Hey Nonprofits!

Trevor Nelson and benefit auctioneer George Franco make the case for replacing stewardship with partnership. Calling a donor a steward puts the weight of your mission on their shoulders. Inviting them to partner puts you in it together. That one shift changes how your board reaches out, how your donors feel, and how much your gala raises.

George spent 30+ years as a TV news reporter before becoming a full-time bilingual benefit auctioneer. He brings that storyteller's instinct to every event, along with some blunt advice on what quietly kills gala revenue: a bar next to the stage, a run of show that goes 40 minutes over, and fundraising that drags past 9 PM.

You'll also hear:

Why fund-a-need should bring in about 70% of your event revenue

The simplest fix when your board won't fundraise

Why energy equals enthusiasm equals dollars, in a straight line

How one event sets up attendance and giving for the next one

Why the auctioneer is the least important person in the room

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro

00:36 Why real and personal fundraising works now

02:17 More money than ever, and donors can smell BS

03:21 Your board's circle of influence

05:05 Energy equals enthusiasm equals dollars

05:23 Have you told your board what to say

06:05 Find who actually makes the decisions

07:38 Personal stories beat AI form letters

09:18 Stop stewarding donors. Partner with them.

12:09 Reframe the ask as an invite

12:38 From TV news to the Good News Auctioneer

14:06 A renaissance in nonprofit events

14:56 Bringing auctions to new cultural communities

16:08 Beat analysis paralysis one step at a time

17:08 Joshua's Wish and the mom and pop nonprofit

18:14 Stepping stones: software, run of show, short speeches

20:25 Fundraising is harder, but the tools are there

21:27 Every event sets up the next one

23:12 Respect your nonprofit

24:47 The bow tie lesson

25:37 Rapid fire: wrap fundraising by 9 PM

26:12 Fund-a-need vs. live auction: the 70/30 split

26:44 A $25,000 ask in Spanish

27:14 How to reach George

27:45 The auctioneer is the echo for your cause

🔗 *CONNECT WITH US* 🔗

Book George for Your Event: https://charityauctioneerswelove.com/auctioneers/george-franco

Connect with George on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-franco-18774a64/

Connect with Trevor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-nelson-b8922a167/

Follow Hey Nonprofits! on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hey-non-profits-raise-more-money/

💙 *ABOUT HGA FUNDRAISING* 💙

This episode was brought to you by HGA Fundraising. The team at HGA helps event fundraisers create auction success with the most profitable (and mission focused) auction items in the space. Trips and experiences that excite donors, ignite bidding, and help your organization RAISE MORE MONEY.

To learn more about HGA Fundraising click here: https://hgafundraising.com/trips-and-experiences/

Easiest way to raise more money in your next event: https://hgafundraising.com/golden-ticket/

Feeling stuck with your fundraising? No matter where you are at in your journey, HGA offers FREE coaching for fundraisers: https://hgafundraising.com/nonprofit-coaching/

Need an auctioneer for your next event: https://charityauctioneerswelove.com

Your live auction is not stealing from your fund a need. Benefit auctioneer, coach, and game show host Seth Weiner (Your Rocktioneer, out of Atlanta) sits down with Trevor to take apart the myths and habits costing nonprofits money before, during, and after the event.

Seth's whole approach starts on the front end. He shares the worksheet system he uses to work backwards from a fundraising goal, break it down by revenue stream, and pressure-test whether the number is realistic months out. He explains why walking into an event with a bird in the hand matters, why loading six consignment items into your live auction is usually a mistake, and how a golden ticket can put a bucket-list trip in front of 150 guests at $100 each instead of selling it once.

The conversation moves into the part most events neglect: sponsorship and stewardship. Seth makes the case for treating sponsors as partners with a real ROI rather than logos on a banner, how to ask for more in a tighter giving climate without projecting your own budget onto donors, and why you should thank a donor seven times before you ask for anything. He also shares a free post-event toolkit with scripts and follow-up stats.

