Resources
Insights from the front lines of nonprofit fundraising.
Tactics, success stories, and guest interviews from the chairs and consultants who run the country's most successful charity events.
Fundraising Is a Team Sport: How to Staff Your Nonprofit Gala
Here's event night at a lot of organizations. The development director is fixing a guest who isn't on the list, rounding up speakers for mic checks, and answering "where do I pay?" at 9:45PM. Rewind six weeks. Same person, rewriting auction item descriptions at midnight and resizing sponsor logos. It's not a people problem. It's a staffing structure problem, and it pulls your team away from the one job nobody else can do: building relationships with the people in the room. Jordan Johnson, founder of GOAT Events, joins Trevor to break down what it looks like when your team is actually supported, from the online auction catalog to the last guest out the door. What you'll walk away with: What your staff should be doing on event night, and the tasks quietly stealing that time The check-in miss that leaves guests without a paddle number before the auction even starts What "donor-ready" auction items look like on a phone, and why most catalogs fall short The raw materials you already have, and what it takes to turn them into something bidders want to scroll
The 8-Week Countdown to Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday is 8 weeks away. If your year-end campaign is still a vague idea on a whiteboard, this episode is your reset button. Jena Lynch from Donorbox joins Trevor to break down the exact timeline — what to do this week, what to do in November, and what "too late" actually looks like (spoiler: you're probably not there yet). What's on the agenda: The case for support that actually gets a yes — why "we need money" doesn't work and what to say instead The week-by-week countdown to Giving Tuesday, plus the catch-up plan if you're starting late How to turn your gala and auction donors into year-round givers instead of one-and-done event attendees The stewardship habits that build a recurring giving program out of donors you already have If you've got event donors sitting in your database who haven't heard from you since the last thank-you email, this is the episode that turns them into your year-end campaign's warmest leads.
How to Pick the Right Auction Software for Your Fundraising Event: Free Isn't Always Free
A volunteer-run nonprofit picked a free platform for its gala. The software quietly took over $12,000 in fees from donors and delivered zero support. Here's what to ask before that's you.
Gala Event Planning: How to Fix the Guest Experience Gap
After 2,000-plus galas, Rob Giardinelli says most nonprofits are optimizing the wrong hour of the night. Here's what actually shapes whether guests remember your event.
How to Build a Donor Profile Before Your Next Fundraising Gala
Most nonprofits know almost nothing about the guests filling their gala's seats. Here's how one auction platform founder builds a real donor profile before the event even starts.
Small Nonprofit Fundraising Ideas: How to Raise Money Without Burning Out Your Team
Renee Zau has worked countless fundraising events and still sees the same time-waster everywhere: nonprofits starting from scratch every year. Here's what to fix first.
How to Build a Nonprofit Board That Actually Fundraises (100% Give Rate)
Christy Casey-Moore's board doesn't just show up to meetings — every single member gives or gets. Here's the exact system behind a 100% participation rate and a $1.2 million gala.
Gala Planning Mistakes: What Two Charity Auctioneers Want You to Fix First
One auctioneer tripled a $400,000 goal by refusing to put a lid on the ask. The other says most nonprofits spend six months planning a dinner instead of a fundraiser. Here's what they'd fix first.
The Easiest $10K You Can Add to Your Next Fundraising Event
A $100 raffle for a choice of trips, sold out in 72 hours, before the event even started. Here's the exact playbook one nonprofit used to add $10,000 with almost no extra staff time.
Gala 911: One Real Event. Full Analysis. LIVE!
Auctioneer Abra Annes takes a real, submitted nonprofit gala and breaks it down — live — start to finish. She walks through what happened, what worked, what quietly killed revenue, and what she'd change. No hypotheticals, no slide decks — just a real event and a real diagnosis. You'll walk away with a checklist of things to look at before your next event, whether your gala looks anything like the one on screen or not. SUBMIT YOUR GALA by Monday, September 21 at 3pm to be featured and get $100 HGA Bucks - https://hgafundraising.com/gala911/ If your gala is chosen, you'll take away an HGA All-Inclusive trip valued at $1,295 for your next event, plus a follow up 1:1 session with Abra. Abra Annes is a leading charity fundraising auctioneer based in South Florida, and a former Director of Development herself. She brings that fundraising background to every auction — helping nonprofits use their event to recruit board members, secure legacy gifts, and drive Fund-a-Need results, not just run a fun party.
