Colorado Gives Day falls on December 8 this year. For many nonprofits, the real campaign starts five weeks earlier.
 
Early giving opens November 1. Every gift made between then and December 8 counts toward an organization’s Colorado Gives Day total. That’s more than a month of momentum instead of a single 24-hour sprint, and most nonprofits plan for it.
 
Last year, Coloradoans set a new record. This year, the nonprofits we work with are getting ready to build on it, starting with day one of early giving.
 
Here’s what you need to know.

​What Is Colorado Gives Day?
Colorado Gives Foundation created Colorado Gives Day in 2010 to grow charitable giving among Colorado residents through the ColoradoGives.org platform. The annual event falls on the second Tuesday in December, which is December 8 this year.
 
The giving window is wider than the name suggests. Early giving begins in November, and a $1 million+ Incentive Fund boosts every donation made during that window. Nonprofits can also compete for cash prizes, made possible by the Colorado Gives Foundation and its new presenting sponsor, PNC Bank.
 
That incentive fund is the secret ingredient. It’s shared in proportion to giving: a nonprofit that receives 10% of total Colorado Gives Day donations receives 10% of the fund. Every gift grows an organization’s share.

The Numbers Behind the Movement
2025 set a new record. 102,835 donors contributed $56,533,062, the largest total in the event’s 16-year history. That topped the $54.8 million raised in 2024.
 
A few more figures from the 2025 results stand out:

• $56.5 million raised through 261,513 donations
• Donors supported an average of 2.37 organizations each
• More than 92% of participating nonprofits received a donation, a total of 4,618 nonprofits
• More than $581 million raised for Colorado nonprofits since 2010

​Fifteen years ago, this story looked very different. In 2010, Colorado ranked near the bottom of the country for charitable giving. Platforms like ColoradoGives.org helped turn that around. A June 2026 Common Sense Institute report found that Coloradoans gave $6.1 billion to local causes in 2025 and contribute 110 million volunteer hours each year. That same report ranks Colorado second in the nation for the share of residents who donate.

​Giving Trends Worth Watching
The totals tell one story. The trends underneath tell a more useful one.
 
Giving is growing across the board. In 2025, ColoradoGives.org processed $87 million in donations. Dollars donated rose 27%, the number of donors grew 19%, and the number of nonprofits receiving gifts rose 12%. Coloradoans are giving more, and more of them are giving.
 
Generosity is holding up under pressure. That growth came as rising costs pushed Colorado to the fourth-most-expensive state in the nation. Budgets are tight, and donors keep showing up anyway.
 
Monthly giving is gaining momentum. Beyond one-time gifts, Colorado Gives Foundation matched $250,000 in monthly donations last year to support nonprofits year-round. A recurring gift keeps working long after December.
 
Businesses are joining in. Ninety-nine businesses raised $496,988. Kelly Dunkin, president and CEO of the Colorado Gives Foundation, points out that giving back boosts both brand recognition and employee engagement.
 
Human services lead the way. Most donations go to human services organizations such as food banks, emergency shelters, and mental health care. Education, the arts, animal rescue, and youth programs follow close behind.

Why Colorado Gives Day Sets Nonprofits Up for Success
Year-end giving is crowded. Inboxes fill up. Every organization competes for attention in the same few weeks. Colorado Gives Day cuts through that noise in a few ways.
 
It turns one day into five weeks. Early giving lets nonprofits build a full campaign instead of betting everything on a single Tuesday. Donors who give in November create early momentum, and that momentum tends to draw others in. Organizations also have time to share progress, thank supporters along the way, and make a strong final push on December 8.
 
It gives the season a clear deadline. A shared date across the state creates urgency that a single nonprofit would struggle to build alone. That’s why many of the nonprofits we work with center their year-end campaigns on Colorado Gives Day.
 
It stretches every dollar. The incentive fund and prizes add value to every gift. That gives donors a compelling reason to give through ColoradoGives.org.
 
It removes friction. Donors can give by credit card, bank transfer, PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. They can also give through an IRA, a donor-advised fund, a wire transfer, or gifts of stock, and support several organizations in a single checkout.
 
It costs nothing to join. The platform is free for nonprofits, and more organizations now use it for their own events throughout the year.
 
The strongest campaigns treat December 8 as a finish line, not a starting line. They plan the story, the asks, and the thank-yous well before November 1. It’s the kind of fundraising support we provide for nonprofits across Northern Colorado.
​
Local Nonprofits We’re Cheering For
Meals on Wheels of Greeley and Weld County. Since April 1, 1970, this organization has delivered hot, nutritious meals to neighbors who can’t prepare food for themselves. Today, more than 200 volunteers deliver about 57,000 meals a year to roughly 500 clients. Each delivery includes a friendly visit and a check-in, which helps older adults stay healthy and independent at home. Support Meals on Wheels on ColoradoGives.org.

SAINT Volunteer Transportation. SAINT has served the community since 1983. Volunteer drivers use their own vehicles to provide free, door-to-door rides within Loveland and Fort Collins. The mission is to help older adults and people with disabilities stay independent and connected to their community. A ride to the doctor or the grocery store can make the difference between staying home and losing independence. Support SAINT on ColoradoGives.org.

Both organizations help neighbors stay independent, connected, and safe at home. That kind of work deserves a strong December, and a strong November, too!

How to Make Your Gift Go Further

1. Give early. Gifts made starting November 1 count the same as gifts made on December 8, and early momentum helps your favorite nonprofit build its campaign.
2. Spread the love. You can support several organizations in one checkout.
3. Consider monthly giving. Recurring gifts give nonprofits steady funding they can plan around.
4. Think beyond your credit card. Gifts of stock, IRA distributions, and donor-advised funds are all options. Ask your financial advisor which one fits your situation.
5. Share it. A fundraising page or a quick social post can bring new supporters to a cause you love.

Frequently Asked Questions
When is Colorado Gives Day 2026?
Colorado Gives Day is Tuesday, December 8, 2026. Early giving opens November 1, and every gift from then through December 8 counts toward a nonprofit’s total.

