Session Description:Trust is the cornerstone of alumni and supporter relationships. In an era of skepticism toward institutions, building trust requires more than transactional engagement. The University of Sydney Community Festival was designed as a bold, inclusive event to reconnect alumni, donors, and the broader community with the University’s purpose, people, and impact. This session will unpack the strategic thinking behind the Festival, share insights from its evolution from the inaugural Alumni Festival in 2023, to the rebranded and more inclusive title of Community Festival in 2025 which drove a 230% increase in registrations. The renaming from Alumni Festival to Community Festival was more than a branding update, it was a strategic decision to widen participation. By explicitly inviting the broader public, families, local residents, partners, and future students, the University reframed the event as a place where everyone could belong. This shift played a critical role in driving scale, diversifying attendance, and strengthening trust through openness and accessibility Presenters will discuss the challenges and opportunities of creating a festival that balances institutional priorities with authentic community experience, and how this approach strengthens long-term engagement and philanthropic readiness. Participants will gain practical strategies for leveraging events as trust-building platforms, including stakeholder alignment, storytelling, and measuring impact beyond attendance.