{"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":"Dinner With Friends With Nancy Pollard","slug":"dinner-with-friends-with-nancy-pollard","published_at":"2026-04-14T13:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/fun-in-fundraising-6056439/dinner-with-friends-with-nancy-pollard","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/fun-in-fundraising-6056439","url":"https://funinfundraising.podbean.com/e/dinner-with-friends-with-nancy-pollard/","audio_url":"https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/ewgfr23d4famu8p5/Nancy_Pollard_-_Dinner_With_Friendsair6b.mp3","summary":"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.","meta_description":"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 w…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2108,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/fun-in-fundraising-6056439/episodes/dinner-with-friends-with-nancy-pollard/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/dinner-with-friends-with-nancy-pollard.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}