Organizational Effectiveness

Event Management

Dorenda McNeil

Published on February 25, 2009

The venue is booked, the invitations are out, and all the detailed arrangements are made. However, you’re still worried that your fundraising event won’t be a success! Although important, there is more to planning a successful event than ensuring that everything is according to a schedule. Some big picture thinking, as well as some creative, technical and logistical strategies will help ensure you’re using your budget wisely and your objectives are being met.

Five Good Ideas

Clearly outline the Who, the What, the Why, the When and the Where for the guests’.
Make each step easy for the people attending.
Be the host with the most – it may sound cliché and campy, but a happy host means a happy guest.
The right MC is worth 1,000 words (or donations).
Leverage your contacts.

Five plus one Good Resources

Event Planning: The Ultimate Guide to Successful Meetings, Corporate Events, Fundraising Galas, Conferences, Conventions, Incentives and Other Special Events by Judy Allen, John Wiley & Sons, 2000
Event Management Articles: Strategies, Ideas, Solutions & Tips
Perfect Venue – The Key To A Successful Event, article by Shaun Parker
Marketing Workbook for Nonprofit Organizations Volume II: Mobilize People for Marketing Success
10 Ways to Market Your Event on Facebook (Event Manager Blog)

Dorenda McNeil

Senior Vice President, Counsel Public Relations

Dorenda McNeil is a passionate and driven communications expert. With over 15 years of experience in public relations, marketing and strategic planning, Dorenda possesses the quintessential attributes needed to be successful in the business, including her never-ending curiosity for current events, business and culture.

Specializing in corporate communications, Dorenda regularly directs event management and media relations projects, and provides creative communication solutions for her clients.

Dorenda has managed major events involving significant planning and consultation components, including two Toronto City Summits and projects for the Trump International Hotel & Tower, Toronto. Dorenda has also been intimately involved with issue specific roundtables for many diverse groups – large and small, public, private and not-for-profit.

Prior to joining Counsel, Dorenda worked as Vice-President with Advance Planning/Manning Selvage & Lee. There she provided senior, strategic communication counsel and developed and executed multiple projects ranging from product launches to media relations. She has also engaged in managing internal and national inter-office communication programs.

Dorenda also worked as the National Manager of public and media relations for Mercer, the world’s largest human resource management consulting firm. Before Mercer, she coordinated numerous marketing initiatives at Goodman’s, one of Canada’s top ten corporate law firms.

A firm believer in business etiquette and protocol, Dorenda is a certified trainer with The Protocol School of Washington, and loves teaching others (individually or in groups) how to obtain a competitive advantage by polishing their communication and etiquette skills.

Originally from Saskatoon, Dorenda has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Saskatchewan. A professional animal lover – but an amateur decorator and cook – Dorenda loves spending time with her pets, and trying new recipes with her husband.