by Scott Robertson | Oct 2, 2026 | Serving with Purpose Podcast
Most organizations do not fail on the night of the event. They plateau long before that, then spend the final week proving it. A gala, auction, or benefit can only raise what the room and the offer will support. If the same donors see the same items, the same show,...
by Scott Robertson | Sep 21, 2026 | Serving with Purpose Podcast
Most sales training stops one step too early. Good salespeople sell features. The house has three bedrooms and three baths. The car has all-wheel drive. The stay is seven nights, close to shopping. That is inventory. It is true, and it is almost useless by itself,...
by Scott Robertson | Sep 10, 2026 | Serving with Purpose Podcast
Teaching is a sales job. That is not a metaphor. If you are not excited about the subject, you cannot expect anyone else to be. I did not know what I wanted to be. Farming was natural, and it was what I knew, but farming did not pay well. This was the 1970s, and the...
by Scott Robertson | Aug 24, 2026 | Serving with Purpose Podcast
The most important element at any fundraising event is your timeline. Not who’s in the seats. Not how pretty the decorations are. Not how great the food is going to be. It’s the timeline. If you’re planning an event right now, here’s what I want you to do: decide what...
by Scott Robertson | Aug 10, 2026 | Serving with Purpose Podcast
Let me be straight with you. I don’t care how much money you raised. I really don’t. You can raise a fortune and still have a mediocre event. You can raise less than you hoped and still have a great one. The number on the check is not the scoreboard. There are only...
by Scott Robertson | Jul 21, 2026 | Serving with Purpose Podcast
I grew up going to auctions. We were farmers. When a farm sold, everything went under the hammer — the land, the equipment, the way of life. My dad also worked at the tobacco warehouse where they auctioned the leaf, and at the stockyards. So from the time I could...
by Scott Robertson | Jul 4, 2026 | Serving with Purpose Podcast
I’ll never forget the first time I heard about this. It was 1999. I was at the Opryland Hotel for the National Auctioneers Association conference, and I met a gentleman named Kip Toner. I’ve been singing his praises ever since. Kip was a fundraising auctioneer — one...
by Scott Robertson | Jun 17, 2026 | Serving with Purpose Podcast
The Power of Leadership Gifts: How to Create Real Momentum at Your Fundraising Events One of the most effective ways to boost donations at galas and special events is to get people truly invested in the cause. This goes far beyond simply asking for money. When donors...
by Scott Robertson | Jun 4, 2026 | Serving with Purpose Podcast
The Real Work in Fundraising Happens Behind the Scenes You know, I was watching the Olympics one year, and the Chinese women’s volleyball team was absolutely dominating. The TV crew showed footage from their practices— these ladies were diving all over the floor,...
by Scott Robertson | May 26, 2026 | Serving with Purpose Podcast
You know, I get to work with some truly amazing not-for-profit organizations every single day. These are groups filled with passionate people who have big hearts and even bigger ideas. They know exactly how to serve their communities and create real impact. But...
