That Sounds Like a Plan!

BRIEF SUMMARY In this episode of That Sounds Like a Plan , we dive into three key strategies to keep your steering committee meetings on track.  In this episode we explore:  The value of creating and sharing an agenda. Why brainstorming sessions should be separate from steering committee meetings.  The importance of summarizing and clarifying next steps LIST OF RESOURCES & SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES...

Storytelling plays a vital role in the success of a nonprofit event.  Organizations must be able to tell their story in a way that compels their audience to take action.  In this episode I sit down with Howard Levy, founder of Red Rooster Group, to explore the vital role storytelling plays in nonprofit success.  Howard shares his expertise on how nonprofits can craft compelling narratives that ins...

In this very digital age, the personal touch of human interaction becomes increasingly important.  Today we’re going to bring that personal touch back to event promotion.  We’re talking about promoting your event with a street team.  In this episode I share: - What a street team is - Why they’re effective and the benefits to using this form of promotion - Where and how to use a street team - Recru...

Whether you're organizing a small gathering or a massive conference, AI tools can streamline your processes, enhance attendee experiences, and make your event planning smoother than ever before.  In this episode I share: Nine ways to use AI that will save you time and money A way to use AI that is a game-changer for an auction (check out my social media pages for an example) How to get the be...

As the host of a nonprofit event, the program is your opportunity to educate and inspire your audience. Sadly, many event hosts get caught up in the planning of the event, how many auction items, the entertainment, the food, the decor. The program, which is arguably the most important part of the event, gets only a fraction of the attention.   In this episode I share:  - Why you need to start with...

Today we're talking tech. I'm sharing my must have event tech tools that streamline planning and ensure everything runs smoothly. Whether you're an event planning pro or just getting started, these tools are game changers. LIST OF RESOURCES & SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES Ep 46  Show Notes S ign up for more info about Plan to Plan - a guided event timeline workshop using a wall calendar...

“If you build it, they will come” only worked in the movie Field of Dreams. The reality is that it takes a lot of work to get people to first be aware of your event and then to buy a ticket.     In this episode I share: The most common, yet frustrating, trend in ticket sales How to use ticket bundles, FOMO and social proof to sell tickets How to audit your event using the 5 Ps LIST OF RESOURCES &a...

There's a lot of waste in the event industry. If you've ever cleaned up after an event, you see it firsthand.  In this episode, I cover ways to make your event eco-friendlier in seven categories: 1) Event marketing and promotion 2) Registration 3) Catering. 4) Venues and AV 5) Transportation 6) Décor and 7) SWAG.  LIST OF RESOURCES & SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES Ep 44 Show Notes S ign up for...

This is a Planner Pep Talk or PPT episode.   Planning fundraising events is not easy.  These pep talks are designed to let you know you're not alone with some of the challenging aspects of planning an event. Whenever you need a little encouragement, check out any of the PPT episodes.  There are a lot of unknowns when it comes to nonprofit events.  Just because you’ve planned one event doesn’t...

BRIEF SUMMARY We often talk about the need to have a successful fundraising event.  But what does that mean?  Just because your event made money doesn’t necessarily mean it was a success, financial or otherwise.  In today’s episode we’re going to talk about the different ways you can measure event success.    In this episode I share: The most common goals for nonprofit events Two formulas to measu...

BRIEF SUMMARY If you are a relatively new nonprofit, or new to events,  you might be wondering when it’s a good time to host your first fundraising event.  In this episode we’ll talk about what you need organizationally and personally to be ready to host your first fundraising event In this episode I share: The most important thing your organization needs Why you need board support organizationall...

BRIEF SUMMARY Without systems, planning an event can easily become chaotic and overwhelming.  Systems enable you to delegate tasks and create consistency.   In this episode I share: The difference between a system and a process The seven core systems you need for nonprofit success Four tips for creating systems & procedures LISTENER ACTION ITEM Rank the systems from 1-7.  Number one is the mos...

