Plan a Catholic Charities Event

Thank you for your interest in hosting a fundraiser on behalf of Catholic Charities Diocese of Paterson!  We welcome the support of businesses, schools, community organizations, and other groups or individuals who would like to host a fundraiser to benefit Catholic Charities Diocese of Paterson. 

These can be fun, easy, and great ways to make a difference in the lives of the people we serve.  Proceeds from your event can be directed towards the agency or program of your choice.

Event Notification & Approval

The first step is to let us know what you or your group had in mind.  Please contact:

Approval of Print Materials & Logo Use

Please note that anytime you use our name or logo, we need to know to ensure that all materials associated with our name are accurate and appropriate.  This applies to website postings, printed materials, promotional items, etc.  All materials should be forwarded to us for approval prior to printing, distribution or posting.  

Resources

We encourage you to explore our website for information about specific programs,  latest news and service-recipient stories, all of which we encourage you to share with your group.  We also may be able to assist by getting you brochures, posters or other promotional materials. 

Please note that while the Catholic Charities Diocese of Paterson, Development Office may provide guidance to your event once it is approved, we are generally unable to provide administration or logistical assistance (such as distributing invitations, compiling, responses, selling tickets, serving on event committees, etc.).  

General Guidelines

In accordance with the New Jersey Attorney General’s charitable giving guidelines, organizations and individuals which support Catholic Charities Diocese of Paterson through public events are asked to comply with the following:

• Clearance must be received from Catholic Charities Diocese of Paterson to conduct an event whose net proceeds go to any of our agencies.  Please do not promote your event prior to approval. .

• All net proceeds, or a percentage thereof, from the event designated to benefit the must go to Catholic Charities Diocese of Paterson, or any of the agencies and prgrams in which we operate. 

• If you are holding a raffle with your event, please be aware that such activity requires a special license and extra time to organize.  It is the responsibility of the person or persons organizing the event to obtain the necessary license(s) and approval(s) required.

• It is the responsibility of the person or persons organizing the event to obtain all applicable permits, licenses, and all insurance certificates that may be required for an event.

• If you are planning to issue receipts for the charitable donation portion of your ticket price, this amount must be clearly identified and differentiated from the “fair market value” of the event.  Products or tangible items, such as the purchase of admission tickets, greens fees, and goods, are not eligible as tax-deductible charitable donations.  We can provide you with sample verbiage. 

• Catholic Charities Diocese of Paterson cannot assume any responsibility for event expenses and cannot assist with ticket sales or sponsorships, nor is Catholic Charities Diocese of Paterson responsible for conducting the event or guaranteeing attendance.  Also, Catholic Charities Diocese of Paterson is not responsible for providing individual gift acknowledgements except as required by law.

• In accordance with the Attorney General’s charitable guidelines, we ask that all proceeds from your fundraiser be forwarded to Catholic Charities Diocese of Paterson, or one of our individual agencies, within ninety (90) days following the event.  

Steps to a Successful Fundraising Event

Choose something that interests you, and then create an event around it. Almost any interest or hobby can be turned into a fundraiser! The more you enjoy what you are working on, the better the event will be.

Assemble a planning committee. Whether this is friends, family, or co-workers, you will want to get together a group of  people you know that you can depend on. The more support you have, the more successful you will be.

Plan your budget and establish an achievable fundraising goal. This is especially important in an event’s first year. Whether you are planning to raise $500 or $20,000, you want to make sure that you have the plans in place to realistically reach your goal.

Schedule your event. Choose a date, location, and time to hold your fundraiser. Be sure not to schedule around any major holidays, and give yourself as much time as you will need to make the event a success.

Promote your event. Even if you do not have a large budget for this, there are many ways to publicize your event. Social Media outlets such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, posting flyers, listings on online bulletin boards and event calendars, email communications, church bulletins and community publications, and word-of-mouth are all great, free ways to promote your event.

Hold the event and have fun with it. Once all funds are collected, contact Catholic Charities to coordinate next steps, particularly if you would like to do an official check presentation.

Thank your supporters. From your committee members to your sponsors, to your event attendees, make sure everyone knows how much you appreciate their support! 

Fundraise through Facebook

To set up a Facebook Fundraiser for Catholic Charities, Diocese of Paterson, use this link:
https://www.facebook.com/fund/CCharitiesPat/