Event 360 Blog

Editor's note: I'm excited to welcome a new guest blogger to the Event 360 blog. David Berry's professional passion is helping leaders find the courage and wisdom to create environments where they, and the people they lead, can creatively explore the limitless possibilities of their potential - and build rock-solid organizations while doing so.

In David's second post of a five-part series, he asks one of the five fundamental questions every leader must answer in a clear and compelling way if they want to build an organization of maximum engagement. Since we know that employee engagement typically runs at about 30% this is no small task. But, since we also know that organizations with higher engagement also deliver better results it's something that cannot and should not be ignored. To that end, over a series of five posts Davis is asking you to consider these questions in the hope that you will be motivated to think deeply about and take action on your own answers. The only thing at stake is the full engagement of your team in a cause worth fighting for.

The next three weeks are filled with a full slate of live and online learning and networking opportunities.

I was standing on a street corner in Portland, Oregon, a few months ago, waiting for the light to change, when I looked up and saw four different banners advertising four different fundraising events. One intersection, four corners, one banner per corner, each banner promoting a different event and all four events taking place within a few weeks of each other. It got me thinking: this really is a participant’s market.

As an event fundraising participant, the choice is mine. We live in a world where I can fundraise for any cause that tugs at my heart strings. I even have multiple events and organizations to choose from for some causes. And for others, even if there isn’t an official event for my cause, I still have the ability to create my own IFE, or independent fundraising event, to raise funds for the charity of my choice. My event fundraising options are endless.

Event 360 is raising the bar on obstacle course runs and mud runs with MuckFest MS. Described by Obstacle Racing Magazine as an "awesome event" for both experienced runners and experienced exercise-avoiders, MuckFest MS is a nationwide series of mud and obstacle course runs in 18 U.S. cities, bringing together friends, families, and corporate teams alike.

"Early on in the Obstacle Course racing season, MuckFest MS has already set the bar high," says Boston participant and mud run blogger Rob Fournier. "Other national events should take notice. The course is beautifully designed with challenging obstacles and enthusiastic volunteers. Great Course! Great Cause!"

Sponsored by Procter and Gamble's Tide® and benefiting the National MS Society, MuckFest MS is quickly becoming America's favorite mud and obstacle run with its singular focus: pure fun. Designed for people of all fitness levels as an alternative to extreme obstacle races that promise to electrocute you and set you on fire, MuckFest MS features five miles of muck-filled mazes, pits, craters, and over 20 gigantic obstacles that spin, swing and fling you up, down and sideways.

It’s shocking to find anyone, anywhere still clinging to the concept of pinning fundraising performance to an average cost ratio while imagining that’s helpful to the cause. As we’ve done a poor job of informing them otherwise, donors perhaps can be forgiven for persisting with the ‘less cost is best’ fallacy. Yet among some CEOs and charity trustee boards too the notion remains widely held as an aspiration, even today. But boards and CEOs should be allowed no excuse, because the model is simply fatuous.

Requiring a fundraising team to adhere to or even be guided by an average cost ratio target will result in underachievement, frustration for fundraisers and lots less money to change the world. For the cap excludes other perfectly viable fundraising activities that would produce additional net income (profit) at cost ratios entirely acceptable to all but the blinkered and unrealistic. So, ignorance of a cost ratio’s impact and consequences should not be allowed to flourish.

I’m a creature of habit. I like to go back to the same restaurants over and over again. I figure, why mess with a good thing? I like knowing what I’m going to get instead of being disappointed when I try something new and don’t like it. I know this is a terrible and close-minded way to live one’s life. I’ll work on this. I promise. (And for the record, this is restricted to my dining out style and is not reflective of how I live every other aspect of my life). So when my husband and I went out to eat a couple of weeks ago and wanted sushi, we ended up back at the restaurant we always go to when we’re craving raw fish.

When I hear the phrase “back to school” I think of seeing old friends and making new ones. I think of crisp new notebooks and number 2 pencils. I think of fresh starts and endless possibilities.  And today I’m excited because it’s almost time to ring the school bell.

In just a few weeks we will welcome two more groups of students to Event 360 University. On Wednesday, May 29, Molly Fast and I will be in Chicago to lead “Unlocking Value from Team Captains & Top Fundraisers.” And on Wednesday, June 5, Jeff Shuck and Laurie Schaecher will be in New York to lead “Fundraising Analytics for the Rest of Us.” Join us for one, join us for both, we’d love to see you.

As I’ve mentioned before, here at Event 360 we love talking about fundraising. And we love it even more when we can get out from behind our desks and talk about fundraising in person with other industry professionals. Through Event 360 University we are sharing what we have learned in more than 10 years as thought leaders and practitioners. We are also providing opportunities for attendees to connect with and learn from each other.

The National Office of The ALS Association is recruiting for two Regional Directors of Major Gifts. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the successful candidates will work to identify, cultivate and solicit major and planned gift donors and prospects within the assigned geographic area. The Regional Directors of Major Gifts will also personally carry a portfolio of 125-150 prospects each and actively manage relationships with those prospects. Both positions will be responsible for meeting or exceeding established individual performance goals as well as serve as senior members of the national development team.

Several blogs were buzzing this morning about a new marketing campaign from UNICEF Sweden that says people who actually want hungry, sick children saved need to donate money and supplies--not just Tweets, Facebook likes, and other virtual support. Marc Pittman wrote "Shame on UNICEF for attacking slacktivism," and Katya Andresen of the Nonprofit Marketing Blog objected to the framing.

"We like likes, and social media could be a good first step to get involved, but it cannot stop there," said UNICEF Sweden Director of Communications Petra Hallebrant. "Likes don't save children's lives. We need money to buy vaccines for instance."

Here's the poster, created in conjunction with Swedish ad agency Forsman & Bodenfors:

Editor's note: I'm excited to welcome a new guest blogger to the Event 360 blog. David Berry's professional passion is helping leaders find the courage and wisdom to create environments where they, and the people they lead, can creatively explore the limitless possibilities of their potential - and build rock-solid organizations while doing so. In David's first post of a five-part series, he writes about one of the essential elements of leadership: a guiding vision.

There are five fundamental questions every leader must answer in a clear and compelling way if they are committed to building an organization of maximum engagement. Since we know that employee engagement typically runs at about 30% this is no small task. But, since we also know that organizations with higher engagement also deliver better results it's something that cannot and should not be ignored. To that end, over a series of five posts I will ask you to consider each of these questions in the hope that you will be motivated to think deeply about and take action on your own answers. The only thing at stake is the full engagement of your team in a cause worth fighting for.