How Progreso Apoyo Program grew an annual fundraiser with a home tour and online auction

For Progreso Apoyo Program, access to education is at the heart of its mission.

The volunteer-led nonprofit, based in Progreso on Mexico’s Yucatán coast, exists to support students whose families still face significant costs even when public education is technically free. 

Uniforms, books and school fees add up quickly, especially for families where parents work in important but often low-paid work, such as fishermen or domestic cleaners.

Founded in 2019, Progreso Apoyo Program now supports 96 students across middle school, high school and college, backed by more than 85 sponsors.  It’s a life-changing program, as the organization’s President, Speranza explains,

“The exciting thing about the college program for us, honestly, is that's where we change lives. That's where we can break the cycle of poverty, and for a family that's barely getting by, their son is now an accountant, their daughter is now a nurse or a doctor.”

While student sponsorships fund education directly, the organisation still needs to cover essential operational costs, including accounting, compliance, banking fees, and administrative support.

Their fundraising challenge means they need to raise enough to sustain the organization without creating a high-burden fundraising model for their small volunteer team.

To achieve their fundraising objectives they devised a fundraising strategy that incorporated a smart, repeatable hybrid fundraiser -  anchored by a community home tour which extended through an online auction.

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The core event: a home tour 

The organization’s flagship fundraiser is a Home Tour, a popular format in the US and Canada. The event invites members of the community to purchase tickets and enjoy exclusive access to private homes, which are opened to the public for one day only. 

The model is intentionally simple and low cost:

• Six or seven community members open their homes on a Saturday morning
• Supporters purchase tickets in advance
• On the day, guests exchange tickets for a wristband and map
• Home locations aren’t disclosed beforehand (for privacy and surprise)
• Start times and routes are staggered to manage crowds

As Speranza explains, the appeal is universal:

“People love to see what others have done with their homes — decorating ideas, gardens, renovations. For example, maybe someone's bought an old house, and they've done a complete renovation. Owners love it, because they’ve put their heart and soul into it and want to share the results.”

After the tour, guests head to a local restaurant for lunch - a relaxed, friendly way to wind down the day. It’s the perfect moment to catch up, swap stories about the homes they’ve visited, and keep the conversations going. This informal setting also gives everyone a chance to connect with the cause in a more personal way.

During lunch, Progreso adds a little something extra, a deliberately exclusive experience designed to be memorable and special, giving guests the chance to enjoy something unique that complements the day’s tour…the raffle!

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The In-Person Element: The Raffle

The fundraising raffle is an experience that’s tied to the lunch gathering. 

Guests buy their raffle tickets during lunch, with winners needing to be present to claim their prizes.

This set-up does more than just distribute prizes, it gives people a clear reason to stay after the tour instead of drifting home. The excitement builds in the room, energy stays high, and attendance is rewarded in a fun, tangible way. 

Meanwhile, an online auction runs alongside the event to engage supporters who can’t attend, making sure everyone can contribute,

“Our nonprofit has supporters and donors that don't just live here in the community - they live right around the world. We essentially are an international organization where people come together to support education in our local community. The online auction offers an opportunity for individuals both here in town, but wherever they are in the world.” Speranza, President - Progreso Apoyo Program.

It’s a smart approach - to keep at least one revenue stream local makes the in-person experience feel special and memorable for attendees.

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Exceeding Expectations

The first year of the Home Tour was a real eye-opener.

“We had zero idea how it would go. We thought maybe we’d get 100 people, if we were lucky,” Speranza recalled.

Instead, more than 300 guests showed up, far beyond anyone’s expectations! The sheer turnout highlighted both the excitement for the event and the need for thoughtful planning.

The team quickly realised that some adjustments were necessary to make the experience enjoyable for everyone. They refined the logistics, staggering start times, creating multiple route maps, and ensuring each home could accommodate visitors without feeling crowded. 

These early operational lessons not only improved the day for attendees but also laid the groundwork for a smooth, sustainable event that could grow year after year.

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Auction Learnings: Less is More

In the early years, the auctions leaned heavily on physical art and items. Over time, the organizers realised that while these pieces were beautiful, they came with their own challenges. Art is personal — tastes vary widely — and physical items create logistics headaches. Unsold pieces could also become a burden, taking up space and adding complexity after the event.

From these experiences, the focus gradually shifted toward experiences and prizes that were easy to enjoy or deliver: sailing trips, dinners for two, gift certificates, and digitally redeemable prizes.

“In the world of digital fundraising, less is more. Smaller is better. Experiences and things you can distribute digitally — that was our lesson learned,” Speranza reflected.

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The change simplified administration, broadened appeal, and made it easier for supporters, near and far, to participate and feel included.

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Partnering with GalaBid

For the organisation, choosing the right online auction platform was about more than functionality - it was about people. GalaBid stood out because of its personal, hands-on approach, ensuring supporters always have access to real help when they need it.

“You have real people on live chat that are there when I need them. There’s no trying to get through the layers of automated bots… just to talk to a human is like, so helpful.!”

This level of service makes a big difference, whether it’s guiding first-time bidders through the process or troubleshooting issues in real time. For Progreso Apoyo, GalaBid’s combination of reliable technology and responsive human support makes participation simple, seamless, and enjoyable - helping the auction reach more people and raise more funds for the cause.

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Key Takeaways

Progreso Apoyo Program’s success shows that effective fundraising doesn’t have to be complicated or resource-heavy - it just needs to be intentional, people-focused, and well supported.

Their model offers a practical blueprint other nonprofits can adapt:

• Start with a strong, community-centred core event and extend its reach through an online auction, so both local and global supporters can participate.
• Create a meaningful in-person “hub moment” — like the post-tour lunch — where energy builds, stories are shared, and connections deepen.
• Keep at least one element exclusive to attendees, such as the in-person raffle, to reward participation and strengthen engagement.
• Choose prizes that are simple to manage and easy to deliver, prioritising experiences and digital rewards that reduce logistics and increase appeal.
• And finally, choose technology partners who genuinely support your mission — platforms like GalaBid, where real human support, intuitive tools, and reliable performance make it easier for small teams to run professional, high-impact fundraisers.

For small nonprofits, this case study is a powerful reminder: you don’t need a gala, a big budget, or a large staff — just a thoughtful model, a supportive community, and the right tools behind you.

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