This is the time of year many committees are turning their attention to selecting a theme for their 2024 auction. A theme isn’t required to raise money, but a good one will help focus the décor efforts and energize volunteers. Team members get creative with language, decorations, and games as it ties to a chosen theme. Here are some of the themes I witnessed in 2023. If you’re searching for ideas, perhaps something below will spark your imagination. Gala themes loosely inspired by ... Read On >
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4 reasons you need live auction displays
I'm always surprised by the number of fundraising auction committees who go to great lengths setting up displays for silent auction items, but then fail to see the importance of setting up a live auction display. I encourage teams to apply their effort towards auction activities that garner the highest returns. Most times, your live auction items will far outsell any silent auction items, so set-up the displays accordingly. Give extra attention to how your live auction items will be ... Read On >
List of fundraising auction software vendors
If you're looking to buy fundraising auction software, here's a list of current vendors. Software is helpful for managing and tracking ticket sales and sponsorships, organizing silent auction and live auction donations and packages, tracking fund a need / paddle raise donations, and more. And if you want to offer mobile bidding, I think nearly all of these vendors now offer that as a feature, too. Larger organizations then dump the data from their auction software into their CRM or donor ... Read On >
Charity Auction Consignment Basics: A 101 course
Charity auction consignment dealers provide / sell merchandise (EG: trips, jewelry, memorabilia, art, etc) to nonprofits for their fundraising auctions. It's a big industry with lots of players. And since the COVID-19 pandemic, it's had some shifts. In the video I explain this subsection of the nonprofit auction space. If you are new to charity auction planning, consider this video a 10-minute "101" crash course in the subject. I cover: What is consignment? Types of ... Read On >
Getting more impact from your decor and theme
I don’t often comment on themes, décor, or non-fundraising components of a gala. But today I will. Recently I've been noticing the gifts, décor pieces, and tchotchkes shared with guests at galas. Many of them are tied to the theme of the event. I got to thinking that I should be doing a better job of mentioning these decor elements and tying them into the mission or theme of the gala. I was reminded of a course I took ~15 years ago. It was a “speak to sell” course, teaching would-be ... Read On >