| Looking for a fun fundraising event to raise money | | | | Encourage everyone to bid early and often! |
| for your nonprofit, church, or favorite cause? A Mardi | | | | You can sell raffle tickets for a grand prize drawing |
| Gras Fundraiser could be just the thing. | | | | at the end of the night. You can also offer multiple |
| The basic premise is fairly simple - a fun night where | | | | prizes which allows you to price the raffle tickets |
| adults can enjoy good music and great food while | | | | higher and raise more money. |
| letting their hair down with some outrageous | | | | Raffle tickets can also be sold before the event with |
| costumes and the requisite major bead necklaces. | | | | winners not being required to attend. This works |
| Getting started | | | | particularly well if you have a worthy prize such as |
| You'll need a large meeting hall with room for live | | | | trip to New Orleans. |
| music or at least a DJ booth. Use a local party rental | | | | Publicity |
| shops for tables and chairs, etc. and book everything | | | | Put together a press release announcing your event |
| you need well ahead of time. | | | | and get it to all the local newspaper, radio, and |
| Contact a local restaurant with New Orleans style | | | | television stations. Highlight your them, promote your |
| food with a partnership offering - they provide the | | | | cause, prominently feature your restaurant partner, |
| food at a reasonable cost and get some great | | | | and play up your live band. |
| exposure to potential patrons. You might also want | | | | Be sure to provide full contact information as well as |
| to look into conducting a live Cajun cooking | | | | the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the |
| demonstration if local regulations permit it. | | | | event. If you're doing pre-event raffle ticket sales, |
| Arrange for music with a Mardi Gras flavor and if you | | | | mention that as well. |
| can find a live act, feature them in your promotional | | | | Follow up your press release distribution with a phone |
| activities. | | | | call to the top media outlets. Ask for the person who |
| Fundraising tips | | | | screens them, such as an associate producer at a |
| There are lots of ways to raise money at your Mardi | | | | radio station. Try for some on air coverage with a |
| Gras Fundraiser. Price your admission tickets to cover | | | | unique newsworthy angle. |
| all your expenses. Consider offering two different | | | | Summary |
| price levels - with dinner and without. | | | | A Mardi Gras night makes a fantastic fundraising |
| You can add a wine tasting to your event where | | | | event where a good time is guaranteed for all |
| guests pay extra to sample wines with a New | | | | attendees. This theme allows lots of additional |
| Orleans link. Include a cash bar provided local | | | | fundraising activities such as auctions, wine tasting, |
| regulations permit one. | | | | gourmet food, and raffles. |
| Approach local business for items to auction. For the | | | | A good location, excellent food, and a live band will |
| more expensive items, conduct a live auction with a | | | | make your Mardi Gras Fundraiser a night to |
| professional auctioneer. Use silent auctions for other | | | | remember! |
| items by placing them on tables with bid sheets. | | | | |