Every event season has its own tone, and fall always tells the truth. By this point in the year, nonprofit teams are balancing donor expectations, internal fatigue, year-end pressure, and the desire to finish strong. Looking across current event and fundraising trend coverage, a few themes keep … [Read more...] about What I’m Seeing In Fall Fundraising Events Right Now
The Edit
Year-End Event Essentials: What Nonprofits Should Review Before Planning Again
By mid-November, most nonprofit teams are doing two things at once: wrapping up fall events and trying to look ahead to next year. That overlap can make it tempting to jump straight into the next planning cycle without really pausing to evaluate what just happened. Post-event stewardship guidance … [Read more...] about Year-End Event Essentials: What Nonprofits Should Review Before Planning Again
Designing Community-Facing Events That Don’t Feel Performative
Community and CSR-focused events are where companies often try to show what they stand for. Done well, these events build trust, foster real relationships, and move meaningful work forward. Done poorly, they feel like staged photo ops. My goal with community-facing corporate events is simple: … [Read more...] about Designing Community-Facing Events That Don’t Feel Performative
Hybrid Internal Events That Don’t Treat Remote Employees Like an Afterthought
Hybrid events are not just in-person meetings with a Zoom link attached. Best practice guidance consistently recommends planning hybrid gatherings around both audiences from the start, using a clear agenda, sharing materials in advance, assigning separate host and facilitator roles, and creating … [Read more...] about Hybrid Internal Events That Don’t Treat Remote Employees Like an Afterthought
Offsites and Retreats: Making Time Away From The Office Actually Worth It
Offsites and retreats are some of the most expensive internal events you can plan. Once you consider travel, venue, food, time away from daily work, and the emotional energy it takes to be “on” with colleagues. Done well, they can be catalytic. Done poorly, they become a punchline. If you’re … [Read more...] about Offsites and Retreats: Making Time Away From The Office Actually Worth It
Recognition That Lands: Designing Internal Celebrations Your Team Doesn’t Roll Their Eyes At
Recognition is one of those things every company says it values, but not every company does well. When internal recognition feels vague, forced, or overly polished, employees can feel the disconnect immediately. The goal is not just to “celebrate people.” It is to do it in a way that feels … [Read more...] about Recognition That Lands: Designing Internal Celebrations Your Team Doesn’t Roll Their Eyes At
Building A Year-Round Event and Campaign Calendar
Events should not exist as isolated peaks of panic scattered across the year. The strongest nonprofit event programs are part of a broader rhythm that includes fundraising campaigns, stewardship, communication, and recovery time. Nonprofit planning guidance emphasizes mapping key event milestones, … [Read more...] about Building A Year-Round Event and Campaign Calendar
Post-Event Debriefs: Turning One Night Into A Playbook
One of my least favorite post-event traditions is the vague “Well, I think it went well” conversation that happens a week later in a hallway and then disappears forever. Effective event debrief guidance recommends meeting quickly after the event, reviewing goals against outcomes, gathering … [Read more...] about Post-Event Debriefs: Turning One Night Into A Playbook