That Sounds Like a Plan!

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

Download my free guide to walk you through a step by step process to intentionally and strategically recruit your planning team.  The guide includes an example planning team org chart 

• SHOW NOTES:  https://www.thatsoundslikeaplan.net/episodes/31
• Ep 20_Event Volunteer Basics

If you have questions about working one-on-one with me, you can set up a free discovery call by contacting me at [email protected] 

RIpple Event FB Page:  https://www.facebook.com/RippleEventMktg

Ripple Event Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/rippleeventmktg/

Podcast Facebook Community:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/thatsoundslikeaplan

Text me with a comment, question or topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode.

Event sponsorship is arguably one of the most challenging and stressful aspects of planning a fundraising event.  Part of that stress is driven by the fact that there are IRS rules about what you can and cannot do and there’s a fine line where sponsorship can unintentionally drift from sponsorship to advertising.  

I talk about this and more with my special guest Jess Birken of Birken Law, a Minneapolis law firm that specializes in Nonprofit Law.

In this interview Jess and I discuss:

• When does sponsorship become advertising? 
• What does it mean when that happens?  What are the consequences? 
• How can you prevent this from happening or plan ahead

Jess shares her best tips and advice for creating a win-win value proposition with your event sponsors

• Is your nonprofit healthy?  Take Jess's free quiz
• Come up with an event sponsorship plan
• Review the IRS rules
• Talk to your lawyer, accountant or both to make sure you don’t face unintended consequences with your sponsorship offerings 

• Ep. 30 Show Notes
• Alicia’s interview on Jess’s Pocast, Charity Therapy

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessBirken 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/birkenlaw 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessbirken/ 
• Instagram: @jessbirken

Text me with a comment, question or topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode.

For nonprofits, sponsorship packages all tend to look the same; logos on websites and printed materials, tables at the event, social media mentions, etc.  So how does a nonprofit stand out from the competition and create long term relationships with their sponsors?  The answer…Sponsor Activations.  

In this episode I share:

• What is a sponsor activation?  
• Why a hybrid model of the tiered package + activations is preferred.
• A step by step process for coming up with activation ideas and pitching them to sponsor prospects. 

After listening to the episode, come up with an idea for one sponsor activation, make a list of 1-2 companies that would be a good fit for that activation and follow the steps to pitch the activation to that sponsor. 

SHOW NOTES:  https://www.thatsoundslikeaplan.net/episodes/29

Rolex Green Room

Ep. 28_7 Steps to Get Ready for Sponsorship Sales

If you have questions about working one-on-one with me, you can set up a free discovery call by contacting me at [email protected] 

RIpple Event FB Page:  https://www.facebook.com/RippleEventMktg

Ripple Event Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/rippleeventmktg/

Podcast Facebook Community:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/thatsoundslikeaplan

Text me with a comment, question or topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode.

Sponsorship sales is one of the most important, yet most daunting, tasks for your fundraising event.  It’s not just something you can dive into.  There’s a lot of prep work that needs to happen behind the scenes before you can begin.  I break it the prep work down into 7 steps.  

In this episode I share:

• Why you should have a clear definition of your target audience
• How to break down creating a budget and set your sponsorship goals into easy steps.  
• The importance of having realistic and measurable sponsor goals and benefits
• The best place to start when creating a sponsor prospect list

In this episode, each step is an action item.  Head to the show notes to view the transcript and the 7 steps.  Block time on your calendar to take care of each step.  Go to the Show Notes to find examples of an event budget and sponsor grid.  

If you have questions about this episode or any others, join the FB community and post a question.  

SHOW NOTES:  http://www.thatsoundslikeaplan.net/episodes/28

Ep. 1_Are you planning your event backwards?

Ep. 3_Why you shouldn’t call your gala a gala

RIpple Event FB Page:  https://www.facebook.com/RippleEventMktg

Ripple Event Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/rippleeventmktg/

Podcast Facebook Community:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/thatsoundslikeaplan

Text me with a comment, question or topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode.

This is an episode called a Planner Pep Talk or PPT.   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. 

