Known for Rooms That Take Your Breath Away. Known Even More for What They Raise.
We plan events that raise money, stop traffic, and leave people talking for years. Nonprofit fundraising galas, high-end weddings, signature corporate events. If it matters, if it needs to be stunning AND it needs to perform, that’s our lane. We’re based in Nashville and San Diego and work with clients nationwide who want an experience their guests will never forget and results they can actually point to. That’s the combination we live for.
Meet the Founder
Hi, I’m Kristin. I have been obsessed with events my entire life. The way a gorgeously designed room makes people feel, the moment a gala night comes together and the energy just shifts, the look on an Executive Director’s face when the revenue totals come in and they’ve blown past their goal. That is my favorite thing in the world, and I have spent more than 20 years chasing that feeling for my clients. Nearly $6 million raised for nonprofits across the country tells me we’re doing something right.
I Wrote the Book on This
Literally. Fundraising Fuel: How to Plan, Execute, and Maximize Impact on Your Next Nonprofit Event is the field guide for nonprofit gala planning, and it’s on the desks of development directors across the country. But writing it wasn’t the point. Doing the work is. I don’t just design pretty rooms. I architect fundraising experiences where every single detail, from seating flow to program pacing to donor touchpoints, is tied directly to your mission and your revenue goals. Nothing is accidental. Everything earns its place.
We Don’t Do Cookie-Cutter
Whether it’s a black-tie gala for 800, an intimate destination wedding, or a corporate event that needs to feel like an experience rather than a meeting, I bring the same level of obsession to every single one. My events are known for their design, seamless execution, and the kind of atmosphere that stays with people long after the night ends. I don’t do cookie-cutter. Not once. Not ever. Not even a little bit.
Nashville, San Diego, and Wherever You Are
I split my time between sunny San Diego, where the weather always keeps me outside, and Nashville, Music City, where the creative energy is absolutely electric. I work with clients across both markets and nationwide. Nonprofit in Tennessee ready to level up your gala? Couple planning a destination wedding somewhere spectacular? Corporate team that wants an event people will actually remember? My team and I are in. Every time, full effort, no exceptions.
Beyond the Events
A few things you should know about me. My family has served in the military for multiple generations, which means veteran causes are genuinely close to my heart. I’m a cancer survivor, so women’s health issues matter to me deeply, and I mean that in a way that goes well beyond writing a check. You will never catch me in flat shoes if I can help it. I have strong opinions about California cabernet. And if there’s a farm-to-table restaurant within a day’s drive, I’ve probably been there. I bring all of that life, that passion, and those very specific preferences to the work I do every single day.
Why Stephanie Rose?
Stephanie Rose Events is named in honor of two extraordinary women, Kristin’s grandmothers, Stephanie Garbaczewski and Rose Collins.
Stephanie was a woman of tradition. She played the piano, loved Ukrainian folk dancing, and spent days in the kitchen preparing holiday feasts for her family. Her home was always warm, always full, always a place where people felt welcomed and celebrated.
Rose was a spirited, glamorous woman who loved the color purple and big, sparkly jewelry. She loved to laugh and be the center of attention. She loved to travel.
Very different women, both born into families of modest means in New York City. Together they shaped everything I believe about community, connection, and what it means to make people feel truly celebrated.
When people ask why I named the company “Stephanie Rose Events,” this is the story I tell. It’s not just a brand name. It’s the reason I do this work at all.
Ready to Start Planning?
Let’s talk about your event. We’d love to hear what you’re dreaming up.