Long lunch
A ticketed, multi-hour weekday or weekend lunch, often corporate, with auction and speaker.
Typically raises
$40,000
$10,000–100,000 per eventest.
About $348 per organiser hour
Based on a lunch of up to 200 guests
Is it right for us?
- Money
- $10,000–50,000
- Work
- Months
- Helpers
- 7–15 people
- Lead time
- 4+ months
- Red tape
- Some
Uncommon: mostly corporate; uncommon for community groups
- People
- 8-15
- Organiser time
- 80-150 (estimate)
- Lead time
- 4-6 months
- Up-front cost
- $2,000–$20,000. Venue deposit and minimum spend.
- Risk
- Medium to high.
How it works
The money, as an example sum
Take about $45,000, pay about $5,000 of costs, and you keep about $40,000 per event: the typical result for a lunch of up to 200 guests.
From the typical figure on this page. Your result will differ.
Where the money figure comes from
Estimate. RMHC NZ advertised a long lunch limited to 200 guests at Park Hyatt Auckland; the total was not found.
Last checked October 2026. Ran this? Tell us what you raised and we’ll use real results to improve the figures.
Step by step
- Lock in a venue and a date that suits business diaries.
- Sell corporate tables first.
- Secure an MC and speaker.
- Curate a short live auction.
- Plan transport and host responsibility.
- Run the event.
- Invoice tables and auction winners promptly.
Getting the word out
Even a well-run plan fails if nobody hears about it. There are two asks, and the first one goes out first.
- Ask for help
- Helpers for the day or night, and local businesses for prizes.
- Ask people to buy
- People to book tickets or tables, and turn up.
- When to start
- Ask for helpers first, as soon as the date is set. Start the public ask about 6–8 weeks out, and book newsletter and paper notices before that: small newsletters close early.
Where to put it
- Community newsletters and magazinesResidents’ newsletters, village magazines and other churches’ bulletins often run community notices free. Small ones close early.
- Other groups sharing itAsk the school, kindy, church, sports club or marae down the road to share it in their newsletter or page. Offer to share theirs back.
- Free notices in local papersMany local papers print some community notices free: ask what they offer. Not every town still has one, so check what comes to your letterbox, and book early.
- Writing a press releaseA one-page story the paper can use: what’s happening, why, a quote and a photo. Coverage is up to them, not you.
The full guide to getting the word out: every channel from flyers to the evening news, with lead times and costs.
What you’ll need
- Place
- NeededA hired venue
- Landowner’s permission
- Not needed
- Council permit
- Not needed
- Food rules
- Not neededNo food sold
- Alcohol
- CheckUse a licensed venue and confirm its licence covers your event. A club licence usually covers members and guests only
- Gambling rules
- NeededClass 2: prizes up to $5,000 and all tickets printed worth up to $25,000. Run by a club or society, with the money going to community or charitable purposes. Prizes at least 20% of ticket value; sold in person only, every ticket numbered (our rule: on paper). Prizes over $5,000 need a Class 3 licence
- Health and safety
- CheckA simple risk check and briefing
- Insurance
- CheckCheck your cover
Usually at a licensed venue whose licence covers the bar; a marquee on a farm or unlicensed site needs a special licence. Ticket prices aren't donations.
Make more from it
Live auction of 3-5 strong lots
often $2,000-15,000 at a well-heeled dinner (estimate)
a good auctioneer turns competition between tables into money
Silent auction of donated items
often $1,000-5,000 at a 100-person event (estimate)
guests browse between courses or acts
Paddle-raise or pledge appeal for one costed need
often $1,000-10,000 (estimate)
a specific ask in the room after a moving speaker; gifts are receiptable for donee groups
often $300-1,500 (estimate)
the crowd is already there with cash or cards out
Stack it: on its own, about $40,000. With the 4 priced add-ons above, roughly
$57,900est.
What you can get donated
Auction items, wine, MC, speaker.
Tips
- Corporate tables of ten are the main revenue line.
Watch out for
- Long lunches drift; keep the auction early enough.
Long lunch: checklist
0 of 17 done
Before
On the day
After
Usually at a licensed venue whose licence covers the bar; a marquee on a farm or unlicensed site needs a special licence. Ticket prices aren't donations.
Also pairs with: Corporate tables
Sources
* General fundraising information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Money figures are examples and estimates, not promises. Check current official requirements before you commit. About this guide