled at Iowa State?

It was actually a blast planning our first philanthropy event because we had so many different options! Generally, chapters on our campus stick to the same philanthropy in the spring and fall semesters, but we had free range to establish what our philanthropy events were going to be. Being a part of that was very special to me and the marketing department because we knew we were establishing a tradition for Alpha Phi in our Greek community. Red Dress events are unlike any other, and our Greek community doesn’t have other philanthropy events that are focused on family, alumnae and friends like this.

How did you advertise for your events? What worked and what didn’t?

For Mom’s Day Red Dress Brunch, we did less marketing than other events because we were only targeting the mothers of chapter members. We sent an e-vite for them to come to our event, and also relied on chapter members to relay information to their moms. Red Dress Brunch was a marketing move in itself, because we used it to give mothers a taste for what Red Dress Gala could be like and get them excited to come back for it!

For the rest of our events, all forms of our marketing worked well. The biggest thing we focused on was targeting the market we wanted at our event, and figuring out what would work the best to attract them. All in all, social media outlets are always a key part of marketing our events because that’s how we can reach a larger audience.

Did you face any challenges or difficulties when planning your first Red Dress Brunch?

There were many things that we had to learn in planning a Red Dress Brunch, because it was our first one. Thankfully, the Foundation website was a great resource and we had extremely helpful advisers who assisted us along the way. Planning ahead and being proactive is something that definitely worked in our favor. However, we will take more caution in the future by straightening out details such as venue selection, gathering auction items, and communicating our chapter member’s roles the day of the event.

How would you like to see future Red Dress events at Iowa State improve?

Red Dress Gala was always a goal of ours since Alpha Phi came back to Iowa State [and we accomplished that goal in November 2016].  For future events we would like to incorporate more interaction between our guests and members, as well as more auction items. We did a great job raising money this year, but we would love to continue to grow our donation to the Foundation!

What advice would you share with other chapters looking to start a brand new philanthropy event on their campus?

Have an understanding of what the “norm” is on your campus. Each Greek community varies from campus to campus; brainstorm of a bunch of ideas, even if they seem out of the norm, and narrow down your list by thinking through the logistics of each event. Think about if it is going to actually make money as well as if it can be done. But most importantly, have fun with starting! It may seem like a scary thing to do, but it is so enjoyable to think about starting something new for your chapter and campus.

[alphaphiphilanthropy]

Chapter Spotlight: Iota Beta (St. Mary’s)

This week’s Chapter Spotlight is Iota Beta (St. Mary’s), our Southern Quadrant’s Most Improved Fundraiser. Former Vice President of Marketing Samantha Shelton shares insight into their event planning and preparation during the 2015-2016 academic year.

2014-2015 Giving: $600.27 2015-2016 Giving: $3,240.00 Percentage Increase: 540%

You increased your donations to Alpha Phi Foundation by more than $2,500 last year. How did you accomplish this?

We hosted our very first Red Dress Gala in 2015 with the support and guidance of our local alumnae chapter! As a smaller chapter (28 members) it was a little daunting to plan such a large philanthropy event by ourselves. At our first Gala, we had about 50 silent auction items and one large live auction item. All of the revenue from the auction was donated to the Foundation.

Did you introduce anything new at your philanthropy events?

As the Philanthropy Chair for 2015, I teamed up with an alumna of the San Antonio Alumnae Chapter to help coordinate our first Red Dress Gala. Without the support, help and guidance from our local alumnae, I don’t think our first Gala would have been nearly as successful - especially from current Alumnae Chapter President, Jennifer Fuentes! We also welcomed a guest speaker from Women Heart Champion.

How did you involve the chapter in planning your event?

Although the event was brand new for us, we were able to try a few different things to involve the chapter. Members contributed themed silent auction items divided by AOE groups; for example, Group A (a group of ten women) built a movie-themed basket. All of our guests were from the local alumnae chapter, and they had helped obtain silent auction items and the location.

What advice would you share with other chapters looking to improve their philanthropy events?

If we’ve learned anything, it was that early planning is CRUCIAL. We have definitely learned from our mistakes, and are ready to tackle future Red Dress Galas!

