You Should Be Doing a Comedy Fundraiser

I’m just going to say it: you should be doing a comedy fundraiser. I’ve done several of these now, and I keep seeing the same thing over and over again. The ROI can be incredible when you do it right.

That doesn’t necessarily mean you should replace your annual banquet. Some organizations should, while others have a banquet that works really well and should keep it. A comedy fundraiser can also be an additional event that reaches a different audience and gives your supporters another reason to engage with your organization.

Think about it. People are busy, and they get invited to plenty of fundraising dinners, but invite them to a great night of comedy and suddenly you have something different. Give them a chance to bring their spouse, invite their friends, laugh together and support a cause they care about, and you’ve created an event that feels more like a night out than a fundraising obligation.

And sometimes, the smaller the town, the better it can work. I’ve performed in some smaller communities where people tell me it is the only comedy show they can ever remember happening there. When you bring professional comedy to a place that doesn’t get much of it, you aren’t just putting on a fundraiser. You are creating an event that people talk about.

But there is one thing I’ve learned that matters more than almost anything else: you need the right comedian. You don’t just need someone who is funny. You need a professional who understands fundraising and knows how to make your organization the star of the night. I’ve seen comedians make the mistake of making the evening all about themselves. That misses the point because you are not bringing in a comedian to promote the comedian. You are bringing in a comedian to promote your cause. The right comedian can make people laugh, tell your story, connect people to your mission and then confidently ask them to give.

That ability to make the ask is important. A comedian who can get laughs but has no idea how to transition into fundraising may put on a great comedy show but still leave a lot of money on the table. You need someone who understands that the comedy is the vehicle, but your mission is the destination.

Promotion matters, too. You have to promote a comedy fundraiser like you actually want people to come, and I’ve seen organizations use everything from billboards and radio ads to personalized social media videos and videos of the comedian’s comedy to get people excited.

Once you get the ball rolling, though, something really interesting happens. If you do it well, the event can become fairly simple to keep going because people who had a great time come back, tell their friends and bring more people with them. Eventually, your audience can become part of your marketing team.

And please don’t spend your entire budget stressing about food. If you want to serve a nice dinner, go for it, but I’ve seen popcorn and soda absolutely crush it. People don’t necessarily need an expensive meal to have an incredible night. They need a great experience, good comedy and a compelling reason to support your mission.

If you do serve food, I would actually consider doing it before the comedy rather than making dinner a major part of the program. Feed people, let them visit and connect, and then let the comedy and fundraising take over. It keeps the evening moving and puts the focus where it belongs.

A cool venue can help, too. I love seeing comedy fundraisers in restored theaters, unique community spaces and other places that make the evening feel like an experience. But don’t get so focused on finding the perfect venue that you forget what actually makes the event successful.

Here’s how I see it: the venue matters, promotion matters more, doing the event well matters more than that, and getting the right comedian matters most. You can have a beautiful building and a great marketing campaign, but if the comedian doesn’t understand fundraising, you’ve missed the biggest piece of the puzzle.

That’s why I think more organizations should be doing comedy fundraisers. You can create a memorable night, attract people who might not normally attend a fundraising banquet, give them a reason to invite their friends and raise money without making the entire evening feel like a traditional fundraising event.

Maybe your comedy fundraiser replaces your banquet. Maybe it becomes your second major fundraising event of the year, or maybe you start small and see what happens. That part is up to you, but I think you should be doing one.

Because when you combine strong promotion, a great experience, the right comedian and a clear opportunity to give, the ROI can be pretty remarkable. You’re not just putting on a comedy show. You’re creating an event people want to attend, an experience they want to repeat and a fundraising opportunity that can make a real difference for your mission.