The short answer
TacBoard puts a live photo wall on the screens at your school gala or auction. Parents and guests text photos to one number or scan a QR code, and the photos stream alongside sponsor thank-you slides and student artwork you load in advance. No app is required. One event is $159 (text + QR) or $49 (QR only). PTOs and foundations that run events all year use the $99/month plan.
- Sponsors
- Load sponsor thank-you images so they cycle with guest photos
- Student work
- Preload class art projects or the auction catalog
- Guests
- Text or scan. Nothing to install.
- Next year
- Every photo in one gallery for promotion and thank-you posts
Why it fits a fundraiser
A gala depends on energy in the room. Guests who are laughing at photos of their table on the big screen stay longer, bid more and come back next year. A live photo wall gives the room a focus between the program's big moments, and it costs less than a photo booth.
It also gives sponsors something concrete. Sponsor logos and thank-you slides saved as images cycle on screen all night between guest photos, which is visibility you can include in next year's sponsorship packages.
- Elementary and middle school PTO and PTA auctions
- Private and parochial school galas
- Education foundation dinners
- Band, theater and athletic booster fundraisers
- Trivia nights, casino nights and family fun nights
Working it into the run of show
- Cocktail hour and silent auction. Stream on every screen and announce the number. This is when most photos arrive.
- Dinner. Keep the stream running and mention it once from the stage.
- Live auction and paddle raise. Switch the main projector to the auctioneer's slides, and leave side screens on the stream if you have them.
- After the paddle raise. Switch back. Guests send photos of the celebration and the stream keeps the room going until the end.
Idea
Ask each class to send a photo of their class project before the event, then preload them. Parents love finding their child's class on the big screen.
Setup checklist
- 1
Create the gallery and get your number
Do it as soon as you have a date, so the number can go in the invitation and the program.
- 2
Preload sponsors, student work and throwbacks
Text or upload images in advance. They stream with live photos from the moment you go live.
- 3
Print table cards
Use the free sign shop to make table cards and a welcome poster.
- 4
Test the venue
Use Try TacBoard at the venue to check the Wi-Fi and cell signal before the night.
- 5
Go live
Connect a laptop to each screen, open the gallery and press Display Live. See the setup guides.
Getting sponsor value from the screen
Sponsors want to be seen, and a screen everyone watches is the best place for them. Here is a simple way to build screen time into your sponsorship levels.
| Sponsor level | Screen recognition | How to set it up |
|---|---|---|
| Presenting sponsor | A full-screen thank-you slide in the loop all night | Upload one image per sponsor before the event |
| Gold | A shared slide with other gold sponsors | Group three or four logos per image |
| Silver and table sponsors | Logos on a combined thank-you slide | One image listing all sponsors |
| In-kind donors | Photos of donated auction items | Upload the catalog photos so guests see the items before bidding closes |
After the event, the gallery gives you proof for the sponsor report: photos of their slides on screen in a full room. Those make next year's renewal conversation easier.
A plan for the volunteer running it
- A week before: create the gallery, upload sponsor slides and class projects, print table cards, and test the venue with Try TacBoard.
- Two hours before: set up the laptop at each screen, press Display Live and send a test photo.
- During the event: keep the gallery open on your phone to approve or remove anything the filter flags, and remind the emcee to mention the number after dinner.
- After the event: download the gallery, share the link with families in the thank-you email, and send sponsor photos to the sponsorship chair.
Most volunteers find the stream runs itself once it is live, so the same person can also help with check-in or the silent auction.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | How guests send photos | Own phone number | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QR Code | $49 One time, per event | Scan a QR code or open a link, upload from the phone's browser | No | Events outside the US and Canada, smaller budgets, younger crowds |
| SMS & QR Code | $159 One time, per event | Text photos to the event's own number, or use the QR code | Yes, active until 30 days after the event | Weddings, awards nights, memorials and any crowd with older guests |
| Unlimited SMS & QR Code | $99/month Monthly, cancel anytime ($198 due at signup covers the first two months) | Text or QR code | Yes, stays on while subscribed | Venues, schools, associations and planners running events every month |
Every plan includes unlimited guests and photos, the live photo stream, a private gallery that never expires and the free sign shop. See pricing
If your PTO also runs a fall festival, a teacher appreciation week and a spring carnival, the monthly plan covers all of them with one number.
Frequently asked questions
Can we show sponsor logos on the photo wall?
Yes. Save sponsor slides as images and upload or text them to the gallery before the event. They cycle on screen with guest photos.
Do guests need an app?
No. Guests never download an app or create an account.
Can we keep inappropriate photos off the screen?
An automatic content filter checks every photo and message. Anything it flags waits in a queue where you approve or delete it, and you can block a sender.
Can it run on more than one screen?
Yes. Open the live stream on a laptop at each screen and they all update together.
What does it cost for a school?
$159 for one event with a text number, $49 with QR code only, or $99/month for every event while you are subscribed.
Last reviewed by the TacBoard team.