A multitude of emails in your inbox; ads in your local mags and papers; the posters all around the East End — it’s impossible to ignore the glut of parties with a price tag, imploring you to crack open your wallet and give. It can start to seem like one big rosé soiree (and cash suck), but here’s the thing: be it the arts, vulnerable animals, the beautiful environment that surrounds you, protecting victims of domestic abuse, aiding the growing minds and well-being of local kids, or the keepers of history and the work they do preserving it, not-for-profits largely depend on donations to survive and do the good work they do.
Many people mistakenly believe that not-for-profits get their operating expenses from federal and state grants — the truth is, that’s not a large part of how the lights are kept on. According to the National Council for Nonprofits, foundation grants represent only a small bit of the total dollars received annually. The majority of funds come from individuals who care.
Don’t wait until the December holidays to give. Here are a few upcoming not-for-profit parties worth your while with tickets to sell over the coming months. And hey, the price of admission is tax deductible and you get to have a good time. Get gussied up and step-out under the stars for one of these worthy fundraisers — your good time will go to a good cause.
All Against Abuse Benefit, Southampton Arts Center, 25 Jobs Lane, June 8, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Your money will go a long way in supporting this safe haven for families seeking help from domestic abuse. This year’s All Against Abuse Benefit at the Southampton Arts Center honors the organization’s president, Julie Hatfield, as well as Kenneth Wright of Wright & Company Construction. Fab foodies the Art of Eating will be making the memorable signature cocktails and the bites of the evening, and the hot HooDoo Loungers will have you up on your feet. If you feel like giving more (especially after listening to the stories of a trio of domestic abuse survivors give a brief talk) there’s a rollicking paddle auction led by famed auctioneer Harry Santa Olalla, plus a more demure silent auction, with Broadway tickets, museum memberships, covetable clothing, and a multitude of exciting experiences to bid on. “Guests will be directly supporting our services and resources for individuals, parents and children affected by violence and abuse,” says Loretta Davis, executive director of The Retreat, “all of which we offer at no cost.” Grab the well-worth-the-cost tickets ($750) right here.
Sylvester Manor 11th Annual Farm-to-Table Benefit, Saturday, June 29
Land preservation takes no small efforts. Couple that with hundreds of years of history — and, finally, making that history accurate and clear-eyed — along with maintaining an ancient manor house, and you’ve got a job cut out for you. Shelter Island’s Sylvester Manor and its 60-acre farm are a key piece of keeping the island’s beauty and heritage in tact. The work they do here, both agriculturally and educationally, is important and worth your bucks. Plus, this is just one wonderful, delicious, fun night out on the town. Tickets start at $650 ($350 if you’re between 21 and 35) and you click here for yours.
Bay Street Theater’s Summer Gala, Saturday, July 6, 7 p.m.
This Sondheim-centric soiree “Maybe They’re Magic” will honor Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka — apropos as both of these actors have starred in the Broadway titan’s musicals. And there will be lots of magic throughout the night (yup, magicians, too — Harris is a big fan). There will also be a celebration of life for Eastvill preservationist Dr. Georgett Grier-Key, at this annual fundraiser to keep Sag Harbor’s stellar theater alive and well. Tickets start at $1,750 and you can drop that coin right here.
The Ellen Hermanson Summer Gala, Saturday, July 13, 6:30 to 11:30 p.m.
Join this year’s gala chair, Jean Shafiroff, for sips, bites, dinner and dancing by the sea at the Bridgehampton Tennis & Surf Club to support access to breast health care and those affected by breast cancer in our East End community. Early-bird tickets (purchase by June 30) are $650, and are $700 thereafter. If you’re under 35, tickets are $425.
South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center’s 35th Annual Summer Gala, July 13, 5:30-10 p.m.
The first of its kind in the Hamptons, the South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center (377 Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor Turnpike, Bridgehampton) was founded in 1988 in order to spread the word on what we naturally have right under our noses here on the East End (and teach us how not to take it for granted) via a bounty of exhibits and programs, and is an absolute treasure. Actor Liev Schreiber is once again serving as the gala’s dapper ambassador. Purchase tickets now and be rewarded with 20% off the regular $1,800 VIP price or $1,000 general admission fee.