[alphaphiphilanthropy]

Chapter Spotlight: Zeta Iota (Virginia)

This week’s chapter spotlight is Zeta Iota (Virginia), who recently hosted their fourth annual Thankful 5K in memory of two Zeta Iota sisters, Casey Schulman and Shelley Goldsmith. This year’s Thankful 5K was more successful than ever before with 830 registrants! Brooke Baader, former Vice President of Marketing and Director of Philanthropy, shares what this success and the event itself means to the chapter.

Event Name: Thankful 5K Location: Nameless Field, University of Virginia

How many times have you held this event? We just hosted our fourth Thankful 5K. It started in 2013, right after Shelley passed away.

What makes this event so special? What inspired your chapter to start hosting the event? This event is extremely near to our hearts because it honors two of our Zeta Iota sisters, Casey Schulman and Shelley Goldsmith, who both passed away. While Casey was on Semester at Sea, her professor asked her to write one word on a piece of paper to describe how she was feeling at that moment. While many of her classmates wrote “nervous” or “excited,” Casey wrote “thankful.” Casey and Shelley were thankful for every opportunity that they were afforded in their lives, and their passion for life continues to inspire us. We started this race in remembrance of Casey and Shelley as a way to represent the light that they brought to our lives. Now, in its fourth year, many of the current chapter members didn’t know Casey and Shelley personally, but the fact that their legacy has been remembered so vividly and in such an impactful way makes everyone who participates feel like they knew them.

What specifically did you do or change this year that contributed to the high success of the event? This year, we really wanted to promote the event in a way that Casey and Shelley would’ve wanted. Rather than just focusing on monetary success, we wanted to truly encompass the gratitude that Casey and Shelley expressed every single day of their lives. Inspired by an event that was held at Casey’s high school, we decided to make the week leading up to the race “Shine on Week.” During that week, we performed random acts of kindness. We decorated coffee cups and passed out coffee to students, passed out flowers to those who stopped by to learn more about the race, and encouraged everyone to stop and take a second to write a ”Thank You” note to someone who had impacted them recently. With this focus on the true meaning of the race, we believe we were able to successfully spread awareness about the event and convey the meaning it holds for each chapter member to the community.

What was your chapter’s reaction to this year’s success? We joke in our chapter that the Thankful 5K is like an Alpha Phi’s Christmas morning. It sounds cliché, but it is hands down the happiest day of the year to be an Alpha Phi at UVA. Even before we had the final number of registrants and money raised on race day, you could feel the energy that came from every chapter member being so invested in the event’s success. I remember the “wow, we really did it” feeling as I counted down to the race start on the megaphone with Olivia, our Director of Philanthropy. I think that’s when I realized how impactful this event really is.

How does this event empower your chapter? Seeing Casey and Shelley’s families at the race each year really brings everything that we do full circle and reminds us the true meaning of the race. After the race every year, both families write us the most beautiful notes about how proud they are and how much they enjoyed the 5K. We always read them aloud to the entire chapter, and hearing the impact that we have on their families empowers us to continue to work harder each year to make the next Thankful 5K even more successful. 

[alphaphiphilanthropy]

Insights from the EO: How to grow your next philanthropy event

Greetings! My name is Angela Accurso, and I’m the Events and Chapter Giving Coordinator for Alpha Phi Foundation. I graduated in May from Drake University in Des Moines, IA. While I’m not an Alpha Phi, I am an alumna member of another Panhellenic organization which fostered my passion for philanthropy. During my time at Drake, I served on Panhellenic Council as the Vice President of Philanthropy and Community Service, coordinating philanthropy events for all women’s fraternities on campus. When I first started working with my fellow students, I expected it to be difficult to foster a passion for service among members of the Greek community. Oh, was I wrong. The Greek community is not filled with apathetic college students. In fact, it’s filled with passionate and socially responsible members who want to serve their community and make the world a better place. When you give the Greek community a way to create meaningful change, they’ll respond with passion, enthusiasm and open hearts.

I’ve found this true in my experience working with the women of Alpha Phi. Each day, I’m approached by a new chapter asking for tools to empower their sisters around the globe. My job is to do just that - and to make sure chapters have the tools necessary to grow and develop their philanthropy events by implementing new ideas and technologies.

