Events with Benefits®

Today's special guest is Ben Farrell, Founder of Custom Benefit Auctions based in North Carolina. In this session, Farrell draws upon decades of experience in the auction industry to share tips to create a fun, exciting, and dynamic auction experience. Topics covered include: What sets fundraising auctioneers apart from other types of auctioneers New ideas and games to extract extra money out of the room Major success stories in the Fund-a-Need Strategies to maximize mobile bidding (like utilizing social media), and much more! To check out Farrell's latest online training on creating the ultimate Fund-A-Need, plus learn more about the services of Custom Benefit Auctions, visit www.custombenefitauctions.com.

Today's special guest is Jill McCarville, VP of Marketing at iWave. In this session, McCarville shares the basic principles of fundraising intelligence plus the 3 keys to creating a holistic view of a prospective donor. Topics include: Fundraising Intelligence 101: How business intelligence works in the nonprofit industry The 3 Keys to uncovering a profile of donor prospects Tips to calculate a potential donor's giving capacity Real-life examples of fundraising intelligence ...and much more! To learn how iWave can help your organization conduct donor research, visit https://www.iwave.com/products/iwave/book-demo-iwave/ and request a demo.

Today's special guest is Bradley Martin, Senior Director of Customer Acquisition at donor management software provider Kindful. Bradley shares practical tips and best practices for nurturing donor relationships in an effective and sustainable manner. In this session, learn: The donor lifecycle: Retention, Acquisition and Upgrades How to set goals for donor acquisition Bolster fundraising efforts with donor segmentation Top fundraising mistakes development pros make, and more! To learn how you can make donor management easier for your organization(s), head to www.kindful.com and request a personalized demo.

Today's special guest is Kurt Wilson, President at Effect X. Effect X helps nonprofits move from concept to implementation with facilitation, planning, and grant writing. WIlson's background in professional philanthropy sheds light on interests of donors, and significant experience in fundraising and marketing gives him insider knowledge of non-profit organizational needs. In this session, learn: How charities can "think like a business" when creating a project plan Tips for new nonprofits to move from good intentions to implementation The importance of donor communication The top 3 most common challenges Wilson observes in charity clients To learn more about the services of EffectX and plan a consultation regarding the feedback systems of your organization, contact Kurt at kurt[at]effectx.com

Today's special guest is Lynn Page, National Director of Signature Events at JDRF, the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research. In this special session, Page draws upon her expertise in fundraising events, board development, volunteer recruitment and management, strategic planning, and metrics and training to share the proven best practices that allow JDRF to raise over $70 Million annually. Topics include: How to improve the volunteer experience, and why Maximizing event sponsorship packages Planning the auction timeline Tips for post-event follow up ...and more! Learn proven fundraising gala best practices from one of the most successful nonprofits in the world. Type 1 Diabetes affects 1.25M Americans, and it can be cured. It is not just a childhood disease, with over 85% of individuals with T1D now being adults, and the incident rate continues to rise. For more information on the work of JDRF or to get involved, visit https://www.jdrf.org

Today's special guest is Tracey Lorts, Senior Marketing Events Manager at fundraising event technology provider Greater Giving. Lorts draws upon 8 years of nonprofit fundraising experience to share top auction fundraising tips, including: Top 3 procurement tips (and missteps) Promoting your event and auction items Setting auction item values The sequence of live auction items ...and much more! For more information on Greater Giving's services, visit www.greatergiving.com or email sales[at]greatergiving.com

Today's special guest is Guy Mersereau, Senior Vice President at Vallen Canada and Vallen Distribution Inc. (US). In this session, Mersereau shares how he runs a $1 million golf tournament annually, encourages team members across the country to engage with philanthropy, how they decide where funds go, and how nonprofits can access money raised through corporate golf tournaments. Topics covered include: How the Cross Cancer Institute Charity Classic raises over $1 million in a single day Guy's work as a philanthropist, both personally and through the corporation Different revenue streams he's employed to raise money (like a parking spot auction and 50/50 draws) How Vallen encourages its branches to engage in philanthropy, and more! For more information on anything discussed in this session, Guy invites listeners to email him at guy.mersereau[at]vallen.ca

Today's special guest is Dean Crownover, a Benefit Auctioneer Specialist based in Atlanta. In this episode, Dean draws from more than 20 years of experience to share practical tips for more lucrative fundraising events, particularly in the direct appeal, a.k.a. Fund-a-Need. Topics include: 3 Tips to overcome the fear of asking for donations Best practices for special appeals / Fund-a-Needs Bestselling live auction items of 2018 How to sell multiples of donated items ....and more! To request a FREE one hour auction consultation with Dean, visit mybenefitauctioneer.com or email dcrownover[at]comcast.net. As a special thank you to podcast listeners, the first 5 listeners to ask Dean for Danny Hooper’s best-selling fundraising book, Easy Money, will receive a FREE copy!

