Charity Fundraising Ideas & Tips

Examples of Nonprofit Fundraising Events + Best Practices

Posted on July 31, 2025August 29, 2025 by Jordan Morris

Imagine a local literacy nonprofit struggling to fund its after-school programs. Grant applications are drying up, and the board is hesitant about dipping further into reserves. But instead of scaling back, the staff organizes a community “Books & Brews” night at a neighborhood brewery. They invite a local author, host a book raffle to generate more revenue, line up book-themed trivia, and sell personalized bookmarks made by the kids they serve.

The result? A packed house, new monthly donors, strengthened connections between supporters and the kids they serve, and enough raised to fund their programs for the next quarter.

Nonprofit fundraising events do more than fill temporary budget needs—they energize your base, elevate your mission, and create touchpoints that turn one-time donors into loyal advocates. In this guide, we’ll explore leading event ideas, tips for planning and executing them, and how you can replicate their impact for your own cause.

FAQs About Nonprofit Event Planning

What’s the best time of year to host a nonprofit event? Spring and fall are typically ideal for in-person events due to favorable weather and fewer conflicts with major holidays. However, timing should also align with your donor base’s availability and the nature of your event.
How much lead time should you plan for? For large events like galas or tournaments, begin fundraising event planning 6-12 months in advance. Smaller events may need 3-4 months of preparation. Always include buffer time for promotion and vendor coordination.
How do you know if your event was successful? Measure success by assessing a combination of financial, attendance, engagement (e.g., social shares or post-event surveys), and donor retention metrics following the event.
What’s the average cost to host an event? Costs vary widely by event type. Galas may cost tens of thousands, while digital events can be executed for under $1,000. Create a detailed budget that includes venue, marketing, food, software, and staff time.
What’s a hybrid event, and should I consider one? A hybrid event blends in-person and digital fundraising experiences. This format can expand your reach, improve accessibility, and mitigate risks tied to weather or illness-related cancellations. Many of these fundraising events are in-person but can be paired with digital components to maximize participation and fundraising success!

Best for Major Gift Fundraising: Gala Dinners

Gala dinners remain a staple for nonprofits across different niches, sizes, and sectors. Successful galas often combine formal dining with emotional storytelling and recognition of major donors. A well-executed gala elevates an organization’s brand and can become a yearly landmark event.

Pro-Tips for Making Your Gala Unforgettable:

Use a professional emcee or local celebrity. Their presence adds credibility and keeps the program engaging and on schedule.
Consider working with a professional. For more involved events like these, Orr Group suggests working with a fundraising event professional who can provide guidance on best practices and handle fundraising and production logistics to take the heavy lifting off your plate.
Segment invites to focus on major and recurring donors. Tailored messaging helps demonstrate appreciation and reinforces donor value.
Offer a matching challenge during the “fund-a-need” portion. This strategy can create urgency and significantly boost donor participation rates.

Best for Engaging Corporate Sponsors: Charity Golf Tournament

Charity golf tournaments combine relaxed socializing with competitive fun, making them ideal for cultivating relationships with mid-level and major donors. Since golfers tend to have a higher net worth than the average person, golf tournaments offer many opportunities to connect with affluent donors. Not only does this help individual fundraising outcomes, but it can also attract sponsors who want to make connections with lucrative potential clients.

Pro-tips for Making Your Charity Golf Tournament a Hole-in-One:

Offer tiered sponsorship packages for local businesses. Every business has different budgets for sponsorships, so offer a wide variety. Diverse sponsorship levels encourage broader participation and can help you build connections, especially with beloved local businesses.
Choose an entertaining theme. A themed event helps you stand out from other organizations and appeal to different audiences. Be creative when choosing themes while keeping your audience in mind—for instance, a tournament with a kiddie round would only work well for family-friendly events.
Plan extra side activities, like hole-in-one contests. Add-ons create additional revenue opportunities and keep attendees engaged throughout the event.
Provide golf-related swag bags and thank-you gifts to enhance the experience. According to GolfStatus’ guide to golf tournament gift ideas, themed swag can boost goodwill and leave a lasting impression.

Best for Extended Engagement: Long-Term Themed Campaigns

Not every event needs to be one-and-done. Themed fundraising campaigns (such as a “30 Days of Giving” or “Summer of Service”) that last multiple days or weeks can keep donors engaged longer and create multiple touchpoints, ultimately strengthening their investment in your cause.

Pro-tips for Running a Long-Term Campaign That Sticks:

Use email, SMS, and social media for cross-channel promotion. Coordinated messaging across platforms ensures consistent branding and broader reach.
Highlight different stories or sub-causes daily. This variety keeps content fresh and offers supporters multiple reasons to stay involved.
Add a gamification layer to the campaign. You’ll need to take extra steps to maintain momentum throughout a longer campaign. Friendly competition can keep donors engaged and motivate them to give more or more often. For instance, you might offer a donor leaderboards or goal thermometers that update in real time.

Best for Budget-Friendly Fundraising: Digital Events

Fundraising success isn’t limited to ballrooms and golf courses. Virtual events—from livestream telethons to online trivia nights—have become essential tools for nonprofits looking to reach wider audiences and lower logistical barriers. These digital gatherings also give organizations a chance to experiment with creative formats, whether it’s a virtual art auction or a panel of guest speakers sharing impact stories.

Pro-tips for Making Your Digital Event Feel Anything But Distant:

Evoke emotion whenever possible. It can be challenging to evoke emotions through a screen. Increase connection by hiring a high-energy host, highlighting pre-recorded mission marketing spots, and shouting out people you serve.
Open up a live chat or moderated Q&A. This interactive idea helps guests feel like they’re part of the action, not just watching from the sidelines.
Keep the momentum going post-event. After the event, repurpose your event content to secure easy wins for continued engagement. For example, slice up your footage into highlight reels and donor thank-you posts for social media.

Wrapping Up

Event-based fundraising remains vital for nonprofit visibility and revenue. As you start considering which events to offer, remember that each format offers lessons that any nonprofit can adopt. Regardless of the event theme, the most successful ones:

Align closely with the organization’s brand and audience
Use storytelling to resonate emotionally
Incorporate digital tools to improve efficiency and reach

By learning from standout event examples—whether digital, themed, or traditional—you can craft memorable experiences that resonate with donors and drive better fundraising outcomes for your mission.

Planning an Animal Charity Event: 4 Tips for Success

Posted on June 20, 2025August 29, 2025 by Jordan Morris

In 2024, 5.8 million cats and dogs entered animal shelters in the United States. The average time these animals spent in shelters before being adopted increased compared to previous years. This only worsens the overcrowding problem many shelters face, underscoring the need for more funding, increased volunteer support, and expanded facilities.

