Fundraiser Success: Nonprofit Triples Fundraiser Revenue
This fundraiser success story explores how a nonprofit tripled its event revenue by changing its fundraising techniques. Like most nonprofits, Heritage Farmstead Museum was seeking innovative ways to raise funds for its cause.
The mission of this Plano, Texas nonprofit is to maintain its historic farmstead and museum, preserve the history, and offer educational programs to visitors.
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Impact of Hiring Professional Fundraising Experts
Initially, Heritage Farmstead Museum hosted small fundraising activities, including dinners, concerts, and casual fundraising activities that lacked structure. They knew they had to do something to improve fundraiser revenue, so they contacted professional fundraising experts.
“We heard about Murad Auctions and the great work they do in helping organizations raise money through auctions. We were familiar with auctioneers, but since we are a small organization, we weren’t sure if we could do it or afford it. It felt like a big risk,” said M’Lou Hyttinen, CEO/president of Heritage Farmstead Museum.
“It costs money to hire an auction company, so we were a little nervous,” she said. “The first event we did with Murad Auctions we made three times more than we ever imagined. It not only paid for itself, but it grew our revenue from that event tremendously. That was huge. After that, we knew we had to do this every year!”
Fundraising Beyond Ticket Sales: Maximizing Donations
The Murad Auctions team explained ways to make the fundraiser successful. Instead of relying only on just ticket sales, the team guided them to implement multiple revenue streams to help skyrocket the fundraiser profits, including:
Live auctions – High-energy, competitive bidding on exciting live auction packages
Giving Moment – Direct donation requests at different levels
Silent auctions – Mobile bidding throughout the event
They also provided exceptional no-risk live auction trips and experience packages that guests eagerly bid on. Another great benefit is that the packages can be sold numerous times to boost profits.
“Their expertise was huge for us, and we really leaned on them a lot,” M’Lou said. “We couldn’t be happier partnering with them. It has made a huge difference in our fundraising.”
Streamlining the Event Process
Before hiring Murad Auctions, event check-in and registration were done manually. They handled everything with paper registration and spreadsheets, which created a logistical nightmare.
Murad provided an auction software that streamlined the entire process. It eliminated confusion, saved time, and made the event more efficient, allowing them to focus on fundraising instead of logistics.
The auction software simplified the process by providing:
Easy Check-In – Guests register electronically, receive a bidder number, and register their credit/debit card
Easy Participation-Guests can participate in the live auction, silent auction, fundraiser games, and giving moment seamlessly.
Real-Time Bidding – There are no paper bids or confusing handwritten tallies because everything is tracked electronically.
Instant Reports – Nonprofits can see exactly how much they’ve raised in real-time during the event and track results afterward.
Cashless Transactions—The software eliminates the awkwardness and inconvenience of handling cash
Pre-Event Planning: A Success Factor
Another reason for the increased fundraiser success was the pre-event planning support that Murad Auctions provided. Having a structured plan ensured everything ran flawlessly. This process included meeting with an event planner, other members of staff, and a professional charity auctioneer. These meetings helped:
Set a Clear Fundraising Goal – Instead of just hoping for donations, they defined exactly what they wanted to achieve.
Create a Timeline To Follow– Murad Auctions gave them deadlines and scheduled key meetings to ensure everyone stayed on track.
Create a Run of Show – The team followed a detailed event guide that outlined everything from start to finish, ensuring the event flowed smoothly.
“Getting everyone on the same page before the event is critical for smooth execution,” said M’Lou. “Murad Auctions didn’t just show up on event night. They helped us plan every detail in advance.”
Another key part of pre-event planning was meeting with the auctioneer. “Louis Murad is fantastic. When you tell him what you’re raising money for, he gets so excited about your mission. His enthusiasm is contagious.”
Impact of a Professional Charity Auctioneer
One of the biggest game-changers for the fundraiser was having Louis as the auctioneer for the live auction.
“Having a professional auctioneer, especially someone like Louis Murad, has been amazing,” M’Lou said.
Here’s why having a professional auctioneer like Louis made such a difference:
Ability To Bring People Together To Support A Cause
The live auction isn’t just about selling items. It’s also about bringing people together for a cause. “The energy, excitement, and generosity in the room skyrocketed when Louis took the stage,” she said.
Passion For The Cause
Louis didn’t just show up to conduct the live auction. He immersed himself in their mission, and he was interested in their story and what they were raising money for. He was genuinely excited. “His passion was contagious,” said M’Lou. “Louis is incredible at engaging the audience. It’s so nice to have someone who genuinely cares about your mission and isn’t afraid to ask for donations,” she said.
Fearless Fundraising
Many people don’t donate because they aren’t asked. Heritage Farmstead Museum wasn’t maximizing donations at previous fundraisers because they weren’t asking correctly. “Louis has no fear in making those asks, and that’s why he’s so effective,” M’Lou said.
Engagement and High Energy
Louis didn’t just call out bids. He told the organization’s story, engaged the audience, and created an atmosphere of generosity. “Having a live auction and a professional auctioneer is essential for a truly successful event. It brings everything together and creates a shared enthusiasm for giving back. It fosters a spirit of generosity and makes everyone feel like they are part of something bigger.”
“We believe having an auctioneer and a live auction is absolutely essential for any major fundraising event,” said M’Lou.
Check out our video playlist to see Louis and other professional auctioneers in action.
If you need assistance or have questions about planning a successful live auction, contact Murad Auctions or schedule a free consultation.