Over the last few months, I've offered benefit auction ideas on managing your gala in a bad economy. You can use all kinds of techniques to ensure your revenues remain strong in a recession, but one solid strategy of raising money - regardless of economic winds - is to show guests how their donation impacts others. In this case, children. Children (and animals, to a large degree) seem to have universal appeal which you can tap into. Many organizations benefit kids in one way, shape, or ... Read On >
Time to kill the printed benefit auction invitation?
Heather Mansfield of DIOSA Communications recently conducted eleven surveys using the Twitter application TwtPoll. She posted the results online, calling it "11 TwtPoll Results Nonprofits Can Use to Plan 2010 Communications Strategies." One of the questions -- well really, one of the responses -- caught my eye. For ease of reading, I've posted the entire question and the responses below. 4) ATTN Donors: Do you prefer to give $$$ to your favorite organizations via: ... Read On >
How to Hire a Benefit Auctioneer
If you're new to charity auctions or new to working with auctioneers, you might be unsure of how to go about finding and selecting a benefit auctioneer. Here are six steps auction planners can use to not just survive the selection process, but actually enjoy the conversations. #1: Locate some benefit auctioneers If you're starting from a blank slate, visit the National Auctioneers Association website and use their "Find an Auctioneer" search tool. Auctioneers with a "BAS" (Benefit ... Read On >
Review of Boothomatic for silent auctions
I read an article from BizBash magazine entitled "The Photo Booth That Can Capture the Whole Party." It talks about a new portable photo-booth -- AKA, the Boothomatic-- which rolls around the party, enabling guests to take photos wherever they might be. After reading the short article and checking out the photo, here are my off-the-cuff thoughts as to whether the Boothomatic would work in silent auctions. Designed for the younger set My immediate thought is that this is something for a ... Read On >
Auction themes play to underwater mysteries with Treasures of the Deep
My team and I worked an event in southern Virginia which was one of the most attractive and creative auction themes I've attended. It wasn't a large audience -- the crowd only numbered around 225 -- but the decor and atmosphere was exquisite! It was one of the more magical auctions I've attended. The theme was Treasures of the Deep. All things of underwater intrigue could be found here. The dark, mysterious, quiet of the ocean seemed to come alive in this fitness facility (not that you could ... Read On >