10 Recommended Fundraising Event Venues In New York!

Posted by Tim Stansbury on 25 October 2019

We have supported over 5,000 fundraising events across the globe and inevitably this has given us access to some of the worlds most incredible venues! Here are 10 tried and tested venues in New York that will not only impress your guests but will set the tone for a successful evening of fundraising!

Tribeca 360

Location: 10 Desbrosses St Manhattan, NY 10013.

About the venue: This venue is a complete 360 circle, where guests are capable of viewing the entire city in a panorama, including breathtaking views of Manhattan and the Hudson River. During sunset, the sun lights the entire venue in an orange glow how amazing!

Why it will benefit the fundraising element of your event: The modern and innovative room offers panoramic views that look over NYC, immersing you into the unique energy the city has to offer. The room is spacious enough to create a captivating and eye-catching auction display that’s bound to increase the number of bids.

Tribeca Rooftop

Location: 10 Desbrosses St Manhattan, NY 10013.

About the location: This rooftop deck is what sets this location apart from many other venues in NYC! With views overlooking the historic neighborhood of Tribeca, the Hudson River, and downtown New York City, it allows guests to mingle outside to a stunning backdrop.

Why it will benefit the fundraising element of your event: Perfect for a mobile fundraising event, guests can enjoy rare views of the city while taking part in the auction and fund-a-need moment right from their personal smartphone. Its also the perfect setting for an MC to take control and drive bidding up throughout the evening.

Rainbow Room

Location: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112.

About the venue: With its sophisticated interior, you are only a few floors under the Top of the Rock at this New York institution, and your guests also get a panoramic landscape of the city!

Why it will benefit the fundraising element of your event: The venue is spacious, and its easy to set up the perfect seating plan for your needs. Adding fundraising technology is really simple and will add an additional touch of modern sophistication to the room!

The Bowery Hotel

Location: 335 Bowery, New York, NY 10003.

About the venue: Supposedly haunted, it even has a vintage vibe! This is a spot for the famous, with lots of rock stars previously holding parties here (notably Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger). With a private entrance, the second floor can hold up to 600 guests so its well suited for corporate charity events.

Why it will benefit the fundraising element of your event: Great for mobile fundraising events, the brick-walled space has a relaxed vibe that your guests will enjoy, drawing an A-list crowd to get the competitive bidding going.

Gustavino’s

Location: 409 E 59th St, New York, NY 10022.

About the venue: A beautiful venue directly under the 59th Street bridge. Its perfect for a charity ball and absolutely stunning inside with two floors that guests can go back and forth between.

Why it will benefit the fundraising element of your event: The bottom floor can conveniently be used for the cocktail portion of the event which is the perfect place to set up a silent auction display! Following the reception, guests can ascend to the second floor for the interactive silent auction and pledge drive portion of the evening. This room is perfect as it can accommodate many screens.

The American Natural History Museum

Location: Central Park West & 79th St, New York, NY 10024.

About the venue: This is one of the city’s favorite venues for charity events. Most take place in the Ocean Room, directly under a suspended 1:1 scale model of a blue whale! Its a truly spectacular sight that’s bound to keep your guests in awe throughout the event.

Why it will benefit the fundraising element of your event: It differs from the typical event venue, as guests walk through various exhibits at the museum to get to the Ocean Room. The venue is visually aesthetic and the room can seat up to 1,000 guests. There are various locations to set up a silent auction display efficiently, ensuring your guests are exposed to the range of auction items available and therefore raising more for your cause!

Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers

Location: Pier 60 Chelsea Piers, New York, NY 10011.

About the venue: The largest waterfront venue in Manhattan, guests are right alongside the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the yachts and ships floating along the Hudson River.

Why it will benefit the fundraising element of your event: Ideal for a mobile fundraising event or a more formal sit-down auction, the second half of the venue can be set up as a dining area while the first can be used as a cocktail lounge. The transition from one to the other is very smooth and the waterside views are always a nice plus!

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Location: 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028.

About the venue: Choose from 3 great locations, the Great Hall, the Great Hall Balcony, and The Temple of Dendur where guests dine around the fascinating Egyptian temple with artifacts, or Carroll and Milton Petrie European Sculpture Court. Eligible nonprofit organizations and Corporate Patrons at the Leader Level and above can rent the spaces.

Why it is great for your fundraising event: Bring your guests to one of the most exclusive night time venues in NYC. Many might have been to the museum during the day, but very few can they say they had dined and helped a great cause there! Our silent auction technology caters best to formal sit-down dinners (up to 200 guests) or a mobile fundraising event for a cocktail reception (up to 600 guests). This extra special venue is sure to attract high-end donors to your event.

Jazz at Lincoln Center

Location: 10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019.

About the venue: Not only is the Lincoln Center an iconic venue in NYC, it also overlooks Columbus Circle and the notorious Central Park. A great location to bring your guests and set the giving mood!

Why it will benefit the fundraising element of your event: Guests can be seated all around a stage, where the MC can work their magic driving bids and pledge donations, as well as the nights entertainment.

583 Park Avenue

Location: 583 Park Avenue.

About the venue: An extremely beautiful and adaptable event space that caters to all sizes of nonprofit fundraising events. Choose from the Arcade or Ballroom for a more formal sit-down gala, or the Balcony for cocktail receptions. Nonprofits such as Girl Scout Council of Greater New York, Cancer Research Institute, The Jewish Women’s Foundation of New York and many more have held events here.

Why it will benefit the fundraising element of your event: Placing a screen front and center offers a great opportunity for guests to view the leaderboard, ensuring your fundraising goal is featured at the heart of the event and provoking guests to outbid each other. The versatile space has multiple uses: pre-dinner, cocktail, silent auction displays and much more.

Tim Stansbury

Director and Fundraising Consultant

Tim joined Givergy in 2010, overseeing the early stage growth of the business to 50 employees across five international regions, supporting over 4,000 events worldwide. With a passion for leadership, business growth and exceptional standards, Tim is at the heart of all clients needs both in the UK and worldwide.