Partner Events and Calendars

Your work with partner organizations can take various forms, and partner events are great ways to get your supporters more involved in coalition work, to demonstrate the breadth of the movement to your decision makers, and to take your campaigns offline and into the real world. 

Because events generally require more planning and oversight than an online campaign, recruiting your partner organizations as cohosts can be an easy way to scale the number of events your organization can support. 

Partner events do not need to be included in a calendar, but they often are. Because ControlShift's calendar feature allows organizations to easily manage large numbers of similar events, calendars are often a natural fit with for the events mobilizations that rely on partners.

Partner calendars can be used to support different use cases. Each coalition is different, and the tools are built to support your work regardless of how you're organizing. Some examples include:

  • Use Case #1 – Single Partner Events: Your organization is interested in hosting a series of events in collaboration with a single partner. You want all events to be cohosted by the partner and all attendees should have the option of opting into the partner's mailing list. Learn how.
  • Use Case #2 – Primary Partner Events: Your organization is interested in hosting a series of events around the country. Your organization has a primary partner who should be a partner for all events. You're also interested in partnering with local organizations who should only have access to the events and attendees in their local communities. Learn how.
  • Use Case #3 – Independent Partner Events: Your organization is managing a series of events each of which will be hosted by different partner organizations. Organizations should only have their opt-in ask shown on the events that they specifically recruited. Learn how.
  • Use Case #4 – Equal Partners/True Coalition Events: Your organization is managing a series of events with two or more partner organizations. Each organization will be recruiting hosts, and all attendees of all events in the calendar should have the option of opting into both partners' mailing lists. Learn how.

For each of these use cases, the partnership tools are paired with calendars to ensure that events and attendee data are shared the way you'd like. Use the links above to see our detailed overview of each use case. We also have general recommendations for all partner calendars below.

General Recommendations 

Creating a Partner Calendar

As a ControlShift organization administrator, you can create a new calendar by going to the org admin homepage > Calendars > New Calendar. From there, enter the title of the calendar you'd like to create. 

Please note: Nearly all settings for the calendar can be updated except the URL and whether the calendar is open-ended and constituency bound. When creating a calendar, the title you enter will be used as the URL. Please ensure that the URL is one that you're happy with.

Once you've created your new calendar you can customize its settings from the calendar's Settings page. Learn more about calendar options. On the calendar's Details page, you can see the calendar's partner associations and add or remove partners. To add a partner organization to a calendar, you'll need to first create the partnership, and then complete the URL of the partner hub page. 

If you'd prefer, you can also create a partner calendar (for use cases 1, 2, and 4) by creating the partnership and then going to the partnership's Calendars page (org admin homepage > Partnerships > name of the partner > Calendars).

Once a partner or partners have been added to a calendar, any events created in the calendar will be automatically associated with the partner(s). If needed, events created outside of the partnership/calendar can be associated with the partner/calendar by going to the event's RSVP page > Admin > Associations (on the Details page). 


How are partner events different from other events?

When an event is created in a partner calendar, it will be automatically associated with the partner(s). Partner events are mostly like other events on the platform, but with a few key differences:

  • Partner events include the name (or optionally logo) in the Partners section near the bottom of the event page.

  • If you've configured the partnership(s) with an explicit email opt-in or disclaimer, they'll be shown to attendees on the event page (potentially depending on a URL parameter). If you've configured the partnership to allow member exports, attendees who have been added to the partner's mailing list will be included in that partner's export.
  • Staff at the partner organization who have been invited to have partner admin privileges will be able to use the host tools for any events in their partnership (even if they're not the user who created the event). This will include the ability to see the host's view of the attendee list. 
  • Partner events that have been moderated to good will be shown on the partner's hub page. The events will also be shown in the partner's management tools.

  • If the calendar/event is associated with one partner only, and if the partnership is configured to use a special theme, that theme's fonts and colors will be used on the calendar and event pages. 

Do all partner events have to be included in a partner calendar?

No, any event can be a partner event – including calendar events, standalone events, petition events, and group events. To be a partner event, the event will need to be created by a partner admin, created using a the prompts on a partner calendar/hub page, or moved into a partnership by an admin. 

Can partner admins create calendars themselves?

No, partner calendars can only be created by the ControlShift organization's staff with the appropriate permissions.

Use Case #1 – Single Partner Events

Your organization is interested in hosting a series of events in collaboration with a single partner, Save the Whales. You want all events to be cohosted by Save the Whales and all attendees should have the option of opting into (or being automatically added to) the Save the Whales mailing list. 