As a nonprofit professional in the animal welfare sector, you likely already leverage digital fundraising and communications to attract and engage supporters. But are you connecting with those supporters face-to-face, too? While planning fundraising events can be more resource-intensive on the front end, it enables you to connect with your community, get animals in your facility adopted, and cultivate loyal relationships.

This guide explores tips for organizing animal charity events and creating memorable in-person experiences from limited time and resources.

Set Clear Goals for the Event

Setting a clear goal forces you to focus all of your efforts toward one defined outcome rather than splitting your attention between several objectives. This way, you’re much more likely to achieve or make progress toward key priorities.

The first step to setting a goal is to define the broader purpose of the event. Is it to raise money, grow your digital presence, or bring awareness to your cause? Once you’ve identified this central purpose, set your goal using the SMART goal framework. In other words, your goal should be specific, measurable, actionable, relevant, and time-bound.

For example, if you are planning a charity auction, your SMART goal might be to:

“Raise $10,000 through the auction event by procuring at least 50 auction items for bidding and attracting at least 200 attendees via online channels before the event date in 6 weeks.”

Use this goal to guide all of the following event-planning processes, including your marketing strategy. Shape your nonprofit marketing plan for the event around that central theme, confirming that each message and strategy brings you closer to the finish line.

Choose an Engaging Event Idea

To inspire supporters to attend the event, you’ll need to choose a unique fundraising idea, especially if you’re located in a saturated area like a large city. If you don’t have any ideas yet, pull inspiration from this mini list of fundraising event ideas:

Pet fashion show: Have pet owners dress up their pets in creative outfits for a chance to win prizes. Consider adding a special segment to highlight adoptable pets, having your emcee describe cute facts or stories about each animal.
Pet-friendly brewery crawl: Partner with local pet-friendly bars and breweries to coordinate the event, sell wristbands to attendees that they can use to get specialty drinks, and invite their pets to come along.
Four-legged 5K: Organize a traditional charity race with one small twist: pet owners can complete it with their four-legged companions!
Puppy or kitten yoga: Host a yoga class at your facility or partner with a local studio. During the session, allow adoptable puppies, kittens, or senior pets to roam around and sit or nap where they please.

If you feel drawn to more classic ideas, simply add a fun twist that will entice potential attendees to register. Let’s say you want to hold a raffle. You might promote fun raffle basket ideas designed for pet owners, like a Char-Cat-erie Basket, Puppy Parent Basket, or a Crazy Cat Lady Basket.

Offset Event Costs with Corporate Social Responsibility Programs

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) refers to a company’s efforts to contribute to social good and improve society. Connecting with businesses that offer CSR programs allows your organization to secure much-needed financial and volunteer support.

As Double the Donation explains, there are three common CSR programs to look out for:

Corporate grants: Corporations offer monetary grants to nonprofits with shared values. Typically, the nonprofits must undergo an application process.
- How this could benefit your event: Use the grant to cover event expenses or scale up the event.
Volunteer grants: Companies provide grants to the organizations their employees regularly volunteer with based on verified volunteer hours.
- How this could benefit your event: Use grant funding to assist with event costs and spread awareness of these programs to encourage volunteer participation at the event.
Matching gifts: Companies match the donations their employees make to qualifying nonprofit organizations, typically at a 1:1 ratio. This can transform a $50 donation into $100 at no extra cost to the donor.
- How this could benefit your event: Educate supporters about matching gifts and provide instructions for submitting requests. They’ll be encouraged to donate knowing that their contribution could be doubled.

Many companies also offer corporate sponsorships in which they provide financial support, products, or services for events in exchange for brand exposure and marketing opportunities. So, you might feature the company’s logo on event signage and marketing materials in exchange for financial support.

In addition to financial and volunteer support, partnering with for-profit organizations can bring new perspectives and expertise to your organization. For example, maybe you partner with a dog daycare business, and, after discussing your struggles with capacity management, they recommend an effective kennel management tool.

Create a Strategic Marketing Campaign

Often, nonprofit event success is determined by the final fundraising revenue and attendance rate. But you can’t boost either of these metrics without a well-planned marketing strategy. Follow these steps from Gingr’s marketing guide to promote your event:

Define your niche and unique value proposition (UVP). Your nonprofit should already have defined each of these elements, and you’ll need to determine how to weave them into event promotions. Additionally, consider identifying your event’s UVP, or the thing that makes it stand out from other fundraisers.
Identify and research your audience. Conduct research to better understand your target audience. Dig into demographic data, pet ownership information, personal connections to your cause, and giving capacity and affinity.
Create campaign content. This is the creative phase of your campaign, during which you’ll draft marketing copy, gather photos and testimonials, and create custom graphics to promote the event.
Select marketing channels. Using insights from your audience research, determine the best channels to use to reach them.
Track results, iterate, and improve. Track performance metrics that align with your goals for the marketing campaign and event overall. Don’t just determine whether you met those goals—identify your most successful strategies and areas for improvement.

This process can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to balance marketing tasks, event planning, and your nonprofit’s daily operations. Make sure you’re using marketing tools that can automate repetitive tasks and target specific audience segments with personalized messages to enhance your campaigns.

If your animal welfare organization is feeling overworked, overcrowded, or even burned out, hosting a fundraising event might feel out of reach. However, your nonprofit can plan successful, engaging events with limited time and resources. These events could be the beginning of new donor relationships, adoption journeys, and memories that your supporters will look back on fondly each time they think of your organization.

Event Fundraising Just Got Easier: 5 Powerful Features of the Givergy Event App

Posted on June 17, 2025September 20, 2025 by Jordan Morris

The lights are low, guests are arriving, and the buzz of your big fundraiser is building. You’re fielding questions about raffle tickets, sorting out seating hiccups, and keeping an eye on your auction. All while bouncing between the floor and a laptop in the corner.

Sound familiar? And a bit stressful? That’s why we built something better.

Introducing the newly updated Givergy Event App. Your new in-hand HQ for everything happening in the room. Designed with fundraisers in mind, it puts the power of real-time data, live updates, and smooth event control right in your pocket.

Whether you’re managing an auction, running a raffle, or keeping an eye on check-in, the Event App makes it easy to stay on top of it all. Here you’ll find five features designed to change the way you run events. But first…

What is a Fundraising Event App?

A fundraising event app is a mobile tool designed to streamline event management by giving organisers live access to everything from guest check-ins to bidding activity. Rather than relying on paper spreadsheets or stationary desktops, a fundraising app brings all the functionality of a fundraising platform directly to your phone or tablet. Meaning you can respond to issues on the fly and engage guests more easily.

Below are 5 features that make this possible.

