Great fundraising events don’t just happen at the podium—they’re designed from the very first invitation.

In this episode of Auction Is Action, Bobby D breaks down why attendee experience is the most powerful fundraising strategy you have. From invitations and registration to cocktail hour, the program, live auction, paddle raise, and the final surprise that sends guests home inspired—every moment either builds generosity or leaks it.

You’ll learn how to:

• Design a donor journey instead of just running an event
• Eliminate friction that quietly costs you money
• Build momentum that leads to a powerful paddle raise
• Create moments that turn guests into long-term supporters

If you want your next fundraising event to raise more money, engage more donors, and be remembered for all the right reasons—this episode shows you how.

Recommended For

Nonprofit leaders
Development directors
Board members
Event planners
Fundraising committees
School, hospital, and foundation galas

The future of fundraising isn’t transactional—it’s relational.

In this episode of Auction Is Action, we explore how nonprofit events can become powerful tools for engaging the next generation of donors. Today’s donors want more than an ask—they want community, connection, and a clear line to impact.

We unpack why younger donors trust systems less but relationships more, how events create shared experiences that build loyalty over time, and why acquisition without cultivation stalls long-term growth. From removing friction and avoiding “cringe” moments to creating unforgettable experiences that inspire partnership, this episode reframes events as the front door to donor legacy.

If you’re thinking beyond tonight’s total and focused on building donors who will shape your mission for the next 20 years, this conversation is for you.

Auction isn’t the moment. Auction is action.

Recommended For

Nonprofit leaders
Development directors
Board members
Event planners
Fundraising committees
School, hospital, and foundation galas

In this episode of Auction Is Action, fundraising auctioneer and strategist Bobby D. breaks down why the highest-performing galas combine smart consultation, intentional strategy, and confident auctioneer leadership—not just great performance on stage. A must-listen for nonprofit leaders planning their next fundraising event.

Recommended For

Nonprofit leaders
Development directors
Board members
Event planners
Fundraising committees
School, hospital, and foundation galas

The Perfect Gala Guest is the episode every nonprofit professional wishes their audience would listen to before walking into the ballroom.

In this podcast, we break down what actually makes a gala guest exceptional—not louder, richer, or flashier, but more engaged, more present, and more impact-driven. From how guests show up mentally and emotionally, to how they participate in the auction, paddle raise, and mission moment, this episode pulls back the curtain on the behaviors that elevate an event from “nice night out” to transformational fundraiser.

You’ll hear:

• What the best gala guests do before the event even starts
• How attention, timing, and energy in the room affect total dollars raised
• The difference between attending and participating
• Why generosity is contagious—and how guests set the tone
• How nonprofits can gently coach their audience toward better giving experiences

Whether you’re a donor, board member, event chair, or nonprofit leader, this episode will change how you experience galas forever—and help every event raise more money with more joy.

Because the perfect gala guest doesn’t just take a seat.
They help move the mission forward.

Recommended For

Nonprofit leaders
Development directors
Board members
Event planners
Fundraising committees
School, hospital, and foundation galas

Before you plan this year’s gala, auction, or fundraising event, there’s one step most organizations skip—and it costs them real money.

In this episode of Auction Is Action, Bobby D. breaks down how to review last year’s revenue the right way so you can stop guessing and start planning with confidence. This isn’t about spreadsheets or shame. It’s about clarity, patterns, and making smarter decisions before you set goals for the year ahead.

You’ll learn:

• Which revenue numbers actually matter
• How to identify what truly drove giving at your last event
• Why missing a goal is data, not failure
• How to use last year’s results to shape this year’s strategy
• What to repeat, refine, or remove from your events
• How to align your board and team using real numbers

If you’re planning fundraising events without reviewing revenue first, you’re leaving growth to chance. This episode will help you turn last year’s results into a clear, actionable roadmap for the year ahead.

Subscribe to Auction Is Action for practical fundraising insights, event strategy, and real-world lessons from the stage.

If you want to review your revenue or looking for ways to strategize your fundraising event, please reach out at calltoauction.com

Recommended For

Nonprofit leaders
Development directors
Board members
Event planners
Fundraising committees
School, hospital, and foundation galas

Why do the best fundraising auctioneers often sound calmer, slower, and more intentional than everyone else in the room?

In this episode of Auction Is Action, Bobby D. pulls back the curtain on what’s really happening behind the microphone—and why speed and volume don’t raise money.

You’ll learn what a professional auctioneer is actually doing on stage, how pacing, tone, and timing influence donor behavior, and why commanding a room has nothing to do with shouting. Bobby breaks down why clear counting beats clever jokes, where many MCs and auctioneers blur roles, and how that confusion can quietly cost a gala thousands.

Whether you’re an auctioneer, MC, nonprofit leader, or event planner, this episode will change how you think about live fundraising moments—and why slowing down is often the fastest way to raise more money.

Auction isn’t noise.
Auction is action.

Recommended For

Nonprofit leaders
Development directors
Board members
Event planners
Fundraising committees
School, hospital, and foundation galas

What you do at the beginning of the year will determine how successful your fundraising gala is — not what happens on event night.

In this episode, professional fundraising auctioneer Bobby D. shares how nonprofits can set themselves up for a stronger, less stressful, and more profitable gala by planning with intention months before the room fills up.

If you have ever found yourself scrambling weeks before your event, hoping you will hit your goal, this episode is for you.

In this video, you will learn:

• Why gala success is decided long before event night
• How to set a clear, mission-driven fundraising goal
• How to define the true role of your gala in your annual fundraising strategy
• Why early board and leadership alignment matters
• How to design a donor experience, not just a run of show
• When to bring in expert partners to maximize results

This episode is built from real-world experience at hundreds of fundraising events and is designed for nonprofit executives, development directors, board members, and event planners.

Need help designing a high-performing fundraising gala?

Learn more about working with Call To Auction at
CallToAuction.com

Subscribe for more nonprofit fundraising strategy, paddle raise insights, and event planning best practices.
Share this episode with your board chair, development team, or event committee to get aligned early.

About Bobby D. and Call To Auction

Bobby D. is a professional fundraising auctioneer and founder of Call To Auction, helping nonprofits raise more money through intentional event design, powerful paddle raises, and mission-driven fundraising experiences.

Recommended For

Nonprofit leaders
Development directors
Board members
Event planners
Fundraising committees
School, hospital, and foundation galas

Your gala isn’t just an event — it’s the night that can fund your mission for the entire year.

In this episode of Auction Is Action, professional fundraising auctioneer Bobby D. breaks down the 10 most important things every nonprofit should be thinking about on gala night. These are the moments, decisions, and details that separate average events from transformational fundraising experiences.

Whether you’re a nonprofit executive, development director, board member, or event planner, this checklist will help you avoid costly mistakes and maximize generosity in the room.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What really drives donor generosity in the room
• How the flow of your program impacts giving
• Why your paddle raise matters more than your live auction
• The role storytelling plays in unlocking larger gifts
• How to create momentum that carries through the entire night
• Common gala mistakes that quietly cost nonprofits thousands
• What the best fundraising events consistently get right

If you’re planning a gala, hosting a fundraiser, or looking to increase the impact of your next event, this episode will help you think differently about how to design a night that inspires action.

Subscribe to Auction Is Action for real-world fundraising strategies, event insights, and lessons learned from hundreds of successful nonprofit events.

Learn more about Bobby D. and Call To Auction at calltoauction.com
New episodes weekly.

Recommended For

Nonprofit leaders
Development directors
Board members
Event planners
Fundraising committees
School, hospital, and foundation galas