The Silent Auction Mistake Costing You Revenue

What this episode covers

Most nonprofits think more silent auction items = more money. Phil Sanger has spent 15+ years proving the opposite.In this episode, Phil, founder of HelloFund and an OG in the fundraising tech space since 2009, joins Trevor to break down what's actually working at galas right now and what's quietly killing revenue.We cover:→ Why the "espresso machine in the silent auction" mindset is costing you donors→ The bid paddle mistake auctioneers hate (and the better way to land that sponsorship)→ Closing your silent auction AFTER the event — and why it's making orgs more money→ Using the silent auction to test future live auction items (and identify new major donors)→ The check-in data you need 3 days before your event to avoid a slow line at the door→ Why nonprofit turnover is leading to "paralysis by analysis" — and how to lead through it→ "Software works WITH people, not instead of them" — what AI actually means for fundraisersWhether you're raising $25K or $1M+ at your next gala, this one's worth your time.Chapters:00:00 Intro00:33 The Role of Software in Nonprofits02:52 Phil Sanger's Journey and HelloFund06:27 Challenges in the Nonprofit Sector07:33 Leadership and Decision-Making in Nonprofits11:08 Simplifying Processes for Better Outcomes14:36 Maximizing Auction Effectiveness16:28 Silent Auction Strategies22:00 Streamlining Check-In and Check-Out24:49 Closing Silent Auctions for More Revenue26:46 Final Thoughts and Future Opportunities28:35 BONUSHave a question or topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know https://hgafundraising.com/ask-your-questions/🔗 *CONNECT WITH US* 🔗Phil's Website HelloFund: https://www.hellofund.com/Connect with Phil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philsanger/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/Sign up to receive the HGA Fundraising newsletter to receive fundraising insights from the brightest minds in the space: https://hgafundraising.com/subscribe-to-newsletter/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/

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

Why Live and Evergreen Models Both Fall Short

Feb 4, 2026 ·18m

EP 100 | Listener Q&A: Real Answers to Your Email Marketing and Copywriting Questions

Jun 11, 2025 ·21m

EP 99 | 5 Simple Ways to Add More Personality to Your Emails

Jun 4, 2025 ·9m

EP 98 | 4 Lies Online Business Owners Believe About Storytelling in Marketing

May 28, 2025 ·14m

EP 97 | Ditch Boring PDFs! Try These 2 High-Value Lead Magnets Instead

May 21, 2025 ·11m

EP 96 | Frustrated with Email Marketing? 8 Signs That Something Is Off

May 14, 2025 ·7m

Similar Podcasts

The Course Mentors Podcast The Course Mentors Hey there, future course creator!Ever feel like turning your know-how into an online course is like trying to solve a Rubik's cube blindfolded? Well, grab your headphones because "The Course Mentors Podcast" is here to be your secret weapon!Meet Aimee and Odette (that's us!), your new best friends in the course creation world. We've been in the trenches for over a decade, and for the last five years, we've been rocking the online course space. Now we're here to spill all our secrets in bite-sized, 15-20 minute episodes that'll fit perfectly in your coffee breaks.No fluff, no filler - just real, actionable advice that'll take you from "um, what's a landing page?" to "holy moly, I just hit six figures!". We're talking everything from crafting your course to marketing it like a pro and building a business that'll have you pinching yourself.Whether you're dreaming of ditching the 9-to-5 grind, adding a sweet extra income str The Boss Lady in Sweatpants Show - Confidently Create Content that Connects and Converts Allison Scholes - Podcasting, Content Clarity, Content Coach, Entrepreneurship, Social Media, Personal Branding, Visual Branding, Business Growth, Content Creation, Content Planning Hey. I’m Allison Scholes. My mission is to help female entrepreneurs create content in an authentic, easy, simple and fun way.I believe the content creation process should be exciting and easy, not time consuming! I am here to help you streamline your content creation plan, define and fine tune your personal brand, elevate your marketing skills, write better copy, implement an easy social media strategy and more. It’s finally time to create less, but BETTER content that makes a BIGGER impact.In this Podcast, you will find creative copy and content tips, hacks for social media and sales, business growth secrets, and expert guests who will help you blow up your business and bank account. Find exciting content creation episodes, branding strategies, social media hacks and more.It’s time to streamline your content plan and show up as your most authentic you!Connect with me: www.bossladyinsweatpants.com True Family Men David Johnson Hey I’m David Johnson founder of True Family Men. I believe the lord has called me to build a strong community of men. The mission of this community is to allow men to learn from one another's successes and failures in marriage and parenting. The True Family Men Podcast was born to give men a platform to share their testimonies of how Jesus Christ has brought them out of life greatest challenges and how to begin the healing process. We as men face many problems in life from lust, pornography addiction, drug and alcohol addiction, anger, stress, false sense of manliness, the list is endless, but through a strong community of believers and the redeeming power of christ's blood we can overcome! I enjoy camping, eagle scouting, hiking, and the weekly chic-fila splurges! I personally enjoy reading, weight lifting, and connecting with new men across the world who have a love for Jesus Christ.I believe that God has called us family men to be the spiritual leaders of our homes. It's time Ignition Zone Ignite to Rise Life Coaching Hey, I see you. You’re running a business, handling all the things, and somehow, you’re still answering emails at 10 PM.You tell yourself, ”Just one more thing,” but somehow, one more thing turns into one more hour.Sound familiar?Welcome to ”Ignition Zone,” the podcast for high-achieving women who are ready to set boundaries, unplug, and still keep their business thriving.I’m Crystal Cornacchia, The Unplugged Success Coach, and I help women like you reclaim your time without feeling guilty or losing momentum.Each week, I’ll give you quick, no-fluff episodes packed with simple strategies to:✔ Stop overworking and take back your time✔ Set boundaries that actually stick✔ Unplug without your business falling apart✔ Grow your business without being on call 24/7This is for you if you want to step back without stepping away and finally build a business that doesn’t need you every second of the day.New episodes drop every Tuesday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and igniteinnovation.net.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Hey Nonprofits!?

This episode is 34 minutes long.

When was this Hey Nonprofits! episode published?

This episode was published on May 12, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Most nonprofits think more silent auction items = more money. Phil Sanger has spent 15+ years proving the opposite.In this episode, Phil, founder of HelloFund and an OG in the fundraising tech space since 2009, joins Trevor to break down what's...

Can I download this Hey Nonprofits! episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.