Here's What Actually Makes Donors Give More at Your Gala
After fifteen years chronicling more than 2,000 galas across Texas, Rob Giardinelli has a clear answer for what actually moves donors to give more, and it has almost nothing to do with the venue or the menu.
How to Get Board Members to Fundraise (Without the Awkward Ask)
Board development expert Elise Woodworth has one rule that sounds backwards: never say the word fundraising to your board. Her champions elevator pitch exercise turns a reluctant board into engaged advocates without ever asking them to make an awkward call.
Silent Auction Mistakes that are Costing Your Nonprofit Revenue
HelloFund founder Phil Sanger has seen hundreds of silent auctions, and his biggest complaint isn't about pricing or platforms. It's an ordinary espresso machine sitting where a real fundraising opportunity should be. Here's why fewer, better items outraise a crowded table every time.
Donor Follow-Up: The Fundraising Step Most Nonprofits Skip
Philanthropic advisor Brittany Morrison has one blunt diagnosis for why so many nonprofits struggle to grow giving: they treat donors like transactions, then let the relationship go cold the Monday after the event. Here's her fix, and why the door you left cracked open last year is still waiting to be pushed.
The Hollywood Playbook for Fundraising Galas: Writing Your Gala "Script"
A former Hollywood art director who worked with Ridley Scott and David Fincher explains why your gala needs a script, not just a seating chart — and why you should never say "thank you" the night of the event.
How to Market a Fundraising Event: One System, Every Channel
One event planner had built 85 marketing assets for a single gala, all off one branded system — and that consistency is exactly why her events run smoothly. Auctria's Laurie Hochman explains how one message, repeated everywhere, beats reinventing your marketing for every channel.
Corporate Sponsorship for Nonprofits: Why Sponsors Go Quiet
Most nonprofits propose marriage on the first date with corporate sponsors — pitching for dollars before there's even a relationship. Growth Owl founder Lori Zoss Kraska breaks down the real courtship process, from the first ask to the year-long timeline sponsors actually need to say yes.
Building Your Unicorn Board
In March, Heart Gift's board helped clear $1.2 million at one gala. She's telling you exactly how she built it, and how you can build yours. Every nonprofit leader says the same thing about their board: "I wish they fundraised more." Christy Casey-Moore doesn't have that problem. Ten years running HeartGift — a nonprofit that flies kids from countries without access to pediatric cardiology into the U.S. for life-saving heart surgery — she's built what she calls a "unicorn board": 100% give-or-get, zero resume-builders, and every single member bought into the mission before they ever got the ask. Steal this from Christy: The give-or-get structure Christy uses to keep every board member fundraising, not just showing up Why she won't put a single resume-builder on her board and what she screens for instead The "people exercise" that turns a board meeting into a live prospect pipeline How she deploys her board night-of at a gala, table by table, so nothing gets missed
Nonprofit Gala Check-In: Stop Losing Donors at the Door
Your auctioneer isn't the first touchpoint at your gala — the person checking guests in is. C2 Auctions' Chris O'Shea and Livia Christensen break down the staffing ratios, guest-list habits, and payment prep that turn a chaotic check-in line into a seamless one.
How to Sell Multiples at Your Live Auction (Without Losing Paddle Raise Money)
The 3-step method and one specific phrase top auctioneers use to sell the same live auction item dozens of times without cutting into your paddle raise.
How to Choose a Charity Auctioneer (Avoid This Common Mistake)
Four nonprofits told auctioneer Jordan Agolli the exact same thing about their last gala, independently, in the same season: their MC cared more about themselves than the mission. Here's his two-name rule and the other habits that keep the spotlight where it belongs.
