Fun In Fundraising

Fun In Fundraising

Fun In Fundraising is a podcast that gives you behind the scenes access to those behind top fundraising galas and cocktail parties. These events raise large sums of money through producing fun, memorable experiences that have guests and attendees coming back year after year. Each episode, host Rob Giardinelli talks with top gala and non-profit fundraising event chairs, honorees, producers and non-profit executives. These conversations highlight how top leaders facilitate raising large sums of money to positively impact their communities in a fun, organic way. Rob Giardinelli is a sales executive turned ”professional guest on duty” through his work at esteemed publications The Society Diaries and Society Texas. During the past 12 years, Giardinelli has attended/chronicled over 2,000 galas, kick-off events and cocktail parties that have raised over $250 million for some of the world’s top nonprofits. To learn more about or work with Rob, visit https://eventmindset.com

Episodes

November 5, 2024 39 mins

How does an organization host multiple successful signature fundraising events throughout the year that appeals to different aspects of their donor base?   Today, I talk with Joni Krieg, the event chair for the upcoming Women's Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden's A Writers Garden and the events strategic advisor, Dorothea Melzer.

Each year, A Writer's Garden give donors and members the opportunity to mingle with...

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How does a gala or signature fundraising event effectively utilize receipients to help recruit and sustain new donors in an authentic, organic way?   Today, I talk with Meredith Allen Connally and Liz Scott, Regional Development Officers for Folds of Honor and Liz Brees, a recipient of the organizations services.

Folds of Honor is an organization that provides scholarships to families of fallen or disabled first responders and mil...

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How does an organization create fun, inventive themes year after year that keeps donors continually engaged and surprised?  Today, I talk with Allison Chávez and Whitney Burns, co-chairs of the upcoming Children's Museum Houston Noir Ball

Held at The Corinthian, one of the most beautiful event spaces in Texas, the Children's Museum Houston event leaders and co-chairs continue to dazzle and lure donors to this majestic space by com...

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How does an organization effectively vet guest speakers for a signature fundraising event?  Today, I talk with President & CEO of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, Julie Baker Finck to discuss one of the organization's upcoming signature fundraising events, The Power of Literacy Luncheon.

The organization was founded in honor of the late First Lady's passionate commitment to providing access to literacy opportuniti...

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How does an organization successfully rebrand it's signature fundraising event to evolve with the organization?  Today, I talk with The Rise School Of Austin's Director of Development and Marketing, Rachel Parr Booth to talk about their upcoming signature fundraising event Shine For Rise. The Rise School of Austin is a pre-school that creates an inclusive learning environment for children of diverse learning abilities. 

Shine for ...

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How can an organization host a highly successful fundraiser as counterprogramming to another popular event?  Today, I talk with the Center For Child Protection's Director of Donor Relations Amy Cranfill and Events Manager Kirby Cathey about the organization's annual Play Bingo Ladies Luncheon.

Held on a Saturday morning each year, the Play Bingo Ladies Luncheon is one of Austin's most popular fundraising events. The event has over...

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How can an organization effectively draw multiple generations of their community to their annual gala or signature fundraising event?  Today, I talk with Katherine Farmer-Thornhill and Gary Farmer, co-chairs of the Waterloo Greenway Conservancy's annual Glow In The Park Gala.

This father-daughter duo is leading one of Austin's most notable and fun al fresco events. Guests will be on hand for a great night on the world-class Moody ...

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How can an organization use an annual calendar reveal to create a popular nonprofit fundraising event?  Today, I talk with Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association Charitable Foundation Development Director Laura Stein and Elizabeth Stein, co-chair of Red Hot Gala 2024, the organization's signature fundraising event.

Started shortly before the pandemic, the Red Hot Gala has quickly became a must-attend Houston Signature Fund...

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How does an organization implement an effective leadership and communications strategy to create a successful gala or signature fundraising event?  Today, I talk with Chris Luna, President & Chief Executive Officer of the SPCA of Texas, and Maura Davies, the organization's Vice President of Marketing Communications.

The SPCA of Texas is the region's leading animal welfare organization. The organization's annual event, the Fur ...