Then the data. Seth breaks down his underbidder spotter concept, which he calls seven-seven: seven paddles up at $7,000 is seven donors you just identified. He shows how to use bidding behavior, silent auction test items, and board paddle data to build both next year's event and next year's major donors.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

00:44 Catching up: music, travel, and New Orleans

03:35 Meet Seth Weiner, the coaching auctioneer

07:56 Why cheap trips and cheap auctioneers don't raise money

10:05 Being deliberate with your live auction

11:14 Working backwards from your fundraising goal

16:15 Asking for more in a tougher giving climate

18:16 Giving sponsors a real ROI

20:13 Turning sponsors into partners

24:25 Thank donors seven times before you ask

25:15 The free post-event stewardship toolkit

26:41 The underbidder spotter and the seven-seven

29:15 Drop a trip in the silent auction to test demand

30:52 Using board data to coach the paddle raise

31:43 The live auction doesn't steal from your fund a need

33:39 Why Seth runs the fund a need first

36:22 Rapid fire: stewardship, overthinking, and negotiating

40:25 Where to find Seth

🔗 *CONNECT WITH US* 🔗

Book Seth for Your Next Event: https://www.yourrocktioneer.com/home1

Connect with Seth on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shimoner/

Connect with Trevor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-nelson-b8922a167/

Follow Hey Nonprofits! on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hey-non-profits-raise-more-money/

💙 *ABOUT HGA FUNDRAISING* 💙

This episode was brought to you by HGA Fundraising. The team at HGA helps event fundraisers create auction success with the most profitable (and mission focused) auction items in the space. Trips and experiences that excite donors, ignite bidding, and help your organization RAISE MORE MONEY.

To learn more about HGA Fundraising click here: https://hgafundraising.com/trips-and-experiences/

Easiest way to raise more money in your next event: https://hgafundraising.com/golden-ticket/

Feeling stuck with your fundraising? No matter where you are at in your journey, HGA offers FREE coaching for fundraisers: https://hgafundraising.com/nonprofit-coaching/

Need an auctioneer for your next event: https://charityauctioneerswelove.com

Most nonprofits treat auction software as a checkout tool. Mo treats it as a donor intelligence system. She covers why mobile bidding isn't too hard for older donors, the auto-close setting almost nobody turns on, the text message that can sell out a raffle in two minutes, and the platform fees quietly costing you donors. Then the real goldmine: the losing bidders and fund-a-need gifts sitting in your data after the event, and how to turn them into next year's major donors.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

00:15 Is mobile bidding too hard for older donors?

02:59 The concierge desk (and the sponsorship hiding in it)

04:39 The truth about paper backup

05:33 Paper recorders: your fund-a-need audit trail

06:42 The auction setting almost nobody turns on

07:26 Using text messages to create urgency

09:09 You don't need the priciest software

11:01 Platform fees are costing you donors

11:53 The item detail every org overlooks

13:18 The most common Saturday-night panic call

14:30 Reselling popular trips after bidding ends

16:08 The hidden donors in your losing bids

17:37 Why Mo does this and how to get her help

19:49 HGA uploads your auction items at no cost

🔗 *CONNECT WITH US* 🔗

Connect with Morgan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgan-hughes-433160a9/

Connect with Trevor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-nelson-b8922a167/

Have questions for Morgan? Email her: [email protected]

Follow Hey Nonprofits! on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hey-non-profits-raise-more-money/

💙 *ABOUT HGA FUNDRAISING* 💙

This episode was brought to you by HGA Fundraising. The team at HGA helps event fundraisers create auction success with the most profitable (and mission focused) auction items in the space. Trips and experiences that excite donors, ignite bidding, and help your organization RAISE MORE MONEY.

