“A vision without a plan is just a dream. A plan without a vision is just drudgery. But a vision with a plan can change the world.”- Proverb
Looking for a meaningful and fun theme for your organization’s fundraiser? Look no further than the Earth Dinner™!
"The Earth Dinner we hosted brought our donors together in a completely new and unique way and brought them closer to the world of the organization. Guests learning about our organization for the first time had an overwhelmingly positive experience…something very solid for us to build on!"
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- Kathy Kinzig, Executive Director, Eco Education
Earth Dinner is an event that gathers everyone around the table to learn where our food comes from and appreciate the farmers who grew it and who care for the environment we live in. Organizations such as Heifer International, Eco Education and Bioneers have had wonderful experiences with Earth Dinner, and it may be a great event for your group as well.
Earth Dinner styles vary greatly between organizations, and the great thing is, Earth Dinner isn’t only for environmental clubs! The only necessity is that your members want to learn about, teach about, or talk about the importance of food, farming and the environment. No matter the size, from a smaller casual gathering to an elaborate fundraiser, each is meaningful in its own special way.
First of all, browse through our Resources section for helpful downloads, as well as an application for support from Organic Valley in the form of food, fundraiser supplies, Earth Dinner Cards and even monetary grants!
The core of any Earth Dinner is sourcing local, sustainable and organic foods and stimulating meaningful conversation about how this influences our daily lives. Search out caterers or chefs who have a connection to local farmers and who can tell you the story of where each dish came from. At some point during the meal, most organizations like to have someone from their organization, an influential person, the chef, or a farmer speak about their connection with the earth. To stimulate conversation, you may use your own ideas or incorporate the Earth Dinner Cards between courses. Please see the Earth Dinner support guidelines for more information about receiving donations.
Local, sustainable and organic also applies to your decorations, if at all possible. Smaller events have found it interesting to have each guest bring a small item to decorate their table with. This also stimulates pre-dinner conversation among table-mates. We also encourage you to seek out organic florists and use reusable and recyclable materials as much as possible during your event.
"Earth Dinner was a great way to connect with old friends and make new ones. The best part about it is the celebration aspect. We laughed, we cried, we shared stories with one another. I'd recommend it to any group looking to forge tighter connections with its community."
- Deborah Kane, Ecotrust
Change starts small, but it’s got to start somewhere. Why not start with the caring people of your organization and an Earth Dinner?
