Event Fundraisers That Shine: Raising More Than Money

Auctria at Gather for Growth conference October 2025

Transcript

1. Event Fundraisers That Shine: Raising More Than Money Strategies to ignite giving, create impact and build meaningful connection
2. Auctria | Since 2011 Organizations have raised over $1.25 billion dollars “Auctria’s mission is to empower nonprofit organizations by providing you with an affordable, easy to use powerful tool for event fundraising” Laurie Hochman Business Growth and Strategy Director at Auctria
3. Event Fundraisers work in two ways
4. The goal is not just fundraising. Raise spirits, raise voices and possibilities!
5. Raise money. Raise awareness. Strategy and real events with photos • Types of event fundraisers • Events that are fun make money • Tickets, Sponsors and Sales strategy • In room energy and revenue boosters • Tournaments and more fun event • A little about Auctria, stay in touch Agenda
6. Types of Event Fundraisers 1
7. Which one do we choose? Depends upon your time & resources. We will define and bring along some examples for inspiration.
8. Types of Event Fundraisers In person, Event-based (silent, live, fund-a-need) • Special events attract bidders • Gala, golf, community events • Lead time & planning for auction & event, or add on to a currently highly attended event Online Only Auction & Donation Drive • Audience reach may be broader • Donation only, funding a need • Distribution of items after the auction Use the event to tell the story and engage supporters, this is your ‘stage’ ONLINE iN PERSON
9. Choosing Tip #1: In person events PROS • Special events attract supporters, new and long-term • Chance to celebrate success in person, in a public way • It’s fun and social CONS • Budget • Logistics • Lead time • Organizational Bandwidth • Will people show up?
10. Museum of History and Industry Gala
11. Choosing Tip #2: Online only event PROS • Reach a broader audience (potentially) • Open 24 hours a day • Open for multiple days • Less work • Website show & tell the story • Max bid, bid extension, notifications • Registration is required CONS • No rsvps to bid on an auction item • Fluctuations in activity • Drive audience to the website for participation • No in-person socializing • Distribute items after the auction
12. Online Event Fundraising in many forms
13. Choosing Tip #3: How about both? In person with online giving & bidding! PROS • Reason to show up • Dual audiences • Get to mingle and bid, buy and donate • Mobile bidding via qr code • Live appeals connect with the audience • Small talk, networking, thanking CONS • Reason to not show up in person • Online supporters are not part of the action • Once the bidding is over no additional interactions for online only participants
14. Big Brother Big Sisters of Puget Sound | 400 guests, raising over $850K
15. Auctions raise money in the room • Print bid sheets for paper bidding • Print display pages for mobile bidding Let the soaring bids begin! Bidding in the room OR
16. Make it Fun 2
17. Fun = Engagement Happy people will open their hearts and their wallets.
18. Themed Events Use the theme to attract more people • Make the event stand out • Use it strategically • You can keep within a budget • Lean in to your mission Create FOMO
19. Medic One Gala
20. Games to match the mission & theme Tie in the gamification to the mission ◦ Eagle or egg - Wildlife Conservation Center (mystery box) ◦ Mahjong tiles - 10 Chefs (heads/tails) ◦ Pick-a-brick - Paving our Future (mystery box) ◦ Unclaimed Baggage - Equipping World Changers (mystery boxes
21. Award Winning Immersion
22. Lasting Memories with Unique Packages
23. International | Domestic | Beaches | Experiences
24. Wine or Experiences
25. Bring the Bling
26. Document the Memories Professionally photograph and video the event • Not just another banquet dinner • Themes w/or without black tie • Professional photos (sell out the next event) FOMO • Set next year’s date in advance
27. Tickets, Sponsorships & Sales 3
28. Variety of Admission Tickets + Levels Tickets for sale • Single ticket • Ticket +1 • Table • VIP table • Easy to purchase online, ticket portal & e-ticket added to the wallet Ease of use as an admin, ease of use for guests
29. Admission Tickets: More than Just Entry
30. Sponsorship Packet
31. Sponsors Yes you can! • Find sponsors • It’s OK to start small • Create multiple levels of giving • Sponsors beget sponsors • Treat them with white glove service
32. Buy before You Arrive, Sell in the Room
33. In Room Energy & Revenue Boosters 4
34. Golden Ticket + Raffle Scarcity Raffles • Multiple price points • Golden ticket raffle • Always set maximum chances for raffles • If sells out… draw winner and start another one!
35. Gamify • Wine Toss • Paper AIrplane Toss
36. Wine wall
37. • 1:1, wine & cheese • Table bidding/donating • Celebrate Amazing what new funds are raised with different participants Dessert Dash
38. In Room Opportunities to Give and Win • Wine Glass Raffle – one (1) for $75.00 or two (2) for $125.00. Be entered to win a VIP Tour with Alaska Zoo Director of Education, • Table Auctioneer – The prize is an extra set of beads for everyone at the table who bids the highest amount for their centerpiece. • Paddle Drop – $100.00 Final Donation enters you to win: Private Group Encounter with Any Animal of Choice for up to eight people • Red Fox Naming Rights Raffle – $100 per ticket for 100 tickets.
39. Paddle Raise
40. Meaningful donation asks
41. Tournaments & Fun Fundraising 5
42. Tournaments Auctria Smart Templates are ready to GO!
43. Lean in to your environment
44. Friendly Competition biz 2 biz
45. Lean in to your cause • VIP Access with Polar Bears and Caviar • Sips and Stripes- a private encounter with Amur tiger Natasha • Musk Ox Naming Rights for a newly rescued musk ox calf • Zoo Vet for a Day • Bourbon & Bear • Paint and Paws
46. Peer 2 Peer Friendly Competition
47. Around Town & Community
48. • Think about your WHY • Expectations for the organization and participants • Immediate funding and long term growth Events grow over time (years)
49. Plan-Run-Close Register-Bid-Win
50. Free Resources from Auctria
51. Happy to help you too: hello@auctria.com
52. @auctria Email: hello@auctria.com FB Group: Auction Team Talk Stay in touch with Auctria Events Directory events.auctria.com