At one time or another most nonprofit organizations organize special events to either raise money (they hope); gather media attention; celebrate staff and volunteers; or gather corporate sponsorship. When determining whether or not you want to hold a special event it's important to be crystal clear in terms of what your goal is: Is it to raise money? If so, how much and at what cost? Do you want to attract new donors? If so, how many and at what levels?

What are the factors that will help determine whether your special event will be special or just so-so?

• Human resources - Do you really have the staff and pool of volunteers to carry out the event? Do you have the skills and talents (and contacts) to make this event successful?
• Money resources - How much will the event cost and do you have the resources to pull it off? How much money do you want to make (after all costs)? Can you raise sufficient corporate sponsorships?
• Constituency/audience resources - Do you have the constituency or members that are interested in this type of event? Are they willing to pay or donate to this event? Are you connected to the key leaders to assure the audience at the event?
• Timing of the event - Do you have enough time to plan the event? Do you have to compete with similar events that are taking place at the same time? Do you have a suitable theme (such as a women's shelter doing an event around Mother's Day)?

Let's look at 10 unique special event ideas. We hope these will help you generate unique and wonderful special events of your own.

1. Big ticket events - These are events that require a long-lead time (at least six to nine months). They usually attract a large crowd and require a considerable amount of up-front capital and volunteers. Some examples include a 10K race, an annual dinner, benefit concert, or major sporting event. Corporate sponsorships are almost critical in having a big ticket event succeed.
2. Educational events - These are events in which participants come to gain educational experiences, to learn something new, and to be intellectually stimulated. These events are designed to build credibility for the organization. The up front costs are usually not significant and the purpose is not to make lots of money, but rather to gather people for a unique learning experience. These events can include bringing in a famous author who has just written a book (and asking Barnes & Noble to pay for the cost); having a major speaker with a national reputation; or conducting a video or slide show of an interesting topic.
3. Non-event event - Most people are tired of big gala events, so have a non-event instead. People will pay to not have to come to an event. They buy a ticket to relax at home for the evening. The organization sells tickets and tells the person how much money the organization will save by that person not coming to the event.
4. Honoree event - This is an event where you honor one of your key volunteers or philanthropists. This usually works with business leaders who invite their friends, family and business associates to purchase tables. Generally, corporate sponsorships for this event are required. This event also works with key religious and political leaders in your community.
5. Poverty feasts - Most of the time when you have a special event, you provide a very nice meal. In this event, you serve rice and beans, bread and potatoes. If you want to go big you could serve a salami sandwich and water. There is a clear educational message to this event: hunger and poverty. The purpose of this dinner is to educate people.
6. The taste feasts - In these events, restaurants, pizza parlors, and ice cream shops prepare their specialties for your event in a buffet setting. Most of the costs are donated and it's a fun event where people toss out their Atkins diets for the evening. Ticket prices for this type of event can be high if the quality of the food is high.
7. Message events - In these events, you send your messages to your loved ones, friends, and business associates in a funny and humorous way and people pay for the message. Have a choir sing a message to a family on Christmas, have people dress up as a card on Mother's Day or as a fire cracker on the Fourth of July. People will pay a fee for this message and everyone has a good time.
8. Sell everything at the event - At these events, you tag onto a regular event, such as the big ticket and honoree event, but you sell or raffle everything at the event, such as the centerpieces or a photograph with the honoree.
9. A Diet and Quit an event - In these non-events, the goal is to get people to lose weight or quit smoking. Have your constituencies give you X amount of dollars per every day they don't smoke or lose a pound. They could also sponsor friends or family as a way to encourage them to become more healthy. This event can last months and does not require much in terms of up front costs.
10. Clean-up events - These events are good for the socially responsible organization that is interested in burning calories, raising money and cleaning up a backyard, a trail, a playground, or a roadside stand. They can also involve building ramps for persons with disabilities or fixing up a senior citizen's home. The donors sponsor people at so much per job or hour (just like in a 10K run) and everyone wins.