On Saturday, November 21st, the W Hotel will once again fill with hundreds of passionate, young people seeking to make a difference in the city. The evening, hosted by The San Francisco Social, promises an open bar, musical entertainment, photos ops, a VIP Coachella ticket raffle, and more, in support of the SF Child Abuse Prevention Center.
In honor of SFS's tenth birthday, they're giving away two VIP tickets to their upcoming event on November 21st from 8-11pm. All you need to do is sign up for 7x7's newsletter (scroll down for the form) and follow SFS on Facebook or Twitter for a chance to win.
The team also shared their tips for hosting a well-attended, non-profit event, ten years running.
1. Choose your cause.
Every two years, the SFS board and host committee select a new local cause to focus their efforts toward. When selecting a cause it’s important to consider a few things: its mass appeal, what areas of the organization need the most help, and how will you make an impact.
2. Set a goal.
SFS's founder and chair set a funding and attendance goal for the fall event that builds upon the previous year.
3. Surround yourself with good people.
There’s no limit as to what a group of intelligent, kind-hearted individuals can accomplish when presented with a good cause and clear goal.
4. Assign roles.
Every board and host committee member brings something different to their role. Establishing commitment expectations among team members early on will limit conflict down the line.
5. Create a timeline.
Whether it’s meeting in person on a regular basis or creating a schedule for the team to reference, organization limits the chance that things slip through the cracks along the way.
6. Pool your resources.
Each person brings connections to the table, so it’s important that the event needs are laid out clearly and outreach begins early. Everything from the venue and entertainment, to the libations and silent auction need to be accounted for—the list is endless, but you’d be surprised what you’re able to come up with.
7. Access your networks.
Attendance is key to a successful event, so each team member is responsible for coming up with a list of mailing addresses for friends and family they’d like invitations to go out to. Not only do ticket sales account for a significant portion of our annual fundraising, but guests love a crowd.
8. Roll up your sleeves.
Physical labor is involved in the setup/teardown of any event and to keep costs low, much of that should come from your team. Figure out how much prep time you need (add an hour to that), put together a list of things that need to get done, and delegate.
9. Execute.
And enjoy. You’ve worked hard and by the the time the event begins, you should feel a sense of relief. Do your due diligence and check in with team members and vendors throughout the evening; keep your phone close in case of emergency. Don’t forget to enjoy the moment!
10. Post mortem.
The SFS team usually takes a month or so off from meetings after the event to decompress. During this rest period, we’re totaling the funds raised and closing the loop with vendors. It’s important to evaluate what worked well and what didn’t while everything is still fresh. You’ll appreciate having done it once it’s time to pick things back up again!
// If you’d like to attend the San Francisco Social this fall while giving back to children in your community, go to thesanfranciscosocial.com to purchase a ticket.
