Podcast – Episode 5: Top 10 Nonprofit Event Struggles
In this episode of Auction is Action with U in it!, Bobby D and fellow fundraising auctioneer Dusty Clink step outside—literally—to tackle the Top 10 Nonprofit Event Struggles they see coast to coast.
From donor fatigue and economic uncertainty to weak storytelling and staff burnout, they walk through each challenge and share event-based fixes you can implement before, during, and after your gala. Expect practical tips on donor stewardship, weekday event timing, corporate partnerships, technology, and crafting that “and this happened” moment guests want to share.
If you’re a nonprofit leader, development director, or board member, you’ll walk away knowing how to:
Diagnose the 10 most common event pain points and address them with strategy.
Use events to diversify revenue (individual, corporate philanthropy, and corporate marketing/sponsorship).
Design storytelling and program pacing that reduce fatigue and increase giving.
Key Takeaways
Donor fatigue is real—fight it with fresh, memorable experiences (create the “and this happened” moment).
Diversify revenue: individual gifts, corporate philanthropy, and corporate marketing/sponsorships.
Compete smart: avoid crowded dates; consider weekdays to reduce donor competition.
Stewardship wins: plan post-event gratitude and follow-up before event night.
Use tech intentionally for targeting, marketing, production, and personalization.
Younger donors want energy & shareability—build Instagrammable moments.
Prevent burnout by bringing in pros, clarifying roles, and paying fairly.
Tighten event strategy: stronger items, better storytelling, and a clear run-of-show.
Storytelling beats stats: lead with emotion, support with data, build to a crescendo.
Adjust the sails when regulations/economy shift—events give you control and conversations.
FULL TRANSCRIPT
Bobby D: Hey there, Dusty.
Dusty: Hey!
Bobby D: Bobby D here. We are with the Auction is Action with U in it! podcast and we are out here getting some fresh air. We’ve got a big event here in Colorado tomorrow night, and I figured—what better place than now to have a podcast. What do you think?
Dusty: Why not? Why not? Absolutely.
Bobby D: So Dusty, we’ve been talking a lot in the fundraising world about fresh ideas and fresh solutions. I couldn’t think of a better place to talk about freshness than a place filled with so much fresh air right now.
Dusty: I know. It’s amazing. Now I know why they call it Rocky Mountain High.
Bobby D: You’ve been doing a little bit of research—what have you come up with?
Dusty: Well, oftentimes we’re thinking of new things—how are we going to have the most impact, and how can we help our groups the most. So… what are the Top 10 things that might need assistance in the nonprofit world?
Bobby D: Yes—things affecting nonprofits today.
Dusty: In no particular order: donor fatigue.
Bobby D: I’m sure everyone’s felt that. What else?
Dusty: Economic uncertainty.
Bobby D: Who’s uncertain with their economic status right now in nonprofits? Okay, that’s two.
Dusty: Increased competition for donations.
Bobby D: I’m sure you’re feeling that, right people? (Heads nodding.)
Dusty: Lack of donor stewardship and follow-up.
Bobby D: We can all admit to dropping the ball a little on that, right? Safe place.
Dusty: Underutilized technology. Show of hands if we all know how to use AI to its fullest.
Bobby D: Yeah. No. Not me, not you. Okay—what else?
Dusty: Changing donor demographics.
Bobby D: Yep—big transference of wealth happening. Huge.
Dusty: Staff burnout and turnover.
Bobby D: That doesn’t happen, right? (laughs) Show of hands that you get enough sleep and get enough pay… yeah, no.
Dusty: Poor event strategy.
Bobby D: Oof—see that way too much.
Dusty: Weak storytelling and messaging.
Bobby D: Yes to all of those—huge problems in the nonprofit world. And there’s one more…
Dusty: Regulatory changes.
Bobby D: Okay—totally something we can control. (laughs) No, it’s not. You can’t control the wind, but you can control the sails.
So, let’s start at the top again. We’re coming at this from an event perspective—a campaign before the event, at the event itself, and beyond the event. Let’s see if we can solve these issues with event strategies.
Dusty: Perfect.
Bobby D: Donor fatigue?
Dusty: Show of hands—who likes to go to boring black-tie, rubber-chicken dinners where the auctioneer is horrible?
Bobby D: (laughs) No one. People want something fresh and new. They want to see something they’ve never seen. They want to feel the feels. If you don’t, you cause donor fatigue—and they’ll say “peace out,” and fund the group that does give them the feels.
