Black Tie and Tales

Consignment travel packages have have become a reliable tool for non-profit organizations to round-out their fundraising auction offerings, thanks to providers like Sojourn Ventures. For over two decades, the team at Sojourn Ventures has been curating relationship-driven experiences in Italy, Bali, Spain and Croatia. Consignment travel expert Jill Boyer of Sojourn Ventures joins host Greg Quiroga...

The most valuable commodity at any fundraising gala is also the easiest to take for granted: time. Use your attendees' time wisely, and they will reward you with their participation. But waste their time, and well... In this episode of Black Tie and Tales, Stellar Fundraising auctioneers Devon Bell and Greg Quiroga explore what happens when "Time Keeps on Slipping..." From a 90-minute murder myste...

Get your board committed to ensuring your fundraiser's success and make the most of your fundraising event. In this episode of Black Tie and Tales, Stellar Fundraising auctioneers Devon Bell and Greg Quiroga explore the best ways to prep your supporters for success. Learn the three things every board member should do to help you generate more income. Avoid the biggest pitfall surrounding high-valu...

We kick off a new season of Black Tie and Tales with a look back at the best of 2025. Stellar fundraising auctioneers Devon Bell and Greg Quiroga discuss the hottest trend in fundraising, which lots were the most popular, and how you can ride that momentum into a successful 2026. Accompanying "The Most Exciting Auction Lots of 2025" blog post can be found here: https://www.stellarsf.com/blog/2026/...

Good A/V does more than just broadcast sound and images, good A/V sets an emotional tone and inspires your crowd to support your cause more deeply. If you are accustomed to thinking of your A/V as simply speakers and screens, it's time to discover how a production partner can help you create the moments that move people to give. Find out what questions you should be asking every A/V company before...

Where do you draw the line? When planning a fundraising auction, what is your absolute, deal-breaker, "has to be done this way or I'm out" element? In this episode of Black Tie and Tales, fundraising auctioneers Devon Bell and Greg Quiroga discuss those moments when they've had to lay down the law (or had the law laid down on them). Join them for a journey into My Way, or the Highway. Presented by...

Where does the line between reality and irrational philanthropy exist? How do you get your guests to focus on the value of the cause instead of the value of the auction items? In this episode of Black Tie and Tales, fundraising auctioneers Greg Quiroga and Devon Bell discuss what it looks like when reality rears its ugly head during a fundraising auction, and how to avoid rational thinking at your...

What are the four keys to choosing a venue for your next fundraiser? How important is registration and check-out to your attendees? How many bidders does it take to make a live auction successful? Fundraising event planner Beth Sandefur joins host Greg Quiroga for "Inside the Industry," an in-depth look at the world of fundraising auctions from the perspective of an event professional. Founder of...

What happens when Jay Leno mocks your biggest bidder? What do you do when your emcee calls in arrested and in jail? In this episode of Black Tie and Tales, fundraising auctioneers Greg Quiroga and Devon Bell are joined by special guest Kelly Russell of Artisan Auctions to discuss what happens when an event hits that turning point, and suddenly everything changes. From an A-list celebrity mocking b...

What happens when you get three fundraising auctioneers with mild ADHD on the mic at the same time? In this episode of Black Tie and Tales, fundraising auctioneers Greg Quiroga and Devon Bell are joined by special guest Bobby D. Ehlert of Call To Auction Fundraising to discuss all the benefits of Professionals vs. Volunteers. Is your cocktail hour costing you more than just the drinks? How much mo...

What's the best way to get a ground floor room at the Ritz Carlton? Why do bidders love building relationships with chefs? What have you done with Greg's notebook? In this episode of Black Tie and Tales, fundraising auctioneers Greg Quiroga and Devon Bell trip their way into summer, covering a hodge-podge of topics and stories. From whining about the cost of wi-fi at the Ritz Carlton, to attemptin...

When the auction is over and it's time to go home, how much gas is left in your tank? Did you leave your crowd wanting to do more, or were they tapping out 45 minutes ago? In this episode of Black Tie and Tales, fundraising auctioneers Greg Quiroga and Devon Bell discuss the shared experience of fundraising auctions, and what it means for everyone in the room. Devo takes center stage for a 30-plus...