Skeleton Crew, Solid Revenue: How Small Nonprofits Fundraise without Burning Out
You've got one person (maybe two) doing the job of five. This episode is about what to stop doing, what to hand off, and how to stop betting your whole year on one event going right. If your entire fundraising strategy is "hope the gala goes well," you don't have a strategy - you have a countdown. Renee Zau of DonationMatch joins Trevor to talk about what actually changes when a one- or two-person team stops trying to do everything themselves. What you'll walk away with: How to get volunteers, board members, and free tools doing real work instead of decorating your org chart How to build event inventory (yes, even auction items) without sacrificing ROI or chasing down donations yourself A gut-check for whether your org is dangerously dependent on one event or one channel - and a simple way to start layering revenue streams so a bad gala doesn't sink your year The three tasks quietly eating your week without raising a dollar - and what to cut, delegate, or automate instead
How to Get Celebrities Involved in Your Nonprofit Event (Without an Agent or a Budget)
Afam Onyema of the GEANCO Foundation has brought Oprah, Daniel Craig, and Prince Harry into his fundraising events — without ever asking one of them for a check. Here's how he built those relationships, what to actually ask a celebrity for, and why "access" beats "autograph" every time.
Why Your Sponsors Keep Ghosting You (and how to get funded)
It's probably not your mission. It's that your pitch never made it into the room where the budget actually gets decided. Lori Zoss Kraska has spent 25+ years translating "we do good work" into language that gets a yes from executive decision-makers — and keeps them coming back. Whether your prospect list is 3 companies or 300, this episode closes that gap.
7 Silent Auction Sponsorship Ideas that Match What the Sponsors Actually Want
Most nonprofits pitch every sponsor the same package: a logo and a thank-you. But a restaurant, a realtor, and a construction company all want something different out of your event. Here are 7 ways to match the sponsorship to the sponsor — plus the one placement almost nobody uses that gets noticed the most.
The Silent Auction Playbook - Part 2
Claire Murad's back for another 30-minutes Summer Session - and this time we're talking about the money nobody's asking for. Your silent auction items are covered. But is your silent auction underwritten? Are you actually marketing it hard enough to get bids moving before the clock runs out? Claire's tackling all of it - plus the VIP-only section that gives your best items (and a sponsor) a room of their own.
LIve Auction Masterclass: Beyond 101
*This episode is a Hey Nonprofits! Summer Session - 30 minutes that will change how you walk into your next event. A live auction package doesn't have to sell just once. Structured right, the same multi-sale package can sell 3, 4, even 12 times in one room - and it's not about a better crowd or a lucky night. We started calling this one "Live Auction 101." Then we got into it and realized - this is way past a 101. This is a Masterclass in the strategies that take your live auction to the next level. If you've been running live auctions for years: this is where you find the sales that were sitting right in front of you the whole time. If this is your first auction: we're handing you the structure it took other organizations years to figure out. Skip the learning curve. Join us to learn: How to structure a multi-sale package to raise thousands in minutes The sequencing that keeps momentum building all night instead of fading after the first big item The most common live auction mistakes even experienced organizations are still making A straightforward setup if this is your first time running a live auction at all
7 Auction Software Tips Every Nonprofit Should Know
Morgan "Mo" Hughes has set up hundreds of nonprofit auctions, and she's seen every way the software can go sideways. Here are 7 things she tells every client — from picking a platform with real support, to using texting for urgency, to fixing cold items live during the event.
Getting Your School Fundraiser Seen
Sending the perfect fundraiser email isn't the problem - getting anyone to open it is. Here's how QR codes, text reminders, and in-person prompts help schools get noticed without sending a single extra email.
Let's Talk Consignment!
*This episode is a Hey Nonprofits! Summer Session - 30 minutes that will change how you walk into your next event. This week, Trevor's flying solo! Thousands of events have taught HGA a thing or two about what sells at auction and what sits on the table untouched. He's breaking down consignment travel: what's actually working right now, and how to build out a silent and live auction lineup that pulls its weight.
Stop Scrambling, Start Selling: The Silent Auction Playbook
*This episode is a Hey Nonprofits! Summer Session - 30 minutes that will change how you walk into your next event. Every year it's the same fire drill - cold-calling local businesses, guessing at starting bids, and crossing your fingers that this year's silent auction table looks better than last year's. It doesn't have to be this way.
Gala ROI: Is it still worth it?
*This episode is a Hey Nonprofits! Summer Session - 30 minutes that will change how you walk into your next event. Every gala committee eventually asks the same question: Is this still worth it? This episode gives you a real answer — not a gut feeling — and a clear next step no matter what the numbers say. Join us as we breakdown how to read your own numbers honestly and determine if your gala deserves a second chance, a redesign, or a graceful exit.