Do early gifts count toward the incentive fund?
Yes. Gifts made during early giving are boosted by the incentive fund, the same as gifts made on December 8.

What is the Colorado Gives Day Incentive Fund?
It’s a pool of more than $1 million, based on recent years, shared among participating nonprofits in proportion to the donations each one receives.

How can I donate?
Visit ColoradoGives.org and search for the organizations you want to support. You can give by credit card, bank transfer, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, IRA, donor-advised fund, wire transfer, or stock.

Can my business participate?
Yes. Businesses can rally their teams, sponsor the event, or raise money for causes their employees care about.
 
Planning a year-end campaign? Big Deal Company helps nonprofits plan, write, and run fundraising efforts that connect with donors. Start the conversation at 970-613-1455 or bigdealcompany.com/contact-us

A conference can look flawless on paper. Great venue? Check. Speakers booked? Check. Lunch ordered? Check. Name badges ready? Check. Then the doors open.

Suddenly, 300 people are waiting in the registration line, no one can find Breakout Room C, the coffee station is backing up, the keynote speaker needs an adapter that isn’t available, and half the attendees are checking their email instead of connecting. Planning a conference involves much more than just booking rooms and creating an agenda. The small details that go smoothly often go unnoticed, but when they go wrong, people remember them.

At BIG DEAL Company, we’ve organized multi-day conferences, corporate meetings, trade shows, retreats, and events throughout Colorado and across the country. Here are 10 conference planning mistakes we believe need more attention. Think of this as a conference planning checklist for the details that don't always make it onto the checklist. 

1. Choosing the Venue Before You Know How the Event Needs to Work
It’s exciting to find a beautiful venue, but what looks good isn’t always what works best.
Before signing a contract, think beyond capacity. How will 400 people get from the keynote to three breakout sessions? Where will they grab coffee? Is there enough space outside meeting rooms for conversations? Where will exhibitors load in? How far are the restrooms from the meeting space?
​
Even something as basic as elevator capacity can cause problems when hundreds of people need to change floors at once. Start with the attendee experience and your event goals, then choose a venue that fits those needs.
If you’re beginning the venue search, BIG DEAL Company’s guide to planning conferences and retreats with a national event planner offers a look at some of the considerations that go into larger events.

2. Filling Every Minute of the Agenda
A schedule that runs nonstop from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. might seem impressive, but people need time to process what they learn, check their messages, take breaks, grab coffee, and network. Often, the best moments at a conference happen outside the planned sessions.

Rather than asking, “What else can we fit in?” try asking, “Where can people have time to breathe?” Schedule 20- or 30-minute breaks, optional activities, longer lunches, or open networking times on purpose. Treat open time as an important part of the program, not just empty space to fill.

3. Planning for Attendance Instead of Engagement

Having 500 people show up isn’t the same as having 500 people engaged. Today, attendee engagement is one of the most important ways to measure an event’s success. Cvent’s 2026 venue sourcing research found that 63% of planners see attendee engagement as a top success factor.

So let’s ask: what do we want attendees to do while they’re here?
Meet three new people? Participate in a discussion? Visit exhibitors? Learn a new skill? Connect with company leadership?

Once you know what you want people to do, plan the event to encourage that. A conference shouldn’t just give people a place to sit—it should give them reasons to get involved.
Read more about current venue sourcing and attendee engagement trends from Cvent.

4. Putting Networking on the Agenda and Assuming It Will Happen
“Networking: 4:00–5:00 p.m.”  Great. But now what?
Putting 200 strangers in a ballroom with drinks doesn’t guarantee real connections. Give people reasons to talk. Add conversation prompts to cocktail tables, group attendees by industry or interest, offer small-group discussions, and set up comfortable lounge areas away from the noise. Try these ideas to make networking memorable.

• Conversation prompt cards: Place unexpected, work-related questions on tables that go beyond “What do you do?” Try prompts like, “What’s one problem you wish someone here could help you solve?”
• Interest-based meeting spots: Create designated areas for different industries, job roles, interests, or conference topics so attendees can easily find people with something in common.
• Networking challenges: Give attendees a simple mission, such as meeting someone from another industry, finding someone with a complementary skill, or making three new connections before lunch.
• Small-group rotations: Instead of one large networking reception, periodically put attendees into groups of four to six people. Smaller groups make it much harder to stand quietly on the sidelines.
• Conversation-friendly spaces: Add lounge seating, cocktail tables, quieter corners, and places to set down a drink or plate. The physical environment can make networking significantly easier.
• Build networking into an activity: Use trivia, collaborative challenges, tasting experiences, workshops, games, or other activities that give strangers something to do together. Conversation tends to happen more naturally when “networking” isn't the only objective.

5. Forgetting About the Five-Minute Experience
Conference planners naturally focus on the big things: keynote speakers, meals, entertainment, audiovisual production, and breakout sessions. But attendees experience dozens of tiny moments throughout the day.

• Where do I put my coat?
• Can I charge my phone?
• Where can I refill my water bottle?
• Where can I take a phone call?
• Is there somewhere quiet to sit?
• Where do I put my coffee when I’m trying to shake someone’s hand?

Each of these things might seem small on its own, but together, they affect how comfortable and organized your event feels.
Before the event, walk through the conference as an attendee and look for small issues that could cause problems.

6. Treating Accessibility as a Checklist
Accessibility shouldn’t be something you address after the floor plan and agenda are finished. Think about it from the beginning.

Consider aisle width, seating options, captioning, accessible entrances, signage, dietary needs, sensory stimulation, registration forms, transportation, and quiet spaces. One especially useful idea is to include accessibility questions during registration rather than waiting for attendees to contact you individually.
Accessibility improvements often help everyone. For example, a quiet room can support someone with sensory needs and also give an executive a place to relax before presenting.

7. Forgetting to Plan the Transitions
Here’s one of the least glamorous parts of conference planning and one of the most important:
What happens between things?

• If a keynote ends at 10:00 and breakout sessions begin at 10:05, can everyone realistically get there?
• What happens when 350 people leave the ballroom at once?
• Will they all encounter the coffee station?
• The sponsor displays?
• The restrooms?
• A narrow hallway?

