Fun In Fundraising

Hosted by Rob Giardinelli

Business Entrepreneurship Society CultureInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

173

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

About the show

Fun in Fundraising is a podcast that gives you behind-the-scenes access to the people behind top fundraising galas. Ranked Number 6 in FeedSprouts’ list of Top Fundraising Podcasts, each episode features host Rob Giardinelli talking with the leaders behind the top gala and signature fundraiser event chairs, honorees, producers, and non-profit executives. These events featured on Fun In Fundraising raise significant sums of money by producing fun, memorable experiences with guests and attendees returning year after year. Each conversation highlights 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 15 years, Giardinelli has attended/chronicled over 2,000 galas, kick-off events, and parties that have raised over $250 million for some of the world’s top nonprofits. To learn more about or work with Rob, visit EventMindset.com

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 16, 2026Episode 17444 min

Developing A Strong Relationship With Your Auctioneer With Carrie Frugé

What are the keys to creating a strong relationship with an auctioneer to drive revenue and impact at your annual gala? Today, I talk with Carrie Frugé, Founder of Biddy Up Auctioneer, to discuss this critical topic. A sales executive, turned auctioneer, Carrie has spent a career developing strong relationships with clients to ensure customers are happy and remain loyal. All skills that are critical in maintaining successful donor relationships. A few years ago, Carrie decided to take her natural sales skills and pursue a true passion - raising funds for nonprofits as an auctioneer. She has already made her mark on the Austin fundraising scene and beyond, serving as auctioneer for high-profile events including the Round Top Film Festival Gala and EASB Live! Carrie provides valuable insights on creating impactful and memorable live auctions, including tips on raising a room's energy, understanding your donors, tying strategic donors to specific auction items/paddles-up levels, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

June 9, 2026Episode 17338 min

How To Successfully Engage A Decision Makers Chief Of Staff With Emily Sander

How do nonprofits effectively engage a Chief of Staff to build deeper relationships with top donors and family offices that ultimately drive revenue growth? There is no better person to discuss this topic than the founder of Next Level Coaching, Emily Sander. A member of the team that created the original Amazon Kindle, Emily has experienced firsthand what it is like to field inquiry after inquiry for something everyone wants to collaborate with. Many times, nonprofits look past the very people who are in the room when donors, philanthropists, and family offices make strategic decisions on giving. Effectively engaging a chief of staff and the personnel around a major donor is equally, if not more critically important than the principal themselves. Emily provides incredible insights on donor and principal engagement, including tips on building strong relationships with a Chief of Staff, how Chief of Staffs are the ultimate dot connectors, engaging a Chief of Staff in the event planning process, the importance of having a backup plan, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

June 2, 2026Episode 17247 min

Creating Unforgettable Al Fresco Events With Autumn Rich

What are the keys to creating unforgettable al fresco events that wow donors, increase fundraising, and leave a lasting impact? There is no better person to discuss this topic than Panacea Collective Founder Autumn Rich. Over the years, this legendary event producer has created unforgettable experiences both indoors and outdoors that have guests talking long after the last song spins at the after-party. The events Autumn has produced include many of the world's (and her current hometown of Austin's) most acclaimed outdoor event tickets, including the White House Easter Egg Roll, Austin City Limits Music Festival, Texas Medal of Arts Awards, and Waterloo Greenway Conservancy's Glow in the Park Gala, just to name a few. During our talk, Autumn provides a masterclass of insights on creating unforgettable outdoor events, including the benefits and challenges to hosting an outdoor event, developing effective rain plans so your audience does not miss a beat, staying calm when unexpected things happen, creating positive experiences for guests at high-profile events, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

May 26, 2026Episode 17135 min

Using Events And Donor Entertaining As A Part Of Your Capital Campaing Strategy With Ali Flanders Dodson

How does an organization effectively incorporate a successful event and donor entertainment that produces financial results for a capital campaign? Today, I talk with Ali Flanders Dodson, Chief Advancement Officer for Kids' Meals, to discuss this important, yet often overlooked aspect as a key component to raise the necessary capital to create organization and community transformation. Kid's Meals has embarked on a multi-year $37 million capital campaign to build a new high-capacity building that will fulfill the organization's mission to feed 26,000 children in the Houston area every weekday by 2031. A key component of their success has been around strategic engagement with key donors and community leaders through events and donor entertaining. Ali provides valuable insights on a range of topics, including how to determine if a capital campaign is the right vehicle for your organization, tips on creating a strong multi-phase structure to celebrate key milestones, effectively leveraging your board to achieve campaign objectives, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

May 19, 2026Episode 17033 min

How A Great DJ Elevates Your Gala With Lance Avery Morgan

What is one often overlooked critical element to a successful gala or signature fundraising event? Engaging music. Today, I talk with acclaimed DJ Lance Avery Morgan to discuss the importance of music in creating an effective throughline for your event that makes it fun, engaging, and most importantly memorable. Over the past 25 years, Lance has attended thousands of galas, commercial events, brand activations, and cocktail parties. He has seen firsthand how bad music can make a beautifully decorated event feel blah and great music can make a small-budget event feel luxuriously fun. Lance provides valuable insights on a range of topics, including tips on effectively collaborating with a DJ to create the perfect soundtrack for your audience, how music is an important throughline for your entire event and not just for the after-party, tips on creating playlists that get guests of all ages onto the dance floor, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

