On Monday, April 3rd, leading non-profit event professionals and skilled fundraising strategists gathered in the stunning Hall des Lumières to celebrate 2023’s New York City Non-Profits Night Out (NPNO). “True to the original mission of NPNO,” event Co-founder Reed Baker explains, “those who host, plan, produce, and support nearly all of the preeminent fundraising events in New York have a night to mingle with each other and enjoy an event solely in their honor. The ambience is meant to reverberate gratitude and fuel inspiration.”
Non-Profits Night Out (NPNO) was founded by Reed Baker of Sophist and Steve Paster of Alpine Creative Group. The aim of the event is twofold: bringing attention to the groundbreaking work of nonprofit organizations while also giving industry players the opportunity to build connections and enjoy a fun-filled evening. According to Baker, the co-founders “have watched their NPNO experiment catch fire over the past half-decade, due in great part to the many dynamic vendor partners willing to donate their best work and put it on display for scores of elite fundraising event professionals.”
PartySlate was honored to collaborate once again with this skilled event team as a media sponsor. We love shining a light on nonprofit organizations as well as offering them unmatched inspiration, tips, vendors, and venues for their upcoming fundraisers, and NPNO always wows us.
Last year, NPNO introduced the Essence of Philanthropy Award, an accolade bestowed upon an individual whose philanthropic mission and leadership have proven integral and aspirational to the nonprofit community. 2023’s deserving recipient was a soon-to-be NFL cornerback Darrelle Revis. The NFL Hall of Fame inductee has championed the fight against childhood hunger in America through The Darrelle Revis Foundation. In addition to educating children on the importance of healthy eating and activity, the organization distributes “Power Paks” of nutritious food and beverages to children without food security.
The most basic building block of a successful fundraiser is its venue, and Hall Des Lumières made for the perfect setting. The venue’s structural beauty is amplified by high-resolution projection mapping, which allows for immersive visual experiences on every wall, floor, and ceiling. “Alexandra Reiss and the Hall Des Lumières team brought the full scope of their venue’s capabilities to bear,” Baker says. “The NYC skyline, jungle, and even Van Gogh-themed video-mapping shocked and amazed our guests.” This space is unique in that the venue, in and of itself, can act as entertainment — making it the perfect location for an awe-inspiring fundraiser.
A well-rounded event consists of many moving parts, and this Non-Profits Night Out had a top-notch team to make it all happen. Thanks to VOW Digital Health, guest list management and attendee check-in was made easy and efficient. Inside the grand event space, delectable hors d’oeuvres, courtesy of Events By RHC, wowed with both their aesthetic and flavor. Something Different Party Rentals provided décor and furniture that tied the space together and kept guests comfortable as they mingled. As everyone connected and celebrated, they enjoyed the energetic DJ sets of Rhythm In Motion and a guest performance by DJ B. Mills. All the while, Natural Expressions Photography captured every moment, posed and candid alike, to ensure that the evening was commemorated in eye-catching stills.
Baker shares, “NPNO producer Brian Dodson and his Bee Season Events team made certain that the venue, a/v, food, beverage, and event design all worked together seamlessly in order to deliver a unique and luxurious experience to our several hundred VIP guests.”
One of the most interesting take-aways from this Non-Profits Night Out was learning about cutting-edge technology across the board. Streamliner, a digital-streaming technology, gives fundraisers the ability to develop live/virtual hybrid events thus expanding their fundraising reach to include a virtual audience. Keep Interacting’s digital centerpieces allowed guests to easily learn about the vendors and technology surrounding them and contact the hosts through an intuitive touch-screen experience.
Of course, the video talent of Jason Ellinger, of Beard and Bowler, played a crucial role in bringing the night together. “Behind the scenes and the lens, Jason’s team brought Non-Profits Night Out to everlasting life, capturing NPNO’s ability to yield innovation and inspiration,” says Baker. “Several short films were shot throughout the event grounds and in the ‘NPNO Deal Room.’ The multiple films give NPNO permanence, ensuring the narrative reaches people well beyond a single event.”
It’s no surprise that this year’s Non-Profits Night Out exceeded expectations yet again. Thanks to the all-star management team, devoted committee members, and an infinitely talented group of vendors, NPNO continued to honor and connect the nonprofit community. Guests shared a renewed sense of community and left feeling celebrated and connected.
Reed Baker says of the evening, “NPNO guests are not your run-of-the-mill party planners. Our attendees are responsible for feeding people, housing people, educating them, and nursing them back to health. Most of their ambitious work is done with little appreciation. We want to make NPNO a bigger happening each and every year — one that injects fun into fundraising. The goal is inspiration, and the ROI is impact. NPNO intends to continue setting this table, facilitating social impact, and documenting the gains from our collective efforts.”
Stay tuned for coverage of NPNO’s next stop in sunny West Palm Beach on November 14th, 2023.
network: Non-Profits Night Out
event planning, production, & ros: Bee Season Events
cofounder, branding, & invitations: Alpine Creative Group
venue, in-house a/v, pr, & marketing: Hall des Lumières
photography: Natural Expressions Photography
media partner: PartySlate
cofounder, event logistics & mailing lists: Sophist
executive production & strategic partnerships: Legendize
essence of philanthropy award recipient: The Darrelle Revis Foundation
catering: Events by RHC
guest list database & check-in: VOW Digital Health
interactive tabletops: Keep Interacting
dj entertainment: Rhythm In Motion
linen, tabletops & highboys: Something Different Party Rentals
videography: Beard & Bowler
ttp appeal: Text-to-Pledge
live streaming: Streamliner
champagne dresses: Athena Entertainment
For creative themes and new trends for your upcoming galas, visit PartySlate’s fundraiser gallery.