How to host a killer kickoff party

Nothing, absolutely nothing can get a fundraising campaign, event, or program off to a better start than a kickoff party.

But you have to do it right and plan the kickoff like it is an event in and of itself, because it is.

A great kickoff party can help energize people, is a great way to get early publicity to promote your cause, help recruit corporate sponsors, volunteers, team captains, and participants.

Here are the MUSTS for a successful kickoff party:

1. Have the kickoff party at an extremely convenient location at an extremely convenient time for the people you want there.

2. Do both electronic and hard copy save the date cards and make sure you get them in the hands of people you want at your kickoff party. Don't rely on electronic invitations only - we all know people are inundated with those. Keep these cards with you and distribute these cards everywhere you go for a month prior to the party. Give your friends and colleagues a plentiful supply and ask them to do the same thing.

3. Use a good old fashioned RSVP phone number for people to call and confirm they will or won't be there. Tell them you need them to RSVP so you know how much food to have at the kickoff. This is important because it lets you know if you are going to have a good turnout or if a week or two prior you need to get on the phone and call those people you have invited and encourage them to RSVP.

4. Invite everyone you think would have an interest in being involved - participants, potential sponsor, potential committee members, potential volunteers, and give these people a wide variety of options of things to sign up for when they are at the kickoff party.

5. Have a BRIEF but POWERFUL speaker at the kickoff party to explain the mission or cause, why it is important, and why their participation will make a difference.

6. Pass out commitment cards at the kickoff party after the speaker is finished that give people the option of signing up for more information about corporate sponsorship, participation, being kept informed, volunteering, etc... with all their contact information.

7. Give out a really nice door prize that will be raffled out at the end of the party from the commitment cards that are turned in. This is also KEY because everyone there will want the prize and will check one of the boxes and turn their card in so they can be in the drawing.

8. Send out a communication IMMEDIATELY afterwards, thanking those who signed up and reiterating how what they signed up for is crucial to your mission.

9. Keep the kickoff party to one hour or less and make sure the save the date invitation says the party will only last one hour. Anybody can give you one hour of their time.

10. Hold a follow up business meeting less than two weeks after the kickoff party to get those people who signed up INVOLVED. Strike while the iron is hot!

By putting a significant amount of time and energy into your kickoff party, you really can cut your work planning an event or campaign in half and you can raise more money for your mission in the process.