Fundraising Boosteres

Looking to boost event-day proceeds, Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation eschewed the basic silent auction setup of placing the prizes on a table, instead enlisting a group of hunky male volunteers to roam the crowd showcasing auction items on platters at its Wine, Women & Shoes benefit in February.

At last year’s subway-themed Robin Hood Foundation gala in New York, guests received personalized cards resembling MetroCards that enabled them to donate funds ­anonymously throughout the night at their tables via IML devices, which were ­embedded into the centerpieces.

At the AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s “World of Chocolate” event in November, a silent auction let guests bid at different levels starting at $50. After selecting a bidding level, guests chose a corresponding number on a punchboard. Event staffers dressed as boxers then punched a hole through that number to reveal a prize.

Massachusetts General Hospital’s annual Storybook Ball in Boston traditionally uses carnival-style games as a strategy to raise more money. Guests can purchase access to a V.I.P. area with games including Skee-Ball for $500.

Charity:Water’s benefit in New York last December sold helium balloons for $5 a pop, which guests could release into a 28-foot-tall, 20-foot-wide net rigged to the ceiling. As the balloons filled the space it began to resemble a giant Jerry can, the charity’s symbol.

At the DX Intersection benefit for Toronto’s Design Exchange last November, organizers arranged a balloon-pop raffle. Models wearing body paint sold balloons for $20, $50, and $100. Each balloon had a number inside that corresponded to a prize.