Last Saturday I worked a school auction in the Washington National Cathedral. The dress code was "Cathedral Dress."Though I've been to the Cathedral many times, I've worn everything from shorts (as a tourist) to a dress (for an organ concert). I wasn't exactly sure what was appropriate to this event, so I asked.I learned that it could be cocktail, but nothing too flashy or bright. Sort of a “business cocktail.”Dress codes are important; you want everyone to be comfortable, and most ... Read On >
Administration
Is it a “LIVE” auction, LIVE auction, or Live Auction?
My bilingual and multi-lingual friends are quick to point out that English isn't the easiest language to learn.Here's one example of how language oddities can confuse even the best auction planners.==================== Back in 2012, I received this email from a Chicago hospital foundation team member. When I refer to a “LIVE” auction in printed materials, I always put “LIVE” in quotes so that it is not misread as LIVE – the verb for to exist. My supervisor does not like the quotes ... Read On >
The magic words that get bidders to hand over their credit card at auction registration
One key to running a fast auction checkout process is to collect credit card information as guests arrive.A long line at checkout is virtually guaranteed if a nonprofit decides to wait until the end of the event to collect a guest's credit card information. Instead, the secret to smooth auction checkout to swipe the credit card at the registration desk. However, some Gala Chairs have found it hard to convince guests to hand over their credit cards upon arrival."Our team says that ... Read On >
Growing a public school auction
Here's an example of a public school auction that has made small changes every year to improve.Headwaters Foundation raises money for the rural Rappahannock County, VA public school system, which services fewer than 1000 students. At one time, it was one of the poorest counties in Virginia. It might still be.The county is located about 90 miles west of Washington, D.C. To arrive at the venue, you'll wind around the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, passing a combination of roadside ... Read On >
Busted! Be wary of images used in fundraising auction displays
In the summer of 2015, the nonprofit division of Venable law published "Busted: Nonprofits Will Have to Pay the Photography Piper." The article itself is short and worth reading, but here's the synopsis. For many years, nonprofits have pulled images from the internet and used them in their publications or websites.Until recently, software didn't exist to make it easy for photographers and their agents to track down these copyrighted images. Now the software exists, and nonprofits are ... Read On >