Creating Unforgettable Experiences: Expert Advice on Fundraising Events

Jeff is no stranger to fundraising events, having participated in them for over 25 years. He ran his first fundraiser in 2005 and has managed over 50 auction events and fundraisers for his own charities, not to mention hundreds more with Handbid. Jeff has been involved in technical product and software development since 1996 and has built and managed mobile app solutions since 2008. When it became clear that he and his wife, Kari Porter, needed a better solution for their fundraisers, developing a mobile bidding app was a no-brainer. The result? Jeff and his wife Kari developed and launched Handbid in 2011. The rest is what they call “history”.

Lauren Batterby was born and raised in Manchester, England. She is the CEO and founder of Life Event Staffing, providing specialized auction staff for fundraising and corporate events across North America, serving both the United States and Canada. With over 10 years of industry experience, Lauren's expertise lies in fundraising events and silent auction technology. LIFE Event Staffing was established in 2021, with a small roster of 40 staff and 1 client, under Lauren’s leadership Life Event Staffing has grown to 650 staff, managing 7 silent auctions platforms, and organizing over 850 successful auction events in 2022. Another big addition to the team in 2022 was sweet baby Lucy, now 13-months old. Laurens daughter.

A word from Lauren: “I seek to leverage my career in fundraising by building relationships to strengthen my knowledge while learning from others. I believe that positive actions bring positive outcomes and I lead my company with empathy.”

Scott is a 'tech-for-good' entrepreneur, who co-founded ZGIVE, a digital auction platform, and
most recently, riskfreeitemshop.com, an e-commerce site powered by AI. He also co-founded a nonprofit called Give.Hope.Love. to help foster children thrive. Understanding fundraising from the lens of a nonprofit executive and a technology founder has given him unique insights into how to solve some of the key issues facing nonprofits in an ever-changing, tech-centric world.

Tony is a fundraising consultant who works with not-for-profit organisations the world over to support a range of challenges and deliver change. Leading the events function at Stroke Association, Tony was responsible for a major innovative international events programme. An experienced leader, he has also worked across extensive corporate partnerships, major giving and celebrity liaison programmes and projects for organisation’s such as British Red Cross, Commonwealth Sport Foundation, and Battersea, among many others.

An events specialist, Tony is all about creating unforgettable experiences and has spent over fifteen years developing effective events and stewardship strategies to drive engagement and income generation in the third sector and local government. He has a background in marketing and communications and is also skilled in working with high-value and celebrity audiences. He is also a mental health ambassador and qualified mental health first aider.