August 23, 2007 | Read Time: 1 minute
NEW BOOKS
Black Tie Optional: A Complete Special Events Resource for Nonprofit Organizations, Second Edition
by Harry A. Freedman and Karen Feldman
Fund raising through special events is not for novices, write Harry A. Freedman, president of Strategic Initiatives, an organization that helps charities plan such events, and Karen Feldman, a journalist.
“Only after establishing itself as a reputable, responsible organization should any nonprofit take on the job of producing a special event,” they add.
The authors urge charities to prepare thoroughly and carefully for special events, which should serve as opportunities not just to raise money, but to cultivate donors, raise a charity’s profile, and generate valuable publicity.
To help nonprofit groups undertake the task of planning an event, Mr. Freedman and Ms. Feldman offer a guide to budgeting, food, celebrity appearances, marketing, last-minute preparations, finding a site, evaluating an event afterwards, and several other topics.
The first chapter briefly describes 41 types of fund-raising events, including auctions, bingo, chili cook-offs, food festivals, and telethons. The section also discusses the pros and cons of each kind of event, how much time each takes to plan, how many people are needed to help, and roughly how much money each event will cost.
The book uses real-life examples of successful events by different types of charities to illustrate the advice, and highlights important tips to remember during the planning process.
The final chapter includes a list of online resources to help find a speaker or celebrity, coordinate an auction, create promotional materials, and other sources that can help with the most difficult aspects of planning an event.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 111 River Street, Fourth Floor, Hoboken, N.J. 07030; (201) 748-6000; fax (201) 748-6088; http://www.wiley.com; 216 pages; $39.95; ISBN 978-0-471-70333-4.
