I love word play. Thoughtful poems and good song lyrics beg for me to memorize them. And when rhymes are tied to rhythm in a rap, remembering lyrics is even easier.But word play isn't just for music.I recall listening to Sam Horn (the speaker, not the baseball player) sharing a story about her book title, "Tongue Fu! How to Deflect, Disarm, and Defuse any Verbal Conflict."What a great name.Kung fu conjures ideas of self-defense, and Sam ingeniously used the same alliteration ... Read On >
Benefit Auctions Blog
Successful Nonprofits Podcast: Flipping Small Fundraising Events on Their Heads for Better Revenue
On June 18, I flew to Fort Lauderdale, FL, picked up my rental car, and headed to the beach hotel where the Planet Philanthropy 2018 conference was being held.If you've not been, the conference is worth noting in your calendar. The well-organized event is the annual statewide conference presented by The Association of Fundraising Professionals Florida. This was the third year I was presenting, but the first year to be there with clients. Two Florida-based development directors had agreed ... Read On >
Reminder cards for photography at gala auctions
Photography seems to be a part of every event I work. The photographer might be professional or amateur, paid or volunteer.The photography itself takes many approaches:Photobooths with guest props Flip Books Frames Boothomatics Backdrops Portrait Photography Similar but different -- changing the traditional photo donations found in the silent auctionA recent gala had a venue that spread guests between two floors and a balcony. To ensure all knew that a ... Read On >
Do you have to print the value of an auction item?
The rules around listing fair market values Here's a common fundraising auction question:"Is it OK to put the fair market value of an auction item on the receipt, instead of listing it on the bid sheet, auction catalog or display?"Some people believe (mistakenly, in my mind) that guests will pay more for an item if they don't know the value of it.The IRS regulation explains that for a donation above the fair market value to be considered a gift, the winning bidder must be told the ... Read On >
Red Apple Auctions’ blog makes Feedspot’s Top 25 Auction Blogs list
In April during the busiest part of my spring travel season, I received an email from Feedspot."I would like to personally congratulate you," the email began, "Your blog at Red Apple Auctions has been selected by our panelists as one of the Top 25 Auction Blogs on the web."Woohoo! The Red Apple Auctions blog landed at #15 on the best auction bloggers list. It's nice to be recognized for something that takes some time to produce.When I looked at their list, I noticed that most ... Read On >