Fun In Fundraising

Hosted by Rob Giardinelli

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Episodes

192

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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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

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60 recent

November 3, 2026Episode 19437 min

Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market® With Sonja Kostich And Michelle Jeffery

How does a nonprofit successfully structure a signature fundraising event so that both nonprofits and business sponsors both benefit? Today, I talk with Houston Ballet Executive Director Sonja Kostich as well as Michelle Jeffery, co-chair for Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market® , one of the organization's signature fundraising events. For over 40 years, the Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market® has been one of Houston's most successful signature fundraising events. The multi-day event features both events for major donors as well as an epic marketplace featuring hundreds of local Houston merchants, each of whom donates a percentage of their proceeds during the five-day shopping extravaganza. In 2025, Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market® drew over 100,000 visitors to the NRG Center , where the event is held. Sonja and Michelle share their insights on a variety of topics, including tips on successfully hosting a multi-day fundraising event, how to balance engaging donors to avoid donor fatigue, creating distinct experiences during an event series while maintaining an event throughline, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

October 27, 2026Episode 19333 min

Folds Of Honor North Texas Gala With Sarah Elliott

How can a nonprofit with chapters around the country create a successful gala that both connects to the organization's mission and has a local feel? Today, I talk with Folds of Honor North Texas Chapter Executive Director Sarah Elliott to talk about the chapter's largest signature fundraising event, the Folds of Honor North Texas Gala . In 2007, Folds of Honor was founded by Lt. Col. Dan Rooney to provide educational scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen or disabled military members and first responders. Over the past 19 years, Folds of Honor has grown to 40 chapters around the United States, including the North Texas Chapter, whose 2025 gala raised a record-breaking and eye-popping $4.5 million for the organization. Sarah provides her expert insights on a range of topics, including how to use a unique event venue as a way to attract (and maintain) donors, the keys to creating a successful paddles raise that effectively conveys the mission and moves the audience, getting a high-profile individual to say yes to attend your event in a way that is organic to the organization's mission, and so much more. This is one episode you definitely do not want to miss.

October 20, 2026Episode 19241 min

Houston SPCA Howl-O-Ween Ball With Julie Kuenstle and Patrick Plunk

How does a nonprofit successfully host a gala or signature fundraising event on their campus or headquarters? Today, I talk with Houston SPCA VP of Marketing and Communications Julie Kuenstle and VP of Philanthropy Patrick Plunk to discuss the organization's signature fundraising event: the 2026 Howl-O-Ween Ball . One of the most fun and financially successful animal welfare galas in Texas, Houston SPCA’s Howl-O-Ween is a genius event concept that allows the organization to bring its mission to life for existing and potential new donors. The Halloween theme invites guests to embrace the holiday in full costume or attend in cocktail or black-tie attire, creating an atmosphere where everyone feels welcome. Held on the grounds of the Houston SPCA, the event also gives donors a firsthand, real-time connection to the organization’s mission. The event's results speak for themselves, with the 2025 gala raising more than $1 million. Julie and Patrick provide valuable insights on a range of topics, including how to develop strong relationships with event chairs to maximize relationships and impact, determining which of your donors is most ideal for a holiday-themed event, the importance of creating an effective event communications strategy to convey your mission to the broader community, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

October 13, 2026Episode 19138 min

Children's Museum Houston Gala With Jessica Bertuccio, James Flavin, and Bahareh Flavin

What is the key to hosting a themed event that allows every guest to feel comfortable and ready to participate? Today, I talk with Jessica Bertuccio, James Flavin, and Bahareh Flavin, three of the co-chairs for the One Upon A Time: A Fairy Tale Fashion Ball benefiting Children's Museum Houston . For many years, the Children's Museum Houston's annual gala has been a highly successful annual signature event with a keen ability to draw a youthful crowd who is ready to show up and make an impact. Each year, the event features innovative themes where guests feel comfortable showing up either in costume or in traditional black-tie. This year should be especially fun with the 2026 theme: Once Upon a Time: A Fairy Tale Fashion Ball that will allow guests to sport high fashion in a way that best suits them. Jessica, James, and Bahareh provide valuable insights on a range of topics, including how event chairs can effectively use a committee that ensures their event vision comes to life, how changing the theme each year keeps donors engaged...and on their toes, tips on creating a successful after-party that keeps the vast majority of your crowd at your gala until the final song is spun or sung, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

October 6, 2026Episode 19036 min

Foster Village Grow The Village Gala With Chrystal Smith

How can a nonprofit effectively use a gala to increase revenue, visibility, and impact? Today, I talk with Foster Village Founder & CEO Chrystal Smith about the Austin Chapters Grow the Village Gala , the organization's largest annual signature fundraising event. Ten years ago, Chrystal founded Foster Village to provide support to families who foster children as well as services for children aging out of the foster care system. During this time, Foster Village has grown from the initial Austin chapter to a dozen different markets around the country. This year's Grow the Village Gala will both celebrate this milestone and raise a substantial amount of funds to support the organization's mission. Chrystal provides her expert insights on a range of topics on running your gala as a business, including how to successfully grow and evolve your organization while staying true to its mission, tips on creating an inaugural board that sets your organization up for success, using the gala as an opportunity to connect with new as well as existing donors, and so much more.