Sell Raffle Tickets on the Go

Running a raffle? Now you can sell tickets directly from your phone, wherever you are in the venue. No need for printed tickets or card machines. Just a few taps and you’re raising more.

Track Guest Check-ins and View Table Layouts

Forget the paper lists and guesswork. The app lets you monitor guest arrivals, check who’s checked in, and access a clear, live table layout. That means you can resolve seating issues and keep things flowing without disrupting the night.

Retract and Manage Bids Instantly

During the excitement of a silent auction mistakes can happen. Whether it’s a guest bidding too quickly or a number entered in error. With the Event App, you can view and retract live bids in real-time, ensuring a smooth and fair bidding experience without scrambling back to your admin hub.

Simplify Checkout with Smart Payment Options

The Event App supports surcharge handling, donor tip options, and displays the last four digits of a donor’s card. This will make checkout more transparent and efficient for both you and your guests.

Stay in the Loop with Real-Time Guest Activity(Coming Soon)

Want to see who’s bidding, donating, or checking in? The app gives you a live snapshot of guest behaviour and payment activity, so you can spot momentum, solve issues early, and seize fundraising opportunities as they arise.

Take Control and Get Started Today

On event night your attention is pulled in a hundred different directions, but The Givergy Event App puts everything you need in one place. Giving you the power to stay connected, keep things running smoothly, and create a seamless guest experience without the stress.

Our Event App is now live on the Apple App Store and Google Play ready to download and our team of fundraising experts are always happy to talk through how to best utilise the tech. So, if you’re ready to raise more, get in touch today to get started.

20 School Fundraising Ideas That Make a Big Impact

Posted on March 21, 2025September 18, 2025 by Jordan Morris

Raising money for your school shouldn’t feel like a chore—it should feel like an opportunity to bring your community together for a common goal. Whether you’re aiming to fund new equipment, extra-curricular activities, or facility improvements, great fundraising ideas can create excitement and drive results.

At Givergy, we support schools with digital tools that make fundraising simple, engaging, and more effective. Here are 20 fun, easy-to-implement school fundraising ideas to get your next campaign off the ground.

🎟 1. Host a Digital Raffle

Move beyond paper tickets and bring your raffle online. From tech gadgets to local business vouchers, raffles are quick to set up and offer great return.

Bonus Tip: Use Givergy’s prize draw tools to manage entries and draw winners seamlessly.

🎨 2. Student Art Auction

Celebrate student creativity by turning artwork into auction items. Host an in-person gallery or showcase online to engage extended families.

🎬 3. Family Movie Night

Set up a projector in the school hall or playground and sell tickets to a cozy film night. Add snacks and blankets for a truly memorable event.

🚶‍♀️ 4. Sponsored Walk or Fun Run

Encourage healthy activity and raise money at the same time. Students gather pledges and families cheer them on as they complete laps or challenges.

🍰 5. Bake Sale (With a Twist!)

Put a new spin on the classic bake sale. Try themes like “Bake Off Showdown” or “Teacher’s Challenge” to boost excitement.

📚 6. Read-a-thon

Encourage literacy and raise funds by having students log reading hours in exchange for sponsorships.

🛍 7. Pop-Up Market

Transform the school hall into a market for handmade crafts, second-hand books, and local vendor stalls.

📸 8. School Calendar or Photo Book Sale

Use photos from school events to create a keepsake calendar or yearbook and sell to families and staff.

💃 9. School Disco

Bring the party to your school with a themed disco. Sell tickets, snacks, and glow-in-the-dark accessories.

🧠 10. Quiz Night

Host a trivia night for parents and staff. Charge team entry fees and offer prizes for the winners.

🎁 11. Holiday Gift Wrapping Station

Set up a gift-wrapping booth at school or a local mall during the festive season. Ask for donations in return for beautifully wrapped gifts.

☕ 12. Coffee Morning for Parents

Invite parents to a relaxed social morning with coffee, tea, and homemade treats. Use it as an opportunity to raise funds and build community.

🎭 13. Talent Show

Let students showcase their talents with a live or virtual performance. Sell tickets and involve local judges for an added edge.

📦 14. Mystery Box Fundraiser

Ask local businesses to donate small items and bundle them into mystery prize boxes. Sell boxes for a flat rate and let the surprise drive sales.

🧽 15. Car Wash Day

Organize a car wash staffed by student volunteers. Set up in the school car park and promote it locally.

🏆 16. House Competition Fundraiser

Inspire some friendly competition between school houses or classes. See who can raise the most and reward with a trophy or special privilege.

📦 17. Uniform Exchange or Sale

Host a second-hand uniform sale—parents can donate outgrown items and purchase what they need at low cost while supporting the school.

🌱 18. Plant or Seedling Sale

Encourage sustainability and fundraising with a plant sale. Students can grow seedlings in class and sell them at a school fair.

🛒 19. Cashback Shopping Programs

💡 20. Online Auction

Create an exciting digital auction featuring donated items, school experiences (like “Principal for a Day”), or themed baskets.

Pro Tip: Givergy’s silent auction tools make it easy to host a professional, engaging online auction that attracts bids from beyond your local area.

Why Schools Love Givergy

Our platform offers everything schools need to run successful fundraising campaigns—from ticketing and auctions to raffles and real-time donor tracking. Givergy’s intuitive technology is designed to maximize participation, increase donations, and reduce admin.

✔ Easy-to-use tools for busy school teams
✔ Mobile-optimized for parents on the go
✔ Real-time tracking and reporting
✔ Trusted by schools, charities, and nonprofits around the world

Ready to power your next school fundraiser? Get started with Givergy today!

25 Simple Fundraising Ideas for Nonprofits: Creative Ways to Engage Your Community

Posted on March 14, 2025September 20, 2025 by Jordan Morris

Successful online fundraising is at the heart of every nonprofit’s mission. Finding the best online fundraising ideas that keep donors engaged can be a challenge, but with the right approach, your nonprofit can stand out and maximize donations. But with so many organizations competing for donor attention, finding original, engaging, and easy-to-implement ideas is crucial.

At Givergy, we specialize in online fundraising by offering innovative digital solutions for silent auctions, raffles, and virtual events. If you’re searching for the best online fundraising ideas, this guide will provide inspiration for engaging and effective ways to raise money. Whether you’re planning a live event or an online campaign, these 25 unique fundraising ideas will help your nonprofit raise more while strengthening community engagement.

Exciting Silent Auction Ideas to Wow Your Supporters

Silent auctions are a fantastic way to create excitement while raising significant funds. Here are five high-impact and unique auction ideas:

Ultimate Staycation Experience

Instead of a traditional weekend getaway, offer a curated staycation package. Include a boutique hotel stay, dinner at a top-rated local restaurant, a spa day, and a personalized city tour.

