The Catholic School Leaders Podcast

Episode Summary:
Have you ever had someone walk into your office with an exciting new idea for a school event, and you felt the pressure to act on it immediately? Before you rush into planning, press pause.

In this episode, we discuss the common pitfalls of rushed event planning and how Catholic school leaders can create well-planned, mission-aligned, and impactful events. Whether it’s a fundraiser, community gathering, or student-centered activity, taking the time to plan with intentionality and patience can make all the difference.

✅ Press Pause Before Acting – Rushing into an event without a plan often leads to logistical issues, overspending, and frustration. Take time to assess feasibility before diving in.

✅ Define Your Event’s Purpose – Ask: Why are we doing this? Every event should align with your school’s mission, values, and goals (fundraising, community-building, student engagement, etc.).

✅ Work Backwards from Success – What does a successful event look like? Define the end goal and create a realistic timeline to ensure all key details are addressed.

✅ Budgeting Matters – Outline costs early and avoid last-minute financial surprises. Quality over speed ensures better results and responsible financial management.

✅ Know Your Target Audience – Who is this event for? Tailor your marketing, messaging, and outreach to engage the right people and maximize attendance.

✅ Create a Planning Checklist – Cover logistics like venue selection, catering, marketing, entertainment, volunteer coordination, and cleanup. Every piece matters!

✅ Collaborate with Your Team – Regular check-ins with your leadership team ensure alignment, problem-solving, and a stronger, more engaged community.

✅ Post-Event Reflection is Key – Conduct a post-event audit to evaluate what worked, what didn’t, and what can be improved for future events.

📌 Episode with Jason Curtis – Why defining your event’s purpose is critical
📌 Event Planning Post-Audit Guide – A step-by-step process for evaluating past events
📌 Elementary Advancement Framework – Learn more about community engagement strategies at ElementaryAdvancement.com

📌 Elementary Enrollment Framework – Learn more about our enrollment pillars for growth

Let’s Connect!

Planning an event at your school? Feeling stuck on fundraising or engagement efforts? Let’s chat! I’d love to help your school develop a tailored event strategy that fits your mission and goals.

📩 Email me to schedule a conversation – john@elementaryadvancement.com
🔗 Subscribe & Share – Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with fellow Catholic school leaders!

Thank you for tuning in to The Catholic School Leaders Podcast. Keep leading with faith, vision, and purpose!

#CatholicEducation #EventPlanning #SchoolLeadership #Advancement #FaithInAction

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