What I’ve learned about fundraising parties
What I’ve learned about fundraising parties from one great one (a farm sanctuary) and one horrible one (an org that does school gardens):
- If you’re the co-founder, remember people’s names. Don’t say you’re too drunk to remember when the party just started.
- Places to sit/games/silent auction/photobooth? Make people feel welcome to partake, have some time structure, and encourage positive guest intermingling.
- Have good food and alcohol. If possible, have a higher donation price at the door, and make the food and/or alcohol “free.”
- At the door, make people feel like they are there for more than just put money in a jar to fund your too-cool-for-school attitude.
- Have a presentation that will unite and warm the hearts of your attendees about your cause? Make it prominent. Have an aspect of your org that will give people beyond the bar scene with ironic DJ they could find anywhere else, like a barn dance or petting rescued, free-roaming llamas? Do it!