Any business, from a large corporation to a small startup, can make a difference and gain public brand awareness through a charity event. It shows an authentic desire to connect with the community and a passion that goes beyond your mission statement.
But charity event planning takes a considerable amount of time, even more if you've never run any fundraiser. If you find yourself in that position, don't be discouraged or talk yourself out of taking the next step. Instead, take our advice to focus your charity event planning efforts.
Unparalleled Parking is here to help you with your event by providing exceptional, high-end valet parking services for all your honored guests. Let's go over the details that will help make your charity event and valet parking successful!
What Can You Expect with Valet Service?
Your event is extremely important, which means ensuring your guests are well cared for and handled professionally. Charity events are large-scale, and working with a valet company removes parking stress, which will help make your guests happier and can lead to higher contributions for your event.
Parking is the last thing you need to worry about, and we excel at streamlining your parking system to leave your guests feeling like VIPs and let you stay focused on all the other tasks that need to be completed.
Valet services are experts in creating upscale environments, which goes hand in hand with making a statement through branding. Customization can make all the difference, and our experienced valets will create a solution that reflects your theme to help convey the message you're trying to send to your guests.
10 Steps to Charity Event Planning Success
You need to incorporate solid charity event planning to make your business's time, effort, and budget worth it. As you read through this guide, jot down notes to strengthen your initial proposal when you bring it up in a board meeting or with your close-knit office crew.
Charity event planning starts with one great idea that drives you to make a difference through your company. Use these steps as an outline for success:
1. Define a Purpose
Fundraising at a charity event is always a main focus. However, you may also wish to gain publicity and reach out to a new network. Defining your purpose encompasses all the purposes and how you plan to accomplish each.
2. Set a Goal
Raising money is key, but defining how much money is a realistic challenge. If the money is going toward a project, will it be able to fund the project completely? Setting a goal during your charity event planning unites your fundraising materials. It can also be beneficial to inform donors what their hard-earned money is going toward.
3. Calculate a Budget
List all expenses required to host and run the event. Include staff, space, catering, marketing, entertainment, transportation, decorations, utilities, and thank you cards or gifts.
4. Choose Leaders
Consider your team member strengths and divide employees and volunteers into committees so the details don't become overwhelming. You can't handle charity event planning all on your shoulders.
5. Study Your Target Audience
Who is most likely to attend? Who is most likely to give? Who has the most reason to care? You must utilize these three questions to find a cross-section of people to invite. They are your target audience.
6. Consider the Details
Venue, food, dress attire, staff, itinerary, and entertainment represent a piece of the charity event planning puzzle.
7. Develop a Route of Sale
Brainstorm about what level of donations (and perks) might be available, how tickets will be sold and delivered, and how to organize the guest list as it grows. Also, you might consider how to impact sales if the guest list does not grow fast enough.
8. Market
Like your own service or product, a fundraising event needs marketing. How do you convince supporters to donate time and money by attending? Which platforms online and through traditional means will you use to get the word out?
9. Assign Roles
Mentally walk through how the night will proceed. If any roles are yet to be filled, find people suitable for the positions to ensure everything goes smoothly. Establish a chain of command in case of emergency or problems arising during the event.
10. Send Thank You Notes
After the event, remember to send personalized thank you notes to all those who attended, donated, volunteered, and participated in any way with the fundraiser. Expressing thanks will encourage those people to participate again if you run another event.
These ten steps are not rigid. Your fundraiser may require hammering out a few other charity event planning details. That's why you need a team to help you carry out your ultimate purpose.
Why Hire a Valet Company for Your Event?
Convenience and ease are just two reasons to hire a valet service; they can bring in more profit for your business simply from courtesy and presentation alone because your guests are relaxed and ready to participate. The services also show you care about your attendees and are a way to thank you for taking the time to join in your cause.
A formal and professional feeling comes with valet services, and our drivers can customize their attire and approach depending on the impact you're trying to make on attendees.
Planning Valet Parking for Charity Events
Are you hosting a charity event in the Twin Cities metro area? Someone in your planning committee may be designated to contact us and schedule valet service. If so, we will sit down with this point of contact to go over the big event's details.
Planning is the most crucial part of a valet parking service!
It usually involves a lot of elements, such as:
Location
Where your event is going to take place matters, so have your location picked out in advance to get a more accurate price event quote.
Parking Area Size and Dimensions
You need to know how many parking spaces are available near the location and to ensure there is space for the valet area close to the entrance to ensure a smooth parking experience.
Date, Time, and Duration of Service
Are you expecting your guests to show up simultaneously, or will it be at their leisure? You will need enough valets to account for the entirety of the event, so have the duration, date, and time planned.
Valet Options
Understand your preferences, like what you want the drivers to wear, the service you expect, and how you want your guests to be greeted.
Transportation Options
Will some guests be arriving in groups in buses or vans? Do guests need to be picked up? Will there be unique vehicles like motorcycles or larger vehicles to accommodate?
Safety and Security
You want every aspect of your guest's experience to be safe, so going over procedures and precautions with your valet provider can help reduce risks of accidents or theft.
Weather Considerations
While Minnesota weather is never predictable, it's good to have planning in place so it can succeed, even if your event falls on a day predicting storms.
Special Needs or Requests
Are there unique requests that need to be complied with? Guests that may need additional assistance? Or specific ways the parking area needs to be navigated?
Pricing and Packages
Be sure to know your budget so you can find a plan that works for your event.
Contracts and Agreements
Having a thorough understanding of any requirements or agreements for you and the valet company for a successful event
We encourage you to work out all of these details as soon as possible so that we can do our part to get everything ready.
We also encourage you to reserve your valet parking for at least six to twelve months in advance. This allows everyone to properly plan for your special event.
Transportation Services
In addition to valet parking services, we also offer transportation services to and from the event. If you have special guests or honorees attending the event, we can pick them up and transport them to any destination, including the event.
Transportation services we offer include:
- Limousines
- SUVs
- Luxury vehicles
- Buses & vans
All of our vehicles are well-maintained, safe, and high-end. Our drivers are well-trained, certified, and fully insured. You can feel confident that your guests will be picked up and dropped off in style.
Safety & Security
Our top priority is always preserving the safety and security of your vehicles. Therefore, we take extra measures to ensure that all parties involved do their part to mitigate any risks associated with valet parking service.
What are some areas we cover?
- Insurance and damage to vehicles
- The safety of the property and parking area
- Lighting options
- Procedures for collecting and handing out keys
- Ticketing for guests
- Ensuring a safe and spacious entryway and exit
- City codes and regulations
All of these are important considerations in making sure = your event is as safe as it is enjoyable.
Set an Amazing First Impression Dependable
You've begun considering event space and a charity event planning itinerary, but have you considered how guests will be welcomed? The first impression sets the tone for your evening, so you should choose a team of hosts to represent you at or before guests reach the entrance.
Unparalleled Parking attendants can run a smooth car check operation and utilize the available parking lots to their fullest. This alleviates guest concerns about finding parking or having a long walk through questionable weather. In addition, valet services establish a level of luxury from the moment an attendant opens the car door and greets each individual with a smile.
Make Your Charity Event Stand Out with the Unparalleled Parking Team
At Unparalleled Parking, we help event planners set up and maintain a smooth valet service their guests will love. Our experienced team can handle your parking needs, regardless of your charity event's size. Would you like to know more about Unparalleled Parking and how our company can factor into your charity event planning?
For an initial consultation, message us online or give us a call at 651-300-1515 today.