To kick-start the spring term, here are a few ways in the Foundation can help grow your next philanthropy event:

1. Blackbaud MobilePay Card Swiper

At Convention 2016, each chapter was given a MobilePay Card Swiper. The money collected through the swiper goes directly to the Foundation’s bank account, so there’s no hassle of a check or handling cash. The best part: you can send donors a receipt for their tax deductible donation directly in the app. To give you a little insight into the success we’ve had to date with the swipers, collegiate chapters raised over $245,000 using the swipers alone during the fall. It’s an awesome tool that makes processing donations, auction check-out, or even entrance to a ‘Mac and Phis’ event a breeze!

Need to order more swipers? Complete the order form on our website here, and email it to me at [email protected] to order yours for only $30 per swiper. Do you already have a swiper, but are looking for more information on how to use it? Check out our ‘How To’ document here!

2. Leadership Conferences: February 2017

I’ll be attending all four Leadership Conferences this year collaborating with the Fraternity and chapter officers to provide you the tools you need to host a successful philanthropy event. From logistics and tax forms to donation submissions and gift receipts, I’ll have answers for you! Come see me at the Planning and Managing Philanthropy Events and Red Dress Roundtable sessions.

Have a specific question for the Foundation staff? Be on the lookout for a sign-up for one-on-one meetings with Foundation staff members to discuss what your chapter’s needs are.

3. Chapter Fundraising Solution

Currently in its pilot program, the solution is a new all-in-one event website — a ticket registration and donation site. This is a way to streamline chapter fundraising by giving Alpha Phi chapters the ability to grow their events without losing a portion of funds or ticket sales through third-party sites. The site is designed to use for all types of philanthropy events - Red Dress Gala, Move Your Phi’t, peer to peer fundraising events, food-based events - anything!

Interested in being a part of the pilot program? Or want to learn more about it? Email me at [email protected].

I’m so excited for this semester and all of the potential we have to make your philanthropy events the best yet.

Happy fundraising!

Angela Accurso Events and Chapter Giving Coordinator [email protected] | 847.316.8947

P.S. - Hosting a philanthropy event this semester? Submit it to the Foundation event calendar here.

[alphaphiphilanthropy]

Insights from the EO: Adding games to your event

Did you know? Games can add a lot of excitement to your philanthropy events and give your fundraising a boost. Chapters that have added one or more of the following games to their events have seen great improvement in both the donor’s enjoyment and dollars raised!

The best part about games is that they offer younger attendees an opportunity to participate in giving back. At $5-$25 to play, it’s a great way to engage attendees of all ages.

Here are a couple of my favorite games to consider adding to your next Red Dress Event:

 1. Mystery Balloon

Mystery Balloons are visually appealing and everyone wins something! What could be better than that!?

To host a Mystery Balloon you will need to have 50-150 prizes donated to your event valued under $10. Think gift cards, Alpha Phi tee shirts, etc. When collecting donations you should anticipate that 25% of your attendees will play this game. So if you had 400 attendees last year, your goal should be to acquire 100 prizes.

Now, for the logistics:

- Set up a table at your event showcasing all of the awesome prizes available where guests can purchase a balloon. - Each balloon should have a number written on the bottom of the weight. This corresponds with a prize. - Throughout the first part of the night, allow guests to purchase the balloons for $5-$10. (Keeping the cost below $10 makes the game something all attendees can participate in.) - During your dinner or speeches, host a “balloon popping ceremony.” At this point the numbers are revealed and guests can begin to collect their prizes!

2. Heads or Tails

Heads or tails is another great game to add to your event. Moms and Grandmothers alike seem to love this kooky game. Again, the idea is to have a low cost (and fun) option for attendees to participate in.

The logistics:

- Guests can purchase something that indicates they are participating in the game (like a red bead necklace) at the beginning of the evening. - Then, after dinner or speeches you’ll play a big game of heads or tails by having everyone who purchased a necklace stand up. - The Emcee flips a coin and asks the audience, “heads or tails?” Players indicate heads by putting their hands on their heads and tails by putting their hands on their tail. If they’re wrong they sit down, if they’re correct they continue. - Once you are down to a manageable group of people have them join the emcee on the stage until there are only two people remaining. - Bonus Tip: You’ll want to have two prizes to give out at the end of the game to the last two players left standing.

