# Rethinking Fundraising: How Ticketed Summer Events Can Drive Revenue and Engagement

Wed, May 20th, 2026 6:00 PM (UTC)

Summer is one of the most overlooked opportunities in fundraising, and the right event strategy can turn it into a high-impact, high-revenue season.

In this session with experienced event organizer Melissa Estepp, you will discover how to design experience-driven events, streamline operations with Auctria, and turn community engagement into lasting donor relationships.

Key Learning Takeaways:

-   Why summer fundraising is an untapped opportunity and how it can outperform traditional fall galas
-   How to design unique, experience-driven events that attract new audiences and increase attendance
-   Real-world examples including food and wine festivals and interactive concepts like cow plop bingo
-   How to structure ticket-only events to simplify operations and reduce reliance on auctions
-   Ways to use Auctria’s ticketing features to streamline registration, minimize lines, and create a smooth guest experience
-   Best practices for pre-event setup to ensure fast check-in and on-site efficiency
-   Strategies to turn community-based events into long-term donor pipelines
-   Lessons learned from producing high-volume, high-flow events without sacrificing guest experience

## Webinar Slides

[View slides in a new tab](https://speakerdeck.com/auctria/rethinking-fundraising-how-ticketed-summer-events-can-drive-revenue-and-engagement)