A few years ago I worked with an American Heart Association chapter located in a less populated area. Because of their size and budget differences, they approached their gala differently than the larger chapter I worked with in Washington, D.C. To conserve money on design and printing, they collaborated with two other regional AHA chapters. All three used the same gala theme each year in their respective locations. The marketing materials, forms, and even some decorative pieces of the ... Read On >
Benefit Auctions Blog
In 2 weeks! FREE training: How to ask for auction donations, money, and more
I've got a complementary training coming up that EVERYONE involved in your auction should attend. It's about learning how to ask. Imagine being so confident with the idea of asking for donations that your team was EAGER to pick up the phone, pound the pavement, or chat up strangers at a dinner party. Can you envision how would your auction change? You'd get a lot more quality donations, bigger cash gifts, and nicer sponsorships. That's exciting! Auctions begin with a confident ask. ... Read On >
VIDEO: Benefit Auction Gift Ideas for Guests
It's a rare bird who wouldn't like to leave a party with a treat, and that includes your auction guests. But gifts don't have to take the form of a traditional gift bags filled with your nonprofit literature, either. (I'd rather they not.) In this video, I share several benefit auction gift ideas I've seen at events, starting with the more traditional and mundane (think edible goodies) to the more exquisite and rare. https://youtu.be/jmmUys8am-s?feature=shared Gifts are best when ... Read On >
VIDEO: LEGO® is trendy, but is it a great silent auction item?
Did you like LEGO®s as a child? If you did, you might think it should be included among those great silent auction items to offer. Wellll, I'm not so sure about that. They are popular right now, but I'm not sure about selling them in your auction. It depends on the form they take. I think selling it 'in the raw' is best, versus gettin' all fancy schmancy with it. Watch the video below to see what I'm talking about. https://youtu.be/RCmjSL9oIgg?feature=shared Got any ideas on where to find ... Read On >
VIDEO: What’s my name again? (Why name badges help an auction.)
Should you hand out name badges in your benefit auction registration packets? I love them, but you might think name badges "cheapen" your fundraiser. Perhaps. Not everyone likes wearing name badges, and the dress codes might make it impossible to wear a badge. And I suppose if your event is filled with celebrities where everyone is expected to know one another, it might be awkward. (Or is it? Even celebrities goof, like Gwen Stefani confusing Jimmy Fallon for Jimmy Kimmel on his own show, The ... Read On >