Parrish Art Museum’s Shadow and Light Midsummer Benefit Weekend, Friday, July 12, 7 to 11 p.m. and Saturday, July 13, 6 to 10:30 p.m.
The Parrish (279 Montauk Highway, Water Mill) does a lot of good in our local world. Sure, the 125-year-old art institution is home to ground-breaking, thought-provoking world-class art exhibits and talks, but it also historically offers robust, inclusive and very committed programming for kids, seniors and the community at large. Come show your love at one of two parties on tap this weekend. On Friday, get sweaty and dance, dance, dance all night to the sounds of DJ Angel + Dren in the Lichentstein Theater (plus a special guest performance!) — tickets start at $300 (until July 8; after that, it’s $400) and you can grab yours here. Or, if you’ve got that kind of room in your bank account and a sit-down is more your vibe, hit up the Saturday night dinner, starting at $800 for a splendid evening of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and a served, sit-down, elegant dinner and dancing after.
Hetrick-Martin Institute’s “School’s Out” party, Saturday, July 15, 5:00-7:30pm
The Hetrick-Martin Institute is the country’s oldest LGBTQIA+ youth organization, recognizing years before most that this vulnerable population of humans need support, resources and a whole lot of love. The vulnerability of queer and trans kids is an area of care that touches a multitude of at-risk aspects —mental health, homelessness, racism and access to healthcare among the list. The Hetrick-Martin Institute provides these support services and so much more for kids 13 to 24. Support their excellent efforts (and get to hang out with cool people like cutie couple Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuolas, Candace Bushnell and fashion designer Dennis Basso, among others) at HMI’s “Schools Out” benefit party at the Water Mill home of Marcus, Christopher and Rachel Brown (you’ll get the addy when you buy a ticket, which you can procure here, starting at $500) with music all night by DJ Lina Bradford. Bonus: If you’re heading out from Manhattan, ticket purchases get you free transportation out east.
Guild Hall’s 2024 Summer Gala, Friday, August 2, 6 to 11 p.m.
With the much-anticipated re-opening of the John Drew Theater on deck for July, it’s a great time to show up to celebrate the incredible programming at Guild Hall (158 Main St., East Hampton) by supporting the thoroughly diverse visual and performing arts bastion their annual gala. Tickets are $500 for the cocktail portion of the event, are $750 for the under 40 set, and start at $1,700 for the full evening of festivities. Grab yours here.
ARF Hampton’s Bow Wow Meow Ball, Saturday, August 17, 6:30 p.m.
Help ARF celebrate 50 years of animal rescue at this Held in the garden of the William P. Raynor Training Center, and you can help support their incredible, big-hearted rescue efforts in style. Come on down for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the garden tent, followed by a delicious dinner catered by Olivier Cheng Catering, live music to boogie to and (best part!) the pup-tastic Parade of Animals. Hey, don’t be surprised if you go home with a new friend. Tickets start at $1,250 and you can get yours here.
Duck Creek’s DRAWaTHON Benefit Party, August 23, 5 to 7 p.m.
You can always expect something surprising, inspiring and fun from Duck Creek. This year, for their 2nd annual Drawathon fundraiser, they’ve upped the ante with the collaborative Surrealist game Exquisite Corpse. Made famous by artists like Max Ernst, Yves Tanguy, and André Breton in the 1930s, participating artists draw in turns on a sheet of paper, folded into thirds. When their section is complete, they conceal the artwork and then pass the paper on to the next artist to contribute another panel of drawing. The final works will be sold at the August 23 benefit held in the historical John Little Barn, the Arts Center at Duck Creek (127 Squaw Road, Springs) was founded to bring together and support artists of Springs and the surrounding towns, giving a place to display work, make art, and learn and grow as creatives. Fittingly, their very first benefit gathers local artists to sketch works which will be on display (and for sale for $200 each) the evening of July 15, where you can also bid on a Mercedes Matter painting donated by gallerist Mark Borghi. Tickets start at $150, and include a night of music, local bites and beer from Springs Brewery.