Good conference planning also considers the spaces and moments between scheduled activities.
Sometimes, simply moving a coffee station or adding five minutes to the schedule can do more for attendees than adding another activity.

8. Making Food About the Menu Instead of the Schedule
Yes, the food should be good. But conference catering is also logistics. If 500 attendees have a 45-minute lunch break, how quickly can they actually be served? If everyone gets coffee at the same time, how many stations do you need? Are vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly options clearly identified?

Here’s something planners sometimes miss:

Where will the food be placed? Even a beautiful buffet can cause problems if the line blocks an entrance or makes people walk against the natural flow of the room. Consider food as part of your floor plan and schedule, not just as a catering order.

9. Having a Plan B That’s Really Just “We’ll Figure It Out”
What happens when the microphone stops working? A speaker’s flight is canceled. The outdoor reception gets hit with a Colorado thunderstorm. The Wi-Fi struggles. A vendor is late.

No one enjoys planning for problems, but professional event planning means deciding what to do before something goes wrong. Make backup plans for your biggest risks and choose who can make quick decisions.

Even better, decide in advance what will trigger your backup plan. For example, instead of saying, “If the weather is bad, we’ll move inside,” set a time and process: “At 1:00 p.m., the event lead and venue manager will check the forecast. If severe weather is likely, the reception moves indoors.”

This way, you have a clear decision process instead of a last-minute debate.

10. Trying to Make the Internal Team Do Everything
Your employees may be highly organized and capable. That doesn’t mean they should spend conference day looking for extension cords, texting the caterer, checking speaker arrivals, answering attendee questions, and figuring out why the presentation won’t display correctly.

Ask yourself what you really want your team to do during the conference. If they should be building relationships, talking with employees, meeting sponsors, or joining sessions, they shouldn’t also be handling all the behind-the-scenes work.
That’s one of the biggest differences between organizing an event internally and bringing in an experienced event planning partner.

If you’re considering outside help, here are five questions to ask before hiring a planner for a multi-day conference.

The Best Conferences Feel Easier Than They Were to Plan
Attendees don’t need to know that someone spent 20 minutes deciding where the coffee station should go. They shouldn’t notice there was a backup laptop behind the stage, a lunch schedule change, or a plan for a delayed speaker. They just know the conference felt easy. That’s usually the sign of great event planning.

The BIG DEAL Company team manages conferences, corporate meetings, retreats, trade shows, and special events from Northern Colorado to destinations across the country. If you’re planning an event with many people, lots of details, or little room for mistakes, connect with BIG DEAL Company to see how an experienced team can make things much easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How far in advance should you start planning a conference?
For a large or multi-day conference, planning can easily begin nine to 12 months in advance, and sometimes earlier. Venue availability, hotel room blocks, speakers, entertainment, transportation, and vendor availability can all affect the timeline. Starting early also gives you more flexibility instead of forcing you to choose from whatever is still available.

2. What is the most commonly overlooked part of conference planning?Attendee flow is one of the easiest things to overlook. Planners often focus on what happens inside each room without considering what happens when hundreds of attendees leave those rooms at the same time. Hallways, elevators, restrooms, food stations, registration areas, and transitions between sessions all deserve attention.

3. How can you make a corporate conference more engaging?
Start by identifying what you want attendees to do, not simply what you want them to hear. Build in opportunities for conversation, participation, movement, networking, smaller group discussions, and downtime. Engagement doesn’t always require more entertainment or technology. Sometimes it requires fewer presentations and more opportunities to participate.

4. When should you hire a professional conference planner?
Consider bringing in a professional planner when the event involves multiple days, several vendors, hundreds of attendees, travel logistics, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, complicated audiovisual needs, or an internal team that needs to participate in the conference rather than run it. An experienced planner can also be valuable much earlier in the process, particularly during venue sourcing, budgeting, contract review, and event design.

The CEO of BIG DEAL Company, Christine Kovacs Forster, lives and breathes JOY.  Entertaining people and being entertained is what simply moves her.  My Big Day (now BIG DEAL) was formed in 2006 after Christine received constant requests to help businesses with their marketing and event planning.  In 2023 she re-branded as BIG DEAL Company.

With 28 years in media and event planning, today her passion lies in creating events for all to enjoy and campaigns that elevate businesses and non-profits. Christine serves on numerous event and marketing committees, was a Commissioner for the City of Loveland, serves as an advisor to Destination Colorado, and served on boards for local non-profits. Giving back is a priority both personally and professionally.

BIG DEAL clients recognize Christine as their fearless partner who runs each event with a walkie-talkie, clipboard, and numerous spreadsheets. "Organized" is an understatement. Her national media advertising experience lends itself to significant local client successes.  The event & marketing business is a relationship business, and Christine is known for being a connector in the community, and ultimately a friend to everyone she meets!  She and her team pride themselves on extraordinary service and original events.

Education: 
Bachelors in Organizational Communications
Diploma in Learning and Development
Event and Hospitality Management Certification
​Event Marketing Certification
Tourism Marketing Certification
​Gamification Certification
Online Marketing Certification
Hotel & Catering Management Certification
Mobile Marketing Certification
Wedding Planner Certification
TIPS Certified
Tenderwise Training Complete
​Digital Marketing Certification
Responsible Alcohol Sales
​Cannabis Impaired Driving Certification

With over a decade of experience in professional event planning, Tiffany brings creativity and expertise to every project. Her passion for creating memorable experiences stems from her belief that the perfect blend of cuisine, beverages, music, and people creates extraordinary moments.

With a degree in Hospitality and Restaurant Management, specializing in Event Planning, Tiffany successfully transitioned her event coordination skills into a dynamic marketing career at BIG DEAL Company. She thrives in the fast-paced digital landscape, continuously expanding her expertise through professional development and staying ahead of emerging trends.
Her commitment to excellence and eagerness to embrace new challenges makes her a valuable asset to any project. Tiffany's dedication to continuous learning and growth is reflected in her innovative approaches to both marketing strategies and event management.

