For Karen Kallas, coming up with an enjoyable and unique fundraiser is a lot easier than people may think.
For her and others in Tooele’s Women of the Moose service organization, the key is paying attention to what folks say they like to do.
Unprompted, she and her peers began to hear comments from people saying, “We should have a ‘M-A-S-H’ trivia night,” and “We should do more fun things.” It did not take long for the idea of a “M-A-S-H” party fundraiser to settle in everyone’s minds.
The uniqueness of the fundraising theme plays a large role in getting people involved, said Kallas, who is in charge of getting the party together. The novelty should be enough to get people there, she hopes.
“People are more likely to go to a fundraiser — and to give to a cause — if it’s fun. And if it’s something they never heard of before,” she said. “Our fundraiser is different. Besides, who doesn’t like ‘M-A-S-H’?”
Kallas and the Women of the Moose acknowledge they do not know for certain that this fundraiser will be successful, but research — and anecdotal evidence — show that they are probably correct: A creative fundraiser tends to get people in the door more than the same old thing.
Giving USA reported in June that Americans donated a total of $592.5 billion to a variety of fundraisers. The traditional fundraisers — galas or other black tie events, live auctions and golf tournaments — continue to raise the most amount of money at one time, according to RaiseRight, an agency that assists groups with creating the right fundraiser for them.
But with each year, smaller fundraisers are becoming more common and more creative, according to Giving USA, RaiseRight, GoFundMe and others.
Virtual pet shows, online gaming tournaments, walk-a-thons and 5K races, even painting and cooking nights and skating events are a few examples of unique fundraisers that may not raise millions of dollars in one night, but will have donors enjoying themselves and waiting excitedly for next year’s event.
Fashion shows are one such example. Fashion shows originally were popular with artists in a community, but as Murad Auctions notes, people like clothes, and they like to buy clothes. As a result, fashion shows have become popular with many people.
Friday evening at the Eccles Theater, a fashion show will be held as a fundraiser for employees affected by the fires in downtown Salt Lake City.
“We have built a community on Main Street over the past three years, and seeing a part of it burned down is heartbreaking,” said Seth Brown, the fashion show organizer, in a statement. “This year’s show is both a platform for emerging artists and a rallying point for the community as business owners, employees and neighbors look toward the future.”
All ages are welcome to the event, where funds will be raised based on donations.
The “M-A-S-H” party — which will have trivia contests, raffles as well as a lunch and an opportunity to dress up as a favorite character — is only open to members of Women of the Moose and Moose International, a partnering group. The event aims to inspire members to attend and give to the Tooele County School District’s weekend meal program.
The Main Street Fashion Show was the complete opposite: Everyone was welcome, not only as a guest to watch a show, but as a community member ready to look to the future of Main Street.
Both offer creative fundraisers that will allow guests the chance to contribute to change while they are having a good time. There is no way to predict how many will attend each event, but organizers of both are optimistic that the causes and the fun will get people through the door.
“I’m hoping there will be a good turnout. And people give. Like I said, people are more likely to give more when they’re having a good time,” Kallas said.