How to Make Your Next Fundraising Event Kid-Friendly

No matter the mission, chances are that many of your donors are parents and grandparents! While black tie galas are tons of fun for adults who are in the mood to wine and dine, one fun idea for your next fundraising event is to skip the babysitter and make your gala super kid- and family-friendly. The more, the merrier!

When you create an event that is fun for kids and adults, not only are you more likely to attract folks who might not have otherwise been able to come, you’re also cultivating a sense of community and let’s be honest, fun! 

Here are some of our favorite ideas for putting together an event that donors of all ages will be excited to attend. 

Think About Your Demographic

In truth, a kid-friendly event won’t be right for all nonprofit donor bases. Think about the types of people who are supporting your mission and whether they seem to have kids in their orbit. An organization dedicated to teaching kids how to read? Definitely a good candidate for a kid-friendly fundraiser! An organization dedicated to the preservation of fine art from the 1960s? Hmm… maybe that’s worth a second thought. 

Remember that just because you host one event that’s family friendly doesn’t mean that all your events have to be family friendly. You can organize your annual fundraising strategy around making sure there is something for everyone. 

Think About Timing

When you’re throwing kids in the mix, the date and time of your event makes a big difference. While an adult crowd may not blink at a 7 pm dinner on a Thursday night, that’s going to be a hard no for anyone with kids under the age of 10 or so. 

If you want the kids to come, too, make sure that your event is planned for a morning or afternoon on a weekend or during the summertime. And don’t forget about nap time! Small children tend to nap around the fat part of the day (say, 11:30-1:30) so planning for a pancake breakfast at 9 am or an afternoon scavenger hunt at 3:00 pm should hit the mark. 

Think About the Activities at Your Event

It’s kind of inevitable that when you have a lot of kids around, everything becomes, well, about the kids. Consider the activities you have planned at your event and whether they’re actually going to keep a population of children engaged, and consider adding kid-friendly activities. Here are some ideas: 

• Have a magician perform live magic,
• Invite a face painter to decorate faces, 
• Organize games with prizes, like: 
  • Guess the number in the jar, 
  • A scavenger hunt at the location of your event, 
  • Create an obstacle course, 
  • Host a trivia event, 
• Provide an activity like pumpkin carving/decorating.

Think About Your Auction Items

If you are hosting a live or silent auction, make sure that at least some of the items are appealing to people with families. Some of our top-selling family-friendly trips would be a perfect fit! Wouldn’t your donors love to take their families on some of these incredible trips? 

• Cabo Mexico Spa Vacation ~ Vista Encantada Spa Resort — This is the perfect getaway for a family of four! Play on the beach, splash in the pools, and enjoy delicious local food from one of sixteen restaurants.
• Charming Tuscan Villa for 8 guests — If your donors really want to treat their family and friends, this is the way to go. Adults get to relax in one of the most iconic and scenic parts of Italy while kids get to spend their days in the swimming pool. 
• Hola Barcelona Cultural Vacation Package — Take the kids to one of the most colorful and beautiful cities in Europe! Cultural exploration is definitely in store for anyone who wins this once-in-a-lifetime trip to Spain.
• Exotic Bali Travel Package for 10 — Family reunion in Bali, anyone? No one will turn down a chance to relax in one of the most pristine settings on Earth. Beach, sun, culture, and even snorkeling make this trip one to remember. 

Think Like a Kid!

To really make your event stand out, tap into your inner child and try to remember what made an event really fun and special to you. Was it getting the chance to meet and play with other kids? That can happen! Was it the opportunity to spend time with your mom or dad, working on a fun activity? That can happen, too! Was it great music that you got to sing and dance along to? That’s also very do-able!

When one of your main objectives is “fun,” the sky’s the limit. Have a great time putting together ideas for your next kid-friendly event!

Philantopia is Here to Help 

If you’re ready to dive into the world of kid-friendly fundraising and want some ideas for your silent auction, live auction, raffle, or sweepstakes packages, let us know! Get in touch with our team of Auction Advisors today to start strategizing. We can’t wait to meet you!