The gathering is never the goal. The relationships are.
We produce nonprofit events built to do one thing: turn a room full of people into real momentum for your mission.
Somewhere, we lost the fire.
Humans have been gathering around a fire, a table, a milestone, since forever. It's one of the oldest tools we have to connect. Somewhere along the way, nonprofits turned it into a checklist - venue, caterer, program - and lost the power of gathering.
You need something bolder. Your team doesn't have bolder to give.
The board just approved an ambitious budget and now you’re staring down a huge funding gap. There's no path to closing that gap without something bigger, something bolder. But you already know exactly what that takes. And your team, already stretched thin, can't absorb one more all-consuming event on top of everything else they're carrying.
This is supposed to be your moment.
You're standing in the room with the donor you've been trying to reach for eight months. And you're not talking to her. You're redirecting the caterer, because the appetizers came out before the welcome remarks.
Clarity before complexity.
Every Gather Co event starts with the same worksheet: the questions that get you clear on purpose, success, audience, fundraising goals, and what you actually want your guests to feel. Download it free, and start designing the kind of event people are still talking about six months from now.
Connection by Design
Every gathering we build runs on the same arc, because a room full of people doesn't turn into real relationships by accident.
Opening
You don't get a second first impression. The opening sets the tone for the entire night, so we design it with purpose and intention. It’s not just about wow-ing the guests, it’s about building connection to the mission.
Activation
Every gathering has one moment guests will actually remember. We build for it deliberately - the toast, the ask, the story that turns a room of guests into a room of believers. It's not about the biggest reveal. It's about the moment connection turns into commitment.
Integration
The gathering ends. The relationship is just beginning. We build the close - and the follow-through after - so the connections made in the room don't go cold in a spreadsheet six weeks later.
Gather Co was built by a fundraiser who's stood exactly where you're standing.
Gather Co was founded by Rhiannon O'Leary, who spent 16 years inside the nonprofit sector, first as a fundraiser and then the final eight running events in-house. She and her team know the pressure of:
Having to close budget gaps with fundraising “magic” (new or bigger events)
Finally getting into the room with your top donors and new prospects and having to deal with the caterer instead of having the conversations you need to be having
Watching a team burn out for weeks after a "successful" night, with no one left to actually follow up with the new names in the room
We've helped raise $15M+ through events. But our favorite proof point is more transformational: a client who started with a couple handfuls of individual donors, five years ago. They're in the thousands now. That's what happens when a gathering gets to be a gathering, year after year, instead of a box to check.
At Gather Co. we’re people who care: about your mission, about your goals, and about the relationships being built. We bring that same care to every detail, from the first conversation to the last toast.
TRUSTED BY ORGANIZATIONS COAST TO COAST
KIND WORDS FROM CLIENTS
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![Logo of EMC Communications with colorful background.]()
“Gather Co's ability to produce an event is only outdone by their ability to conceive of an event strategy that moves business goals forward.
The Gather Co team sees the value of designing an experience that influences key audiences to take action and increase brand preference and brand loyalty. As a Marketing leader, there's nothing more valuable than having someone leading events with a keen understanding of their strategic role in advancing audience growth and engagement years. And with Gather Co, everything is always executed to perfection. They are a dream!”
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![United Way logo with a hand holding a person and sun rays]()
“Rhiannon and her team did an exceptional job helping us organize one of the most important events our organization has ever held.
They helped guide our event strategy and planning, and were very involved in every detail of execution to ensure our guests and staff had a fantastic time. We relied on Gather Co. and they delivered. I would not hesitate to recommend Rhiannon and team to others looking for event planning expertise.”
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![Cielo logo with the tagline "Yes You Can" in orange beneath it]()
"There's no one on earth I'd rather collaborate with on event production and programming than Rhiannon.
She's been my wise counsel for years and I'm so happy that her talent and skills are also available to help other mission-rooted organizations grow their communities. And, she's brought other very competent and caring people to join in her work at Gather Co. and who are able to bring an inspired vision to fruition. I will continue to lean on my badass Gather Co. team.”
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![Conservation Lands Foundation logo featuring a bird flying over a landscape with a river, with the organization's name next to it.]()
"Gather Co's organization, creativity, and attention to detail was exactly what we were looking for to host our out of town event.
A heartfelt thank you for the wonderful four months experience of working with you and your team. Gather Co’s ability to jump in and take the reins was so freaking refreshing and relieved a lot of anxiety for the CLF team! What really set Gather Co. apart was their focus on our mission to ensure alignment with every decision we made. Thank you.”
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![TMC Community Capital logo with stylized blue and gray geometric design and text]()
"Partnering with Gather Co. was transformative for our team at TMC.
