In peer-to-peer fundraising, there is more than one way to succeed and more than one path to impact.

For years, many of us were encouraged to choose a single lane:

– Prioritize fundraising OR awareness, but not both.
– Design your event for corporate OR community teams, but not both.
– Set goals to grow participation OR average revenue, but not both.

But here is what real experience tells us. The strongest programs are the ones who are actually pulling all the levers at one time.

They recognize that marketing and recruitment play different roles. Smart marketing brings new people into the fold while a confident field team builds relationships through face-to-face outreach. Both are essential.

They lean into partnership. Corporate teams can reach far beyond the office and community teams can open unexpected doors for new companies when everyone feels part of the same shared effort. In the spirit of “work-life integration,” corporate teams ARE community teams.

The most successful events set goals that lift participation AND average fundraising, and then build practical plans to support both. They monitor more than just the bottom line – and optimize along the way.

As you close out your fall season, take an honest look at which strengths you are celebrating and which levers you can still pull. Your event has room to grow and your community is ready to grow with you.