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!
Episodes
47 episodes
Your Space, Your Story: Why Hosting Your Fundraiser at Home Can Raise More
What if your organization’s best event venue is the space you already have? In this episode of Auction is Action, Bobby D. explores how hosting a fundraiser in your own space can bring guests closer to your mission. From seeing the wor...
Bad Sound Can Ruin Your Gala (And Cost You Money)
Your guests can’t connect with a story they can’t hear.In this episode of Auction Is Action, Bobby D. explains how poor sound affects the entire gala experience—from conversations drowned out by music to mission speakers no one ...
The Golden Goosebump Moment: When Your Gala Is Ready to Give
Every successful fundraising gala has a defining moment—the moment the room goes quiet, your guests lean forward, and everyone feels ready to raise their paddle.I call it the Golden Goosebump Moment.It doesn’t happen by acc...
Your Board Is Costing Your Gala Money—Here’s How to Activate Them
Your board members shouldn’t arrive at your fundraising event asking, “Where’s my table?” They should be asking, “Who can I welcome, inspire, connect, and thank?”In this episode of Auction is Action, Bobby D. shares a practical plan for...
The Best Fundraising Auction Advice in America Live from Napa
Recorded live at the Benefit Auction Summit in Napa, this special episode brings together some of the nation’s top fundraising auctioneers and event experts to share their best advice, proven strategies, and biggest lessons from the stage.<...
Stop Entertaining. Start Fundraising.
A successful fundraising event should do more than entertain—it should inspire action.In this episode of Auction is Action, Bobby D. breaks down how nonprofits can create a giving experience that is clear, credible, and easy. From live a...
How to Create an “Oprah Moment” at Your Fundraising Auction
What if one travel package could produce multiple winners, multiply your auction revenue, and help identify your organization’s next major donors?In this episode, Bobby D. explains how to create an “Oprah Moment” at your fundraising auct...
Raise More with Your Paddle Raise: The Best Practices Most Galas Miss
A successful paddle raise isn’t spontaneous—it’s strategically designed.In this episode, Bobby D. shares the essential practices that help nonprofits inspire more donors, generate more revenue, and create a powerful mission-centered mome...
Your Gala Isn't Entertainment. It's Leadership.
What if the biggest factor in your gala's fundraising success isn't your auction items, décor, or entertainment? In this episode, Bobby D. reveals why every decision—from your venue and storytelling to your emcee, auctioneer, and paddle raise—i...
The Secret to Turning Every Guest Into a Donor
Most nonprofits end their paddle raise too early.In this episode of Auction is Action, Bobby D. Ehlert shares one of the simplest—and most overlooked—fundraising strategies you can implement at your next event: the Paddle Dro...
The Hidden Revenue at Every Gala: 8 Games That Raise Thousands
Most fundraising events rely on the same three revenue streams: the silent auction, the live auction, and the paddle raise. But what if you could add thousands of dollars to your event without adding another live auction item or extending your ...
Is Your Nonprofit Mindset Holding Your Event Back?
Many nonprofit events struggle not because of the mission, the donors, or the economy—but because of the mindset behind the event itself.In this episode of Auction is Action, Bobby D. Ehlert explores how traditional nonprofit thinking ca...
The Fundraising Event Playbook Nobody Hands You
Most nonprofit professionals inherit a fundraising event, receive a folder of documents from the previous committee, and are told, "This is how we've always done it."But what if that's exactly what's holding your event back?In thi...
Free Isn't Free: The Hidden Cost of Bargain Auctioneers
In this episode of Auction Is Action, Bobby D. tackles one of the most common—and costly—mistakes nonprofits make when planning a fundraising gala: hiring the "free" auctioneer.At first glance, saving a few thousand dollars on an auction...
Dessert Dash Done Right: Energy, Competition, and Revenue
What if one of the most profitable moments at your gala wasn’t your live auction… but dessert?In this episode of Auction Is Action, Bobby D. breaks down the Dessert Dash — the fast-paced, high-energy fundraising game that creates excitem...
The Smartest Gala Sponsorship Most Nonprofits Aren’t Using
What if your auctioneer fee wasn’t viewed as an expense… but as a sponsorship opportunity with massive ROI potential?In this episode of Auction is Action, billion-dollar fundraiser, event strategist, professional fundraising auctioneer,...
How to Ask: Making Fundraising Magic Happen
Great fundraising doesn’t happen by accident—it happens in the ask.In this episode of Auction is Action, we break down how to turn a simple request into a powerful, emotional moment that inspires generosity and drives real resul...
From Arrival to Impact: Creating a Frictionless Giving Experience
What if your biggest fundraising gains don’t come from what happens on stage—but from what happens the moment your guests walk in?In this episode of Auction is Action, we break down how to design a frictionless giving expe...
Paddle Raise Only Events: Simpler Format, Bigger Impact
What if the most powerful fundraising moment at your event… was the only one you needed?In this episode, we break down the rise of Paddle Raise Only events—a simpler, more focused format that’s helping nonprofits cut through t...
If You’re Not Tracking This, You’re Leaving Money on the Table
Most nonprofits think their gala ends when the last paddle drops—but the truth is, that’s where the real opportunity begins.In this episode of Auction Is Action (with U in it), Bobby D. breaks down why data collection is one of ...
Elevate Conference Recap
What happens when people gather with purpose?In this episode of Auction Is Action, I’m sharing reflections straight from the Elevate Conference—an event centered around one powerful idea: fundraising is ultimately about people coming to...
What World-Class Auctioneers Do Before They Ever Touch the Mic
Great auctioneers aren’t made in the spotlight—they’re made in the preparation.In this episode of Auction Is Action, we pull back the curtain on what world-class auctioneers do long before they step on stage. This isn’t about ch...
From Invitation to Impact: Designing a Fundraising Experience That Converts
Great fundraising events don’t just happen at the podium—they’re designed from the very first invitation.In this episode of Auction Is Action, Bobby D breaks down why attendee experience is the most powerful fundraising strat...
The Donors of Tomorrow Are in the Room Today
The future of fundraising isn’t transactional—it’s relational.In this episode of Auction Is Action, we explore how nonprofit events can become powerful tools for engaging the next generation of donors. Today’s donors want more t...