To learn more about HGA Fundraising click here: https://hgafundraising.com/trips-and-experiences/

Easiest way to raise more money in your next event: https://hgafundraising.com/golden-ticket/

Feeling stuck with your fundraising? No matter where you are at in your journey, HGA offers FREE coaching for fundraisers: https://hgafundraising.com/nonprofit-coaching/

Need an auctioneer for your next event: https://charityauctioneerswelove.com

The bid paddle has exactly one job: let the auctioneer identify the bidder number quickly and correctly. Get that right and it worked. Get it wrong, with cursive lettering, a busy background, or so many sponsor logos it looks like a NASCAR, and every other feature on it is wasted.

In this episode, Xavier of Imprint Items sits down with Trevor to unpack the design decisions behind a paddle that actually functions. You'll learn why big, bold, high-contrast numbers beat every other design choice, why the handle is the smart place for a QR code or sponsor logo instead of the face of the paddle, why every element on the paddle should earn its spot with a clear purpose, and how color-coded paddles can quietly recognize VIPs, monthly givers, and legacy donors without saying a word.

Xavier also makes the case that a well-designed custom paddle does double duty: guests keep them as souvenirs tied to the memory of the event, and a sponsor who pays to put their logo on the handle turns the paddle from an expense line into a source of revenue.If you plan galas, benefit auctions, or paddle raises, this is a practical look at a small detail that has an outsized effect on how smoothly your live auction runs.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

00:24 Meet Xavier and Imprint Items

01:41 Why the bid paddle is a science

02:39 The one job: readable numbers, high contrast

03:53 Don't get too fancy: cursive, QR codes, and NASCAR paddles

05:16 What belongs on the back vs. the handle

06:39 QR codes: only with a purpose

07:28 Beyond paddles: banners, table covers, event swag

09:56 Color-coded paddles to recognize VIPs and legacy donors

12:30 Turning a paddle expense into sponsor revenue

13:06 Where to find Xavier

🔗 *CONNECT WITH US* 🔗

Check out Imprint Items website: https://www.imprintitems.com

Connect with Xavier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xavier-roy-3ab83b289/

Connect with Trevor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-nelson-b8922a167/Follow

Hey Nonprofits! on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hey-non-profits-raise-more-money/

💙 *ABOUT HGA FUNDRAISING* 💙

This episode was brought to you by HGA Fundraising. The team at HGA helps event fundraisers create auction success with the most profitable (and mission focused) auction items in the space. Trips and experiences that excite donors, ignite bidding, and help your organization RAISE MORE MONEY.

To learn more about HGA Fundraising click here: https://hgafundraising.com/trips-and-experiences/

Easiest way to raise more money in your next event: https://hgafundraising.com/golden-ticket/

Feeling stuck with your fundraising? No matter where you are at in your journey, HGA offers FREE coaching for fundraisers: https://hgafundraising.com/nonprofit-coaching/

Need an auctioneer for your next event: https://charityauctioneerswelove.com

Most nonprofit revenue arrives restricted. Grants, endowments, and foundation gifts usually come earmarked for a specific use. Live auction income is the exception: it's unrestricted, which means it's the one line on your budget you can point at operations, staff salaries, or wherever the need is greatest.

In this episode, Marty Murad of Murad Auctions unpacks the insight that stopped Trevor in his tracks, then gets tactical: how to back into your live auction goal with real per-item math, why selling a consignment package multiple times is the gold standard for maximizing value, and why professional bid spotters are worth their weight in gold instead of untrained volunteers.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

00:18 The LinkedIn post that started this

01:05 Why live auctions create unrestricted funds

02:34 Finding the right packages: ask your top donors where they travel

03:51 Backing into your goal with live auction math

04:51 The gold standard: selling packages multiple times

06:18 Does the live auction rob your fund-a-need?

08:34 The worst question to ask an auctioneer

09:21 How bid spotters add 200% more fundraisers to the room

11:47 Consignment: expense or cost of goods sold?

