This past fall, I had the pleasure of joining Powered by Professionals as an Events & Marketing intern. As part of my internship experience, I gained exposure to event and social media management. Each week, I cultivated marketing assets, including sponsor outreach materials and charity partner spotlights, to enhance sponsor recruitment and our nonprofit partners’ visibility. I also managed and organized digital media libraries containing 1000s of event photos, ensuring consistent naming conventions and accessibility across client folders. Additionally, I further developed my skills in social media analytics, by tracking and analyzing social media engagement across PBP’s social media channels.
Among these diverse experiences, one of the most valuable lessons that I have learned during my time at PBP has been the importance of relationship building, and how it has contributed to PBP’s successful internal culture and external charity partner relationships. As I researched this topic further and reflected upon my internship experience, I sat down with PBP’s Founder and CEO, Darren Port, who has such a wealth of knowledge and deep expertise in relationship building. From this overarching topic, I will focus on four primary areas of insight: The Philosophy of Relationship Building, Maintaining Long-Term Charity Partner Relationships, Donor & Sponsor Relationships, and Leadership Insight.
The Philosophy of Relationship Building
It has become sort of a cliché to say that “relationships are everything,” however this saying still holds true. Effectual relationship building has been an integral part of PBP’s longstanding success as a fundraising events firm. To PBP’s CEO Darren Port, each charity partner, donor and team member is not part of a transaction, they’re part of a story. PBP never takes a one-size-fits-all approach to event management. The most effective way to help a charity partner to succeed is to understand what success looks like for them. Each partner has unique fundraising needs and event format preferences (whether a gala, run-walk, or auction). Consequently, when PBP partners with an organization, the team ensures that they understand the nonprofit’s unique story: why they exist, who they serve, and what drives them. That’s where trust begins.
“We're more motivated to support them because we really understand the cause that they're fighting for.” - Darren Port, Founder & CEO of Powered by Professionals
Maintaining Long-Term Charity Partner Relationships
A transactional relationship ends when an event ends. A true partnership is forged when an event firm shows that it cares about their partner’s mission as much as the charity partner does. PBP communicates with their charity partners year-round, not just when it’s time for another gala or run-walk. As an intern, I noted firsthand that the PBP team does not disappear after an event, they follow up, celebrate milestones, and help their partners to plan for what’s next. Meaningful communication with charity partners can be as simple as sending an article that’s relevant to their work, or congratulating them on an award or grant. These small touchpoints matter, because it shows that you’re mindful of your partner’s mission beyond their event. That’s what makes a relationship real.
One of the best examples of a charity partner relationship at PBP that has evolved and grown deeper over time lies with PBP’s longtime partner, the Diabetes Research Institute (DRIF). I spoke with PBP’s founder to learn more about how this relationship has developed over the years into the annual DRIF C3 Gala event that we know today.
“I originally met Bill Fishlinger when we were both on the board of JDRF [the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, now known as Breakthrough T1D]. We worked together from 1996 to 2000, so a long time ago. I reconnected with him about ten years later and got him involved with the University of Maryland’s alumni network. We both graduated from there, so we were able to reconnect through that, and had that initial respect because we've worked together before.
One day, Bill asked me if I could help him and his son to create a new event. And that became DRIF’s C3 Event, which we’ve done every year for the last eight years. We helped them to create something they didn't think was possible. That's when you really bond with a charity partner, when you show them what is possible.”
- Darren Port, Founder & CEO of Powered by Professionals
Donor & Sponsor Relationships
Beyond client relationship management, PBP plays a major role in helping nonprofits cultivate and retain donors and sponsors. At PBP, I learned more about the strategies that have proven most effective in acquiring and sustaining those relationships.
The best way to build sponsor relationships is to make them feel seen. Some organizations approach sponsorship like a transaction: “you give, we post your logo.” PBP approaches it as a partnership. Throughout each project, PBP customizes deliverables, communicates each milestone, follows up post-event, and demonstrates the impact of sponsor contributions. When sponsors see that level of care, sincerity and follow-through, they come back year after year.
When I spoke with PBP’s founder about the biggest mistake that nonprofits make when trying to build sponsor relationships, I learned that the biggest mistake is thinking short-term. Sponsors can tell when it’s transactional. Port’s advice is for nonprofits to communicate with their sponsors consistently: to share relevant updates, photos, or stories that remind sponsors why they partnered with you in the first place. This is what separates stewardship from solicitation.
Leadership Insight
Darren Port’s career and entrepreneurial journey has largely been driven by the desire to give back. PBP’s founder also shared advice with me for young professionals who want to build purpose-driven careers in fundraising, marketing, or nonprofit leadership.
Port advises young professionals to “get involved in things that you're passionate about, and put in the work.” On consistency, Port pointed out that “people will respect you if you stick to something and you take it all the way through. Doing something for a little bit and then bailing on it … people don't respect that. People respect people who are clear about what they want to do and then go out and do it.”
When I asked Port about how he conceived the idea of PBP, he shared this:
“For me, it was getting involved with a number of causes that I care about and volunteering my time. I met many people who were also passionate. Then one day I woke up and said, how cool would it be if I just did this and got paid to do it, so I can be happy about waking up every morning and can't wait to go to work. And that's what I get to do now. I get to meet really amazing people who are real, who are passionate about an important cause, and who make the world a better place every day, which is a pretty cool thing. It's like a win-win for everybody.”
As an intern, I saw firsthand that PBP’s success is built not only on external relationships but also on its internal culture. PBP’s leaders are quite intentional about fostering connection and purpose within their teams. After each event, Port or a team lead sends out a recap to the whole team, recognizing the event leads for their accomplishments and mentioning specific examples of their awesome performance. Team placements are also made with intentionality, each team member is assigned to causes that they’re passionate about. This ensures that each event team is even more energized to execute their nonprofit’s vision, which shines through to the partner.
My interview with Port concluded with this incredible example of servant leadership, which I will take with me as I continue to forge my early career journey:
“I try to work harder than everybody here, or at least put in as much time, if not more time, to show them that I'm not just your CEO that's going to just assume that you're going to do all the work. I'm also going to show up, I'm going to be there with you, I'm going to work harder than you, I'm going to help you and support you. I'm not asking you to do something I wouldn't do myself.”
- Darren Port, Founder & CEO of Powered by Professionals
Note: Quotes have been edited for length and clarity.
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