There are three key areas where you should have firm deadlines when planning a fundraising event; sponsor deliverables, auction donations and event registration.  When you don't have deadlines, or worse yet, when you don't stick to your deadlines, you're adding extra work and stress for yourself and the planning team. Find out why these deadlines are important, why I often get pushback on them and how to kindly but gently stick to your guns on them.