Events & Fundraisers

A start-to-finish approach for promoting public breakfasts, dinners, open houses, charity fundraisers, community booths and other Lodge activities.

Start With the Event Goal

Before making the flyer, decide what success means. Attendance? Funds raised? Community awareness? New partnerships? A full room of members and neighbors? Your promotion becomes much easier when the outcome is clear.

The Event Promotion Flow

DEVELOP STRATEGY → CHOOSE CHANNELS → BUILD MATERIALS → PUBLICIZE → AMPLIFY → HOST EVENT → THANK / REPORT → LEARN FOR NEXT TIME

8–6 Weeks Out: Build the Foundation

• Confirm date, time, location, price/donation language and beneficiary.
• Create one clean event description everyone will use.
• Create the event page/listing and website page.
• Gather a strong image or create a simple branded graphic.
• Identify community calendars, partner pages and local media deadlines.

4 Weeks Out: Start Public Promotion

• Publish the main announcement.
• Submit to community calendars.
• Ask partners and members to share.
• Create a Facebook Event when appropriate.
• Place physical flyers/posters where the audience actually goes.
• Send a press release if there is a legitimate news angle.

2 Weeks Out: Add Proof and Story

• Explain what the funds support or why the event matters.
• Share a photo from a previous event.
• Introduce a partner or beneficiary.
• Answer common questions before people have to ask them.
• Re-share into local channels without spamming the same group repeatedly.

Final Week: Make It Easy to Act

• Post a clear reminder with date, time, location and cost.
• Use Stories / short reminders where available.
• Confirm that every online listing is accurate.
• Give members a simple public post they can share.
• If weather or logistics may change, explain where updates will be posted.

Event Day

• Post a final “today” reminder.
• Capture real photos and short video.
• Show the people and purpose, not only the food or room.
• Make sure somebody knows who is responsible for public photos and updates.

After the Event

• Thank attendees, volunteers and partners.
• Share the result when appropriate: attendance, funds raised, items collected or impact.
• Send photos/results to relevant community pages or media if useful.
• Record what produced attendance and what did not.
• Save the copy, graphics and timeline so next year starts at 80% complete.

Community Booths and Visibility

Sometimes the goal is simply to be visible. A Lodge booth at a local festival or civic event can introduce the organization without soliciting membership. Use a clean table, simple Lodge information, a website/QR code, visual Masonic identity and Brothers willing to answer questions. The objective is conversation and recognition, not pressure.

Related resource: Blendon 339 brochures.