Hey Nonprofits!

HGA Fundraising
  • 5.0 (16)
  • Non-Profit
  • Updated Weekly

The 'Hey Nonprofits!' podcast is here to help fundraisers and event professionals Raise More Money. Each week, we bring on an industry expert to highlight important tips and strategies, and you can use them effectively to grow your organization. Whether you simply need help communicating with donors or need advanced tactics with setting up live auctions and fundraising events—host Trevor Nelson is here to guide you toward success. Be sure to tune in for a new episode every Tuesday! Brought to you by HGA Fundraising.

  1. 4d ago

    Your Auctioneer Just Added 200%

    The question that costs nonprofits the most money at their gala is "are the bid spotters really necessary?" The answer is yes, and the reason is arithmetic. Four trained ringmen in a 500-person room act like a 200% increase in fundraisers on the floor, and a single spotter interaction can lift one bid from $4,000 to $5,000 in seconds. Multiply that across every live auction item and the auction team pays for itself many times over.In this episode, Marty Murad of Murad Auctions sits down with Trevor to reframe the live auction as a revenue-producing asset instead of a cost. You will learn why live auction income is unrestricted net revenue you can spend anywhere in your organization, including development staff salaries, how to back into a $50,000 live auction goal with honest per-item math, why selling the right packages multiple times is the gold standard for maximizing revenue, and why the live auction aids your fund-a-need rather than robbing it. Marty also makes the finance case for treating consignment as cost of goods sold, not an expense.If you run galas, benefit auctions, or paddle raises for a nonprofit, this is a tactical look at the numbers behind a successful live auction.Topics: nonprofit fundraising, live auctions, benefit auctioneers, bid spotters and ringmen, consignment packages, fund-a-need, paddle raise strategy, donor cultivation.Chapters:00:00 Intro00:18 The LinkedIn post that started this01:05 Why live auctions create unrestricted funds02:34 Finding the right packages: ask your top donors where they travel03:51 Backing into your goal with live auction math04:51 The gold standard: selling packages multiple times06:18 Does the live auction rob your fund-a-need?08:34 The worst question to ask an auctioneer09:21 How bid spotters add 200% more fundraisers to the room11:47 Consignment: expense or cost of goods sold?12:54 Where to find Marty🔗 *CONNECT WITH US* 🔗Book Murad Auctions for your event: https://muradauctions.comConnect 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

  2. Sep 8

    This Question Turns a $20K Gala Into $1M Gala

    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 Lightner 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 Intro00:28 "Do less to do more": Kat's 2026 fundraising philosophy02:28 The ED's only job at a gala (stop worrying about the DJ)03:40 Who's on your bus? Building the right fundraising team05:28 Why $1M events beat $20K events: year-round engagement07:12 Breaking the 300-guest, $250K plateau09:44 Pre-commitment conversations that lock in gifts early11:45 Mission generators: a giving level for everyone in the room13:38 The data: 3 consecutive events makes a major donor17:19 The impact video moment you're wasting19:00 Custom sponsorships built backward from the goal21:02 How sponsorships changed after COVID22:19 Why social media is fading in fundraising25:01 Don't make fundraising harder by procrastinating27:33 The post-event question most planners skip30:03 Differentiation over competition: be the pink elephant31:23 Where to find Kat & Heron & Co.🔗 *CONNECT WITH US* 🔗Heron & Co. Design: https://heronandcoevent.comConnect 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

  3. Sep 1

    Celebrities Aren't the Problem...Your Ask Is Terrible

    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

  4. Aug 25

    Getting Donors to Give Again

    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

  5. Aug 18

    The 85-Asset Rule: How Top Nonprofits Actually Market Their Galas | Laurie Hochman

    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

  6. Aug 11

    The Silent Auction Playbook | Claire Murad

    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/

  7. Aug 4

    The Auctioneer Mistake That's Killing Your Fundraiser | Jordan Agolli

    Four nonprofits in a row told Jordan Agolli the same thing about their previous auctioneer: they felt like the person with the microphone cared more about themselves than the mission.Jordan, a benefit auctioneer and MC based out of Atlanta, joins Trevor to break down what he's hearing from organizations interviewing him, why the line between confidence and cockiness on stage is thinner than most people think, and the rule he lives by: an auctioneer should only say their own name twice all night. Once at the intro, once at the close.In this episode: what to actually ask an auctioneer or MC before you hire them, why the person benefiting from the mission is a more powerful speaker than anyone with a microphone, how strong board involvement changes the ceiling of your fundraising night, and Jordan's blunt reminder to every auctioneer in the space, this event would happen with or without you.Plus: Jordan's own story of losing five years to a back injury, rebuilding from scratch, and coming back to the stage with less ego and more listening.Chapters:00:00 Intro00:49 Building Connections in the Nonprofit Space05:04 Jordan's Journey into Auctioneering13:55 Overcoming Challenges and Health Struggles17:55 Understanding Nonprofit Culture and Values21:47 Importance of Alignment in Event Planning23:19 The Power of Listening in Fundraising27:41 Understanding the Mission: The Key to Success30:41 Marketing Strategies for Nonprofits36:02 Connecting with the Community🔗 *CONNECT WITH US* 🔗Book Jordan for Your Event: https://www.jordanagolli.comConnect with Jordan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-agolli/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

  8. Jul 28

    Why Your Check-In Line Is Costing You Donors | Chris O'Shea & Livia Christensen

    Most fundraisers think of check-in as a hospitality problem. Livia Christensen and Chris O'Shea of C2 Auctions think it's a fundraising problem and they have the data to prove it.Livia and Chris manage guest lists and staff registration for some of the biggest galas in the country. Every event, they see the same pattern: the organizations that treat check-in as an afterthought lose donors before their auctioneer ever takes the stage. In this episode, they walk through the three things that make or break a gala check-in and why most orgs get all three wrong.In this episode: why putting your advancement team at the registration table is the worst use of their most valuable hour, the ratio of registration staff to guests you should actually be planning for (and why alphabetical check-in lines are always a mistake), what a clean guest list signals to your donors about how you'll steward their money, why "guest of" fields on your list are a red flag for the whole night, the credit-card-on-file threshold you should hit before your event starts (Chris's team benchmarks at 40%), and why free auction software almost always costs more than paid…one line that will save some organizations thousands.Plus: the peak-end principle from behavioral psychology and how it should shape the last touchpoint your guest has before they leave the room.00:00 Intro00:49 Overview of Check-In and Check-Out08:30 Importance of a Clean Guest List21:00 Final Thoughts and Best Practices26:55 Streamlining Check-In/Check-Out Processes30:05 Role of Hospitality in Event Success🔗 *CONNECT WITH US* 🔗Hire Chris & Livia for Your Event: https://c2auctions.netConnect with Livia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/livia-christensen-8779983/Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-o-shea-38604181/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

See All (278)

5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

The 'Hey Nonprofits!' podcast is here to help fundraisers and event professionals Raise More Money. Each week, we bring on an industry expert to highlight important tips and strategies, and you can use them effectively to grow your organization. Whether you simply need help communicating with donors or need advanced tactics with setting up live auctions and fundraising events—host Trevor Nelson is here to guide you toward success. Be sure to tune in for a new episode every Tuesday! Brought to you by HGA Fundraising.

Information

  • Creator
    HGA Fundraising
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    278
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © HGA Fundraising
  • Show Website
    Hey Nonprofits!

You Might Also Like