12:54 Where to find Marty

🔗 *CONNECT WITH US* 🔗

Book Murad Auctions for your event: https://muradauctions.com

Connect with Marty on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helpingnon-profitsraisemoremoneyatevents/

Connect with Trevor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-nelson-b8922a167/

Follow Hey Nonprofits! on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hey-non-profits-raise-more-money/

💙 *ABOUT HGA FUNDRAISING* 💙

This episode was brought to you by HGA Fundraising. The team at HGA helps event fundraisers create auction success with the most profitable (and mission focused) auction items in the space. Trips and experiences that excite donors, ignite bidding, and help your organization RAISE MORE MONEY.

To learn more about HGA Fundraising click here: https://hgafundraising.com/trips-and-experiences/Easiest way to raise more money in your next event: https://hgafundraising.com/golden-ticket/

Feeling stuck with your fundraising? No matter where you are at in your journey, HGA offers FREE coaching for fundraisers: https://hgafundraising.com/nonprofit-coaching/

Need an auctioneer for your next event: https://charityauctioneerswelove.com

Fundraising events don't plateau because the market got harder. They plateau because the organization goes quiet for twelve months and then asks for a table. In this episode of Hey Nonprofits!, Trevor sits down with Kat Leitner of Heron & Co. Design and Events (formerly Alora Events) to unpack what actually separates the galas raising seven figures from the ones stuck at the same number year after year.

Kat makes the case for treating donor engagement as a 365-day development strategy that begins eight months before the event: identifying who you want in the room, why they connect to the mission, and what they'll see, hear, and feel on the night. She breaks down pre-commitment conversations (the Erin Kenzel approach to securing gifts before guests arrive), mission generators that give every attendee a way to participate regardless of giving level, and the impact video moment during the live program that most organizations waste.

You'll also hear the data behind why events still work, Nathan Chappell's finding that attending three consecutive events is the greatest determinant of lifelong major giving, how corporate sponsorship expectations have evolved from pre-COVID logo visibility to today's relationship-driven partnerships, why social media has quietly faded as a fundraising priority, and the simple post-event feedback question that turns one-time sponsors into repeat supporters.Whether you're an executive director, development director, board member, or event planner, this conversation is a specific, tactical look at building donor relationships that compound year over year.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

00:28 "Do less to do more": Kat's 2026 fundraising philosophy

02:28 The ED's only job at a gala (stop worrying about the DJ)

03:40 Who's on your bus? Building the right fundraising team

05:28 Why $1M events beat $20K events: year-round engagement

07:12 Breaking the 300-guest, $250K plateau

09:44 Pre-commitment conversations that lock in gifts early

11:45 Mission generators: a giving level for everyone in the room

13:38 The data: 3 consecutive events makes a major donor

17:19 The impact video moment you're wasting

19:00 Custom sponsorships built backward from the goal

21:02 How sponsorships changed after COVID

22:19 Why social media is fading in fundraising

25:01 Don't make fundraising harder by procrastinating

27:33 The post-event question most planners skip

30:03 Differentiation over competition: be the pink elephant

31:23 Where to find Kat & Heron & Co.

🔗 *CONNECT WITH US* 🔗

Heron & Co. Design: https://heronandcoevent.com

Connect with Kat on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katleitner/

Connect with Trevor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-nelson-b8922a167/

Follow Hey Nonprofits! on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hey-non-profits-raise-more-money/

💙 *ABOUT HGA FUNDRAISING* 💙

This episode was brought to you by HGA Fundraising. The team at HGA helps event fundraisers create auction success with the most profitable (and mission focused) auction items in the space. Trips and experiences that excite donors, ignite bidding, and help your organization RAISE MORE MONEY.