Is Free Tech Costing You?
*This episode is a Hey Nonprofits! Summer Session - 30 minutes that will change how you walk into your next event. Your auction platform is either working for you or quietly working against you. We're breaking down the difference. Join us to learn: What "free" actually gets you vs. what it doesn't — the feature gaps that only show up once you're live Real-time bid visibility, guest-facing displays, outbid alerts — which features are must-haves, and which are just nice extras? How to avoid the pitfalls of hidden fees
Auction Item Procurement: Build a System That Doesn't Start From Scratch
You don't have a procurement problem — you have a system problem. Here's how to build an auction item pipeline that gets easier every year, not harder.
How to Package Silent Auction Items That Drive Bids
Your silent auction table isn't short on items — it's short on packaging that makes people stop and bid. Here's how to fix that.
Why Your $200K Nonprofit Will Always Be a $200K Nonprofit: The Overhead Truth No One Will Tell You
A founder told James his nonprofit's overhead was 7%. He told them to triple it. Here's the reinvestment math most nonprofit leaders were never allowed to run — and the 90-day plan to fix it.
Who's In the Room?: Building Your Donor Profile and Pre-Event Strategy
*This episode is a Hey Nonprofits! Summer Session - 30 minutes that will change how you walk into your next event. You spend months planning your event. But if you don't know WHO's walking through the door WHAT they care about, IF they've given before, and WHAT it'll take to get them to give again - then you're just guessing. Tony Rissley, the Auction Guy joins Trevor to break down the pre-event work that separates a good night from a great one.
The Guest Experience Gap: What Your Gala is Missing
(Hint: It's Not the Décor) You hired the planner. You booked the auctioneer. You've got a venue, a caterer, and a committee that mostly shows up. So why does something still feel… off? Rob Giardinelli has attended over 2,000 fundraising galas — as a guest, not a vendor — and he's made it his business to figure out exactly what separates the events donors rave about from the ones they politely ghost next year. He calls it the guest experience gap. It's the space between what your event planner handles and what your auctioneer handles — and most organizations have no one owning it. On this episode of Hey Nonprofits! LIVE, Rob joins host Trevor Nelson to break down: What donors feel the moment they walk in — and what that means for your fundraising Why your city's culture should shape your entire event — what works in Houston won't work in Austin, and definitely won't work in New York The three-legged stool of a successful gala — and how to know if yours is about to tip over Macro vs. micro messaging — how to get people in the door and move them to give once they're there The events vs. major gifts debate — Rob's take on why it's a false choice (and what actually moves the needle)
The A.S.K. for More Series
June 4 - June 18 - Register once for all 3 sessions. Three Thursdays. Six expert guests. One complete playbook for maximizing your next event — from getting your board aligned to landing the paddle raise. Register once and you're in for all three sessions. WEEK 1 · JUNE 4 Align — Activating Your Board Before, During & Post Event Your board can be your biggest fundraising asset — or your biggest liability. Learn how to get them truly activated at every phase of your event. With special guests: Elise Woodworth · Woodworth Enterprises Kim Curran · In Two Places WEEK 2 · JUNE 11 Solicit — Building Revenue Streams That Actually Convert Sponsors, tickets, tables — they're not one-size-fits-all. Learn how to match the right opportunity to the right audience so nobody leaves empty-handed. With special guests: Jason Ledlow · HGA Amy Myers · Muscular Dystrophy Association WEEK 3 - JUNE 18 Know Your Ask — The Superhero Paddle Raise The paddle raise moment can make or break your entire night. Learn how to step up with a specific, confident ask that moves the room — and the money. With special guests: Chris Hensley · Bid Raise Bid Dan Lyles · Dan Lyles Auctions
What to Talk to Your Auctioneer About Before the Event
Your auctioneer is the most important person in the room on event night. Here's every conversation you need to have with them before you walk into that ballroom.
What If You Don't Know Any Wealthy Donors? How Nonprofits Can Find New Fundraising Prospects
Think you don't know anyone with money to support your nonprofit? Learn how to identify ideal donor prospects, tap into existing networks, and build a stronger fundraising pipeline.
