Early event planning helps land trusts enjoy success all year long.
But don’t take our word for it. We asked an organization that is reaping the benefits of planning events far in advance. According to Carol Abrahamzon, executive director of Mississippi Valley Conservancy, the organization started the practice a few years ago and has seen a positive impact.
Planning early gets staff engaged, enables effective marketing, increases event attendance, AND helps raise funds through sponsorships and other major gifts.
Advance planning for events can help raise funds.
Year-end appeals offer an opportunity to highlight the conservation successes supporters make possible, and to preview experiences in the year ahead. Mississippi Valley Conservancy encloses their event calendar with the appeal so all supporters and prospective donors can anticipate more good work and great fun in the year ahead.
Even if you don’t have a full calendar of events in hand yet, feature a main event to generate anticipation.
As Carol observes, “When sponsors see other organizations in the community offering a sponsorship, they also want to get involved. Because of our advance scheduling practice, Mississippi Valley Conservancy has many organizations contact us about partnership opportunities. This year, one of the major event sponsors also decided to sponsor the entire communications program!”
Employ these best practices for the most success.
Here are more recommendations and encouragement from Mississippi Valley Conservancy to plan in advance for your land trust’s events. Begin planning your events today and you’ll have a powerful promotional and fundraising tool to use for the rest of the year.
- Involve all of your staff in the planning process. This helps familiarize staff with all of your land trust’s properties. Engaging staff to host and attend events offers a professional development opportunity.
- Plan early for effective marketing. Give yourself at least three month’s lead time in order to strategize how to post, publish, and pitch across press releases, social media, and fundraising appeals.
- Build anticipation and increase attendance. Many people plan their social calendars weeks or months in advance. Publishing your events early and often gives your events a chance to be featured by another organization.
- Create buzz and secure sponsorships in your community. Fundraising and sponsorships can become a natural part of conversations when you publicize events around the community. Talk about your event at the local diner, ask for donations from your favorite coffee shop, or work with your grocer to post flyers on the bulletin board.
- Start small, but get started! Consider up to four events a year, and package them together. Give this series of events a name to make it concrete. This offers a value you can sell to a major sponsor.
