Lighten UP

·          Before you get started remind yourself and your partners that the goal is not only to raise money and awareness, but to have FUN. The more fun you have, the more people will want to come to the next event or to contribute to your passion.

 

Partner UP

·          It may be more fun if you ask a friend, a sibling, your spouse, your child, significant other, or anyone close to you who shares your passion for LemonAid Fund or just making a difference.

·          You may want to check out LemonAid Fund’s web site www.lemonaidfund.org or get a brochure or recent annual report so you can answer any questions your partners may have and to get them excited about helping.

 

Communicate with Your Guests

·          Communication can be done entirely by email (except for some cases and you know who those are).  Email saves time and money and resources.  You can pool names of friends and their friends … for an ever expanding list. There are lots of free programs like Yahoo groups and e-vite on line to use.

·          If you’re more comfortable with the telephone, mailing postcards or invitations we have included a template for your use.

 

LemonAid Fund – Your Charitable Organization

·          This is your chance to do some due diligence about LemonAid Fund so you can answer questions such as – what we do, who we serve, what is our budget, how would we use the non-discretionary funds you are raising for us, etc.

·          Of course any board member/volunteer spokes person (5 minute talk and be there to answer questions) who is close to you would be more than happy to come to your event and speak.

·          You can request a 8 minute CD showing what LemonAid Fund does

 

 Set the Date and Time

·          A one time event or a regular event

·          A Saturday evening, a Sunday afternoon

·          A Saturday morning

·          Whatever is best for you, your partners, and the group of people you plan to ask (for example if your group is young (25-40) you may want to make sure what you do is child friendly)

 

 

Choose a Location

·          Whose home do you feel most comfortable having guests visit (has enough space to accommodate your group?)?

·          Do you want to have it at your church hall or a park district or a community center

·          If you decide to have on going dinners people have experienced that others will begin to offer their homes as venues, just begin.

 

Set Your Price

·          A successful group that has monthly dinners asks for a $35 contribution from each quest, keeping the price affordable for most people in their community monthly.

·          You could ask people to write a check in lieu of a present if celebrating an occasion.

·          Tailor the size and scope of both your community and the organization your benefiting.

·          Quests are many times inspired to give more (can ask people to bring their checkbook)

·          YOU DO NOT NEED TO HANDLE MONEY.  Each check can be made out directly to LemonAid Fund can be put into an envelop and given or mailed to LemonAid Fund, 490 Lincoln Ave. West, Highland Park, IL 60035 OR you can set up your computer to let people donate by using the link at the bottom of this page using a credit card or pay pal.

·          Checks may continue to come in after the event and you can just mail them on or give everyone the address so that they can mail the check themselves.

·          Every dime raised goes directly to LemonAid Fund programs.

 

Whom to Invite?

·          Can be your closest friends and family who you think are interested in LemonAid Fund – and who like to have fun!  You may then ask these people if they would like to host a Dinner to Make a Difference.

·          You may want to invite work colleagues, high school friends, college friends and/or church friends.

·          You may want to invite people you think would enjoy the evening and have big hearts and deep pockets.

·           Invites can be emails or postcards or templates that will be posted.

 

What to Serve?

·          A simple dinner can have a simple menu – pasta, salad and bread

·          A hint from one group is to serve white wine and sparkling water to cut down on potential dark beverage stains.

·          You may ask for donations for the meal (LemonAid Fund as a 501(c)3 tax exempt status and we can provide you with a solicitation letter template that you can personalize.

·          You may instead choose to do a brunch or lunch, cocktail party, afternoon tea, barbecue… You decide.