Raising Paddles, Raising Millions: Inside Dan Campbell's Auction Playbook

Raising Paddles, Raising Millions: Inside Dan Campbell's Auction Playbook

From Givergy by Givergy

November 27, 2025 · 35 min · Season 3 · Episode 15

About this episode

Dan Campbell shares insights on successful fundraising auctions and his journey from corporate life to nonprofit work.

In this episode of The Secret Guide to Fundraising – Partner Edition , Jazz is joined by Dan Campbell , founder of Raising Paddles and one of the most respected voices in fundraising auctioneering. Dan shares his unconventional journey: growing up in a family of auctioneers, building a high-flying corporate career at Oracle, and then making a life-changing pivot into the nonprofit world after the loss of his daughter, McKenna. That experience now fuels a mission-driven business that helps nonprofits raise more than $120 million a year . Together, Jazz and Dan dig into what really drives a successful auction: why 80% of the work happens before anyone walks into the room, how board activation training can turn an $850k event into a $2.2m one, and why participation rates matter just as much as headline totals. They also discuss how charities are coping with external uncertainty, generational shifts in giving, and the role of gratitude and stewardship in keeping donors engaged long after the gala ends. If you’re planning an event or relying on an auction to hit your fundraising goals, this episode is full of practical, field-tested advice you can apply straight away.

People in this episode

Guest: Dan Campbell

Topics covered

  • fundraising
  • auctioneering
  • nonprofit
  • charity

Keywords

  • auction
  • nonprofits
  • fundraising goals
  • donor engagement

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Raising Paddles

Books & works: Raising Paddles, Raising Millions:, The Secret Guide to Fundraising – Partner Edition

More episodes of Givergy

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Givergy podcast page.