Update: Fundraiser Dinner Party For Amnesty On International Women’s Day

I’ve already sent all my invitations for the fundraiser party that I’m hosting March 8th at my place to raise money for Amnesty International’s Stop Violence Against Women campaign (read my first post about the event here). I sent some through Facebook, and some through the Taste for Justice’s website and now I’m working on the menu. I’m really excited about doing this. Everyone thought this was a great idea. I’m happy to say that I have enough guests coming to surpass my $500 goal, which is just awesome!

Often people wonder how they could take action with Causes they believe in. Hosting a dinner party is a fantastic way of getting involve because this is something anyone could do (who isn’t up for a house party?) . You raise money and awareness in a casual atmosphere and have a great time in the process. For anyone who is thinking about doing something similar, here are 7 steps that I propose to get started:

1. Research a Cause that you would like to raise money for. Many Organizations now offer really useful information kits on their websites that include everything a host or hostess might need when organizing an event
2. Choose a date. Give yourself at least 3 weeks to prepare everything. This also gives your guests enough time to plan for the night
3. Determine your fundraising goal and how much to ask from your guests
4. Create a list of friends, family, colleagues and peers you want to invite
5. Decide on the format of the event: Potluck, buffet or mix of these two, or catered if you can find a sponsor
6. Write up the email invitation and send it. Don’t forget to ask for an RSVP and don’t be shy, you could also ask for the donation up front. It’s always a good idea to invite more people than you could accommodate as there may be some cancellations, or some may already have prior commitments.
7. Prepare a short presentation for the night of the event. The Organization you chose may already have some presentation material that was created specifically for events like yours, so check that out first. Otherwise scan the Organization’s website to collect facts about its challenges, what’s been accomplished and what’s next for them, etc… Keep in mind that the purpose of your event is also to raise awareness for the Cause so it’s a good idea to spend some time discussing that during the night.

Note: You could also survey your network of contacts to see if anyone wants to donate prizes. You could then sell raffles tickets to your guests and raise additional money during the night.

Remember to keep it light and have fun. Yes, the Cause could be a serious one, but it’s still a party. If any of your guests come to you and say they want to do more, make a note of it and follow up after the event.

I’ll continue to keep you posted…

Are you planning a fundraising dinner party? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here or write me at melissacthibodeau [at] gmail [dot] com!