How It Works: Guests pay a fee to attend a cocktail (or nonalcoholic) party held in your home or at a bar.

What It’s Best For: Raising money quickly to answer sudden needs, as in the case of disaster relief.

Pros: Probably the easiest type of event to plan, execute, and attract people to, “it’s also very low risk, because the only up-front costs are what the organizer spends on food or liquor,” explains Stephanie Roth, coauthor of The Accidental Fundraiser (Jossey-Bass, $20, www.amazon.com).

Cons: “It’s usually a limited crowd, maybe 20 or 30 people in your house, versus a few hundred at a walk,” notes Roth. And that means fewer people from whom to collect donations.

Making the Most of It

Invite your guests as early as possible, and follow up a few days before the party with an e-mail reminder or a paper invitation. Ask guests to RSVP so you’ll know the amount of refreshments to buy.

To keep costs within reason, stick to a handful of signature cocktails or food and drink choices.

Charge an entry fee at the door rather than passing around a donation jar inside, as guests might be distracted when the jar comes around. However, do keep another donation jar inside to allow people to give more once they’re settled in.