Education: 
Internship with My Big Day (now BIG DEAL)
Bachelor of Science, Hospitality and Restaurant Management
Event Marketing Certification
Tourism Marketing Certification
TIPS Certified
Tenderwise Training Complete
Responsible Alcohol Sales
​Cannabis Impaired Driving Certification

Sarah discovered her passion for events while planning her own wedding in 2011. Since then, she has designed and executed events for life’s most meaningful milestones, with her work featured in renowned publications such as Martha Stewart Weddings, The Knot, Style Me Pretty, 100 Layer Cake, and You & Your Wedding magazine.

In 2018, Sarah joined BIG DEAL Company, where she has expanded her expertise to include corporate events, nonprofit fundraisers, political campaigns, event marketing, and the company’s signature events. In addition to event planning, Sarah curates content for platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. She also channels her creativity into writing blogs for nonprofit organizations and small business clients.

When she is not busy with work or her twin girls, she enjoys time with family and friends, hiking around Fort Collins, solving jigsaw puzzles, and binge-watching a good TV show. Sarah is thrilled to be a member of a creative, innovative team of women.

Education:
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with a minor in Fashion Merchandising 
​Tourism Marketing Certification
Political Campaign Internship
TIPS Certified
Tenderwise Training Complete
Event Marketing Certification
Cvent Event Management Certification
​Cannabis Impaired Driving Certification

Lesli Tanski’s path has been curvy with lots of U-turns, detours, and construction.  Always driven by a sense of curiosity and passion for positivity she has seen success and experienced failure and applies it to her marketing knowledge and skills.  She was born and raised in Colorado and went on to receive her film degree in Vancouver, Canada followed by her undergraduate in Liberal Arts from Colorado State University.  She worked as a commercial producer for Comcast Spotlight for nearly eleven years before opening a food and spirit specialty shop with her husband in downtown Fort Collins.  It was through the business that she fell in love with the connection a business can create with its community whether it’s in person or online.  Other notable accomplishments include a master's degree in Library Education and undergraduate studies in media studies and English.  Lesli has had the fortune of growing up in a family and community that embraces creativity, love, and the common desire to constantly learn new things. 
​
Lesli’s other passions include being involved in animal advocacy, being an awesome aunt, knitting, and loving her husband and cats.  In case it’s not obvious she’s a card-carrying cat lady.  

Education:
Masters of Library Education
Bachelor of Arts , Liberal Arts 
Film and Film Studies Degree
Google Analytics Academy Certification

Kathleen’s career began in media sales, advertising, and marketing. Working in advertising mediums from commercial radio and TV to public radio, streaming video, podcasts, and along the way, working with businesses to improve their share of voice, and get the most from their marketing budget.
She joined BIG DEAL to continue to share her understanding of marketing and promotions.
Most of Kathleen’s career has been spent working with Northern Colorado businesses, helping them to navigate the sometimes confusing advertising industry. She has numerous connections, and influence in the area.
She and her husband Dan have 3 dogs, and stay very active with fitness rituals, travel, and doggy explorations.

Education:
Bachelors of Science in Business – Marketing - “magna cum laude”
Certificate – Center For Sales Strategy
Certified – Google Ads

Boards & Committees:
City of Loveland, Community Marketing Commission
Marketing & Development Committee – La Familia / The Family Center
Marketing Committee Co-Chair – Denkai Animal Sanctuary
College America – Program Advisory Committee

Mikaela brings deep experience in strategic event planning, community relations and corporate social responsibility to The Big Deal Company. As a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) with more than a decade in the nonprofit and corporate sectors, she thrives at the intersection of purpose and business.
Mikaela has banking experience and focuses on marketing and events for the western markets. Previously, she's held various event and community relations roles at IMA Financial Group, BCD Meetings & Events and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.
Mikaela has planned hundreds of events—from VIP dinners and leadership retreats to conferences and city-wide volunteer activations. She's passionate about connecting mission-driven organizations with meaningful resources and corporate partners.
Outside of work, she sits on the Development Committee for the Art Students League of Denver and previously served as Board Chair for Environmental Learning for Kids (ELK).
​
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Daniels College of Business, University of Denver 
Certificate in Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Strategy from University of Colorado - Boulder
Project Management 360 Certification from Cornell University 
Certified Meeting Planner (CMP)
Cvent Event Management Certified 
Responsible Alcohol Sales Certified (StateFoodSafety)
Graduate of the Leadership Arts Program, Colorado Business Committee for the Arts
AI Fundamentals Certificate​

​Kayla Dixon-Rivera is a Colorado native passionate about community, storytelling, and bringing people together. Her love for connecting with others inspired her career in journalism, where she spent four years in Cheyenne as a morning anchor and producer before joining the No. 1 ABC affiliate in South Florida for three years.

Her experience extends beyond the newsroom. Kayla has worked in video production for the Colorado Eagles and has helped national nonprofits and businesses earn media coverage on television stations across the country, including FOX, ABC, and NBC affiliates.

Kayla earned her Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Colorado State University-Global, where she discovered a passion for using marketing and creative storytelling to help people and organizations share their stories and connect with their audiences.

Outside of her professional work, Kayla is a mom to two young boys, a devoted dog lover, and an avid reader with an ever-growing TBR (to-be-read) list. She believes the best stories can inspire, connect, and bring people together.

Education:

• Bachelors of Science in Marketing
• Certificate in Digital Marketing

Taking people to a new place can help them think in new ways.
Colorado’s mountain towns are perfect for corporate meetings, retreats, conferences, leadership events, and incentive trips.

Take your meeting or conference to the Colorado mountains.
Download our free tip sheet below.

Cutting corners on event planning rarely shows up on the invoice. It shows up months later, in staff turnover and clients who quietly stop calling. Here’s what “good enough” actually costs.

There is a version of event planning that looks fine from the outside. The room fills. The signage gets hung. Nobody trips over a cable. And underneath it, a coordinator has been fielding three vendor fires a day for two weeks, a sponsor who quietly decided not to renew, and nobody on the team has taken a full lunch break since the save-the-date went out.
 
That’s the cost nobody puts on a spreadsheet.
 
