It's mid-August, which means the kids living in my home state of Kansas are returning to school. Here on the East coast, the school year starts a bit later in September. What does that mean for your school auction committee? Time to get busy. For those of you volunteers overseeing school auctions, start your "to do" list. Here are three activities to put on it. Plan Auction Committee Introductions If you've been recruiting for key auction committee positions through the summer, now is a ... Read On >
Benefit Auctions Blog
Congrats to the 2010 finalists for BizBash Chicago Event Style awards
In July, I alerted readers to the call for entries for applying for the BizBash event awards in Chicago. Congratulations to the finalists. There are several nonprofit and associations listed, even in the traditional categories– huzzah! Some of them even had a live or silent auction as part of their gala. Based on my observation of the Washington, D.C. awards, BizBash has traditionally favored event "glitz" over event "financials." Large glamorous fundraising events seem to earn more ... Read On >
“Demolishing” the idea of glamorous benefit auction items
I sell my share of New York weekend trips consisting of a show, dinner, and hotel. Who doesn't enjoy a glamorous weekend? But what about those off-the-wall benefit auction items that might be better suited for the stomping grounds of my youth? I think back to the Kansas State Fair, where this next item would have been easier to procure and would have made a big splash with auction guests. The chance to compete in a demolition derby. Last month I read an article in the Orange County Register ... Read On >
Silent auction entertainment ideas for the 20-something crowd.
I received a random email blast for which I'd not signed up. In other words, spam. As I prepared to hit "delete," the words "Silent Party" caught my eye. Thinking it was something related to a silent auction, I struggled to understand the poorly written press release. Baffled, I looked at the photos and clicked the website videos. Aha, I got it. If you're seeking some silent auction entertainment ideas for 20-somethings (Millennials / young professional) crowd, this might work for ... Read On >
Wow, bulldozer auction item ideas turn out to be REAL business
In late July 2009, you might remember reading my blog post about some benefit auction item ideas I had -- like learning to drive a bulldozer and operate other heavy equipment such as dump trucks or excavators. I envisioned the donation could become a fun birthday party for boys ... or even a memorable party for grown men who might like to test their skills at operating some heavy equipment. I suggested procuring a 2-hour donation from your nearby Heavy Equipment Training Academy. Then in ... Read On >