How to: Create a calendar and add Save the Whales as a partner from the calendar's Associations section. Newly-created events will be automatically associated with Save the Whales. The Save the Whales name and logo will be shown on every event page (both in the associations section and near the host information). The Save the Whales disclaimer and/or opt-in will be shown to everyone RSVPing to any events in the calendar. If you've configured a special theme for Save the Whales, it will be automatically applied to all calendar and calendar event pages.

Use Case #2 – Primary Partner Events

Your organization is interested in hosting a series of events around the country. Your organization has a primary partner, the national Libraries for All organization who should be a partner for all events. You're also interested in partnering with local organizations: The Manchester Library Coalition and Reading Readers for events in their communities. All attendees should see that Libraries for All is a partner. Attendees in Manchester and Reading should see that The Manchester Library Coalition and Reading Readers are partners on the local events.

How to: Create three partnerships, one each for Libraries for All, The Manchester Library Coalition, and Reading Readers. Create a calendar for the events and add Libraries for All as a partner from the calendar's Associations section.  All newly created events will be automatically associated with Libraries for All.

After creating the Reading Readers and The Manchester Library Coalition partnerships, note the partnership slug (the end of the URL when viewing their partner hub page). Append ?partner=[the partner's slug] to the end of the calendar's URL and share that parametered URL with the two partners (e.g. for the Frack Free Moon partnership on our demo site, we'd append ?partner=frack-free-moon to the end of the calendar's URL: https://demo.controlshiftlabs.com/calendars/calendar?partner=frack-free-moon). When events are created via the partner parametered URL, they'll be associated with the calendar partner and the partner in the parameter. 

After recruiting hosts, three events are created:

  1. Save the Brighton Library, whose only partner is Libraries for All. Libraries for All is shown on the event page, and they have access to this event's host tools. If you've created a special theme for Libraries for All, it can be automatically applied to this event. 
  2. Save the Reading Library, which was recruited using the Reading Readers parametered URL and whose partners are Libraries for All and Reading Readers. Both partners are shown in the Partners section of the event page and both partners have access to this event's host tools.
  3. Save the Manchester Library, which was recruited by The Manchester Library Coalition and whose partners are Libraries for All and The Manchester Library Coalition. Both partners are shown in the Partners section of the event page and both partners have access to this event's host tools.

After the events are created, attendees are sent to the pages to RSVP. The URL for the event RSVP page can also (optionally) include the partner URL parameter referenced above. A partner parameter in the URL will affect what the attendee sees when they land on the event pages:

  • Save the Brighton Library (the same view for all circumstances)
    • With no partner URL parameter: Attendees will see Libraries for All in the Partners section of the event and next to the event host section. The ControlShift organization and Libraries for All email opt-ins will be shown on the event page. 
    • With an Libraries for All partner parameter URL: Attendees will see Libraries for All in the Partners section of the event and next to the event host section. The ControlShift organization and Libraries for All email opt-ins will be shown on the event page. 
    • With any other partner parameter:  Attendees will see Libraries for All in the Partners section of the event and next to the event host section. The ControlShift organization and Libraries for All email opt-ins will be shown on the event page.
  • Save the Reading Library
    • With no partner URL parameter: Attendees will see Libraries for All and Reading Readers in the Partners section of the event. No partner will be listed next to the host. The ControlShift organization, Libraries for All, and Reading Readers email opt-ins will be shown on the event page. 
    • With a Libraries for All partner parameter URL: Attendees will see Libraries for All and Reading Readers in the Partners section of the event. Libraries for All will be shown next to the event host section. The ControlShift organization and Libraries for All email opt-ins will be shown on the event page. 
    • With a Reading Readers partner parameter URL: Attendees will see Libraries for All and Reading Readers in the Partners section of the event. Reading Readers will be shown next to the event host section. The ControlShift organization and Reading Readers email opt-ins will be shown on the event page. 
    • With any other partner parameter (including The Manchester Library Coalition): Attendees will see Libraries for All and Reading Readers in the Partners section of the event. No partner will be listed next to the host. The ControlShift organization, Libraries for All, and Reading Readers email opt-ins will be shown on the event page. 
  • Save the Manchester Library
    • With no partner URL parameter: Attendees will see Libraries for All and The Manchester Library Coalition in the Partners section of the event. No partner will be listed next to the host. The ControlShift organization, Libraries for All, and The Manchester Library Coalition email opt-ins will be shown on the event page. 
    • With a Libraries for All partner parameter URL: Attendees will see Libraries for All and The Manchester Library Coalition in the Partners section of the event. Libraries for All will be shown next to the event host section. The ControlShift organization and Libraries for All email opt-ins will be shown on the event page. 
    • With a The Manchester Library Coalition partner parameter URL: Attendees will see Libraries for All and The Manchester Library Coalition in the Partners section of the event. The Manchester Library Coalition will be shown next to the event host section. The ControlShift organization and The Manchester Library Coalition email opt-ins will be shown on the event page. 
    • With any other partner parameter (including Reading Readers): Attendees will see Libraries for All and The Manchester Library Coalition in the Partners section of the event. No partner will be listed next to the host. The ControlShift organization, Libraries for All, and The Manchester Library Coalition email opt-ins will be shown on the event page. 

