Auction is Action with U in it!
Join us as we delve into the exciting world of fundraising auctions, where every bid is a step towards making a difference. We believe that Auctions is action with a "U" in it! Whether you're a seasoned organizer or a newcomer, our insights will equip you with the knowledge to elevate your fundraising initiatives and create memorable experiences for everyone!
Auction is Action with U in it!
AFP ICON Conference 2026
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Recommended For
Nonprofit leaders
Development directors
Board members
Event planners
Fundraising committees
School, hospital, and foundation galas
All right here, what are you going to give on at$25,$50,$75,$100,000? You are listening to the Auction is Action with UNID podcast presented by Call to Auction, where our favorite four-little word is S-O-L-D. So, so so hey there everyone. Here we are, San Diego AFP Icon, the biggest fundraising conference in the entire world. And it's a San Diego, and we are gonna have a good time. We're gonna see some old friends, we're gonna make some new friends, and we're gonna learn some stuff. We're gonna be talking with a lot of different fundraisers and find out what's working in their events, what the trends are, and how we can raise more money from more of our friends. So let's uh let's go. Well, here I am. I'm at the AFP hub in the conference uh expo hall, and there's nobody here. I think we're here early. Uh everybody else is in classes, and uh yeah, this is a great place to meet with vendors, to meet with potential partners and all of this stuff. And I've got some vendors that I've got to go meet with because I uh have some great vendors with consignment travel, some uh technology platforms, some uh other friends that are out there that we uh get along real well. So uh yeah, here we are, Expo Center. Let's uh let's go see what we can see. So, what kind of trend do you see in that's coming up here in the next year or so that nonprofits got to be looking at?
SPEAKER_04Uh I would say AI, and I know that a lot of people are fearful of that. Let AI take some of that work away from you and streamline, polish it up, use your own words, but please utilize that. I see that as a huge, huge benefit.
SPEAKER_09I I I will admit that I am definitely using the AI quite a bit more than that.
SPEAKER_04Me too. Me too.
SPEAKER_09Yeah, right up. All right, well, it's good to see you and uh great to see you too, Bobby. Have a great icon.
SPEAKER_04Okay, thanks.
SPEAKER_08What are some trends that you think are gonna be coming up here in the next year or so in fundraising events? Well, being specific and intentional about your fund of future is where you have the easiest opportunity for the other fruit, right?
SPEAKER_01I mean, AI, AI, AI. Some people are really rocking it with developing donor journeys and plans and all these things in just seconds of time and being able to really then use a lot more of their time to be out with donors.
SPEAKER_03For nonprofits that are looking for answers, looking for something that's new, what are the fill the gaps in the holes of their fundraising and things like that? This is the place to be. Tiffany.
SPEAKER_00Hello, hello. We're definitely seeing more trends towards those paddle raises, making it super easy, making it really frictionless experience. So that's what we're working on right now as well.
SPEAKER_09Okay?
SPEAKER_00I'm seeing dessert not at the table.
SPEAKER_09What?
SPEAKER_02What? Yes. You're crazy. Believe it or not, if you're not doing a dessert dash, which is an excellent way to make money. They're also doing dessert back in the cocktail hour.
SPEAKER_05Private chefs, and you do girls' night with tacos and margaritas or tapas and wine, or you got the guy's collection that's beer and barbecue or bourbon and steak.
SPEAKER_07The number of large donors has been going up, but at the same time, the number of small donors has been going down. And the big picture of philanthropy has been increasing, but we've been losing those small dollar donors. All right, everybody. So here we are.
SPEAKER_09Look at this. I know this guy. What's up, Paul? How you doing? Are you telling me? Yeah, buddy. That is the opening session for AFP Icon. A lot of great stuff, a lot of great inspiration, and that's what it's really about is gathering a bunch of people together to really get focused on the task at hand, which is going out and making a bigger impact on the world. And it was so cool that one of my mentors, one of the people that I look up to, uh, Tori Taj with Child Crisis Arizona, received Fundraiser of the Year award today. So that's part of the reason I'm here to show my support, show my love uh for her and her team. So it's uh really, really cool to uh have that direct connection with one of the best fundraising professionals in the world, obviously. So uh we're gonna get out and we're gonna go do some more sessions, do some more mingling in the uh Expo Center, and then uh we've got some uh fun stuff going on later tonight. So let's see. Well, it's been an eventful day here in San Diego at AFP Icon and just learning lots of great stuff. I just talked with a group about how we're able to take events and evolve those into a more uh donor-focused, more relationship-focused uh style of events. So that was pretty cool to learn about that. But uh it's really just about meeting other professional fundraisers and people that understand this world because it is kind of a crazy world. So uh now I'm on my way to a reception with a uh Arizona AFP chapter. I did do a lot of work in Arizona, love Arizona, founded my business in Arizona, uh my kids live in Arizona, so I love that, and I love being a part of that chapter. So I'm on my way there. Let's go see what we see.