| Have you ever sat through a development | | | | be easier to determine if this event will help people |
| committee meeting listening to people talk about | | | | connect with your organization. Having a string |
| creating a special event that you just knew was | | | | quartet provide the music is a good idea for an |
| going to be a waste of time and effort? You're new | | | | orchestra. Having formerly homeless clients tell about |
| to the committee so don't yet feel comfortable | | | | how you helped them find a home is compelling for a |
| speaking up but you do know that doing a 5K run | | | | housing nonprofit. |
| isn't going to help this arts group in any significant | | | | Is this the right type of event for your organization? |
| way. | | | | Make sure you have the human and financial |
| Have your committee answer these questions and | | | | resources to sponsor the event. Trying to do a large, |
| you can create an event that will be worth | | | | black tie event for a small community nonprofit may |
| everyone's time and effort. | | | | not be appropriate. Doing a labor-intensive event for |
| Why are you having this event? | | | | a group with few volunteers doesn't usually make |
| Defining the why helps everyone create a meaningful | | | | sense. |
| event. Is your purpose to raise money? Increase | | | | Is this the best time and place to tell your |
| visibility? Donor appreciation? Donor acquisition? Public | | | | organization's story? |
| relations? Once you have clearly determined your | | | | Pay attention to the people you want to attend and |
| "why", then you can answer the next four questions. | | | | their schedules. If the parents of young children are |
| Is the type of event consistent with your mission? | | | | your main focus, have an early evening event and |
| Doing a wine tasting for an organization whose | | | | provide related children's activities. If your audience is |
| mission is to help alcoholics recover their lives isn't a | | | | representatives of the corporate community, |
| good idea. Creating a pizza party for a nonprofit | | | | schedule an early morning or late afternoon meeting |
| promoting healthy eating isn't a good match (unless | | | | at a convenient business location. |
| you can offer healthy pizza). | | | | Special events can be an important part of any |
| How does this event connect (or reconnect) people | | | | nonprofit's plan for raising visibility - and also for |
| to your mission? | | | | raising money - if you take the time to create a |
| Your mission is the cornerstone of your nonprofit. | | | | detailed plan for the event based on the above |
| When everyone is clear about why you exist, it will | | | | questions. |