Fundraising Events
Fundraisers and galas on Lake Union
Nonprofit galas, auctions, benefit dinners and school fundraisers at our waterfront venue on the east shore of Lake Union. Up to 150 seated, up to 300 for a reception, planned around the fact that every dollar spent on the evening is a dollar that did not get raised.
Nonprofit pricing
Built for the budget a gala actually has
A fundraiser has to be good enough that people give, and lean enough that the giving nets out.
Registered nonprofits receive a discount on the venue fee, with current 501(c)(3) documentation. There is no food and beverage minimum either – you pay for the guests who come, so the catering spend follows your ticket sales instead of a number you have to reach first.
Audio-visual comes with the room: a ceiling-mounted projector and screen, microphones, four Mackie speakers and access to our house computer. The slideshow, the speeches and the paddle raise are covered without a rental line on your budget.
The evening
How the evening moves
Guests check their coats in a full room at the entrance, then gather on the covered patio for drinks by the fireplace, with the water behind them. When it is time for the program, the glass doors slide shut. They open again afterward for the rest of the night.
The ready room, included with full-day rentals, gives your speakers and performers somewhere to get ready. And if the night ends in dancing, the ballroom floors are wood, so there is nothing extra to rent.
On the water
A vessel at the dock
For the right cause, the dock can be part of the story. We have hosted a gala with a research vessel tied up alongside, so guests could see the work they were funding.
Dock rental is an add-on to the venue, with its own agreement and insurance, arranged case by case.
Catering & bar
Food and bar
You work directly with our chef on a menu built around what the ticket has to cover. Buffet, plated, stations or passed appetizers, with allergen-free, dietary-friendly and vegan options handled from scratch.
The bar is built in, with draft beer, specialty wines and hand-crafted cocktails. Hosted, no-host or drink tickets, so guests can buy their own drinks if that suits the evening’s math.
Coordination
Help with the planning
Day-of coordination and full-service planning are both available as optional services. A coordinator anticipates needs, spots the gaps in your timeline and keeps your key vendors in step – useful when the event is being run by staff and volunteers alongside their day jobs.
Location
Getting here
3229 Fairview Ave E, Seattle, WA 98102 – on the east shore of Lake Union, at the Tyee Yacht Club. Navigation apps list us under Tyee Yacht Club. There is a second one near the University District; you want the one on Fairview Ave E.
Roughly 12 minutes from downtown and 30 from the airport. We have limited tandem parking in our lot, free street parking and several paid lots nearby, and we work closely with Red Carpet Valet if you would like valet service.
The venue is on one level. No stairs are needed to enter the building or to reach any part of the ballroom, and our restrooms are accessible.
At a glance
The practical version
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Tours
Come see it
Tours are by appointment, usually on weekdays around our events, and we can arrange other times. Send us the date and the guest count and we will come back to you within two business days.
