Fundraising Success Story: How Partnering With Fundraising Experts Produced Extraordinary Results

A nonprofit based in Dallas, TX achieved fundraising success when it partnered with fundraising experts Murad Auctions. They helped this charity double table donations, expand its donor base, and increase fundraiser participation.  

Nonprofit Both Ends Believing (BEB) provides foreign governments software to help move children from institutions or orphanages to loving homes. Its latest fundraising event is an excellent example of how strategic planning, innovative ideas, and professional support can increase fundraiser success. This blog outlines how BEB’s fundraiser exceeded expectations. Watch video testimonial.

Measurable Fundraising Successful Outcomes

“We saw our number of donors skyrocket this year and the amount of giving went up as well,” said Margaret Elizabeth McKissack, BEB vice president of External Affairs.

Fundraising Success Results

• Doubled Table Donations: The average donation per table surged from $4,000 to $9,000.
  
• Expanded Donor Base: Sixty new donors joined the cause, marking a significant outreach milestone.
  
• Increased Donations: The number of gifts increased from 93 to 168, reflecting a deeper level of engagement.
  

Fundraiser Success Light Bulb Moment

Originally, Margaret Elizabeth and her team planned to ask a board member to conduct the live auction. Soon, it became evident that they needed the expertise of fundraising experts. “I quickly convinced myself we needed to bring in the professionals to make sure it was a success,” she said.

Fundraising Success Game-Changers

Partnering With Fundraising Experts

When BEB decided to partner with professional fundraising experts Murad Auctions, it was a game-changer. Their team used their knowledge and years of experience to enhance the event. “I didn’t really understand the fullness of service that would come in using Murad Auctions,” Margaret Elizabeth said.

They also shared invaluable auction strategies, advice, and logistical support, which contributed to the charity’s fundraising success. Their involvement also boosted the BEB team’s confidence. “The entire Murad team, throughout the process, was ready and available. They answered all our questions, sometimes more than once, and we felt very good about the process,” she said.

Live Auction Advice From Experts

Working with experienced fundraising experts provided solutions for this nonprofit’s challenges. Margaret Elizabeth and her team needed help selecting popular high-dollar live auction items that would sell. Professional Charity Auctioneer Louis Murad shared valuable information about what live auction items sell well and suggested which items to select and why. “Louis was wonderful. He walked us through this process very well, as did the entire team, and instilled confidence in us to know we had made the right choice in spending the money and investing a little so that this event could be successful.”

No-Risk Live Auction Packages

See more travel and experience packages.

The BEB team also needed more live auction items. “The other thing I was unsure about was that we had enough items for the live auction because we really, on our own, only had three or four items that would be eligible for a live auction.”

Murad Auctions provided an excellent resource for overcoming this challenge. Their no-risk live auction consignment packages offered a wide array of appealing, high-value live auction trip and experience packages. Additionally, these packages could be sold numerous times, providing the opportunity to increase fundraiser profits.

“The consignment packages really played a huge role in supplementing what we already had so that it could be a very robust but manageable live auction for us,” Margaret Elizabeth said. 

Creative Giving Opportunities To Increase Fundraising Success

All-Inclusive Giving Moment

Louis provided several creative giving opportunities during the fundraiser. Margaret Elizabeth credits him for the live auction’s huge success. His skills, stage presence, and professionalism resonated with attendees and encouraged them to give generously.

The giving moment allowed donors at all levels to participate. Louis ensured inclusivity by starting with high donation amounts and gradually lowering the threshold, making everyone feel like an essential part of the mission.

“The auction created a lot of excitement and was really entertaining.  Our money came through the giving moment.  It really was impactful in raising the money and inviting a lot of people to participate,” she said. “I received feedback from many people that they loved how Louis started high and then went low. This allowed a lot of people at different giving levels to participate and to feel like they were giving back, and they were involved.”

The Paddle Call/Dump

After the live auction, Louis added another successful giving option called the Paddle Call or Paddle Dump. In this fundraiser, guests had the opportunity to turn in their bidding paddles along with a $100 donation for a chance to be in a drawing for a fabulous prize. The ability to make smaller donations encouraged participation from guests who maybe didn’t bid in the live auction. This inclusivity significantly increased the number of donors.

Digital Bidding Software To Increase Fundraiser Success

The Murad team also helped organize a silent auction that provided a relaxed alternative, catering to guests who preferred to browse and bid digitally at their own pace. Their digital bidding platform helped the silent auction flow smoothly.

The software streamlined the bidding process, making it more accessible and efficient. Guests could bid on items using their smartphones while socializing and moving around the event space. This eliminated the traditional barriers associated with manual bidding methods.

“People are moving so much. They’re being social, and they’re getting food and beverages. You really couldn’t imagine that they were going to, in an old school way, walk by a table and write their name down to bid on something,” said Margaret Elizabeth.

Real-Time Event Data Tracking

Murad Auctions offered a tech-savvy approach for tracking fundraiser results. Software enabled the BEB team to track real-time bidding activity, donations, and donor engagement. This information was invaluable for assessing the event’s success and following up with donors after the event. BEB also received comprehensive fundraiser reports. “The Murad team running the reports for me was so helpful. They really delivered those numbers to us pretty immediately after the event to see the giving and how the giving broke down between the live and silent auction,” Margaret Elizabeth said. “We had some individuals who made pledges or commitments that night, and we were able to follow up with them, and they have since given. The reporting was extremely helpful.”

User-Friendly Event Website

A branded, user-friendly event website played a key role in communicating auction details. It served as a one-stop hub, showcasing auction items, event details, and the organization’s mission. Attendees could preview auction items beforehand, building anticipation and engagement. “The event website we were able to build through the software was very good,” said Margaret Elizabeth. “It was very adaptable.”

Efficient Digital Registration, Check-In and Check-Out

Murad’s digital check-in and check-out simplified the process and created a positive impression among guests. The efficiency reduced wait times and ensured a smoother experience for guests. It also set them up to bid electronically during the event. “We had full confidence in the Murad team to manage registration check-in and check-out, and it was a huge relief to have them there,” said Margaret Elizabeth.

Great Return On Investment

“It is an additional expense, but obviously, that expense is covered when you think about the increase in fundraising.  We’re so thankful for Murad helping us. I think we got a lot of bang for our buck because of the training Murad Auctions gave us. They really supplemented our team and came alongside of us to implement this event. I don’t think we could have done this auction as effectively without them,” said Margaret Elizabeth. Watch testimonial videos and online review here.