Creating Events

Adding a New Event

1. Navigate to the Events page
2. Click the Add Event button in the top-right corner
3. An event creation dialog will appear

You need the Event Manager or Admin role to create events.

Event Fields

Required Fields

• Name: a clear title for your event (e.g. "Spring Adoption Fair")
• Start Date & Time: when the event begins
• End Date & Time: when the event ends

When you set a start time, the end time automatically defaults to three hours later. You can adjust it to any time you need.

Optional Fields

• Description: additional details about the event, such as what to expect, who should attend, or any preparation needed
• Type: the category of event (defaults to General). See the Events overview for all available types
• Status: where the event is in its lifecycle (defaults to Upcoming). Options include Draft, Upcoming, Ongoing, Completed, and Cancelled
• Show on Public Pages: a toggle that controls whether the event appears on your organization's public profile. This is turned on by default for new events
• Location: the venue or address for the event (see below)

Setting a Location

The event dialog offers two ways to set a location:

Using a Saved Place

If you have previously saved locations (like a regular adoption venue or a partner store), you can select one from the dropdown. The address fields will be filled in automatically. This saves time when you host events at the same locations repeatedly.

To use a saved place:

1. Click the location dropdown
2. Select a place from the list
3. The address preview will appear below the dropdown

Entering a Custom Address

If the event is at a new location:

1. Click Add New below the saved places dropdown
2. Enter the address, city, state, and zip code
3. Optionally click Save as Location to add this address to your saved places for future use

If you haven't created any saved places yet, an empty state appears with an option to add your first place.

Saving Your Event

Once you have filled in all the necessary information:

1. Click Create Event
2. The event will appear in your events list and on the calendar

The button will be disabled until the required fields (name, start date, end date) are filled in.

Tips for Creating Events

• Use a descriptive name that makes the event easy to identify at a glance
• Set the correct event type so your calendar stays color-coded and easy to read
• Include the full address if you want attendees or volunteers to find the venue easily
• Save frequently used locations as places so you don't have to re-enter them each time
• Mark draft events as Draft until all details are confirmed, then change the status to Upcoming
• Turn on the public visibility toggle for events you want to advertise on your public profile