Charity auction consignment dealers provide / sell merchandise (EG: trips, jewelry, memorabilia, art, etc) to nonprofits for their fundraising auctions. It's a big industry with lots of players. And since the COVID-19 pandemic, it's had some shifts. In the video I explain this subsection of the nonprofit auction space. If you are new to charity auction planning, consider this video a 10-minute "101" crash course in the subject. I cover: What is consignment? Types of ... Read On >
About Sherry Truhlar
How I remember donor names at the auction gala to carry the conversation forward
How to remember donor names at the auction gala Over time I've learned methods to remembering names -- rhymes, association, repetition. My memory has never been perfect but I've managed well enough. These days -- likely due to a combination of age, too many life tasks, and the volume of people I meet -- I've struggled.. Each year brings new Gala Chairs, committee members, Board members, donors, and guests. The following year, I want to remember those returning people *and* meet new ... Read On >
Auction item idea: White House Christmas ornament
Living in the Washington, D.C. area, I become accustomed to seeing certain auction items at many of my events. For instance, flags flown over the Capitol and tours of the House or Senate buildings are easy donations from your congressman. But I forget that if you live outside the DMV (DC-Maryland-Virginia metro area), some auction items and ideas are not necessarily as well-known. One such item I saw recently at a school auction was the White House Christmas ornament. The ornaments ... Read On >
Auction tip to use during your paddle raise to improve checkout
One of the more dreaded activities of holding an auction fundraiser is managing registration and checkout -- or, as I like to call it, "Guest Services." Even without auction software, Guest Services is not an impossible task for an auction committee to pull off, but it does require organization, speed, and -- most importantly -- an understanding of the entire process. There are dozens of tasks that must be managed between when the guest arrives at the gala and when they leave at night's ... Read On >
Yes, still print an auction catalog
Printed catalogs disappeared during the pandemic when virtual galas emerged, and some of my clients have questioned whether they need to produce one now that they've returned to in-person events. "They are laborious," they complain, "Can't guests just look at their phone if they want to read about an item?" For live auction items, I'm a believer in having a hard-copy written description -- but it doesn't need to be fancy. (You'll see 3 widely differing examples in the video.) That ... Read On >