This session will dive into the innovative strategies the team at Hackensack Meridian Health used to keep on cultivating, engaging, and fundraising with supporters when traditional in-person event models were put on hold during the pandemic.
We will share how we not only pivoted our fundraising events, but were still able to advance major gift strategies and use events as key tools to cultivate and steward donors and prospects. Finally, we’ll cover how to refocus events strategically as we adjust to the new normal.
We’ll talk how (hard) lessons learned serve as a springboard to design fundraising events in a new way for post-pandemic success and long-term engagement and we’ll delve into tactics that you can use in your planning today…and beyond.
Key Takeaways:
- Reimagine playbook for fundraising, cultivation and stewardship events.
- Tips and best practices to coordinate and promote virtual and hybrid events and newly necessitated year-long fundraising activities.
- Learn contingency planning strategies for 2021 and beyond with a focus on keeping donors safe and your fundraising on track.
Speaker
Michelle Casserly
Executive Director of Strategic Events, Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation
As the Executive Director of Strategic Events for the Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation, my team and I are responsible for the planning and execution of all logistics related to 14 annual fundraisers and many other donor-centered events. Prior to the pandemic, I had increased the revenue total and strategic value of the activities during my nearly 13-year tenure. I lead a team of committee members, volunteers and 4 colleagues to increase stewardship and cultivation, ensure productivity and profitability and align events with the organization’s mission.
I have over 20 years of experience in event planning, working in a variety of roles in the publishing, sports, hospitality and pharmaceutical industries and hold a CSEP (certified special event planner), certification through ILEA (the International Live Events Association).