Charity Event Venues in London

Hosting a charity dinner is no easy task. There are a lot of aspects that you need to think about, besides the obvious. The goal for these events is to attract people to attend – and to get them to donate to your cause. You need to make sure to highlight all of the vital work that your charity does, and not let the dinner overshadow it. It is a fundraising event after all, and so your priority will always be on getting those donations pouring in.

The Venue

It’s best to get your venue organised as quickly as possible. The more time you have to start on your marketing campaign for the dinner, the better, and this means knowing the date and the venue. There are a huge amount of charity dinner venues for hire in London, and so there will always be one that fits the vision you have. Knowing what you are looking for – or at least certain aspects of it – before you start searching around is key, as it will help you to narrow down the options. Depending on how formal your dinner is going to be will decide of how formal you want the venue. The same goes for if you are having a theme or not.

The Food

As it’s a dinner event, the food is going to be one of the most important aspects. Your guests are expecting food that they will enjoy, and so it’s up to you to provide it. Think carefully about your menu and don’t forget to consult with others on it. How many courses are you going to have, and just how fancy are you looking it to be? Make sure that you have a vegetarian option and that other dietary requirements can be catered to appropriately.

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Getting the word out about your event is the key to having a successful fundraiser. Without any people actually turning up to the dinner and making donations, you’re not going to raise very much for your charitable cause. Having a good marketing plan in place will help you to encourage guests to attend.

Indirect Marketing

This should start well in advance of any event. It generally consists of having insightful blogs and newsletters that your target audience enjoys reading. Keeping them informed about all of the good work that your charity is doing throughout the year means that they are much more likely to read about and be interested in your dinner event.

Direct Marketing

Once you know the basic details of your dinner event, it’s time to get flyers printed and sent out to your mailing list. A good, well formatted email is also advised, as there are many people that are much more likely to read this. It should have a clear call to action within it, and don’t forget to mention your cause in detail! Your marketing should persuade your target audience that not only is this charity dinner for a good cause, it’s also going to be a lot of fun.

Social Media

The power of social media should never be underestimated. After all, the majority of people are browsing Facebook, Instagram and Twitter every day. This is where they are most likely to see and click on an advertisement for a charity dinner event. Having well thought out ads, and paying for advertisement on these sites, is recommended to anyone trying to get a large amount of donations together. Remember to always have a donate button on the landing page that it leads them to. While those who are interested might not actually end up attending the dinner, they should still be given the chance to add to your fundraising total.

Video

Having a well-made promotional video can really get potential donors interested in your cause. A mixture of the work that your charity does and what they can do to help – by giving money or attending the charity dinner – is the best approach. Having a video on YouTube that not only links to other videos you’ve made in the past but also to your website, blog, and social media channels adds an extra level to your advertisement. People are attracted to the visual, and so an engaging video is sure to make then pause when they are scrolling through social media.

Call Potential Sponsors

If you already have a strong list of potential attendees, you should call them directly or even organise a visit to advertise your charity dinner. Not only will they appreciate the personal touch, they are also much more likely to agree – and to donate generously – if you appeal to them directly. You should have a small team of people to do this, preferably those who have already had dealings with some of your biggest sponsors.

Entertainment

A dinner is never going to be very exciting if there isn’t also some form of entertainment to look forward to. Whether this is a comedian, a singer, or even a magician, it needs to be something that your audience will appreciate and enjoy. Think carefully before deciding, as it could make the difference between large donations – or none at all. Consider your timing when it comes to entertainment, no one is going to want the event to run on too long so there needs to be a strict timeline in place.

A charity dinner is always for an amazing cause and you’ll be surprised at just how generous people can be when they are well-fed and entertained. Remember to keep the focus on the amazing work that your charity does, while still keeping the event enjoyable. It’s a fine line to tread but if you have advertised well, you’re sure to get donations rolling in.

Do venues in London offer a discounted rate for charitable events?

Some venues in London are able to offer a discounted rate or a lower cost if you’re organising an event for charity. You can offer to include them as sponsors or “supported by” in your marketing materials. It’s important to keep an eye on unexpected costs – if a venue is able to offer a discount on their venue hire, it doesn’t always mean they’ll be able to offer the same for drinks and food. If you’re on a really tight budget, it might be a good idea to look into dry hire venues and then explore whether separate caterers and beverage suppliers are able to offer a discounted rate.

How much does it cost to host a charity dinner in London?

Costs to host a charity dinner will depend on a number of factors: how many guests, whether you will provide food, drink and entertainment, and where the venue is. If you’re working with a smaller or limited budget, you can save money by choosing a venue that isn’t right in the centre of London – just remember to look for something that has great transport links, so it’s really easy for your guests to get there. Some venues will offer packages that are specific to charity dinners, events and galas so it’s always worth asking what types of events they’ve held before and what they provided for them.

What are the best charity dinner venues in London?

London is an amazing city for events and has the perfect venue for every occasion and budget, it’s just a matter of finding the one that’s right for you. Planning is the most important stage of hosting an event, so think about what kind of charity dinner you would like to have, and it’ll be easier to find the perfect venue. You’ll need to think about your guest list, any amenities and facilities you’ll need the venue to provide and also the atmosphere you’d like to create. Once you’ve got the details sorted, you can use Canvas’ search filter to find the venue of your dreams.

Is staging and AV included in charity dinner venue packages in London?

Depending on the venue, use of their staging and AV may be included in their events packages but it’s always worth double checking with the venue manager. For example, they may include use of the equipment but charge an additional fee to provide someone to run it for you. There are no stupid questions when it comes to planning an event, and it’s best for the venue and for the organiser of a charity dinner in London to make sure you’ve ironed out all the details.

What’s the difference between a fundraising gala and a charity dinner?

A charity dinner is a type of fundraising gala, and it all depends on the size of your event. A charity dinner could be small and intimate, whereas a fundraising gala will likely have a lot of guests and be hosted in a large and luxurious London venue.