Each year, charity events raise significant amounts of money for non-profit groups. More than $40 billion was raised in the United States through charitable events in 2005 (according to Charity Navigator, a nonprofit watchdog group), representing 15 percent of total charity earnings.

Big or small, charity events make an impact. Here are 10 main theme ideas for your next charity event.

Sports Event Themes

Athletic events like Susan G. Komen’s “Race for a Cure” are some of the largest charity fundraisers in the world each year. But you don’t need a million participants to have an impact; A great theme can still help you get noticed, even if you’re a small organization. Here are some sports themes to try:

• costume themes, such as superheroes or pets. Anything you do is automatically more memorable if you dress well. Jump out of a plane, run a marathon, or ride a bike in disguise to draw attention to your cause.
• seasonal eventslike a Christmas climb during the holiday season or a turkey trot during Thanksgiving.
• crossdressing themes they are fun for male dominated events like flag football

Themes for charity events with dinner and dance

Some events, like charity balls or wine tastings, are glamorous on their own, but a unique theme can liven up an otherwise drab party. Here are some themes to try:

• ice theme – Definitely the best event in town!
• Hawaiian luau themes They work great in the summer, but they can also make an event stand out in the dead of winter.
• murder mysteries keep everyone on their toes (and watch their backs)
• Hot sauce afternoon – Cater your event with tapas and show off your sexy salsa dance moves. Ask the participants to also dress in cultural attire.

Special themes for charity events

To make your event truly unique, create a theme based on your charity. Some charities have obvious connections, like pink parties for breast cancer charities or a dog show for animal shelters, but with a little imagination you can come up with an interesting theme for any charity, like:

• Hospitals and health charities – Create a tasteful theme around the medical profession, such as a Halloween costume parade at a local hospital (with permission, of course!), a “wear red” event for heart charities, or even a neighborhood carnival for childhood cancer research. Think about what is special about your charity and base your theme on this concept.
• Third World Aid Charities – What region of the world does your charity help? Choose the best of the area, from African dances to Asian cuisine, and base your event on this theme.
• Literacy or education charities – Organize a cocktail in which everyone dresses up as a character from their favorite book or have a reading marathon with a group of friends.

With a little creativity, you can turn any charity event into a day with a unique theme that is sure to be remembered by your charity and its supporters.