Last month I wrote a book review & case study about raising funds with a houseparty. One of the pitfalls that some organizers can fall into is trying to combine purposes, such as combining an open house with a fundraiser party. Now at year-end, some well-meaning hostesses are combining holiday parties with requests for donations to charity.
The Wall Street Journal published an article today that describes both sides of this issue.
At one party in Bayview, N.J., last month, revelers were asked to pony up a voluntary admission fee to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. At another in Timonium, Md., the invitation noted that guests would be asked to stuff toys into shoe boxes for Samaritan’s Purse’s “Operation Christmas Child.” And in New York City, at least 12 hosts of private holiday parties this season will be asking their guests to write checks and donate toys for the Children’s Aid Society, up from about two five years ago, the group says.
Some hosts see holiday festivities as a creative way to do some grass-roots fund-raising. Others say they’re fed up with the excesses of the season and would rather wind up with money for a good cause than 20 bottles of wine at the end of the night. Charities, meanwhile, eager to reach out to veteran donors weary of black-tie events and younger ones who may shun big galas, are encouraging the practice. Some have even put together how-to kits to help hosts with a philanthropic bent.
While no one criticizes the motives of these do-good party givers, some guests say they don’t appreciate the social pressure to give to what the host — not the guest — determines is a good cause. And longtime philanthropists and etiquette experts alike say hosts run the risk of alienating guests by putting on too much of a hard sell or by embarrassing them with on-the-spot requests.
Houseparties, cocktail parties, etc are excellent ways of raising money. However, mixing them with a traditional holiday party and an untargeted audience can be difficult and disastrous if not approached correctly.
If the purpose is the party is just a holiday gathering, the invitation should state “if you feel inclined to bring a gift, please bring ___ instead†or “donate to your favorite charity instead.â€
Since they tie into the spirit of the season, party planners may have more success in getting guests to participate in bringing gifts for Toys for Tots and other similiar programs. Again it depends on the invitees. Just thinking about the groups I belong to, there are those who would enjoy it and bring great gifts and others who would definitely not.
A true fundraising party should have one focus and one goal – to connect with people who already have an interest in a particular cause. A formal presentation and call to donate are given.
Even if people don’t donate at the party, attendees get to meet representatives from the group and to learn more about the organization, so they can make an educated decision about future giving. Then the organization can follow up by mail, telephone and in person to develop further relationships with those supporters.