Today's special guest is TiWanna Kenney, President & Principal Auctioneer at Astounding Auctions and Fundraising Strategies based in Austin, TX. A rising star in the industry, Kenney shares specific auction fundraising strategies and best practices such as: What to consider in the planning process Her favorite auction revenue enhancers (like the wildcard auction) Tips to ratchet up event excitement (like music and confetti cannons) Procurement tips Managing the flow of the event, and much more! To inquire about Kenney's services, visit https://www.astoundingauctions.com. If you’re a fundraiser not already using an auctioneer, schedule a video call with TiWanna to talk over your biggest challenges and get a free consultation.

Today's special guest is Nick Arquette, Founder & CEO of Walk With Sally. Walk With Sally provides hope to children experiencing trauma through a parent, guardian or sibling’s cancer journey through individualized mentoring and community support services. In this episode, Arquette discusses: How Walk with Sally attracts corporate and individual donors Insight into their annual "White Light White Night" fundraiser, which brings in $500,000 each year Tips for maximizing the silent auction, mobile technology and volunteers Creative live auction item ideas How to tell the right story that supercharges the special appeal, and more! For more on Walk with Sally, visit www.walkwithsally.org If you or someone you know would make a great mentor for a child whose family has been impacted by cancer, please reach out - they'd love to chat with you! Email info[at]walkwithsally.org

Today's special guest is Laurene Mitchell, a veteran fund developer for Heritage Park in Calgary, Alberta. In this episode she shares diverse fundraising tips to generate more money by producing unique, fresh events. Topics covered include: History and background of Heritage Park Strategies they've used to stay "in the black " for 53 years How they keep the big annual fundraiser fresh and entertaining Games & raffles (like the 'Blind Bid auction') ...and more! To contact Mitchell, email Lmitchell[at]heritagepark.ca

Today's special guest is Stephen Kilbreath, professional Benefit Auctioneer Specialist based in Seattle, Washington. Kilbreath draws on 25 years' experience in charity fundraising to share practical tips and cutting-edge ideas to get the most out of your event. Topics include: Why and how to start planning the auction 9 to 12 months out How many live auction items is too many - and how to solve it Event timeline tips Revenue maximizers (like selling multiples in the live auction) Tips to set up a successful fund-a-need Learn from an auctioneer who's seen firsthand what works and what doesn't when it comes to auction fundraising. To learn more about the services of Stephen Kilbreath Auctions & Events, visit www.yourbenefitauction.com

Today's special guest is Brad Mastaler, Past President and active member of the Spruce Grove Rotary Club in Alberta, Canada. Mastaler shares insights from 25 years of involvement with the Rotary Club's Annual Lobster Fest. Topics covered include: How do you keep a 25-year-old event fresh? Tips for procuring auction items Why and how to ask for feedback about your event Stories of troubleshooting auction snafus (like the impromptu midnight lobster feed) Shifting demographics of guest attendees "I’ve done their event the past 24 years and consider it a premiere example of a Rotary Auction," shares show host Danny Hooper. You won't want to miss these practical tips and anecdotes to raise more money at your next event."