Months of careful planning set the stage for a successful fundraising auction, but as soon as you open up the doors to your crowd, anything can happen... In this episode of Black Tie and Tales, fundraising auctioneers Greg Quiroga and Devon Bell are joined by special guest Leslie Peterson, Executive Director of the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation, to discuss all of the work that goes into Carefu...

How important is a theme for a fundraising event? Can a good theme help you raise more money? Will a bad theme cost you money? And what even is a "bad" theme, anyway? In this episode of Black Tie and Tales, fundraising auctioneers Greg Quiroga and Devon Bell are joined by special guest, Michael Irvine, VP of Development & Marketing for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley, and this episod...

What happens when you decide to gamble with your fund-a-need? When you opt to go fishing for donations above any known commitments? How does your crowd know what to expect in your live auction? In this episode of Black Tie and Tales, fundraising auctioneers Greg Quiroga and Devon Bell discuss the ways going out on a limb can succeed wonderfully, or fail miserably. From a donor who insists that the...

What are the three things every fundraising auction should do when soliciting a winery for donations? What are the cardinal sins you should always avoid? How far in advance should you solicit a winery for a donation? What is the best way to approach a winery for donations? Suzanne Tate, proprietor of TATE Wine in Napa, joins host Greg Quiroga for "Inside the Industry", an in-depth look at the worl...

After the auction is over, one gala mom insists on a little extra service from Greg. Devon crowd-sources the costs of going overtime. And dance floors, dance floors everywhere, but not a crowd to see... In this episode of Black Tie and Tales, fundraising auctioneers Greg Quiroga and Devon Bell discuss all of the things that can go right (and wrong) on the dance floor at a fundraising auction. From...

When it comes to fundraising auctions, where you hold your event can sometimes make or break it. There's nothing like being memorable for all of the wrong reasons. But if your location is epic...well...that's a good sort of memorable. In this episode of Black Tie and Tales, fundraising auctioneers Greg Quiroga and Devon Bell discuss the best, and worst, locations they've done fundraising auctions....

Resets often bring unintended consequences, and in this episode we discuss what happens when a fundraising auction decides to start anew. A new auction chair fails to assign some important roles for the auction. A crowd discovers how many changes it can handle in a single year. And Greg gets hired to not do an auction. Join fundraising auctioneers Greg Quiroga and Devon Bell as they start over, an...

Yay, 2024! Close out the year and our first season of Black Tie and Tales on a positive note with fundraising auctioneers Greg Quiroga and Devon Bell, as they look back on their most positive moments from 2024. Organizations work together to change the world. An event's theme makes the event bigger, better and more meaningful. A simple and fun addition to the fund-a-need helps raise more money fas...

What happens to a fundraising auction when bidders go bad? When one person decides the rules don't apply to them? In this episode of Black Tie and Tales, fundraising auctioneers Greg Quiroga and Devon Bell discuss some of the most memorable times a bidder gone bad: from a grandma who wasn't quite clear on the concept of how an auction worked, to a Florida Man who wanted to pay Greg to (partially)...

What is the hottest selling auction lot in a fundraising auction? What should you be selling to your crowd right now? In this episode of Black Tie and Tales, fundraising auctioneers Greg Quiroga and Devon Bell discuss the most memorable auction lots they've encountered in their years of conducting fundraising auctions, good and bad. From blowing up a quarry to signing up for Botox, be sure to tune...

Decorations are the most important part of every fundraising gala...for *someone* on the committee. And their design decisions can have a huge impact on the outcome of the fundraising - good and bad. In this episode of Black Tie and Tales, fundraising auctioneers Greg Quiroga and Devon Bell share some of the best and worst decor designs they've seen over the years. From the gala designs that trans...

School crowds are some of the hardest partying crowds in fundraising auctions. And in this episode of Black Tie and Tales, fundraising auctioneers Greg Quiroga and Devon Bell are joined by Michelle Holman of Greater Giving to relive some of their most memorable school auction stories. From stealing the golf carts at a country club to calling into question the auctioneer's ethics while onstage, onc...

The cheese melted, no-one could see the crowd from the stage, and there was a threat of rain: hosting an event outdoors presents a slew of challenges for a fundraising auction. But the payoff is epic when it all goes well! In this episode of Black Tie and Tales, fundraising auctioneers Greg Quiroga and Devon Bell take it outside with stories of events held under the stars (or under the rain clouds...