Boost Your Nonprofit Fundraiser with These 6 Revenue Enhancers

Fundraising events are crucial for nonprofits, not only to raise funds but also to engage with supporters and promote their mission. While traditional methods like silent auctions and ticket sales are staples, incorporating innovative revenue enhancers can significantly boost your event's financial success. In this blog, the ClickBid team dives into six unique revenue enhancers that can be applied to any type of fundraising event.

Our Top Proven Revenue Enhancers

#1. Consignment Items

Consignment items are high-value items provided by a third-party vendor. Nonprofits don't pay upfront for these items; instead, they share a portion of the proceeds with the vendor only if the item sells. This arrangement allows nonprofits to offer attractive items such as vacation packages, exclusive experiences, or rare memorabilia without the financial risk.

• Attract High Bids: High-value consignment items often attract higher bids, increasing the overall event revenue.
• Variety and Appeal: Offering unique and high-end items can appeal to a broader audience, encouraging more participation.
• No Upfront Costs: Since nonprofits usually only pay if the item sells, it’s a low-risk way to enhance your auction lineup.

If your nonprofit is struggling to receive desirable item donations, consignment items offer a fantastic solution to ensure you have hot items—like unique travel packages—that can drive significant bids. ClickBid partners with several companies that specialize in providing top-quality items with a crazy simple donor fulfillment process, including HGA, Auction Packages, and TravelPledge. These partners offer a wide range of premium auction items, ensuring that even when item donations are down, you can still present exciting options to your attendees.

#2. Professional Auctioneers

Hiring a professional auctioneer can be a game-changer for your event. Professional auctioneers are skilled at engaging the audience, creating excitement, and encouraging higher bids through their expertise and charisma.

• Increased Bids: Professional auctioneers know how to drive up bids by creating a competitive and lively atmosphere.
• Audience Engagement: Their talent for entertaining and connecting with the crowd keeps the energy high, ensuring supporters are actively involved and enthusiastically raising their paddles.
• Expertise: They understand the dynamics of a live auction or paddle raise event and can read the room, adjusting their strategy to maximize revenue for your cause.

Finding the right auctioneer is crucial to the success of your live auction, as their performance can significantly impact the funds raised. At ClickBid, we partner with several top-notch auctioneers who have a proven track record of success. For more information on our recommended auctioneers and to find the perfect fit for your event, visit our partner page.

#3. Live Auction Games

Incorporating live auction games adds an element of fun and excitement to your event that keeps your supporters buzzing. These games require minimal setup and cost but can significantly boost engagement and revenue.

Try these game ideas:

• Heads or Tails: Participants pay a fee to enter and choose heads or tails. The auctioneer flips a coin and those who choose correctly stay standing. The game continues until one person remains, winning a prize.
• Dead or Alive: Guests use paddles or cards that are green on one side and red on the other. As they are shown images of actors, participants hold up the green side if they think actors are alive, or they hold up the red side if they think actors are dead. Guests sit down if they guess wrong. The last person standing wins a prize.
• Last Hero Standing: The auctioneer announces they’re seeking the last hero of the night, and they can set a specific minimum donation amount, such as $100. The last and highest bidder wins a prize.

These games are quick and easy to play, encouraging more attendees to participate and contribute to the fundraising goal.

#4. Centerpiece Auction

A centerpiece auction involves auctioning off the table centerpieces at the end of the event. This can be a fun and engaging way to raise extra funds, especially if the centerpieces are creatively designed or have special significance.

• Creativity: Design centerpieces that are unique, themed, or have sentimental value to encourage bidding.
• Surprise Element: Announce the centerpiece auction toward the end of the event, adding an unexpected opportunity for attendees to contribute.
• Extra Revenue: It's an easy way to generate additional funds without requiring extra resources or time.

#5. Gift Card Frenzy

A gift card frenzy involves collecting donated gift cards and auctioning them off or selling chances to win them. This can be particularly effective if you secure gift cards from popular local businesses or restaurants.

• Mutual Benefit: When your organization solicits gift card donations from local businesses, they often appreciate the additional publicity.
• Random Draw or Auction: You can maximize revenue by selling chances to draw a gift card or auction them off individually or in bundles.
• Appeal: Everyone loves gift cards, making this a universally appealing activity that can raise significant funds with minimal effort.

#6. Mobile Bidding

Mobile bidding technology allows attendees to bid on auction items using their smartphones. This can streamline the bidding process, making it more accessible and engaging for participants.

• Convenience: Attendees can bid from anywhere at the event, reducing the need for physical bid sheets and encouraging more spontaneous bidding.
• Real-time Updates: Participants receive instant notifications when they are outbid, prompting them to bid again.
• Wider Reach: Those who cannot attend the event in person can still participate in the auction, expanding your potential donor base.

Implement Revenue Enhances with ClickBid’s Platform

By incorporating these revenue enhancers into your nonprofit fundraising events, you can create a more engaging and profitable experience for your attendees. Ready to experiment with these strategies at your next event? ClickBid’s platform can help you implement them and drive greater support for your cause. Schedule a free demo with ClickBid.