Today's special guest is Dianne Young, strategist and visionary in the nonprofit space. In this session, Young shares tips and personal stories from decades of fundraising experience, including: Young's transition from business roles (like community partnerships) to nonprofit strategy How good relationship stewarding increased Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation revenue from $700K to $12M in 5 years Examples of "WOW" worthy auction items Creative event themes and activities How to put the "d" back in fundraising ...and more! For more information on Young's services, visit www.youngteamltd.com

Today's special guest is Leena Patidar, Co-Founder and CEO of CoinUp. This app is designed to capture the "spare change" from users' credit card purchases and automatically donate it to select causes. In this episode, Patidar shares: History of fundraising app CoinUp, winner of the 2017 Startup Tech of the Year Pinnacle Award Features of CoinUp that make giving painless How to register your charity About Coin Up: Coin Up is an innovative mobile app that provides a platform for donors to give effortlessly and securely to their favorite charitable cause. Once registered, the app rounds up purchases made on your credit or debit card and sends funds to your chosen charity. Coin Up's mission is to create a society that engages in charitable giving through the convenience of everyday transactions. Download the App free on the App Store or, sign up online at: https://www.coinupapp.com. For more information, email hollerback[at]coinupapp.com or tweet @CoinUpApp

Today's special guest is Kathy Kingston, fundraising auction strategist, professional benefit auctioneer, and author of A Higher Bid: How to Transform Special Event Fundraising with Strategic Auctions. Kingston draws on 3 decades of auctioneering experience to share outstanding, practical tips for raising more money in charity auctions. Learn how to: STOP "doing auctions and events" - and start doing real philanthropy Stay close to your donors Focus on audience development Hold a successful weeknight event Procure more event sponsorships and build your sponsor network ...and more! For more information on Kingston's services and resources, visit www.HowToRaiseMoreMoney.com Get your free Special Report: How to You Spell Fundraising Auction Success, plus monthly newsletters, articles and fresh proven ways to increase your fundraising and to engage more donors.

Today's special guest is Renee Jones, benefit auctioneer of National Fundraising Solutions. In a standout session, Jones draws on nearly 3 decades' experience to share tips and best practices for charity auctions. Learn how to: How to Improve the Guest Experience Optimize the Live Auction Timeline Assign Necessary Roles (staffing, volunteers, chair, other VIPs) Request Donations ...and more! For more information on Jones' services, visit www.reneejones.com To ask Jones a specific question about your event, email renee[at]reneejones.com

Today's special guest is Kelly Velasquez-Hague, Director of Content Marketing at OneCause (formerly BidPal). In this episode she draws upon her experience as a Development Director to share practical ways charity auction organizers can use data and technology to drive event revenue. Topics include: The 'art and science' of benefit auctions Leverage data, technology and strategy for greater profits Extend fundraising up to 30 days before your event (ex: pre-event bidding) How many live/silent auction items to include Tips to refresh a repeat event ...and more! For more information or to see OneCause in action, visit www.onecause.com to take a tour or schedule a free fundraising consultation.

Today's special guest is Connor Sweeney, President and CEO at Great Shot Golf. Working with 1,700 golf events a year, Sweeney shares tangible tips for nonprofits to get the most out of golf tournament events (like offering a $1 Million hole-in-one prize). Topics include: Typical revenue streams from a fundraising golf tournament Contests you can hold (like the $1 Million Hole in One) Including auctions at a golf event Tips for first-time events to get off the ground For more information about the services of Great Shot Golf, visit www.greatshotgolf.com SPECIAL OFFER: Great Shot Golf offers a 110% Price Guarantee, plus a 20% Discount for all of our podcast listeners (just mention 'Events with Benefits' to redeem!)

Today's special guests are Bobby D and Erin Ward, benefit auctioneers based in the New York tri-state area. In this episode, they share the inside scoop on the evolution of fundraising auctions, concrete examples of unique events, plus practical tips to improve your special appeal. Topics include: How are fundraising events changing? How can you appeal to younger generations? Tips for meaningful, mission-minded decorations and displays Improve your Fund-a-Need or special appeal Difference between fundraising auctioneers and other types of auctioneers Tips to shorten events but still make money For more on Erin Ward and Bobby D's auctioneering services, visit http://inspireheartsfundraising.com To learn 3 essential steps to a successful paddle raise event, check out the 3-part video series here: http://howtodoapaddleraise.com

Today's special guest is Jack Landers, Insurance and Risk Management Broker at Teague Insurance, a provider of nonprofit risk management and coverage. In a litigious society, Landers draws on his 20 years of experience to share practical tips to keep your charity out of hot water, including: Protecting board members, directors and officers from liability Why every organization needs to review insurance coverage each year, especially before events Data and cybersecurity risk ...and more! To ask Jack a question, review your coverage, and/or learn more about the services of Teague Insurance, email him at jlanders[at]teagueins.com

