How to Coordinate a Texas Hold'em Tournament as a Fundraiser

IN THIS TOUGH ECONOMY, ARE YOU LOOKING FOR NEW FUNDRAISER IDEAS FOR YOUR ASSOCIATION? DO YOU WANT TO INCREASE YOUR REVENUE STREAMS AND GIVE YOUR MEMBERS AN EVENT THAT IS FUN AND EXCITING FOR THEM AND FINANCIALLY REWARDING FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION? THEN READ ON - HERE’S A NEW IDEA FOR YOUR GROUP!

HOW TO COORDINATE A SUCCESSFUL TEXAS HOLD’EM TOURNAMENT FUNDRAISER FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS

Imagine 100 – 150 of your members enjoying themselves in a challenging strategic game of Texas Hold’em. Just like the Poker Pros on TV. Their quest in winning the tournament brings wins to the final ten and the non-profit organization hosting the event as well. Add to the tournament blackjack tables to humor the non-poker playing guests, a great meal, perhaps silent auction, refreshments, some satellite tournaments for prizes, and you’ve got an evening of fun and profit!

If you’re looking for a new idea for your next fundraiser you might want to pursue coordinating a Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament. This can be a very fun event for your members and supporters as well as a financial success for your organization.

The very first item on your list when coordinating the details of a Poker Tournament as a Fundraiser for non-profit organizations is to look at your existing resources including volunteers, items on hand, potential sponsors and to establish a projected budget for the event. The most important outcome is to make money for your charity and keep the event professional and fun for all attendees.

Part of keeping the event professional is to order poker tables or poker table tops for the night of the event. You will have to decide to rent them or purchase them. That may be an easy answer if this event will be annual or bi-annual and if you have storage space for the tables.

To organize the budget, you can start with making a list based on your committee’s decisions. Income = Charge to play in the tournament; charge for rebuys, amount of people who will attend just for a meal; sponsorships; silent auction, prize donations (in kind); alcohol and soft drinks sold, and any other donations. Some of these will not contribute actual cash but will need to be considered and logged for non-profit events. Expenses = Poker tables (rent or purchase), food, playing cards, poker chips, blackjack options if you wish to include for non poker players, decorations, graphics and printing of marketing materials, paid marketing, mailings, signs, alcohol, sodas, water, supplies, license fees, venue charges, winners’ prizes and any miscellaneous and unexpected.

The next thing to do is select a location that is convenient. You can set it up as a stand alone event or in conjunction with your annual conference or convention. There are many great hotels that have the space to accommodate this event or you may look into holding it at a local community center. They are usually reasonably priced, centrally located, and offer complimentary tables. If you decide to use poker table tops or poker tables these will easily be adapted to the existing tables and space.

Once your contract is signed and your date selected, it’s time to create your theme and your marketing pieces to promote your event. Most non-profit groups have members who can assist with graphics and printing at a discount for inkind sponsorship acknowledgement. You will want to look at your organization’s database and look for a sponsor for the marketing materials.

You will establish a price for the sponsorship opportunities which could include the poker tables and poker table tops. They would have their company name acknowledged in the program, on signs the night of the event, and their logo embroidered into the felt on the table that they sponsor. If you expect 100 attendees, you will need at least 12 poker tables or poker table tops – each sits 9 plus the dealer. Other sponsorships include the dinner, blackjack tables (if you elect to have alternate games going on), final two or three tables sponsors, marketing sponsors, and overall event sponsors.

Most of your members who support your organization will appreciate an opportunity to participate in a big way as a sponsor and have a tax write off as well. The key to success is to make sure you are constantly following up on your volunteers’ progress on signing up sponsors and getting gifts for the silent auction, the prize drawings, while marketing the event for attendees and exposure. You will keep a spread sheet of all of the progress. I find it helpful to also categorize your “to do” list and share it with your most active volunteers and your committee.

Most of your work will be done by the time you get to the event. Make sure you choose a local celebrity or a poker professional to emcee your event. That helps promote it and creates more interest from the community to attend. Also, make sure you have something for all Texas Hold’em players to take home as a fond memory of your event.

You will also want to make sure that you have experienced dealers and one or two tournament directors depending on the size of your event to keep the tournament running smoothly and combining the poker tables as the players bust out. You will also want to make sure that you have plenty of volunteers for rebuys (yes, you will want the players to rebuy for at least three rounds – more money for your non-profit). Volunteers will also be needed for the drawings, silent auction, taking money, welcoming the players and selling tickets at the door, food and drink handlers and sellers, and security.

Finally, make sure you check with the Secretary of State and your City about local ordinances and any special licenses you may need for the event or for you as the event coordinator. If the charity is handling the money, you will probably only need your business license. Also, you will want to check on the limits of the prizes you can give to the players who make the “final table”.

There is a lot to organizing this event and you may want to hire a poker tournament event planner who is experienced and can do this for a percentage of the proceeds. They can work with your staff to make this event successful financially and with the people who attend it! Whichever way you go, enjoy your event!

Submitted by:

Jan E. Hansen has over 25 years experience working with non-profit organizations. In 2006 she started her own business, Hansen & Associates, and coordinates the details for fundraisers including poker tournaments, golf tournaments, conventions, and special meetings, mainly for non-profit groups. She can work with your staff at your office or from her office in Folsom.

She is also the co-owner of More Than Poker Tables.com and through this business she offers product discounts to non-profit organizations. She is an active member of CalSAE and currently is an Ambassador and serves on the Season Spectacular Committee. On her web site, you can <a href="http://www.morethanpokertables.com"> buy poker tables</a> and other poker accessories to make your fundraiser more successful. If you need assistance for your fundraiser or to receive a product discount, please call Jan at (916) 955-8434 or visit http://www.morethanpokertables.com/. She can assist you in making your fundraiser a huge success!