DIY Founder: Value-Based Experiences
Creating an Experience People Actually Want
One of the biggest mistakes I see new nonprofit founders make is launching with a “cause-first” approach. Yes, your mission is important. Yes, you care about it deeply. But let’s be honest—not everyone is going to immediately care as much as you do.
And that’s okay. The solution? Create a value-based experience.
If you take one thing from this blog, let it be this:
Your launch event should provide VALUE to the people attending.
A major mistake new founders make is thinking their event should revolve solely around their cause. But let’s be real—people don’t show up to events just to learn about your nonprofit. They show up because there’s something in it for them.
That’s where value-based experiences come in.
Instead of making your launch a lecture about your cause, make it an event people actually want to attend.
Think about it this way:
If your mission is youth mentorship, host a networking event where attendees can meet professionals in different industries.
If your mission is health advocacy, organize a wellness event or fitness challenge.
If your mission is art-based, host a creative showcase featuring local artists.
Find the intersection between what people enjoy and what your nonprofit represents.
Example: how NotJustYou launched with a gospel concert.
When I was planning NotJustYou’s official launch, I knew one thing: Sickle cell wasn’t going to be an easy topic to get people excited about. Not because people don’t care about health, but because—like most issues—it’s not something that’s on everyone’s radar.
So instead of forcing an awareness event that people may or may not feel connected to, I found a way to make them care by connecting my mission to something they already loved—gospel music.
Here’s what I did:
I hosted a gospel concert as NotJustYou’s first official event.
We sold tickets to fundraise for the organization.
We sold branded t-shirts to spread awareness.
We used the stage as a platform to talk about sickle cell and share real stories.
And guess what? It worked.
January 2019 — NotJustYou’s Launch Event: Ruva N Friends
People showed up because they loved the music, and by the time they left, they knew about NotJustYou and why our mission mattered. It was a win-win.
In fact, it went on to become one of the most successful events we’ve ever hosted—nearly 300 people attended that first launch concert. The response from the community was so powerful, we decided to do it again to celebrate our one-year anniversary.
And would you believe it? Another 300 people showed up.
January 2020 — NotJustYou’s ONE Year Anniversary
That told me everything I needed to know: people saw value in the experience, and through that experience, they began to care about the cause.
Now, NotJustYou’s programming has evolved a lot since then—so you probably won’t see a gospel concert pop up in our calendar anytime soon. But in that moment, it was exactly what we needed—a cannonball into the community that made people stop, listen, and care.
Why value-based experiences work so well.
Value-based experiences are powerful because they get your audience exactly where you need them: in a good mood, open-hearted, and ready to listen.
That’s the sweet spot. When people are enjoying themselves, they’re more likely to be receptive to new information. It’s the perfect time to plant seeds about your mission, your work, and how they can get involved.
In the case of NotJustYou’s launch, our goal was to establish ourselves as the go-to place for sickle cell information and community. So we strategically built educational moments into the concert.
Midway through the show, we took a short break to host a sickle cell info session, inviting an industry expert to teach attendees about sickle cell disease and the importance of screening.
Then, later in the evening, I stepped on stage as the founder to reinforce the core action points—driving home our mission, sharing our story, and encouraging people to get involved.
The music made them come. The message made them stay. That’s the power of aligning joy with purpose.
Your launch is your nonprofit’s first major moment.
This event isn’t just about announcing your organization. It’s about positioning yourself in the community as someone to watch. When done right, it sets the tone for everything that follows.
And the beauty of value-based experiences is this: people may not remember every detail about your mission the first time—but they’ll remember how you made them feel. They’ll remember the atmosphere, the community, the connection. That’s what builds long-term support.
So ask yourself—not just “What do I want to tell people about my nonprofit?” but “What experience do I want people to have with my nonprofit?”
Because when the value is clear, the support will follow.
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