Here's some food for thought. If you're a non-profit with a job opening, tell your vendors. In the last four months, I've received emails from several different sources related to jobs. Two high-level development women are seeking new positions Two nonprofits have open positions (One is an Executive Director; the other a mid-level Development team member) One fellow auctioneer in South Carolina forwarded me the resume of a friend he knows seeking a development job in DC. "Can you forward ... Read On >
Benefit Auctions Blog
How to run your benefit auction committee meetings
Happy Valentine's Day! Want to show love to your volunteers? Those team members sitting on your benefit auction committees would love it if you respected their time! To that end, here are some tips to keep your meetings running smoothly. Before the meeting ... 1. Ask each committee chair for a time estimate of her remarks. Ask how long she'll need to update the group on her respective responsibilities, whether that's invitations, sponsorships, or baskets. Depending on where you are in ... Read On >
Why I love acrylic stands in silent auction displays
I've written extensively on how to structure a good silent auction display. And despite my particular interest in acrylic frames, I've even talked about how to create displays without using acrylic stands. But I've not covered why I really like using those acrylic styles. Here's why acrylic stands catch my fancy. First, they are frameless. Unlike using traditional photo frames, which have a 1"-2" frame (see photo) around the edges, clear plastic stands are frameless. It leaves more room for ... Read On >
Five ways to refresh a tired fundraising auction
The 1993 movie Groundhog Day is one of my favorites. The lead character finds himself stuck in a time loop, reliving the same day over and over. At first he enjoys it, giving in to his base desires hour and hour, knowing that the clock resets at midnight. Eventually he becomes bored with his selfish ways and finds greater satisfaction in helping others. His new attitude breaks the spell and he returns to a normal life. Some fundraising galas are a lot like the concept in that movie. ... Read On >
Oh New York, *must* your auction venue be that exquisite?
Reuters published a story on Monday called Wall Street philanthropy picks up, but not for all. I rolled my eyes. Here's the first two sentences: (Reuters) - At a charity live auction in December for babies born into poverty, Stephanie Astic noted a heavy Wall Street presence in the room -- the extent of which she had not seen since 2007. "They were bidding things up," said Astic, who produces fundraising events for "Room To Grow" and other non-profits at posh Manhattan venues such as ... Read On >