BRIEF SUMMARY Having a successful event year after year is a great thing! There are times, though, when you need to change things up slightly to refresh an event to keep it from getting a little stale.   In this episode I share: The difference between the Flywheel Effect and the Doom Loop Seven ways to refresh or breathe a little fresh air into your event LISTENER ACTION ITEM Pick one of the seven...

BRIEF SUMMARY Half the battle when researching venues for your nonprofit event is knowing the right questions to ask.   In this episode I share: Eleven questions to ask when looking at  venues LISTENER ACTION ITEM Download the list of 11 questions.     If you’re looking at several venues and want to make an apples-to-apples comparison, create a spreadsheet with the venue criteria that matters most...

BRIEF SUMMARY Gathering event feedback helps you determine what your audience liked about the event and identify areas for improvement.  In this episode I share: Why feedback is important The best ways to capture feedback The types of questions to ask How to use that feedback once you have it Tips for how NOT to take negative feedback personally.   LISTENER ACTION ITEM Download the survey template...

Live auctions serve a purpose other than just raising more money for your organization.  In this episode I share: The purpose of a live auction The types of events that work best for live auctions How to find live auction items Why it’s important to work with an auctioneer LISTENER ACTION ITEM Determine if a live auction is right for your organization and your event.   Talk to your board about the...

The silent auction has ended, guests have checked out and you’re done.  Well, almost.  There are seven things you need to do to wrap up your auction.   In this episode I share: The first thing you should do.  It might surprise you The things you need to document for the organization The things you should document for yourself or the future auction chair LISTENER ACTION ITEM Go through each of the...

There are a number of things you must do in the month or two leading up to and on the day of the auction to make everything run smoothly.   In this episode I share: When to open & close your auction Determining your layout at the venue  Creating a seamless process for check out Common Volunteer Roles Merchandising items  What to do if someone doesn’t pick up their item at the end of the night...

Online, mobile, or virtual auction.  No matter the name, they all mean the same thing; an auction conducted over the Internet where people can bid through a website or mobile device. Not paper sheet bidding.    In this episode I share: The benefits of an online auction What to look for in a platform How to structure your planning timeline for an online auction Suggestions for dividing the work amo...

Silent auctions are a popular fundraising activity for nonprofits and their supporters. Sometimes auctions are viewed as easy money.  If you’ve ever organized an auction, you know it’s anything but easy.  They are a lot of work!   When you put processes in place, it makes everything go more smoothly and makes you look more professional.  BEFORE you ask for a single donation, you need to prepare to...

Planning a nonprofit fundraising or awareness-building event takes a team!  This group of individuals can have a huge impact on your event.  In this episode I share: The typical structure of the planning team When you should or shouldn’t have co-chairs Which roles should be held by organization staff, when possible The importance of matching the person to the role What not to do with your planning...

Event sponsorship is arguably one of the most challenging and stressful aspects of planning a fundraising event.  Part of that stress is driven by the fact that there are IRS rules about what you can and cannot do and there’s a fine line where sponsorship can unintentionally drift from sponsorship to advertising.   I talk about this and more with my special guest Jess Birken of Birken Law , a Minn...

For nonprofits, sponsorship packages all tend to look the same; logos on websites and printed materials, tables at the event, social media mentions, etc.  So how does a nonprofit stand out from the competition and create long term relationships with their sponsors?  The answer…Sponsor Activations.   In this episode I share: What is a sponsor activation?   Why a hybrid model of the tiered package +...

Sponsorship sales is one of the most important, yet most daunting, tasks for your fundraising event.  It’s not just something you can dive into.  There’s a lot of prep work that needs to happen behind the scenes before you can begin.  I break it the prep work down into 7 steps.   In this episode I share: Why you should have a clear definition of your target audience How to break down creating a bu...

This is an episode called a Planner Pep Talk or PPT.   Planning fundraising events is not easy.  These pep talks are designed to let you know you're not alone with some of the challenging aspects of planning an event. Whenever you need a little encouragement, check out any of the PPT episodes.  Working hard is important but so is taking time off to recharge.  When you don't allow yoursel...