Shows / Auction is Action with U in it!
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
- Auction is Action with U in it!
When the Room Works Against You: How to Overcome Challenging Gala Venues and Keep Donors Engaged
Not every gala venue is designed for fundraising success.Low ceilings, awkward room layouts, poor acoustics, obstructed sightlines, oversized ballrooms, and…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
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…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
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…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
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…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
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…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
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…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
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…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
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…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
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…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
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…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
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…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
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…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
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 with U in it!
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…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
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…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
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…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
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…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
AFP ICON Conference 2026
Recommended ForNonprofit leadersDevelopment directorsBoard membersEvent plannersFundraising committeesSchool, hospital, and foundation galas
- Auction is Action with U in it!
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…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
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…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
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…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
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…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
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…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
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…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
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…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
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…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
Why the Best Fundraising Happens Before the Auction Starts
In this episode of Auction Is Action, fundraising auctioneer and strategist Bobby D. breaks down why the highest-performing galas combine smart consultation…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
The Perfect Gala Guest
The Perfect Gala Guest is the episode every nonprofit professional wishes their audience would listen to before walking into the ballroom.In this podcast, we…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
What Last Year’s Numbers Are Telling You
Before you plan this year’s gala, auction, or fundraising event, there’s one step most organizations skip—and it costs them real money.In this episode of…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
Why Great Auctioneers Don’t Talk Fast
Why do the best fundraising auctioneers often sound calmer, slower, and more intentional than everyone else in the room?In this episode of Auction Is Action…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
Starting the Year Off Right for Your Fundraising Gala
What you do at the beginning of the year will determine how successful your fundraising gala is — not what happens on event night.In this episode, professional…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
The Gala Checklist: 10 Things That Make or Break Your Fundraising Night
Your gala isn’t just an event — it’s the night that can fund your mission for the entire year.In this episode of Auction Is Action, professional fundraising…
- Auction is Action with U in it!
How to do Last Paddle Up, Last Hero Standing, Last Donor Giving...
Recommended ForNonprofit leadersDevelopment directorsBoard membersEvent plannersFundraising committeesSchool, hospital, and foundation galas
- Auction is Action with U in it!
Gala Magic: On & Off the Stage
Recommended ForNonprofit leadersDevelopment directorsBoard membersEvent plannersFundraising committeesSchool, hospital, and foundation galas
- Auction is Action with U in it!
More Butts Doesn't Mean More Bucks
Recommended ForNonprofit leadersDevelopment directorsBoard membersEvent plannersFundraising committeesSchool, hospital, and foundation galas
- Auction is Action with U in it!
The 7 P's of Event Planning
Recommended ForNonprofit leadersDevelopment directorsBoard membersEvent plannersFundraising committeesSchool, hospital, and foundation galas
- Auction is Action with U in it!
No more Baskets of BullSh!t
Recommended ForNonprofit leadersDevelopment directorsBoard membersEvent plannersFundraising committeesSchool, hospital, and foundation galas
- Auction is Action with U in it!
Why Paddles are Powerful at your Fundraising Gala
Recommended ForNonprofit leadersDevelopment directorsBoard membersEvent plannersFundraising committeesSchool, hospital, and foundation galas
- Auction is Action with U in it!
BENEFIT AUCTION SUMMIT 2025
Recommended ForNonprofit leadersDevelopment directorsBoard membersEvent plannersFundraising committeesSchool, hospital, and foundation galas
- Auction is Action with U in it!
Is your mindset holding back your fundraising?
Recommended ForNonprofit leadersDevelopment directorsBoard membersEvent plannersFundraising committeesSchool, hospital, and foundation galas
- Auction is Action with U in it!
Board Members: 5 Ways to Help Fill the Room and Fund the Mission
Recommended ForNonprofit leadersDevelopment directorsBoard membersEvent plannersFundraising committeesSchool, hospital, and foundation galas
- Auction is Action with U in it!
Top 10 Nonprofit Concerns in Fundraising Answered: You're not the only ones
Recommended ForNonprofit leadersDevelopment directorsBoard membersEvent plannersFundraising committeesSchool, hospital, and foundation galas
- Auction is Action with U in it!
Don't We Need Airfare With Our Auction Item Packages?
Recommended ForNonprofit leadersDevelopment directorsBoard membersEvent plannersFundraising committeesSchool, hospital, and foundation galas
- Auction is Action with U in it!
Top 10 Nonprofit Event Struggles
Recommended ForNonprofit leadersDevelopment directorsBoard membersEvent plannersFundraising committeesSchool, hospital, and foundation galas
- Auction is Action with U in it!
"Saturdays are the worst night for Fundraising"
Recommended ForNonprofit leadersDevelopment directorsBoard membersEvent plannersFundraising committeesSchool, hospital, and foundation galas
- Auction is Action with U in it!
Don't DIY Your Gala Demise...Hire a pro and build something beautiful and lucrative!
Recommended ForNonprofit leadersDevelopment directorsBoard membersEvent plannersFundraising committeesSchool, hospital, and foundation galas
- Auction is Action with U in it!
Irrational Generosity: The Secret Sauce of Fundraising Events
Recommended ForNonprofit leadersDevelopment directorsBoard membersEvent plannersFundraising committeesSchool, hospital, and foundation galas
- Auction is Action with U in it!
Auction Is Action With U In It!
Recommended ForNonprofit leadersDevelopment directorsBoard membersEvent plannersFundraising committeesSchool, hospital, and foundation galas