At AmFund, our dedication to assisting nonprofits in their missions is unwavering. While our forte lies in special event fundraising, international travel, and conducting auctions, we always seek innovative ideas to share with our nonprofit partners. Annually at year-end, we partner with many organizations that work to blend corporate holiday parties with charitable endeavors. As the holiday season approaches, let us remember what the holidays are truly all about.
Embracing the True Spirit of the Holidays
Amidst the bustling holiday season, it's easy to lose sight of its essence—giving back to those in need. Enter the concept of a charitable holiday celebration. Many businesses already host corporate holiday gatherings for their employees, making it a perfect opportunity to intertwine these celebrations with a local philanthropic cause. This approach not only engages employees and their families in a meaningful celebration, but also offers remarkable PR prospects to propel your organization forward with positive storytelling into 2025.
A Personal Touch
During the pandemic, our foundation organized a charitable holiday party that truly exemplified this spirit. We partnered with a local Ronald McDonald House and encouraged employees to bring travel-size toiletry items that could be packaged together for families staying at the RMHC facilities. The result? Our team assembled and sanitized over 200 toiletry kits and enjoyed the fun and fellowship of this activity!
Crafting a philanthropic holiday party can be a lot of fun! Here’s a few easy steps to share with your leadership team as you plan this charitable celebration:
Engage Employees: Clearly communicate the purpose behind the party. Educate employees on the great work being done by organizations in their local communities. Emphasize the significance of supporting a nonprofit and its commendable cause.
The Choice Is Yours: Offer a selection of worthy nonprofit organizations and let employees vote on the charity to support. This involvement fosters a stronger connection between employees and the act of giving back. It also allows everyone to have a voice and to be heard! There are many surveying tools available for free if your organization would prefer to keep the votes anonymous.
Promote the Cause: Incorporate information about the chosen organization in the party invitations and promotions. This not only familiarizes guests with the cause beforehand but also aids in cultivating potential future donors for that organization. This is great to share in all-staff meetings or company wide newsletters.
Donation Drive: Consider taking a break from the typical "Secret Santa" or "White Elephant" gift exchanges. Instead, allow participants the opportunity to bring donations to the cause. This could involve small gifts related to the cause or aggregated financial donations.
Host Auctions or Raffles: Add excitement to the party with activities like a silent auction or raffle. This keeps at-event engagement high and allows multiple giving opportunities throughout the event. Employees can bid on items, with proceeds going to the chosen charity. Consider an Exclusive Travel Auction to inspire guests to travel in support of the cause.
Capture Moments: 360 Photo Booths and Branded Photos Walls are all the trend at parties today! Be sure to document your event with photographs featuring employees in festive attire. If you raise a significant dollar amount, consider a photo of employees holding a donation check—an excellent PR piece for the business.
Awards/ Recognition: Acknowledge employees who have been actively involved with the nonprofit or community service. This is a great opportunity to highlight those team members who have gone above and beyond!
Post-Event Follow-Up: Share the outcomes of the event both internally (company-wide) and externally (social media, press releases etc.) including the amount raised or items collected, and thank everyone for their contributions.
Hosting a holiday party that supports a nonprofit is a win-win! Beyond championing a noble cause, participating in a give-back event instills a sense of pride in employees for supporting an organization close to their hearts.
For further insights on optimizing fundraising at your events, contact us at AmFund. We eagerly anticipate learning about your worthwhile cause and assisting you in making a significant impact into 2025 and beyond!