They helped us conceive an inspired, immersive experience that not only showcased the impact of our work but also invited others to truly feel connected to our mission. The event exceeded our expectations—sparking powerful new partnerships and expanding our community in meaningful ways. Gather Co.’s creativity, strategic vision, and thoughtful collaboration made all the difference."
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![Silhouettes of pine trees overlaid with the words "Sempervirens Fund" in green text.]()
"Taking the stress out of stressful." The Gather Co. team were fantastic partners in helping our organization turn our vision into reality.
Their persistence, professionalism, and experience in event planning made our large-scale event much smoother and easier to execute. It was a pleasure collaborating with them.”
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![Logo with a circular, segmented design in shades of blue and orange, accompanied by the text 'FORGING RESILIENCE' in bold blue and orange letters.]()
“From start to finish, the whole Gather Co. team exceeded all of my expectations.
The team was incredibly responsive, organized, and dedicated to bringing our ideas to life, but what stood out most was the sense of calm they brought to the entire process. Their meticulous attention to detail, kind and wise guidance, and seamless execution made our event a resounding success—guests were relaxed and able to engage with our exhibits, the speaker, and each other. If you're looking for an event planner who can turn your vision into reality with elegance and a reassuring presence, look no further!”
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![Logo with the words 'Berkeley Haas' on a dark blue background.]()
"You will not be disappointed!
Rhiannon and her team are very organized, forward-thinking, communicative, and, most importantly, calm, cool, & collected the day of the event! I highly recommend partnering with them for your next big event!”
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![Logo of the All Stars Project of New York featuring a black-outlined star and teal text.]()
"The whole Gather Co. team helped to create a calm process and environment for our special event.
They have an adept understanding of the impact that all of the details can have on the guest's experience, and the day-of ran smoothly as we already knew we were in good hands.”
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![Logo for FOUND/LA, a Wurrwand Foundation Initiative.]()
"Working with Gather Co. was a truly transformative experience for our team.
Their thoughtful, mission-aligned approach helped us build the internal capacity to produce our own events with greater intention and impact. They equipped us with the right tools, systems, and guidance to grow sustainably from within. I deeply appreciated their clarity, collaboration, and ability to listen and adapt throughout the process. Partnering with Gather Co. not only strengthened our team but also inspired us. We’re incredibly grateful for their support and look forward to carrying this momentum forward."
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![Eat Real Logo]()
"The Gather & Co. Team is excellent!
The Gather & Co. Team is excellent! The attention to detail, frequent communications, clear timelines, and live support provide an invaluable layer of stellar event execution. To say we are grateful is an understatement!”
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![Diversity in Leadership conference logo with colorful text and a starburst graphic]()
"The Gather & Co Team produced our event at an expert level.
They were professional, kind, wise and trustworthy. They offered great advice and direction, especially when things were not going according to plan. They accommodated our needs and were creative and flexible, resulting in a seamless experience on the night of our event. The team proved to be a great partner and we would most definitely work with them again. Highly recommended.”
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![Seal with text 'Forging Resilience' around a stylized gear or network icon with orange and blue colors.]()
"From start to finish, Rhiannon, Shoshanna, and the whole Gather Co. team exceeded all of my expectations.
The team was incredibly responsive, organized, and dedicated to bringing our ideas to life, but what stood out most was the sense of calm they brought to the entire process. Their meticulous attention to detail, kind and wise guidance, and seamless execution made our event a resounding success—guests were relaxed and able to engage with our exhibits, the speaker, and each other. If you're looking for an event planner who can turn your vision into reality with elegance and a reassuring presence, look no further!”
We've got you, every step of the way.
You don't need to know how the sausage gets made. You just need to know that nothing gets missed, nobody's guessing, and you're never the one holding the whole thing together by yourself.
Here’s how we work with you:
Strategy Intensive - We start by getting clear on why this event matters. This is the foundation to creating an event that is memorable, meaningful, and meets your goals.
Playbook - Your vision becomes a shared plan with 15+ spreadsheets of every little detail covered
Production - We run the coordination so you don't have to.
Day Of - You host. We handle everything happening behind the scenes.
Reflection - We close the loop and carry the momentum into next year.
And through all five stages: this stays a partnership, not a handoff. We learn how your team works and fold ourselves into it - not the other way around.
Because it was never supposed to be just a party.
You got into this work to build relationships that move your mission forward, not to become an accidental event planner. This is what it feels like to actually be doing that job again. The event worked. You know it worked. And you get your weekend back, instead of spending it on cleanup nobody else will do.
Let's gather the people who move your mission forward.
Book a call and let's talk about what that could look like for you.