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What do you do to prepare for what will likely be a mega-million-dollar fundraising event and media circus? Have a party! A bunch of them actually, among other tools designed to make the most of this remarkable opportunity.

To back up, Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) is one of the spectacularly lucky nonprofit beneficiaries of the estimated $75 million to $100 million raised during tonight’s much-hyped American Idol: Idol Gives Back television extravaganza, which airs on FOX Wednesday night from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The event aims to “raise awareness of and benefit various U.S. and international charities” (most of which serve children and families), and among the myriad celebrities and musicians featured will be actress and CDF board member Reese Witherspoon. The show also runs video footage of one of CDF’s Freedom Schools sites in New Orleans.

Witherspoon “will show the millions of American Idol viewers that every step we take to improve the lives of children improves the lives of all of us. As CDF turns 35 this year, we could not ask for a better birthday gift!” enthuses organization leaders.

In anticipation of the media and donor spotlight, CDF has created an Idol-oriented frequently-asked-questions page on its Web site and crafted a “watch party” toolkit and “party central” virtual list of the happy get-togethers. The toolkit includes questions that allow viewers to “participate in a discussion of the state of America's children and ways that together, we can takes steps to not only improve the lives of children, but improve the lives of all of us.”

CDF remembered to include several important elements to its new FAQ: three easy ways to “give” to the organization other than a credit card number (“Become a Fan of the CDF on Facebook!”), and reassurance and an address for more-cautious donors who prefer to send checks rather than give online, the primary donation vehicle used tonight.

Other nonprofit beneficiaries in 2008 include the Global Fund, Malaria No More, Children's Health Fund, Save the Children, and Make It Right, actor Brad Pitt's campaign to help New Orleans recover from Hurricane Katrina.