After hundreds of galas, I’ve seen just about everything: surprise speeches, runaway centerpieces, a paddle raise interrupted by a conga line (true story). But the galas that raise serious money all share the same winning ingredients.
Here’s my slightly irreverent, very honest guide to what makes a nonprofit gala not just great—but profitable, memorable, and a whole lot of fun.
1. A Clear Purpose Guests Can Actually Feel
Guests don’t give to events. They give to impact.
If your mission moment makes people whisper, “Wow,” we’re on the right track. If it makes them check their email, we’re in trouble. Keep it emotional, tight, and heartfelt. Bring a story that hits the heart—not a dissertation that hits the snooze button.
2. A Program With No Filler (Please.)
No one wakes up thinking, “I really hope I sit through eight speeches tonight.”
The best galas keep things moving:
Quick transitions
Short speeches
Clear moments of meaning
Zero rambling
A focused program keeps guests engaged and keeps me—your auctioneer—from having to resuscitate the room at 9:45 p.m.
3. A Live Auction With the Right Items
The secret to a profitable auction? Items people actually want.
Top sellers usually fall into three categories:
Unique experiences (Think chef dinners and backstage passes—not a fruit basket.)
Things money normally can’t buy
Mission-connected packages
And then there’s me. My job is to create bidding wars that are fun, fast, and just competitive enough that two guests look at each other afterward and say, “I can’t believe we just did that… but what a great cause!”
4. A Fund-A-Need With Heart
The paddle raise is where the real magic (and money) happens.
To make it soar:
Tell a story that lands
Set the tone with a leadership gift
Offer a range of giving levels
Let me keep the momentum flowing
A good Fund-A-Need can double your night. A great one can triple it.
5. A Room That Works — Especially Tight Tables
Let’s talk about the unsung hero of fundraising: tight tables.
I know, I know. Your décor committee loves a spacious layout. But here’s the truth: the closer the tables, the better the energy. When people are packed together (comfortably!), something magical happens:
Applause rolls like a wave
Laughter becomes contagious
Bidding becomes social
The room feels electric
And for me, your auctioneer, tight tables are pure gold. I can:
See every paddle the moment it rises
Make eye contact and spark competition
Ride the room’s energy like a surfer catching the perfect wave
Spread the room out too much and I’m basically shouting across a Costco. Keep it tight and I can turn that room into a generosity supernova.
6. A Team That Knows the Plan
Behind every great gala is a small army of people trying not to spill soup on VIPs.
The best events have:
Clear roles
Solid rehearsal
Excellent communication
A magical person who knows where the extra pens are
A smooth team makes fundraising smoother.
7. A Guest Experience People Love
You want your guests to leave saying, “That was actually… fun!”
Great galas have:
Good food
Strong cocktails
Simple speeches
Social time
A vibe of celebration, not obligation
Seriously, joy is a fundraising strategy.
8. Follow-Up That Keeps the Love Going
The gala is just the beginning.
Thank people like you mean it.
Show them their impact.
Stay connected until next year—preferably long before the next invitation lands in their inbox.
A profitable gala isn’t about glitz. It’s about connection, energy, joy, and a room that feels alive. Give people a night they’ll remember, and they’ll give right back to you.
And if you need someone on stage who can keep things fun, fast, emotional, and profitable - reach out!