Use Case #3 – Independent Partner Events

Your organization is hosting a series of Earth Day events. You're collaborating with two organizations:  People for Cleaner Beaches and Green Bicyclists. These organizations will be organizing different types of events with different audiences. Each organization should only have access to attendees of the events that they've recruited. 

How to: Create two partnerships for People for Cleaner Beaches and Green Bicyclists. Create an Earth Day calendar, but do not add either partner to the calendar's association section. (Why? Because then all events created will be added to that partnership, not just the events that partner has recruited.)

After creating the People for Cleaner Beaches and Green Bicyclists partnerships, note the partnership slug (the end of the URL when viewing their partner hub page). Append ?partner=[the partner's slug] to the end of the calendar's URL and share that parametered URL with the two partners (e.g. for the Frack Free Moon partnership on our demo site, we'd append ?partner=frack-free-moon to the end of the calendar's URL: https://demo.controlshiftlabs.com/calendars/calendar?partner=frack-free-moon). When events are created via the partner parametered URL, they'll be associated with the calendar partner and the partner in the parameter. 

After recruiting hosts, three events are created: 

  1. Clean Up Redondo Beach, which was recruited using the People for Cleaner Beaches parametered URL. People for Cleaner Beaches is the only listed partner. They're shown in the Partners section of the event page and People for Cleaner Beaches has access to this event's host tools. If you've created a special theme for People for Cleaner Beaches, it can be automatically applied to this event. 
  2. Pennsylvania Ave. Bike Ride, which was recruited using the Green Bicyclists parametered URL. Green Bicyclists is the only listed partner. They're shown in the Partners section of the event page and Green Bicyclists has access to the event's host tools. If you've created a special theme for Green Bicyclists, it can be automatically applied to this event. 
  3. Native Wildflower Seed Distribution in Brooklyn, which was created using the default calendar hub URL with no special parameters. There are no listed partners for this event. Neither Green Bicyclists nor People for Cleaner Beaches have access to the event's host tools.

After the events are created, attendees are sent to the pages to RSVP. The URL for the event RSVP page can also (optionally) include the partner URL parameter referenced above. Partner parameters can affect what potential attendees see when they view the event page. However, because each of these events are single-partner or no-partner events, the partner URL parameter will not have any effect. When an attendee views the event page they'll see:

  • Clean Up Redondo Beach

    People for Cleaner Beaches will be shown in the Partners section and next to the event host section. The ControlShift organization and People for Cleaner Beaches email opt-ins will be shown on the event page regardless of parameter. 

  • Pennsylvania Ave. Bike Ride

    Green Bicyclists will be shown in the Partners section and next to the event host section. The ControlShift organization and Green Bicyclists email opt-ins will be shown on the event page regardless of parameter. 

  • Native Wildflower Seed Distribution in Brooklyn

    No partners are shown on the event page and only the ControlShift organization opt-in is shown regardless of parameter.

Use Case #4 – Coequal Partners/True Coalition Events

Your organization is hosting a reproductive justice day of action. Your partners are Repro Justice for All and People for Choice. Each organization is making similar or equal efforts to recruit hosts and attendees. Each partner wants access to anyone they recruit as hosts or attendees.

How to: Create two partnerships for Repro Justice for All and People for Choice. After creating the calendar, add both Repro Justice for All and People for Choice as partners from the calendar's Details page. All events created in the partnership will be automatically associated with both partners. 

After creating the partnerships, you can note the partnership slug (the end of the URL when viewing their partner hub page). The partnership slug can be appended to the end of the calendar's URL, but it will not have an impact on the event creation flow. It will, however, affect the RSVP flow. 