Private Dining & Movie Night

Auction an exclusive at-home chef-cooked dinner experience followed by a private outdoor movie screening, complete with a projector, popcorn, and cozy blankets.

‘Adopt-a-Star’ & Planetarium Tour

Give the winner the chance to name a star, paired with a guided planetarium tour or private astronomy session for a unique, educational experience.

Behind-the-Scenes Sports Access

Offer an exclusive locker room tour, training session, or VIP tickets for a local sports team, giving fans an inside look at their favourite teams.

Hot Air Balloon or Helicopter Adventure

Provide an unforgettable experience with aerial sightseeing tours, ideal for thrill-seekers and those looking for a unique perspective on their city.

Creative Raffle Ideas That Keep Supporters Coming Back

Raffles create excitement and encourage broader participation. Here are five standout raffle ideas:

Mystery Travel Adventure

Partner with a travel agency to offer a mystery weekend trip, where the winner only learns their destination right before departure!

Ultimate VIP Concert or Festival Passes

Offer backstage passes or front-row tickets to a major concert, festival, or theatre production to make your raffle highly desirable.

Subscription Box for a Year

A year-long subscription to a popular service (meal kits, wine clubs, book boxes, or wellness products) ensures ongoing enjoyment for the winner.

‘Bucket List’ Experience

Secure a unique adventure, such as a scuba diving lesson, skydiving session, race car driving, or horseback riding tour, to appeal to adventure lovers.

Personalized VIP Shopping Spree

Provide a personal stylist and shopping experience at a luxury department store, complete with a generous gift card.

Quick & Fun Fundraising Ideas to Boost Donations

Need quick and simple fundraising events? These 15 creative ideas will help you get started:

Virtual Quiz Night

Host a themed trivia event and charge entry fees. Engage attendees with fun categories like pop culture, sports, or nonprofit-specific topics.

Community Yard Sale

Ask supporters to donate unwanted items and host a charity yard sale. This raises funds while promoting sustainability.

Home or Office Cleaning Services

Partner with a cleaning company to offer professional services as a raffle or auction prize.

DIY Craft Workshops

Host a creative workshop (painting, pottery, or candle-making) where attendees pay to participate and take home their creations.

Fitness Challenge Event

Encourage supporters to raise funds through sponsored physical challenges such as running, cycling, or obstacle races.

Community Fun Day

Organize games, food stalls, and entertainment to bring people together while raising funds.

Photography Sessions

Offer professional photoshoots for families or individuals as auction or raffle items.

Outdoor Movie Night

Set up a large screen in a park, charge entry fees, and sell concessions to maximize revenue.

Holiday Gift-Wrapping Station

Provide gift-wrapping services at shopping malls during the festive season in exchange for donations.

Crowdfunding Campaign

Launch an online crowdfunding campaign for specific projects and share compelling stories to drive donations.

Bake Sale

A timeless favourite, selling homemade baked goods is a simple yet effective fundraising method.

Skill-Sharing Workshops

Bring in experts to teach valuable skills like social media marketing, photography, or personal finance in exchange for donations.

Charity Car Wash

Recruit volunteers and set up a car wash event where all proceeds go to your nonprofit.

Local Celebrity Meet-and-Greet

Offer fans the chance to meet a local influencer, sports star, or celebrity through an auction or raffle.

Charity Concert or Talent Show

Organize a live performance showcasing local artists and sell tickets to boost fundraising.

Why choose Givergy as your fundraising partner?

Givergy makes fundraising effortless with an innovative digital platform that helps nonprofits maximize donations while engaging supporters. Whether you’re hosting a silent auction, a raffle, or a virtual event, our tools provide:

✔ Easy participation – Mobile bidding, online donations, and user-friendly ticketing options.

✔ Greater reach – Expand fundraising efforts beyond local communities through digital solutions.

✔ Seamless management – Handle ticketing, payment processing, and donor engagement in one place.

✔ Higher revenue – Proven strategies and support to help nonprofits raise more.

With over $1 billion raised globally, Givergy has helped countless organizations implement the best online fundraising ideas to achieve their goals. Our platform ensures seamless online fundraising experiences, making it easier than ever to engage donors and maximize contributions. Get started today and take your fundraising efforts to the next level!

4 Exciting Digital Fundraising Trends To Embrace This Year

Posted on February 28, 2025August 29, 2025 by Jordan Morris

The way you raise money for your organization is constantly evolving. Gone are the days of relying solely on traditional bake sales or high-end galas to achieve your funding goals (though these fun events definitely have a place in a well-rounded fundraising strategy!). Nowadays, the name of the game is digital fundraising.

Also referred to as online or virtual fundraising, digital fundraising uses online technology to raise money for a specific cause. According to Cornershop Creative, there are several benefits to embracing digital fundraising, such as saving money on traditional fundraising costs, getting a rapid response in times of crisis or extreme need, and expanding engagement beyond geographical borders.

If you’re ready to experience these benefits, you first need to understand the current digital fundraising trends that are turning donors’ heads and getting them excited about making a difference. Get started by reviewing our roundup of tried-and-true trends that you can use in 2025!

1. Mobile-First Fundraising

Mobile-first fundraising allows you to meet your donors where they’re at—their smartphones! After all, the Pew Research Center reports that 91% of Americans own a smartphone. Further, Americans spend an average of 5 hours and 16 minutes daily on their phones.

This is good news for your organization—if you can learn how to grab your supporters’ attention through mobile fundraising, you can connect with them regularly and raise more money and awareness for your work.

Here are some strategies to increase your chances of securing donations from smartphone users:

Optimize and maintain your donation page with mobile devices in mind. Your online donation page is where all the action happens with mobile-first fundraising, so ensure you’re prepared for mobile visitors. The page should be responsive, meaning it adjusts automatically to different screen sizes. Also, make sure the page loads quickly and elements like forms, buttons, and images are easy to navigate.

Design a text-to-give campaign. With this type of fundraiser, your organization sets up a mobile donation number and shares a special keyword with its supporters. When they text that keyword to the donation number, they’ll be prompted to follow a link to make a donation. Ensure the keyword you pick is easy to remember and type out. For instance, “Give4CancerResearch” is easier to remember than a long scramble of random numbers and letters.
Allow supporters to participate in events from their phones. Consider hosting virtual events that supporters can participate in from wherever they are. For example, with an auction, you can use online auction software to allow donors to bid from their mobile phones and notify them when they’ve been outbid. You can also use livestream technology to interact with mobile participants.

2. Matching Gifts

Many fundraisers find it challenging to balance the need to raise more money for their causes while being mindful of how often they ask donors to give. Donor fatigue is a real issue that can quickly become an insurmountable challenge for organizations that fail to find the right balance.

