You need to organize a benefit fundraiser for a loved one or friend who has fallen on hard times, such as a cancer diagnosis, accident, or some other situation that requires immediate finances.

You have no idea how to do it, right? Here are 10 simple tips to get you started and if you follow these tips you will have a successful profit.

1. You will need a dedicated committee of 10-15 people who are willing to put their lives on hold for the next three to four months.

2. You must be realistic about the amount of time it will take you to see the benefit. I know you need the money now. You could rush a benefit in two weeks and earn $2000 or you could plan a benefit over a period of 3-4 months and earn $30,000.

3. Keep your benefit on a Saturday night or Sunday afternoon. Friday night is horrible. Because? People work all day Friday. Some people work until 6 p.m.

Saturday from 6-10 is best. People have had all day to buy groceries, go to Walmart, do yard work, and then they can quietly prepare for their benefit. Sunday afternoon is also good. People have gone to church and they can spend the afternoon with you.

4. I promise your committee will fight over whether to charge an admission fee. Collect the fee! Remember, the people who come to your benefit are looking for ways to give you money. They are happy to pay an admission fee. Let it be nominal. $5 per person, $20 for the whole family. If someone can’t pay, let them in for free! They will buy some raffle tickets!

5. Don’t visit the same businesses twice! Make sure your committee has assigned defined sections of the city to solicit donations from businesses. They do not overlap. Nothing will anger a business owner more than if two people from the same benefit ask for donations. Also remember that these businesses are asked for donations from 20, 30 and even 40 organizations each month. If they can’t help, just thank them and move on.

6. Your committee will fight over which items should go in the silent auction and which items should go in the live auction. Stop fighting! It doesn’t matter. Everything is going to be sold.

7. When your committee is formed, choose a committee chair. This president will have the last word in all decisions. You may not agree with the president’s decisions, but we have a timetable and decisions must be made. If you don’t like the decision, become the president of the next charity event.

8. Advertising: Don’t worry if your benefit is advertised on radio or television. NO ONE comes to your benefit who has no connection to you. Your job is to make sure all of your family, friends, and co-workers show up. If you do that. you will have a full house. Bottom line: if you see a sign for a benefit where you don’t know the person, are you going to come to the benefit? hell no. Get family, friends, and coworkers and you’ll be fine.

9. Entertainment: Yes, I know you have five friends with bands that will perform for you. Tell them to stay home! All you need is background music in the hallway, that’s all. Remember, for every minute your guests get to listen to a band, it’s one minute you can’t raise money.

10. Take advantage of all methods of raising money: live auction, silent auction, bucket raffles, paddle wheels, 50-50, booze wagon raffle, beer for a year!