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

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 effective storytelling strategies and action design principles to motivate people to donate and take action.

Howard shares his expertise on how nonprofits can craft compelling narratives that inspire action

As a bonus, this episode comes with free resources designed to help you implement these storytelling techniques right away. Be sure to check the show notes for more details!

In this episode we explore: 

- What is a story arc and how to use it to craft stories - above and below the line

- Using conflict in your story

- Why you should focus on nouns and verbs rather than adverbs when storytelling

- How to make storytelling and integral part of your organization

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

- Recruiting and training your team

- How to maximize your team’s exposure.

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 best results when using AI

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 'why'

- The importance of storytelling in your program

- Why you need fewer speakers

- The importance of a script

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.

“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

There's a lot of waste in the event industry. If you've ever cleaned up after an event, you see it firsthand. 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.

There are a lot of unknowns when it comes to nonprofit events. Just because you’ve planned one event doesn’t mean it’s going to be the same the next time around. In this episode I encourage you to not let ego or imposter syndrome keep you from getting the answers you need to have the most successful event possible. Never stop asking questions.

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.

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 measure financial success

• Why it’s important to track and monitor your goals as you plan your event

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 organizationally and personally

- The skills you need to be able lead an event

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

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

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 for a venue

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.

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

The silent auction has ended 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

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

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

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 for donations.

• How to determine the ideal number of items to have on your auction

• A process for soliciting and tracking donations.