Your Grants Aren't Going to Write Themselves
Grants feel like a mystery until someone pulls back the curtain. On this episode of Hey Nonprofits! LIVE, Trevor sits down with Dawn Grenier — a grant coach with 20+ years in the trenches — to break down what it actually takes to win grant funding and build lasting funder relationships. You'll walk away knowing: * How to cultivate relationships with funders before you ever submit an application * What separates the nonprofits that win grants from the ones that keep getting passed over * How to handle post-award stewardship so funders come back year after year * The reality of competing in a crowded grants landscape — and how to stand out Dawn has helped organizations go from $2.1M to $7M in revenue. She knows what funders want.
10 Reasons Your Fundraising Event Isn't Raising What It Should
Your fundraising event takes months to plan, a team of volunteers to pull off, and one night to execute. So why does it keep raising less than it should? In this episode of Hey Nonprofits! LIVE, Trevor and Jason walk through 10 of the most common — and most fixable — reasons fundraising events underperform. From sponsorship strategy to donor retention to what’s happening on stage during your live auction, this is the honest conversation most organizations never have until after the event is over. Come ready to take notes.
Writing Grant Proposals That Get Funded
Hey Nonprofits! — Writing Grant Proposals That Get Funded. Hosted by Trevor Nelson. New episode every Tuesday.
Get Your Board to Take Fundraising Seriously
Hey Nonprofits! — Get Your Board to Take Fundraising Seriously. Hosted by Trevor Nelson. New episode every Tuesday.
Turn Event Attendees Into Loyal Monthly Donors
Hey Nonprofits! — Turn Event Attendees Into Loyal Monthly Donors. Hosted by Trevor Nelson. New episode every Tuesday.
Sustainable Giving for Nonprofits
Dave Raley joins HGA to break down what sustainable, recurring giving really looks like in 2026 — and how event-driven nonprofits can build a year-round monthly giving engine without losing the gala momentum.
How They Raised $50k From ONE Auction Item
Hey Nonprofits! — How They Raised $50k From ONE Auction Item. Hosted by Trevor Nelson. New episode every Tuesday.
Relatable Story Marketing for Nonprofit Teams
Hey Nonprofits! — Relatable Story Marketing for Nonprofit Teams. Hosted by Trevor Nelson. New episode every Tuesday.
Nonprofit Leadership in 2026
A frank conversation about what nonprofit leadership looks like in 2026 — managing teams, boards, donors, and your own bandwidth in a year of rapid change.
Master Phone Call & Voicemail Asks
Hey Nonprofits! — Master Phone Call & Voicemail Asks. Hosted by Trevor Nelson. New episode every Tuesday.
Analyzing 2024 Data for Social Giving
Hey Nonprofits! — Analyzing 2024 Data for Social Giving. Hosted by Trevor Nelson. New episode every Tuesday.
The Nonprofit's Guide to Consignment Auction Items
If you’re a fundraiser who has organized a nonprofit event, you know how much work (and stress) goes into filling your auction tables.…
5 Reasons Why School Auctions Underperform
The gym was full. Parents dressed up. The football coach kept the room laughing. By the end of the night, everyone agreed the annual dinner auction was a success — until the treasurer checked the numbers on Monday.After expenses, fees, and credit card costs, the “biggest fundrais…
Activate Your Biggest Fans: Event Ambassador Fundraising
How event ambassador fundraising can multiply your impact — turning your most enthusiastic supporters into peer fundraisers who bring new donors to your gala.
The 70% Rule
Hey Nonprofits! — The 70% Rule. Hosted by Trevor Nelson. New episode every Tuesday.
Don't Buy the WRONG Auction Items
Hey Nonprofits! — Don't Buy the WRONG Auction Items. Hosted by Trevor Nelson. New episode every Tuesday.
How to Engage New & Existing Donors During a Fundraising Event
Practical tactics for keeping the room leaning forward — opening moments, story beats, paddle raise pacing, and the small touches that make new donors feel like insiders.
Why Passion Is Not Enough to Succeed
Hey Nonprofits! — Why Passion Is Not Enough to Succeed. Hosted by Trevor Nelson. New episode every Tuesday.
