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A brunch raised how much??

 March 11, 2025 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS
an event space with many decorated tables

I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the Development team from the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus. Their signature event, Brunch on the Bay, held its 30th Anniversary recently. Thirty years! That kind of legacy clearly takes hard work, creativity, and a lovingly supportive community. Famously known for its lobster tails (!) and more than 20 other amazing restaurant stations, it’s one of the only events I do that is ideally suited for an open-air tent. They do a great job of mission messaging, and the crowd gives enthusiastically in the Paddle Raise. Deciding all those years ago to brand a brunch instead of a nighttime gala has made USF S-M stand out in a sea of other fundraisers.

If your team isn’t thinking before each event about how to stand out and be memorable, you’re missing an opportunity to build community and loyalty.

a testimonial from a nonprofit executive

Comments are closed - Categories: Charity, Donation Appeals, Fund a Need, GALA GAL Case Study

►Spa Creative!

 May 18, 2024 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS

Shout out to my Orlando friends for their oh-so-creative daytime fundraiser…Spa Invitational! A play on traditional golf tournaments, instead these foursomes indulge in spa activities all day long, with a luncheon fundraising auction and donation appeal. It’s fun, it’s relaxed, and it’s so refreshing, in every way. Well done!!

Comments are closed - Categories: GALA GAL Case Study, Great Ideas

►100% Participation

 April 14, 2024 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS
American Heart Association

Shout out to the Heart Ball for a terrific technique they use across the country. There is one large (maybe 18″ or 24″?) paddle on the table that is to be raised when and only when the entire table gives something in the Fund A Need donation appeal. There’s a lot of hype during the ask about everyone giving something, and celebrating each table as their large paddle goes up in the air! At the one I did, they even had pull-and-pop streamers. You could even use noisemakers, or confetti cannons if your venue will allow. Kudos for a great audience participation incentive!

Comments are closed - Categories: Event Logistics, GALA GAL Case Study, Great Ideas

►How to wow a crowd

 April 7, 2024 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS
Woman in a ball in a pool

I see a lot of great decorations and theming at galas, but this was a first! This Delray Beach gala had the initial reception outside around the pool, and wow was everyone surprised and delighted by the woman in the ball! She was beautiful and elegant, moving gracefully while floating, and dressed in beautiful old Florida style. It was quite a sight!

How can you up your game and wow your crowd?

Comments are closed - Categories: Event Logistics, GALA GAL Case Study, Great Ideas

►Can you set a Max Bid?

 March 24, 2024 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS
a photo of online bidding

I work with a lot of software programs for online bidding, and I recommend that you make sure your software choice makes it easy for guests to set a maximum bid and let the system bid for them up to their requested amount. You’ll see here in Auctria (an affordable online and live event software) that guests can choose how much they want to bid right now AND how much is their limit for this item. You can easily set the system to send alerts each time someone tries to outbid them and thus their bid has been raised to keep them winning. If the bid goes beyond their set limit, they’ll get an outbid notification. Setting a Max Bid is the easiest way for guests to enjoy the night AND win the items they want.

Comments are closed - Categories: Consulting, Event Logistics, GALA GAL Case Study, Great Ideas, Silent auctions

►No bid cards?

 February 26, 2024 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS
beautiful table

I worked a beautiful, high-profile event recently that surprised me in one key way: they didn’t want to use bid cards. It’s been years since I’ve done a fundraiser without bid cards. In fact, now that I think about it, I’m not sure I’ve ever done a live auction or Paddle Raise – without the bid paddles.

Why would an org decide against giving attendees some sort of bid card or bid paddle? They didn’t want to come across as pushy. They wanted to focus on the party. There are many great events that are fabulous parties.

One of the first questions I ask groups during the discovery phase is, “Are you having a party, or are you having a fundraiser?” The answer to that question determines how decisions are made.

It was still a great party, and I helped them get creative with their programs so we could identify who was bidding and who wanted to donate.

