For what it is worth, I proudly work for the 501(c)3 fundraising nonprofit organization the
American Fundraising Foundation (AmFund)
and we form partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country to help raise funds using bucket list trip and experience which we offer to them to raise funds for their cause. To my knowledge, we are the only 501(c)3 fundraising nonprofit in the United States.
Because we are a 501(c)3 ourselves and attend over 250 special events a year, we understand the importance of donors to an organization's cause and the stress factor when putting on a fundraising event.
If an organization is approved for partnership, leading up to the event, we act as advisors/sounding boards to give the organization advice and offer suggestion on how best to posture the special event. When it comes time for the special event, one of our development directors attends the organization's special event (no charge) to offer the organization a turn key "Trips of a Lifetime" travel auction, speaks to donors, encourages bidding, closes out and of course answer any questions that they may have. We then have the pleasure of sending the organization a check in the amount of unrestricted funds from 100% of the the net proceeds raised at the event above what the trip cost us to put together in house. We also pre-bid the bid sheets and include an automatic donation to the nonprofit whom we are supporting in every minimum bid and then everything above and beyond the minimum bid (including the automatic donation) goes to the nonprofit in the form of a check for unrestricted funds, no strings attached, no percentages, no rates, or fees.
Our goal isn't to sell trips, but rather to maximize fundraising for our nonprofit partners using our 19 years of experience and sharing with our NPO Partners how to avoid special event pitfalls.