I hope this information is helpful! Be sure to check out the Philanthropy Event Toolkit on the Foundation’s website for even more details on how to incorporate these games into your next event.

Happy fundraising!

Jini Valence Development & Stewardship Coordinator [email protected] | 847.316.8964

[alphaphiphilanthropy]

Chapter Spotlight: Epsilon Xi (Southern Illinois)

This week’s chapter spotlight is Epsilon Xi (Southern Illinois) who hosted their 10th annual Red Dress Gala and doubled their fundraising goal! Taylor Bodine, former vice president of marketing, shares some tips for games you can introduce to your Red Dress Gala to make it your best yet!

Event Name: Red Dress Gala Location: Hilton at Ball Park Village in St. Louis

How many times have you held this event? 10

Tell us a bit about the event: With more than 575 guests in attendance, Epsilon Xi's 10th annual Red Dress Gala began with a cocktail hour, where guests enjoyed 60 silent auction items, participated in our Wine Pull, entered our Heads or Tails game and had some fun at our photo booth. During our Red Dress Ceremony, we recognized our premier sponsor who donated $5,800, an Alpha Phi Foundation representative spoke about the impact we would be making that night, which was followed by the paddle raise and our outgoing President giving her heartfelt thanks to everyone in attendance. A unique aspect of our Red Dress Gala was that we recognized all of the members who had a 3.5+ cumulative GPA, as well as those who had a 4.0 GPA.

What activities did you introduce this year for your guests? In the past, our only opportunity to actually fundraise was the silent auction. While we were able to bring in $9,000 with our silent auction this year, we saw other opportunities to fundraise as well. We decided to do a Wine Pull and had 80 bottles of wine donated, ranging from $20-250 in value, including ten Marilyn Monroe Collector bottles. Guests paid $20 for a cork, which had a corresponding number to one of the bottles of wine. We sold out in less than an hour and made approximately $2,000. We also did Heads or Tails where guests purchased a red bracelet for $10 as their "ticket" into the game and the winner received a FitBit, which was also donated. We made approximately $1,000 from that game alone. Lastly, we held an Open Your Heart. We used the script from the Foundation as a guide, and raised over $4,000 in less than ten minutes. Money aside, having these extra things for the guests to participate in made the tone of the entire evening more fun and philanthropic than in years past.

What tips would you offer other chapters looking to host an event like this? The best decision we made as a marketing team was not procrastinating. We were able to enjoy the event because we were organized and ready to go. We made basket items due incredibly early this year, which allowed the Red Dress team time to ensure the quality of each basket and organize our bid cards in advance, so there was no last minute scrambling to set up the auction itself.

[alphaphiphilanthropy]

Chapter Spotlight: Theta Eta (Western University)

This week’s chapter spotlight is Theta Eta (Western University) who totally knocked their 5th annual Red Dress Gala out of the park. Megan Christopher, the former vice president of marketing, shares how restructuring their donation solicitation process, adding games and truly embracing heart health as a theme yielded the best Red Dress they’ve hosted yet!

Event Name: Red Dress Gala Location: Delta London Armouries Hotel

How many times have you hosted this event? 5

Tell us a little bit about the event: Our 5th Annual Red Dress Gala was a formal sit-down dinner featuring a silent auction, a speech from Alpha Phi Foundation, a wine pull and a 50/50 raffle. We carried out the "healthy heart" theme throughout the event. Some examples of our baskets were a yoga themed basket, an Everything Red basket and a gluten-free bakery basket. We were lucky to have fantastic Greek apparel sponsors, as well. Guests loved the opportunity to purchase letters and Alpha Phi jewelry right at the auction. In the past, we had asked every member to contribute an item to the basket, but this year we had a smaller committee of members going out and pursuing donations and sponsorships. 

What do you plan to improve for next year? We need more entertainment at our Red Dress Events. Either a fun, interactive activity at the tables or a DJ would help create a better atmosphere. In the future, it would be nice to incorporate a dance floor. Additionally, registration and check-out could run a lot smoother. Having runners and an online check-out process would help.

