Maximizing Impact: The Art of Nonprofit Event Planning with Amanda Nover

Let’s dig into the critical world of nonprofit event planning with industry expert Amanda Nover. From crafting engaging fundraisers to optimizing donor journeys, get the lowdown on making every event count. Tune in for a blend of inspirational stories, practical strategies, and insider tips that can transform your nonprofit's next gathering into a resounding success.Here are a few topics we’ll discuss on this episode of the Scaling Impact Podcast.Crafting engaging nonprofit eventsIntegrating events with fundraising strategyEmpowering organizations with event goalsEnhancing donor relations post-eventNavigating financial planning for eventsResources:Amanda Nover Event StrategiesDevNoodlePodcast ChefNxtStepConnect with Amanda Nover:LinkedInConnecting with our hosts:Josh Hoffman - LinkedInAlex Garashchenko - LinkedInSean Boyce - LinkedInQuotables:14:44 - Honestly, I have not seen an organization yet say, we have a solid plan. I think everyone is just kind of waiting to see what happens, doing the best they can, and taking it day by day. Because a lot of the organizations I work with are direct service organizations, helping people with a variety of challenges who really need the help. And especially now with everything going on in our government, aren't getting it any other way. 27:23 - A lot of people say like, oh, we work all year to have this great gala. People love it. But then sometimes the people who are there don't hear from you again until you're hosting that event again the next year. That's fine, maybe they love your event, and they come every year. But is that bringing them closer to your mission at all? Is that deepening the relationship at all? Not really. So I think what a lot of organizations need to do is not just say what's gonna happen at this event, but what's gonna happen after this event? What is that follow-up gonna look like? Where are they on their journey with our organization, and where do we want them to be? And once you say where we want them to be, and that may be different for different attendees, once you say where you want them to be, how are we gonna get them there? And not just forget about them until the next year, but really think about what that journey looks like.24:13 - There's organizations who have maybe an older donor population who have been committed for years who love the organization, but they're not getting new donors in the door. They might have an event where the goal is not necessarily raising money, but building their list, finding new supporters to kind of build the base of future supporters for the organization. Or you know, the kind of event, one kind of event I love to plan is sort of a cultivation event is like a jargony term in the fundraising world, but something that's used to bring your donors or supporters closer to your mission. 45:32 - I think the biggest thing is to think about how your event fits into your larger fundraising strategy. It is a single moment in time, it's a very special moment in time. It's a really important moment in time, but it's not your whole fundraising strategy. You have your individual, your corporate, your foundation, your communications, there's all those pieces working together, and there's again, the journey that org that your supporters are on throughout the entire year, throughout their entire time with your organization. And the event is there to enhance that, whether it's a fundraising event or whether it's, you know, a feel-good community event to introduce new supporters to your mission, that is part of the strategy and can't live by itself on one side.29:53 - I think that ends up being a big pain point because people are pulled into planning events who really don't have time to do it. And then the final, I would say the final, like really big problem I see with events is some events, like a 5K, you can expect to kind of go have a great time and walk away maybe not knowing that much about the organization. And that's okay sometimes for that sort of event, but for other kinds of events, you really need to focus on how you're communicating your mission at many, many points throughout the event because you want people to not just have a great time, but be inspired, feel motivated to give, feel motivated to engage more deeply.