The Small Things Costing Your Gala BIG Money

What this episode covers

Max Wolf has spent nearly a decade auctioneering fundraising events, and he's seen the patterns that separate the galas that crush it from the ones that fall flat.In this episode, Max and Trevor get into:– How one event lost 65% of its fundraising by replacing the paddle raise with self-checkout text-to-give– The question every nonprofit needs to answer honestly: "Is this a party or a fundraiser?"– Why a 20-minute mission speaker can sink your entire night (and the cake analogy that explains why)– The "fishing moment" that quietly raises an extra $5K — $100K above your anchor gift– Why volunteer auctioneers are the real competition, not other pros — and when that math actually changes– The biggest shift Max has seen post-COVID and what it means for your event strategyPlus, Max is giving away his Auction Playbook for free — built from 10 years of seeing what works and what doesn't.Have a question or topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know https://hgafundraising.com/ask-your-questions/🔗 *CONNECT WITH US* 🔗Connect with Trevor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-nelson-b8922a167/Connect with Max on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wolfauctiongroup/Book Max for an Event: https://www.wolfauctiongroup.com/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/

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Hey Nonprofits!?

This episode is 39 minutes long.

When was this Hey Nonprofits! episode published?

This episode was published on April 28, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Max Wolf has spent nearly a decade auctioneering fundraising events, and he's seen the patterns that separate the galas that crush it from the ones that fall flat.In this episode, Max and Trevor get into:– How one event lost 65% of its fundraising...

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.