What are the keys to giving your signature fundraising event a local feel, even if it is a national organization?

In today’s episode, I talk with Cattle Baron's Ball Dallas co-chairs Courtney Derderian MD and Nina Sasche to talk about this iconic event benefiting American Cancer Society.

For the past 52 years, Cattle Baron's Ball has been the gold standard in creating a highly successful fundraiser that blends unique locations, fashion, music, and philanthropy. The event is now the largest single night fundraiser for the American Cancer Society in the United States each year.

Courtney and Nina share their knowledge and expertise on a variety of topics, including tips on how to announce hosting a musical headliner to generate major buzz for your event, tips on getting high-profile individuals to say yes and be a part of your event, evolving your event and the talent behind it to build a devoted following that spans generations, and so much more. This is one episode you will not want to miss.

How do does an organization effectively blend commerce and fundraising in a way that brings the community together?

In today’s episode, I talk with The Family Place CEO Tiffany Tate and Margette Hepfner to talk about one of the organization's signature fundraising events: Partners Card.

For many years, many top retailers in North Texas have taken part in this unique and highly effective fundraiser. The premise is simple: patrons purchase a card from The Family Place and are able to get a discount at hundreds of retailers in the Dallas area. It raises money for a great cause and allows people to save on restrauant, apparel, and other retail outlets.

Tiffany and Margette share their knowledge and expertise on a variety of topics including tips on hosting successful kickoff events that create buzz, how to approach retailers, developing a strong relationship between an event chair and a nonprofit, and so much more. This is one episode you will not want to miss.

How do you create an impactful statement moment at your event where guests carry the moment with them long after the event has ended?

In today’s episode, I talk with AVDA CEO Maisha Colter and AVDA Board Chair Vanessa Ames to talk about the organization's signature fundraising event: the Home Safe Home Gala.

For over 40 years, AVDA has provided services in it's mission to end domestic violence by advocating for the safety and self-determination of victims, promoting accountability for abusers, and fostering a community response to abuse. Over the past few years, the Home Safe Home Gala has become increasingly successful due to a strong program with impactful event moments such as the Be the Light moment where each guest holds a candle to help bring domestic violence out of the shadows.

Maisha and Vanessa share their knowledge and expertise on a variety of topics, including tips on consistently and successfully growing your event year after year, creating a strong selection process in selecting an honoree, how a strong relationship between executive leadership and a board contributes to an events success and so much more. This is one episode you will not want to miss.

What does it take for an organization to host a successful fundraising event in a one-of-a-kind urban green space?

In today's episode, I talk with Kit Sawers, President & CEO of Klyde Warren Park, to talk about their upcoming signature fundraising event, Party in the Park.

Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, Klyde Warren Park is a modern city oasis. A 5.4-acre park over a suspended 8-lane highway, the world-class green space draws over 1.5 million visitors per year. 

Kit share a wealth of valuable insights on a range of topics including using a gala to create deeper relationships with key donors, establishing a strong and active board, how an organization successfully evolves with a changing city and so much more. This is one episode you won’t want to miss.

What does it take for an organization to host a successful fundraising event when the logistics are anything but simple?

In today's episode, I talk with Austin Parks Foundation Vice President of Marketing and Communications Katie Kennedy, and Events Manager Caitlyn Denham to talk about the upcoming Party for the Parks.

Held on the grounds of Zilker Park, one of the green spaces supported by the Austin Parks Foundation, Party for the Parks takes place between the two weekends of the Austin City Limits Music Festival. This exclusive event offers a rare opportunity to experience the expansive festival grounds in a private, after-hours setting, alongside just 400 fellow attendees.

Katie and Caitlyn share a wealth of valuable insights on everything from creating a seamless guest experience in a large venue, to crafting effective messaging for a unique event that both retains and attracts donors. They also dive into the process of booking high-profile musicians and much more. This is one episode you won’t want to miss.

What are the keys to highlighting artistic talents throughout a successful gala or signature fundraising event?

