With Halloween in the rearview mirror, we're looking ahead to year-end giving: the most important time of the year for development. Did you know some 30 percent of total nonprofit donations come in the month of December?! We recently looked at trends for #GivingTuesday 2018, a special day dedicated to financial support of nonprofit causes, that will take place in just 3 weeks. How can you make the most of charitable giving around the holidays? In today's infographic, see must-read stats on the state of charitable giving today, plus 10 practical ways to engage donors and maximize results.

We are thrilled to announce the winner of Winspire's third Donation Give-Away drawing of 2018! Congratulations goes to Katherine M., Director at Stonerose Interpretive Center & Eocene Fossil Site, or Stonerose Fossil, in Republic, Washington. Their mission is to connect the public, scientific, and the local communities through our fossil resource.

Just 5 weeks remain until one of the biggest fundraising days of the year: Giving Tuesday 2018.  Often stylized as #GivingTuesday on social media, the day encourages people to take a break from holiday shopping and set aside the Tuesday after Thanksgiving to support favorite causes instead.

Have you heard of the “3 E’s of Event Fundraising”? Benefit auctioneer Danny Hooper has shared 3 goals that, if met, go a long way to ensuring the success and sustainability of any fundraising event: Entertain: Make giving fun Engage: Hold the audience’s attention Extract Funds: Keep the focus on fundraising

Today, we are excited to unveil the latest hotels and newly-slashed prices of the Winspire Hotel Giveback Program: an exclusive opportunity for you and your donors to travel to some of the most in-demand destinations worldwide, all while supporting your organization.

If you've ever been part of a fundraising auction, you know how important it is to establish not only auction chairs and committees, but an extensive team of reliable, passionate volunteers. On the day of the event, staff and leadership need to prioritize mingling and networking with donors. This means well-trained volunteers are key to the actual execution of your event.

Nearly all fundraising events can benefit from incorporating a fund-a-need or special appeal into the agenda - but a recent Winspire webinar poll revealed more than 1 in 5 organizations are missing out.

We recently shared a list of ideas for incredible raffle grand prizes, including travel packages, electronics, season tickets, and even a dream home. Offering an impressive grand prize allows charities to raise tens of thousands of dollars for their cause.

Whether or not you utilize a mobile bidding provider for the silent auction, bid cards are imperative for the two interactive portions of the night: the live auction and special appeal. These fundraising heavy-hitters rely on momentum, peer pressure and emotion, all of which are best evoked through the use of bid cards.

With fall fundraising season around the corner, it's important nonprofits put themselves in attendees' shoes and focus on improving the guest experience. Smoothing out the experience at your event, from start to finish, ensures not only this year's success but long-term sustainability.

Organizing a profitable fundraising event is all about best use of time. To take your event to the next level, focus your time and energy on the most time-efficient money-makers: