We had the pleasure of sitting down with Riley, one of our exceptional event coordinators at LW Events. With her extensive experience and passion for event planning, Riley has mastered the art of creating unforgettable experiences. In this interview, she shares her valuable insights, from practical tips to the latest trends shaping the future of event planning.

I'm asked this question all the time, especially when I'm chatting with new, potential clients. Measuring your event's success is not as simple as you may think. While LW Events does not do direct fundraising for our clients (it would be a conflict of interest), we have the development background to be able to provide fundraising strategy, structure and advice.

I'm an expert event planner, but I didn’t go to business school. When I decided to make LW Events my full-time job, there was (and is) so much to learn. One of my core principles is to work with nonprofits. I want to help them tell their stories through events, while also contributing to their fundraising goals. Little did I know that it's not that simple when you're running a business by yourself.

Everyone knows that nonprofit events are usually about a combination of several things: fundraising, engagement, community building and donor stewardship. However, many nonprofits make the mistake of not including storytelling in that list. It's important to remember that there are always going to be attendees that don't know anything about an organization's mission, and it is the nonprofit's responsibility to ensure that everyone at their event feels welcomed, included and informed — regardless of how engaged they were prior to attending. And that's where storytelling comes in. 

Since launching LW Events full-time in February, it has been a whirlwind of activity! I could not have imagined how quickly my calendar would fill up with amazing events and meetings with new potential clients and referral sources.

This month, LW Events is busy executing some incredible events with our amazing clients. We are especially looking forward to two events with Huckleberry House. The first is their Sleep Out Kick-off event on April 12, where guests can mingle at Strongwater and learn more about the work of Huck House. Then, on April 21, we’ll Sleep Out at COSI with Huck House.

After over eight years of building LW Events as a side business (and having a full-time job at the same time), I finally made the leap to pursue LW Events as a full-time job.

Without fail, every time I start working with a new client the first conversation is all about logistics and what's happening at the event. While all of that is really important, my first suggestion is to pause and take a step back.

As a Jewish-owned business, the past few weeks have been terrifying. While I was completing what should have been a very exciting round of events, I was consumed with the state of the world right now.

With everyone finally feeling comfortable coming together, venues, caterers and other vendors are starting to book-up for the holiday season. We recommend getting a head start on your holiday party planning now.