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

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