Raise Money FAST with GALA Strategy
Raise Money FAST with GALA strategy…NEVER toss a coin and hope for the best. Three Things: Hundreds of galas and 60 plus million raised, I learned three things the hard way before I found the golden ticket. I was forced to raise money like every other Executive and Development Director: “Do what other people are […]
FRIGHTFUL FUNDRAISING FLOPS AND FIASCOS: Don’t stop your own rain.
Today I want to take you back a few years to two distinct galas that could have killed their gala guests stumbling over dollars to save dimes. Both were on the west coast. Both knew someone who wanted to break into the catering business. Both said YES to the MESS! Here is yet another way […]
12 Reasons To Hire A Professional Benefit Fundraising Auctioneer VS. The Free Guy
I was asked years ago to be the auctioneer for a gala. “Great!”, I thought. “I love the microphone and I love sales! Afterall, I hold a degree in News Reporting and Editing and I had a radio show for several years. I’ll be doing them a favor.” WRONG! That gala raised tens of thousands of dollars and I know […]
Your Fundraising Gala! Return on Investment or Return on Experience? Both?
Imagine an event where everyone leaves knowing your name, your mission and impact. Imagine you raised 600% more than the year before and your donors called YOU on Monday to say thanks. The strategy had a plan to Monetize the Minutes and invite all guests to stay connected and enroll as lifetime donors. You invest […]
HOT OFF THE PRESS! Lean In. Say YES.
I got the surprise of my life today! “We would like to invite you out to our Golf Classic this year to be our most VIP Guest!” I had to stop a minute to make sure I was seeing this right. I am not a golfer. Proof.( I was with a group that was invited […]
Spotters vs. Ringman at your fundraising gala.
Spotters vs. Ringman at your fundraising gala. How to 10X the difference. She had me at $600 for a wooden gavel before I was aware of what I was doing. I was winning with an adrenaline rush to boot. Jo Lockhardt is a ringman and auctioneer. Her loud, enthusiastic calls to the auctioneer signaled another […]
Is Software Destroying your Donor’s Journey?
Is Software Destroying your Donor’s Journey? Over the weekend I was a passenger in a Tesla. I was thrilled thinking about the destination as well as journey to the beautiful California coast. “What could possibly go wrong with a lovely day trip like this?” Answer: Plenty. Thirty minutes into our two-hour journey, I had ingested a […]