After 20 years planning events across Colorado, Wyoming, and around the US, we’ve learned that the difference between a good event and a forgettable one rarely comes down to budget. It comes down to what happens in the gaps: the vendor quote nobody questioned, the timeline nobody stress-tested, the detail that got waved through because everyone was tired. “Good enough” event planning has a price. It just doesn’t show up where you’re looking.

The Invoice Only Tells Half the Story
Every event has an obvious budget: venue, catering, staffing, print. Those numbers are easy to track and easy to defend. What’s harder to see is what happens when the planning underneath those line items is inefficient rather than intentional.
 
Research on event operations supports this. Poor workflows, disconnected tools, and unclear ownership don’t just slow down a timeline. They inflate the budget in ways that are hard to trace back to a single decision. A last-minute speaker swap, a manual process that should have been automated months ago, a duplicated task because two people didn’t know who owned it: none of that appears as its own line item. It shows up as scope creep, rush fees, and a budget that ran over, with no one able to say exactly why.
 
By the time you’re explaining the overage to finance, the actual cause is three decisions back and impossible to point to.

What It Costs Your Team
The quieter cost is the one that hits your people.

Most businesses and organizations that plan events internally ask team members to fill roles and positions that may not align with their job descriptions. This work is usually demanded on top of all of their other duties and expectations.
 
When the event planning is an “addition to”, roles can become unclear, and problems can get stuck on repeat. This doesn’t just produce a stressful few weeks. It can create compounding employee disengagement. Institutional knowledge walks out the door with every person who burns out and leaves, and the next event starts from a little further behind, or from scratch.
 
We’ve seen this up close. A regional nonprofit lost its Communications and Development Director in the middle of a fundraising cycle and brought our team in to run its annual event. They were missing a base of institutional memory to draw from. Building the tracking system, vendor relationships, and sponsor engagement plan from scratch under a tight timeline is exactly the kind of pressure that breaks a planning process not built to withstand it. It didn’t break here – the event we helped plan went on to raise more than any prior year - but that outcome depended on treating the process itself as the thing worth protecting, not just the event day.

What It Costs the Brand in the Room
Attendees don’t separate a mismanaged moment from the organization hosting it. A confusing check-in line, a vendor who didn’t show, a session that ran forty minutes over – none of that reads as “the caterer’s fault” to the person standing in it. It reads as a reflection of the brand that put its name on the invitation.
 
That’s a real risk, but it’s also where a track record starts to matter. Clients who’ve worked with us more than once tell us the same thing in different words: they came back because nothing fell through in front of their guests. We’ve supported organizations like Dementia Together with the kind of full-circle marketing and event support that, in year one, helped more than double their fundraising revenue – not because the events got bigger, but because the details underneath them stopped being an afterthought. Results like that come from planning that treats every touchpoint as visible, because to the person in the room, it is.

​Why “Easy” Vendor Relationships Are a Trap
Here’s a pattern that shows up across the industry: the first quote gets accepted, the same vendors get rebooked out of habit, and nobody asks whether the relationship is still earning its price. It’s the path of least resistance, and it feels efficient right up until you look closely.
 
The event professionals who consistently come in under budget without cutting quality aren’t the ones with the biggest vendor lists. They’re the ones who treat vendor management as a real discipline: comparing bids, questioning vague line items, asking why one quote is 20% higher than another with no explanation attached. That kind of scrutiny typically uncovers real savings, often in the range of 15 to 20 percent per event, simply by catching what “easy” would have let slide.
 
Twenty years in Northern Colorado means we’ve built the kind of vendor relationships where that scrutiny doesn’t damage trust. It’s part of how the trust got built in the first place.

What Good Actually Looks Like​
The alternative to “good enough” isn’t more expensive. It’s more deliberate.
It looks like:

• A timeline that gets stress-tested before it gets executed, not during
• Vendor quotes that get questioned, not just approved
• Clear ownership on every task, so nothing depends on one person remembering
• A team that isn’t rebuilding trust with a client after every event, because nothing needed rebuilding

 
That’s the standard behind events like Live Loveland’s 60 Years Celebrating Seeds of Innovation held in 2022. We managed the full marketing and advertising campaign alongside 15 concurrent events in this single day of celebration. Our tasks included press coordination that reached media outlets across the state and an appearance by Colorado’s governor. Events at that scale don’t survive “good enough.” They survive because the planning underneath them was never treated as optional.

The Real Question
“Good enough” event planning isn’t a budget decision. It’s a bet that nothing underneath the surface will surface. Sometimes that bet pays off. But the cost of losing it – a burned-out team, a client who doesn’t call back, a sponsor who quietly walks – is almost always higher than what “excellent” would have cost from the start.
 

FAQs
What are the hidden costs of poor event planning?
The visible costs are budget overruns, rush fees, and last-minute vendor charges. The hidden costs are staff burnout, lost institutional knowledge, damaged sponsor relationships, and attendees who quietly associate a rough experience with your brand rather than with any single vendor.

How does event planning quality affect staff retention?
Constant firefighting and unclear ownership wear teams down over time. When the same preventable problems keep recurring, disengagement follows, and turnover takes institutional knowledge with it — knowledge that's expensive and slow to rebuild.

What's the real difference between a budget planner and a strategic partner?
A budget planner accepts the first reasonable quote and manages the event as it comes. A strategic partner questions vendor line items, tests timelines before they're needed, and treats every detail as visible to the people in the room — which is usually where the actual savings and the actual trust get built.

Want to see what planning without the shortcuts looks like? Read more on our site or reach out to talk through your next event! 970-613-1455

Tipping for weddings and events can seem complicated. Here’s how to know who to tip, how much to give, and when you’ve already paid a gratuity.
 
Let’s be honest: We live in a confusing and tip-heavy time. We’ve seen tip screens at takeout counters, self-serve airport kiosks, and even children’s play centers. And when you’re planning a wedding, corporate event, or special celebration, the number of vendors involved and expected etiquette can make tipping feel overwhelming.
 
Who should you tip? How much? Is a gratuity already included? And are you supposed to tip someone who owns their own business?
 
Unless the service was less than satisfactory, it is customary to show your gratitude by tipping many of the people involved in making your event a success. While this tipping standard isn’t new, the amounts change over the years.
 