In today’s episode, I talk with Dallas Symphony Orchestra Chief Artistic Officer Katie McGuiness and Vanessa Cain, event chair for the upcoming Dallas Symphony Orchestra Gala.

Celebrating it's 125th anniversary, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra is one of the world's top artistic organizations. The annual Dallas Symphony Orchestra space makes full use of the world-class Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center with spaces and experiences that enchant guests, including a five-star dinner, a concert featuring world-class musical talent, and one of Texas's best gala after parties.

Vanessa and Katie share their knowledge and expertise on a variety of topics, including tips for evolving your organization as your city grows and changes, strategies for effectively incorporating talent that reflects your organization’s mission throughout the night, and building a loyal following that spans generations. This is one episode you will not want to miss.

Having a vision isn't enough. How do you lead your community to get behind a transformative vision that will be felt for generations to come?

In today’s episode, I talk with Lynn and Tom Meredith, co-chairs—along with several of their children and spouses—of the upcoming Glow in the Park benefiting the Waterloo Greenway Conservancy.

Lynn and Tom’s leadership and vision has been instrumental in transforming Downtown Austin’s Waterloo Greenway into a world-class urban greenspace. Each fall, the organization hosts Glow in the Park at Moody Amphitheater, celebrating completed milestones and the ongoing transformation of the 1.5-mile, 35-acre greenspace.

Lynn and Tom share their knowledge and expertise on a range of topics including how to get involved in a community as a new resident, what nonprofits and startups have in common, how nonprofits can successfully evolve with a growing city, overcoming the naysayers who say your vision can't be achieved, and so much more. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation with two transformative leaders.

What should an organization consider when considering a format change for an annual gala or signature fundraising event? 

In today's episode, I talk with Tena Faust, Board Co-President of Houston PetSet to talk about the upcoming Fierce & Fabulous Le Brunch. 

One of Houston's most beloved and successful annual signature fundraising events for many years, the Houston PetSet. Led for many years by Tena and her sister Tama Lundquist, the organization has decided now is the right time to shift the format of the event from a nighttime gala to a weekend brunch. Proceeds from this highly successful event are disbursed to other Houston animal nonprofit organizations in the form of grants to more widely impact the Houston community.

Tena provides so many wonderful insights on a whole host of topics including tips on finding cause that you are passionate about AND uses your strengths to make maximum impact on your community, ways to draw patrons from multiple parts of your city's philanthropic community, the keys to obtaining great silent and live auction items, businesses, and vendors plus so much more This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

How does an organization build on the success of a highly successful first-year gala? 

In today's episode, I talk with Shanna Schanen, Co-Founder of the Round Top Film Festival, and Round Top Film Festival Board Member Shonnery Pettit to talk about the second annual Round Top Film Festival Gala.

The smallest incorporated town in Texas, with approximately 90 residents, Round Top is well known for its annual antique markets. To further establish Round Top as a cultural destination, Shanna launched the Round Top Film Festival with a highly successful first year slate that was fueled by their highly successful kickoff gala that successfuly drew film patrons from around Texas.

Shanna and Shonnery provide countless valuable insights on a range of topics including how to use a gala to help build buzz for a festival, tips on drawing people from multiple markets for your gala or signature fundraising event, the importance of having a strong gala committee to from year one, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

How can an organization host multiple signature fundraising events throughout the year that engage various segments of its donor community?

Today, I talk with Karissa Condoianis, Senior Vice President of Public Relations for the State Fair of Texas® to talk about the upcoming Texas State Fair and other signature fundraising events the organization hosts throughout the year.

While many know the State Fair of Texas® as a place of family fun that draws over 2 million visitors to the fair each year, it is actually a 501 (c)3 organization. Operating on three core pillars to serve the Texas community: economic development, building capacity, community support, it offers support to many nonprofit organizations to positively impact communities around the state.

In this episode, Karissa discusses a wide range of topics including establishing a process to select nonprofit collaboration partners, how the organization hosts different fundraising events targeted at different segments of their audience, obtaining top musical headliners for events, and so much more. This is one episode you will not want to miss.