How FrontStream Helped Lowcountry Orphan Relief Focus on Gala Guests, Not the Logistics

By FrontStream

Founded to meet the immediate needs of children facing abuse, abandonment, or neglect, Lowcountry Orphan Relief (LOR) provides emergency care kits with clothing, toiletries, school supplies, books, and comfort items. Serving nearly 50 schools in the Charleston area, LOR supports children during times of crisis, and works to connect them with supportive, lasting care.

The Challenge

While LOR’s mission was strong and community support steady, the small nonprofit team faced two big hurdles with their annual gala:

  • Cumbersome, manual processes for check-in, bidding, and checkout left guests frustrated in prior years.
  • Limited supporter data meant they couldn’t easily segment or engage attendees after the event.

Executive Director Sarah Wallace and Community Outreach & Events Manager Stephanie Mermott needed a way to run the event more smoothly, create a better guest experience, and capture detailed data they could use year-round.

The Solution

The LOR team implemented FrontStream to modernize their gala and auction:

  • Mobile Bidding & Digital Auction: LOR transitioned both live and silent auctions to mobile, allowing for text bid alerts, instant outbid notifications, and real-time engagement tracking.
  • Streamlined Check-In & Checkout: They eliminated long lines by collecting payment info at registration and delivering won items directly to tables.
  • Integrated CRM: LOR automatically captured attendee and bidder information — including purchase history and interests — into FrontStream's CRM for future campaigns.
  • Creative Fundraising: They introduced a “Backpack Auction” in the live program, where guests sponsored $50 backpacks for children in care. The fast-paced appeal raised $30,000 in just five minutes!
  • Data-Driven Planning: LOR used past bidding data to tailor auction items to attendee preferences for future events.
$30,000
raised in just five minutes!
90%
of the gala guests were first-time supporters

“The ease of having all event and donor data in one place was a game-changer. FrontStream let us focus on our guests, not the logistics.” 

— Stephanie Mermott, Community Outreach and Events Manager, Lowcountry Orphan Relief

The FrontStream Advantage: More Time, Bigger Impact

With FrontStream, LOR has one platform for event management, auction tools, payments, and CRM. Together we're delivering:

  • A better guest experience – No long lines, instant bidding, and seamless checkout left guests feeling cared for.
  • Data you can act on – Every bid, donation, and interaction flowed directly into LOR’s CRM for year-round engagement.
  • Flexible fundraising formats –  Ability to mix mobile bidding with creative live appeals like the backpack auction.
  • Room to grow – Scalable tools support LOR’s future  events alongside the gala.
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Learn how LOR rejuvenated its donor and volunteer base while fostering a culture of inclusivity.  Watch the webcast >

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Over 31,000 organizations have trusted FrontStream to simplify fundraising. 

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