Podcast – Episode 24: The Donors of Tomorrow Are in the Room Today
In this episode of Auction Is Action with U in It!, Bobby D. Ehlert makes the case that live fundraising events are one of the most powerful and underused tools for next-generation donor development.
Fundraising isn't about raising funds. It's about inviting people into the story. Donors don't want to be at your nonprofit event. They want to be a part of it.
Key Takeaways
Next Generation Donors Trust People, Not Systems Younger donors are asking: is this really making a difference? Is this real? Do I belong here? They don't want to feel like funders. They want to feel like partners. Connection to the mission matters more to them than confidence in the math.
Events Are About Community, Not Just Revenue The best fundraising events don't feel transactional. They feel like everyone is doing the wave in the stadium: collective energy, shared impact, no one singled out. Bobby calls this collective effervescence, and it's what separates a room full of donors from a room full of believers.
Create Moments Worth Sharing Your event should spark moments your board members and donors want to talk about. Short, authentic videos. Language people can carry onto social media. Let your community amplify the mission for you. LinkedIn, Instagram, and every other platform become extensions of the room when your event gives people something real to share.
Transactional Fundraising Kills Relationships The fastest turnoff for next-generation donors is when the only communication they receive is a donation ask. Events should remove friction, not create it. Keep the experience smooth, purposeful, and generous with value beyond the ask.
Acquisition Gets People in the Room. Cultivation Gets Them to Stay. Events are first and second base, not the home run. Just because someone didn't raise their paddle doesn't mean they're not a donor. It means they're early in their relationship with your organization. Create experiences, not pressure, and the relationship accelerates.
The Long View: Today's Next-Gen Donors Are Tomorrow's Major Donors Many of the next-generation donors in your room today will become mega and major donors in 10, 15, or 20 years. Legacy doesn't start with a check. It starts with belonging.
Donor Mentorship Matters Experienced donors mentoring newer donors helps next-generation givers understand that they belong in the room. That belonging is where long-term loyalty begins.
Surprise and Delight Is a Strategy Give your donors the very best. Create unforgettable experiences. Every nonprofit should ask: do you want your unforgettable moments to be positive or cringe? The answer shapes everything about how you design your event.
FULL TRANSCRIPT
Bobby D.: Welcome back to the Auction Is Action with You in It podcast. The podcast where fundraising isn't about pressure, gimmicks, or cringe moments. It's about connection, community, and real impact.
Today we're talking about finding and engaging the next generation of donors through events, and why events might be the most powerful donor development tool you're underusing.
My name is Bobby D, CEO and founder of Call to Auction, world champion auctioneer, event strategist, and your host.
At its core, fundraising isn't about raising funds. It's about inviting people into the story. Donors don't want to be at your nonprofit event. They want to be a part of it. We are not here just to extract dollars. We are here to guide journeys. And that journey doesn't start at the podium. It starts in the preparation, the practice, and the philanthropy.
Philanthropy is one of the few places where people get to live out their values in public.
Here's the reality. The younger generation trusts systems less and less, but they trust people more. They want connection to the mission, not just confidence in the math. They're asking questions like: is this really making a difference? Is this real? Do I belong here? They don't want to feel like funders. They want to feel like partners.
And this is where events matter. Because events aren't just about revenue. They're about community. People want to come together. They want shared experiences, shared moments, shared impact. The best events don't feel transactional. They feel like everyone is doing the wave in the stadium. This is what I call collective effervescence. No one's embarrassed, no one's singled out. It's collective energy. Our job is to take the weirdness out and put the inspiration in. We take the cringe out, the pressure out. We replace that with passion and purpose.
A great fundraising event delivers value beyond the ask: network connection, partnership, shared impact. When people feel connected to one another, they grow more connected to the organization. This is how community forms. This is how loyalty grows.
What captures the attention of next-generation donors? Social media and experiences worth sharing. Your event should create moments that your board members and donors want to talk about. Create short, authentic videos. Give people language they can share on socials. Let them amplify the mission for you. Think of LinkedIn like a conference hallway: relationships don't deepen in one session. They deepen between the sessions.
Here's the biggest friction point for next-generation donors: is what you're doing actually making an impact? And the fastest turnoff? When the only communication they receive is a donation ask. Transactional fundraising kills momentum and kills relationships. Events should remove friction, not create it. Keep your events as smooth and frictionless as possible.
This is where many nonprofits get stuck. Acquisition gets people into the room, but cultivation gets them to stay. Events are first base and second base, not the home run. Just because someone didn't raise their paddle doesn't mean they're not a donor. It means they're early in their donor relationship with you. You're able to accelerate that donor file by creating experiences, not pressure.
Here's the long view. Next-generation donors may not be major donors today, but many of them will be your mega and major donors in 10, 15, or 20 years. Legacy doesn't start with a check. It starts with belonging.
And mentorship matters. Finding and encouraging donor mentorship with next-generation donors is key. Mentor donors help their mentee donors get into the room and understand that they belong there. And that matters more than most nonprofits realize.
Finally, you have to surprise and delight your donors. Give them the very best. Create unforgettable experiences. Because here's the question every nonprofit should ask: do you want your unforgettable moments to be positive or cringe? I know which one I want.
If this conversation sparked something for you, and if you're thinking differently about your next event, please reach out. Let's talk strategy. Let's talk experience. Let's talk long-term impact. You can email me directly at bobby@calltoauction.com or visit us online or on any of the socials. We're there. Just send us a message anywhere and we're here to help.
Remember, auction isn't a moment. Auction is action with you in it. Keep being awesome, keep creating impact, and keep on your journey. You are on the right path.
My name is Bobby D, your host of the Auction Is Action with You in It podcast. We'll see you next time.
Ready to Raise More?
At Call to Auction, we specialize in turning galas and fundraising events into mission-driven, revenue-generating experiences. From paddle raises to live auctions, our team knows how to excite donors, engage audiences, and inspire generosity in the moment.