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At every fundraising event, the excitement in the room isn’t just about the prizes, the auctioneer’s charm, or the mission—it’s also about the people who open their wallets (and hearts). Knowing who is in your audience can make the difference between good results and a record-breaking event.
That’s why we’re thrilled to feature this piece from Misty Marquam of Marquam Events, an expert in fundraising strategy and event production. Misty breaks down the “Big Five” types of spenders you’ll likely encounter at your event, offering practical tips on how to engage each one.
- Philanthropists
- Competitive bidders
- Gamblers
- Shoppers
- Staff & Volunteers
At Auctria, we know that fundraising isn’t one-size-fits-all. When you can identify your audience types—and pair that knowledge with smart technology—you create the perfect formula for higher engagement, more bids, and greater donations.
Bidders are bidders, right? Not necessarily!
The Big Five types of spenders at an Event fundraiser
There are not-so-subtle differences in the types of folks who are likely to pull out their wallets at your next fundraising event. You can cater to their desires directly if you learn a bit about their psychology – their preferences, likes, dislikes, what gets their motors running, what turns them away to check their phones. There are five types of folks who commonly attend and support fundraising events. Here’s what we know of their habits and how you can cater to them.
Philanthropists
Oh, how we love having philanthropists in the room. Philanthropists often are uninterested in acquiring things, but they believe strongly in your cause or they wouldn’t be there.** You probably won’t find them posing for snapshots in the photo booth or playing Heads & Tails, but they are likely to pump up your special appeal with lead gifts and substantial donations. They’re also the folks motivated to equal other guests’ generous special appeal donations, with matches and challenges.
Philanthropists demonstrate their support of you financially and often like to fly under the radar – giving anonymously or with quiet recognition. They’re the guests you must develop and maintain close relationships with. Learn their stories and what makes them tick. Provide opportunities for them to support you in their preferred ways.
Competitive Bidders
There’s lots to love about the personality type we call competitive bidders. They generally love to spend and bring the party!** Competitive bidders enjoy being the center of attention – you’re likely to find them loudly challenging other bidders, engaging in bidding wars, standing on tables in the midst of all the action.
Competitive bidders love loads of verbal recognition, being called out by name and always being in the spotlight! So get to know them, appreciate them, and acknowledge them for raising the energy in the room while raising the money. Win. Win!
Gamblers
The element of chance always appeals to gamblers. Raffles, drawings, balloon pops – any game of chance is going to be a big hit with the gamblers in the room. Target your gambling crowd by offering plenty of games of chance and/or opportunities to win something at moderate or lower price points.
Need help coming up with them? An extensive best practices library of super fun games specifically designed for the gamblers in your crowd – read more about games here
Shoppers
Shoppers are going to treat every event like it’s Black Friday. They are born to chase the deal and love finding a steal while supporting their favorite charity. If you have a lot of shoppers in your crowd, entice them with the following: Low-dollar games that carry high stakes, silent auctions with multifarious price points, and moderate- to low-price- point raffles. Shoppers want a small buy-in with a potentially big reward. They’re not likely to give big at the appeal, so let them get involved in other ways! Check out our tips on how to engage the shoppers in your crowd here.
Staff/Volunteers
Finally, let’s take a closer look at the staff and volunteers in the room (they generally participate in the same types of revenue streams). Staff members work for the organization – while they no doubt love your mission, they are obligated to attend the event. What appeals to them? Affordable games, like Heads & Tails. Low buy-in raffles. Gift certificate walls are attractive to staff members as well.
As for our invaluable volunteers, they generally have huge hearts, but not necessarily huge spending power. They love the energy of events, getting dressed up, and supporting you with their most precious asset – their time – in lieu of large fiscal gifts.
Bottom line – we can’t always count on big bucks from staff or volunteers, but we can count on the immeasurable value they bring to your event in other ways. (BTW, YAY for volunteers-you make the world go ‘round! We treasure you and couldn’t do any of this without you.)
Misty’s breakdown of spenders highlights something we see every day at Auctria: fundraising success comes from meeting people where they are. Whether your event is filled with philanthropists who quietly underwrite your paddle raise, competitive bidders who thrive on the spotlight, or shoppers who can’t resist a good deal, tailoring the experience keeps everyone engaged and giving.
The Auctria Advantage for Every Type of Spender
1. Philanthropists Auctria makes it easy to spotlight your mission with branded websites, storytelling tools, and paddle raise tracking. Quiet or public, philanthropists can give generously in the way that suits them best.
2. Competitive Bidders Fuel their energy with mobile bidding, instant outbid notifications, and real-time leaderboards. Auctria keeps the action fast, fun, and visible—perfect for those who love the spotlight.
Gamblers From raffles to balloon pops, Auctria handles games of chance with seamless setup and random-winner selection tools. Easy to run, exciting to play, and always compliant.
Shoppers Showcase a wide range of auction items at every price point with customizable online catalogs. Auctria makes browsing simple and checkout effortless, so shoppers can chase that deal while boosting your cause.
Staff & Volunteers Staff and volunteers may not spend the most, but they shine with heart and enthusiasm. Affordable options like wine walls, drink tickets, Heads & Tails, and low buy-in raffles keep them engaged. Beyond dollars, their passion is infectious—the energy they bring elevates the entire event.
Every type of spender plays a role in your success—and with the right mix of psychology, strategy, and technology, you can maximize their impact.
At Auctria, we’re honored to support nonprofits, schools, and charities of all sizes in making fundraising both fun and effective. As Misty points out, understanding your guests is key. Auctria’s mission is to give you the tools to turn that knowledge into action—and raise more for your cause.
Special thanks to Misty Marquam, Founder, Principal Benefit Auctioneer & Fundraising Consultant of Marquam Agency.
Ask Misty for referrals. Marquam Auction Agency works with some of the best in the biz!
Fully immersing your supporters in your mission is the trend. Are you taking advantage of your many options yet? Chat with Misty and the team at Marquam!