I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the Development team from the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus. Their signature event, Brunch on the Bay, held its 30th Anniversary recently. Thirty years! That kind of legacy clearly takes hard work, creativity, and a lovingly supportive community. Famously known for its lobster tails (!) and more than 20 other amazing restaurant stations, it’s one of the only events I do that is ideally suited for an open-air tent. They do a great job of mission messaging, and the crowd gives enthusiastically in the Paddle Raise. Deciding all those years ago to brand a brunch instead of a nighttime gala has made USF S-M stand out in a sea of other fundraisers.

If your team isn’t thinking before each event about how to stand out and be memorable, you’re missing an opportunity to build community and loyalty.