Your faith community likely receives regular financial donations from its members for basic operations, but most of them probably expect more from your organization than just taking care of itself. If you want your church to provide stronger support for the community, hosting a charity event is a good way to branch out. A charity event raises awareness of needs that exist in your city or the larger world and gives concerned people an immediate way to get involved. 

Choose an Organization

The first step is to choose a group to receive the donations you get. If you don't already have a specific organization in mind, consider your values and passion and find one that matches them:

• Food service and distribution (e.g., soup kitchens, food pantries, school lunch programs)
• Health initiatives (e.g., research groups, family support organizations, mental health care nonprofits)
• Housing programs (e.g., homeless shelters, rent relief groups, building projects)
• Literacy support (e.g., public libraries, schools, after-school programs)
• Advocacy groups (e.g., LGBTQIA+, disability activism, antiracism, or gender equality support)
• Environmental causes (e.g., clean air initiatives, parks, conservation groups)
• Animal care (e.g., animal shelters, pet adoption agencies, wildlife refuges, animal welfare advocates)
• International organizations (e.g., fair trade advocacy, poverty relief, clean water initiatives, fair labor issues)

Rally Volunteers and Donors

Once you have an organization or cause to support, gauge the interest of your community members by asking for volunteers for the charity event. Compile a brief synopsis of what the organization does and distribute it in your church newsletter or post it on the community information board. Give a general overview of the event, the specific roles involved and how many people you need to fill them. Finally, list your contact information in case those who are interested want to volunteer or have questions.

Decide how you are going to raise money through your event. After you have assembled your core team, brainstorm the best way to collect donations. You may simply ask for monetary contributions, but there are a lot of other ways you can raise money. For example, you can host a raffle, auction or sale, in which case the donations you need the most are items for the event. You can also offer a service in exchange for donations, such as a nice meal, yard work or a car wash. Whatever you decide, this brainstorm session will form the foundation of the rest of your event planning.

Create a Strong Marketing Plan

The next thing your team needs to do is get the word out. Creating fliers to post around town is a good start, but don't underestimate the benefit of a solid social media campaign. Create an event page so that invitees can RSVP, which helps you keep a running total of how many guests to plan for. It also creates a public, common space where you can make announcements and answer any questions that invitees may have. If you have the means to do so, you may even consider creating a webpage for the project, particularly if it is going to be a recurring event each year.

Organize the Event

Organizing your charity event starts with making a list of tasks that must be completed before the big day. Delegate tasks to team members best suited for them. It's a good idea to set all team meeting times from the beginning of the planning process. That way, you aren't fighting against established schedules at the last minute to finish. 

A charity event is a great way to raise awareness and funds for an organization that is doing work that reflects your faith community's values. Follow these tips to help make your event a success.