What tips would you offer other chapters looking to host an event like this? My advice would be to have a detailed plan and checklist from the day you start looking for venues up until the end of the event, especially for the day of. Between sponsorships, ticket sales, and decor planning, the event takes time and energy. An organized committee that can stick to deadlines is key to a successful Red Dress Gala. As long as there is time to plan it and a detail-oriented committee, it can be a really rewarding event. Of all of our philanthropic initiatives, the Red Dress Gala always raises the most money for us and is a great way to get parents and alumnae involved in the chapter.

[alphaphiphilanthropy]

Chapter Spotlight: Beta Psi (San Jose State)

This week’s chapter spotlight is Beta Psi (San Jose State) who increased their fundraising by more than $6,000 at their 7th annual Red Dress Gala. Vice President of Marketing Sophia Hasham shares how she created unique ways to foster parent engagement, added creative fundraising activities for attendees and upgraded their venue to drive success!

Event name: Red Dress Gala Location: Silver Creek Valley Country Club

How many times have you held this event? 7

Tell us a little bit about the event: This year, our Red Dress Gala was phi-nominal! We had 200 guests attend our gorgeous country club venue where we had carnival games, a silent auction, photo booth and candy bar. We also had raffles where guests had the chance to win big ticket prizes such as an Apple Watch. We raised approximately $6,000 more than last year, about $15,000 total!

What types of activities did you add for your guests? This year we gave guests the option to buy tickets to play carnival games and win prizes. The attendee who won the most games would win an Apple watch, which motivated guests to buy tickets. We also made a slideshow to recap the year, including pictures of the Phis, a short video from Phi Ball and we played a game show with our members to see how well they knew our philanthropy! We asked sisters and our King of Hearts contestants from last year to answer questions about Alpha Phi Foundation. For example, “what is the name of the grant awarded to a heart health provider?” answer, “the Heart to Heart Grant.” During this game we also had a slide show playing, showcasing pictures from our service and philanthropy events. Guests liked the opportunity to be involved and see what we have accomplished throughout the year.

What else contributed to your success? There were several things that aided in the success of our event. The venue provided a full three course dinner, as well as a small coffee bar. Our guests felt the ticket price was worth it, making them more willing to donate more. In addition, the open space allowed us to display our auction baskets in the middle of the ballroom, drawing plenty of attention and bids. Another successful part of this year’s event was focusing our attention on getting donations.

What tips would you offer other chapters looking to host an event like this? Focus your attention on getting donations, building committees and having seniors hold their committees accountable. We started asking around for donations early on (about three months before) and this paid off. We split our chapter into committees so everyone had a job. Our largest committee was the donations committee which was about 70% of the chapter. We made six teams and assigned a senior to be a captain for each. We gave each team our Donation Letter and a list of places to approach about making a donation, which made the process easy and straightforward. We also encouraged our members to ask their family and friends for donations. Other committees included decorations, set up, and clean up. It was very helpful and allowed our Dir. of Philanthropy and me to take care of all the other details!

[alphaphiphilanthropy]

Chapter Spotlight: Zeta Delta (Iowa State)

This week’s Chapter Spotlight is Zeta Delta (Iowa State), whose first spring semester philanthropy event raised an incredible $3,200, with more than 600 people in attendance. Emmy Cuvelier, Director of Philanthropy, shares how she inspired the high attendance throughout her campus to warrant such great donations.  

Event Name: PizzΑ ParlΦr Location: Alpha Phi House

How many times have you held this event? We are a newly initiated chapter, so this is the first year we have held this event!

Tell us a bit about the event: We served pizza and drinks for $5 a person to benefit the Foundation. There was a very fun atmosphere for everyone, and we made sure to educate on our cause while everyone ate and mingled with one another. We bought our pizza and drinks from Little Caesar’s Pizza, who were extremely generous to our cause. They donated supplies like plates, napkins and other utensils that would’ve added up in price.

How did you publicize your event?  Food is a major draw for many college students at Greek events, so that aspect worked to our advantage right away. We utilized social media as our main form of marketing, and we also had flyers printed and chalked the sidewalks on campus. Each sister was responsible for selling tickets, which also helped in spreading the word about our event.

