Event planning requires a big capacity lift in time, energy and mental capacity--things that many smaller organizations just don't have bandwidth for. So, in 2013, Homegrown Events was started with a goal of providing quality event production and planning services to small to medium nonprofit organizations in the Bay Area. 

Today, Homegrown Events has worked with over 70 organizations to plan and produce their fundraising events, retreats, conferences, and even cycling events.

Our Core Team

​Jessica de Jesus, Founder and Lead Event Planner
When I started Homegrown Events in 2013, I like to say I gave birth to twins: my daughter and my business.  It was a wild first few years but I’ve never looked back. I started Homegrown Events with more than 16 years of fundraising and event planning experience for nonprofits in the San Francisco Bay Area. Over the last 10+ years, I’ve planned intimate house parties to large galas, cycling events, and multi-day conferences, both locally and across the country.  When Covid disrupted our lives, I gulped and then embraced online events and became a certified Digital Event Strategist. While I believe online events can still serve a purpose, there really is no substitute to in-person gatherings.
 
What really drives me year after year are the people I get to work with. I love supporting organizations to visualize their events and see them unfold on event day. 

One of the things I’m committed to is work-life balance.  Coming from the non-profit world, I know that burnout is real so self-care, kindness and grace are essential. When I’m not working, I'm probably out on the hiking trails around the foothills of Mount Diablo or in the Sierra with my partner, daughter, dog and my sketchbook and watercolor set in tow.
 
Fun Facts:

• My first “real” job was working in the alumni office of the University of Chicago Law School in the mid-90’s where I planned countless alumni events, including one for Professor-turned-President Barack Obama.
• I started UCLA as a fine art major but graduated with a BA in art history. 

Kristin de Jesus, Production Associate 
Drawing from extensive experience in retail management, people development and community building, Kristin brings a meticulous and thoughtful approach to every event and project she undertakes. Her love for spreadsheets and passion for community make her a crucial part of our event production team. Kristin believes that well-crafted experiences can have a profound impact for organizations and their supporters. She brings a creative perspective that balances endless possibilities, practicality, and the ethos of any organization.

Photography credits: Ryan Sin