Tips for a Profitable Fundraiser at The Fountain on Locust
We recently rolled out a fundraiser program at The Fountain on Locust to allow us to double down on our mission to support worthwhile community groups and non-profits in the St. Louis area. If you’re looking to host an unforgettable fundraiser, check out our new Cheers to Charity donation program, where we will give back 15% on a night of your choice, when diners visit to support your cause.
Below are tips to ensure you maximize your return on this event:
1. Promote, promote, promote and ask folks to officially RSVP somehow so that you know how many people to expect.
2. Arrange for a Pre-Event Happy Hour - If you are able to secure a turnout of 100 or more people, we will work with you to set up a 4-5 pm Happy Hour in our Stardust Room on the night of your event to help increase revenues.
3. Plan for an Early Seating and a Late Seating! Fundraisers go from 4 to 8 pm - in that time, you have the chance to fill the dining room twice, so you’ll want to promote an early and a late seating to ensure everyone has a chance to eat.
4. Promote Carryouts - Encourage those who can’t attend to order carryout through our website. If they tell us when they arrive (BEFORE THEY PAY) that they are with your fundraiser, we’ll mark their order accordingly so it counts toward your total.
5. UPSELL Merch & Dessert - Encourage people to get desserts, merchandise and more to increase the total on their order.
6. Plan to have a formal presence at the event. Keep in mind that our dining room will still be open to the public throughout your event - but if you can plan a way to engage with your guests, they’ll be more likely to attend, to stay and to order more.
Projecting Your Fundraiser Total
On a busy night, our crew will typically be able to service $4,000 to $7,000 in business. If you are able to fill the dining room and guarantee a large turnout, your donation amount could be $500 to $1,100. The heavier the attendance, the better the potential turnout.
Groups that seed tables with a recurring donation form with a formal ask often reap benefits of ongoing donations for quite a while to come. Our fundraiser events are great tools for a small fundraising ask, an ongoing donation ask and for donor engagement and reengagement.
