Most fundraising events are planned like logistics problems. Rick Toone plans them like Hollywood shoots them.

Rick spent 20 years in Los Angeles as an art director and lighting designer for A-list clients — Ridley Scott, David Fincher, over 50 Super Bowl commercials, an Emmy nomination, Whitney Houston's first lighting designer. Then he moved to Mexico, joined a nonprofit, and grew its gala from $70K to $300K in three years. Now he runs a company called Run of Show Playbook, and this episode is a walk through the Hollywood-trained framework he applies to nonprofit galas.

In this episode: why every gala needs a script before the venue, menu, or flowers get booked, why you should never say "thank you" at your event (and when to say it instead), the three types of donors in every room — habit, heart, and head — and how to write for all three, why the audience is the hero of the story and not the mission, how the best interruptions come from the water-cooler conversations your staff has that never make it into the messaging, and the difference between telling a story and building a messaging arc.

Plus: what a 56-take Kevin Costner beer commercial can teach you about scripting your next paddle raise.

Chapters:00:00 Intro01:01 Living the Dream in Mexico

05:18 The Power of Listening

06:51 From Hollywood to Fundraising

11:09 The Importance of Messaging

15:48 Interrupting the Loop in Fundraising

21:05 The Importance of Audience Engagement

22:44 Balancing Heroes: Audience vs Mission

26:19 The Role of Impact in Fundraising

28:27 Stories from Hollywood: Lessons Learned

31:54 The Value of Honest Feedback and Audience Understanding

🔗 *CONNECT WITH US* 🔗

Work with Rick on Your Next Event: https://www.runofshowplaybook.com

Connect with Rick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricktoone/

Connect with Trevor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-nelson-b8922a167/

Follow Hey Nonprofits! on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hey-non-profits-raise-more-money/

💙 *ABOUT HGA FUNDRAISING* 💙

This episode was brought to you by HGA Fundraising. The team at HGA helps event fundraisers create auction success with the most profitable (and mission focused) auction items in the space. Trips and experiences that excite donors, ignite bidding, and help your organization RAISE MORE MONEY.

To learn more about HGA Fundraising click here: https://hgafundraising.com/trips-and-experiences/

Easiest way to raise more money in your next event: https://hgafundraising.com/golden-ticket/

Feeling stuck with your fundraising? No matter where you are at in your journey, HGA offers FREE coaching for fundraisers: https://hgafundraising.com/nonprofit-coaching/

Need an auctioneer for your next event: https://charityauctioneerswelove.com