To learn more about HGA Fundraising click here: https://hgafundraising.com/trips-and-experiences/

Easiest way to raise more money in your next event: https://hgafundraising.com/golden-ticket/

Feeling stuck with your fundraising? No matter where you are at in your journey, HGA offers FREE coaching for fundraisers: https://hgafundraising.com/nonprofit-coaching/

Need an auctioneer for your next event: https://charityauctioneerswelove.com

Most nonprofits chase a celebrity two months before their gala, email an agent, ask about money, and wonder why they get ghosted.Afam Onyema has spent 19 years doing the opposite. As CEO of the GEANCO Foundation, he has brought Oprah, Daniel Craig, Charize Theron, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Prince Harry and Meghan into the work of saving and transforming lives in Nigeria. In this episode he breaks down exactly how, and almost none of it is about asking for a check.The core idea: celebrities want to help, but the ask is usually terrible. It leads with money, it is transactional, and it is rushed. Afam walks Trevor through the ask that actually works: build the relationship first, ask on behalf of the people you serve, and offer the one thing that costs the celebrity nothing but raises you millions, which is access. Set visits, premiere tickets, and time with your donors turn a "no" into a repeatable revenue stream.Whether you run a soup kitchen in Toledo or a national foundation, there is a local athlete, actor, or executive within 100 miles of you who has never been asked the right way. This is how you ask.CHAPTERS00:00 Intro00:48 Afam's story: Nigeria to Chicago02:47 Turning down corporate law to save lives04:04 Why the Bay Area made GEANCO possible05:34 Access: the fundraising pillar you're ignoring06:41 Why transactional asks fail (it takes years, not weeks)07:52 Be fearless: you're asking on behalf of the cause11:20 Celebrities are human. Direct them like a director.12:40 Find the hometown celebrity nobody asks15:15 The ask that costs them $0 and raises millions18:07 Think outside the box: Nike, premieres, CharityBuzz20:58 Go deep, not broad26:33 How much outreach is too much?28:55 Everyone you know should know you're doing this29:22 Say what you do in one sentence31:26 Lead with story. Vulnerability is a superpower.34:58 How to reach Afam🔗 *CONNECT WITH US* 🔗Connect with Afam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afam-onyema-1164182/Connect with Trevor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-nelson-b8922a167/Follow Hey Nonprofits! on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hey-non-profits-raise-more-money/💙 *ABOUT HGA FUNDRAISING* 💙This episode was brought to you by HGA Fundraising. The team at HGA helps event fundraisers create auction success with the most profitable (and mission focused) auction items in the space. Trips and experiences that excite donors, ignite bidding, and help your organization RAISE MORE MONEY.To learn more about HGA Fundraising click here: https://hgafundraising.com/trips-and-experiences/Easiest way to raise more money in your next event: https://hgafundraising.com/golden-ticket/Feeling stuck with your fundraising? No matter where you are at in your journey, HGA offers FREE coaching for fundraisers: https://hgafundraising.com/nonprofit-coaching/Need an auctioneer for your next event: https://charityauctioneerswelove.com

Most nonprofits lose donors after the first gift and blame it on competition or a tight economy. It's usually neither. It's follow-up.Trevor Nelson sits down with philanthropic advisor Brittany Morrison to break down why donors give once and disappear, and the specific relationship moves that bring them back. From getting to know a donor before their balance sheet, to what to do the Monday after your event, to why asking for more isn't greedy, this one is a playbook for keeping the donors you already have.What you'll take away:Why the biggest missed opportunity in fundraising happens after the event, not during itHow to approach high-capacity donors without the fear they can smellWhy the sponsor kit is costing you sponsors, and what to send insteadHow to ask an existing donor for more without damaging the relationshipWhy your best next donor is already in your databaseChapters:00:00 Meet Brittany Morrison, Bespoke Advisory02:00 The mindset shift: capacity vs. aligned values03:46 Approaching high-net-worth donors: invitation, not obligation05:51 The biggest pitfalls and put-offs in the ask07:20 "Donors can smell your fear"08:38 Should you share your long-term plan?11:05 Events as a cracked door: the post-event follow-up gap14:40 Differentiation is stronger than competition18:56 Transacting vs. stewarding20:31 Getting the right people in the room23:25 Beyond the sponsor kit26:40 Why it's OK to ask for more, year over year29:33 Your best donors are already in your phone🔗 *CONNECT WITH US* 🔗Connect with Brittany on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-morrison-b3b46138/Connect with Trevor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-nelson-b8922a167/Follow Hey Nonprofits! on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hey-non-profits-raise-more-money/💙 *ABOUT HGA FUNDRAISING* 💙This episode was brought to you by HGA Fundraising. The team at HGA helps event fundraisers create auction success with the most profitable (and mission focused) auction items in the space. Trips and experiences that excite donors, ignite bidding, and help your organization RAISE MORE MONEY.To learn more about HGA Fundraising click here: https://hgafundraising.com/trips-and-experiences/Easiest way to raise more money in your next event: https://hgafundraising.com/golden-ticket/Feeling stuck with your fundraising? No matter where you are at in your journey, HGA offers FREE coaching for fundraisers: https://hgafundraising.com/nonprofit-coaching/Need an auctioneer for your next event: https://charityauctioneerswelove.com

