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.

What are the keys to creating an unforgettable gala menu that has guests savoring every bite of every course?

Today, I talk with legendary Dallas Chef Richard Chamberlain and Chris Clark, event chair for the 2026 Côtes du Coeur.

Benefitting the American Heart Association, Côtes du Coeur is an incredible, two-night food and wine experience that doubles as the largest single-night fundraiser for the organization each year. This has been due to strong event chairs such as Chris, as well as having a longstanding relationship with a top chef, which allows the audience to know that every single year, the food and wine pairings will be five-star experiences.

Richard and Chris provide valuable insights on a range of topics, including tips on creating a successful wine and experience auction, ensuring an elevated menu where the first plate is as fresh as the 500th plate, creating a multi-night experience where patrons are excited to attend both nights, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

How does an organization create a successful signature fundraising event through a series of intimate, yet impactful events?

Today, I talk with Araminta Sellers and Felicia Hester, co-chairs of the St. David's Foundation's upcoming signature fundraising event, Toast of the Town.

For over 40 years, Toast of the Town has been a must-attend event in the Austin Spring fundraising calendar. Each year, the organization hosts a series of approximately 20 intimate events over the course of approximately 30 days. The audience size for each event ranges from 8 to 50 guests.

The event series offers a wide range of events that appeal to the various tastes of its donor base and audience. During the party series, you will see intimate dinners with acclaimed authors, meals at exclusive (and tough to get a reservation for) Austin restaurants, and chances to rub elbows with acclaimed athletes. 

Proceeds raised from the event series go towards the Neal Kocurek Scholarship Fund, which awards Central Texas Students with $7,500 scholarships for up to 8 years for students seeking a career in the medical field.

Araminta and Felicia provide valuable insights on a range of topics, including the benefits of hosting intimate, bespoke events, effectively scaling a hosted party model, making asks to celebrities and high-profile individuals so they say yes, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

How does a well-established nonprofit gala successfully draw in new segments of the community to increase event fundraising and impact?

Today, I talk with Angela Garza, Executive Director of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's Houston Chapter, to talk about the organization's annual St. Jude Houston Gala.

The legendary organization, founded by Danny Thomas in 1962, St. Jude provides customized care for children with cancer regardless of their race, ethnicity, beliefs, or ability to pay. Each year, over 8,000 children receive treatment at St. Jude's main campus in Memphis, Tennessee, as well as eight other regional affiliate locations around the United States.

For many years, the St. Jude Houston Gala received strong support from the Lebanese community in Houston, which is the ancestral lineage of Danny Thomas. In recent years, the St. Jude Houston Chapter has successfully scaled this support team by engaging broader segments of the Houston community. The result is increased fundraising impact and attendance with the 2025 St. Jude Houston Gala raising a record-breaking $1.65 million.

Angela provides valuable insights on a range of topics, including assembling event committees to help bring your event vision to life, tips on selecting event honorees that highlight the organization's mission and impact, successfully balancing a national/global organization's mission while maintaining a local feel, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

How does a nonprofit maintain a successful gala after the organization rebrands with a new name?

Today, I talk with Rick Byrd, Executive Director of the BreakThrough T1D Southern Texas Chapter, as well as Ali Bruskoff, event chair for the region's most successful annual gala, the 2026 Houston Promise Ball.

Two years ago, the organization retired its longtime Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (also known as JDRF), becoming known as BreakThrough T1D. This allowed the organization to modernize its name while maintaining its core mission to find a cure for T1 Diabetes.

The organization has not missed a beat and has continued to build upon the success of its annual signature fundraising events. The Houston Promise Ball has been especially impactful, with the sold-out 2025 event raising over $2.5 million for the organization.

Rick and Ali provide valuable insights on a range of topics, including how to select event themes that engage and excite your audience, tips on creating strong relationships between nonprofit leadership and event chairs, successfully balancing a national/global organization's mission while maintaining a local feel, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

How does an organization successfully incorporate its brand colors into a gala in a way that is both elevated and impactful?

Today, I talk with Andra Liemandt, Founder of The Kindness Campaign, as well as Stephanie O'Neill and Todd O'Neill, co-chairs of the organization's upcoming signature fundraising event, the Art of Kindness Gala.

