Organize a Benefit Concert

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	Fund-Raising Ideas

	Spotlights

	Coordinate Local Events

	Host a Dinner or Breakfast
	Organize a Benefit Concert
	Have a Baby-Sitting Party

	Sell Items

	Raffles and Auctions

	Other Great Ideas

Venue (find a facility that will donate the space and time)
One or Two local bands (does your school have any up-and-coming garage bands?)
Volunteers (family and friends)
$50 for posters, and tickets
Door prizes donated by local businesses
Optional: Security, depending on your location
Time: three to four weeks for planning; one day to set up and execute concert

Start by identifying a potential venue. Think of restaurants that would love the extra business or a community park with a dining pavilion. Be sure to get their written permission, stating clearly the date and time of your event. Begin to research local bands. Every community has bands that are looking to get their name out. See if you can get the band to perform without payment for the benefit concert (allow them to sell CDs and hand out cards in exchange). Your concert should be an all-ages even so select a band that would be appropriate for everyone (no foul language).

When the date, time, location, and band are confirmed, begin to promote your concert. Approach local businesses and ask them to donate door prizes. If you arrange contributing sponsors early enough, they could even have their logos printed on your posters and tickets (businesses like advertising that links their name to a worthy cause). Be sure to include door-prize information on your promotional materials so that potential attendees know what is offered. Give your concert attendees better odds of winning a door prize by allowing them to purchase extra tickets for the drawings. Determine the price of additional tickets by considering what the grand prize is. If it’s dinner at restaurant and a night in a local hotel then $5 is about right. Try to get movie passes, free movie rentals, dinners, pizzas, etc. Tickets to the concert should be very inexpensive. Consider having the tickets priced below $5; this will allow you to bring more people to your concert.


	Success Story: Katie B. from Alabama held a benefit concert and got her entire delegation involved. The concert was free. The great door prize tickets were $5. Each delegate received the proceeds from the tickets they sold. As a group they sold 4,000 tickets and raised more than $20,000.

In the days leading up to the concert, be sure to check in regularly with the band and the facility to be sure everything is on schedule. If there is no food at your venue, consider buying (or have donated) pre-packaged snacks like soft drinks, chips, candy, etc., that volunteers can sell throughout the concert. Don’t go overboard with decorations. These can be costly and time-consuming. Your customers are there to hear great music and support you. Keep it simple!

Variations:
You can apply the same concept for, using your school’s symphony at a local art gallery or coffee house or holding a benefit choir concert at a church.