Back in late 2019, just before the world turned upside down, I created a private Facebook group called Planner Power. It wasn’t meant to be anything big. Just a small space for me and ten other planner friends to quickly ask each other, “Do you like working with this vendor?” or “Someone called out, does anyone know a backup?” It was our quiet little corner to share resources without blowing up each other’s phones.

Then COVID hit.

Suddenly, fellow planners started asking if they could join “my support group.” At first, I didn’t even know what they meant. But they were talking about that Facebook group. The word had spread, and more and more planners wanted in. So, we started hosting monthly Zooms for mental health check-ins and support. 10 planners turned into 30, then 60. By 2021, it had become a true community.

In 2022, after growing to around 85 members, I thought..why not meet in person?

Balboa Bay Resort hosted our first Planner Power meetup, and the momentum took off. Venues and industry partners began reaching out to host us. In 2023, we held seven successful events, bringing together 50–60 planners at a time. By the end of the year, the group had grown to over 185 Facebook members.

That’s when I realized it was time to turn this into something more meaningful.

In January 2024, I officially launched Planner Power as a nonprofit.

I chose to make it a nonprofit, not a business, because I believe in the power of giving back. My brother serves on the board of Birthday Wishes, and I personally volunteer every year. Service and community impact are values I hold close. And as planners, we produce beautiful, often high-budget events for others, but I wanted to build something that lets us also uplift those who need it most.

Planner Power is more than a community, it’s a mission. A mission to connect, support, and empower planners while using our talents and network to make a real difference in the world around us.

- Ilana Rubin: Founder & President