If you are searching for content around the theme of volunteers (managing volunteers ... how many to use at your fundraising auction ... where to find them), check out the latest issue of the quarterly newsletter, The Funding Edge, which is published by the auction software company Auctionpay. The fall issue has several articles devoted to the subject of volunteers, and the lead article is written by ... me! My article is "Four Tips to Keeping Your Volunteers Engaged." Dig in, as I'm sure ... Read On >
Benefit Auctions Blog
Auctioneers are Rare; Female Auctioneers are Rarer
I'm behind in my reading, so it was only recently I read the June 2009 AUCTIONEERS magazine and an article called "A Rare Occupation." It talks about how auctioneers are few and far between. Author Robert Doyle did some research on the InfoUSA Website to compare the numbers of full-time auctioneers in the United States to other professions. The statistics were interesting: Auctioneers: 10,034 Funeral Directors: 23,648 Painters: 43,178 Plumbers: 60,767 Real Estate Agents: ... Read On >
Benefit Auction Procurement Trend: Cocktail Instruction
Cocktails are hot! As I travel to different cities, I invariably read an article on the train or plane about some local cocktail bar, or a local bartender who has created a fabulous new cocktail, or the types of music to play at a cocktail party. Why not incorporate a cocktail element into your benefit auction procurement plan? Is there a trendy bartender in your town? Maybe a good hangout that everyone heads to on Friday night after work? At one benefit earlier this year, I sold a clever ... Read On >
FREE teleclass: How to negotiate your charity auction venue contract
UPDATE: This class has passed. To keep abreast of future calls, subscribe to Benefit Auction Ideas. ++++++ I wish someone had offered this class when I was a full-time event planner. Many nonprofits and some schools hold their charity auctions at outside venues ... most of which will require the group to sign a contract. But if you don't regularly work with contracts, they can be overwhelming. Not every organization can afford to have an attorney on staff to negotiate those written tomes, ... Read On >
Silent auction item idea: photo garage doors
These garage doors are impressive. Someone sent the link to me a couple of weeks ago. I'd recommend putting something like this into an online auction or use it as a silent auction item. Honestly, I'm not sure how likely you are to get a donation -- it's a German-based company. If you're a German international school or have a fluent German speaker amidst your ranks, you might have better luck! The garage photo covers are less than $300 and they have many styles. (Check out their website. ... Read On >