Perception vs. Reality: Transitioning Back to In-Person Events

If you're like me, you're ready to get back to in-person events ASAP, but I think everyone is going to be handling this transition differently over the next few months. To feel more prepared for my conversations with clients, on this subject, I've spent hours doing virtual coffee meetings to collect data on nonprofit organizations' comfort level around gathering again. I've met with over 75 nonprofit professionals to understand what the last year has been like for them, and it has been very interesting to see how those conversations have evolved over the past few months. From keeping it virtual to conventions with 8,500 people, it runs the gamut. The one common element is that everyone is reflecting and trying to figure out how to do it better going forward.

I've also spoken with funders to better understand how they want to be engaged by nonprofits, and guess what? In most cases, they don't want to fill those 10-person tables at big events anymore. Most felt this way before the pandemic, but now that they've been able to support organizations when those events couldn't happen, we see that you don't need a giant fundraiser to get the support you need. What does this mean for your events? Should you still have them?

My suggestion is a shift away from the traditional fundraiser and have conversations with your funders about how they can support your organization. It makes more sense to ask them for a gift once a year, and then offer various engagement/stewardship events to build relationships and connections between your organization and the companies that support you. Not all events need to be fundraisers, and when that lightbulb clicks, it can be a game-changer for how you spend your time and money when it comes to events.

Now is the time to hit "pause" and reflect on your donor/attendee experience. LW Events is here to strategize with you and help you craft event experiences that create long-lasting donor support for your organization, not just for your events.