In this four-part series we are showcasing 12 of the most popular fundraising event theme ideas and offering recommendations for food, entertainment, decorations and attire. We’re also taking this opportunity to show how easy it is to incorporate Winspire auction items with almost any theme you can think of.
So far, the themes we’ve covered include…
Charity Event Theme Ideas
Click on any of the themes below to jump to that article.
- Under the Sea
- Las Vegas
- Hawaii/Caribbean
Here are three more popular and innovative event fundraising theme ideas that pair well with our Winspire travel packages:
10. Broadway
10. BroadwayInvite prospective donors to join you on Broadway when you choose this theatrical theme for your next fundraising event. Make creative use of stage lighting, Broadway posters, playbills, and tickets to highlight your decor. Choose a venue that will accommodate a full stage to allow for theatrical or musical performances, complete with stage drapes. Music should feature favorite Broadway tunes. Consider favorite New York City fare and of course, pas and current music from Broadway shows.
Your guests will appreciate the opportunity to bid on Broadway-themed items such as these:
Ultimate Hamilton Experience
Dinner with Cast Members, Private In-Theater Meet and Greet, Broadway Tickets, Signed Cast Poster for 2
Why this is a good match: Enjoy two to the smash hit Hamilton at Richard Rodgers Theatre. This red-hot musical about Founding Father and first Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton has taken over Broadway, the White House and likely your newsfeed. The Boston Globe reported, “Hamilton is everything they say: brilliantly written to convey complex personal and historical nuances in a variety of modern pop styles, ingeniously staged, rapturously acted and sung, dazzlingly choreographed.”
Ultimate Broadway
Private Meet and Greet with Cast Members for a Pre-Show Dinner, Broadway Tickets for 2
Why this is a good match: For the real theater buff. Enjoy an unbelievable opportunity to meet with two featured cast members from a Broadway show of your choice. After the show, they will host you in a private in-theater meet and greet where you will be entertained with backstage anecdotes, personal career stories, photos and autographs. In addition, they will join you for either a pre-show dinner or post-show get together at a fun Theater District hangout. NEW: Raising money for children or a school? Check out Ultimate Broadway for Families!
New York Long Weekend
Choice of Broadway Show, Dinner, 3-Night Weekend Stay with Airfare for 2
Why this is a good match: A quick weekend getaway that packs a lot of punch: 2 tickets to a Broadway show of your choice (The Book of Mormon, Wicked, Aladdin and more) and a $200 gift card towards dining at your choice of iconic New York restaurants. Add three nights at the New York Hilton midtown, near Radio City Music Hall and Times Square.
Win $1,000 in Auction Items!
Subscribe to Winspire News for weekly event fundraising tips and you could win a $1,000 worth of donated items to use in your next charity auction!
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11. Western
11. WesternYee haw! Country music has gained in popularity in recent years, with Taylor Swift crossing over from pop to country and stars like Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean touring the U.S. and topping the charts. No wonder there’s been a surge in sales of cowboy boots and attire that’s Nashville-worthy. This theme can be casual (think barn dance and Sadie Hawkins) or more formal, with Diamonds & Denim or City Slicker. Whatever you choose, have fun with this one and your guests will be happy to join the party!
These western-themed auction items will go over well with your two-steppin’ crowd:
Country Music’s Biggest Awards Night
Bronze-Level Tickets to Country Music’s 2018 Biggest Awards Night in Nashville, Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, 3-Night Stay with Airfare for 2
Why this is a good match: Enjoy country music’s biggest night in Nashville! Past winners include Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Lady Antebellum, Sugarland, Trace Adkins, and Zac Brown Band. Award winners are chosen from votes cast by industry professional members of the Country Music Association, meaning awards winners are honored by their peers in the music industry.
Wild West Adventure
3-Night All-Inclusive Stay at Monster Lake Ranch in Cody, Wyoming, with Airfare for 2
Why this is a good match: The setting is breathtaking, the fish are biting and the staff is welcoming and wanting to make your adventure epic. Conveniently located eight miles south of downtown Cody, Wyoming, Monster Lake, known for its world-class fly fishing, offers comfortable lodging, first-class hospitality, trail rides, bird hunting, hiking and wildlife viewing. Enjoy the local charm of downtown Cody or venture to Yellowstone National Park, approximately one hour from Monster Lake Ranch.
Nashville Unplugged
Discover Nashville Tour, Night on the Town, 3-Night Stay with Airfare for 2
Why this is a good match: Experience the heart and soul of Nashville! Tennessee’s scenic riverfront capitol is a sophisticated city with a laid back vibe. This is Music City, U.S.A., home of the Grand Ole Opry and its storied Ryman Auditorium, which launched scores of beautiful voices into country music stardom.
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12. Sports
12. SportsWith the Summer Olympics just around the corner, baseball in full swing and football gearing up, sports is on everyone’s mind. This is a theme that really never goes out of style and offers great flexibility in planning your event. Golf tournaments as fundraising events are always popular, and you can easily incorporate a silent auction or raffle into the day of event and a live auction into the awards dinner. Consider hosting a gala honoring local athletes who have made it big. Athletes are inspirational and can often relate to your cause and inspire passion among your donors.
It’s safe to say that nearly everyone at your event will be a sports lover, whether they are an armchair quarterback or avid golfer. Consider offering these experiences:
Ultimate Pro Sports Fan Getaway
Lower Level Tickets to Choice of a Select Regular Season MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL or PGA Event, 2-Night Weekend Stay with Airfare for 2
Why this is a good match: Take a trip to see your home team play on the road or just get away for a fan-tastic sports adventure! Enjoy an exciting MLB, NBA, NFL or NHL regular season game, non-major PGA golf tournament* – that’s up to 5,000 games a year to choose from nationwide.
Churchill Downs Private Estate
Churchill Downs (Kentucky) Private Suite, Race Named in Your Honor, Trophy Presentation and 2-Night Private Roseheights Estate Stay for up to 10 (5064-10n)
Why this is a good match: A true bucket list trip! Experience the exciting and colorful spectacle of thoroughbred racing in a private suite with your party of 10 as the nation’s finest horses compete at Churchill Downs. Along with watching the spectacular action on the track, you can stroll through the historic grounds of the world’s most legendary racetrack and enjoy the ambiance of one of the most hallowed shrines in American Sport.
Indianapolis 500
2016 Indy 500 Tickets, Drivers Meeting Pass, Deluxe Motor Coach Transportation, Hall of Fame Admission, 3-Night Stay with Airfare for 2 (5060-2)
Why this is a good match: Anyone feeling the need for speed will love the opportunity to watch this race in person. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the world’s largest spectator sporting facility and plays host annually to the IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500 race on a 2.5-mile oval track. The 500 miles each year become a circular path to immortality for the winner. No other race in the world has legends, traditions and statistics like the Indianapolis 500.
…and that’s it! What did you think?
Leave us a comment and let us know if you have any suggestions for how you would organize a particular theme. Or maybe you have a new unique theme that worked well for you and your nonprofit. We would love to keep going and add to this list, so leave us some feedback!
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