Charity gala ticketing
with tax receipts
Organise your gala: tables of 8 or 10, company/individual rates, additional donations, automatic tax receipts (Cerfa 11580). 100% free.
Why Donoor for this project
The tools you need, already connected and free. No pricing plan, no tiers, no equipment to rent.
Tables of 8 or 10
Sell entire tables to companies or individual seats. Sponsor / company / individual rates possible.
Automatic tax receipts
For eligible organisations (public interest), each ticket + donation generates a Cerfa 11580 receipt sent automatically.
Additional donations
When buying a ticket, the participant can make an additional donation to your cause. Combined in the same tax receipt.
On-site payments
Tap to Pay for spontaneous purchases (auctions, cash donations converted to card payments, etc.).
What to prepare
The honest list of equipment and team you need to make your gala a success. No proprietary hardware to buy, you already have 90% of what you need.
Staffing
- 1 gala coordinatorLeads the project over 6 months, manages corporate partners, supervises the day of the event.
- 1 master of ceremonies / hostHosts the evening, announces the programme, launches the auction. Often a charismatic volunteer or a local figure.
- 4 to 6 hosts / hostesses for receptionWelcome guests, cloakroom, seating plan, handling late arrivals.
- 2 to 3 Tap to Pay cashiersCollect additional donations, silent auction bids, and on-the-move extra sales.
- 1 event photographerEssential for partner thank-yous, post-gala communication and social media.
Tools and equipment
- A Donoor account (5 min)Tables of 8/10, company/individual rates, additional donations in the basket, automatic Cerfa 11580 tax receipts.
- Gala venue with catererMunicipal hall, château or hotel restaurant. Approved caterer (allow €35–80 per cover).
- Decoration and stagingCandles, table centrepieces, signage. Often lent by local florists in exchange for visibility.
- PA system + wireless microphone + video projectorFor speeches, the organisation's presentation video, and evening entertainment.
- iPhones with Tap to Pay (3-4)Mobile cashiers for additional donations and silent auctions during the evening.
What the law says
We explain the legal obligations for your gala in plain language. Checked by our team and up to date for 2026.
Compliant Cerfa 11580 tax receipts
For a donation to be tax-deductible (66% for individuals, 60% for companies), your organisation must be eligible (general interest, corporate patronage). The Cerfa 11580 receipt must contain 10 mandatory items: Donoor pre-fills all of them automatically, including the treasurer's digital signature.
Ticket price vs. donation
The price of a gala ticket (which includes a meal, entertainment, etc.) is NOT tax-deductible: it is a counterpart received. Only additional donations to the basket, without any counterpart, are deductible. Donoor automatically separates the 2 amounts on the tax receipt.
Auctions and additional sales
Silent auctions and sales of items during the gala are NOT donations (a counterpart in kind is received). No tax receipt is issued for these amounts. Record them separately. The “donation” portion exceeding the value of the item acquired IS tax-deductible (noted on the ticket).
Drinks stand: town hall declaration
If you serve wine or beer with the meal, the organisation may benefit from the 5 annual drinks stand permits allowed (Cerfa 11542, filed 15 days in advance, free of charge). For spirits or strong alcohol at the gala, arrange a temporary licence III or IV.
HACCP food hygiene
The caterer you engage must be health-approved (check its SIRET number and approval). If you prepare certain dishes yourself (welcome drinks, petits fours), at least 1 volunteer must hold a HACCP food hygiene training certificate (approx. €30 online).
Your checklist for D-Day
Everything you must not forget, by phase. Print it and tick items off as you go.
6 months before
- Book the hall and the caterer
- Define the specific cause and the target amount to raise
- Approach corporate sponsors (patronage)
- Form the organising committee (5-8 people)
- Check the organisation's tax eligibility (ruling if needed)
2 months before
- Create the gala on Donoor with tables, prices and additional donations
- Open online ticket sales via a personalised link
- Send invitations to VIP guests and partner companies
- Prepare the list of lots for the silent auction
- Recruit an MC, a photographer and a welcome team
Gala day
- Set up the hall and the seating plan from the morning
- Team briefing + sound check + Tap to Pay check
- Welcome cocktail with a presentation of the cause
- Dinner served + testimonies / video presentation
- Launch of the silent auction (Tap to Pay)
- Collection / appeal for additional donations (at the tables)
- Closing speech + announcement of the amount raised
They did it
Three organisation profiles that ran their gala with Donoor, so you can picture realistic cases.