To create a parametered URL, append ?partner=[the partner's slug] to the end of the calendar's URL (e.g. for the Frack Free Moon partnership on our demo site, we'd append ?partner=frack-free-moon to the end of the calendar's URL: https://demo.controlshiftlabs.com/calendars/calendar?partner=frack-free-moon). 

After recruiting hosts, three events are created: 

  1. People for Choice Tulsa Rally, which was recruited by People for Choice. Repro Justice for All and People for Choice are both shown in the Partnerships section of the event page and both partners have access to the event's host tools. 
  2. Repro Justice for All in Kansas City, which was recruited by Repro Justice for All. Repro Justice for All and People for Choice are both shown in the Partnerships section of the event page and both partners have access to the event's host tools. 
  3. Doctors for Choice Dallas, which was created using the default calendar hub URL with no special parameters. Repro Justice for All and People for Choice are both shown in the Partnerships section of the event page and both partners have access to the event's host tools. 

After the events are created, attendees are sent to the pages to RSVP. The URL for the event RSVP page can also (optionally) include the partner URL parameter referenced above. A partner parameter in the URL will affect what the attendee sees when they land on the event pages:

  • People for Choice Tulsa Rally
    • With no partner URL parameter: Both Repro Justice for All and People for Choice are both shown in the Partners section of the event page. No partner will be listed next to the host. The ControlShift organization, Repro Justice for All, and People for Choice email opt-ins will be shown on the event page. 
    • With the Repro Justice for All partner parameter URL: Both Repro Justice for All and People for Choice are both shown in the Partners section of the event page. Repro Justice for All is also listed next to the host. The ControlShift organization and Repro Justice for All email opt-ins will be shown on the event page.
    • With the People for Choice partner parameter URL: Both Repro Justice for All and People for Choice are both shown in the Partners section of the event page. People for Choice is also listed next to the host. The ControlShift organization and People for Choice email opt-ins will be shown on the event page.
    • With any other partner parameter: Both Repro Justice for All and People for Choice are both shown in the Partners section of the event page. No partner will be listed next to the host. The ControlShift organization, Repro Justice for All, and People for Choice email opt-ins will be shown on the event page. 
  • Repro Justice for All in Kansas City (the behavior is the same as the previous event)
    • With no partner URL parameter: Both Repro Justice for All and People for Choice are both shown in the Partners section of the event page. No partner will be listed next to the host. The ControlShift organization, Repro Justice for All, and People for Choice email opt-ins will be shown on the event page.
    • With the Repro Justice for All partner parameter URL: Both Repro Justice for All and People for Choice are both shown in the Partners section of the event page. Repro Justice for All is also listed next to the host. The ControlShift organization and Repro Justice for All email opt-ins will be shown on the event page. 
    • With the People for Choice partner parameter URL: Both Repro Justice for All and People for Choice are both shown in the Partners section of the event page. People for Choice is also listed next to the host. The ControlShift organization and People for Choice email opt-ins will be shown on the event page.
    • With any other partner parameter: Both Repro Justice for All and People for Choice are both shown in the Partners section of the event page. No partner will be listed next to the host. The ControlShift organization, Repro Justice for All, and People for Choice email opt-ins will be shown on the event page. 
  • Doctors for Choice Dallas (the behavior is the same as the previous event)
    • With no partner URL parameter: Both Repro Justice for All and People for Choice are both shown in the Partners section of the event page. No partner will be listed next to the host. The ControlShift organization, Repro Justice for All, and People for Choice email opt-ins will be shown on the event page. 
    • With the Repro Justice for All partner parameter URL: Both Repro Justice for All and People for Choice are both shown in the Partners section of the event page. Repro Justice for All is also listed next to the host. The ControlShift organization and Repro Justice for All email opt-ins will be shown on the event page. 
    • With the People for Choice partner parameter URL: Both Repro Justice for All and People for Choice are both shown in the Partners section of the event page. People for Choice is also listed next to the host. The ControlShift organization and People for Choice email opt-ins will be shown on the event page.
    • With any other partner parameter: Both Repro Justice for All and People for Choice are both shown in the Partners section of the event page. No partner will be listed next to the host. The ControlShift organization, Repro Justice for All, and People for Choice email opt-ins will be shown on the event page. 

More info

The examples above are a few of the common use cases for partnership calendars, but we're always happy to hear about the specific experiences our customers are looking to accomplish. If your coalition has different needs or if you have questions about how to set up partners and calendars for your organizing, let us know.

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