In just a couple of days, flowers -- especially roses -- are going to be delivered to doorsteps and offices all over the USA, brightening the faces of many as they are honored by a beloved for Valentine's Day. Fresh flowers are still a popular centerpiece choice for many auction galas, but if your budget can't swing fresh, then let's look at fake. Two of my clients figured out how to fill their tables with colorful flowers on the cheap. Last fall I worked two auction fundraisers ... Read On >
Benefit Auctions Blog
Beyond fundraising, why have an auction gala?
What is the purpose of a fundraising auction? Most people will immediately think of the most tangible benefit of a fundraising auction -- MONEY. Nonprofit auctions are generally launched to raise cash. When the event is over, the gross and net income are often reviewed by the committee and Board. The auction might be stamped as "successful" if it achieves a certain financial target. Tied to this, once an auction is on a nonprofit's annual calendar, it's rarely removed as the income is ... Read On >
Grape expectations: Selling premium wine as a revenue generator
Wine is a commonly included item at many fundraising auctions. It's used to bring in money via games such as wine pulls and ring toss games. It's sold as complete packages in silent auction and live auction lots. Bottles are often added to other packages to enhance them. Select wine tastings can be offered to sponsors as a benefit. And -- the focus of this article -- wine upgrades can also be sold outright as a money-making activity. Selling better wine to be served at one's ... Read On >
Parents sue over a school auction class art project sale
Imagine your school selling one of its class art projects for $50,000! It sounds wonderful, but the situation went to court. I've talked before about funny business tied to nonprofit auctions. Vanity Fair wrote a fascinating story about Harvey Weinstein and his questionable auction donations to a 2015 AmFAR gala in France, specifically the dubious financial dealings around it. With today's post, the drama turns from glamorous international galas to a more typical school auction. The ... Read On >
The best year-end tip for auction procurement
The holidays are here! As you mingle and jingle through the rest of December, keep this tip for auction procurement in mind. Listen to the chatter. Here's the deal. There's not much auction committee work getting done between now and January 1. Instead, it's a season for socializing. Companies host holiday parties. Friends host open houses. Families reconvene at homesteads. As your co-workers, friends, and relatives swap stories about what they've been doing, pay ... Read On >