Hospital foundation
Annual gala for 220 guests at the local Grand Hôtel to fund paediatric equipment. Prices: €150 individual / €180 company (tables of 10). Collection on the tables + silent auction of 12 lots (offered stays, artworks). Tax receipts sent two days later.
Organisation supporting orphans
Intercommunity gala with a halal menu. 180 guests, 18 tables. Additional donation to the basket highlighted during dinner. Children's testimonies by video call to move the guests. Photographer + video report for post-gala communication.
Local service club (Rotary, Lions, etc.)
Annual statutory gala open to the public. 30 tables × 10 people at €80 (meal + evening dance). All proceeds passed on to the club's social projects. Silent auction with donations from member companies.
A charity gala for 250 guests
25 tables of 10 people × €150 = €18,750 in ticket sales + €7,200 in additional donations added to the basket (linked to automatic Cerfa 11580 tax receipts) + €4,800 in silent auction proceeds collected via Tap to Pay on iPhone. Total €30,750 in one evening, funds paid directly into the organisation’s account.
Hesitating over another platform?
Compare Donoor with other providers on fees and features.
Other compatible projects
Many organisations run or combine several types of project. Explore the related guides.
Frequently asked questions
My organisation is eligible for tax receipts: how do I activate them?
Organisations of public interest (article 200 CGI), corporate sponsorship, or religious organisations under the 1905 law can issue tax receipts. In Donoor: Dashboard > Settings > Tax receipts > Activate. You complete a sworn statement and sign a mandate (3 min). Once activated, each gala ticket (= donation with reduced counter-value) generates a compliant Cerfa 11580 receipt, sent automatically to the donor.
Does the ticket’s counter-value (dinner) reduce the tax receipt?
Yes, the tax authority considers that the value of the counter-value (the dinner) does not qualify for a deduction. In practice: if the seat costs €150 and the dinner is valued at €60, the tax receipt covers €90 (so a €60 tax reduction for the donor at 66%). Donoor automatically calculates this split if you enter the counter-value.
Can we sell a table of 10 to a corporate patron?
Yes, create a rate “Corporate patron table — 10 people” at €2,500. The company receives a corporate sponsorship tax receipt (60% tax reduction on corporation tax, within the limit of 0.5% of turnover). Donoor generates this specific receipt automatically.
How do we run an auction during the gala?
During the gala: announce the lots, collect bids. The winner scans a payment QR code (displayed on the big screen) with the exact amount, or goes to a payment point where you collect it via Tap to Pay on iPhone. Tax receipt issued automatically.
How much does ticketing for a gala cost on Donoor?
€0. Donoor is 100% free: no commission on tickets, no subscription, no setup fees. For a gala raising €50,000, you keep around €49,250 (Stripe Connect or PayPal fees covered by buyers).
Can we link the gala with a fundraiser after the event?
Yes, create in parallel a fundraiser “Following our gala of XX” on Donoor. Send the link by email to all participants (with their emails collected through ticketing). Automatic tax receipts for each donation.
We take care ofsetting it all up for you.
Create your organization space in a few minutes, or let us set everything up for you. Free, fast, hassle-free.
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How it works
Set up in under 8 minutes, no technical knowledge needed.
Create your gala
Event of the “gala” type, with date, venue and menu. Prices: table of 10 = €1,000, individual seat = €120, corporate sponsor seat = €200.
Activate tax receipts
If your organisation is eligible (public interest, corporate sponsorship, religious organisation under the 1905 law), enable the tax receipts feature in the dashboard (5 min).
Communicate with donors and companies
Email with direct link to booking. For corporate patrons, send the personalised Corporate Pass link + advance tax receipt.
Gala night: check-in + live donations
QR scan at reception, Tap to Pay payments for the raffle/auction, spontaneous donations via the displayed donation QR code.