Today's special guest is Kathleen Kelly Janus, an award-winning social entrepreneur, author and lecturer at Stanford University, and an expert on philanthropy, Millennial engagement, and scaling early stage organizations. For the past five years, Janus has traveled the country visiting the founders, leadership teams, and funders of 100 social entrepreneurs, both newcomers and veterans in the field, including the leaders of Teach for America, City Year, DonorsChoose and charity:water. In today's podcast, Janus shares a few of her findings, including best practices to: Boost the survival rate of your nonprofit Test Ideas Fund Experimentation Measure Impact Tell stories with purpose Her new book, Social Startup Success: How the Best Nonprofits Launch, Scale Up and Make a Difference, is a playbook for nonprofit organizations to get over the revenue hump. To learn more or get your copy, visit http://www.kathleenjanus.com

Today's special guest is Keith Fox, professional benefit auctioneer & DJ at Fox Fundraising. In today's episode, Fox shares best practices for improving the sound quality at a benefit auction. Topics include: Why sound quality is so important at fundraising events How to maintain an audience's energy levels Average costs for professional sound Tips to get A/V technical support underwritten or sponsored Top 3 things event planners should look for in a venue and A/V company ...and more! For more information on Fox Fundraising, email Keith at Keith[at]FoxFundraising.com All listeners are also invited to contact Keith to download a whitepaper regarding often overlooked sound details for fundraising events.

Today's special guest is Tom Summa, Fundraising Specialist at no-risk travel provider Winspire. In today's episode, Summa shares a behind-the-scenes look at consignment travel, and best practices to leverage this unique fundraising strategy. Topics include: Why experiential items are top sellers at charity auctions The ins and outs of working with a consignment travel provider Make money using no-risk items Where to use no-risk packages besides the live auction Ideas to incorporate travel packages into a theme (like pairing a trip to New Orleans with a Mardi Gras theme!) ...and more! For more information on Winspire's services, visit www.winspireme.com or contact Tom directly at tsumma[at]winspireme.com, Get even more free fundraising education by signing up for Winspire's weekly blog at: you.winspireme.com/subscribe-to-winspire-news

New fundraising ideas emerge every day. Today's special guest is Jill Boyer, Director of Marketing at fundraising technology provider Greater Giving. In this episode, Boyer shares unique revenue enhancer ideas that fill out a fundraising auction agenda and raise thousands of additional dollars (like a "Graffiti Wall"!). Ideas covered include... The Graffiti Wall Live Art The Dice Roll Then Ten-Times Envelope Flash Mob ...and many more! To download your free copy of the comprehensive "26 Proven Revenue Enhancers for Your Fundraiser", visit http://go.greatergiving.com/lookbook/revenue-enhancers Read and sign up for their monthly blog digest at https://blog.greatergiving.com For more information on GreaterGiving's services, visit http://go.greatergiving.com or email sales[at]greatergiving.com

Today's special guest is Kristi Saucerman, Founder and CEO of AuctionFrogs, an end-to-end, streamlined event planning platform. In this episode, Saucerman shares data-driven best practices to raise more at charity galas and fundraising auctions. Topics covered include: Top benefits of an end-to-end online auction platform How to sell more individual tickets and tables (Tip: Use the "concentric circles" principle!) Putting together an exciting online auction inventory How to cater to the top tier of spenders, and more! For more information on AuctionFrogs' services, visit www.auctionfrogs.org Special Offer for Listeners: Get $100 OFF by mentioning this episode on Events With Benefits… and a craft beer if you come to Boise, ID!

This week we welcome Jerry Potter, CMO at Mastodon Media and Host of Five Minute Social Media on YouTube. He will share tips and tricks for marketing nonprofit events to increase attendance and sponsor attention on social media. Tools mentioned in the episode include: For photos: Canva, Picmonkey For video: Lumen5, Promo Snapchat stories (24 hrs only) - Instagram and Facebook To learn more about the services of Five Minute Social Media, visit https://fiveminutesocialmedia.com. Special Offer: All listeners are invited to receive $100 OFF a full social media audit and analysis written report (normally a $200 package) - just mention the Events With Benefits podcast. For more tips, check out "10 Tips For Marketing Your Event On Facebook" https://fiveminutesocialmedia.com/2017/08/23/10-tips-marketing-event-facebook You can also follow Jerry at @mrjerrypotter on Twitter.

