As I type this, I've spoken with three clients in the last 24 hours about designing or beefing up their event sponsorships. In two cases, we talked about rarely considered benefits they could use to entice new sponsors. In another case, we talked about how to design a complete event sponsorship program. With these discussions in my head, I can't help but recall the savvy partnership I witnessed between my nonprofit hospice client and the car manufacturer Porsche just two weeks ago. Major ... Read On >
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Don’t overlook this: A good benefit auctioneer makes auction procurement easier
Many people assume that a professional auctioneer’s impact begins and ends with the selling of your items at the charity auction. Not so. Here’s a true story of how a benefit auctioneer can impact the quality of donations you receive. As a recent gala was ending and the guests were chatting and checking out, I was visiting with one of the founders of the organization. While he congratulated me on the success of the night, a woman rushed up and interrupted. She quickly thanked me and then ... Read On >
11 tips for hiring a benefit auctioneer
I've recently heard a string of complaints from auction planners dishing on their benefit auctioneers. The auctioneer read every word of (or totally ignored) the item descriptions. “And he doesn’t read well,” she added. S/he was unfamiliar with the details of the packages, even though the auctioneer had the information in advance. “We even went through each item,” the Development Director sputtered. S/he sold too quickly. “We worked with him for three years, and he still doesn’t get ... Read On >
Sustainable benefit auction ideas for plates and utensils
Happy Earth Day! If you like to be gentle with planet Earth, you might be thinking of ways to "green your gala." Adapting your plates and utensils is a good start. These items were for events that forewent a sit-down dinner and instead served heavy hors d'oeuvres. At a Girls Inc. benefit auction gala I worked a few months ago, the menu consisted of thick crab dips, cheeses, finger food, and the like. Showing off the food were these plates and utensils from Earth Friendly Maryland. My take ... Read On >
An easy silent auction item to procure: Wheel of Fortune
If you're searching for some silent auction item ideas, one near guarantee donation is Wheel of Fortune. The game show is exceedingly generous in their donations. I shared the show's donation information with a Miami, FL, client a few years ago. The nonprofit has received one or two fan packs for every auction since then. The package changes a bit every year, but the show often sends a kit like the one I've shown you in photograph. (What did it sell for? I don't recall. I know it sold ... Read On >