13 Things NOT to Do at a Fundraising Gala (Event Planner Edition)

    1.    Don’t Skip a Run-of-Show

    •    Not having a detailed timeline and script leads to confusion, delays, and missed moments of impact.

    2.    Don’t Forget the Mission– MISSION, MISSION, MISSION

    •    Avoid focusing so much on glitz and logistics that you lose sight of the why — keep the cause front and center.

    3.    Don’t Underprepare the Emcee, Auctioneer, and Speakers

    •    Handing someone a mic without proper briefing is a disaster waiting to happen.

    4.    Don’t Rely Solely on Ticket Sales— Sponsorship tables are the most important part of ticket sales.

    •    Galas are fundraising events —Fund appeal asks, silent/live auctions, paddle raises, sponsorships, and games are all ways to raise money for the entire night.

    5.    Don’t Ignore Your Major Donors

    •    Seating them in the wrong spot, not acknowledging them, or giving them poor communication can jeopardize relationships.

    6.    Don’t Let Technology Be a Surprise – AV IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE EVENT.

    •    Test A/V, slideshows, bidding software, and Wi-Fi. Do not assume anything will “just work.” Do not use house sound because it could come back to haunt you.

    7.    Don’t Leave Volunteers in the Dark

    •    Volunteers are your frontline — don’t leave them untrained or unsure of their responsibilities.

    8.    Don’t Use Candles that Need to be Lit

    •    If you don’t want to have a fire, don’t have fire. When guests are drinking, they are not aware of candles burning on table. They can tip a candle or throw a shaw on the candle without even knowing it. Battery candles have come a long way and look very real. These also can be used year after year.

    9.    Don’t Overlook the Check-In Process and Check Out Process

    •    A long, chaotic entry experience sets a bad tone for the night. Keep it smooth and welcoming. Spend the money for a quality mobile bidding company– You will be glad you did.

    10.    Don’t Wing the Live Auction

    •    An unprepared auctioneer or messy logistics = lost donations. Partner with professionals like Impact Auctions if needed.

    11.    Paddle Number are important

    •    Make sure all paddle numbers are three numbers long (example 123) and have the paddle numbers on both sides.

    12.    Don’t Forget to Thank Donors On-Site

    •    Public and private gratitude goes a long way. Miss this and you miss the chance to build loyalty. Make sure the board members and executive director greets guests on the way into the event as well as when they are leaving.

• One way to thank your donors in the fund appeal is to pass out a thank you trinket or something that brings attention to them for giving.

    13.    Don’t Ignore Post-Event Follow-Up

    •    Not sending thank-yous, sharing results, and keeping the momentum going can undo all your hard work. Guests want to know how much money was raised and where the donation are going towards.

Let Impact Auctions help your event succeed and break records.

EXTRA TIP: Don’t use multiple consignment items. 1-3 items are the max to use in live or silent auctions. Don’t make the consignment company rich and take all your profits.