Hey Nonprofits!

A 10-Year CEO, a $1.2M Gala, and a Board With 100% Give | Christy Casey-Moore

July 14, 2026·40 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Most CEOs of nonprofits have opinions about boards. Christy Casey-Moore has a 100% give rate and a $1.2M gala to back hers up.Christy is the CEO of Heart Gift, a global nonprofit that brings children from other countries to the United States for life-saving heart surgeries they can't access at home. Ten years in, she joins Trevor to walk through what it actually takes to build a board that fundraises, a team that supports each other under real pressure, and an event that clears seven figures.In this episode: why Christy can spot a hiring fit in the first five minutes of an interview, how she structures her board around give-or-get with no resume builders allowed, the controversial thing she tells nonprofits about marketing spend ("put your seatbelt on"), why she doesn't seat major donors at her own table on gala night, the exact job she hands her board members the moment they walk into the event, and why she stopped thanking donors in the moment during the auction — and started catching them later instead.Plus: what Christy does the Monday morning after every gala that most CEOs don't.Chapters:00:00 Intro01:15 Christy Casey-Moore and HeartGift Foundation02:09 Board Engagement and Organizational Culture04:06 Entrepreneurship and Nonprofit Leadership Symmetry05:17 About HeartGift and Its Mission06:42 Team Size, Hiring Lessons, and Culture Fit10:27 Supportive Organizational Culture14:09 Building a Unicorn Board18:17 Event Night Responsibilities and Strategies22:06 Missions Clarity and Marketing Investment27:04 Leadership, Listening, and Continuous Learning31:00 Evolution of Fundraising and Donor Engagement37:14 Post-Event Follow-up and Gratitude🔗 *CONNECT WITH US* 🔗Connect with Christy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christycaseymoore/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

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