I want to share a new idea for silent auctions or raffles.Let's kick it off with a related story.============================Many years ago, one of my clients was annoyed.She oversaw the fundraising for the local chapter of a national nonprofit. The national management team had recommended she and other fundraisers working in major cities change the model of their silent auction.This new silent auction model was based on the success another major metropolitan area had ... Read On >
Blog Post
Skip the silent auction; put your focus on the Fund a Need
Later this month (June 26, 2017) I'll be speaking at Planet Philanthropy, the annual statewide conference presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Florida Caucus. My topic will focus on Fund a Needs.As I prepare for that talk, I want to revisit a blog post I wrote for fundraising consultant Lori Jacobwith last year, when she asked me to speak to her Ignite Fundraising Club members in January 2016.Here's my take on why nonprofits – primarily smaller ones – should bypass ... Read On >
New for 2017: Procurement training “Mastering Nonprofit Auction Consignment”
By a long shot, the most popular trip I've sold in benefit auctions over the last ~3 years has been a trip to Cuba.For over 50 years, Cuba was a forbidden country for Americans. We couldn't (legally) travel there.As the rest of the world marched on, time stood still in Cuba -- and that's what auction guests are eager to experience. They are hot for Cuba because it's a step back in time.Magnificent buildings are occupied, but crumbling. Cars considered antiques in the United ... Read On >
The swear words of estate auctioneering
In the summer 2016 when my team was rebuilding my website, I didn't post blogs here but I did post on Linkedin.This post was originally published on LinkedIn.=======================The auctioneering profession is a small community.Longtime readers might recall me sharing information comparing the number of auctioneers in the USA (10,034) to those of other professions, such as funeral directors (23,648) and attorneys (302,603). Because there are so few auctioneers, they tend to be ... Read On >
Best ballroom layout for an auction with dance floor
Many nonprofits end their benefit auctions with dancing from either a DJ or a live band.Traditionally there are two standard layouts for this type of event, and both are poor.The dance floor becomes the area from which the auctioneer works. The auctioneer is on a stage and a huge dance floor (a feature which isn't used but for the last 90 minutes of the event!) is positioned in a top location, directly in front of the stage.Neither of these options works because neither set-up ... Read On >