How do you envision improving this event in the future? I would like to expand our marketing more to ensure an even larger turnout then we had this year. We also could have better estimated the amount of food we needed. Though the overall atmosphere of the event was very fun, implementing a raffle or auction to create a more entertaining environment and raise additional funds would add to the event. 

What tips would you offer other chapters looking to host an event like this? My biggest tip would be to build committees of hard workers who are ready and willing to get the job done! Plan far in advance, because the small details sneak up on you and can get overwhelming. If you are looking to host a similar event, make sure to spend a decent amount of time and energy into determining how much food and drinks are needed.

[alphaphiphilanthropy]

Insights from the EO: Utilizing event sponsorships

If you’re not already using event sponsorships to help alleviate your expenses, now’s the time to give it a try!

Event sponsors ensure the success of your event by subsidizing your costs through a gift of time, money or service.  

And with the newly revitalized and fully editable Sponsorship Packet available on the Foundation’s website, your chapter now has all the tools necessary to launch your sponsorship outreach!

Here are my top three tips to kicking off an incredible sponsorship initiative:

1. Work your connections

It always surprises me how many connections I actually have. And I’m certain you’ll be surprised to find out just how many connections your chapter sisters have too! And, when it comes to asking for Sponsorship money, the more connections the better.

Consider reaching out to businesses and people you already have a relationship with. Have a favorite nail salon you’ve been visiting each month for the past two years? The store owner is much more likely to sponsor you than someone they have no relationship with. Take advantage!

2. Make it personal

Potential donors love nothing more than feeling like you put a real, personal effort into asking them for help. Personal notes can go a long way, both when asking and when thanking your event sponsors. Take a look at the personal note templates on the Foundation’s site for some ideas.

3. Be the “squeaky wheel”

My mother would always tell me “the squeaky wheel gets the oil,” meaning if you pester her enough, she will cave and allow you to eat ice cream before dinner Probably not what she was hoping for. But as an adult, this phrase has become a staple for me in fundraising.

It is incredible what some follow up can get you, so be sure to ALWAYS follow up with any pending sponsorship proposals you have out there. If it’s been three weeks since you sent your sponsorship packets and there are a few people who have not yet responded, give them a quick call. Let them know you are following up on your sponsorship opportunity and that you’d be happy to answer any questions they may have. It’ll feel personal, while also giving them a reminder about your sponsorship. Being a “squeaky wheel” in this scenario can get you more than just ice cream.

Bonus tip: It is important to keep your timeline in mind. Sponsorship Packets can go out as early as six months in advance of your event, but should be distributed no less than four months prior. This will give people enough time to respond so you can budget appropriately and plan for any needed ad space.

I hope this information is helpful, but of course if you have any questions, please reach out to me at any time!

Happy fundraising!

Jessica Lembke Manager of Chapter Giving [email protected] | 847.316.8954

[alphaphiphilanthropy]

Insights from the EO: Meet Jini Valence

What is your name? Jini Valence                                                            

Where are you originally from? I have lived all over but most recently New Hampshire.

Where did you attend college and what chapter were you a part of there? I just graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington and was a member of the Beta Phi Chapter.

What was your major in college? I was a combined major in Geology and Astronomy.

What was your plan post-graduation? After an amazing internship in Bend, Oregon and a great experience working for my college’s Annual Giving Office, I knew I wanted to go into non-profit fundraising. I was so lucky to meet Foundation staff member Natalie King at Fellows last summer and kept my fingers crossed there might be an opportunity to join the EO staff.

Why did you decide to work for Alpha Phi Foundation? I couldn’t think of a better first job. Being familiar with the organization and to already know people in the EO made the decision to move across the country a no brainer.

What is your job title? Development & Stewardship Coordinator

How long have you been working for Alpha Phi? Just over one month.

What is your favorite memory of Alpha Phi—as a collegian, alumna, or staff member? “Getting my letters back” after having been disaffiliated for Recruitment. It was so fun to reveal to all the Panhellenic New Members that I was an Alpha Phi and seeing their excitement was moving.

What are some of your goals for the next few years? Apart from learning this new city, I am excited to find ways to improve programs like Clara’s Circle.

Do you have any advice for current collegiate members? Take advantage of all the programs offered by your college and Alpha Phi. And apply for ELI! It has been 3 years since I went, but I still talk to those women every day and consider them some of my closest friends.

