Event Management
Galas, fundraisers, donor events and corporate gatherings. I run the plan from first call to final thank-you.
Event & project management · Orlando, Florida
Your summit, planned to the last detail.
I'm Sarah. I take your gala, campaign or project from base camp to summit. Then I leave you a plan so smooth, next year runs downstream.
Experience15+ yearsrunning events & projects
Raised$200Kat a single fundraising gala
Hosted250guests at the Gold Star Gala
Who I work with
Nonprofits/
Small businesses/
Political campaigns/
Corporate teams
Trusted by organizations like the American Red Cross and Believe With Me.
The route
Up the mountain. Then downstream.
Every event and project follows the same route. You always know where we are and what happens next.
The climb To the summit
- 1Base camp
Goal, budget, deadline and decision-maker, set in week one.
- 2The route
One timeline, one tracker, every vendor and task owned by a name.
- 3The ascent
Weekly check-ins, confirmed vendors, no loose ends.
- 4The summit
Event day runs to the minute. Goal met, funds raised.
Downstream Smooth sailing
- 5Wrap-up
Donors thanked within 48 hours. Budget reconciled. Debrief done.
- 6Smooth sailing
Your systems, templates and donor notes stay with you, so next year starts halfway up.
Hi, I'm Sarah
Type A, people-first and always on schedule.
I'm an Orlando event and project manager with 15+ years in nonprofit galas, political fundraising, donor relations and operations.
My method is simple. I make the plan, I work the plan, and I keep you posted. I handle the details so you can focus on your guests, donors and team.
Color-coded run-of-showsVendors confirmed twiceDonors who come back
How I help
Events, projects and the systems behind them
Project Management
Campaigns, launches and operations projects. Clear timeline, one tracker, every task owned.
Systems & Operations
Trackers, templates and workflows your team keeps using after I'm gone. Admin support available as an add-on.
Events of every size
From garden receptions to 250-guest galas
Black-tie fundraisers, community markets, conferences and race days. Different events, same standard of planning and follow-through.
Illustrative photos of the kinds of events I manage.
“Working with Sarah was a dream. She was prompt, knew what we needed, and quite frankly just got it done. We loved working with her!”Daly DiNatale · Marketing Director, Believe With Me
Contact
Ready to start the climb?
Tell me what you're planning. I reply within one to two business days. Every engagement is custom-quoted, and part-time packages start at $35/hour.
- sarah@summitstreamsolutions.com
- Based in
- Orlando, Florida
- Serving
- On-site across Orlando and Central Florida, remote nationwide, and travel for events
- Connect
About & Services
Meet Sarah Cowles, Orlando event & project manager
Founder & Head Systems Creator, Summit Stream Solutions
Fifteen years of making big days run smoothly
For more than 15 years, I've helped organizations pull off the events and projects that matter most to them. My work spans political fundraising, nonprofit galas, donor relations, direct mail campaigns and the behind-the-scenes operations that hold it all together.
Most recently, I organized events that reached thousands of people. That includes the Gold Star Gala, which welcomed 250 guests and raised $200,000. I've also supported the American Red Cross, Believe With Me and a range of event companies.
I bring a calm, organized, people-first approach to every project. I can see the big picture while tracking the small details that make or break execution. And I build relationships that keep donors, partners and sponsors coming back.
When I'm not managing projects, I'm probably with my family, at the gym, experimenting in the kitchen or making a spreadsheet prettier and more useful than it probably needs to be.
The name
Why Summit Stream?
Summit
Structure: the systems, plans and processes that help your organization reach new heights. It honors my husband, Evan, an engineer who has spent his career building systems that work.
Stream
Flow: adapting when plans change, keeping people connected and keeping work moving forward. That's me.
Together, they describe how I work: solid systems with steady, flexible follow-through.
Services
What I take off your plate
Event Management
- Fundraising galas, donor events and nonprofit benefits
- Corporate events and political fundraisers
- Sponsor, vendor and venue coordination
- Run-of-show, timelines and day-of management
- Donor follow-up and post-event reporting
Project Management
- Campaigns, launches and operational projects, from planning through execution
- Clear workflows, timelines, trackers and accountability systems
- Coordinating team members and external partners
- Streamlined communication so everyone knows what happens next
Systems Building
- Custom trackers, dashboards and project templates
- Documented processes your team can keep using after I'm gone
- Organizing donor lists and campaign data
Admin & Operations Support
- Scheduling, correspondence and event logistics
- Direct mail campaign coordination
- General administrative support for busy leaders
Working together
Flexible ways to work together
Per Event
One event, managed start to finish. Ideal for galas, fundraisers and signature gatherings.