4 Words to Secure Pre-Committed Dollars | Fundraising Tips
Fundraising is not getting easier. It’s getting harder. But there’s still tremendous opportunity to secure pre-committed dollars if you know where to focus your energy.On a recent Hey Nonprofits! live webinar, Keith McLane—founder of KLMAuctions and one of the West Coast’s most e…
18 Gala Theme Ideas | Fundraising Event Ideas for Nonprofits
Choosing the right theme for your gala can make the difference between a forgettable evening and one that inspires donors, energizes your community, and raises more money for your cause.…
How a CEO Raised $1 Million for Cancer
Hey Nonprofits! — How a CEO Raised $1 Million for Cancer. Hosted by Trevor Nelson. New episode every Tuesday.
Your Fundraising Playbook for 2026 — Events, Gratitude & Growth
HGA's Best of 2025: a fast-paced recap of the tactics that produced the biggest results last year, packaged into a usable playbook for your 2026 calendar.
3 Common Sources of Organizational Tension (and how to handle it)
This guest post is provided by Elise Woodworth from Woodworth Enterprises.Nonprofit leaders feel tension long before they can name it. A board meeting that feels “off.” A team that’s suddenly quieter. A project that keeps stalling.…
The Magic Number That Could Change Your Fundraising Forever
What if I told you there’s a single data point, one number, that predicts whether a donor will become a lifelong supporter of your organization better than anything else?Not their wealth. Not their giving history.…
The Vacation Station: A Smarter Silent Auction Strategy
If you’ve ever held a silent auction, you know how much of a grind it can be. You spend months soliciting donated goods, hauling baskets, writing descriptions, and setting up tables — often to raise funds that barely cover the effort.…
How Incarnate Word Academy Raised $10,000 With One Raffle
When the Incarnate Word Academy gala committee decided to add a Golden Ticket raffle to their fundraising event, they generated a buzz that had guests asking if there could be more than one winner.…
Want to Be a Better Fundraiser in 2026? Be a Better YOU!
A motivational session on the personal habits and mindset shifts behind every great fundraiser — and how to keep showing up for your mission without burning out.
Paddle Raise vs. Fund a Need: What's the Difference?
In the world of nonprofit fundraising events, few terms are used more casually — or more interchangeably — than paddle raise and fund a need.…
The $26,000 Fundraising Idea That Takes 3 Minutes
(And Why Your Next Event Needs a Paddle Drop)So picture this: It’s a Saturday afternoon, and I’m getting a text from Chris Hensley, one of the most brilliant fundraising auctioneers we know. He needs help sourcing an exotic trip package for an event that night.…
The Easiest Way to Find New Donors - Nonprofit Tips
(How one fundraiser added 100 new prospects in 72 hours)If you’re a fundraiser, you know this truth: Finding new donors is the hardest part of the job.You can steward existing donors all day long.…
The Future of Fundraising: AI, Trust & the Generosity Crisis
Where the sector is heading: how AI is changing donor outreach, why trust matters more than ever, and what nonprofits can do right now to stay ahead of the generosity crisis.
How to Break Fundraising Records in 2026 - Nonprofits
For non-profits, record years mean that you can help more people or start new programs to help the same people in more ways. That is why at HGAFundraising, we are passionate about helping non-profits maximize the money they raise. A new year often means new fundraising goals.…
The Time to Raise More Money is Now | Fundraising in 2026
Often when we work with non-profit organizations to help them create a plan to raise more money for their cause, they discuss implementing the plan next year or the ever-elusive “later.” Many people are feeling the financial squeeze right now, but the top 10% are not.…
Successful Paddle Raise Framework for Beginners
Award-winning auctioneer Chris Hensley walks through a step-by-step paddle raise framework — perfect for first-time gala chairs and nonprofits without a dedicated auctioneer on staff.
Raise More Money With the Vacation Station
A better silent-auction strategy: how the Vacation Station format helps nonprofits raise more from the same room with no extra programming time.
Trevor Answers Your Fundraising & Auction Event Questions — AMA
Open Q&A: Trevor takes live audience questions on auction events, donor strategy, board engagement, and everything in between.
