Whether you are putting on a charity golf event, a 5k, or an annual gala, putting on a fundraising event requires all hands on deck. Finding enough dedicated, hard-working people to volunteer their time to help your cause can be challenging!

“Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, and a soul generated by love.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr. From auction item procurement to graphic design, day-of execution and post-event follow up, dedicated volunteers are critical to the success of any fundraising event. Chances are you could use more help, expertise and/or manpower in at least some areas or committees that make up your next event.

Fundraising auctions allow charities to bring in thousands of dollars for their cause. Auction fundraisers can be in the form of live, silent or online. Because most of the items are donated, the opportunity for raising money is significant. Today we will explore the different types of fundraisers and how to maximize each type. Whether you're new to the world of auction fundraisers or just looking for a quick overview of best practices, this post is for you.

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.

Did you know giving back not only helps others - it's good for you?

"Did you know there's approximately 61.8 million volunteers in the United States alone?" shares A.J. Steinberg, founder of Queen Bee Fundraising, in a recent episode of podcast Events with Benefits. "These are individuals who contribute a total of 8 billion hours of volunteerism per year. That volunteerism, if monetized, is equivalent to the gross domestic product of Egypt!" In addition to providing manpower, 67 percent of people who volunteer become supporters in a more meaningful way down the line. In an industry where a 2 to 5 percent response rate from appeals is considered successful - investing in your volunteers offers an incredible potential return. Volunteers are among your nonprofit's most important assets. Last week we shared part 1 of our session with Steinberg all about charity auction planning. Today we will focus on her tips for volunteer management and retention. Learn: How the "volunteer multiplication effect" boosts ticket sales The benefit of having two chair persons (a junior and senior) 3-step process to greater volunteer retention and satisfaction How to organize a volunteer "command center", and much more.

At Winspire News, we strive to keep our readers informed with up-to-date information on the fundraising world. Perhaps no information is more important than understanding the motivations of your donor base. In today's infographic, we looked at recent Harris Poll survey data from over 2,000 U.S. adults on their nonprofit support and giving habits.

Charity event chairs (great tongue twister!) love to have as much help as they can get when planning and executing events. Whether planning for a large gala this fall or a golf scramble this summer, utilizing volunteers will help your event thrive and benefit your nonprofit organization in plenty of other ways.

On the day of your fundraising auction, it’s important for you to mingle and network with your guests so you can establish and nurture relationships with donors. This means that you will need volunteers to act as your “auction day team” to help your event run smoothly.