Going Beyond the Formal Gala

Elevate Your Event

For younger generations, long gone are the fundraising days of the ballroom style, sit-down dinner with white tablecloths and full waitstaffs. As older generations pass the philanthropic torch, organizations must learn to adapt their approach to appeal to the new demographic of guests. Millennial and Gen Z donors appreciate meaningful experiences worthy of their social media pages over the traditional gala. They’re still willing to spend large amounts of money on charitable causes, but organizations must adapt to the changing dynamics by using different tactics for crowd engagement. Younger donors enjoy themed events, live entertainment, multiple food options such as stations or trucks, and fast paced competitive games. It’s a time for thinking outside the box and using creative approaches to increase donor interaction and offer experiences they’ll remember. Leveraging technology speaks to digital natives who prefer the ease and individuality of mobile bidding software. Upgrading the auction experience at every level ensures the next generation of donors will be equally as engaged and charitable as their predecessors.

Main Topics

• The traditional gala (02:30)
• Appealing to younger generations (06:40)
• Creating experiences throughout the event (11:10)
• Interacting with the audience (14:30)
• Polling and live auction (16:35)
• Impact on traditional auctioneers (18:45)
• Using food trucks at large events (23:30)
• Themed and competitive events (27:10)
• Technology promotes guest interaction (31:00)

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