Today's special guest is Dan Van Schaik, Founder & CEO at Go-Spotter. Go-Spotter is a sponsor recognition tool nonprofits can use on their websites to attract more sponsorships. In this session, Van Schaik addresses: How nonprofits can put their best foot forward on their "storefront": the website How and why charities recognize sponsors on the website Best practices for nonprofit web development Tips to include impactful, emotional videos on your website How to find new event sponsorships ...and more! Events with Benefits listeners are invited to get a $50 credit on a new Go-Spotter account by visiting https://go-spotter.com/code/donationmatch

Matt Burnell, Founder & CEO of ClickBid Mobile Bidding, has provided charities with electronic bidding solutions since 2002. We discuss: The changing landscape of smartphone usage and mobile bidding Minimizing the learning curves for new users Pre-event planning with early bidding Self-checkout that leaves guests with a positive experience Motivating live bidding and appeals on a projected leaderboard The benefits of showing fair market values in your auction Having software costs underwritten by sponsors ClickBid is an enjoyable mobile bidding and year-long fundraising platform, whose model is a $500 flat license fee with multi-event discounts. No percentages or performance fees. They offer mobile bidding, online bidding, annual landing page, ticket sales pages, text-to-give, online donations, and integrations with major donor management platforms. Special Offer: 15% OFF any license, just mention you heard this on Events With Benefits https://clickbidonline.com

Today's special guest is Steve Patzkowski, Co-founder and Director of Business Development at charity race management company Brighter Tomorrow. In this session, Patzkowski shares practical tips for nonprofits considering or planning a benefit race. Learn... 5 distinct revenue streams of benefit runs (ticket sales, peer-to-peer fundraising and more) Tips to market the race How nonprofits can incentivize and supercharge peer-to-peer fundraising ...and more! To learn more about the services of Brighter Tomorrow, visit www.brightertomorrow.run As a thank you for listening, mention Events with Benefits during your first consultation and receive $500 off management fees. You can also learn more about Brighter Tomorrow's flagship PTA program at: http://brightertomorrow.run/pta

Today's special guest is Stephen Garten, Founder and CEO of Charity Charge. Created in collaboration with MasterCard and GuideStar, this credit card automatically sends 1 percent of all purchases cardholders make to the nonprofit of their choice. Did you know $16 billion worth of credit card reward points expire annually? 31% of credit card users in the U.S. are leaving money on the table for banks to absorb into their bottom line. In today's episode, learn how your organization can earn 1% of their supporters' purchases via the innovative Charity Charge card. Donors' cash back gifts are 100 percent tax deductible, plus the card has no annual fee. To apply for the Charity Charge World MasterCard, visit https://www.charitycharge.com/select-cause For a limited time, enter code "EventsWithBenefits" during registration and Charity Charge will donate an additional $25 to your chosen nonprofit after your first purchase.

Today's special guest is Tom Huston, Founder and CEO of EveryWon. This fundraising platform creates community races for nonprofits to join and raise money for their cause. In this episode, Huston covers, Why nonprofits often lose money in the first 3 years of hosting a benefit race How to partner with other nonprofits and causes for more successful races Different revenue streams in a race event (like corporate sponsors, peer-to-peer fundraising and incentives) How EveryWon takes the risk out of charity races ...and more! For more information on the services of EveryWon, visit www.everywon.org Use promo code DONATIONMATCH and get 20% OFF your Cause Team Setup Fee until Oct 31, 2017.

