Fun In Fundraising – Details, episodes & analysis

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 that draws hundreds and now raises seven figures for her organization whose mission is to end childhood cancer.

In this episode, Brittany talks about a wide range of topics including how the organization selects new markets to plant roots in, incorporating an effective fashion show into your event program, and tips on partnering with world-class organizations to help scale your event. This is one episode you will not want to miss.

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 highly engaging and entertaining acts during the evening. The first act is a dinner in a beautiful space. The second act is a concert performance by a world-renowned pianist Lang Lang. The final act is an after-party that keeps the fun going well into the night. 

In this episode, Patrick and Denton talk about a wide range of topics including the importance of getting involved in your community when you move to a new city, advice on attracting world-class talent to your gala or signature fundraising event, and tips on keeping your audience engaged at an event throughout the entire night. This is one episode you will not want to miss.

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, birthday parties, and corporate events. This gives guests and donors a beautiful piece of art that can be framed in their home that remind them of your great gala or signature fundraising event all year long.

In this episode, Stephanie provides valuable insights on what makes for a great subject to sketch, the various ways nonprofits use Vogue Vignette at their events to cultivate and recruit donors, and what all successful galas and signature fundraising events have in common.

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 high-profile nonprofit, corporate, and live events for everything ranging from local charities to events hosted by former presidents and cabinet secretaries.

In this episode, Holly provides so many invaluable insights on numerous topics on the many ways that an emcee is your most valuable event asset...including tips on how to find the right emcee for your event, why you should set aside a budget to hire a quality event emcee, and tips on what to look for when organizations are looking to have co-emcees. This is one episode you will not want to miss.

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 allowed Dell Children's to raise $1 million at this year's Fund-A-Need...in a room with less than 500 guests. The 2024 Dell Children's Ball raised a record-breaking $3,000,000 for the organization.

In this episode, TK provides so many invaluable insights on hosting a successful Fund-A-Need including how organizations successfully partner with auctioneers, the importance of knowing the donors in the room in advance of the event, and how to effectively utilize a donor match to drive up the bidding of donors.  This is one episode you will not want to miss.

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 most popular al fresco events, usually held at Camp Mabry Military Base, was forced to move at the last minute when the rain plan evolved into a likely severe weather outbreak that required them to spring into action to find a new venue and produce the event with 48 hours notice. The ensemble pulled together to find a new venue, successfully execute the event, and raise $1.34 million in the process.

In this episode, Jessica and Maryam provide so many important insights on what it takes to pull off a list-minute move. The two more important things are trust and communication. With that as a foundation, we dive into the three steps to successfully execute the last-minute move: finding a new venue, coordinating with vendors, and engaging your donors, sponsors, and attendees. This is one episode you will not want to miss.

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 support services to homeless children in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The organization recently completed a successful rebrand and has expanded services to new areas within the region.

In this episode, Karen provides a wealth of insights including key actions to successfully rebrand your organization, successfully moving your signature fundraising event to a new part of a city, and important areas of your signature fundraising events to outsource to counteract any last-minute disruptions. This is one episode you will not want to miss.

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 private art tours, lunches, receptions, and dinners. The highlight of the four days will be a gala held in Versailles where patrons have a private, exclusive dinner inside this majestic space that over 15 million people visit annually. Proceeds raised from the event benefit restoration projects within Versailles and the surrounding park grounds.

In this episode, Alicia and Kristin talk about a wide range of topics including how the organization draws people from around the world for their event, tips on creating unique experiences over several days to keep donors engaged throughout, and tips on getting high-profile individuals who are also very private to say yes. This is one episode you will not want to miss.

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. Over the past quarter century, hundreds have turned out each year for Wish Night 2024 in Dallas to celebrate the power and hope a wish can make for a child (and their families) dealing with adversity in the chapters 161 county area covering East, West, and North Texas.

In this episode, Murphey talks about a wide range of topics including creating events that connect with the personality of each community an organization serves, how the organization works with Wish Families to convey the organization's mission and connect with major donors, and tips on finding and securing corporate sponsors.

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 Foster will take to the piano with wife Katharine McPhee belting out the scores of iconic tunes that the duo have written and produced over the decades. This event shows how music has the power to give guests fun and good feelings at galas or signature fundraising events so they talk about your event for years to come.

In this episode, Susan and Shelly talk about a wide range of topics including tips on attracting the right celebrities and high-profile individuals to your signature fundraising event, how to get the most fun possible out of your signature fundraising event, and ways to create a devoted following for your annual gala.