Most nonprofits think they're over-marketing their gala. They're not even close.Laurie from Auctria joins Trevor to break down what she calls the 85-Asset Rule — the number of marketing pieces one of her top-performing event planners uses to promote a single fundraising night. And the trick isn't creating 85 things from scratch. It's building one core mission, one core message, one core graphic, and multiplying it across every channel your donors touch.In this episode: why the nonprofits raising the most money treat their mission like a brand, how to build a network of "ambassadors" who cut through the noise your emails can't, why three social posts a day is not too much, and the case for stopping your Saturday-night gala habit and moving it to a Monday.Plus: Laurie's take on why donors are getting sharper at spotting BS, what the software team at Auctria is rolling out this fall, and why your fundraising software should never send you to a chatbot.🔗 *CONNECT WITH US* 🔗Interested in Auctria for Your Event: https://www.auctria.comConnect with Laurie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-hochman-92095626/Connect with Trevor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-nelson-b8922a167/Follow Hey Nonprofits! on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hey-non-profits-raise-more-money/💙 *ABOUT HGA FUNDRAISING* 💙This episode was brought to you by HGA Fundraising. The team at HGA helps event fundraisers create auction success with the most profitable (and mission focused) auction items in the space. Trips and experiences that excite donors, ignite bidding, and help your organization RAISE MORE MONEY.To learn more about HGA Fundraising click here: https://hgafundraising.com/trips-and-experiences/Easiest way to raise more money in your next event: https://hgafundraising.com/golden-ticket/Feeling stuck with your fundraising? No matter where you are at in your journey, HGA offers FREE coaching for fundraisers: https://hgafundraising.com/nonprofit-coaching/Need an auctioneer for your next event: https://charityauctioneerswelove.com

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.In this 30 minute Summer Session, we'll be discussing: Why the "ask local businesses" playbook burns out your best volunteers - and what actually fills your auction table without the scramble.The bundling trick that turns a pile of disconnected donations into a package people fight over.The starting-bid formula that gets your items sold at what they're actually worth.🔗 *CONNECT WITH US* 🔗Book Murad Auctions for Your Event: https://muradauctions.comSchedule a Meeting with Claire: https://calendly.com/clairemuradConnect with Claire on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-murad-strategic-growth-for-nonprofit-fundraising-events/Connect with Trevor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-nelson-b8922a167/Follow Hey Nonprofits! on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hey-non-profits-raise-more-money/💙 *ABOUT HGA FUNDRAISING* 💙This episode was brought to you by HGA Fundraising. The team at HGA helps event fundraisers create auction success with the most profitable (and mission focused) auction items in the space. Trips and experiences that excite donors, ignite bidding, and help your organization RAISE MORE MONEY.To learn more about HGA Fundraising click here: https://hgafundraising.com/trips-and-experiences/Easiest Way to Raise More Money at Your Next Event: https://hgafundraising.com/golden-ticket/