Respect for Event Planners
Event Planner is a different job than Engagement Officer.
The role overlaps but measured outcomes differ.
Event planners ensure flawless execution.
Engagement officers ensure conversion of attendees to volunteers, advocates, and donors.
Why This Distinction Matters for Your Career
As an Engagement Officer, you use events as tactics to help you achieve your goals, which include things like:
Influence the philanthropic pipeline
Strengthen the value of alumni networks
Support campuswide priorities
Convert attendees to volunteers
As an Event Planner, your goals might be things like:
A seamless invitation, registration, and check-in process
Positive survey responses, NPS if you use it of 50+
Adhered-to schedules and budgets
Attendance numbers
What This Means
Once you internalize this distinction, you can begin:
Delegating or templating more logistics
Elevating your follow-up processes
Guiding volunteers more meaningfully
Tracking inputs to ensure the return on the investment for each event is worthy of your time and energy
Measuring outcomes and reporting impact
Showcasing your talent to leadership
