Party with a Purpose Toolkit Your Guide to Hosting a Successful Planned Parenthood Advocacy and Fundraising Event
Introduction Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio protects access to reproductive health care and reproductive rights for all Ohioans through advocacy, education, lobbying, and electoral activity. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization. Donations are not tax deductible. Thank you for being a champion for reproductive rights. Thank you for standing with Planned Parenthood! inside Table of Contents 01 Thank You 02 Getting Started 03 Setting Your Goals 04 Inviting Your Guests 05 Planning Your Party 5.1 Ideas and Recommendations 06 Asking For Support 07 After Your Party 08 Appendix 8.1 Invitation Template 8.2 Donation form Your Guide to Hosting a Successful Planned Parenthood Advocacy and Fundraising Event 2
01 You are an advocate. You are a change-maker. You are a PPAO supporter. thank you Reproductive rights are under assault from extremist politicians determined to end access to safe, legal abortion and restrict access to affordable contraceptives and reproductive care. Your activism and support for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio sends a message, loud and clear: We will not take this lying down, and we will not go back. Across the nation, advocates like you are leading a movement to protect reproductive rights one house party at a time. Your Party with a Purpose will raise awareness and critical funding in support of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio. Every day, Planned Parenthood and their patients face a new fight: defunding, smear campaigns, or protesters at health centers. When you host a Party with a Purpose to benefit PPAO, you are supporting advocacy, education, and electoral work that preserves reproductive rights for all Ohioans, including the 84,000 women, men, and young people who depend on Planned Parenthood. Now, more than ever, we need you in this movement. This house party toolkit provides guidelines to make your party a success. Great parties reflect their hosts creativity, enthusiasm, and commitment to protecting reproductive rights and health care access! Thank you for standing with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, Susan Melnyk Vice President of Development Your Guide to Hosting a Successful Planned Parenthood Advocacy and Fundraising Event 3
02 getting started Now that you ve downloaded your toolkit, the first thing to do is: Register your event with PPAO. Email Lauren Marchaza, Director of Donor Engagement, at lauren.marchaza@ppao.org with the following information: The date of your event; The location (i.e. your home or another venue); Approximate number of guests; and How much in contributions you hope to raise. The tools in this kit include: An invitation template that you can print or share online with your guests; Social media guidance; and Donation forms and a link to our online donation webpage so your guests can donate easily through PPAO s secure portal (see the Asking for Support section for guidance). Your Guide to Hosting a Successful Planned Parenthood Advocacy and Fundraising Event 4
03 setting goals Set specific fundraising goals in order to measure the success of your party. Be ambitious! The higher you set your goals, the more successful you will be at raising funds and awareness for our mission to protect reproductive rights. Sample goals: Get at least 10-40 people to attend. Set a specific dollar amount goal. Recruit at least two guests to become recurring, monthly (sustainer) donors at any level. Get one new person to agree to host their own house party. Feel free to choose goals that you are most comfortable with. Remember: No contribution is too small to make your party a success. Your Guide to Hosting a Successful Planned Parenthood Advocacy and Fundraising Event 5
04 inviting your guests You can be as grand or as low-key as you choose when inviting your guests. Here are a few options: Use the template provided for evites or print invitations (see Appendix). Set up a Facebook event page. Make your Facebook event page private and send a notification to your specified guest list. Your Facebook event notification serves as your invitation. It should include the time, date, and location of your event, as well as a brief description of PPAO and donation link. For example: I am passionate about protecting reproductive rights. If you share my passion, please join me for (your event title here) to benefit Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio. If you are unable to attend, please consider showing your support by visiting www.ppao.org/donate. Turn any event or celebration into a Party with a Purpose by adding a simple in lieu of gifts message with a link to PPAO s online donation portal to a personal event invitation. For example: I am passionate about protecting reproductive rights. If you share my passion, please consider making a donation to Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio in lieu of (birthday/anniversary/ graduation) gifts. You may make a secure donation in my honor by visiting www.ppao.org/donate. Your Guide to Hosting a Successful Planned Parenthood Advocacy and Fundraising Event 6
