Hey Nonprofits!

HGA Fundraising
  • 5.0 (17)
  • 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. 6d ago

    Stop Stewarding Your Donors. Do This Instead

    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

  2. Sep 29

    Live Auction Doesn't Steal From Your Fund a Need

    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

  3. Sep 25

    Mo Knows Event Software

    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: morgan@hgafundraising.com 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. Sep 22

    Your Bid Paddle Lost You Money

    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

  5. Sep 15

    Live Auction Dollars Pay For What Grants Can't

    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

  6. 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 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

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5
out of 5
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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
    282
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © HGA Fundraising
  • Show Website
    Hey Nonprofits!

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