In the fall of 2008, many clients started asking me about how the economy was affecting fundraising auctions. South Florida Urban Ministries was one of them. The economy was our first topic during our coaching session in January 2009. In the course of conversation, I talked about how a dip in the economy spurs some companies to new heights. I cited an example. A few weeks later, the Executive Director used that example in his quarterly letter to donors. Although it was a jolt to see my ... Read On >
Encouraging young professionals to attend your fundraising auction
I spent the last two days with Hannes Combest, President of the National Auctioneers Association (NAA), at the ASAE Springtime Expo gala in Washington, D.C. The first night of the event, ASAE hosted an event targeting young professionals, which nowadays are also called Millennials because of their birth year. The reception reminded me of a trend I've seen with regards to fundraising auctions. Many of the galas I work have a population in the age range of 45+. Some galas skew much older. ... Read On >
Headline entertainment goes AFTER the fundraising auction
Are you planning on holding an auction fundraiser with headline entertainment? If so, pay heed to your scheduling. The order of events dramatically affects how much you raise in your benefit auction. Here's an example. For the past two days, I've been representing the National Auctioneers Association (NAA) at ASAE's Springtime Expo in Washington, D.C. (ASAE is the membership association for association staff members. NAA is a member of ASAE.) ASAE has decided to incorporate a ... Read On >
The first question to ask before you start planning the auction.
Imagine the scenario. You’ve agreed to chair the benefit auction for a charity in your hometown. You’ve got lots of ideas but feel overwhelmed. You’ve heard that auctioneers book months in advance, so you’ve decided to call a few today to get an idea of their services. Stop. Don’t pick up the phone until you’re crystal clear about the answer to this question. Why are you holding this event? What is the primary reason this fundraiser is being held? You might think this is ridiculous ... Read On >
Tips for including a modest amount of hotel sleeping rooms into your auction contract
When I worked as an event planner, I read event management magazines to keep abreast of remodeled hotels, unique venues, trends in meetings, and other tidbits. As an auctioneer reading those same publications, I like to keep an eye out for how my clients might use key information to help them in their planning. Among my clientele, hotels are among the most popular of auction venues. But for obvious reasons, hotels prefer to give deals to clients who book sleeping rooms as part of their ... Read On >