How to Organize a Charity Poker Tournament
Charitable Poker
Poker is a great game in and of itself. But when poker is played for a greater purpose, it is even better.
Charitable poker games are a fantastic way for individuals to get together for a good cause and raise some money. Organizing a charity poker event requires some work. But an organized and committed poker enthusiast can handle that work easily.
Here are some of the steps necessary to organize and execute a great charity poker tournament.
Step 1: Pick a Charity
Choosing the charity that the event will raise money for should be the first step. Pick a charity that has a special meaning to you.
Another way to choose a charity for a poker tournament is to select an organization that can do the most with the least. (In other words, pick a charity that really needs money.)
Step 2: Create a Guest List
Creating a guest list is an important step. Compile a list of poker players with money to spend. Since this is a charity poker tournament, poker skill is a lot less important than having a lot of money.
A charity poker tournament exists to
raise money. Having good players in the action might be more entertaining,
but it really doesn’t matter.
Step 3: Find a Place to Host the Event
Consider how big of a space the poker charity tournament will require based on the size of the guest list. Also consider the type of people who you're inviting. If it is an upper crust crowd, then the venue should be more upscale. Once you've chosen a venue, book it for the day of the event.
Step 4: Send Out Invitations
Send the invitations out four weeks prior to the event. If the charity poker tournament is going to be a large one, or if you're dealing with busy people, it may be necessary to contact them sooner. Ask guests RSVP so that you will have an accurate player count and can plan accordingly.
Step 5: Buy Supplies
After the players and guests have RSVP'ed, it's time to begin buying supplies. You'll need the following supplies:
- Poker chips
- Playing cards
- Poker tables
- Food
- Decorations
- Prizes
Asking local businesses to donate prizes is a great way to reward players for participating. Offering a raffle where guests can buy tickets to win a nice price is another way to raise money during the event.
Step 6: Poker Time
It's time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Playing host will be required, and you really won't be able to rest until after the event, but at least you can see all of your hard work come to fruition.
As the organizer and host you'll need to keep an eye on the games. Make sure everything is going smoothly and solve any problems. Collecting and safeguarding all donations and monies raised for the event is also important.
Setting up a charity poker event can be a lot of fun, though it will
require a good deal of work. It can also be very rewarding. The important
thing to remember is to have a clear vision, be organized and then execute.
If you do all of those things as the organizer, the poker charity tournament should go smoothly. This doesn’t mean that some things won’t go wrong, just that you put yourself in the best position possible to make the event a success.
This page about how to host a charity poker tournament was last updated on April 29, 2010.
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