Matching gifts offers a creative—and lucrative—digital fundraising solution for organizations and donors alike. Through this form of corporate philanthropy, donors’ employers financially match donations donors make to your organization.

Here’s how the process works:

A donor gives to your organization.
The donor checks their corporate matching gift eligibility using a matching gifts database on your organization’s website.
After confirming that their employer offers matching gifts, the donor fills out any necessary online forms provided by the database tool to kickstart the matching process.
The donor’s employer reviews the forms and confirms the donation with the nonprofit.
The company sends the nonprofit a donation.

Every company’s matching gift program will look a little different. Employers have different rules for what types of nonprofits they’ll match gifts for, the types of employees eligible to use the programs (for example, full-time employees versus part-time employees), and the ratio at which they match gifts. Most companies will match at a 1:1 or 2:1 ratio, but some will offer a 3:1 ratio!

Here’s an example to illustrate what matching gifts can do for your organization: Say Shayla, an employee at Deloitte, gives $50 to your nonprofit. She finds out she’s eligible for a 1:1 donation match and submits the required paperwork to the company. A few days later, your organization receives a check for $50 from Deloitte. The matched gift has essentially doubled the amount and impact of Shayla’s gift without requiring her to reach back into her wallet!

To take full advantage of matching gifts, you need to market them effectively. Create a page on your organization’s website that explains the process, and encourage donors to check their eligibility when you promote your digital fundraising campaigns. You can even shout out donors who take advantage of matching gifts on your blog to inspire others to do the same.

3. Recurring Giving Programs

A steady source of revenue is essential for sustainable, long-term success. This is best achieved by tapping into multiple streams of fundraising dollars all at once, and one of the most popular digital types is a recurring giving program.

With recurring giving programs, donors can opt into giving your organization a set amount of money each month. And though this typically means donors give a smaller amount of money each time they donate, that amount adds up over time. According to Double the Donation, the average monthly gift is $24, which results in an annual donation total of $288. This is actually more than the average one-time donation amount of $115!

To set up a recurring giving program, revisit your online donation page. Offer an option on the page to turn a one-time gift into a recurring gift. This will allow your donors to “set and forget” their donations so that they’re billed monthly and don’t have to take any further action.

Also, consider creating a recurring giving society to build a community around your program. You can offer recurring donors perks like exclusive newsletters or early access to event tickets, which will help them feel seen and valued for their consistent contributions.

From time to time, you should also check in with your recurring donors to ensure their giving details, such as payment information, contact information, and giving amounts, are current. This can serve as a great touchpoint for encouraging donors to level up their giving or just to say thank you for all their support!

4. AI-Powered Donor Engagement

By now, your organization has at least heard about the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in nonprofit fundraising and marketing strategies. Or, maybe you’ve even tried out some popular AI tools like ChatGPT yourself! After all, research shows that nonprofits are embracing AI faster than for-profit organizations.

There’s no doubt that AI is here to stay, so whatever your level of adoption has been so far, consider strengthening your digital fundraising efforts by embracing it further. One of the best places to start is using AI for donor engagement.

Two types of AI can help you connect with your donors and pave the way for better fundraising results:

Generative AI, which creates original content, such as copy, images and video.
- Examples: ChatGPT, which offers written responses to user prompts, and DALL-E, which can create original images based on user prompts

Predictive AI, which analyzes data and offers predictions or recommendations based on that data.
- Examples: AI features in your CRM that allow for marketing automation or donor segmentation

Predictive AI tools can help you better understand who your donors are, what they value, and how best to reach out to them. Some tools can even recommend how big of a donation to ask for, when to ask for it, and how.

Generative AI tools are best for helping you shape your messaging, whether you need to write personalized fundraising appeals for a dozen major donors or create a series of Facebook posts for an upcoming fundraising event.

A word to the wise: While these AI tools offer nearly endless possibilities for improving your donor engagement strategies on a vast scale, proceed with care and apply a critical eye to any output an AI tool provides you with. You know your organization and its community best! Plus, the human touch is always going to be an important part of fundraising, even in digital spaces, and your donors deserve messages and experiences that feel personal and genuine.

Digital fundraising is the new frontier for any type of organization that relies on fundraising. And by staying up to date on digital fundraising trends like the ones described above, you can ensure that your future fundraising campaigns are primed to help you achieve your goals and build relationships with those who support you.

8 Top Fundraising Secrets from Cure Cancer Australia’s CEO Nikki Kinloch

Posted on February 14, 2025September 20, 2025 by Jordan Morris

In one of our earlier episodes of The Secret Guide to Fundraising, we had the privilege of speaking with Nicky Kinlock, the CEO of Cure Cancer Australia. Since stepping into her role in 2018, she has driven extraordinary growth, with new donor numbers increasing by 158% and repeat donors surging by 441%. With her background in business and fintech, she has transformed traditional charity operations through innovative, forward-thinking strategies that have paved the way for fundraising success. Below, we break down her key learnings into top fundraising tips for anyone looking to achieve fundraising success and grow their fundraising efforts.

Embrace Adaptability and Pilot New Ideas Gradually

“If you have an organisation that’s not set up for big change, then just do it in small steps. Progress is progress, full stop.”

In a constantly shifting environment, the ability to adapt is crucial for fundraising success. Nicky stresses that when introducing new initiatives, it’s essential to start small, learn from each pilot, and then scale up gradually. This approach not only minimizes risks but also helps you fine-tune your strategies based on real-world feedback. By controlling costs and managing uncertainty, you create a solid foundation for growing fundraising efforts.

This top fundraising tip—starting with small, manageable pilots—has been instrumental in nurturing innovative projects while ensuring that the charity remains agile and responsive to change.

Cultivate a Fintech Mindset in a Traditional Setting

“I always now say that I work for a 57-year-old charity, but we have got a fintech mindset.”

Even in a longstanding charity, adopting a fintech mindset can revolutionize your approach to fundraising. Nicky’s ability to challenge conventional methods by integrating modern, technology-driven strategies has been a game changer. This fresh perspective attracts new donors and injects energy into the organization, making it easier to achieve fundraising success.

By embracing innovation, you set the stage for growing fundraising efforts that keep pace with evolving donor expectations and digital trends.

Expand Your Reach to Diverse Communities

“Cancer doesn’t discriminate, and neither do we.”

Reaching out to diverse communities is essential for maximizing fundraising success. Nicky emphasized that a charity’s mission should be inclusive, extending beyond major cities to embrace regional and rural donors. With a nationwide approach, organizations can engage supporters from every corner, ensuring that the benefits of their work reach all affected communities.

