{"podcast":{"title":"Fun In Fundraising","slug":"fun-in-fundraising-6056439","podcast_index_feed_id":6056439,"rss_url":"https://feed.podbean.com/funinfundraising/feed.xml","website_url":"https://funinfundraising.podbean.com","image_url":"https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/15911404/Fun_In_Fundraising_Logo_f97mxg.jpg","author":"Rob Giardinelli","episode_count":179,"summary":"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","last_synced_at":"2026-07-29T02:19:56.160263+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/fun-in-fundraising-6056439"},"episode":{"title":"BreakThrough T1D Houston Promise Ball With Rick Byrd And Ali Bruskoff","slug":"breakthrough-t1d-houston-promise-ball-with-rick-byrd-and-ali-bruskoff","published_at":"2026-03-17T13:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/fun-in-fundraising-6056439/breakthrough-t1d-houston-promise-ball-with-rick-byrd-and-ali-bruskoff","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/fun-in-fundraising-6056439","url":"https://funinfundraising.podbean.com/e/breakthrough-t1d-houston-promise-ball-with-rick-byrd-and-ali-bruskoff/","audio_url":"https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/2g69ix52vrcydbc7/Rick_Byrd_and_Ali_Bruskoff_-_BreakThrough_T1D_Promise_Ball6ziq2.mp3","summary":"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.","meta_description":"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 B…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2565,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/fun-in-fundraising-6056439/episodes/breakthrough-t1d-houston-promise-ball-with-rick-byrd-and-ali-bruskoff/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/fun-in-fundraising-6056439/breakthrough-t1d-houston-promise-ball-with-rick-byrd-and-ali-bruskoff.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}