Category: Plan Your Gala

school class project for auction

School Auctions: Raise the Most Money with Class Projects

School auctions represent a great opportunity for a variety of people to get involved at any level they are able. For the teachers, their contribution can be to coordinate a class project that can be sold at the auction as an instant heirloom. What parent wouldn’t want a lasting memory of their child’s third-grade experience? In this […]

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Trellis 4 events guide

The Four Types of Post-COVID Fundraising Events (Guest Post)

Our friends at Trellis have published a fantastic guide about fundraising events in 2022 and beyond. Check it out! We can all agree there are benefits to both in-person and virtual events. What if we could combine the best of both worlds? Reimagine fundraising and download our guide outlining the four types of post-covid fundraising events to raise […]

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Fundraising virtual auctions events 5 key metrics

Fundraising for Virtual Auctions and Events: 5 Key Metrics (Guest Post)

Virtual events are a key fundraising tool for nonprofits, but they require time, money, and effort to be successful. Given the resources necessary for planning and hosting an event, you shouldn’t have any questions about whether or not your event accomplished your nonprofit’s outreach and fundraising goals.  Tracking metrics helps your nonprofit evaluate the impact and return […]

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virtual gala filming

Should You Charge for Tickets to Your Virtual Gala?

Virtual galas provide nonprofits an affordable alternative to an expensive in-person gala. By replacing ballrooms and dinners with online auction and event streaming technology, online fundraisers can engage supporters at a fraction of the cost. However, cost is only one side of the equation. Equally important to cost is revenue, and an important revenue driver to in-person […]

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Make the ask for a donation

Silent Auction Donation Request Letter Advice and Templates

We’ve discussed earlier on this blog how to get donated silent auction items without cold calling. In short, you should leverage your charity auction committee’s existing connections before cold-calling businesses for donated auction items. But sometimes personal connections are not enough, and you need to build new connections to generous businesses through donation request letters. In this […]

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Silent Auction Display

Where Should You Start Your Silent Auction Bids?

If you’re running a silent auction, setting the proper starting bid, bid steps and buy-it-now price will result in higher bids and bigger donations. Starting Bids Here are some rules of thumb for setting the starting bid (AKA minimum bid) for your silent auction items. Type of Item Starting Bid TravelPledge Experience Use the TravelPledge-provided starting bid, […]

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Facebook app

Can You Run a Silent Auction on Facebook?

Many nonprofits are tempted to run their silent auction fundraiser on Facebook. After all, most of their supporters already have an account and Facebook doesn’t charge anything. But, are charity auctions even permitted according to Facebook’s terms of use? If so, what’s the best way to run a silent auction on Facebook? Drawbacks to Running a Silent […]

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Get sponsors for fundraising event

7 Do’s and Don’ts for Getting Sponsors for Your Fundraising Event

In this post, you’ll learn the do’s and don’ts of getting sponsors for your fundraiser. DO: Ask Your Organizational Contacts and Personal Connections to Sponsor Your Event There’s no better place to start your list of target sponsors than with businesses that have previously contributed to your nonprofit. On the flip side, any businesses to which your […]

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Auction paddle raise

7 Simple Tips for an Inspiring Fund-a-Need

In this post, you’ll learn how to maximize donations during your Fund-a-Need. What is the fund-a-need? The fund-a-need, or paddle raise, is where you solicit donations from the audience at your gala. In the typical fund-a-need format, the auctioneer starts at a high amount, say $5,000, and asks donors to raise their bid cards to commit to […]

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