Tara de Nicolas
Executive director, Fashion for Paws, Washington, 31
Claim to fame: Launched by de Nicolas, Fashion for Paws is a fashion show and fund-raiser that benefits the Washington Humane Society. Its debut in 2007 raised $70,000; last year’s event raised $524,000, and the 2012 goal is $625,000. In total, the event has generated $1.5 million.
Big innovation: “The standard gala and methods of fund-raising are not necessarily the way to successfully raise funds and PR attention in the economic climate of today. Creating a unique fund-raiser—representative of the mission of the organization—that allows supporters a new way to donate and gives media a different story to tell is the brightest way to stand out and raise revenue yearly.”
Mentor: “[Documentary filmmaker and environmentalist] Philippe Cousteau, who fully embodies the notion of doing work to make a positive difference in the world. He has been a constant sounding board for me, giving concrete advice along the way.”
Up next: While continuing at Fashion for Paws full-time, de Nicolas will attend Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business to receive a master’s degree in leadership.
On Twitter: @TdeNicolas
Claim to fame: Launched by de Nicolas, Fashion for Paws is a fashion show and fund-raiser that benefits the Washington Humane Society. Its debut in 2007 raised $70,000; last year’s event raised $524,000, and the 2012 goal is $625,000. In total, the event has generated $1.5 million.
Big innovation: “The standard gala and methods of fund-raising are not necessarily the way to successfully raise funds and PR attention in the economic climate of today. Creating a unique fund-raiser—representative of the mission of the organization—that allows supporters a new way to donate and gives media a different story to tell is the brightest way to stand out and raise revenue yearly.”
Mentor: “[Documentary filmmaker and environmentalist] Philippe Cousteau, who fully embodies the notion of doing work to make a positive difference in the world. He has been a constant sounding board for me, giving concrete advice along the way.”
Up next: While continuing at Fashion for Paws full-time, de Nicolas will attend Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business to receive a master’s degree in leadership.
On Twitter: @TdeNicolas
Photo: Dan Hallman for BizBash
Josh Wood
President, Josh Wood Productions, New York, 37
Launchpad: Drawing from experience as a nightlife promoter, Wood began producing concerts and events, bringing Lou Reed, Alan Cumming, and Erasure to Crobar in 2004 to raise money for the same-sex marriage nonprofit Freedom to Marry and working alongside David Bowie to create the first High Line Festival in 2007.
Big innovation: Although Wood was responsible for producing the splashy opening of Uniqlo’s Fifth Avenue flagship last year, he is most known for his partnership with Amfar on the Inspiration galas, a series of international fund-raisers that saw the likes of Cyndi Lauper and Liza Minnelli perform in New York, Paris, Los Angeles, and Sao Paolo. "The idea was to change the format and expectations of the average rubber-chicken fund-raising dinner. I wanted to take the template of a gala and turn it on its head, constantly making it different and interesting, while also making it profitable and engaging."
Goal for 2012: "To produce more concerts with artists that inspire me, and raise more than $2 million for AIDS research for Amfar."
On Twitter: @josh_wood
Launchpad: Drawing from experience as a nightlife promoter, Wood began producing concerts and events, bringing Lou Reed, Alan Cumming, and Erasure to Crobar in 2004 to raise money for the same-sex marriage nonprofit Freedom to Marry and working alongside David Bowie to create the first High Line Festival in 2007.
Big innovation: Although Wood was responsible for producing the splashy opening of Uniqlo’s Fifth Avenue flagship last year, he is most known for his partnership with Amfar on the Inspiration galas, a series of international fund-raisers that saw the likes of Cyndi Lauper and Liza Minnelli perform in New York, Paris, Los Angeles, and Sao Paolo. "The idea was to change the format and expectations of the average rubber-chicken fund-raising dinner. I wanted to take the template of a gala and turn it on its head, constantly making it different and interesting, while also making it profitable and engaging."
Goal for 2012: "To produce more concerts with artists that inspire me, and raise more than $2 million for AIDS research for Amfar."
On Twitter: @josh_wood
Photo: Dan Hallman for BizBash
Joel Hock
President and C.E.O., Solutions With Impact, Toronto, 52
Claim to fame: Hock’s two-day Rally for Kids With Cancer fund-raiser continues to expand after raising more than $8 million for the SickKids Foundation. Built around a celebrity scavenger hunt during the Toronto International Film Festival, the event garnered the support of Goldie Hawn as host in its first year in 2008. In 2009, Hock hosted additional rallies in Miami and L.A. and this year will host one more in Houston.
Big innovation: “The development of incentive-based, online fund-raising.” Tickets are rarely sold to his events. Instead, would-be attendees must raise a minimum amount online to attend, with rewards going to the top fund-raisers.
Style signature: “Five-star quality with a rock ’n’ roll flair.”
On Twitter: @SWIbiz
Claim to fame: Hock’s two-day Rally for Kids With Cancer fund-raiser continues to expand after raising more than $8 million for the SickKids Foundation. Built around a celebrity scavenger hunt during the Toronto International Film Festival, the event garnered the support of Goldie Hawn as host in its first year in 2008. In 2009, Hock hosted additional rallies in Miami and L.A. and this year will host one more in Houston.
Big innovation: “The development of incentive-based, online fund-raising.” Tickets are rarely sold to his events. Instead, would-be attendees must raise a minimum amount online to attend, with rewards going to the top fund-raisers.
Style signature: “Five-star quality with a rock ’n’ roll flair.”
On Twitter: @SWIbiz
Photo: Dan Hallman for BizBash