This approach not only broadens your donor base but also reinforces the idea that fundraising efforts must be as diverse as the communities they serve, driving long-term growth.

Leverage New Channels and Let Data Guide Your Strategy

“Something that we are doing—and will continue to do—is to be data-led. Listen to your customers, read the data, and let it guide your decisions.”

Innovation in fundraising extends far beyond traditional events. Nicky’s success includes tapping into emerging channels such as gaming and streaming, platforms that allow charities to reach audiences that were previously untapped. Alongside embracing new channels, letting data drive your decisions is critical for optimizing campaigns. By analyzing donor behaviour, open rates, and engagement metrics, you can continuously refine your strategy for growing fundraising success.

This combined approach is a top fundraising tip for anyone looking to integrate modern technology and analytics into their fundraising strategies.

Top Tip: Listen to Cure Cancer AU’s former head of Gaming and Streaming on how the organisation started raising money from gaming.

Build a Supportive Board and Collaborative Team

“I was very lucky. The board said, ‘Yes, this is what we want. We want innovation.'”

No charity can achieve fundraising success without the right support network. Nicky attributes much of her accomplishments to a board that embraces innovation and a team that is willing to disrupt established norms. When your organization’s leadership and team are aligned with a forward-thinking vision, even the most ambitious projects become attainable.

This collaborative spirit is a top fundraising tip for growing fundraising initiatives—ensuring that everyone, from board members to frontline staff, contributes to the collective vision.

Personalize Donor Communications for Greater Impact

“If you’re interested in brain cancer, we will be sending you updates on brain cancer research. If you’re interested in lung cancer, we’ll invite you to a lunch and learn with one of our researchers.”

Engaging donors on a personal level is key to building strong, lasting relationships that drive fundraising success. Nicky’s strategy involves customizing communications to align with individual donor interests, whether that means providing updates on specific cancer research areas or inviting donors to tailored events. This personalized approach not only makes donors feel valued but also encourages repeat support and long-term commitment.

By directly addressing donor interests, you create a more engaging experience—one of the top fundraising tips for growing fundraising efforts and deepening donor loyalty.

Top Tip: Use automated messaging with the Givergy platform to ensure your guests are always informed.

Invest Strategically for Exponential Returns

“Any expenditure, anything new needs to be reviewed, challenged, and tested. There’s a very strong case that you need to spend some money to make money.”

Every innovative initiative requires careful evaluation to ensure that investments yield significant returns. Nicky explains that a calculated investment approach is necessary to drive fundraising success. By rigorously reviewing new projects and ensuring that expenditures are justified, you set the stage for exponential growth. This strategy is particularly effective when you focus on long-term benefits over short-term gains.

This top fundraising tip encourages organizations to view investments in innovation as a pathway to growing fundraising and achieving greater impact.

Ask Directly to Build Strong Donor Relationships

“Just ask them. Just ask them why they care, and they will tell you.”

Sometimes, the simplest methods yield the best results. Nicky advocates for direct engagement—asking donors why they care about the cause and what motivates their contributions. This honest, straightforward approach not only provides valuable insights but also strengthens the connection between donors and the charity, driving both retention and growth in fundraising.

By engaging in open dialogue, you foster a community of informed, passionate supporters—a top fundraising tip that is essential for sustained fundraising success.

Nicky Kinlock’s leadership at Cure Cancer Australia demonstrates that combining innovation, technology, and personalized donor engagement transforms a charity’s trajectory.

To learn more and speak to us about your fundraising ambitions, click here.

10 Tips for Growing Your Gala Dinner

Posted on February 14, 2025September 18, 2025 by Jordan Morris

Gala dinners are more than just an evening of fine dining—they’re immersive experiences that can leave a lasting impression on your guests while significantly boosting your fundraising efforts. Whether you’re planning a charity event, a corporate celebration, or a community gathering, these 10 tips will help you not only enhance your event’s quality but also actively grow your gala dinner’s reach and impact.

Start with a Strategic Plan

A well-thought-out strategy is the foundation of any successful event. By defining clear objectives—whether raising funds, increasing brand awareness, or celebrating community achievements—you set the stage for measurable growth. Early planning allows you to set a realistic budget, secure the perfect venue, and craft a detailed timeline. This methodical approach minimizes last-minute surprises and positions your event for scalability, ensuring that each successive gala builds on the success of the last.

Givergy Tip: Listen to our recent podcast with event manager Anthony Spencer for more tips on event planning.

Create a Unique Theme

A compelling theme not only sets the tone for the evening but also serves as a powerful marketing tool. A unique, well-executed theme—be it a glamorous masquerade ball, a roaring twenties speakeasy, or a futuristic celebration—creates buzz and sets your event apart from the competition. When guests have a distinct and memorable experience, word-of-mouth promotion increases, attracting new attendees and growing your event’s audience over time.

Givergy Favourite: The POGO PJ party has been running for 7 years, and despite it taking a year or two for people to feel comfortable in their pjs, it is now a feature of the social calendar

Design an Engaging Arrival Experience

The arrival experience is your first opportunity to captivate guests, and it plays a critical role in building momentum for the rest of the evening. A visually appealing check-in area, complete with signature arrival drinks or welcome gifts, creates a warm and inviting atmosphere. This initial engagement can lead to higher guest satisfaction and better overall reviews, driving repeat attendance and helping your event grow in popularity and prestige year after year.

Incorporate Interactive Activities

Interactive elements transform a traditional dinner into a dynamic experience that encourages active participation. Incorporating activities such as live art installations, interactive photo booths, or sporting games invites guests to engage beyond the meal. This interaction not only enhances the guest experience but also fosters networking and community building. Engaged attendees are more likely to share their positive experiences, boosting your event’s reputation and drawing a larger, more enthusiastic crowd in future iterations.

Enhance the Program with Live Entertainment

Live entertainment energizes your gala dinner and keeps guests excited throughout the night. Whether it’s a live band, an orchestra, a DJ, or even a surprise performance, quality entertainment bridges gaps between formal segments of the program and sustains high energy levels. When guests leave feeling entertained and inspired, they’re more inclined to attend again and recommend the event to others, directly contributing to the growth of your audience and overall event success.

Recognize and Reward Contributions

Incorporating an awards ceremony or a recognition segment not only honours key contributors but also builds lasting relationships with sponsors, donors, and volunteers. Publicly acknowledging their contributions creates a sense of community and motivates ongoing support. When contributors feel valued and celebrated, they are more likely to advocate for your event, bring along their networks, and even increase their level of involvement—all of which are critical factors in the sustainable growth of your gala dinner.

