Iowa Charity Fundraisers Guide - From Galas to Golf Tournies

Taking on the planning of a Iowa charity event can be exhilarating, but it can also pose some challenges. The first consideration is that you’ll likely be asked to utilize the talents and efforts of volunteers who may (and likely, may not) have experience in planning, organizing and running a successful fundraiser. Be that as it may, as a pro planner, your best bet is to get as much done early on as possible, so that your volunteers can handle the tasks that require less professional experience.

Of course, budget, time constraints and goals will impact the size of your event. Though no less important, smaller events like a luncheon, a silent auction or a food drive can be less complex to plan.

Choosing your event venue will revolve around your theme. For example, a nautical theme would lend itself to a local boat charter cruise line. Or, a luncheon or tea might do well in a botanical garden, art gallery or museum. Many of these Iowa event venues offer community rooms at no or very low costs. A vineyard with a wine tasting room would be another location that would work well for a more intimate, upscale gathering.

When considering any of these for your themed event, you might want to explore the charms of any number of our Iowa event venues including theaters and zoo parks.

A larger event, such as a golf tournament, a 5K run, a walk-a-thon or dance-a-thon will take more time and a greater budget for venue. Most golf courses are equipped to handle tournaments and can assist you with logistics such as registration, golfer tee times, carts, tents, catering and more. It’s also worth asking sponsors for a sporting event, such as 5K, if they would be willing to offer up their establishment as a pre-event meeting space or post-event celebration space at no charge. This will allow you to stretch your budget further and them the opportunity to receive significant publicity and increased business. Event sponsors can also contribute to help defray some of the costs.

Considering a golf tournie? Why not have your group tee up at one of our Iowa golf course and country clubs? Is a race more your speed? Why not approach a race track designed to host special events to talk about sponsorship opportunities.

Really high-end galas, sit-down dinners and concerts require quite extensive planning and investment up front for venue, talent, food and marketing. It’s important to carefully plan your budget and understand the risks of trying to pull off a really large-scale event.

Casino resorts are a natural fit for a large event venue. Most have expansive spaces, many amenities and more than sufficient parking. But for something different, why not consider a golf or lake resort? Any of our Iowa event resorts would be a unique and appealing venue for a large charitable gathering.

Check out our complete listing of Iowa resorts you may want to consider for your next high-end gala.

Of course, whether your event is large or small, there are a million other details to tend to — food, security, transportation, tables, chairs, linens, promotional items, invitations, signage, entertainment or an MC. Utilizing the search tools at meetingpages will enable you to find the perfect service provider, whether it’s an event caterer  or a party rental company. From florists to photographers you can quickly and easily request RFPs and choose professionals to make your charitable event a shining success!

Now, bring on those volunteers!