From Party Planning to Purpose-Driven Fundraising
from Elevate Your Event Hosted by Handbid
Welcome back to Elevate Your Event! This week, Jeff Porter sits down with Shilpa Alva, founder and executive director of Search for Water. What started as a party-loving 20-something’s social gatherings grew into a global nonprofit tackling water access, sanitation, hygiene, and menstrual health in Haiti, Uganda, and Indonesia. Shilpa’s journey shows how a single event can spark an international mission—and why events remain central to her organization’s impact today. In This Episode: How Shilpa’s very first event at the Weisman Art Museum launched Search for Water The creative, scrappy, and manual ways early events came together—think hand-swiped credit cards and DIY branding Why ticket sales aren’t your biggest revenue driver (and where to focus instead) The unique two-part event model Shilpa uses today: VIP dinner + high-energy afterparty Smart uses of technology—and what nonprofits really need next from their platforms The annual silent auction debate: Keep it or kill it? Shilpa’s surprising perspective Why It Matters: Shilpa’s story is proof that you don’t need a huge budget or fancy tools to make a lasting impact. With creativity, persistence, and the right people, even small events can drive big change—locally and globally. Key Takeaways: Think beyond ticket sales—other revenue streams can outpace them Your first event doesn’t need to be perfect to be powerful Tech can save time and improve guest experiences when paired with solid processes Creative event formats can keep supporters coming back year after year Final Thought: From swiping cards by hand to running high-tech, high-impact events, Shilpa Alva proves that the heart of fundraising is about connection, creativity, and vision. Your next event could be the start of something bigger than you ever imagined.
Embed this episode
Chapters
- 0:00 – Intro (37 sec)
- 0:37 – Guest Welcome
- 1:11 – What is Search for Water?
- 2:40 – The Power of Water Access
- 4:19 – How It All Began
- 7:21 – Manual Days of Fundraising
- 10:42 – Ticket Sales vs. Fundraising Strategy
- 12:28 – Building the Right Guest List
- 14:30 – The Ask: Two Different Moments
- 16:02 – Creative Giving Techniques
- 19:11 – Silent Auction Strategy
- 20:16 – The Pandemic Shift
- 22:31 – Should You Keep Your Silent Auction?
- 23:35 – Engaging Local Communities
- 24:32 – Event Technology Wins & Pain Points
- 27:10 – AI and Auction Optimization
- 29:44 – Guest Experience Matters
- 34:19 – The Checkout Challenge
- 35:25 – Changing Auction Closing Times
- 36:23 – The Second-Chance Auction
- 37:06 – The Recurring Item Problem
- 39:37 – Future Event Strategy
- 41:48 – Technology as a Growth Driver
- 43:23 – Closing Remarks
No transcript yet.