Dusty: Something unique and different.
Bobby D: Exactly—and that fresh perspective overlaps with some of the other issues. Speaking of fresh perspective, we have this fresh sunset happening behind us… gorgeous.
Dusty: Okay, economic uncertainty—how can events help?
Bobby D: There aren’t many things in fundraising you can truly control. You can’t make someone write a grant. You can’t make someone click an email. But you can steward donor relationships, find new donors, and create stronger corporate relationships. Events gather all those awesome people into a beautiful philanthropic soup.
Dusty: Show them a good time.
Bobby D: Show them a good time. Show them where their dollars are going. “This is the impact. This is the cause. We need your help.” You’re diversifying fundraising. I always tell nonprofits there are three wallets:
Individual philanthropy,
Corporate philanthropy, and
Corporate marketing dollars (sponsorships/partnerships).
If you tap all three, the rest is gravy. Many have it flipped—weak individual and corporate giving. Events help flip the book so you can take control.
Dusty: Increased competition for donations?
Bobby D: I just made a video about a fall date with 15 events in the same market on the same night. Blew my mind. Don’t fight for the same donor pool—stand out by moving to a weekday. Then you have zero competition and can attract the donors with capacity—the 1%.
Dusty: Lack of donor stewardship and follow-up.
Bobby D: It happens—especially in small shops. Things fall through. There’s so much coming at you. But if nonprofits are strategic and plan post-event gratitude before event night, stewardship blossoms. We share resources on this all the time. Follow-up matters.
Dusty: Underutilized technology.
Bobby D: We’re not a tech company, but we see production tech, fundraising tech, marketing and targeting—used well, they make a small shop look big.
Dusty: Changing donor demographics.
Bobby D: This is huge—about $40 trillion in wealth transferring from Baby Boomers to Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z, and soon Gen Alpha. There’s a legacy of philanthropy looking for a home. Younger donors want excitement and shareability—they want to say, “I was at this event and this happened.” If you create that “this happened” moment, you win. Next year, you’re the ticket.
Dusty: Staff burnout and turnover.
Bobby D: Stats say a development pro stays ~1.8–2 years. Burnout is real. No one wants to drown in work. Get people in the right roles, pay them what they’re worth, and do events right so the revenue is there. That’s how you reduce attrition.
Dusty: Specifically—how can a fundraising auctioneer/strategist and team help?
Bobby D: We take a ton of stress off development and event pros. We do ~150 events/year coast to coast. We know what’s working, what’s not, and how to be efficient in planning. We can see the gaps: stronger storytelling here, better live auction items there, better marketing and board engagement. Get the right ingredients in the pot and you get the good fundraising sauce—that’s when irrational generosity shows up. If you don’t put in the right ingredients, you don’t get the magic out.
Dusty: Let’s expand storytelling—it’s a top-10 issue.
Bobby D: Use the event to do great storytelling. Picture Pikes Peak right over there—your program should climb toward the peak: the fundraising crescendo. Storytelling and messaging get you there. Tease it in pre-marketing, in connection hour, then hit it in the program. At the peak is the Golden Goosebump Moment—and that’s when all the paddles go up. Storytelling reinspires current donors and activates new donors: “I didn’t know you did this—now I see it, I feel it, I want in.” That’s when a guest transforms into a donor.
Dusty: We could talk for hours—but look at that sunset. One more: regulatory changes.
Bobby D: You can’t control the wind, but you can adjust the sails. If you’re grant- or government-dependent, ask: How can I take control? A focused, strategized event creates magic and gives you reasons to talk to corporations (for philanthropy and marketing dollars) and to high-net-worth individuals for major gifts. Then, with effective stewardship, you can counteract regulatory uncertainty. You can take control.
Dusty: That’s awesome.
Bobby D: Dusty, thanks for coming up here, watching this beautiful sunset, and sharing fresh ideas.
Dusty: Absolutely. The podcast is fun. Great resources, tons of information—and it’s a blast to be part of it. Thanks for having me.
Bobby D: Thanks for doing the research—and for the excuse to get fresh air and create action in the fundraising auction, because auction is action with YOU in it. Thank you, everybody, for watching—Bobby D and Dusty Clink.
We’ll be back—like, follow, do all the things. We’ll put the link to that post-event follow-up checklist down below—make sure you grab it. Thank you for the impact you’re creating in the world. We’d love to help you create more—because auction is action with YOU in it.
We’ll see you next time. Bye everyone. Thank you.
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