One of Austin's most fun and impactful galas each Spring, the Art of Kindness Gala raises funds to support The Kindness Campaign's mission to build emotionally healthy humans by teaching emotional literacy and kindness as practical life skills.

Three years ago, Art of Kindness incorporated its blue brand colors into the event theme. The audience responded so positively to the theme, who donned various shades of blue, that the organization has made the blue-attired theme a signature of their highly successful fundraising event.

Andra, Stephanie, and Todd provide valuable insights on a range of topics, including how businesses can incorporate giving back into its overall strategy, providing experiential activations that raise the energy of your guests, building strong relationships between nonprofit leadership and event chairs, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

What are the keys to creating strong event themes that tie to the organization's mission while being fun for guests?

Today, I talk with Thomas Pierce, Founder of the Children's Oncology Support Fund, to talk about the upcoming Aspen Snow Ball.

One of the top fundraising galas in Aspen each year, with 2025's event raising over $3.5 million, the Aspen Snow Ball draws top patrons from around the country to further the organization's mission to help develop medical breakthroughs in pediatric research. A big part of the event's success is theming each event around a children's classic with a fun twist. This allows donors to have fun and personally connect with the organization's mission, so they give generously.

Thomas shares great insights on a range of topics, including developing strategic partnerships to further your organization's mission, building a strong board that expands the reach of your gala and your impact, getting donors who live in an area part-time to support your cause, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

How does hiring an effective event producer for your gala help free up resources to drive more revenue?

Today, I talk with Jacqui Schraad, Executive Director of the Texas State History Museum Foundation, and Krystle Alvardo, Principal of Alvarado Consulting, to talk about the Texas Independence Day Dinner.

One of Texas's most anticipated fundraising galas each year, the Texas Independence Day Dinner draws hundreds of patrons from all corners of the state to celebrate Texas Independence Day. Over the past several years, Jacqui and Krystle have formed a model working relationship to create an elevated experience for guests while increasing fundraising.

Last year's Texas Independence Day Dinner raised a record $1.29 million for the Foundation, with the proceeds benefiting the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. The 2026 Texas Independence Day Dinner will honor two Texas Legends: University of Texas Basketball Coach Emeritus Jody Conrat and trailblazing education leader Ruth J. Simmons.

Jacqui and Krystle provide valuable insights on a range of topics, including tips on creating an event that resonates with people from multiple markets, how to develop a strong, long-term relationship between a nonprofit and event producer, planning event details around honorees, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

How does an organization successfully switch venues and create a seamless event experience for guests?

Today, I talk with Kerri Ann Chambless and Ginny Liverman, co-chairs for the upcoming Helping Hand Home For Children Crystal Ball.

Austin's most widely attended gala each year, the Helping Hand Home Crystal Ball has successfully drawn multiple generations of families to their annual gala over the past 82 years. The year the Crystal Ball is moving to a new venue: The Fairmont in Downtown Austin. The organization has taken the move as an opportunity innovate and put a new spin on their already highly successful, $2 million annual gala to new heights.

Kerri Ann and Ginny provide valuable insights on a range of topics, including tips on building a devoted following for your annual gala, creating strong event subcommittees to carry out your event vision, how gala chairs can put their own personal stamp on a long-running event, and so much more. This is one episode you will not want to miss.

How does an organization successfully create an event season that has patrons and donors anticipating its signature fundraising event for months on end?

Today, I talk with Dallas Symphony Orchestra League President Claire Catrino and Maggie Kipp, co-chair of the DSO League 2026 Presentation Ball.

One of the most successful presentation balls in the United States, the 2026 Presentation Ball will celebrate two significant milestones: the 80th anniversary of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League and the 40th anniversary of the Presentation Ball. Proceeds raised from the event will benefit the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, which is also celebrating a milestone of their own: their 125th anniversary.

The DSO League has a nine-month season of events that includes a kickoff party that gets patrons excited for the upcoming festivities, culminating  with the Presentation Ball. The upcoming 2026 DSO Presentation Ball is set to draw a record 1,400+ patrons.

Claire and Maggie provide valuable insights on a range of topics, including creating a strong relationship between a guild and an organization, building a devoted following for your event that spans generations, how to make that kickoff party one that creates buzz and momentum, and so much more. This is one episode you will not want to miss.