Local Nonprofit Doubles Annual Fundraising Goal

When Happy Tails Animal Shelter in Portland, Oregon set out to raise funds for a new veterinary facility, they knew traditional fundraising methods wouldn't be enough. Their annual gala typically raised $20,000, but construction costs for the new facility required significantly more.

1The Challenge

"We needed to think bigger," says Sarah Martinez, Executive Director of Happy Tails. "Our traditional in-person gala was limited by venue capacity and geographic reach. We could only accommodate about 150 people, and most of our supporters lived across the greater Portland area."

2The GiveAuction Solution

Happy Tails decided to try a week-long online silent auction using GiveAuction. They curated 45 items, including:

• Pet care packages from local businesses
• Experience packages (whale watching tours, wine tasting)
• Artwork and handmade items donated by supporters
• Professional services (photography sessions, home cleaning)
• Restaurant gift certificates and local experiences

3The Results

"We were absolutely blown away," Martinez recalls. "Not only did we more than double our goal, but we reached people we'd never been able to engage before. The real-time notifications kept bidders engaged throughout the week, and the competitive nature of the auction drove prices higher than we expected."

Key Success Factors

1. 1
   Strategic Timing: Running the auction for a full week allowed supporters to participate on their own schedule
2. 2
   Mobile Accessibility: Over 70% of bids came from mobile devices
3. 3
   Item Variety: Offering items at different price points ($25 to $3,000) ensured everyone could participate
4. 4
   Email Promotion: Daily email updates about ending items kept engagement high
5. 5
   Social Media Integration: Sharing auction progress on social media expanded reach

Looking Forward

Happy Tails has now made GiveAuction auctions a quarterly event, and they're on track to raise over $150,000 this year. They've also inspired three other local nonprofits to launch their own online silent auctions.