Planning a fundraising event is a lot like navigating a raft through treacherous whitewater. 

Picture this: you’re in a raft with a team, winding down a river. The current is picking up, the rocks are getting closer, and the path ahead isn’t entirely clear, especially to the less experience. The guide at the back of the raft doesn’t wait until you’re heading straight for disaster to speak up—they’re constantly watching, adjusting, giving small, timely cues that help steer the whole crew toward the goal safely and smoothly.

Sometimes those cues, known in white water jargon as commands, are loud and urgent—but more often, they’re calm and strategic: a paddle here, a lean there, a reminder to work in sync. And the best guides? They know how to keep the team motivated and focused without panic. They’ve been down this river before. They know what’s coming long before you do.

So, here’s the question: how do they know what to do so early on?

                                    Simple; skill and experience.

In the same way, a fundraising auctioneer isn’t just someone who shows up with a microphone on the night of your gala. A professional fundraising auctioneer is your guide—your captain—on this journey. They understand the current, the hazards, the pacing, and how to navigate toward your fundraising goals.  But even the most experienced guide can’t help you navigate effectively if they’re not in the boat from the beginning. Their insight is most powerful when they’re involved early in the planning process.

Sometimes, fundraising professionals are looped in late in the game, once most of the decisions have already been made. That’s like asking your rafting guide to jump in halfway down the river after you’ve already hit a few rocks. It’s not ideal—for anyone.

Involving your fundraising auctioneer early allows them to:

• Help design a program flow and timeline that maximizes giving
• Advise on auction item selection and order
• Coach speakers or honorees for greater impact
• Help shape your special appeal video and suggest ways to make the ask more compelling
• Identify red flags and missed opportunities well in advance
• Keep the energy (and donor engagement) high from start to finish

Your fundraising event is far too important to leave to chance. With an experienced guide by your side from the start, you’re not just hoping to stay afloat—you’re steering toward real, measurable success.

So, before the planning river starts rushing… bring in your “captain”, you’ll be glad you did.

*Scott Robertson has been a white-water raft guide for 42 consecutive years and has run over 80 rivers around the world.