Your silent or live auction prize mix can make or break your fundraiser. It takes a lot of door knocking, phone calls and the odd rejection to pull together a great set of prizes. A single prize item can therefore be an appealing proposition. But can a lone item really have enough appeal to make your fundraising auction a success? Absolutely! In fact a single prize item can work even better than multiple items but you do need to think carefully...

Holding a fundraising auction? You'll know that sourcing great items and prizes is key to a successful event. You'll also know that having prize items on display, where bidders can see their potential spoils, is a great way to stoke interest in your fundraising auction. But you may find that there are a number of items that you cannot physically display to your bidders. Â And how do you get guests to bid for items they can't actually see? Sometimes it's not possible to have your prize items on display...

The cause: Plantlife is an organisation dedicated to protecting the British wildlife. "Wild flowers, plants and fungi are the life support for all our wildlife and their colour and character light up our landscapes. But without our help, this priceless natural heritage is in danger of being lost."

'No bids at a silent or live auction falls into the worst nightmare' category of fundraising. After working hard to collate a great range of prizes, set-up the auction platform and create an awesome event for donors and supporters - it's horribly dispiriting when the bids fail to materialise. But don't panic! Here are a few effective ways to minimise the no bid risk before the event and some tips to get things moving if you're faced with a no bid dilemma on the night:

The Cause: We See Hope is a charity that looks to provide education, rehabilitation and training to help African communities support their young orphaned and isolated members. "We see hope in the most surprising places. Like the slums, streets and disadvantaged rural communities of Southern and Eastern Africa. Here, many thousands of children are orphaned, isolated and dehumanized by devastating poverty, which threatens to rob them of their future."

A long time ago when Wi-Fi was about as reliable as a warm day in British summertime, some bright spark had a great idea: ‘Let's make digital auctions work by setting up an independent network at fundraisers. Everyone can connect to the auction via tablets on tables. It'll be secure and we can guarantee the connection won't drop out just as bidders go to make that vital bid. Hurrah!' It was a move that transformed fundraising auctions...

A small fundraiser doesn't mean a small workload. Whether it's a school fete, local charity auction or community bake sale, every small fundraiser requires lots of planning and organising. But there are plenty of tips and tricks to help make sure your fundraiser is a success. Want to organise a small fundraiser like a pro? Read on...

Did you know that GalaBid is active and thriving across the Tasman? Based in Auckland, GalaBid is lucky enough to have events and fundraising expert, Cathy Taylor on board. Cathy is offering the GalaBid platform for fundraising events right across New Zealand. With nearly two decades experience in the events space, Cathy has a varied and comprehensive career history. From organising charity auctions to selling sponsorship and exhibition space, Cathy has helped produce successful events in the UK, Europe, US, Middle East, Asia, South Pacific and Australia...

What happens to your fundraising money post event? It's a broad question that could apply generally to how funds are spent. But in this case we mean what happens to your fundraising money immediately after the event. If you're using a digital fundraising platform you'll know it makes things super easy for donors. Whether they're participating in a silent or live auction or simply making a straight donation, digital platforms making giving money fast and easy. And that's great...

The Cause: The Big House Theatre is a theatre-based organisation that gives opportunity, confidence and purpose to young people who have been through the UK care system and are finding life difficult. "The Big House is a place where people who may have given up on themselves gain the skills and confidence to turn their lives around."