We are living day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute, or so it seems, when it comes to event planning in our current pandemic circumstances.
It’s springtime and for many leaders this season is synonymous with the big event. The large gathering. The fundraising mothership.
But, we can’t.
So what can we do?
We go back to the drawing board. We learn new skills and ask the younger generations for help and guidance even if needed.
We go virtual.
Will it replace the feeling donors get when arriving at a venue and taking in the painstaking splendor you’ve created, delicious foods, and tasty drinks?
No.
Will it result in the focus being on the mission of the ministry and not the experience of the donor?
Absolutely.
In the end, it’s a win for the cause.
The very first thing that’s most important is clarifying what success looks like. You’ve planned to do the event this year, whether it’s for the first time or an annual occurrence, to accomplish very specific things that move you forward in the work that you’re doing in the lives of the people that you serve.
Where do you need to be at the end of June? Where do you need to be at the end of 2020 as it relates to giving?
Any decisions, ideas, and options that come up should point us back to the essential question: how do those move us toward what success looks like?
For instance, if the success of the event was to raise a certain amount of money, if I write you a check today, that part of it is solved.
But if the other aspect of the event is to report and position people for greater giving going forward or to position people for their giving in the second half of the year, do we want to think through that?
The idea of moving virtual is just an idea. It could be a good idea. Can you do it? Can your team do it? Can you pull it off? Is it live? Is it recorded?
I’ve presented a myriad of possible considerations, but you’re not going to make good decisions if you’re not clear on exactly what success looks like. So get clear by asking these important questions:
Where do we want to be by the end of June?
And why is that important for the people we serve?
Where do we want to be at the end of December?
And why is that important for the people that we serve?
This will be the most intense level of activity you’ve ever engaged in during the past decade, in terms of thanking, reporting, listening and following up.
But if done intentionally and with success defined, it could be the most impactful level of response your ministry receives.
Stay connected during these extraordinary times via text. I want to hear from you, and encourage you along the way! Sign up here.