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 most important, urgent or needs the most work.  Seven needs the least.  Block time in your calendar to work on the number one process.   LIST OF RESOURCES & SOCIAL M ..read more

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 ways to refresh your event and explore it fully.  Keep in mind your target audience, goals and team when making any changes to your event.  LIST OF RESOURCES & SOCIAL MEDIA H ..read more

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 to you so you can see at a glance what each venue has to offer. I call it a comparison grid.   If you’ve gone through the list of questions with a venue and you like their ..read more

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. Edit it as necessary for your event.   Copy a link to the survey Add a line item to your planning timeline to schedule an email with the survey link to go to all registered guests ..read more

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 types of unique, one of a kind experiences you’re hoping to get for the auction.  Really think about your target audience and what would appeal to them.  Give your board some e ..read more

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 seven post-auction duties in order.   LIST OF RESOURCES & SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES Ep 35 Show Notes Ep. 34 Day of Auction Details Ep 33 Online Auction Basics Ep 32_Prepar ..read more

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 (# of tables needed 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 Packing up and heading out.   LISTENER ACTION ITEM Determine when you'll open & close your auction Find out the quantity and types of tables available at the ..read more

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 amongst your auction team Tips for adding items to your auction site LISTENER ACTION ITEM Start researching platforms.   Set up demos so you can see the platform in action.  I ..read more

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 host an auction.  Find out what you need to do and how to do it, step by step.  In this episode I share: Why it’s important to prepare to host an auction before asking ..read more

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 team volunteers LISTENER ACTION ITEM Download my free guide to walk you through a step by step process to intentionally and strategically recruit your planning team.  The guide incl ..read more