Development professionals and event teams will receive expert, in-person guidance designed to empower them to plan and execute events that are not only joyful and efficient, but also community-enhancing and sustainable for the long term. This training equips your organization to raise more with less stress—while staying focused on what matters most: your mission.
Yet increasingly, school leaders and development professionals express frustration that these events, once effective and energizing, have grown bloated and burdensome. What was once a powerful tool for revenue- and community-building can begin to feel unmanageable, draining too much institutional time, energy, and resources.
For decades, independent schools and non-profit organizations of all types and sizes have depended on fundraising events—especially auctions and galas—to support a significant portion of their operating budgets.
we can help!
We offer professional development workshops to help you and/or your team relieve the tension between the undeniable upside of event-based giving and the operational realities that can make these events feel overwhelming. While auctions and galas are inherently complex, they do not have to be chaotic or all-consuming. With the right strategy, clear goals, and data-informed planning, your events can be both impactful and sustainable.
Drawing on decades of experience working with independent schools and non-profits across the country, we will share practical, tested strategies that help streamline event planning, reduce stress, and increase returns. You will learn how to challenge the status quo of the traditional gala by relying on data to inform decisions, allocate staff time more efficiently, and establish priorities aligned with your school's broader fundraising goals.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Drawing on decades of experience working with independent schools and non-profits across the country, we will share practical, tested strategies that help streamline event planning, reduce stress, and increase returns. You will learn how to challenge the status quo of the traditional gala by relying on data to inform decisions, allocate staff time more efficiently, and establish priorities aligned with your school's broader fundraising goals.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Data-based framework for evaluating your return on investment and refocusing on the most profitable revenue streams, including building a strategic fundraising event budget
- Specific recommendations for reducing the planning time needed for your Gala, the staffing demands it creates, and unnecessary expenses
- Ways to structure your Development Office and volunteer organization to minimize the planning footprint and maximize efficiency
- Strategic approaches to ticket packages, silent auctions, live auctions, and fund-a-need
- Marketing and messaging your event
- Trends in fundraising
- Strategies to ensure your events serve as opportunities for community-building and donor cultivation—not organizational burnout
FROM PLANNING TO PROCEEDS: RAISE MORE, STRESS LESS
Ideal for:
• Managers and experienced fundraisers looking to lead smarter, more data-driven teams
• Newer professionals seeking a solid grounding in fundraising event fundamentals
Over two interactive days, participants will sharpen skills to:
• Analyze event data to inform decision-making
• Build realistic, goal-aligned budgets
• Design impactful, easy-to-fulfill sponsorship packages
• Reduce the footprint of your silent auction while maintaining critical revenue
• Elevate your live auction and maximize Fund-a-Need
• Save staff time and manage volunteers effectively
• Sharpen messaging and ensure a seamless guest experience
• Leverage software and integrate AI tools strategically
What’s Included:
• Two full-day sessions (8:30 am to 5:00 pm) conducted by C2Auctions CEO Chris O'Shea and CSO Livia Christensen
• Customized instruction and personalized recommendations (10-person session only)
• Plenty of time for group discussions, knowledge sharing, and Q&A
• Digital and printed certificate of completion
• Networking happy hour
• Breakfast and lunch provided both days
• Managers and experienced fundraisers looking to lead smarter, more data-driven teams
• Newer professionals seeking a solid grounding in fundraising event fundamentals
Over two interactive days, participants will sharpen skills to:
• Analyze event data to inform decision-making
• Build realistic, goal-aligned budgets
• Design impactful, easy-to-fulfill sponsorship packages
• Reduce the footprint of your silent auction while maintaining critical revenue
• Elevate your live auction and maximize Fund-a-Need
• Save staff time and manage volunteers effectively
• Sharpen messaging and ensure a seamless guest experience
• Leverage software and integrate AI tools strategically
What’s Included:
• Two full-day sessions (8:30 am to 5:00 pm) conducted by C2Auctions CEO Chris O'Shea and CSO Livia Christensen
• Customized instruction and personalized recommendations (10-person session only)
• Plenty of time for group discussions, knowledge sharing, and Q&A
• Digital and printed certificate of completion
• Networking happy hour
• Breakfast and lunch provided both days
Raise More, Stress Less: Two-Day Professional Development Workshop
Location: Washington, D.C. (more locations COMING soon)
September 30-October 1 / limited to 10 participants / $3,500 per person
October 15-16 / LIMITED TO 25 PARTICIPANTS / $1,500 PER PERSON
sign up
By the end of this workshop, you'll walk away with a clear framework to make smarter, more strategic decisions about your fundraising events—freeing up time, energy, and resources.
Ideal in whole or in part for:
• Advancement Directors
• Advancement Office Staff and Event Managers
• Trustees, Gala Chairs, Event Volunteers
Over three high-impact days, we will:
• As applicable, hold specialized sessions for staff, trustees, gala chairs, and event volunteers (no participant limit!);
• Analyze the results of a comprehensive past event data analysis provided by C2;
• Build a realistic, goal-aligned budget for your event;
• Collaboratively design impactful, easy-to-fulfill sponsorship packages;
• Develop specific plans to reduce the footprint of your silent auction while maintaining critical revenue, elevate your Live Auction, and maximize Fund-a-Need Revenue;
• Address organization-specific needs and challenges;
• Provide hands-on training for staff, especially as related to procurement, data management, and volunteer management;
• Sharpen your event messaging; and
• Prepare you to provide a seamless guest experience on-site
What’s Included:
• Expert strategic fundraising event advice and training that enables you to build a successful fundraising event in a joyful, efficient, community-enhancing, and institutionally-sustainable way
• One virtual planning session ahead of time, to ensure your training is fully customized and designed for maximum impact
• Three full-day sessions (8:30 am to 5:00 pm) conducted by C2Auctions CEO Chris O'Shea and CSO Livia Christensen
• Plenty of time for individual and group discussions, crossover sessions, and client-directed time
• Comprehensive post-training report and recommendations
• Copy of C2Auctions’ reference book, From Planning to Proceeds - Raise More, Stress Less
• Advancement Directors
• Advancement Office Staff and Event Managers
• Trustees, Gala Chairs, Event Volunteers
Over three high-impact days, we will:
• As applicable, hold specialized sessions for staff, trustees, gala chairs, and event volunteers (no participant limit!);
• Analyze the results of a comprehensive past event data analysis provided by C2;
• Build a realistic, goal-aligned budget for your event;
• Collaboratively design impactful, easy-to-fulfill sponsorship packages;
• Develop specific plans to reduce the footprint of your silent auction while maintaining critical revenue, elevate your Live Auction, and maximize Fund-a-Need Revenue;
• Address organization-specific needs and challenges;
• Provide hands-on training for staff, especially as related to procurement, data management, and volunteer management;
• Sharpen your event messaging; and
• Prepare you to provide a seamless guest experience on-site
What’s Included:
• Expert strategic fundraising event advice and training that enables you to build a successful fundraising event in a joyful, efficient, community-enhancing, and institutionally-sustainable way
• One virtual planning session ahead of time, to ensure your training is fully customized and designed for maximum impact
• Three full-day sessions (8:30 am to 5:00 pm) conducted by C2Auctions CEO Chris O'Shea and CSO Livia Christensen
• Plenty of time for individual and group discussions, crossover sessions, and client-directed time
• Comprehensive post-training report and recommendations
• Copy of C2Auctions’ reference book, From Planning to Proceeds - Raise More, Stress Less
Three-Day In-House Training
$35,000 (Travel included)
Location: Your Office
PRICING ON DEMAND I location: your office