At BIG DEAL Company, we help clients navigate all the moving parts of events, and tipping is one of those details that can easily get lost in the shuffle. That’s why we put together our 2026 Guide to Tipping Vendors at Weddings and Events, a simple reference you can save, print, and keep handy as you plan.

Download tip sheet below

Check Your Contracts Before You Tip
Before handing out envelopes at your event, take a close look at your contracts and agreements.
Many major event services already include a gratuity or service charge in their pricing. You might see language such as:

• Service Fee
• Service Charge
• Staff Gratuity

These charges are often around 15%–20% of the contract, particularly for catering, bar service, and transportation.
The key is to understand exactly what that fee covers. A service charge isn't always the same thing as a discretionary tip, so if you're unsure, ask your vendor before the event.
Another note: These charges are not always distributed directly to the staff working your event. If someone has gone above and beyond, tips are a great way to show your appreciation in-person.
 
The 2026 Event Tipping Guide
So, what should you actually budget for? Here’s the BIG DEAL breakdown of industry standards for 2026:
 
Bartenders: 10-15% of the Bar Bill
If a tip jar is already available, you generally don't need to add another tip. If there isn't a tip jar or gratuity included in your contract, 10%–15% of the total bar bill, split among the staff, is a general guideline.
 
Band or DJ: $20–$25 Per Musician or $50–$150 for a DJ
For a live band, consider $20–$25 per musician.
For a DJ, $50–$150 is a good range, with the higher end being appropriate for longer receptions or when your DJ goes above and beyond with special requests.

Photographer or Videographer: $50–$200 Per Person
If you're paying a flat fee and the photographer or videographer isn't charging overtime, $50–$200 per person is a thoughtful gratuity.
If they own their own business, tipping is optional, but certainly appreciated, particularly when they've provided exceptional service.

​Catering Manager: $200+
Catering management is a big task, especially for large events, and a $200+ tip or a personal gift is a nice way to recognize the person responsible for keeping your catering operation running smoothly.
 
Makeup Artist: 15%–20%
For professional hair and makeup services, 15%–20% of the service cost is a good general guideline.
 
Event or Wedding Planner: 10%–20% or a Flat Amount
If your planner is an employee of a planning company, consider 10%–20% of the planning fee.
For exceptional service, a $200–$1,000 flat tip is another option. Tipping your planner is ultimately optional, but if they've spent months handling details, solving problems, and making your event feel effortless, a generous thank-you can be especially meaningful.

Hairstylist: 15%–20%
As at a salon, the standard guideline is 15–20% of the total service cost.
 
Waitstaff/Catering Staff: $20–$50 Each
Consider $20–$50 per person, with the gratuity distributed by the catering manager, event planner, or maître d'.
This is another area where checking your contract is particularly important, as staff gratuity may already be included.

Ceremony Musicians: 15% of the Fee
For musicians performing during your ceremony, 15% of their fee is a general tipping guideline.
For reception musicians, consider $22–$25 per musician.

Delivery Staff: $10–$20 Per Person
For people delivering cakes, flowers, rentals, and other event necessities, $10–$20 per person is a thoughtful gesture.
 
Bathroom Attendants: $1–$2 Per Guest
If your event has bathroom attendants, consider $1–$2 per guest.
 
Coat Check Attendants: $1–$2 Per Guest
For coat check service, $1–$2 per guest is a reasonable guideline.
 
Limo or Bus Drivers: 15%–20% or $25–$50
For transportation, consider 15%–20% of the transportation cost, or approximately $25–$50 per driver.
Again, check your transportation contract first to see whether gratuity has already been included.

Parking Attendants: $1–$2 Per Car
For parking attendants, $1–$2 per car is a general guideline.
For valet parking, consider 15%–20% if gratuity isn't already included.

Officiant: $50–$150 or $200+
If a friend or family member is officiating your wedding as a favor, $50–$150 is a customary thank-you.
If the officiant is a professional and the service isn't already covered by a fee, $200+ may be appropriate.

Alterations Professional: $20–$30
Consider $20–$30 at the final fitting; more is appropriate for extensive alterations.
 
Photo Booth Attendant: $20–$50
If gratuity isn't already included, $20–$50 is a thoughtful tip for a photo booth attendant.

​What About Exceptional Service?
Sometimes a standard tip doesn't quite capture how much someone helped make your event special.

Maybe your DJ tracked down a recording of your grandmother's favorite song, your florist somehow found the flowers you were convinced were unavailable, or your planner remembered a tiny detail you'd mentioned six months earlier and incorporated it into the day.

In addition to a traditional tip, consider a gift certificate, bottle of wine, handwritten note, five-star review, or referral.

A thoughtful thank-you can mean just as much as money, particularly for small business owners who rely heavily on word-of-mouth recommendations.
Don't Let Tipping Become Another Event-Day Stressor
 
When you're planning an event, there are already hundreds of details to remember. Tipping shouldn't become another source of anxiety.
 
Our best advice is to make a tipping plan before the event. Include tips in your planning budget. Before the event, review your contracts, determine which vendors you want to tip, and how much. Prepare envelopes with checks or cash ahead of time. If you're working with an event planner, ask whether they can help coordinate vendor gratuities on the day of the event.
 
That way, you can focus on enjoying your celebration!

Download Our Event Tipping Guide
We've created our 2026 Guide to Tipping Vendors at Weddings and Events so you don't have to remember all of these numbers.

Download the tipping sheet and save it for future reference as you plan your wedding, corporate event, party, or other special occasion. Keep a digital copy on your phone, print one for your planning binder, or share it with anyone helping you manage the event budget.

And remember: These are guidelines, not rules. Your budget, the quality of service, your contracts, and your personal preferences should all factor into your decisions.

At BIG DEAL Company, we know that successful events aren't just about beautiful details; they're also about taking care of the people who help make those details happen.

Need help planning an event? BIG DEAL Company is here to help make the big day a BIG DEAL.

A full-time marketing hire can often cost six figures before they’ve written a single post. A freelancer costs less – but disappears the moment the project ends. So which one actually helps to grow your business?
 