Custom quotePer Project
A defined project with a clear scope, timeline and result.
Custom quotePart-Time Support
Ongoing, fractional project leadership without adding full-time headcount.
Packages from $35/hourI work remotely with clients anywhere, and on-site in Orlando, Central Florida and beyond when your event calls for it. I work with nonprofits, small businesses, political campaigns and corporate teams. If the mission is big and the details matter, we'll work well together.
Working with Sarah was a dream. She was prompt, knew what we needed, and quite frankly just got it done. We loved working with her!Daly DiNatale · Marketing Director, Believe With Me
Ready to get organized? Let's map your route.
Request a QuoteFree Resources
The Summit Stream Starter Kit: six free guides
The checklists and templates I use with clients, grouped by what you're working on. Open any guide below to see what's inside, then get all six in one link.
Event Management
Plan, run and follow up on events of any size.
The 12-Week Event Planning Countdown A week-by-week plan for any event, from booking the venue to the thank-you notes.
What's inside
- Weeks 12–9: FoundationSet the goal, lock the date, venue and a working budget, and send the first sponsor asks.
- Weeks 8–5: BuildBook vendors with written quotes, open registration and draft the program.
- Weeks 4–2: ConfirmConfirm every vendor, finalize the run-of-show and seating, and remind guests.
- Event weekFinal headcount, venue walkthrough, emergency kit and the volunteer huddle.
- After the event48-hour thank-yous, budget reconciliation and a 30-minute debrief.
Gala Run-of-Show Template A sample minute-by-minute gala evening you can copy and adjust.
What's inside
- Full evening timelineTwelve timed cues from 2:00 pm load-in to 10:00 pm teardown.
- Owner for every cueEach line names who is responsible, so nothing is left to "someone."
- Program placementWhere the mission moment, paddle raise and auction close fit best.
- Printing tipWho should get a printed copy before doors open.
Project Management
Start projects aligned and keep the money on track.
Project Kickoff Checklist Ten questions to answer before any project starts, so the team is aligned from day one.
What's inside
- Definition of doneOne sentence that tells everyone what finished looks like.
- Decisions and ownershipWho decides, who is on the team and what each person owns.
- Timeline and budgetDeadline, milestones and the real budget, including time.
- Risks and backup plansWhat could go wrong and what you will do if it does.
- Communication rhythmOne tracker, a check-in schedule and updates for people outside the team.
- Measures of successOne or two ways to know the project worked.
Event Budget Starter The categories most events and projects need, so you can plan costs before signing contracts.
What's inside
- Eight cost categoriesVenue, food and beverage, production, décor, marketing, people, fees and contingency.
- Contingency lineWhy to hold back 10% for the unexpected.
- All-in quotesHow to avoid surprise tax and service charges.
- Three-column trackingEstimated, contracted and actual cost side by side.
- Sponsor underwritingGetting sponsors to cover specific line items.
Systems & Operations
Simple systems that keep sponsors, vendors and donors coming back.
Sponsor & Vendor Tracker Starter The columns that keep every sponsor and vendor on track, so nothing falls through.
What's inside
- Eight essential columnsContact, type, status, amount, deliverables, due dates, next step and notes.
- Status stagesAsked, In talks, Confirmed, Paid, Thanked.
- Weekly habitsUpdate after every contact and sort by due date each Monday.
- One shared trackerWhy one list everyone uses beats a copy per person.
The Donor Follow-Up Playbook What to send after an event so donors feel thanked and come back next year.
What's inside
- Within 48 hoursA personal thank-you that names the total raised and one moment from the night.
- Within 1 weekThe formal, hand-signed letter with the tax receipt.
- Within 30 daysAn impact update with a photo or short story.
- Within 90 daysAn invitation to something small: a tour, volunteer day or coffee.
- Before next year's askA year-in-review and save-the-date, so the first contact isn't a request.