What are the keys to creating a strong partnership between philanthropic organizations and beneficiaries to maximize impact in the communities they serve?

There are no two better people to discuss this topic than today's guests: Jennifer Stevens, event producer for Mack, Jack, and McConaughey and Susan Hewlett, the Executive Director for the Dell Children's Medical Center Foundation.

For the past 12 years, Dell Children's Foundation has been one of the five beneficiary organizations of Mack, Jack, and McConaughey, Texas's largest annual fundraising gala. The 2025 event raised $17 million, which will benefit Dell Children's and four other nonprofit organizations that fulfill the Mack, Jack, & McConaughey mission to empower kids.

Jennifer and Susan share valuable tips and insights on creating a successful nonprofit partnership roadmap including how to effectively communicate so that both organizations are on the same page, highlighting key initiatives that positively impact the communties they serve, and sucessfully evolving a partnership so both organizations grow together. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

How does an organization effectively showcase how the funds raised from a signature fundraising event benefit the community they serve?

In this episode, I talk with Laura Ward, Founder & CEO of Houston Children's Charity to discuss their Chariots for Children event.

For nearly 30 years, Houston Children's Charity has been one of Houston's top nonprofit events. This is due in large part to Laura Ward's passion for helping children in the Houston community.

Chariots for Children, a Van Distribution Event provides children with disabilities vans to give them and their families more independence. The van distribution is the end result of an innovative Paddles Up at the organization's annual Houston Children's Charity Gala, Houston's top annual fundraising gala. Attendees raise their paddles to provide one family with a van. This year, a record 66 vans will be distributed to children at Chariots for Children.

Laura Ward provides a masterclass on what it takes to effectively lead a nonprofit organization including tips for creating an efficient application process for services that benefit anywhere from tens to tens of thousands, the importance of understanding the specific need you can fill in your community, and how to attract a top-tier board and hold them accountable. This is one episode you will definitely not want to miss.

How does having a strong event committee help event chairs successfully execute their vision for a gala or signature fundraising event?

Today, I talk with Holly Krug, Board Development Chair for The Family Place, and Jess Bass Bolander, and Melissa Keeling, co-chairs of ReuNight one of the organization's signature fundraising events.

Featuring one of North Texas' strongest event committees, ReuNight is one of Texas' most anticipated galas each year. Proceeds from ReuNight benefit The Family Place, which is Texas' largest nonprofit organization providing services for victims of domestic violence.

In this episode, Jess, Melissa, and Holly discuss a wide range of topics, including tips to successfully hosting a signature event at a different location each year, the importance of having a strong relationship between event chairs and a nonprofit organization, and creating strong themes that compel donors to attend and give. This is one episode you will not want to miss.