Folds Of Honor North Texas Gala With Sarah Elliott

How can a nonprofit with chapters around the country create a successful gala that both connects to the organization's mission and has a local feel? Today, I talk with Folds of Honor (https://foldsofhonor.org) North Texas Chapter (https://northtexas.foldsofhonor.org) Executive Director Sarah Elliott to talk about the chapter's largest signature fundraising event, the Folds of Honor North Texas Gala (https://northtexas.foldsofhonor.org/e...) . In 2007, Folds of Honor was founded by Lt. Col. Dan Rooney to provide educational scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen or disabled military members and first responders. Over the past 19 years, Folds of Honor has grown to 40 chapters around the United States, including the North Texas Chapter, whose 2025 gala raised a record-breaking and eye-popping $4.5 million for the organization. Sarah provides her expert insights on a range of topics, including how to use a unique event venue as a way to attract (and maintain) donors, the keys to creating a successful paddles raise that effectively conveys the mission and moves the audience, getting a high-profile individual to say yes to attend your event in a way that is organic to the organization's mission, and so much more. This is one episode you definitely do not want to miss.