Successful Fundraising Ideas for Groups and Clubs

French Cultural Festival Fundraiser Idea

How to put on a successful French cultural festival fundraiser

Please allow us to be excited about this event on your behalf. A night of French food, wine, culture and fun…what could be better? Perhaps two nights? The idea behind this fundraiser is to allow people to indulge their senses for one night with a celebration and immersion into French culture which happens to include some great food and wine.

If you already have some familiarity with the French culture, then you should have no trouble coming up with a menu and some fun activities. If you’re not that familiar with all things French, find someone who is or simply start searching the web for some great ideas. Think about food classics like coq au vin, boeuf bourguignon, ratatouille, quiche Lorraine, and crème brûlée. Offer a variety of French wines, cheeses, breads, and pastries for guests to enjoy.

Here are a couple of fun activities you may want to try.

Set up a wine tasting table and allow guests to try wines from a variety of French regions while enjoying French appetizers.
Let guests participate in a French cooking demonstration and have drawings for themed prizes like dinner for two at a local French restaurant.
Have an impressionist painting contest and vote to see who is destined to become the next Monet or Renoir.
Rent some French Revolutionary period costumes and allow people to dress up and take photos.
Arrange for live music featuring French artists or bands performing French songs.
Consider hiring a mime or a caricature artist to add to the ambiance.
You could also organize a French-themed trivia or a fashion show showcasing French designers
Incorporate educational elements into the event to highlight French culture, history, and art. Set up stations with displays or demonstrations on topics like French language, famous French landmarks, impressionist art, or French literature.
Set up a photo booth with French-themed props and backdrops where guests can take pictures to commemorate the event. Share the photos on social media with a designated hashtag to increase visibility and engagement.
Invite guest speakers from France or who have traveled throughout France to talk about various aspects of French culture, travel, cuisine, and heritage.
Generate additional revenue by organizing a silent auction with items related to France such as gourmet food baskets, French wines, artwork, fashion accessories, or travel packages to France.
Offer raffle tickets for sale with the chance to win exciting prizes such as gift certificates or travel excursions.

Be sure to promote your Franch Cultural Festival fundraiser heavily through social media! Also, reach out to local newspapers and radio stations to see if they will help get the word out. Create posters and flyers that can be handed out to local businesses. Highlight the fundraising cause and the unique experiences guests can expect at the event to attract attendees.

Try and choose a venue that reflects the essence of France. It could be a French restaurant, a vineyard, a museum with French art, or a garden with a French-inspired ambiance. You can always decorate to create ambiance as well. Consider creating a fun French-inspired theme for your event such as “A Night in Paris”, or a “Tour de France”.

Bottom line, just plan a fun party. You can either charge admission, or ask attendees for donations. You’ll want to start promoting your event at least 2-months in advance (depending on how many people you want to attend). Since you will likely need to rent out a facility and hire a caterer, you’ll need a pretty good idea what guest count will be. Create a sign up form on your website or use a service such as Eventbrite to register your guests.