Ah, Labor Day in the United States.
Beyond the holiday aspect, it means two things to me:
First, we're deep into U.S. Open Tennis, something that I grew up watching every year.
Now that I've admitted to being a non-playing tennis junkie, we can move to the second item - the Charity Season.
Yes, the black-tie-and-formal-gown season begins in earnest immediately after Labor Day. The events that are scheduled in September seem to be the warm-up events. These are usually a bit more casual, and perhaps less traditional in format. The logo-soup on the programs is less pronounced (or at least less obtrusive!) I'd even go so far as to say that these are the less-pricey events in terms of tickets.
Somewhere in early November, the Charity Season kicks it up a notch in all respects - the attire seems to get more formal, the events move to the traditional dinner and dancing ball format, and the ticket prices and sponsorship package prices jump significantly. A $10,000 sponsorship in the early season for a smaller, less visible charitable organization morphs into $100,000 commitments for the well-established, notable organizations.
With a brief recess for Christmas and New Year's, the Season tends to reach a peak in by early February, and tapers off and ends somewhere around Passover / Good Friday each year.
While that's probably oversimplification, I'd be curious to know - and may try to tally - the total take from these fundraising events.
More to the point, I'd like to know what the NET funds raised total. Too often, I've left events with the feeling that the organization might not reach a breakeven point, let alone raise money.
Even with the tough economic situation, some of these events will make a significant contribution to the nonprofit organization's annual budget. Some will not.
Here's hoping that all are successful.
And just my opinion: hockey moms and pitbulls have nothing on charity-ball organizers and committee members.
