Joey Goone is back, and I couldn’t be more excited to have him return to the podcast. If you’ve ever felt like your fundraising events are starting to blend together, or you’re craving something more intentional, joyful, and authentic, this conversation is your permission slip to shake things up.

Joey is the President of Utopia Experience, and honestly, he brings so much heart to the events space. He’s not here for stuffy ballrooms or robotic run-of-shows. He’s here to help nonprofits lead with humanity, center their mission, and create events that people feel long after they leave. We talk about everything from ditching the performance pressure in storytelling to why A/V isn’t just a tech checklist, it’s a storytelling tool. This episode is full of lightbulb moments and reminders that joy and profit are not mutually exclusive. Whether you're a seasoned ED or planning your very first gala, Joey will leave you inspired to lead with more heart, more clarity, and way more impact.

Topics:

• Why the energy and intention behind events matter more than perfection
• How to avoid transactional storytelling and make your audience feel
• The difference between entertainment and impact—and how to do both
• What it means to design experiences with dignity and strength
• How Joey's team creates nonprofit events that are both joyful and profitable
• The ripple effect of honoring people, not just logistics
• Building community through connection—not performance

For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here.

Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits deliver a better giving experience and create sustainable, thriving organizations. Combining robust, easy-to-use technology with people-powered support and training, Bloomerang empowers nonprofits to work efficiently, improve supporter relationships, and grow their donor and volunteer bases. Learn more here.

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Resources:

• Easy Emails For Impact™: The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System
• Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator
• The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers
• Instagram, LinkedIn, website , weekly newsletter
• [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more.
  
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