NonProfit

Most events don’t fail in the room. They fail in the absence of systems long before guests arrive—and long after they leave. Many organizations assume that if attendance is high, enthusiasm is strong, or the room feels energized, the event has done its job. Others assume that poor turnout means a lack of interest or visibility. In reality, both strong turnout and weak turnout often point to the same underlying issue: the absence of systems. When events are not supported by st

Nonprofit leaders often assume that when an event doesn’t meet expectations, the issue is funding. Not enough sponsors. Not enough ticket sales. Not enough donor capacity. But after supporting dozens of nonprofit events—galas, benefits, luncheons, awards, community fundraisers—we’ve seen a different pattern emerge: Most nonprofit events underperform not because of budget constraints, but because of structural ones. The Real Problem Isn’t Money — It’s Design An event is not ju