By:Scott Jones, MPA, CFRE, CAI, BAS, Senior Fundraising Auctioneer With each new year of strategizing and planning for upcoming events, I am being asked more of my thoughts on the reception-style event. This month’s article will provide my perspective from my experiences with both style events. Planning a major fundraising event means making one [...]
By: Erin Williams, Partner Fundraising Auctioneer & Consultant Fundraising events are often the most visible expression of a nonprofit’s mission. They bring together donors, community partners, and advocates in a room filled with possibility. But too often, one of the nonprofit’s greatest assets – the Board of Directors – isn’t fully activated in the [...]
By: Erin Williams, Partner Fundraising Auctioneer & Consultant Whether you're planning a gala, luncheon, or cocktail reception, your sponsorship packet is more than a list of benefits—it's your first opportunity to spark meaningful partnerships. Recently, I had the opportunity to review a sponsorship package from Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, and the experience reminded [...]
By: Scott Jones, Senior Partner Raising Paddles, MPA, CFRE, CAI, BAS Thursday Galas: A Bold Move or a Missed Opportunity? When planning a fundraising gala, one of the biggest decisions a nonprofit faces is choosing the perfect day to host the event. While Fridays and Saturdays are traditionally popular, Thursday galas are emerging as [...]
By: Erin Williams, Partner Fundraising Auctioneer & Consultant Let’s be honest: many in nonprofit leadership roles wear multiple hats. You're focused on programs, fundraising, compliance, board relations—and somewhere in that mix, technology often gets put on the back burner. But according to recent reporting from The Chronicle of Philanthropy, it’s time to move tech [...]
By Dan Campbell, Senior Partner Fundraising Auctioneer Every non-profit is fully aware of the need to engage younger donors, as our core demographic baby boomers start to age. Strategic thinkers want to be ahead of the inevitable decline in giving from this golden generation and find ways to excite new donors who are just [...]
By Dan Campbell, Senior Partner Fundraising Auctioneer The current climate for non-profits have many of us on edge, with uncertainty on how our funds will be impacted by any changes to government funding. This has brought a lot of attention to our private fundraising efforts, so I would like to share some insight on [...]
Scott Jones, MPA, CFRE, BAS, CAI, Senior Fundraising Auctioneer We are the heart of our communities, tirelessly working to make the world a better place. Yet, the path to fulfilling our missions has grown more difficult as funding challenges increase. While navigating government cuts, growing competition, and the pressure to demonstrate impact, we have [...]
By Erin Williams, Partner Fundraising Auctioneer & Consultant Mission drift—when an organization veers away from its core purpose—is one of the biggest risks nonprofits face during high-profile events like fundraising galas. These events bring energy, attention, and funding, but they can also unintentionally shift the spotlight away from what truly matters: your mission. The [...]
