{"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":"V Foundation's Napa Wine Celebration With Jamie Valvano and Nate Ferguson","slug":"v-foundation-s-napa-wine-celebration-with-jamie-valvano-and-nate-ferguson","published_at":"2026-07-28T13:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/fun-in-fundraising-6056439/v-foundation-s-napa-wine-celebration-with-jamie-valvano-and-nate-ferguson","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/fun-in-fundraising-6056439","url":"https://funinfundraising.podbean.com/e/v-foundations-napa-wine-celebration-with-jamie-valvano-and-nate-ferguson/","audio_url":"https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/9z7ia5muapdizwrp/Jamie_Valvano_and_Nate_Ferguson_-_V_Foundation_Napa_Wine_Celebration6fcy5.mp3","summary":"How does a nonprofit find keynote speakers that both move the audience and compel them to give to your cause? Today, I talk with former Sr. Director of Special Events & Operations of the V Foundation for Cancer Research, Nate Ferguson, as well as acclaimed speaker and cancer thriver Jamie Valvano, daughter of legendary North Carolina State Basketball Coach, the late Jim Valvano, the namesake of the V Foundation for Cancer Research, to talk about the organization's highest-revenue fundraiser of the year: the 2026 Napa Wine Celebration. The V Foundation is well known in the philanthropic world for curating multi-day events that are informative and fun. The V Foundation hosts over a half dozen epicurean events in select markets around the country, leveraging the power that food and wine have to bring people together to raise funds for the organization. The crown jewel of the epicurean dinners is the Napa Wine Celebration, which raised $12.3 million in 2026. The most impactful part of the V Foundation's epicurean events is no doubt Jamie's keynote addresses that occur at most of the events. She powerfully and emotionally tells the story of her father's legacy, the organization, and how the V Foundation's work literally saved her life. Jamie and Nate provide valuable insights on a range of topics, including tips on creating a successful, fun multi-day event, leveraging long-term relationships to create epic live auctions with once-in-a-lifetime packages, successfully setting up a foundation in honor of a departed loved one, and so much more. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.","meta_description":"How does a nonprofit find keynote speakers that both move the audience and compel them to give to your cause? Today, I talk with former Sr. Director of Sp…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3190,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/fun-in-fundraising-6056439/episodes/v-foundation-s-napa-wine-celebration-with-jamie-valvano-and-nate-ferguson/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/v-foundation-s-napa-wine-celebration-with-jamie-valvano-and-nate-ferguson.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}