Working hard is important but so is taking time off to recharge.  When you don't allow yourself time off, both mentally and physically, from work you risk burning out.  It may seem counterintuitive but you also reduce your effectiveness when you don't take time off.   If you need permission to take a much needed break, you'll get it here. 

FACEBOOK COMMUNITY:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/thatsoundslikeaplan

RIPPLE EVENT INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/rippleeventmktg/

SHOW NOTES:  https://www.thatsoundslikeaplan.net/episodes/27

Text me with a comment, question or topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode.

Are you heading into the new year excited and ready to take on your first event?  Or are you feeling overwhelmed and anxious?  If it’s the latter, it may mean you simply need to do some year-end tasks that will set you up for success for next year’s events.    

In this episode I share:

• Why you need a recap for all events
• Why you should start recruiting your planning team now
• The importance of organizing your digital files and event “stuff”
• How to create an event kit and what you should put in it

Head to the show notes for the list of items I keep in my event kits.    

Sign up for my email newsletter 

SHOW NOTES:  https://www.thatsoundslikeaplan.net/episodes/26

Ep. 22_Creating an Internal Event Recap

Ep. 20_Event Volunteer Basics

RIpple Event FB Page:  https://www.facebook.com/RippleEventMktg

Ripple Event Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/rippleeventmktg/

Podcast Facebook Community:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/thatsoundslikeaplan

Text me with a comment, question or topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode.

This is an episode called a Planner Pep Talk or PPT.   Planning fundraising events is not easy.  These pep talks are designed to let you know you're not alone with some of the frustrating aspects of planning an event. Whenever you need a little encouragement, check out any of the PPT episodes. 

The last couple of weeks leading up to your event is one of the most stressful periods of event planning.   There are lots of last-minute changes and details to take care of.  If you're tired and stressed, you're not alone.

FACEBOOK COMMUNITY:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/thatsoundslikeaplan

RIPPLE EVENT INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/rippleeventmktg/

SHOW NOTES:  https://www.thatsoundslikeaplan.net/episodes/25

Text me with a comment, question or topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode.

What is an event script?  Why would you need one for a small nonprofit event?  I answer these questions and more in this week’s episode.      

In this episode I share:

• Why you need an event script, no matter how small your event or program
• What should be the maximum length of your program
• The format and content of your script

Head to the show notes and download three script freebies!  You will get a sample script, a list of AV terminology and definitions and the 7 biggest script mistakes.    

Sign up for my email newsletter so you get freebies like the recap template right to your inbox.  

SHOW NOTES:  https://www.thatsoundslikeaplan.net/episodes/24

Ep. 4_Leaving enough time to plan your event

Ep. 21_Two ways to stay on track on event day

RIpple Event FB Page:  https://www.facebook.com/RippleEventMktg

Ripple Event Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/rippleeventmktg/

Podcast Facebook Community:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/thatsoundslikeaplan

Text me with a comment, question or topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode.

Being nervous on event day is understandable.  Your mind is filled with all kinds of scenarios of what could go wrong.  

In this episode I share:

• The three ways to minimize issues
• The five areas where problems tend to arise
• How to keep your cool on event day

Ep. 21_Two ways to stay on track on event day

RIpple Event FB Page:  https://www.facebook.com/RippleEventMktg

Ripple Event Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/rippleeventmktg/

Podcast Facebook Community:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/thatsoundslikeaplan

Text me with a comment, question or topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode.

There are many lessons learned each time you and your team plan a nonprofit fundraising or awareness building event.  An internal recap document is how you capture those lessons and use what you've learned to build on and improve your event for the next time around.    

In this episode I share:

• What an internal recap is and why you need one
• The input you need for a thorough recap 
• The structure + dos and don’ts for your recap

Head to the show notes and download the recap template.  Adapt it to fit your needs so you’ll be prepared for your debrief meeting.  

Sign up for my email newsletter so you get freebies like the recap template right to your inbox.  

SHOW NOTES:  www.thatsoundslikeaplan.net/episodes/22

Ep. 14_The importance of an external event recap with Jen Gilhoi

RIpple Event FB Page:  https://www.facebook.com/RippleEventMktg

Ripple Event Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/rippleeventmktg/

Podcast Facebook Community:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/thatsoundslikeaplan

Text me with a comment, question or topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode.