When you need to raise money for your cause, there's no better way to do it than a fundraising dinner. Everyone loves food, and people will be glad for the chance to support a good cause while getting a delicious dinner in return. Italian food is always a popular choice; it's classic, savory, and scrumptious. Here are four Italian dishes you should serve at your catered fundraising dinner:

1. Bread and oil

You'll need to serve appetizers at your fundraising dinner, and slices of toasted bread are always welcome. Instead of serving butter with the bread, do something authentically Italian: serve the bread with high-quality olive oil mixed with a splash of balsamic vinegar. To enhance the flavor even further, ask the chef to sprinkle some Italian herbs and kosher salt into the oil mixture. This is a great finger food that your guests can nibble while getting to know one another before the main course.

2. Lasagna

Lasagna is a rich, substantial entree. A traditional lasagna is made by layering sheets of pasta with tomato sauce, cheese, zucchini, and ground beef. It's then topped with more cheese and baked in an oven until it's gooey and bubbly. When made by an experienced catering company, this cheesy dish can be positively heavenly.

3. Spaghetti

Spaghetti is a classic for a reason. When made with fresh noodles, this entree is a hearty, filling main dish. And of course, there are so many variations of spaghetti that you can serve. Since people have different taste, offer a few different choices of pasta sauce. You should serve at least one white sauce, such as creamy alfredo sauce. Also make sure to serve a rich, hearty meat sauce. If you expect to have vegetarians in attendance, it would be good to also have a meat-free tomato sauce as an option.

4. Tiramisu

No dinner is complete without dessert. Treat your guests to a quintessentially Italian treat by serving tiramisu. This decadent dessert is made by layering ladyfingers with sweetened mascarpone cheese and then soaking the resulting cake with espresso and brandy. Served chilled, this boozy confection is the perfect finish to your fundraising dinner. 

Planning a fundraising dinner is a big undertaking. You'll have a lot to do between handling the finances, deciding on seating arrangements, and decorating the venue. Let someone else handle the cooking and place your event's food in the capable hands of an Italian catering company.