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 […]
In this post, you’ll learn 10 amazing tips to increase bidding at your silent auction fundraiser. 1. More items are not always better A good rule of thumb is to auction approximately one item for every two attendees. For example, if you expect 200 people, then the ideal number of Silent Auction items would be 100. If […]
Are you running a charity gala and need the help of a benefit auctioneer? Hiring an auctioneer can seem daunting, particularly if it’s your first time as the auction chair. Not to fear! Regardless of whether you’re running a small live auction, a big gala or perhaps even a virtual gala, this post will teach you how […]
In this post, you’ll learn the key metrics you need to evaluate after each fundraising auction. These metrics will help you determine how you performed compared to last year and highlight what to improve. Revenue and Costs First, look at the big picture stats. Specifically, total revenue, total expenses and finally your expense ratio which is your […]
The benefits of virtual galas are undeniable. But, there are trade-offs as well. Many donors, for example, miss the communal feeling of everyone coming together at an in-person gala to help a dear cause. Fortunately, there’s a way to reap the benefits of virtual event without the trade-offs: the hybrid fundraiser. In this post, you’ll learn what […]
There is no doubt that you have been affected by COVID-19 both at home and work. However, your organization’s work needs to continue, so what does that look like in terms of fundraising and sustaining operations? The travel and events industries have been some of the hardest-hit groups, causing a standstill as public health regulations halt travel […]
Two economists, Paul R. Milgrom and Robert B. Wilson, won the Nobel in economic science on Monday for improvements to auction theory and inventions of new auction formats. At TravelPledge, we are quite excited about auction theory getting so much attention in the news! We looked at a few of Milgrom and Wilson’s findings to see how […]
Charity auction organizers know the importance of connecting with generous businesses to find silent auction items. However, it’s cumbersome to write hundreds of online donation request letters (not to mention the cold-calling) hoping enough generous business owners say “yes.” How do you make your charity auction stand out when requesting donations? In this post, we cover the […]
Earlier this year, society came to a halt as COVID-19 spread to all corners of the globe. For nonprofits, this meant finding digital alternatives to their donor engagement activities in order to keep their doors open during this uncertain time. Even though the pandemic has turned society upside down, nonprofit fundraising doesn’t stop for anything. Thanks to […]
The most important thing for a virtual gala fundraiser is not the scripting, the video, the hosts or the auction items. The most important thing is getting people to tune in, ready to open their wallets. In this post, I’m going to show you how to achieve just that using “living room captains.” What Is a Living […]