05 planning your party Make your event a reflection of the things you value about Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio and that will resonate with your guests. Appoint a co-host. You might consider asking a friend or two to help coordinate the party and invite their own friends. Presentation materials. Visit ppao.org for talking points, legislative updates and other materials to help your guests learn more about our work and the work of Planned Parenthood. Print a sign-up sheet. Ask guests to share their names, addresses, and emails so they can receive legislative updates and communications from PPAO. Print out donation pledge forms. Plan your mission moment. After guests have mingled, prepare to share with them why you support PPAO. Plan (and practice) your solicitation. Prepare to ask your guests to join you in supporting PPAO and protecting reproductive rights. Thanking your guests. Before you return to the party, thank your guests for making their donations and showing up to support reproductive rights. Your Guide to Hosting a Successful Planned Parenthood Advocacy and Fundraising Event 7
5.1 Planning your party Here are a few ideas for types of house parties: Share your birthday. Consider hosting your next birthday as a benefit. In lieu of gifts, ask your guests to make a donation to PPAO. Activity groups. Do you participate in a cycling, dining, knitting, or walking group? How about a book club? Why not turn your intimate club into an opportunity to engage with your friends on the issues that matter to you? Mother/daughter events. Host a tea, brunch, or sit-in where you can share what Planned Parenthood has inspired you to do in your life and why you are involved with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio. Come up with ways to get involved together! We recommend the following: Set a fundraising goal for your event. This way, you can encourage your guests to give as you get closer to the goal. Think of a goal that will be a stretch, but not impossible to achieve. Invite your guests approximately one month before your event. Advertise your event on social media. Send at least one follow-up email as the date approaches. Include a date by which you would like RSVPs. Create name tags for guests, especially if many people haven t met before. Send a post-event thank you email from your personal email address, including opportunities to engage with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio. Please include a link to: Donate to Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio at www.ppao.org/donate Your Guide to Hosting a Successful Planned Parenthood Advocacy and Fundraising Event 8
06 asking for support As you plan your party, consider how you will you encourage your guests to support Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio. A few options to consider: During your party, set aside a moment to tell guests about why you support PPAO, explain why you hope they will support reproductive rights, and ask everyone to donate online or using a PPAO donation form (see Appendix). Ask your guests to become sustaining (monthly) donors at a level that is most comfortable to them. Get creative for example, $10 per month amounts to less than your daily cup of coffee. Provide a suggested contribution amount in your invitations. Suggest guests who can t attend make a donation in lieu of attending. Have a silent auction during your event. If your Party with a Purpose takes place during a birthday or anniversary, ask for donations in lieu of other gifts. PPAO s secure online donation portal is www.ppao.org/donate. Include this link in your invitations, on your Facebook event page and/or posts, and share this link with guests when you ask for their donation. Recommend guests donate in honor of you and mention your event when they make their donations. Please note: Planned Parenthood Advocates is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization. Donations made by you and your guests are not tax deductible. Your Guide to Hosting a Successful Planned Parenthood Advocacy and Fundraising Event 9
07 after your party The day after your party: Send thank you notes or emails to guests. If appropriate, encourage them to consider hosting a party or making a donation online. Email high-resolution pictures to lauren.marchaza@ppao.org. Mail donations received and your sign-in sheet to: Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio Development Department 206 E. State Street Columbus, OH 43215 If you have questions or need assistance submitting the donations you receive, please contact Lauren Marchaza at 216-446-6204. Your Guide to Hosting a Successful Planned Parenthood Advocacy and Fundraising Event 10
08 Appendix Your Guide to Hosting a Successful Planned Parenthood Advocacy and Fundraising Event 11
8.1 Invitation Template PARTY WITH A PURPOSE Please join us in support of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, which is committed to protecting reproductive health care and the rights of all Ohioans. TIME & DATE: LOCATION: DETAILS: RSVP: Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio Your Guide to Hosting a Successful Planned Parenthood Advocacy and Fundraising Event 12
YES, I WANT TO STAND UP FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE AND SUPPORT PLANNED PARENTHOOD ADVOCATES OF OHIO PLEASE PRINT YOUR NAME ADDRESS PHONE EMAIL DATE OCCUPATION EMPLOYER I want to support PPAO with my monthly gift of: $ /month I want to support PPAO with my gift of: $ Enclosed is my check payable to PPAO. I am paying with: Visa Mastercard Amex Discover CARD NUMBER EXP. DATE CVV NAME AS IT APPEARS ON YOUR CARD YOUR SIGNATURE Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio is committed to protecting reproductive health care and the rights of all Ohioans through advocacy, education, lobbying, and electoral activity. Contributions or gifts to PPAO are not tax-deductible. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO STAND WITH PLANNED PARENTHOOD ADVOCATES OF OHIO! Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio www.ppao.org 206 East State Street, Columbus, OH 43215
Thank you! We are incredibly grateful for your willingness to share your support for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio. Thank you for being a champion for reproductive rights!