May 12, 2026Episode 16941 min

Texas Children's Hospital Legacy Golf Classic With Michelle Frankfort and Julia TenHoeve

How does a nonprofit expanding into a new community create a successful fundraising event to engage donors in a new market? Today, I talk with Michelle Frankfort, Lead Philanthropy Advisor, Special Events, and Julia TenHoeve, Ambassadors Manager of Texas Children's Hospital, to talk about one of their Austin-based signature fundraising events, the Legacy Golf Classic. Over the years, the Houston-based Texas Children's Hospital has provided world-class medical care for children. This has included a slate of highly successful fundraising events in Houston, including an annual golf tournament. In recent years, Texas Children's Hospital made the decision to expand into the Austin market with a new campus providing world-class healthcare for children in Central Texas. It has also hosted successful fundraising events such as the Legacy Community Golf Classic to engage the community and recruit new donors in a more informal, relaxed way. Michelle and Julia provide valuable insights on a range of topics, including tips on finding effective ambassadors to plant deep roots in your community, strategically segmenting donors and sponsors to keep them engaged and avoid burnout, the keys to hosting a successful gold tournament, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

May 5, 2026Episode 16839 min

Runway To Asia With Divya Brown And Janae Tsai

How does a nonprofit create multiple signature fundraising events that are each unique, impactful, and fun? Today, I talk with Divya Brown and Janae Tsai, co-chairs of Runway to Asia benefiting Asia Society Texas Center. Last year, Asia Society Texas Center launched Runway to Asia to serve as a complement to its highly impactful annual special event repertoire. The event immediately made a fundraising and cultural impact on the Houston community, highlighting Asian designers who have made an impact in Houston and around the world. Divya and Janae provide valuable insights on a range of topics, including how serving on various nonprofit committees prepares you to successfully chair an event, effectively utilizing a second fundraising event to recruit new donors/supporters, tips on deciding whether a fashion show is the right fundraising vehicle for your nonprofit, maintaining the momentum of a successful first-year signature fundraising event, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

April 28, 2026Episode 16734 min

House of DIFFA With Rhiannon Bolen

How does an organization successfully cultivate a group of ambassadors to maximize attendance, revenue, and impact? Today, I talk with Rhiannon Bolen, Board Chair for DIFFA Dallas to talk about the organization's annual signature fundraising event, House of DIFFA. Texas's answer to the Met Gala, each year House of DIFFA is an evening of impact with a dash of fantasty, created through the legendary themes, with this year's being Hotel Mystique. The event draws over 1,000 top patrons, activists, and community leaders who are on hand to raise funds that provide grants for HIV Prevention as well as programs to support those living with HIV/AIDS. One way the organization does this is through an innovative group of individuals called the DIFFA Style Council Ambassadors. Each year a group of 12-15 community leaders who possess great style help increase awareness and attendance, resulting in one of the most fun fundraising events in the country. Rhiannon provides valuable insights on a range of topics, including tips on creating an innovative theme that resonates with your audience...and attracting new donors, creating a memorable silent auction that fuses creativity, community and fundraising, successfully getting high-profile individuals to support your event, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

April 21, 2026Episode 16635 min

Bo's Place Hats, Hearts, & Horseshoes With Shelby Seligmann And Courtney Varner

What are the keys to a nonprofit hosting a successful Kentucky Derby-themed party that is both impactful and fun? Today, I talk with Bo's Place Director of Communications Courtney Varner and Shelby Seligmann, event chair for the organization's signature fundraising event: Hats, Hearts, & Horseshoes. For the past 10 years, Hearts, Hats, and Horseshoes has been one of the most successful Kentucky Derby-themed fundraisers in Texas. The event has evolved from a party at a major donor's estate to a can't-miss event that draws several hundred devoted attendees from around Houston each year. Proceeds raised from the event go towards the organization's mission to provide support and community to those who have lost a loved one. Shelby and Courtney provide valuable insights on a range of topics, including how to create a devoted following for a signature fundraising event, establishing a strong relationship between a nonprofit and event chairs, developing a strong communications strategy to increase awareness, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

April 14, 2026Episode 16535 min

Dinner With Friends With Nancy Pollard

How does a nonprofit founder create a highly successful gala to amplify the organization's voice and impact in the communities they serve? Today, I talk with Nancy Pollard, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Austin Chapter of Friends of the Children, to talk about the organization's annual signature fundraising event, Dinner with Friends. The Austin Chapter, founded in 2017 with the assistance of 50 local individuals and organizations, provides long-term mentorship for children to break the generational cycle of poverty. Each child is placed with a mentor from age four through high school graduation. The organization has successfully used its signature fundraising event, Dinner with Friends, to expand its footprint in the Austin community. Their 2025 gala raised over $1.4 million to fulfill their mission. Nancy provides valuable insights on a range of topics, including assembling a strong board to ensure your organization's success, creating a strong following for your gala or signature fundraising event, successfully highlighting an organization's mission throughout the event to create the environment for a successful live auction/fund-a-need, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.