Today's special guest is Teresa Stivers, CEO at Walden Family Services. Stivers shares details on their annual gala, how she measures impact and effectiveness, and hard-earned lessons learned. Topics include: How a high-profile event increases branding and awareness Event volunteer roles and responsibilities Tips to secure event sponsorships and underwriters Different revenue streams at the annual fundraiser Auction item ideas For more information on Walden Family Services, a nationally-recognized foster care, adoption, and youth services agency, visit www.waldenfamily.org

Today's special guest is Dana Levin, Director of Signature Advancement Events at Jewish Family Service in San Diego, a 4-star charity (highest ranking) on Charity Navigator. Levin shares her strategies for better fundraising events, including: The types of fundraising events JFSSD holds each year Tools she uses to organize and manage events When and how they ensure the guest experience stays fresh year after year The 5 distinct income streams included in every event Why they got rid of the live auction ...and more! To learn more about Jewish Family Service, San Diego, visit www.jfssd.org

Today's special guest is Justin Dennis, Owner and President of DSC Consulting, a company that provides no-risk sports memorabilia to about 600 nonprofit events each year. In today's session, Dennis shares best practices for using sports memorabilia in charity auctions. In this session, Dennis shares... How it works: Beginner's guide to no-risk sports memorabilia How to pick the right memorabilia for your auction audience Best practices to get the highest bids Common misconceptions Success stories ...and more! Download his white paper "7 Proven Strategies for Charity Auction Success" here.

Today's special guest is Claire Kerr, Director of Digital Philanthropy at FrontStream, an online fundraising platform. In this session Kerr shares tips for nonprofits of all experience levels to use social media, apps and more to promote fundraising events for greater results. In this episode, we cover... Tech trends: Why donors of all ages expect an online "checkout" experience Ways to boost fundraising results through social media Benefits of mobile bidding (like 20% higher revenue!) Beginner's tips for Facebook advertising, video posts and more How to use social strategies to improve email campaigns ...and more! To learn more about the services of Frontstream, visit https://www.frontstream.com

Today's special guest is Michael Bleau, Co-founder and CEO of EventsLocker, an event space and sponsorship booking site. He shares different opportunities for raising money at larger-scale neighborhood events (like a fun run fundraiser). In today's session, you'll learn: How to find potential event sponsors and effectively communicate your mission Examples of well-matched sponsors with event types Best ways for nonprofits to prepare to reach out to "low-hanging fruit" sponsors What events are starting to lose steam and drop off in popularity ...and more! To learn more about the services of EventsLocker, visit https://www.eventslocker.com

Today's special guest is Cameron Ripley, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder at Community Boost Consulting, a Google Grant management agency that exists to empower and accelerate social ventures. Topics covered in this session include... How nonprofits can manage grants through Google AdWords What is a Google Grant? What's included? How to prepare to apply for a Google Grant How to increase your odds of getting approved? ...and more! For more on Community Boost Consulting, please visit https://www.communityboost.org

Today's special guest is A.J. Steinberg, founder of Queen Bee Fundraising and principal of Masquerade Events. With 20 years' experience in fundraising event planning, Steinberg shares her tips for managing volunteers effectively (without pulling your hair out!). In this podcast, she covers... The biggest pitfall event planners face (hint: it involves knowing your audience!) How to wield the volunteer "multiplication effect" to multiply event attendance Why ticket sales are higher for a first-time event than the third year - and 2 ways to beat the plateau The benefits of having more than one event chair, or a Senior and Junior chairperson The "Volunteer Matrix" of every volunteer task that needs to be done at a fundraising event Tips for professionally loading and displaying auction items ...and more! Grab a notebook and make sure you're ready to jot down these invaluable secrets! To get the free Start Planning Successful Events Kit, including an event planning timeline, the event volunteer matrix and more, visit https://successfulevents.lpages.co/donationmatch-podcast-handouts To find out more about Steinberg's event planning services, visit http://www.queenbeefundraising.com

Today's special guest is Ken Davenport, CEO of Mission Edge, a social enterprise dedicated to helping nonprofits with operational support services. Davenport combines entrepreneurial experience with years of observing and assisting smaller charities with growth and strategy to share fiscal insights for nonprofits in 2017. He addresses... What is a nonprofit fiscal sponsorship? When startups should partner with established nonprofits Tips to foster growth and scalability (like a skilled board) How social enterprises diversify revenue How to integrate social impact with fundraising events for success ...and more! For more information on Mission Edge's services for nonprofits - including accounting, HR, fiscal sponsorship and leadership coaching - visit http://www.missionedge.org