But next year I hope we have bid cards 🙂

Comments are closed - Categories: Consulting, Event Logistics, Fund a Need, GALA GAL Case Study, Live Auctions

►Worse than Whoops!

 November 19, 2023 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS

Something happened recently that has NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. I created Clerking Sheets for a gala and emailed them to the client ahead of time. They printed those sheets and put them on 3 clipboards. Check and check. They had staff members lined up to fill in the sheets during the live auction and Paddle Raise (on another sheet).

We did the fundraising and sold 4 live auction items (some with multiples) and then got many Fund-a-Need donations at multiple levels.

After the auction I asked to see one copy of the clerking sheets so I could take a photo for my records.

NO ONE WROTE ANYTHING DOWN.

For the first time ever, somehow the clipboards never got into the hands of the 3 staff members told to do it.

Don’t let this happen to you. Make certain to put the clipboards into the recorders’ hands early in the evening and explain their critical role and what time the fundraising will take place. Having 3 individuals assigned to the job has always worked up to this point. (You can also record the fundraising portion to have as a backup.) Plan ahead. And triple check.

Comments are closed - Categories: Consulting, Event Logistics, Fund a Need, GALA GAL Case Study, Live Auctions

►I do Online Auctions too!

 October 26, 2023 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS

There’s a wonderful group I work with, Jewish Pavilion. I did their gala for many years, but when Covid happened we switched to an online auction, and it’s been so successful that we’ve never looked back.

While they have staff who maintain the spreadsheet of auction donations, I manage the Auctria online auction platform for them, and it’s a big job!

This year we had 370 items! It not only ensures that there are lots of items to interest everyone, but we hold back 100+ items initially and add 20+ new items each day the auction is open. This allows us to email the registered bidders (and those on the email list not yet registered) that “New Items were Just Added!”

Need help with your online auction? I can do that, too.

Comments are closed - Categories: About GALA GAL, GALA GAL Case Study, Online Auctions

LuxGive trips

 July 31, 2023 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS

I want to give a shout out to LuxGive, a consignment trip provider specializing primarily in luxury private homes instead of hotels or resorts.

I was fortunate enough to go to one of their properties (shown here, St. Maarten within walking distance of Maho Beach) and thus got to experience their entire customer service process for myself.

They were exceptionally flexible in helping me find just the right property from their many gorgeous options. I was pleasantly surprised by how knowledgeable and helpful my booking assistant was. They helped to set up airport transfers and a meeting with the concierge.

Once we arrived, our concierge was fantastic, helping with meal bookings, recommendations and any questions we had. She gave us her cell phone number to chat anytime via Whats App, and that was a very nice personal touch.

The property was exactly as promoted and just as gorgeous as the photos, and we ended up having a wonderful guest experience.

If you’re looking for a trip for your live auction, do give LuxGive a look.

Comments are closed - Categories: About GALA GAL, Consulting, GALA GAL Case Study, Live Auctions

Private home fundraiser

 April 23, 2023 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS

So a wealthy supporter offers to host a fundraiser at their lux private home? This can add a fresh fundraising opportunity to your annual lineup, but it has its pros and cons.

Yes, it’s a destination venue, as many will want to see the home and rub shoulders with the (sometimes famous) attendees. And typically, the host would cover some or all of the costs to use the space, maybe even cover the cost of the catering.

But private home events are often more of a party with some fundraising thrown in, rather than a focused fundraiser that’s a great party. Typically there isn’t seating for everyone, there’s no easy way to gather everyone to a focal point for any program, auction, or appeal, and the sound quality can be a real issue.

Make sure to spend sufficient planning time on sound, lighting (very important if the program will be outside!), bid paddles (yes, they must have bid paddles) and crowd control options.

And hopefully, the crowd invited to a private home event will have both the means and the intention to support your cause that night and into the future.

Comments are closed - Categories: Event Logistics, GALA GAL Case Study

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