What local community fund-raising events should we consider to make a profit?

Question

Our city yearly puts on a western-themed parade, chili cook-off, rodeo and carnival to raise funds for the local charities. However, over the years our demographics have changed from semi-rural to a more urban, affluent constituency.
Consequently the yearly fund raiser has sufferd from lack of interest and has lost money for the past five years. What alternative functions have your cities found to be profitable?

I should add that the yearly expenses for these functions are above $800,000, so we're looking for an event, or events, that will bring in around $1,000,000 or more.

Answer 1

I would encourage the community to host events such as banquets, balls, concerts, art shows, auctions, wine tastings, and other things with a semi-formal to black-tie atmosphere that would attract mid to high income participants. Other ideas might include fashion shows, dance events or competitions, sports related activities (think Globe Trotters, marathons, etc), dinner theatre, comedy, or magic shows, themed competitions that the community can take part in, like sand-castle building, talent shows, and pretty much anything that will be fun for people to do.

Answer 2

Try a "black tie/evening gownish" reverse raffle type affair.. Have a buffet and get donations from local businesses. If you can have the children that the charity sponsors make artwork/frame and auction off each piece with the proceeds going to various charities.

You can have various local business donate goods, services, to be raffled off. I went to one where there was a jewler that had a table and you buy a box w/ a charity pin for $20 and you could be drawn to win 1 carat total weight diamond earrings...

Have an open bar and good food.... I just went to one sponsoring a school for autistic children and the admission was $50 per person (open bar) and the appetizers but, the main course was lemon chicken.. I thought for $50 a person it should've been a little more upscale....

Or you can do a casino themed event with table games, and the like...

good luck

Answer 3

attempt a "black tie/night gownish" opposite raffle form affair.. Have a buffet and get donations from interior sight companies. in case think appropriate to the little ones that the charity sponsors make artwork/physique and auction off each and every and each bit with the proceeds going to diverse charities. think approximately truly some interior sight corporation donate products, centers, to be raffled off. I went to a minimum of one the region there replaced innovations-blowing right into a jewler that had a table and you purchase a field w/ a charity pin for $20 and you'll have an interest in win one million carat finished weight diamond jewelry... Have an open bar and robust nutrition.... I only went to a minimum of one sponsoring a college for autistic little ones and the admission replaced into $50 consistent with individual (open bar) and the appetizers yet, the main path replaced into lemon fowl.. i presumed for $50 a individual it is going to've been a sprint better upscale.... or you're able to do a on-line casino themed adventure with table video games, etc... good fulfillment

Answer 4

affluent urbanites, hey? How about a hedge fund-themed parade, a rodeo where the poor get lassoed like cattle, a truffle cook-off, and you can keep the carnival cause even the rich love feeding fish heads to freaks of nature.

Auction off dates with eligible bachelors, and hell, even married guys, this is the 21st century after all! Have a dunk booth- with the mayor, the town drunk, or even the poor would work again for this one. Have a race and the loser gets his job outsourced overseas. The biggest rule of fund-raising is this- people love to gamble!! "Raffle" sounds a bit too goody-goody for these rich snobs, try staging cockfights, dogfights, or even poorfights and take some bets- it's a guaranteed moneymaker so long as your oddsmakers are good

Good luck to you!