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 >
Blog Post
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 >
Three examples of a hybrid gala
If "virtual" was the buzz word of 2020, "hybrid" is the buzz word of 2021. I'm in discussions with several clients about their summer and fall galas, talking about the best ways (for them) to combine the best of virtual with the best of in-person galas. In today's video you'll hear of three examples I'm currently exploring with nonprofits. https://youtu.be/UBaZhXVUfEY ... Read On >
My prediction: This COVID19-style donation is here to stay
This past weekend I worked two galas -- one was a 2-screen solution for a school, and the other was a Zoom meeting-style gala for a conservation nonprofit. The nonprofit had some star power. Two of the attendees are legitimate Hollywood celebrities whom many would recognize if not by name, then by face. They and some of their celebrity friends donated virtual activities to the auction. These items raised several thousand dollars for the nonprofit. But I have to admit - it was a little ... Read On >
Virtual Gala: One Screen Solution vs Zoom (I prefer Zoom. Here’s why.)
As I've been preaching for several months in my "The Next 6 Months: Conversations" series and "Virtual Gala Cheatsheet," I designate virtual galas into five primary approaches. Two-screen solutions One-screen solutions Zoom Meeting (or webinar) platform 100% pre-recorded Hybrid, which I define as a small group of people onsite and a larger audience watching via livestream Most of the 33 virtual galas I worked in 2020 were either two-screen solutions or Zoom-type galas, but ... Read On >