By: Shannon Eason, Fundraising Auctioneer "Ok, our goal is to keep our program mission focused, the timeline tight, a fabulous guest experience, and break records in our fundraising!" said everyone in the nonprofit world holding a gala. But then, there's a slight mention of a "KEYNOTE SPEAKER". "Wait, did you just say you're having [...]
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: Scott Jones, MPA, CFRE, CAI, BAS Nonprofits are often charged with executing a program evaluation to assess the impact and outcomes of existing programs or initiatives. Program evaluations are leveraged for several reasons by the fundraising professionals. Fundraising professionals have determined that implementing program evaluations can be extremely purposeful. Have you ever considered [...]
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 [...]
If you are looking for ways to increase visibility to your mission, there is a program thru Google that offers non-profits grants to help them promote their cause and increase visibility to attract more donors and supporters, as well as increase visibility to those who might become recipients of your mission. Of course, you [...]
The short answer is….BOTH! While most non-profit galas include both a live auction and a paddle raise, some will stick with one or the other. You will see one organization that is uncomfortable asking their donors who support them throughout the year to give again at their gala. Another organization will express concern that [...]
By: Erin Williams, Fundraising Auctioneer & Consultant Our Raising Paddles team is hard at work helping nonprofit clients prepare for a great fall season of fundraising! As you are planning your fall fundraising gala, ask yourself, or better yet reach out to a few key donors to learn ways to improve their donor experience. [...]
Is There a Secret Sauce for a Successful Fund A Need (FAN)? You bet there is..... Why are some FANs more successful than others? Why do some small groups have more successful FANs than large groups? How do you conduct a FAN that makes people want to raise their paddle? Well, we're glad you asked. [...]
