Fun In Fundraising

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 qual...

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...

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 A.J. Steinberg. Based in Southern California, A.J. 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 op...

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 ca...

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 pe...

How can a nonprofit gala or signature fundraising event create a great experience for their guests and donors? Provide keepsakes that have your guests thinking about your event long after it has ended. Today, I talk with Stephanie Schiller, owner of Vogue Vignette. Vogue Vignette is a team of seven artists led by Stephanie who provide custom sketches of guests at nonprofit events, weddings, birthd...

What is one of the most critical things you can do to host a successful event? Find an emcee that sets the tone you want to set to ensure the event's success. Today, special guest co-host Lance Avery Morgan joins me to talk with media personality and presenter Holly Mills-Gardner. Holly Mills-Gardner is one of the very best emcees in the business. Over the past 25 years, she has emceed hundreds of...

What does it take host a successful Fund-A-Need to help your gala meet its fundraising goals?  Today, I talk with TK Kenney, Founder & Principal Auctioneer of Astounding Auctions , as well as the auctioneer for the Dell Children's Ball . Dell Children's Ball made the decision post-COVID to pivot to a Fund-A-Need from the traditional Auction and/or Auction + Fund-A-Need model. TK's skills allow...

What does it take to successfully host a gala or signature fundraising event when you unexpectedly have to change the venue...with 48 hours notice?  Today, I talk with Jessica Cardenas, Director of Annual Giving for The Seton Fund , and Event Producer Maryam Fernandez about the organization's signature fundraising event: Elizabeth Ann Seton Board's La Dolce Vita. La Dolce Vita, one of Austin's mos...

What does it take to create a successful rebrand of your organization that retains legacy donors while bringing in new donors?  Today, I talk with Karen Hughes, President and CEO of Vogel , about the organization's recent rebrand and their signature fundraising event: The 32nd Annual Art Performance Event featuring a concert by Barenaked Ladies .  Vogel provides educational, health, and family sup...

What is it like to host a gala that is held in one of the world's most iconic spaces?  Today, special guest co-host Lance Avery Morgan and I talk with Kristin Smith, Executive Director for The American Friends of Versailles , and Alicia Bryan, Chair of their upcoming gala Le Gala des Fleurs d'Orangerie. Le Gala des Fleurs d'Orangerie is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. It features four days of pr...

How does a nonprofit use galas and signature fundraising events to connect major donors with the organization's mission?  Today, I talk with Murphey Sears, Chief Development Officer of Make-A-Wish North Texas to talk about their upcoming Dallas signature fundraising event Wish Night 2024 . For over 40 years, Make-A-Wish has provided life-changing wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses....

How does a nonprofit bring the fun to its annual fundraising event year after year?  Today, I talk with Dr. Susan Blaney, Director of Cancer and Hematology Centers at Texas Children's Hospital and Shelly Hendry, co-chair of their annual signature fundraising event  An Evening With Legends featuring David Foster and Katharine McPhee . An Evening With Legends is a fabulous experience where David Fos...

How does a nonprofit successfully create a signature fundraising event around a major cultural event?  Today, I talk with Chris Denney, Director of Advancement, and Tiffany Divis, President and CEO of the Turtle Creek Conservancy to discuss their signature fundraising event Day At The Races . Celebrating its 16th year, Day At The Races is a Kentucky Derby-themed party held in the early evening on...

How does a nonprofit successfully incorporate their mission at their annual gala to help major donors connect with the organization?  Today, I talk with Brandon Bell, General Manager and Suzanne Sippel, Director of Invidual Giving at DACAMERA to talk about their signature fundraising event DACAMERA Gala 2024 . DACAMERA provides innovative concert experiences that connect music with literature and...

What does it take for a nonprofit to host a top live auction that raises millions for an organization?  On today's special episode, I talk with Heath Hale, owner of Cowboy Auctioneer and the lead auctioneer for Texas' largest annual nonprofit signature fundraising event, Mack, Jack & McConaughey . Heath and his team of over a dozen auctioneers raised over $50 million through nonprofit live auc...

How does a nonprofit raise large sums of money through a signature fundraising event that consists entirely of small, intimate events?  Today, I talk with Cara Abazari, Director of Community Affairs at St. David's Foundation , and Tobie Funte, Chair of the organization's signature fundraising event, Toast of the Town . Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the Toast of the Town party series...

How do champions on the field fundraise for their community like champions off (and on) the field?  Today, I talk with Karin Morris, Senior Vice President of Community Impact for the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation to talk about the upcoming The TEX Gala . Over the past several years, the foundation arm of the reigning World Series champions has hosted a seven-figure fundraising gala held on Glo...

How does a nonprofit create an event that has its guests highly engaged long before the event begins?  Today, I talk with three special guests to talk about the upcoming Mad Hatter's Luncheon benefitting the Women's Council of the Dallas Arboretum : Event Chair, Allison Brodnax, Board President Karen Sargent, and Event Producer Jan Strimple. Mad Hatter's is one of the most inventive events you wil...

How does a small community effectively draw donors from around the area to their gala or signature fundraising event?  Today, I talk with Reenie Harwood Collins and Linda Plant, who are the co-chairs for the upcoming Round Top Festival Institute Gala . The smallest incorporated town in Texas, Round Top is a town of approximately 90 residents known primarily as a destination for quality antiques. T...

How does an organization create a signature fundraising event that is one of the hottest tickets in town year after year?  Today, I talk with Andy Smith and Paul von Wupperfeld, who are the co-chairs for the upcoming Art Ball 2024 benefiting the Dallas Museum of Art . The Dallas Museum of Art is one of the world's premier art museums featuring works from Monet, Van Gough, Matisse and more . Each S...

How does an organization successfully host an event that provides funds to multiple nonprofits to maximizes a positive impact on their community? Today, I talk with THE BIG GOOD co-founder Kelsey Patterson about their upcoming annual flagship fundraising event THE BIG GOOD, which benefits three organizations in North Texas: The Tarrant To & Through Partnership , United Community Centers , and...

How does an organization successfully attract a wide range of people throughout the donor community to a signature fundraising event? Today, I talk with Scotty Sayers and Two-Time Masters Champion Ben Crenshaw about the upcoming Imagine Muny Gala benefitting The Muny Conservancy . The Muny Conservancy is an organization seeking to preserve Lions Municipal Golf Course, a 141-acre greenspace just we...

How does an organization successfully raise $10 million online in 24 hours to benefit the entire community? Today, I talk with Piper Stege Nelson, CEO of I Live Here I Give Here to talk about Amplify Austin Day. Amplify Austin is a platform of over 700 nonprofits from seven counties in Central Texas. Over 24 hours each March, tens of thousands in the Austin area give small and large dollar contrib...

How does an organization create a signature fundraising gala with a very large, multi-generational following? Today, I talk with Helping Hand Home Board President Beth Plater, as well as Kerianne Oliver and Jennifer Ramberg, co-chairs of the upcoming annual signature fundraising event, Crystal Ball . Crystal Ball is the largest nonprofit gala in Austin each year, drawing over 2,000 people with gue...