Fundraising Strategy & Insights
Expert guidance on benefit auctioneering, silent auctions, paddle raises, and nonprofit event strategy — from the team at Capital Benefit Auctions.
Build Your Paddle Raise Ladder from Your Own Donor Data
Most paddle raise ladders are built backward. A ladder built from your own giving history tells you, well before the event, whether your goal is realistic and what has to happen to reach it.
No Risk Charity Auctions: Start With an Honest Conversation
Karen Wrege interviews Justin Dennis of No Risk Charity Auctions on when consignment helps a nonprofit and how to choose a partner with confidence.
A Golden Ticket That Gives More Guests a Chance to Play
Explore how a winner’s-choice travel raffle can engage more supporters, with insights from BlueTree Marketing and benefit auctioneer Karen Wrege.
Auction Software Pricing Models: What Nonprofits Actually Need to Know
Most auction platforms offer the same core features. The real difference is how they charge you, and which model fits your event size, budget, and donor base.
The Complete Silent Auction Guide: Procurement, Pricing, Catalog Strategy, and Revenue
A well run silent auction is one of the most reliable revenue streams in nonprofit event fundraising. This guide covers procurement timeline, opening bids, bid increments, and FMV recovery by category.
Nonprofit Gala Fundraising Games: A Complete Guide to Raffles, Wine Pulls, Squares, and More
Between cocktail hour and the main program is a window most organizations underuse. This guide covers raffles, wine pulls, the $1 to $100 squares board, heads or tails, and more, with revenue estimates and legal notes.
The Gala Run of Show: Why "What We Did Last Year" Is Not a Strategy
A minute-by-minute run of show blueprint for nonprofit galas — sequencing, buffer time, and transition scripting that protects your paddle raise. Most committees reuse last year's program without asking whether it still serves this year's ask.
The Procurement Playbook: How to Source Auction Items That Actually Raise Money
A field guide for nonprofit and independent school event teams nationwide. How to plan procurement backward from your revenue target, build a network deliberately, package for story, and treat item donors as donors.
Gala Ticket Pricing Strategy: Filling the Room With Intention
Ticket pricing determines who is in the room, how full it is, and whether your donor base is growing or aging in place. A guide to early bird, VIP, sponsorship-linked, and young philanthropist pricing.
Sponsorship Strategy for Nonprofit Galas: From Corporate Tiers to Paddle Raise Seed Gifts
How to structure corporate, foundation, and individual sponsorships — and convert sponsors into paddle raise seed gifts and matching challenges that drive fund-a-need revenue.
Your next gala can be your biggest yet.
Book a 30-minute strategy call. We'll walk through your goals, your room, and the specific levers we'd pull to lift your paddle raise.
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