We’re kicking off our Tales from the Chair series which will include interviews with leading fundraisers as well as occasional tips for fundraising’s best practices.

Our appreciation is extended to Jean Larette for being our first fundraising Chair to be interviewed! Her success Chairing the San Francisco Ballet’s 75th Anniversary Gala was incredible and I know that fellow Vivanista members will learn a few tips through Jean’s insights and recommendations.

Vivanista: What makes a successful event?

Jean Larette: I believe a successful event is one that meets its fundraising goals. It should also be an enjoyable experience for each of its committee members and the entire paid staff of the organization. It’s a full team effort with “all hands on deck” motivated and contributing to the best of their ability.

V: From a fundraising standpoint, who is your role model?

JL: My role models are past committee chairs who are willing to share their valuable insights with the incoming Chair. They can be supportive by creating a binder that chronicles the entire event with each committee member providing reports on what “went right” with their particular area and also being free and encouraged to be frank about what they feel could be done in future to improve their tasks to make the event even more successful.

V: How do you feel you contributed for the future of the event?

JL: We had a wrap-up meeting immediately after the San Francisco Ballet at 75 – Opening Night Gala where every committee member was encouraged to give their honest feedback on how to improve the event for the following year. The Director of Development asked for a second wrap-up meeting, as he wanted even more feedback! He told me it was the first time he had ever learned so much from the committee. Even with a very successful event, I felt the wrap-up meeting should be a forum for creative ideas to move the event forward in a positive direction. We had not only reached our financial goals but had surpassed them. We didn’t need to pat each other on the back. Let’s hear how we can improve it for next year. You mustn’t be afraid of criticism.

V: How do you motivate a volunteer committee?

JL: I am a firm believer in choosing committee members that I know are qualified and have the time to execute their given tasks. I am not a micro-manager. I believe in allowing creativity to flourish and responsibility to be shared. Each member is encouraged to work hard and share in the limelight of the event’s success.

V: If you could have done something differently in your last event, what would that have been?

JL: We had a huge demand for seating at the dinner at City Hall, which we could have accommodated if the opera house had another tier of box seats. We had to turn people away.

V: What are the qualities that make an event Chair successful?

JL: I believe it is important to be encouraging as a leader, allowing the creativity and ideas from each committee member to be heard and considered. My background has always encouraged a “can do” optimism, which I think inspires hard work and commitment.

V: When you set out to Chair an event, what goals do you set for yourself?

JL: There are, of course, financial goals that must be attained. I feel it is important to meet and if possible, I would like to find a way to surpass those goals even in a weak economy. I also want the invitations to be beautiful. The flow of the event should be seamless and timely from the moment the valet attendant opens your door. The food must be well presented and delicious, the service flawless and because I am an interior designer, I want the venue to be not only elegant and creatively designed but also fragrant. As for the weather, we say an extra prayer in San Francisco that it doesn’t rain!

V: What is the most difficult part of chairing an event?

JL: I believe the most challenging aspect of Chairing an event is having the discipline to balance the time management goals of ones life while running a successful business, providing a happy family life for my daughter, staying fit and Chairing the event simultaneously. It is a challenge we are faced with daily. Clearly, at the end of the day, each aspect of one’s life needs attention and nurturing.

V: Any anecdotes to share from your experiences chairing events?

JL: I have found it to be one of the most rewarding experiences imaginable to Chair an event for an organization you are passionate about and helping the organization to meets its financial goals. The added bonus is that in the process you create friendships that last a lifetime.

V: If someone is new to fundraising and wants to Chair an event, what steps should s/he take?

JL: They should become involved with an organization they are passionate about. They should have attended the event recently that they would like to be part of and they should bring to the table creative ideas they can share and implement in the area of their choosing. They should let their commitment to the event’s success be evident.

A Little Bit About The Chair

An award-winning interior designer, Jean Larette has been featured in numerous national and Bay Area publications. A celebrated instructor and speaker, she is also a dedicated fundraiser and has served as an event chair for the San Francisco Ballet among other organizations. She most recently served as Gala Chair for the San Francisco Ballet at 75 Opening Night Gala in January 2008.