Even if you do not have the time or a team of people available to go through the Event Toolbox Design Process there is one simple thing that you can do to increase your event success…

Create an Event Identity Statement

Your event has to be about more than the funds it raises. It must also impress onto your participants a call to action on behalf of your organization.

For each event idea that you and your event planning team can think of, use the following template to develop an event identity statement for individual participants. Consider how you would like participants to view themselves as they are engaging with the event.

A few examples:

Those attending the scrapbooking-a-thon may not have not considered themselves as part of a “community of crafters for charity” but this event has got them to think about going to more events like this one and luckily my organization has a variety of crafting for charity events to choose from.

Those attending the Women’s Conference may not have thought of themselves as a member of a growing business network of women in Boston, but this event has inspired  them to learn more about how women’s only networking can help fuel economic growth overall in the city.

Individual Participants:

I am so glad that I went to today’s event. You know, I have never really considered myself as part of /much of a _____________ before but I was thinking that I might like to start

1. …going to more events like this.
2. …volunteering at [Your organization]
3. …donating to [Your organization]
4. …learning more about [the primary mission of your organization in 5 words or less]
5. …meeting more people who are also interested in [the primary mission of your organization in 5 words or less]

This is also a good way to consider which events will do a poor job of connecting personal attachment with your mission. An example of an event you might want to consider skipping would be:

Those attending the Sports Memorabilia Auction may not have considered themselves as sports fans before, but this event inspired them to begin volunteering at the local animal shelter.

Instead consider:

Those attending the Community Dog Wash may not have considered themselves as part of a community of pet owners, but after attending this event they were inspired to meet more people interested in the welfare of animals in their county.

Why is this so important?