[alphaphiphilanthropy]

Sister to Sister: Lasting Partnerships with Local Organizations

It is amazing to see the impact that Alpha Phi chapters across the nation can create as a whole. There is a beauty in watching many small groups come together to support a cause, each contributing a piece to create the larger picture. I can appreciate the big picture because I have seen its impact, but for many, the individual work their chapters do is the most tangible for them. They see their sisters go out and contribute to the community and are motivated to do the same. This hands-on, local work is where sisters’ passions for the cause are ignited.

My chapter at Florida State University partners with a few local organizations, the same ones each semester, so we can not only grow with the organization, but continuously make lasting connections. Every year we support The Big Bend Heart Walk benefiting The American Heart Association and each year it falls near the weekend of our fall initiation. It has been such a positive activity to show our newest sisters and for them to experience it as a woman of Alpha Phi.

We also have strong relations with Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, our primary local beneficiary. Our partnership has been years in the making, so much so that we have the honor of the cardiac care wing being dedicated to Alpha Phi. We also get the fortune of having extraordinary doctors attend, support and report back on our impact each year at our Red Dress Gala. Furthermore, volunteers from TMH train our newest pledge class in CPR each fall, another exercise that gets our youngest members excited about our philanthropy.

As our chapter grows in the Tallahassee community, local organizations have been reaching out to us to join in their efforts. We have plans to partner with Who We Play For, a non-profit that strives to prevent sudden cardiac arrest, the number one cause of death for student athletes. As each new opportunity presents itself, our chapter’s desire to serve the community through promoting heart health strengthens. I am excited to see our connections continue to grow stronger and multiply.

AOE,

Maddie Barker (Gamma Phi-Florida State)

Clara’s Circle Leadership Council Member

[alphaphiphilanthropy]

Insights from the EO: Collecting auction items

It’s summer!! And what better way to spend your summer than helping your chapter’s philanthropy events thrive, right?

I know, I know, laying out by the pool sounds like a lot more fun, but summer is actually a great time to begin collecting live and silent auction items and encouraging your sisters to do the same!

Here are some quick and easy tips to get you started:

1. Motivation station It is important to keep your chapter sisters motivated, with their eye on the prize – supporting a cause you care about. Consider hosting a chapter meeting dedicated to Red Dress Gala where you recap the past year (successes and struggles), as well as amp up for the next year!

Pass around a contact sheet for girls to submit at least two businesses they feel comfortable reaching out to for an auction item donation. Maybe it’s their own workplace, or their favorite nail salon, but everyone knows someone they can ask for a donation. Once you have the list compiled, share it via Google Doc, so girls can check off when they’ve completed their ask, and if they’ve secured an item!

2. Cut out the guess work Sometimes the hardest part about creating an auction is coming up with the themes and contents of your baskets. Cut out the guess work for your foot soldiers and assign a group a specific theme, with value assigned and possible contents of their basket. For example: Let’s say you give a group the “Coffee/Tea Lovers” basket. Ask them to value their basket around $50, with contents to include a Starbucks gift card, travel mug, loose leaf tea, tea infuser, cozy blanket and French press. This way, you will be getting the quality items you hope for, while taking the guess work out for your helpers.

Bonus tip: you can find basket ideas located on the Foundation’s website located here.

3. Make it Phi family-friendly Asking for auction items can sometimes be scary, but if you go out with a team, it makes it that much easier and will make you that much more confident.

Since Phi families are built-in groups within your chapter, try grouping basket teams that way! This will make it easy for women to keep each other accountable for collecting their required items, but will also allow for an excellent Phi family bonding opportunity. This will also allow you to easily assign a value to each group. Example: Let’s say there are 5 girls in one family, each member is responsible for acquiring a donation valued at $25, so this family should plan to create a basket valued at $125. If you know this value and you assign them their themed basket, this should make things pretty easy for your chapter sisters.

Take advantage of your free-time this summer to get ahead on collecting your auction items! I hope these tips will prove to be useful as you prepare for your next event.

Happy fundraising!

Jessica Lembke Manager of Chapter Giving [email protected] | 847.316.8954