How do we keep raising money when our membership is aging and shrinking?

When membership dips, you cannot count on more ticket sales or more tables to fill the gap. For a Veterans & Military Family Organizations post, the room still shows up with strong local business support and a deep respect for the mission. People bid to honor, not just to win. That changes what sells. Adventure-based experiences, golf trips, and budget-friendly international excursions fit a crowd that values shared stories and service. Instead of adding events, you make the one gala, golf outing, or banquet count more by putting richer packages on the table that raise the per-person take.

There is no upfront cost to reserve packages from Giveback XP. You browse over 140 experiences, pick what fits your audience, and print the free display PDFs. You only pay for an experience if it sells, keep 100% over the cost, and can sell experiences multiple times if the bidding gets hot. You are not too late: items can be added the same day as your event. A recommended starting bid of 15-20% above cost means profit from the very first bid. The number of packages depends on your crowd size, and the team helps you fine tune that.

This week, look at your next event date and pick three to five experiences that match your crowd. Golf trips, adventure travel, and international getaways work well for Veterans & Military Family Organizations. Reserve them for free. Print the one-page PDFs and place them on your silent auction table. Mobile bidding also brings in family and community beyond the room, stretching every donated dollar further. Do not add more events to a tired volunteer crew. Instead, give the one event you already have a higher ceiling.

After the event, you send the winners’ details to the Travel Team and they get the donors squared away. Donors have up to two years to travel for most experiences. Your post keeps more money, your volunteers do less chasing, and the night feels bigger than the membership numbers on your roster.