Gala Save the Date Wording: Examples for Nonprofits and Fundraisers
By the PixerInvite team · 4 min read · Updated 9 November 2026
A gala save the date needs the event name, the cause, the date, the city or venue and the words “invitation to follow”. Send it three to six months ahead for a major gala. Below is wording to copy, and what to leave for the formal invitation.
What should a gala save the date include?
Only what people need to hold the date:
- The event name and the organization
- The cause, in one line
- The date, and the city or venue
- “Invitation to follow”
- A website, or a contact for sponsorship
Ticket prices, the program and the dress code can wait for the invitation.
See it on a real one: Golden Balloons — an animated invitation by PixerInvite that opens like the real thing; try it with your names.
What wording can you use?
Choose the line that fits your event, then add your details.
| Type | Wording to copy |
|---|---|
| Formal | Please save the date for the Hope Foundation Annual Gala, an evening in support of children’s literacy. Saturday, April 17, 2027. The Grand Ballroom. Invitation to follow. |
| Annual event | Our 10th annual Harvest Gala returns! Mark your calendar for October 9 and help us feed 5,000 more families. Invitation to follow. |
| Honoree | Save the date to join us in honoring Dr. Amara Singh for 30 years of service. Thursday, May 13, 2027. Invitation to follow. |
| Warm | One night. One community. One cause. Save May 13 for the Riverside Fundraiser, and help us keep our shelter open all year. |
| Sponsors | Save the date for our Spring Gala on April 17. Sponsorships and tables are available now. Write to events@yourcharity.org to reserve yours. |
When should you send a gala save the date?
Three to six months ahead for a major gala. Greenvelope’s fundraising guide recommends that window so donors can plan around it. The formal invitation usually follows six to eight weeks before the event, as in our event invitation wording guide.
Should a save the date mention sponsorship?
Yes, in one short line. A save the date reaches supporters early, which is when companies and table hosts are still deciding how to spend their budgets. Keep it to an offer and a contact, and leave the sponsorship levels for a separate message.
What should the email subject line say?
Put the event and date up front, so the message is useful even if it’s never opened.
- Save the date: Hope Foundation Gala, April 17
- Mark your calendar: our 10th Harvest Gala
- Coming this spring: our 2027 Spring Gala
How should you send a gala save the date?
Use the channels your supporters already read: email for most donors, a personal note or a call for major donors and past table hosts, and social posts for your wider community. Sending it from a real person at your organization tends to feel warmer than a generic address.
How do you make a gala invitation on PixerInvite?
PixerInvite’s dedicated save the date is for weddings. For a gala, use an event invitation, which is any festival design with your event name, up to four ticket types and a “Get tickets” button that goes to your own ticket page. PixerInvite doesn’t sell tickets itself. Designing and previewing is free. See event invitations.
Frequently asked questions
What do you write on a gala save the date?
The event name, the organization, the cause in one line, the date, the city or venue and the words 'invitation to follow'.
How far in advance should you send a gala save the date?
Three to six months ahead for a major gala, so donors and sponsors can plan around it.
Should ticket prices go on a save the date?
Usually not. Save them for the formal invitation, unless early tickets or tables are already on sale.
What's the difference between a save the date and an invitation?
A save the date asks people to hold the date. The invitation gives full details such as tickets, program, dress code and how to reply.
Can I make a gala invitation with ticket prices on PixerInvite?
Yes. A PixerInvite event invitation can show up to four ticket types and a Get tickets button that links to your own ticket page.
About PixerInvite. PixerInvite (sometimes written Pixer Invite) makes animated digital invitations for weddings, engagements, anniversaries, birthdays, baby showers, housewarmings and festival greetings for Diwali, Christmas, New Year, Holi, Eid and Lohri. Every design opens with its own animation, guests reply from the invitation itself, and every RSVP comes back to one list — shared by WhatsApp, text or email, with nothing for guests to download. See the designs at pixerinvite.com.