In September, our very own Hannah Hegman traveled to San Antonio to a multi-day conference called RAISE, hosted by OneCause. RAISE is a gathering of fundraisers, nonprofit leaders, and event professionals from across the country. Hannah came back with notebooks full of ideas, practical strategies, and fresh inspiration to help clients make their events even more impactful. We’ve summarized the learnings to pass along to you!
Here are some of the biggest takeaways:
Auctions: More Than a Revenue Stream
Conference sessions confirmed that auctions continue to be a steady source of event revenue, accounting for about 10% of overall fundraising totals. While that percentage may sound small, it’s a significant number to replace if eliminated.
Even more importantly, auctions are now recognized as a key engagement tool. Silent auctions, live auctions, and the stories tied to them consistently rank as top donor engagement activities.
Noteworthy data points included:
- 49% of donors gave more this year than last year
- 83% of donors who participate in a silent auction would consider becoming annual donors
- The average auction includes 67 items, with today’s guest-to-item ratio closer to 4:1, compared to the old 2:1 rule of thumb
The takeaway: auctions remain relevant, and the real opportunity lies in stewarding auction participants into long-term donors.
Sponsorships: Focusing on Relationships
Sponsors want more than visibility; they want authentic engagement. One strong recommendation shared at RAISE was to schedule quarterly touchpoints with sponsors instead of relying solely on post-event follow-up emails.
Additional ideas included:
- Inviting a guest from a sponsor’s table to serve on a planning committee for the next year
- Asking sponsors directly whether they want tickets—and how many—rather than assuming
- Offering a la carte sponsor packages that allow for customization
- Framing tickets as “open bar” or “cash bar” instead of “VIP” for clearer, simpler perks
These strategies emphasize building relationships that last well beyond event day.
Invitations: The Power of Print Isn’t Gone
Email invites may dominate today, but new data suggests combining email and mailed invitations has a significant impact. Donors who receive both an email and a mailed invite are 90% more likely to give, and they give 90% more than those who only receive an email.
This is an important reminder not to overlook the power of print, especially for high-value donor groups.
A memorable phrase from one session summed it up nicely: “Cast a net as wide as your venue is large.” In other words, align your outreach strategy with your venue’s capacity, small room= small net; stadium= billboards and beyond.
Fresh Engagement Ideas
A few creative ideas that sparked excitement at RAISE:
- “Donate your score” at golf tournaments, where guests donate their golf score—one San Antonio nonprofit raised $20,000 this way
- “Top table” slides during live auctions, displaying which tables are leading in giving, turning generosity into friendly competition at your breakfast or lunch event
- Travel packages to Tuscany and France continue to be popular, and naming rights for experiences or spaces are gaining traction in the live auction
At Do Good Events, learning from industry leaders and peers at RAISE fuels new ideas for creating events that are engaging, profitable, and meaningful. These takeaways will help the team continue to guide clients in building experiences that not only raise funds but also strengthen donor relationships and community connections. More importantly, the time in San Antonio allows us to deepen our understanding of the OneCause platform, build meaningful relationships with the team, and be inspired by event enthusiasts from across the county.
