There are many different things that you will need to consider when hosting a charity dinner, with the general goal being attracting guests to first attend, and second donate. In order to do that, you will 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.
Advertisement
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
You should begin your indirect marketing well in advance of any event, starting to target guests by utilising methods such as sending out insightful blogs and newsletters. 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, thus bringing in more income potential for the cause.
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. Consider creating adverts to bring in donations, always featuring a donate button on the landing page.
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.
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.
Search
