I've previously written about silent auction displays and mentioned that keeping it vertical is the key to a good display. But if you don't like the look of acrylic stands, or have more time than money (acrylic stands can be pricey), here are some other vertical options. Option 1: Oversized Vertical Silent Auction Displays The following displays were made out of a posterboard-type material. In speaking with the staff, I learned that the hospital foundation auction team (3 ... Read On >
Benefit Auctions Blog
When to send your auction thank you letter
Today I received an email from one of my clients. She wrote, "What's the "correct" way to thank donors? Do I send an auction thank you letter when I receive the item ... AND after the gala? Or is it OK to just send one letter? I don't want to be redundant, but I also don't want to be rude." I thought her question was insightful. She's a young, hip Development Director, and she's got manners. Good manners can build your auction's reputation for the long haul. Second, this question brings ... Read On >
A School Auction Excels at Marketing a Potato Cannon
The right unique school auction items will sell for high dollar in your gala. And a potato cannon, made by the school's beloved maintenance department, in an all-boys Catholic school ... is a perfect example of that. The cannon sold for $1000 at the school auction... twice. (Once the Auction Chair saw how well it was selling, she confirmed the maintenance team would be willing to build another one. The school doubled its revenue on that item.) Not only is this a fun idea, but what ... Read On >
This Virginia benefit auctioneer is in Indiana for an “MBA”
This week I've been in Bloomington, IN. I'm attending the National Auctioneers Association (NAA) Education Institute's program known as Certified Auctioneers Institute (CAI). CAI is a three-year program, so I won't graduate until 2011. My colleagues include ~66 auctioneers of all specialties. The Education Institute describes CAI as being "designed for leaders in the industry." It's an "executive development program focused on developing skills and providing tools." Most of us just refer ... Read On >
Is a fall charity auction date better than spring?
The Chair of a school auction called me a few days ago to get my opinion. Her committee is thinking of moving its fall charity auction date to a new day and season. Traditionally the fundraiser has been held in December, but they're considering an auction date in the spring so as not to compete with their Annual Fund. "What do you think?" she asked. In one respect, it doesn't matter. As long as a committee follows the principles of conducting a successful auction, the gala can ... Read On >