Beyond the Gala: Plan Smart Fundraising Events That Reach More People

Name: Beyond the Gala: Plan Smart Fundraising Events That Reach More People
Start: 2026-05-21T11:30:00-05:00
End: 2026-05-21T15:00:00-05:00
Location: Chez Zee American Bistro

Schedule

Thu May 21 2026 at 11:30 am to 03:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

Chez Zee American Bistro | Austin, TX

Julie Niehoff facilitates this Lunch & Learn workshop. Plan your next fundraiser with simple strategies that fit your mission and budget.
About this Event

This hands-on workshop is built for small nonprofit teams seeking a smarter, more practical process for planning fundraising events that work well for your organization and mission.
✔ Start building your next fundraising event during the session
✔ Learn simple, proven ways to increase revenue from auctions, raffles, and sponsorships
✔ Expand your reach with the Event Planner's Toolkit, included with your ticket
✔ See how simple tech tools can foster more impact (with no tech overwhelm)
✔ Leave with a repeatable system you can use again and again
You won’t just listen and learn—you’ll walk out with new tools and a plan.
Lunch at Chez Zee is included with your ticket. We'll stick around after class for those interested in Happy Hour & Networking.

WHO IS THIS FOR?
Nonprofit Orgs with a small team or seeking more impact from events.

You want your events to be more efficient and less stressful to plan
You want simple tools that work, without draining your time and budget
You're short-staffed and already managing most everything yourself
You’ve had events that didn't work, or felt disconnected from your mission
You want a more modern, flexible approach that isn't "just another Gala"
You love your events as they are, but want to increase reach & donations
You've got that nagging feeling that there has to be a better way

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Julie Niehoff is a nonprofit marketing strategist, educator, and program creator with 20+ years of experience helping nonprofit organizations icrease their reach and raise more money without overcomplicating the process.
As Co-Founder and CMO of Distance Learning Media, Julie manages the City of Austin’s small business and nonprofit skills training program. She is also Co-Founder of Transition Skills Training, a 501c3 org providing grant-funded small business and nonprofit training for the Texas Veterans Commission.
Julie’s sessions are known for being practical, engaging, and immediately useful—consistently earning strong reviews from nonprofit professionals across Texas.

Highlights:

Former Director of Education at Constant Contact (2006-2016)
Former Adjuct and Author/Creator of the Certificate in Outreach & Marketing for Nonprofits at Austin Community College, Center for Nonprofit Studies
Former Vice Chair, Texas Association of Nonprofit Organizations
Former National Marketing Committee Member, IAFP

In this workshop, you’ll walk away with simple, proven strategies to plan fundraising events that actually fit your mission, your team, and your budget.

A Better Way Forward
If you’ve hosted fundraisers before, you already know how much time, money and energy they can demand. This session will help you create a more sustainable, mission-aligned approach—one that works for your team, your audience, and your goals. The toolkit alone is worth the price of the ticket. Lunch is included with complimentary valet.