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How does an organization create a single fundraising event has a devoted following not just year after year, but decade after decade?  Today, I talk with Carmen Holmes, Chief Development Officer of The Family Place, and Clarisa Lindenmeyer, co-chair of the 28th annual Texas Trailblazers Awards Luncheon

The Family Place is Texas' largest service agency devoted to eradicating domestic family violence in Texas. Each year, the organ...

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How do you turn a small, intimate brunch into a seven-figure fundraising event?  Today, I talk with Sky High For Kids Founder and CEO Brittany Franklin about the organization's signature fundraising event Ladies Who Brunch.

Ladies who Brunch began as an small brunch for a couple of dozen people where Brittany could get to know the spouses of her board members better. Over the years, the event has evolved into a must-attend event t...

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What does it take successfully engage your audience at a gala or signature fundraising event that features multiple acts in an evening?  Today, I talk with Dallas Symphony Orchestra Director of Events and Volunteer Services J. Denton Bricker and Patrick Means, co-chair of the 2024 Dallas Symphony Orchestra Gala.

Long of of North Texas' most popular and successful annual galas, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Gala features three high...

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What does it take for an organization to run a successful gala and get to the all-time the $100 milliion fundraising mark?  Today, I talk with 2024 Cattle Baron's Ball co-chairs Lora Farris and Marjon Zabihi Henderson.

The largest single-night fundraiser each year for the American Cancer Society, the Cattle Baron's Ball has been one of Dallas' (and the country's) most popular and successful galas since its founding in 1974. This y...

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How can steady and passionate leadership help take your gala or signature fundraiser to become a must-attend event that raises seven figures?  Today, I talk with Texas Advocacy Project CEO Heather Bellino about the organization's signature fundraising event The Black & White Ball.

For over 20 years, Heather's tireless advocacy and passion to provide free legal services to survivors of dating and domestic abuse, sexual assault,...

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How does a successful gala celebrate a milestone to honor key people who have made the event a success?   Today, I talk with Lisa Tynan, the Events Manager for Houston PetSet about the 20th Annual Fierce & Fabulous Soirée.

Founded by nationally known animal advocates Tama Lundquist and Tena Lundquist Faust, Houston PetSet has long been one of the city's most anticipated annual signature fundraising events. In honor of the 20th...

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How does an organization take their annual fundraising gala from four figures to seven figures?  Today, I talk with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas CEO Kedrick Jeffries and CMO Brenda Lindfors to talk about the 20th annual Big Brothers BIg Sisters of Central Texas Ice Ball.

In its first year, the Ice Ball raised a little over $6,000. After 20 years and a lot of hard work, recruiting quality event chairs, and effective do...

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One key element of any successful gala or signature fundraising event is a signature cocktail that helps make your event fun and memorable. Today, special guest cohost Lance Avery Morgan and I talk with André Darlington, author of a dozen cocktail books including his latest book  Cowboy Cocktails: 60 Recipes Inspired by the American West.

One of the world's foremost experts on cocktails, André is a bestselling author and the first...

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What key steps can nonprofits take to host fun and profitable galas and signature fundraising events? Today, I talk with event producer turned nonprofit fundraising thought-leader AJ Steinberg.

Based in Southern California, AJ has been involved in the nonprofit fundraising scene for over 20 years. Her company, Queen Bee Fundraising works with nonprofits to engage and inspire their donors to optimize their galas and signature fundr...

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What is a unique way to hold a signature fundraiser without holding an inperson event? Today, I talk with Kit Moncrief and Gloria Moncrief Holmsten of The Saving Hope Foundation to talk about their annual signature fundraising book, Hope & Friends.

The Saving Hope Foundation is a successful nonprofit in Fort Worth that serves as a rescue to find forever homes for animals, primarily dogs and cats. Each year, the organization pu...

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One of the biggest questions often ask when planning their nonprofit event: How do I find and work with talent? I could not think of a better person to talk about this subject with than today's guest, actor, director, and singer Nicholas Rodriguez.

This talented artist is a veteran of a multitude of film, television, and stage performances. Over the years he has performed numbers and directing performance programs for nonprofit ga...

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