Stop Stewarding Your Donors. Do This Instead

from Hey Nonprofits! · host HGA Fundraising

Trevor Nelson and benefit auctioneer George Franco make the case for replacing stewardship with partnership. Calling a donor a steward puts the weight of your mission on their shoulders. Inviting them to partner puts you in it together. That one shift changes how your board reaches out, how your donors feel, and how much your gala raises. George spent 30+ years as a TV news reporter before becoming a full-time bilingual benefit auctioneer. He brings that storyteller's instinct to every event, along with some blunt advice on what quietly kills gala revenue: a bar next to the stage, a run of show that goes 40 minutes over, and fundraising that drags past 9 PM. You'll also hear: Why fund-a-need should bring in about 70% of your event revenue The simplest fix when your board won't fundraise Why energy equals enthusiasm equals dollars, in a straight line How one event sets up attendance and giving for the next one Why the auctioneer is the least important person in the room CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:36 Why real and personal fundraising works now 02:17 More money than ever, and donors can smell BS 03:21 Your board's circle of influence 05:05 Energy equals enthusiasm equals dollars 05:23 Have you told your board what to say 06:05 Find who actually makes the decisions 07:38 Personal stories beat AI form letters 09:18 Stop stewarding donors. Partner with them. 12:09 Reframe the ask as an invite 12:38 From TV news to the Good News Auctioneer 14:06 A renaissance in nonprofit events 14:56 Bringing auctions to new cultural communities 16:08 Beat analysis paralysis one step at a time 17:08 Joshua's Wish and the mom and pop nonprofit 18:14 Stepping stones: software, run of show, short speeches 20:25 Fundraising is harder, but the tools are there 21:27 Every event sets up the next one 23:12 Respect your nonprofit 24:47 The bow tie lesson 25:37 Rapid fire: wrap fundraising by 9 PM 26:12 Fund-a-need vs. live auction: the 70/30 split 26:44 A $25,000 ask in Spanish 27:14 How to reach George 27:45 The auctioneer is the echo for your cause 🔗 *CONNECT WITH US* 🔗 Book George for Your Event: https://charityauctioneerswelove.com/auctioneers/george-franco Connect with George on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-franco-18774a64/ Connect with Trevor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-nelson-b8922a167/ Follow Hey Nonprofits! on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hey-non-profits-raise-more-money/ 💙 *ABOUT HGA FUNDRAISING* 💙 This episode was brought to you by HGA Fundraising. The team at HGA helps event fundraisers create auction success with the most profitable (and mission focused) auction items in the space. Trips and experiences that excite donors, ignite bidding, and help your organization RAISE MORE MONEY. To learn more about HGA Fundraising click here: https://hgafundraising.com/trips-and-experiences/ Easiest way to raise more money in your next event: https://hgafundraising.com/golden-ticket/ Feeling stuck with your fundraising? No matter where you are at in your journey, HGA offers FREE coaching for fundraisers: https://hgafundraising.com/nonprofit-coaching/ Need an auctioneer for your next event: https://charityauctioneerswelove.com

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Oct 6, 2026

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Stop Stewarding Your Donors. Do This Instead

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