A handful of the nonprofit galas I work have a dramatically diverse mix of guests. The crowd is comprised of three distinct groups: non-paying clients non-paying (or reduced-ticket-price) employees of the non-profit paying guests Although I can appreciate why a handful of non-paying/free guests might be allowed to attend (e.g. a reward to an employee, or asking someone to speak), a few of the nonprofit auctions I've worked have seen the majority of the attendees -- the majority! -- be ... Read On >
Administration
Celebrity Charity – Enlisting Stars to Your Cause
Wondering how to get celebrities to your party? Occasionally I’ll have a conversation with a non-profit attempting to build awareness of their gala. They want to invite a well-recognized actor or musician to the event. The charity’s goal is multifaceted. The presence of a star could draw others to attend their gala The star himself might donate to the auction, thereby raising funds in a more direct way. The close passing of both Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson - both active in ... Read On >
Good auction centerpiece ideas start with shrinking them
When I was a corporate event planner, deciding on centerpieces for special events was one of the creative aspects of my work. Part of the process was making them functional and fun. In my new career as an auctioneer, I have definite auction centerpiece ideas! What makes a centerpiece "good" now is a bit different than in my old days. At my former events, making money wasn't the goal. Now it is. To keep this post short, I'm only going to talk about fresh floral centerpieces. Non-floral ... Read On >
Encouraging young professionals to attend your fundraising auction
I spent the last two days with Hannes Combest, President of the National Auctioneers Association (NAA), at the ASAE Springtime Expo gala in Washington, D.C. The first night of the event, ASAE hosted an event targeting young professionals, which nowadays are also called Millennials because of their birth year. The reception reminded me of a trend I've seen with regards to fundraising auctions. Many of the galas I work have a population in the age range of 45+. Some galas skew much older. ... Read On >
The first question to ask before you start planning the auction.
Imagine the scenario. You’ve agreed to chair the benefit auction for a charity in your hometown. You’ve got lots of ideas but feel overwhelmed. You’ve heard that auctioneers book months in advance, so you’ve decided to call a few today to get an idea of their services. Stop. Don’t pick up the phone until you’re crystal clear about the answer to this question. Why are you holding this event? What is the primary reason this fundraiser is being held? You might think this is ridiculous ... Read On >