It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye: Letting Go of Events that are No Longer Working

Tuesday July 14th 2026

Every event has its season—but not every event is meant to last forever. Whether it’s declining attendance, shifting priorities, or a mismatch with your mission, knowing when (and how) to say goodbye can free up resources for experiences that truly matter. In this session, we’ll walk you through a thoughtful, donor-centered approach to evaluating and phasing out events that no longer serve your goals.

Learn how to:

• Assess ROI beyond dollars raised—looking at strategic alignment, staff effort, constituent engagement, and mission relevance.
• Create a transparent sunset strategy that keeps stakeholders engaged and donors cared for throughout the transition.
• Identify opportunities to repurpose or reimagine events so they better serve your institution’s current goals, audiences, and capacity.