Leverage Innovative Technology

Digital tools are essential in today’s event landscape, providing a seamless experience for both organizers and attendees. Platforms like Givergy offer innovative solutions for online ticketing, running silent auctions, and post-event engagement, which streamline operations and open new avenues for revenue. By integrating these technologies, you not only modernize the guest experience but also gather valuable data that can inform future event strategies—driving growth through continuous improvement and expanded reach.

Givergy Tip: By activating donor tip through the Givergy platform, you can fundraise for free. Meaning digital tech supporting silent auctions, online raffles and ticketing can be used to boost your event with no extra cost to your organisation.

Collaborate with Sponsors and Partners

Strategic partnerships are a cornerstone of successful event growth. Engaging sponsors not only provides financial support but also lends credibility to your gala dinner. Their involvement often includes cross-promotion through their networks, thereby expanding your event’s exposure to new audiences. When sponsors see a direct link between their support and the event’s expanding reach, they are more inclined to invest further, which helps secure the resources needed to scale your gala dinner year after year.

Givergy Tip: Listen to our podcast episode with Daniel Strang, founder of fight for charity, who successfully grew his event from having 4 sponsors to over 70 in just 5 years. Or read their case study.

Focus on Seamless Logistics

Meticulous attention to logistics is crucial: for delivering a flawless event experience. Ensuring that details like venue layout, seating arrangements, lighting, and acoustics are perfectly executed contributes to guest comfort and overall satisfaction. A well-run event builds a strong reputation, encouraging repeat attendance and positive word-of-mouth referrals. Over time, these satisfied guests become ambassadors for your gala dinner, fuelling organic growth and establishing a foundation for long-term success.

Capture and Share Your Success

Documenting your event through professional photography, video recaps, and guest testimonials is vital for long-term growth. By sharing these highlights on social media and other digital platforms, you extend the life of your event beyond a single night. This ongoing engagement helps to build anticipation for future galas, attract new sponsors, and foster a loyal community of supporters. The visual narrative of your success not only validates your efforts but also serves as a powerful marketing tool that propels your event’s growth year after year.

Gala dinners offer a unique opportunity to blend entertainment with purpose, creating unforgettable experiences while driving meaningful support for your cause. By incorporating these 10 tips into your planning process, you’ll build a foundation that not only elevates the guest experience but also drives measurable growth. Each strategic element, from a compelling theme to advanced technology integration, contributes to the expansion of your audience, improved engagement, and increased fundraising potential.

Ready to elevate your next gala dinner and set the stage for future growth? Start planning now and explore innovative solutions that transform your event into an immersive experience that delights, inspires, and continuously expands its impact.

To talk to one of our fundraising experts about your fundraising plans, click here.

7 Ideas for Raising More in 2025

Posted on January 24, 2025August 29, 2025 by Jordan Morris

As we enter 2025, nonprofits are navigating a complex economic landscape, where every small gain counts. With funding challenges ahead, organizations are focusing on innovative strategies to maximize their impact. To help you achieve that extra 1%, we’ve compiled a list of 7 actionable fundraising ideas designed to boost your fundraising efforts—and show how Givergy’s tools can turn ideas into reality.

Harness the Power of Online Prize Draws and 50:50’s

Prize draws and 50:50 campaigns are reliable and low-effort ways to engage supporters. With Givergy’s platform, you can easily set up and manage these campaigns, allowing participants to win exciting prizes while raising funds. The flexibility of 50:50 campaigns—where the prize comes from ticket sales—makes them an appealing option for nonprofits of all sizes.

Example Idea: Host a monthly 50:50 draw to keep your community engaged year-round. Add variety by featuring surprise grand prizes or themed draws to celebrate seasonal events. Being agile in this uncertain economy is vital and online campaigns allow you to do just that.

Try Experience-Driven Auctions

Experiences have become a cornerstone of successful fundraising. From luxury getaways to exclusive backstage passes, experience-based auction items capture the imagination, especially if they’re handpicked to suit your donors’ interests. With time and money often tight, it’s important to utilise the resources in the sector that can help you find the right items.

Spotlight Items:

Monaco Grand Prix Weekend: The ultimate bucket-list experience for racing fans.
Napa Valley Culinary Tour: A wine and food lover’s paradise.
Van Gogh-Inspired France Trip: Explore the inspiration behind one of history’s greatest artists.

Tip: Offer “buy now” pricing alongside traditional bidding to appeal to donors who want to secure their dream experience instantly.

Leverage Social Media For Online Campaigns

Social media remains one of the most effective tools for spreading the word about your campaign. Encourage supporters to share amongst their networks helps expand your reach. Think about opening up your silent auction or raffle a few weeks before your main event to build excitement!

How Givergy Helps: With embeddable donation links and mobile-friendly platforms, Givergy makes it simple for your supporters to amplify your mission on social media.

Fundraising Case Study Advice:

“Having an online platform for the silent auction is a massive support tool for driving engagement. We pushed the link out to the auction prior to the event and that helped drive interest. With a growing number of supporters, the switch to a digital platform helped make the administration manageable.” – Highland

Focus on Storytelling with Video Content

Video continues to dominate as the most engaging form of content online. Use it to tell your organization’s story, showcase past successes, and highlight upcoming campaigns. Embed videos directly on your Givergy fundraising pages to increase shareability and engagement.

Stats to Note: Charity Digital have highlighted 86% of marketers say video content increases traffic.

Example: Create a short video highlighting the impact of your work—perhaps featuring testimonials from beneficiaries or behind-the-scenes clips from past events. Pair this with your auction or raffle to draw in new supporters.

Explore Themed Fundraising Campaigns

Another great fundraising idea for 2025 is to give your campaigns a creative twist by centering them around fun themes. From 1920s glamour to outdoor adventure, themed events inspire excitement and help you stand out. Over time the theme also adds a level of identity to your event that supporters can attach to. Think big and leave no stone unturned incorporating the theme into every aspect of the night. Using customizable event displays and leaderboards can ensure that continuity from theme, to event, to fundraising.

An idea we loved: Into the Wild, POGO’s PJ Party

Leverage Data for Personalized Campaigns

Personalized donor outreach can significantly improve engagement and conversion rates. Use donor data to tailor your messaging and segment your audience. Givergy’s platform allows you to track donor behaviour and preferences, enabling you to create campaigns that truly resonate.

Lock In and Maximize the Potential of Corporate Partnerships

Collaborating with businesses can unlock valuable resources and expand your donor base. Offer sponsorship opportunities for events or auctions, providing businesses with visibility and a chance to align with your mission. Building connections with local suppliers can also strengthen community. It can be overwhelming knowing where to begin when reaching out to sponsors but in our recent podcast episode with Fight For Charity’s Daniel Strang, he clearly explained how he grew his fundraiser from a handful of sponsors to over 70 in just 5 years! It certainly takes perseverance – but it is possible!

