Host a Holiday Fundraising Party with Frontgate's Christmas Decor

The holidays are a great time to give and to receive. By hosting a holiday fundraising party, you'll be able to enjoy some quality time with friends and family while benefiting a worthwhile cause or creating awareness for a specific issue.

Shop Couture Half Grace Apron »

Organize & Decorate

Once you've gotten the word out about your organization and guests have started responding to your invitation, you'll need to start preparing for the party. We recommend using Christmas party supplies and party space décor that follows a theme that coincides with the organization you are helping support.

For instance, a party that benefits the National Wildlife Foundation could benefit from plenty of greenery to replicate the feeling of the great outdoors. Drape your halls in our festive wreaths and garlands, and add sweeping floral centerpieces by the appetizer table.

Considering raising money for Fido and his friends through the Circle Tail organization? Decorate your Christmas tree with dog ornaments, and hang your animals' pet stocking above the mantel. You might also invite guests to bring their furry friends to the party.

Get the Word Out

Start by deciding on a date and selecting the guest list. Invite friends, family, and co-workers: You'll want to cast a wide net to increase your fundraising potential.

You probably already have a charity or issue you feel strongly about — now you just have to tell others about it. To get your message across, include a short letter with your party invitations. Start by introducing yourself and your relationship to the guest receiving the letter. Next, explain why you're working to raise money; answer the question, "Why is this important to me?"

You should also include one to two paragraphs explaining the cause or issue — if people are going to donate, they want to know exactly where their money is going. Will your guests' donations be helping build something tangible, like a school or medical building? What specific group of people will your guests be helping? The more concrete information you can provide about the organization or cause you're trying to help, the better. Here's a sample sentence to get you started: "Your contribution will help the Greater Chicago area chapter of the National Wildlife Fund (NWF) increase their education efforts in our local schools for children ages 5-12."

Close this letter by extending a formal invitation to your fundraising gala. Even though the point of this party is to raise money, you should also stress that it will still be a fun get-together. An example of a good closing sentence: "You're invited to participate in our Casino Night benefiting the NWF. Please join us at our Vegas-style poker tables to play Black Jack and Texas Hold 'Em, or try your luck at the Roulette wheel."

As a final step, rehearse a short "commercial" that you can recite when people ask you about your cause while on the phone or in person. Think of this short statement as a 30-second advertisement — you'll want to explain what the cause is, why you're interested in it, and how that person can help.

Get Donations

During the party, make sure to have plenty of pledge forms ready. Design a form with a paragraph or two about the event on top, and contribution levels on the bottom ($25, $50, $100, etc.). This will make it easy for guests to choose a specific amount to donate. Also, consider investing in receipt slips, in case a donor wants to keep a record of his or her gift.

After mingling with guests and making sure everyone has had a chance to eat and drink, consider delivering a brief presentation that further explains your efforts. State your total fundraising goal, and inform people — again — why this cause is important to you.

One way to encourage donations is to charge guests a small entrance fee to your gathering. For instance, if you're providing a gourmet food buffet and a variety of beverages for guests, they probably won't balk at a $25 entrance fee. Or, ask guests to bring donated items to the party. This works well if, for example, you're trying to raise awareness for hunger in your city: State on the invitation that admission to the party is free if the guest brings five canned goods.

To make giving fun, ask guests to take part in light-hearted quizzes or puzzles. The games should focus on the organization or cause for which you're trying to garner awareness, and the winner will enjoy a door prize of their choosing.

Return to Holiday Decorating articles >