Do you have to collect sales tax at your benefit auction? Should guests be paying sales tax on auction items? The answer depends upon your state and municipal rules. If your fundraiser is in Maryland, you must charge sales tax. If you're living in an area that requires tax collection, I suggest putting a written notice in your catalog or program. Most often this type of information is listed as one of the points in the "Rules of the Auction" section. Some groups will also have the notice ... Read On >
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Highlight reels: 5 reasons you need a video of your gala
Have you ever pulled together a video of your gala to use as a marketing tool for your auction the following year? If not, here are two examples you might wish to model. Over ten years ago I started working with a private Lutheran school in Milwaukee, WI. They have diligently created a gala highlight reel every year. The video is posted on YouTube and a link is emailed to supporters. A nonprofit client in California creates a similar video. Watch both below to see two good examples ... Read On >
The (free, online) Fundraising Summit is this week! Don’t miss it.
** THIS EVENT IS OVER** ++++++++++++++ Here's a wonderful resource for fundraisers. It's a LOT of free education on a variety of fundraising topics. I know several of these speakers and they are good. My topic is highlighted below. The Summit is a free online event taking place this week. Here's the advertising copy: ++++++++++++++ Join an expected audience of 80,000 of your peers from around the world for five days of insight, instruction and inspiration from 40 of the world’s ... Read On >
My favorite #Unselfie #GivingTuesday campaign
This past #GivingTuesday, I received a number of email blasts from nonprofits. I thought this one from one of my clients, the Alexandria, VA homeless shelter Carpenter's Shelter, was the most catchy. If you're unfamiliar with pop culture and current songs, you likely wouldn't "get" this. Let me bring you up to speed. By now, you've probably heard of "selfies." It's when you take a photo of yourself, typically with your mobile phone. These photos are often used for posting on social media ... Read On >
Eat a Red Apple Day and GivingTuesday (#GT)
I'm not making this up. Yesterday (December 1) was national Eat a Red Apple Day. I celebrated in my own way by opening the cart to my Catalog Carnival. It's a popular product that always sells out (who doesn't like to review a benefit auction catalog or two?), and yesterday seemed like a great way to honor a day that seems tailor-made for my company. Grab a benefit auction catalog set, if any remain. And today is #GivingTuesday™ (#GT), a movement launched by the 92nd Street Y in New York to ... Read On >