Ep. 49 | How This Company Is Changing Fundraising - Sam Staley
Sam Staley on Building Event.Gives
This week on the Shakin’ Hands Podcast, Jack Moran sits down with Sam Staley, a serial entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Event.Gives, a pioneering fundraising software platform. Sam has revolutionized the way nonprofits raise money, turning Event.Gives into a full-featured event management solution that’s won awards and earned investment from AOL founder Steve Case. If you’re looking to learn about scaling a business, solving real-world problems, and staying relentless in your pursuit of innovation, Sam’s story is one you don’t want to miss.
It All Starts with a Simple Idea
It all started with a school fundraising event. Sam saw his wife struggling with outdated processes, paper forms, clipboards, and disorganized check-ins. His solution? A simple text message-based bidding system.
"We doubled what they had ever raised," Sam recalls.
That was the spark that led him to create Event.Gives, a platform that today handles everything from ticketing and auctions to post-event donations.
Solving Problems, One Step at a Time
Building Event.Gives wasn’t just about launching a product, it was about solving problems at every turn. Sam didn’t just stop at improving bidding; he tackled checkout issues, eliminated long lines at events, and continuously improved the platform.
Relationships Matter More Than You Think
Sam knows that business isn’t just about the product; it’s about the people.
"I’m always really frank with people. I put everything on the table," he shares.
By being upfront and building strong partnerships, Sam has helped Event.Gives grow into an essential tool for nonprofits. The key? Real relationships, not just transactions.
Building for the Future: Exits and Expansion
Having successfully exited previous ventures, Sam knows the importance of having an exit strategy from the start.
"If you build a product that other companies will want at scale, you’ve already won," Sam explains.
With Event.Gives, he’s building toward long-term success while also preparing for future growth, including expanding into new fundraising tools like peer-to-peer donations and CRM integrations.
Entrepreneurship as a Playground
For Sam, entrepreneurship is a game, a chance to create something no one’s seen before.
"It’s not just about the money. It’s the fun of building something new."
That excitement is what drives him to keep pushing boundaries and solving challenges in creative ways.
What’s Next for Event.Gives?
With a mature product and a clear vision, Sam is focused on growing Event.Gives even further.
"We’re looking to partner with others in the nonprofit space and expand our tools," he shares.
Peer-to-peer fundraising and CRM integrations are next on the agenda.
Catch the Full Interview Here
If you’re looking to build your own business or just want to be inspired by a true innovator, Sam Staley’s story is one you won’t want to miss.
Listen now and stay inspired.
