By: Erin Williams, Professional Fundraising Auctioneer & Consultant As we reflect on the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, one trend was unmistakable: donors were eager to return to in-person fundraising events. Many nonprofits saw a "bumper gala" year, breaking records and raising more money than ever before. Now, as we approach 2025, the question [...]
By: Shannon Eason, Fundraising Auctioneer Gen Z: The New Kids on the Block! There's a new generation making waves, and they're called Gen Z. They're young, they're online all the time, and they care about making the world a better place. Nonprofits need to pay attention to them because they're the future of giving! [...]
By: Dan Campbell, Fundraising Auctioneer One of the most commonly used fundraising elements to a fundraising event is a silent auction. Similar to setting up a retail shop, your attendees can browse the items and decide which ones they want and make a bid on them. Of course, different from a retail transaction, you [...]
By: Erin Williams, Fundraising Auctioneer Websites, social media, email, and mobile fundraising are interconnected components in the digital fundraising landscape. While each channel plays a unique role, they should operate with one mission and message. Websites: Central Hub: A website often serves as the central hub for an organization's online presence. It provides detailed [...]
By: Dan Campbell One of the challenges of a live auction at a fundraising event is to get everyone’s attention so we can focus on fundraising. You have people socializing, moving about the room for restrooms, taking photos, and hitting the bar, so that traffic itself is a distraction. Your crowd will likely be [...]
By: Shannon Eason I was doing an introductory call with a new client. Something they said really resonated with me and I wondered, "Why aren't I hearing this more often?" Yes, you're wondering what they said, aren't you? "Our event last year was....well, forgettable. How do we make our event this year UNforgettable?" That's a [...]
By: Erin Williams I recently read "The Seven Faces of Philanthropy". This way of analyzing a donor's motives is very effective for fundraisers because it provides a framework for understanding the diverse motivations and personas of donors, enabling fundraisers to tailor their approach, improve communication, and build stronger relationships, ultimately leading to more successful [...]
By: Dan Campbell Do you know the rules for Raffles and Games of Chance? Many nonprofits use games of chance and auctions as fundraising vehicles – without realizing that “legalized games of chance” are regulated activities, and indeed illegal in many states. So that poker night or silent auction that created such a buzz…make [...]
By: Dan Campbell As we try to cater to the millennial crowd who are showing different giving methods, we look to create unique and creative ways for them to engage and participate in the fundraising. One such idea is a Buy-in Party. Also known as a Count Me In, Sign Up Party, or Buy [...]
Sourced By: Shannon Eason CAI, BAS, PRI Professional Benefit Auctioneer/Consultant We encourage you to share this with your donors; the value of giving extends beyond the impact we make on others, as it also has a profoundly positive effect on oneself! 'Tis the season of giving. Giving to those less fortunate than yourself can [...]
