ACLU of Rhode Island House Party + Social Gathering Guide

Thank you for your interest in hosting a social gathering to support the ACLU Foundation of Rhode Island. Whether you're gathering friends to build awareness, encourage membership, or raise funds, your efforts help us reach new people and strengthen our community. This guide is designed to keep things simple and meaningful, with room for you to bring your own creativity to the table.

What They Look Like
House parties are small, casual gatherings (typically 10–20+ people) hosted by a supporter of the ACLU Foundation of RI. They can take place in a private home, backyard, or public venue. Each party can be as simple or creative as the host desires—morning coffee meetups, wine and cheese evenings, backyard concerts, or anything in between.

  • Casual and friendly—coffee and pastries, wine and cheese, or even a potluck
  • 10–20+ people depending on your comfort level (you are welcome to invite as many people as you like)
  • Held in a private home, a community room, or a local business
  • A time to learn, connect, and take action

What They’re For
Each host gets to decide the goal of the gathering:

  • Fundraising (suggested donation or ask at the event); and/or
  • Membership-building (encouraging guests to become a member); and/or
  • General education (introducing people to the work)

We’ve found that fundraising and membership-building often draw different audiences. That’s okay! Sometimes the event is a combination event that is aimed at meeting the goal of each above option. All are valuable.

What We Can Offer
ACLU of RI can support you in the following ways:

  • Staffing: Either our Development Coordinator or Executive Director can attend to give brief remarks or answer questions.
  • Materials: We’ll provide printed materials, handouts, donation/membership forms, and signage.
  • Social Media Sharing: If you’re comfortable and the event is in a public space or you want publicity, we can share your event on our channels.
  • Messaging Support: We can help you frame the event, provide talking points, and explain the current needs and priorities.
  • Membership Building: We’ll help your guests connect directly to our organization.

Basic Timeline & Tips

4–6 Weeks Before

  • Choose your date, time, and location
    • Homes, backyards, coffee shops, and community spaces all work!
  • Set a goal
    • Education, fundraising, or member-building
  • Create your guest list
    • Invite more than you expect to attend—20 invitations might get 10 RSVPs.
  • Let us know so we can begin coordinating support and staffing

3 Weeks Before

  • Plan your menu
    • Make it a potluck or grab some fruit, cheese, cookies, and seltzer. No need to get too fancy.
  • Send invitations
    • Email, text, call, paper—whatever works for your guests!
  • Make a list of who you’ll follow up with
    • If someone can’t attend, ask if they’d still consider donating

1 Week Before

  • Remind attendees with parking info, address, and any other tips
  • Buy or prep your snacks and drinks
  • Finalize details with the ACLU: speaker, printed materials, etc.

Event Day

  • Set up your space and get ready to welcome guests
  • Use a sign-in sheet (we’ll provide one) to gather names and emails
  • Let your guests know how they can get involved: donate, become a member, volunteer, etc.
  • Share why the ACLU matters to you
  • Relax and enjoy the conversation
    • This is all about connection 
  • Collect guest info and gifts
    • For fundraising events, checks can be made out to ACLU Foundation of Rhode Island, or they can give online.
    • For membership building events people can join straight through our RI website or fill out the join brochure and include a check made out to ACLU of RI.

After the Event

  • Send a thank you note to guests
  • Let us know how it went and return any materials or collected donations

Questions or Ready to Start? Email Monica at [email protected] to get started or with any questions.

Sample Invitation Text

You're Invited!

Join us for an evening of conversation, connection, and community as we support the work of the ACLU Foundation of Rhode Island.

Date: [Insert Date]
Time: [Insert Time]
Location: [Insert Host's Address or Venue Name]

This casual gathering is a chance to learn more about civil liberties work in Rhode Island, connect with others who care about justice and equity, and hear how you can get involved. Light refreshments will be provided.

Kindly RSVP to [Insert Host Name] at [Insert Email or Phone].
We hope you’ll join us!

 

Questions or Ideas? If you have an idea for a themed event, want help tailoring it to your audience, or need support with logistics, we’re happy to brainstorm with you.

Thank you for being a vital part of this work!