[Listen Now Podcast Link]

Start Implementing Your Ideas!

With the right strategies and tools, 2025 can be a year of opportunity despite the uncertainty. Whether you want to try online fundraising campaigns for the first time, or are a seasoned pro, at Givergy we can help you bring your fundraising ideas to life. Our fundraising experts love chatting about what they do so don’t hesitate to reach out – even if it’s just to ask a question!

Chat Today

6 Powerful Features to Boost Engagement at Your Next Fundraising Auction

Posted on September 2, 2024September 20, 2025 by Jordan Morris

Fundraising auctions are tried, tested, and loved when it comes to non-profits raising more funds. Donors generally know what to expect from a charity auction, but for the fundraiser, creating excitement and engagement is key to driving bids and maximizing the auction’s potential. Simply put, it’s essential that the auction does not feel stale. Your donors will attend numerous fundraisers, so guarding against their giving fatigue is vital. In 2024, with all the technology that is readily available, it’s possible to find a fundraising platform with features that elevate the auction experience, boost participation, and ensure your bidders have a memorable time.

At Givergy, we like to think we’re experts in fundraising auctions, having facilitated over 1,200 so far this year (that’s over 5 successful auctions every single day) and helped raise over $85 million through our auctions alone! Below, we’ve listed 6 powerful features all fundraisers should look out for when choosing their auction platform. From increasing shareability to comprehensive reporting on every facet of your campaign, these features are must-haves for your next fundraising auction!

Video Embedding: Showcase What’s at Stake

One of the key advantages of online auctions is the ease with which they can be shared digitally across multiple platforms to reach varying audiences. However, breaking through online noise can be difficult. Adding video embedding to your auction pages creates a more immersive experience for your bidders and potential donors. Instead of just a static image and description, you can showcase auction items with videos that bring them to life. Whether it’s a video of a once-in-a-lifetime experience, a behind-the-scenes tour of a luxury item, or a heartfelt message from the beneficiaries of the funds raised, video embedding can elevate the emotional connection of your audience even when it’s just being shared online. Across social media, the short video reigns supreme, and being able to easily incorporate them within your auction is one sure-fire way to increase the shareability of your auction.

Why Video Works: Video content is 1,200% more likely to be shared than text and links combined. By understanding this and leveraging it for your auction, you can amplify engagement and storytelling.

Turn Losing Bids into Donations: Keep the Generosity Flowing

One of the most common auction pitfalls is losing bidders walking away empty-handed when they still want to donate. As a fundraiser, your job is to try and capture every penny possible for your organization. With a ‘Turn Losing Bids into Donations’ feature, fundraisers can rest easy knowing that losing bidders are not lost. This handy tool allows you to offer losing bidders the opportunity to donate their losing bid directly to your cause. These individuals were already willing to contribute financially, so why not encourage their continued generosity?

Impact: This simple option provides a soft ask that can significantly increase donations, even if their bid didn’t win the item. It ensures that no bidder leaves without the chance to contribute to your cause.

Reporting Hub: Real-Time Insights for Smarter Decisions

Having access to the right data in the modern world is essential for growth. Data drives success, and with a robust fundraising reporting hub, auction organizers have access to live insights that help optimize performance on the go. A comprehensive reporting hub allows the fundraiser to track bidding trends, monitor participation, and assess which items are generating the most excitement.

Benefits of Real-Time Data: With this information at your fingertips, you can make data-backed decisions during your auctions to maximize outcomes. For example, you can record levels of engagement across the room and visualize which tables are not bidding. Receiving this information in real-time supports the Auctioneer or Fundraising Host to direct their attention to the tables and donors that need encouraging. After the event, a comprehensive reporting hub remains home to all the valuable information you need for planning future auctions, ensuring each is better than the last!

Sealed Bidding: Add a Touch of Mystery

Sealed Bidding is an incredibly important feature for fundraisers wanting to build excitement during their auction. This feature involves only showing the number of bids placed on an item, as opposed to the highest bid. Throughout the evening, your platform will display the number of bids received on an item, but guests won’t be aware of who the highest bidder is. When a guest sees a lot of interest in an item they have also bid on, it encourages them to ‘up’ their bid, which they can do as many times as they want!

Sealed bidding is particularly powerful when you have access to several of the same auction item (which is always the case when you include items from Givergy). Through a fully transparent and ethical process, we’re able to easily sell the ‘same’ item to, for example, the top three bidders at the end of the event, meaning that your charity profit is instantly tripled.

Psychological Advantage: This adds an element of suspense, encouraging bidders to submit their maximum bids upfront and enhancing the competitive atmosphere. It’s a great way to create tension and anticipation, ensuring your auction ends on a high note. We’ve found that charity profit shoots up by up to 147% when clients choose sealed bidding as opposed to standard bidding, so the feature had to make this list!

Competitive Leaderboards: Drive Up the Bids

Another feature that is an absolute must for fundraisers wanting to elevate their auction is the incorporation of competitive leaderboards. Everyone loves a bit of competition, and a competitive leaderboard is a fun and engaging way to bring this energy into your auction. By displaying the top bidders in real-time, leaderboards create urgency and encourage a bidding war among participants who want to see their names at the top. Leaderboards also help tie the event together, providing donors with clear updates on how the efforts of the night are accumulating toward a grand total.

Key Tip: Emphasize competitiveness to your donors. Tapping into your bidders’ competitive spirit can dramatically increase the final prices of your auction items because no one wants to miss out on being the top contributor!

Maximum Bids & Automatic Bidding Increments: Convenience Meets Strategy

The final feature you should look out for when choosing your auction platform is maximum bids and automatic bidding increments, because let’s face it: not every bidder can monitor the auction 24/7. That’s where the maximum bid and automatic bidding increment features excel. With maximum bids, participants can set their highest bid amount in advance, allowing the system to bid on their behalf in small increments until their limit is reached. On the other hand, fundraisers can set automatic bidding increments to maintain the momentum of the auction and continue pushing bids up.

Why It Works: This ensures bidders stay in the game even if they can’t actively follow the auction. It keeps the bidding competitive while offering convenience, ensuring no bidder misses out due to time constraints.

Conclusion

Your next auction has the potential to be your best yet. By finding and then incorporating these powerful features, you’ll create an engaging, competitive, and rewarding experience for your bidders. Video embedding, turning losing bids into donations, and dynamic leaderboards are just some of the tools you can use to ensure excitement and maximize your fundraising results.

Ready to Transform Your Next Auction?
Explore how these features and more can elevate your auction today! Contact us to learn how we can help you create a winning auction experience that stands out, drives results, and leaves your bidders coming back for more.