Funny4Funds helps take a ton of stress away and they do most of the work that slows people down. They take care of the staging, the setup, the breakdown, the lighting, the backdrop, the mic, the sound, raffles tickets, and even emcee the entire night.
Laughing All the Way to the Bank! By Mark Berger What began as an idea between two friends and fellow comedians has become a useful resource for people who want to raise money for various causes. Funny4Funds is a fundraising company with a comedy show kicker. Funny4Funds was born in Rhode Island in 2014, and was co-founded by Mike Murray and Bill Simas. Over the last eight years, their proven system of laughter and fundraising has helped more than 2,800 groups and causes, raising over $8.4 million dollars. Their company goal is to surpass $10 million raised by year’s end. While each event has different fundraising goals, Simas said that the average amount raised at their events is between $5,000 and $7,000, after expenses. Their formula is unique because they are not just a mic stand and a stool. The duo wanted to serve their clients by offering not only a flat rate for their services, but also by providing so much more. From the beginning, Funny4Funds meets with your group for what they call a “Game Plan,” where everyone huddles up and is given the formula for success. The goal for the client is to make the most fundraising dollars for their group or cause.
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“Mike and I look to make people happy,” Simas said. “We can do shows that are either clean or more adult. However, we never do anything vulgar or offensive. It’s a night out for everyone and we want people to leave smiling and saying they enjoyed themselves. They also have a Clean Comedy Division, which specializes in church groups and cleaner events. No matter what, every Funny4Funds show is an amazing date night out to support your group or cause.” The majority of shows are booked on weekends, but they are available to host on any night. Many people believe holding a fundraiser during the weekend will bring in the most money. Simas was adamant that this is not always the case. “We held events on Mondays that have raised a lot of money,” said Simas. “There was one event that we had on a Monday night that raised $12,000. It really depends on what the show entails, the crowd, and the type of event. No matter the