Does your committee set goals at the beginning of each banquet planning year? If not, the suggestions below will help you identify the types of goals to set and the steps needed to reach those goals.
Setting Chapter Goals: A goal without a plan is just a wish. A plan without action is just a dream.
Chapters often set goals of doing wonderful things through their fundraising events, but sometimes fall short in showing the steps needed to reach those goals, as well as following through in the actions needed to accomplish each step. As an example, a chapter that generated $75,000 net last year may set a goal to reach $100,000 net this year. It is great to set that goal, but without identifyingeach step to get to $100,000 and then following through with those steps, the likelihood of accomplishing it is not high.
Create a Plan: Let’s say your chapter is setting a goal to generate an extra $10,000 this year. Ask yourselves what things are within your control that can generate an extra $10,000. Set controllable priorities within your plan to help you reach your goals. Add your priorities and steps to your meeting agendas and regularly monitor that plan.
Some examples of measurable and controllable priorities are:
- Increasing underwriting of merchandise before your event by $X.
- Reduce expenses by evaluating where you spent money in the past. One of the easiest ways to net more dollars is to spend less!
- Increase the number of tables sold compared to the previous year by X amount.
- Maximize the number of people your banquet facility can accommodate and increase attendance by X.
- Conduct a pre-event raffle that is sold via face-to-face sales (not through your banquet invitation), which generates $XX,XXX.
- Identify items you can sell multiple of at the live auction. This is a fantastic way to add more revenue to your banquet without adding more time.
- Increase the number of live auction quality donations by X.
- Implement innovative ideas used and shared by other chapters and volunteers (ultimate gear package, Quigley Ford Scopes, Silencer Central, The Bump, HGA trips, etc.).
Create a Timeline of Priorities Within Your Plan: To reach the top of the ladder, you must climb every rung. The same is true with priorities you set within your plan. If you want to ask for an additional $2,000 in underwriting for your banquet in 10 weeks, break down that goal into two-week chunks among several volunteers. Get the first $500 from five volunteers two weeks before the next meeting, and then $500 from five volunteers every two weeks thereafter. $2,000 may initially seem like a lofty goal, but when broken down into smaller goals, it becomes much more achievable. Put these smaller goals within your agendas and celebrate when you reach each goal.
Take Action: By setting smaller priorities and seeing them through, you begin chipping away at your larger overall goals. Motivated and disciplined volunteers who stack up wins will inspire others to do the same. By celebrating the success of those who advance and meet those priorities, you inspire them to do more while encouraging others to do the same.
Conclusion: Setting realistic achievable goals is important for keeping a committee motivated. It is great to set lofty expectations but for the committee’s morale, it is important that those expectations are within reach and the plan to reach those goals is laid out and ready for action. Staying disciplined by using structured committee meeting agendas will help with the monitoring and sharing of progress while also recognizing committee members for their efforts.