September 29, 2026Episode 18956 min

Laura Ward Of Houston Children's Charity On How To Run A Gala Like A Successful Business

What is the key to hosting a successful annual gala? Run it like a business. No one is better suited to discuss this important, yet underdiscussed topic than Houston Children's Charity President & CEO Laura Ward and her enormously successful Houston Children's Charity Gala . This year, Houston's most anticipated and successful fundraising gala turns 30 this year. Laura has been able to grow the gala to extraordinary heights by adopting business principles that have allowed her gala to grow and scale. The 2025 Houston Children's Charity Gala raised an incredible $9.4 million, and know in 2026, it will likely become a gala unicorn that will raise eight figures in a single night. Laura provides her expert insights on a range of topics on running your gala as a business, including how bold, trusted leadership sets the pace for your gala, the importance of engaging your customer in "old school" ways, the thing you must do 100% with all gala stakeholders, and so much more. This episode is a must-listen for anyone trying to grow and scale their gala in a way that connects with donors and stakeholders so they give more of their resources to your event.

September 22, 2026Episode 18835 min

Cattle Baron's Ball Dallas With Cynthia Everitt And Paige Westhoff

How does a nonprofit successfully host an annual gala at a unique space that also has the capacity to host a large number of guests? Today, I talk with Cynthia Everitt and Paige Westhoff, co-chairs of the 2026 Cattle Baron's Ball Dallas , benefiting the American Cancer Society . For over 50 years, Cattle Baron's Ball has been one of Texas' most successful fundraising events. Over the past several years, the event has been hosted at the iconic Southfork Ranch, home of the legendary show Dallas. Hosting it at Southfork has allowed over 3,000 guests each year to experience the largest single-night fundraiser for the American Cancer Society in the United States each year. Cynthia and Paige provide valuable insights on a range of topics, including creating a great theme that engages and excites your audience, managing a guest list, and strategically seating people so they want to attend every single year, creating a live auction that raises a large amount of money while entertaining the crowd, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

September 15, 2026Episode 18757 min

Waterloo Greenway Conservancy's Glow In The Park With Dr. Colette Pierce-Burnette

How does a nonprofit successfully use a gala to showcase the progress of a transformative project that an entire community can use year-round? Today, I talk with Dr. Colette Pierce-Burnette, CEO of Waterloo Greenway Conservancy , to talk about the upcoming Glow in the Park Gala. Held on the world-class grounds of the Moody Amphitheater on part of the Waterloo Greenway's city greenscape, Glow in the Park is one of Austin's must-attend fundraising events. Under Colette's leadership, the Waterloo Greenway Conservancy has continued to thrive as the organization creates a transformative, multi-mile naturebelt in the heart of Austin. Glow in the Park provides donors and guests the opportunity to access and take in the natural beauty of Waterloo Greenway in an immersive way, showcasing how their donations have provided a transformative impact on the community. Colette provides valuable insights on a range of topics, including tips on successfully using a gala to connect with major donors, putting your own stamp on a transformational project already in progress, creating a successful fundraising event that is held outdoors, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

September 8, 2026Episode 18640 min

Operation Smile Houston Gala With Sneha Merchant

How does a nonprofit steadily grow its annual fundraising gala so it becomes one of the most successful galas in your area? Today, I talk with Sneha Merchant, co-Chair of the Operation Smile Houston Gala , to talk about its 10th anniversary gala. Over the past decade, Operation Smile's Houston Gala has grown in scope and impact. Beginning as a smaller 100-person event, the event has grown in size and now features well over 500 of Houston's most notable philanthropists in attendance each year. Along the way, the organization has strategically shifted event venues as the Operation Smile Gala has grown and scaled during that time. Sneha provides valuable insights on a range of topics, including tips on successfully and gradually evolving your event over time, building a devoted following for your annual gala and signature fundraising event that also creates great word of mouth, getting high-profile individuals to say yes to support your event, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

September 1, 2026Episode 18539 min

Big Brothers Big Sisters LoneStar An Evening For Potential Gala With Alistine Turnbull-Blackshear & Pierce Bush

How can a nonprofit executive leader effectively collaborate with an outgoing senior leader transitioning into an emeritus role to ensure knowledge, fundraising, and impact seamlessly continue? Today, I talk with Alistine Turnbull-Blackshear, Market President of Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star Greater Houston Chapter , and Pierce Bush, President Emeritus of Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star to discuss An Evening for Potential Gala , the Houston Chapter's annual signature fundraising event. Over the last several years, Big Brothers Big Sisters' An Evening for Potential Gala has drawn many of Houston's top social and community leaders. As outgoing President, Pierce Bush has transitioned into an emeritus role, Alistine and the leaders across Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star Chapters around Texas have been able to tap into institutional knowledge, providing organizational continuity while empowering them to put their own stamps on their various chapters. This has allowed the organization to seamlessly transition major fundraising events while infusing them with new energy that successful leadership transitions provide. Alistine and Pierce provide valuable insights on a range of topics, including engaging donors via events throughout the year, selecting a theme that resonates with both the audience and the organization's mission, successfully evolving your nonprofit with a growing/changing city, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.