Charity event coordination can be a rewarding career because it gives a chance to help others.
To be a charity event coordinator, it takes an individual who is highly organized, has the ability to multitask, works well under pressure and can handle a crisis with a cool steady hand. Charity events require a lot of planning, coordination with volunteers, vendors, businesses, and other personnel in order to setup and execute a successful function. The ultimate goal of a charity event coordinator is to organize a function that is a positive experience for all attendees and makes the attendees feel good about the organization, organizers and charity.
Donations
During economic hardship, charity work and charity planning can be extremely difficult. The public may be distressed because of lost investments and may limit the number of donations that they give to charities. A charity event coordinator must be able to work connections on a local level in order to obtain donations from local businesses, including restaurants, liquor stores, local shops and corporations.
Pitch
A charity event coordinator must possess the ability to brand and sale the organization or the charity in which they work for. In order to obtain donations, money or products a charity event coordinator must be able to pitch in detail why helping the charity is good exposure. Through the charity event, a local business could market itself by offering coupons discounting products or services--for example, 10 percent off the next purchase or meal.
Logistics
Logistics is critical. Every possible detail must be considered: layout and design of the venue, lighting, sound, communications, technical concerns, security, parking, restroom facilities, catering and bar services and promotions. In order to host a successful event, cost of the event must be taken into consideration in advanced in order to meet a balanced budget.
Background
There are no qualifications required to become a charity event coordinator. Most individuals who seek a career in charity event planning have a bachelor’s degree in hospitality, business administration or marketing. A working knowledge of bookkeeping and budgeting is helpful. The ability to communicate and work with others is a must as well as tactful ability to delegate and lead others.
Benefits
The benefits of being a charity event coordinator are meeting people, networking and traveling. Charity event coordinators may find great reward by assisting those in need by assisting the charity in raising money, donations, and awareness about a cause or organization that truly helps people.
Considerations
The job requires hard work and long hours. Event planners work anywhere from 50 to 60 hours a week, which includes weekdays, weeknights and weekends. The day of the event, the event planner tends to work a 10- to 15-hour day. More than 200 hours can be put into a large charity event or venue.
Salary
Event planners earn between $20,000 to 70,000 annually. According to Salary.com, the median annual salary range for a meeting/event coordinator in the United States is $54.060 as of 2010. Working as an event coordinator for a charitable organization may be on a volunteer basis. Consider working for a charity for free. Volunteering may be a great opportunity to learn the business of event planning and all the duties that are required to be a successful charitable event coordinator.
Tags: event coordinator, charity event, charity event, charity event coordinator, event coordinator
