If Not a Live Auction, Then What?

Better Ways to Engage Your Guests

A live auction is a staple of fundraising events. It is often positioned as the high-energy moment, the place where the room comes alive and big dollars are raised.

But over the past few years, we have been seeing something different. Live auctions are getting harder to execute well. Packages are more difficult to secure, audiences are less interested in “stuff,” and the energy in the room is not always what it used to be. In some cases, what was meant to be a highlight of the evening ends up slowing the program down and sometimes, disconnecting guests from the mission. Audiences today are looking for experiences that feel more intentional, interactive, and mission-connected. 

This does not mean the live auction is gone for good, and we are not recommending that every event needs to move away from one. When it is done well—with the right audience, strong packages, and a skilled auctioneer—a live auction can still be incredibly effective. 

But it does mean that just because you have always had a live auction does not mean you have to have one.

So, if not a live auction… then what? Before replacing anything, it is important to ask a simple and pointed question: what is actually going to engage your audience and drive giving?

Every audience is different. What works for one organization may not work for another. The goal is not to remove a program element just to try something new. The goal is to design an experience that feels intentional, keeps guests engaged, and ultimately raises more for your mission.

Here are a few ways we are seeing organizations successfully shift away from the traditional live auction model but still keeping the energy in the room strong.

1. Make the Raise the Paddle the Star

If there is one moment that consistently performs, it is the Raise the Paddle. Your Raise the Paddle should be the centerpiece of your program, not an extra add-on between auction items. We find that many organizations are so immersed and focused on their live auction packages that they spend little to no energy on developing a strong raise the paddle strategy. 

Instead of treating the Raise the Paddle as just another part of the program, elevate it by building stronger storytelling and being more thoughtful about pacing. If you spend as much time curating your Raise the Paddle as you do your auction packages, the return will that much greater. Consider incorporating a matching gift or a momentum-building moment that encourages more participation. When done well, your Raise the Paddle can be more powerful—and much more profitable—than a live auction.

2. Focus on Mission-Driven Experiences

Many guests today are less interested in bidding on physical items and more interested in connection. Instead of offering auction packages, consider creating experiences that bring donors closer to your work. This could include behind-the-scenes access, small group gatherings with leadership, or opportunities to engage more directly with your mission.

If you still want to offer items, consider a more curated approach. Rather than a full live auction, offer a small number of thoughtfully selected experiences or packages that guests can purchase outright. Perhaps it is a buy-in for a small dinner or reception with the Executive Director or program staff, or maybe it’s an experience in your office that immerses the donor in your mission. These types of experiences often feel more meaningful and can deepen long-term donor relationships. Whatever you choose, keep it simple, clear, and aligned with your audience’s interests. You do not need 15-20 ideas, because quality will always outperform quantity.

We are also seeing organizations create more mission-centered auction concepts that blend donor experience with direct impact. At a recent event, one of our clients created a “One for Me and One for Thee” package. They offered a day of beauty and pampering for the winner of the auction item and also the same day of beauty and pampering for one of their survivors, giving someone that amazing boost of empowerment and self-confidence.

This allowed the bidder to go home with an auction item and make a direct impact for themself but also make a donation to a beneficiary of the organization.

3. Create Multiple Moments of Engagement Throughout the Event

Not every dollar needs to be raised in one segment. We are seeing more success when organizations build in smaller, intentional giving opportunities throughout the event. This could be as simple as a well-timed call to action during the program, a quick digital giving moment or a visual tracker that shows progress in real time. These touchpoints keep guests engaged and invested from start to finish, rather than waiting for one major moment.

4. Keep the Energy with Interactive Elements

One of the reasons live auctions have worked is because they create energy and participation. You can still achieve that without an auction. Elements like a Dessert Dash or other light, competitive experiences can bring movement and excitement into the room while keeping the focus on the overall experience. These moments are often easier to execute and more accessible for a broader range of guests. And this is an important point. A live auction of 10 items will only have 10 people in the room who participate and “win” that item. A dessert dash allows all 300 of your guests to participate and donate to your organization. 

5. Strengthen Your Program with Meaningful Recognition Moments

Another shift we are seeing is a stronger focus on the program itself. If you are not relying on a live auction to carry energy or revenue, your program has to do more of the work.

This is an opportunity to be more intentional about what you are putting on stage.

A well-designed recognition or tribute moment can be incredibly powerful. Whether it is honoring a longtime volunteer, recognizing a community leader, or sharing a story of impact in a more formal way, these moments create emotional connection and give guests something to rally around. They also reinforce your mission in a way that feels authentic and earned, rather than transactional.

When done well, these moments do more than fill time in a program. They create meaning. And meaning is what drives giving.

Across many of the events we support, a few trends are becoming clear:

• Guests are looking for shorter, more intentional programs

• There is less interest in traditional auction packages

• Raise the Paddle moments are becoming more central to fundraising success

• Engagement and connection are driving giving more than transactions

  
  

Your event is not your inventory. Your event is an opportunity to connect people to your mission. The most successful events are not built around what has always been done. They are built around what will resonate most with the audience in the room.

So if your live auction is no longer delivering the results it once did, it may be time to ask a the question: What would actually work better for our audience? Because when you design your event with that in mind, everything—from engagement to revenue—gets stronger.

If you want to learn how to design an event program that will resonate most with your community, click on the link below to set up a time to chat about your event!

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