Events & Reservations

Budgeting for an Event

\Budget Considerations:

  • Identify all the predicted costs for your program – and be detailed! Gather accurate estimates that are inclusive of all taxes, shipping, delivery fees, etc.  
  • Leave room for last minute expenses. There may be incidental costs that you did not plan for, so having a contingency can keep you from going over budget. 
  • Consider this event within the scope of your yearly calendar. You do not want to have one event use all of your funds for the entire year. 
  • Revenue Projections. Are you anticipating using this event as a fundraising project? Consider how much you would like to make and then outline what would be needed in order for you to reach those goals. 
  • Partners and sponsorships. Are there other groups or vendors you can work with to share or subsidize your costs?

Event Budget Template

Use this template to map out your event budget!

Below is a list of items that you may need to include in your budget.

  • Equipment Rentals
  • Venue / Room Rental
  • Catering 
  • Decorations 
  • Entertainment 
  • Marketing / Publicity
  • Printing Costs  
  • AV & Tech Services
  • Tickets 
  • Transportation
  • Prizes / Souvenirs
  • Photography

Remember to determine what the primary focus of the event is and allow this to guide the budget. If you are having a cultural night with foods from various countries, your main expense will probably be food and decorations. If you are having a talent show, your primary expense may be prizes. The key is to remember to keep things balanced and to allow some funding for each aspect of your program planning.