The answer depends on one question most business owners never stop to ask: are you trying to buy time back, or are you trying to buy growth?
 
There’s a third option most owners never get pitched: fractional marketing. A team of specialists working inside your business part-time, for less than either extreme. Here’s how all three actually stack up, and how to tell which one fits where your business is right now.

The three options, fast
Full-time hire. One person, on your payroll, dedicated to your business. You get consistency and full ownership of institutional knowledge. However, you also carry the full cost, the full risk, and the full gap if that person leaves.
 
Freelance contractor. One person, hired for a defined project or task. Fast to bring on, easy to scale down. But you’re usually buying execution, not strategy – and when the contract ends, so does the expertise.
 
Fractional team. A team of specialists, working inside your business part-time, for an ongoing retainer. You get strategy and execution together, without a single point of failure and without a full-time salary with benefits.

A full-time marketing manager runs $85,000 to $130,000 in base salary, but the fully-loaded costs, including benefits, payroll taxes, tools, and the 60 to 120 days it takes to reach full productivity, actually push that closer to $110,000 to $155,000 a year. That’s before factoring in what happens if the hire doesn’t work out.
 
Freelance rates vary widely, from $50 to $300 an hour depending on experience and specialty, with most businesses landing around $75 an hour or a $3,000 to $20,000 monthly retainer. That flexibility is real. So is the tradeoff: you’re typically paying for hands and execution, but not a strategy.
 
Fractional marketing sits between the two. Big Deal Company typically contracts within a range of $500 to $5000 a month depending on the scope of the work and contract, well below what a full-time hire costs and without the ramp-up time. Our team-based model provides more bang for your buck, since you’re not paying for one person’s calendar. Instead, you’re getting a full team’s worth of expertise for one retainer.           

The four questions that actually decide it

1. Do you need someone to execute a plan, or build the plan? If you already have a strategy and just need hands to run it, a freelancer can work. If you don’t have a plan, or the current plan isn’t working, you need someone thinking about the business, not just posting for it.
2. Is the need constant or seasonal? A one-time campaign or a busy season points toward a freelancer or a project-based engagement. Marketing that runs all year points toward a full-time hire or a fractional retainer.
3. What happens if this person quits in 60 days? With a solo hire, freelance or full-time, the honest answer is usually “we lose everything with them.” A team model doesn’t carry that same risk.
4. Are you trying to buy time, or buy growth? If the real problem is “I’m out of hours in the day,” a freelancer can solve that. If the real problem is “we’re not growing,” that’s a strategy gap, and a freelancer alone rarely closes it.

​Where BIG DEAL Company fits
BIG DEAL Company has been Colorado’s fractional marketing and events team since 2006 – a 14-person team, not a single hire, brought in for the price of one. Clients have seen real results from this model. In past contracts, our team doubled an organization’s revenue in its first year as their marketing and development partner.
 
The team-based structure means the accountability of a full-time hire, the flexibility of a freelancer, and none of the single-point-of-failure risk of either. And while BIG DEAL is based in the Front Range, but the team supports clients well beyond  – including businesses and organizations in Arizona, California and Iowa.
 
Three options, three different cost structures. But there’s really only one question underneath all of it: does your business need hands, leadership, or both, right now? Get that answer right, and the budget decision mostly makes itself.
 
If you’re still weighing it, a second opinion helps more than another spreadsheet. Get in touch with BIG DEAL Company for a straight read on what fits your business – no pressure, no script.

FAQ
How much does fractional marketing cost compared to hiring in-house?
Fractional marketing typically runs a fraction of a full-time hire’s fully loaded cost - no salary, benefits, payroll tax, or six-figure risk if the hire doesn’t work out. Most small-business-tier retainers land well below the $110K-$155K a full-time marketing manager costs annually.

What’s the difference between a fractional marketing team and a freelancer?
A freelancer is usually one person hired for a defined task or project – execution, not strategy. A fractional team brings multiple specialists working together under one retainer, covering both the strategic planning and the work itself.

Is fractional marketing only for large companies?
No. Fractional marketing was built for businesses that need senior-level strategy but aren’t ready for a full-time executive salary. It’s most common among small and mid-sized businesses trying to bridge that exact gap.

How do I know if I need a freelancer or a full fractional team?
If the need is a single, defined project with a clear end date, a freelancer usually covers it. If the need is ongoing – ongoing strategy, ongoing execution, or both – a fractional team avoids the gap that opens up when a single contractor’s engagement ends.

What happens if my fractional marketing team member leaves?
Nothing. That’s the structural difference.
A fractional team spreads institutional knowledge across multiple people, so the business relationship continues even if one person’s role changes, unlike a solo freelancer or a single full-time hire.

Sources: Salary.com, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, PayScale, and industry rate guides (Talo, MarketerHire, GoFractional, Misnomer), 2026 benchmarks. Ranges reflect national averages and will vary by market, scope, and experience.

Every year, companies from Florida to California call BIG DEAL Company with some version of the same problem: “We have 50 (or 500) people who need to be somewhere at the same time, and we need someone to make it work.” That someone is BIG DEAL Company.
​
Since 2006, BIG DEAL Company has been the women-owned, Colorado-based team that businesses quietly rely on to pull off their biggest gatherings — company conferences, destination retreats, multi-day trade shows, and milestone celebrations that have to land exactly right. Here’s how that trust gets built, and what it actually looks like when a national client hires us for full-service event planning.

The Track Record That Gets Us in the Room
Clients don’t hand over a multi-day, multi-state event to a new vendor on faith. They look at what we’ve already done.

Examples:
We’ve planned and executed more than 20 company conferences for an international software company - across the country, plus multiple Las Vegas trade show productions — vendor coordination, booth build, staffing, and onsite problem-solving included. This company rebooks us because every conference has stayed on budget and every deadline has been hit. There’s no substitute for that kind of repetition: after 20+ events with one client, we know their brand, their standards, and their shorthand, so each new conference starts ahead instead of from scratch.
​
A national medical company brought us in for destination company conferences, and we sourced and secured venues for two full-scale events, built the complete multi-day program from arrival to departure, and supported their leadership team through a significant organizational transition — all while managing housing, transportation, and the parts of the trip that make or break the experience.

