One of my last auctions of 2016 was in Honolulu, HI. The fundraiser coincided with two large public events -- the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor bombing, and the Honolulu Marathon, which is the 4th largest marathon in the United States. The marathon was scheduled to be run the day after I left, but a free trade show was taking place at the Hawaii Convention Center down the street from my hotel. I put on my sneakers and drove over there. (lol) One of the displays at the trade ... Read On >
Games
Groundhog Day Blasé: 5 benefit auction ideas to update tired galas
It's the perfect time of year to talk about some benefit auction ideas to combat what I call "Groundhog Day Blasé." This Wednesday, many weather-casters will give a nod to Punxsutawney Phil -- a groundhog (aka "woodchuck") --living in Punxsutawney, PA. They will comment on whether the critter has seen his shadow, thereby predicting six more weeks of winter. One of my favorite movies showcases this annual weather festival. The 1993 Groundhog Day is a comedy in which the lead character Phil ... Read On >
PODCAST: Using auction games to motivate volunteers
Sometimes it can be a struggle to get auction volunteers energized to do what is needed to be done. In fact, Volkswagen has studied this exact problem through its project called “The Fun Theory." Researchers found that if an activity is perceived as fun to do -- even if it's more work to do it -- people will engage in the activity.In this podcast, you'll learn about a process I use to get volunteers engaged. I'll also share a brand new resource for auction games, raffles, and activities that ... Read On >
Using auction games to motivate volunteers
Got problems getting auction volunteers energized to do what is needed to be done? Here’s one tip: Give volunteers something new and creative to learn which also solves a problem your auction is experiencing. Volunteers will remain engaged if they believe the solution you are sharing is 1) fun and 2) will solve the problem. When it’s fun to solve the problem, volunteers will do it. I’ve written before about Volkswagen’s “The Fun Theory” project. The group conducted tests to see if they could ... Read On >
PODCAST: How auction games will get you publicity
I refer to auction games, raffles, and activities as the “bells and whistles” of benefit auctions. Calling them revenue generators is an understatement, as they do more than make you money.In this podcast, you'll hear -how two other nonprofits used new fun elements like auction games and technology to secure publicity for their gala -- even pre-event! As you know, it's harder to secure that elusive PRE-event publicity. Yet it's more important to do so because it will help you sell tickets to ... Read On >