Fun In Fundraising

Rob Giardinelli
  • 5.0 (4)
  • NON-PROFIT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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

  1. 22H AGO

    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.

    39 min

  2. APR 28

    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.

    34 min

  3. APR 21

    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.

    36 min

  4. APR 14

    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.

    35 min

  5. APR 7

    American Heart Association Côtes du Coeur With Chris Clark And Richard Chamberlain

    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.

    48 min

  6. MAR 31

    St. David's Foundation Toast Of The Town With Araminta Sellers And Felicia Hester

    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.

    38 min

  7. MAR 24

    St. Jude Houston Gala With Angela Garza

    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.

    50 min

  8. MAR 17

    BreakThrough T1D Houston Promise Ball With Rick Byrd And Ali Bruskoff

    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.

    43 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Rob Giardinelli
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    167
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Event Mindset LLC All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Fun In Fundraising