Why Trips Outperform Other Auction Items in 2025
By Trevor Nelson, Co-founder of HGA FundraisingThe rubber band effectDuring the pandemic, people lost travel, adventure, and shared experiences.…
7 Ways to Grow Sustainable Giving at Your Next Event
Guest article by Dave Raley, Author of The Rise of Sustainable Giving and Host of the Sustainable Giving Podcast Events are one of the most effective channels for growing consistent monthly giving.…
How to Identify Major Donors at Your Event - Nonprofit Tips
A great fundraising event does more than just raise money and celebrate your mission.When executed with thoughtfulness, it can quickly become your most powerful tool for identifying, engaging, and cultivating the next wave of mid-level and major donors.How a Well-Executed Fundrai…
Re-Engage Lapsed Major Donors: Strategies to Win Back Support
If one of your major donors cut their gift in half (or stopped giving entirely) would you know why?In a recent episode of the Hey Nonprofits! podcast, fundraising expert Trisha Brauer shared a jaw-dropping story:A billionaire donor who once gave $500,000 to an organization droppe…
The Golden Ticket Raffle: Raise $10K+ by Selling 100 Tickets
Fundraising event demographics have been changing in recent years.With Gen Z and Millennial donors rapidly becoming the majority, the ways in which they donate have become more ‘selective’—meaning it’s more important than ever to find new and exciting opportunities for them to gi…
Top 17 Silent Auction Basket Ideas to Get Higher Bids
What are Silent Auction Baskets?Silent auction gift baskets are prearranged collections of items that participants bid on, often anonymously. An auction basket is typically filled with themed items, making each basket a unique treasure.…
Our Top 10 Favorite Nonprofit Webinars
Welcome to our countdown of the top 10 webinars we’ve hosted! Over the years, we’ve had the pleasure of diving deep into a variety of topics, sharing insights, and engaging with passionate individuals.…
5 Ways to Raise More Money for Your Nonprofit Immediately
Raise more money for your cause at your upcoming fundraising event with these 5 revenue enhancers. These revenue enhancers require almost no extra resources but are fun ways to raise more money for your non-profit.…
7 Strategies to Maximize the Potential of Your Volunteers
If your organization relies on volunteers, ensuring you’re getting the most out of their time and contributions is essential. Volunteers can be invaluable assets, and maximizing their potential is critical to achieving your goals and ultimately doing more for your mission.…
Underwriting Opportunities for Your Fundraising Event
If you’re using underwriting just to cover the costs for your fundraising event, then you are leaving revenue on the table. Underwriting aspects of your charity event is a great way to raise money ahead of your fundraising gala.…
Create a Fundraising Event Schedule that Maximizes Success
We often discuss adding revenue enhancers to your fundraising event to raise more money for your nonprofit. But did you know that your fundraising event schedule can impact how much money you raise for your cause? We have seen non-profits reduce the funds they could’ve raised bec…
Raise More Money Through Efficient Fundraising
At HGAFundraising, we are always looking for ways to make fundraising more efficient and effective so that non-profits of all sizes can raise as much as possible for their cause.…
How to Ask Fortune 500 Companies to Donate to Your Cause
Fortune 500 companies have budgets dedicated to philanthropy and social responsibility. They are actively looking to sponsor non-profits.…
How to Maximize Your Nonprofit's Pre-Event Fundraising
Pre-event fundraising for your non-profit organization is about more than just selling tables. Not every possible donor will want to buy a table they have to fill, and selling tables means you can’t qualify who is at your event.…
How to Motivate Nonprofit Board Members - 4 Quick Tips
Everybody keeps asking us how they can get their nonprofit board members motivated. We recently put the question to Randle Lee, our Board Development and Fundraising Specialist.…
How to Prepare Your Donors to Give
Donors are unlikely to drop incredible amounts of money on a whim. If you want donations of $20,000, $50,000, or even higher, you need to prepare them to give.…
How Volunteers Can Help Create Successful Fundraising Events
Volunteers are a vital part of non-profits, especially when it comes to organizing and running successful events. Recently Mark West with HGAFundraising interviewed Mike Wilson with Ducks Unlimited about how to harness the skills of volunteers on your event committees and sub-com…
Turn Your Committee Into Fundraising Assets | Nonprofit Tips
Non-profit committees can be your secret fundraising weapon if used correctly. Committees and boards are often comprised of people who are well-connected and highly respected in their community.…
How to Boost Recurring Donations - From a Real Example
