While the economy is still on the mend, fund-raising effectively has become a challenging mission to accomplish. With pocketbooks already stretched to their limits, how do you get attention and money to your cause? Simple, host your event on a cruise ship. Nothing generates more excitement than an exciting cruise and once you have a captive audience, you have the golden opportunity to spread your message. Cruising is an ever growing way for organizations to draw in participants and much needed donations. In recent months, several organizations including Native American Heritage Association (NAHA), have launched themed cruises aimed at combining a fundraising with a unique getaway opportunity.
The appeal of hosting an event on a ship is easy to see. Cruise ships have a large variety of venues to host event functions, provide complimentary use of equipment and are generally very accommodating to specific request. Also, if you are able to book a full-ship charter, flexibility and itinerary become easier to manage.
Another great advantage to a cruise is the ability to bring together your cause with an exciting port of call. Let’s say your organization supports an environmental cause, wouldn’t it be even more impactful to include an expedition across a rain forest as part of the event? With cruise ships making exciting stops in locations such as Costa Rica, the Galapagos and Alaska, Mother Nature can bring an element to your fund-raiser that no ballroom can duplicate.
Sounds like a great idea, right? The blog Planning Your Fundraiser at Sea: 12 Tips and 5 Ships is a great resource to get started on planning your event at sea. Not only does it include tips for planning but also has a great slideshow of the five best ships to host a fundraising event. With an exciting cruise ship as your event venue, not only are you sure to generate plenty of buzz in anticipation but also offer an experience that will serve as a benchmark for years to come!