Today's special guest is Brian Grady from online photo publishing service Picaboo, a for-profit company that sifts through countless donation requests each year. In this episode, Grady shares tips to make your request stand out from the pack and form mutually beneficial partnerships with corporate donors. We'll address: Partnership success stories: How generous giving can help a for-profit company What company partners wish nonprofits knew How to make your request stand out How they accept in-kind donation requests via DonationMatch.com ...and more! For more information on Picaboo, including fundraising and thank-you cards, calendars, and photo books, visit https://www.picaboo.com To see their Cards for Causes initiative (where 50% of customized holiday card purchases can go to your charity), visit https://www.picaboo.com/cards-for-causes For more information on Picaboo yearbooks for your school, visit https://yearbooks.picaboo.com

Today's guest is Gretchen Kelly, Founder of VLink, who talks about helping PTA's, PTO's, and parent organizations with website creation and communications. Gretchen used her software development skills to solve her own frustrations about lost flyers and managing volunteers for her son and daughter's PTA as the Corresponding Secretary to build MyVLink. In this interview, she points out what she has observed and learned through working with organizations over the last 11 years about: Saving money and time with the right online solution Engaging busy volunteers and reducing turnover Paying for your website (and more) with local ads Easily-corrected mistakes you could be making on your website ...and more! SPECIAL OFFER: Listeners of Events With Benefits® get their setup fee waived by entering promotion code podcast17 when signing up for any MyVLink subscription by September 30, 2017 (SAVE $99). For more information on the MyVLink all-in-one communication hub for schools and parent organizations, visit myvlink.org

Today's special guest is Michelle Boyer, President at Charity Compliance Solutions. In this episode, learn how your nonprofit can avoid legal troubles by getting registered in every state in which you solicit donations. Boyer draws on years of nonprofit registration and fundraising consultation experience to answer common questions like: What is "charity compliance"? How to get registered in a state (or better yet, all states) before soliciting The consequences of unregistered active solicitation - including a "Donate Here" button on the website, email campaigns and more Most common mistakes nonprofits make How much it costs to get registered ...and more! For more information on the services of Charity Compliance Solutions, visit http://www.charitycompliancesolutions.com or email michelle[at]charitycompliancesolutions.com

Today's special guest is Jeff Dowler, CEO at Optimal Giving. In this episode, learn how your nonprofit can put even more of your supporters' donations toward your cause by avoiding credit card processing fees. Dowler draws on years of fundraising consultation experience to answer common questions like: In terms of monthly donations, why do nonprofits need alternatives to credit cards? What is an ACH payment? How can direct withdrawal payments put more of my donors' gifts toward our programs and services? How much money can we save? How do direct debiting options affect the likelihood of monthly giving? ...and more! For more information on Optimal Giving's services, visit http://optimalps.com or email jeff.dowler[at]optimalgiving.com

Today's special guest is Janeal Ford, President at Fordable Freelance and professional fundraising consultant. In this episode, learn how better grant writing and fundraising education can help improve your results. Ford draws on 20 years of grant writing experience to share... How beginners can get started with grant writing What information you need to collect before asking for a grant Top questions every grant application asks How to find potential grant sources...and more! For a limited time, Janeal is offering interested listeners the opportunity to request a FREE 30-45 minute "Fundraising Fundamentals" training for board members and staff. To request the free training, email Janeal[at]fordablefreelance.com. You can get more information on Fordable Freelance by visiting http://fordablefreelance.com

Today's special guest is Melissa Merriam, Area Director at fundraising technology provider BidPal. Melissa covers how fundraising and technology work together to raise more money at charity auctions, including... Overview and history of mobile bidding technology How fundraising technology allows you to facilitate donor relatoinships Challenges surrounding mobile bidding (and how to overcome them) Tips for better donor analytics Which auction items go for much more than their retail value Tips for stewarding event sponsorships using social media Predictions for the future of charity auctions To learn more about BidPal's services, visit https://www.bidpal.com/fundraising Download their free eBook: http://info.bidpal.com/ewb-ebook List of resources mentioned: Non-Profit Pro NTEN Social Media Today Your state's nonprofit center Bidpal.com

Today's special guest is Dan Dowling, Campaign Director with Willette, Dowling & Associates, CEO of Dubois Area YMCA, and a consultant helping nonprofits with fundraising growth and capital campaigns. Drawing from Dan's 32 years of nonprofit experience, you'll learn... What a capital campaign is (hint: raising major funds for expansion) The importance of pre-planning before starting a capital campaign How small organizations can launch successful community-based campaigns What a feasibility study is, and how to conduct one Tips to establish relationships in the community Be sure to stick around to the end for a great fundraising idea regarding estate and will/trust giving. Finally, if you liked what you heard, Dowling is offering all listeners a FREE 15-minute consultation to provide professional direction for your fundraising efforts. Email dtdowling[at]comcast.net or call 814-590-2543.