It seems like almost every cost in our lives can be offered as a subscription service, so why not charitable donations? Recurring donations allow your donors to give to your non-profit organization on a monthly basis, making it more convenient for them to give.…
Make It Easy for Your Donors to Give
At HGAFundraising, we go out of our way to make it as easy as possible for folks to work with us, and we encourage non-profits to do the same. When you look at donors on a fundamental level, they are consumers. Consumers like convenience.…
Mastering Communication Styles - Connect With Your Donors
Communicating with people who do not match your communication style can often lead to tension in board meetings and reluctance to speak to a certain donor.…
How to Raise Money for a Nonprofit - Raise an Extra $20k
Every nonprofit has at least an extra $20,000 sitting in their board members’ phones that they aren’t accessing. We’ve talked in the past about how the most valuable thing your board members bring to the table is their connections.…
7 Ways to Turbocharge Your Silent Auction
Silent auctions are a popular element of fundraising events. They allow you to carefully curate the items in your live auction and offer opportunities for your more reserved donors to bid on items without calling attention to themselves.…
The 4 Rules of Self-Care for the Nonprofit World
It is easy to view self-care as selfish, especially in the non-profit world where we spend so much time and energy giving to others. However, non-profit fundraising is a difficult job. It is challenging physically, emotionally, and mentally.…
Turn Your Silent Auction into a Major Revenue Generator
If we could give every single non-profit preparing for a fundraising event one piece of advice, it would be this: Don’t underestimate your silent auction.…
15 Fundraising Strategies to Maximize Nonprofit Revenue
Navigating the world of nonprofit fundraising can often feel like a tightrope walk between what’s heartfelt and what’s financially smart.…
Think Big: Reverse Engineer Your Best Revenue Yet
The non-profit sector has changed a lot in the last few years. We’re starting to see the average donor age come down, and there are a lot of new people in roles.…
How to Create Donor Profiles Post-Fundraising Event
At a recent fundraising event, an organization sold 9 of our 6-adult Tuscany Villa packages for $10,000 each, netting $45,000. That’s a dream come true for many non-profits.…
5 Nonprofit Revenue Generators for Your Next Event
Our friend Mark West sat down with professional auctioneer Micki Pickering to discuss simple ways that non-profits could generate revenue at their fundraising events.…
Year-End Donor Asks That Actually Work
Year-end donor asks are popular in the non-profit world as a final push to meet revenue goals and to connect with donors, so you are on their minds when they’re looking at next year’s budget.…
3 Fundraising Strategies to Add Thousands to Your Event
The money you raise at non-profit fundraising events dictates the amount of good you can do for your cause. Keep reading to learn about 3 fundraising strategies that will increase the amount of money you raise at your fundraising event.…
How to Get the Most Out of Your Auction Items in 2026
ValueA good way to increase the money your non-profit makes on live and silent auction items is to not advertise the item’s value.…
The 3 C's for Successful Fundraising
We’ve met a lot of non-profit professionals, all with different talents and personalities. There are 3 things that all the successful fundraisers we’ve met have in common, and it is not their sales skills.The 3 C’s of successful fundraising for non-profits are:CompetitionCreativi…
Trip Promo Kit
Hi-res photos, a pre-written committee email and social copy, the printable bid-card insert, and the on-stage storytelling angle — everything you need to pre-sell a trip before doors open.
The Golden Ticket Kit
Most organizations net $7,500 from a single Golden Ticket raffle — then double it by re-auctioning the same trip to everyone who didn't win. This kit gives you the ticket sales playbook, a verbatim emcee draw script, ready-to-send donor email and social copy, and the post-raffle live auction strategy most organizations never use. Everything you need to run it — and run it twice.
The Nonprofit Auction Night Playbook
The 9 levers that separate a $40k gala from a $400k one — bid-call cadence, reserve-price math, and the night-of run-of-show, used by 500+ nonprofits last year.
The 90-Day Gala Runbook
A printable, day-by-day timeline for nonprofits running a gala in the next 90 days. Includes board presentation deck, finance committee one-pager, and donor segmentation worksheet. Used by 200+ HGA partner nonprofits in the 2025 gala season.
Multi-Winner Economics: A Board-Ready Explainer
A board-ready PDF that walks through the financial math of multi-winner live auction lots, with real case studies and revenue projections. Designed to be left on a finance-committee table.