Yup, that’s a wrap on the Spring 2022 fundraising season! I am thankful to have worked with several nonprofits I’ve not had the chance to partner with so far. It is still fun every time to meet a new group of passionate devotees and learn all about their mission. It’s invigorating and refreshes my hope for goodness in the world!

One trend I saw this spring is several large nonprofits switching things up for 2023. Two of my biggest auctions (where their annual gala makes up a huge portion of their revenue, and broke records in 2022) plan to diversify their events next year, perhaps replacing the annual gala with intimate patron parties. Typically, big-ticket galas can and do generate great revenue, entertain guests and share mission moments, they take A LOT of planning and many hours of staff, committee, and board time. So how does an org decide when that annual gala is worth it (and when it’s not)? We can do the math and crunch the numbers, but sometimes you just go out on a limb and try something new.

What about you, your org? Are you freshening up your gala each year, adding additional fundraisers, or making a break in pursuit of something totally new?