A national construction company hired us for multi-day conference production in Colorado, where we worked directly with multiple internal departments from across the U.S. to turn separate presentations into one cohesive, well-paced agenda, and delivered the entire event on time and within budget with zero disruption to their normal operations.

Add in multi-year work with an international wind energy company (all-company retreats and camp-outs for 150+ employees and their families), national oil and gas company (corporate holiday parties for 200+ employees and spouses), a medical trade show company (annual corporate retreats managed lodging-to-teardown), and large banking organization (a trusted event partner for over ten years, running events for 400+ employees across multiple destinations) — and a pattern emerges.

Companies don’t hire us once. They hire us again, and then they hire us for the next thing too.

What “Full-Service” Actually Means
The phrase gets used loosely in this industry. For us, it means we own the outcome, not just a slice of it. A typical national retreat or conference contract includes:

• Venue sourcing & RFP management — building a criteria matrix, issuing RFPs to qualifying venues across multiple states, scoring and presenting a comparison package, and negotiating the contract
• Full-service event production — a master timeline and run-of-show, vendor sourcing and management across every category, and real-time budget tracking against the client’s ceiling
• On-site event support — a dedicated planning team physically present for the full event, serving as the client’s single point of contact so decisions get made fast
• Session & program design — general sessions, breakout tracks, speaker sourcing, and AV needs, built around what the client actually wants their team to walk away believing
• Group dining, entertainment, and transportation — the logistics threads that are invisible when they work and disastrous when they don’t
• Team-building architecture — activities designed around the client’s actual culture goals, not generic icebreakers

We also hand clients a shared planning workspace from day one: a live master timeline, a vendor and contract log, a real-time budget tracker, and run-of-show documents built for both internal planning and team-facing distribution. Nobody on the client side is left wondering where things stand.

A Process Built for Scale
Every retreat runs through four phases, each with its own deliverables and check-ins:

1. Discover & Align — Confirm objectives, non-negotiables, and budget priorities; understand the story the client wants the event to tell
2. Source & Secure — Run the RFP engine, manage every vendor conversation, present a scored comparison, and close the venue contract
3. Design & Build — Build the full production plan: sessions, speakers, entertainment, dining, transportation, and team-building, refined through recurring working sessions with the client
4. Execute & Deliver — Run the event on-site with a dedicated team, then close it out with vendor reconciliation, budget close-out, and a debrief on what to build on next year

It’s the same process whether the group is 150 people or 3,000+.

Why It Adds Up to Trust
The numbers behind the work are the reason clients keep calling: 200+ combined years in management, 202 combined years in event planning, 149 combined years in marketing, and more than 100 events planned annually.
But clients don’t hire a spreadsheet of statistics — they hire the experience of working with us. As one client put it, we set a new bar and elevate the meeting experience beyond expectation. Another said we haven’t stressed for a single moment since bringing us on, even as their events grew from a single holiday party into full company retreats.

The Bottom Line
​National companies hire BIG DEAL Company for retreats and conferences because we run them like our own event — embedded with the client’s team, accountable for the whole budget, and hands-on from the first RFP to the last shuttle pickup. Whether it’s a fifth consecutive year with the same client or a first-time 450-person anniversary retreat, the promise stays the same: we bring the joy, you get to be a guest at your own event.

​On June 13, 2026, Northern Colorado celebrated something that doesn’t come along often: the completion of a 45-mile paved trail three generations in the making.
The Connecting Communities: Poudre River Trail Celebration brought more than 1,500 people to Timnath Community Park for an official ceremony and community event honoring the final connection of the Poudre River Trail, stretching from Bellvue to Greeley. And that was just the crowd in the park! An estimated 3,000 additional trail users took to the corridor that same day, making the total community reach well over 4,500 people!

​A Milestone Worth Marking
The morning opened with official remarks and a symbolic ribbon ceremony, where dignitaries from five regional partner organizations - Larimer County, the City of Fort Collins, the Town of Windsor, the Town of Timnath, and the City of Greeley - each connected a piece of ribbon representing their community’s role in building the trail. Over sixty-five confirmed dignitaries were invited to attend, reflecting the depth of partnership behind this project.
 
The celebration that followed featured 15 vendor and partner booths, food trucks, family activities, yard games, and a visit from Wilder, GOCO’s Generation Wild spokes creature. Fifty attendees were notified as gift bag winners, and the energy throughout the morning matched the scale of what was being celebrated.

The Numbers Behind the Day
Big Deal Company was proud to serve as event coordinator for this regional milestone, supporting 11 project and event partners, 21+ vendor partnerships, and nearly 15 volunteers alongside a 9-person BIG DEAL Company team. And best of all, it was all delivered under a $22,000 budget!
 
The story traveled far beyond the trailhead. Event coverage appeared across 26 media placements in 20+ outlets, including The Coloradoan, BizWest, CBS Denver, CBS News Colorado, The Denver Gazette, KUNC, North Forty News, and Yahoo News, among others.

What It Means
The Poudre River Trail is now one of Colorado’s longest paved multi-use trails. It’s a connected corridor linking parks, open spaces, neighborhoods, and communities along the Cache la Poudre River. The June 13 celebration wasn’t just a finish line. It was proof of what’s possible when communities commit to a shared vision over the long haul.
 
We were honored to help bring it to life!

FAQs
1. Can anyone use the Poudre River Trail, and where do I start?
 The trail is free and open to the public. The COTREX App at Trails.Colorado.gov is the recommended tool for finding access points along the 45-mile corridor from Bellvue to Greeley.
2. Who built the Poudre River Trail, and how long did it take?
 The trail spans five jurisdictions — Larimer County, Fort Collins, Windsor, Timnath, and Greeley — and represents more than 50 years of planning, funding, and construction across multiple generations of local government partners and grant funders.
 
Big Deal Company provides event coordination, communications, and marketing support for organizations across Colorado.
Learn more at www.BigDealCompany.com.

photo credit: City of Fort Collins