Jeff Chang and business partner Howie Merrill are dads who wanted a better bidding and checkout experience at their children's school fundraisers. After waiting and hour and a half to leave one event, they set out to solve this problem by building the simplest and most affordable platform for smaller organizations to succeed. The Cause4Auction platform enables: Adding items, photos, descriptions to generate "item cards" with QR codes Text alerts so bidders get the most opportunities to continue bidding when outbid Keeping bidding active at events such as carnivals where participants are away from auction displays Adding of last-minute items on the spot using any internet-accessible phone Letting bidders check out on their own Advice to Event Organizers: If you're going paperless, cut your ties to paper bidding completely. Keeping both paper and mobile bidding results in twice the work. Pre-register bidders before the event if possible (i.e. at school drop-offs and pick-ups), and make sure your software allows self-registration. Letting bidders register themselves during cocktail hours or once ready to place first bid removes the need to get in line to register. Door prizes for pre-registration can increase participation. Don't close auction too early. Perhaps try closing your silent auction after the live auction; software can allow you to keep window of bidding open longer because checkout will not require as much time. Market items prior to auction start. Promote by email, Facebook, Instagram, and other channels available to you. Introduce items throughout the week before, in waves of new items. Advertise live auction items through catalog to build buzz without allowing bidding. Cause4Auction is available internationally. Use promo code "eventswithbenefits" for $25 OFF the signup fee! Questions? Contact Jeff at info@cause4auction.com

Today's special guest is Heath Hale, one of the best Benefit Auctioneer Specialists in the country. Together with his team of Cowboys, Hale raised over $9.3 Million and exceeded 100% of his nonprofit clients' fundraising goals in 2016. Today he shares his strategies for raising hundreds of thousands of dollars at his charity events, including... Examples of thinking outside the box for exclusive auction lots Tips to capture the second high bidder (or underbidder) competing for an item How to market to the top tier of spenders in the room The importance of messaging in pulling off a fund-a-need Where to cut corners - and where to invest ...and much, much more! To find out if the Cowboys can help your organization take event day fundraising to the next level, visit www.cowboyauctioneer.com

Today's special guest is Laurie Hochman, Marketing Coordinator at fundraising auction software provider Auctria. As a former PTA President and Executive Board Member, Hochman shares multidimensional tips to boost auction revenue, including... Overview of auction technology Tips to sell more tickets and registrations How to use Snapchat geofilters and Facebook ads for event promotion The best way to expedite checkout at the end of the night ...and more! Best of all, all listeners are invited to request Auctria's FREE auction timeline and checklist to stay on track from day 1 to complete execution. Visit www.auctria.com for more information and to request your copy.

The MS Dinner Auction that Heather Dean-Presnall manages as the Senior Manager of Multi Market Leadership Events at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Pacific region, has been around since 1986 and happens right before Thanksgiving as a kick-off to holiday shopping, year-end tax donations, and planning trip purchases for the next. 60% of attendees are repeat guests, and 1% or less of her packages go unsold. It is a year-long process with her team: staff, volunteers, board of trustees, and committee. The board and committee are delegated to solicit packages from businesses they frequent, i.e. a Chef's package at a favorite steakhouse. Staff and volunteers are asked to find unique experiences (walk-on roles for Hollywood shows, VIP backstage tickets, special seats at sporting events) through connections. Heather looks at participants at her other MS events for connections and volunteers for the MS Dinner. In this episode, Heather shares: Donation solicitation tips (segmenting donors, her follow-up process, and how to apply online) that net her 700+ items for the MS Dinner alone What she considers her most important procurement tools How to share an online catalog to increase attendance and bidding Steps she is using to build momentum and 10-year goals for a new event she started in Orange County (100 miles away from her flagship San Diego event) Don't miss the end when Heather talks about her extra revenue streams within existing events! To bounce ideas around, connect with Heather Dean-Presnall on LinkedIn or at http://www.facebook.com/MSDinnerAuction