YOUR
EVENT FUNDRAISING
CONSULTANT
PLAN WITH PURPOSE
FUNDRAISE WITH IMPACT
Creating an effective fundraising strategy is vital because it turns a good cause into a memorable, high-impact event that truly maximises support. Without a clear plan, even the most passionate guests can leave feeling uncertain about how or why to give. A well-thought-out strategy sets the tone, guides the energy in the room, and seamlessly blends entertainment with fundraising, making generosity feel natural and enjoyable. It ensures that every speech, auction, and pledge opportunity is perfectly timed to inspire donations, helping you reach — or exceed — your goals while leaving a lasting, positive impression on your supporters.
WHAT ARE THE TOP THREE
PRIORITIES FOR YOUR EVENT
The very first question I’ll ask as your Event Fundraising Consultant is: what are the top three most important aspects of your event, in order of priority? Typically, they are fundraising, entertainment, and networking. If fundraising is your number one focus—as it is for most charities—then the entire event must be built around making it easy, enjoyable, and compelling for your guests to give. Here’s how we’ll do that together.
OPENING SPEECH AND ICE BREAKER
A strong start sets the tone for the whole night. I recommend beginning with a warm welcome from your charity’s CEO to establish the cause and make everyone feel connected. From there, I’ll take over as your charity auctioneer and host to instantly get the room engaged with a fun icebreaker like heads or tails. It’s simple, quick, and gets people laughing, breaking the ice and creating an immediate fundraising moment as everyone plays along.
RAFFLE SALES AND LOT PROMOTION
While guests enjoy dinner, I’ll make sure the focus stays on fundraising — but never intrusively. Raffle tickets are best sold in bundles (e.g. 10 tickets for £50) rather than individually. Once one person on a table buys in, it sparks a ripple effect around the table, encouraging others to join in. Importantly, my team will wait until plates are cleared before approaching guests so we never interrupt their meal. If you’d also like entertainment I can help coordinate this, balancing the entertainment with fundraising so we never lose momentum.
LIVE AUCTION
After desserts, we move into the main fundraising section. This begins with an emotive share or video that reminds everyone why they’re here — bringing the purpose of the charity front and centre. Once the room is connected to the cause, I’ll lead the live auction, working the crowd with warmth, energy, humour, and a bit of cheekiness to encourage competitive bidding. My aim is to make the auction feel like entertainment in its own right because, quite simply, people give more when they’re enjoying themselves.
LIVE PLEDGE
When the live auction concludes, we take a moment to reset the energy and reconnect with the charity’s purpose before launching into the live pledge. This is a powerful, shared experience where I’ll introduce someone who’s personally benefited from the charity, to speak from the heart. Linking each pledge level to a tangible outcome, I make every donation feel meaningful and real. The result? A focused, high-impact fundraising drive where everyone feels inspired to contribute.
RAFFLE DRAW
If you’re holding a raffle, I recommend not taking the time to announce each winner. This can be displayed via a winner’s list at each table or by attaching winning tickets to prizes. This is much quicker than announcing each winner one-by-one, allowing you to keep the energy up and move seamlessly into the final entertainment segment — without losing guests’ attention or time.
SILENT AUCTION CLOSE
If you’re hosting a silent auction, I can also run a live countdown to the close. Treating the final moments like a real-time eBay auction adds that competitive edge, often encouraging last-second bids. You can close the silent auction before the main fundraising or leave it until after the entertainment — whichever best suits your event. In my experience, either option can work equally well, as long as guests are reminded to place their final bids!
By carefully planning the flow of your evening — and making sure every element supports your fundraising goals — I help you craft an event that is engaging, seamless, and most importantly, maximises your total raised. Together, we’ll make sure your guests leave feeling uplifted, entertained, and proud of the difference they’ve made.
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