Benefit auction ideas don't always need to be about items and games! Here are three productivity tools to help stressed out Auction Chairs more easily plan the auction. 1. Free conference calls - No Cost Conference Your Auction Committee needs to regularly touch base. Use this free service to chat it up. No Cost Conference has successfully managed my teleclasses with hundreds of people on the line, so I know it will work for your 5, 10, or 15 person committee. One of the nice capabilities ... Read On >
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Fundraising auction tips for selling art – Part 2
(This is part 2 of a two-part post discussing fundraising auction tips for selling art in a gala auction.) Last week I talked about why you should avoid selling traditional art. I gave tips and I'm adding to it this week with three additional ideas. 3. Keep art politically "neutral." In 2009 at a more liberal school auction, I sold a signed print of Frank Shepard Fairey's iconic HOPE poster for $2500. It was so popular, I was able to sell it three times, earning the school $7500. Just 30 ... Read On >
Fundraising auction tips for selling art – Part 1
Here's a bold statement: Avoid selling traditional art in your live auction, unless you're running an art-only auction. Traditional art pieces -- items like sculptures, paintings, drawings, and mixed media which are produced by a professional artist who makes his or her living from selling artwork - are risky auction items for the standard, non-art benefit auction. It's just too subjective. What I like, you don't. What fits my home décor, doesn't match yours. Art has limited appeal, but we ... Read On >
For the school auction, the theme is Beach Ball
School auction themes vary dramatically, but here's one called "Beach Ball." The overall effect was more beach than ball. When spring break isn't quite here and winter has been around for eternity, everyone is eager to relive some of the summer warmth enjoyed so many weeks before. This school auction committee brightened up a fellowship hall to make it festive. Guests did their part by showing up in colorful beach-themed wear. (No swimming suits, but lots of flowered shirts.) Here are some ... Read On >
Tempting offers from charity auction venues still found
Last April I wrote about one positive point of a down economy: discounted charity auction venues. Given the number of charity auctions which are held in hotel ballrooms and unusual venues, a falling price point for rental space is attractive for many groups. Some venues are still aggressively competing on price. Vibrant Table Catering & Events in Portland, OR recently sent out a tweet (below) Hey Non-Profits The Treasury Ballroom waives rental for midweek events. Great for your spring ... Read On >