A couple of years ago my friend, Steve, invited me to a prom party that he and some friends were throwing on Valentines Day. It sounded like fun and the party was to benefit the Women’s Bean Project, a nonprofit in Denver. The theme was so fun (I actually pulled my 1986 prom dress out of the closet – yes, it’s taffeta) and the cause so great, that I had to go.
What a great evening! The music was fantastic, the decorations and activities were fun, and it was all going to help a great organization. Oh, and I left one part out – we were by FAR the youngest prom participants. My husband and I were the only ones in the room who were actually born when “Thriller” came out. This party is really geared to the 20 and 30 somethings and it has become bigger and bigger every year.
Despite our not being exactly (ahem) in that age group, we try to go every year and this party has stayed with me as a great example of how fundraisers ought to happen. So, I asked my friend, Steve Mannhard, Prom co-founder and committee member to write up a bit about it:
“Every year in February a group of friends and I throw a great party called Valentine’s Prom. Once simply a fun party, now Prom has turned into a great fundraiser. Prom recreates the classic high school prom experience, with prom pictures, a king and queen, ball gowns and tuxedos, chaperons, disco balls and all of the other traditional aspects of a high school prom. All attendees are encouraged to take their partner out to dinner and present them with an elegant corsage of flowers to enhance the authenticity of the prom recreation.
This prom, with its humble beginnings in a freshman dorm room eleven years ago, has now evolved into a grand tradition, and must attend event. Every year Valentine’s Day Prom supports a different nonprofit working to transform the world. We typically seek nonprofits that were started by young, ambitious individuals whom prom attendees can really connect with.
We have received a lot of great feedback because we focus on what many younger people want, to have a great time at a great party. So, really we try to stress that this is a party over the fundraising aspects. Most of the dollars raised are from ticket sales. So, the goal is always to get more and more people to come; and the more people that come - the bigger and better the party!
Also, by changing the nonprofit we support every year, we introduce our audience to many different nonprofits addressing a wide variety of issue. Our hope is that long -term prom participants will eventually find a organization that fits them and what they really care about, and that they will work to build a deeper relationship with that organization. One of the great side effects of this event has been introducing individuals in this age range to philanthropy.”
So many things to think about, right? How great is it that 9 years ago, this group of college students thought to have a party to benefit charity? And did you notice that they did it on their own? They didn’t need an organization to tell them what to do or how to make it happen, they just did it. We in the nonprofit sector often think we need to control our message, create the structure, and donors will follow. Well, I’m here to tell you that the 20 and 30 year olds we are all hoping to chase for the future have their own ideas and our job is to support them. What are YOU doing to harness the energy of the “next generation”? Send in your best idea!
