One of the more dreaded activities of holding an auction fundraiser is managing registration and checkout -- or, as I like to call it, "Guest Services." Even without auction software, Guest Services is not an impossible task for an auction committee to pull off, but it does require organization, speed, and -- most importantly -- an understanding of the entire process. There are dozens of tasks that must be managed between when the guest arrives at the gala and when they leave at night's ... Read On >
Registration & Check-out
Does mobile bidding raise more money in your silent auction (and other questions)
I worked a fundraising gala this weekend in Martha's Vineyard, MA and the nonprofit used mobile bidding in its silent auction. Because it's on my mind, today I'm addressing three conversations that often arise about mobile bidding. ============================= 1. "Mobile bidding" isn't synonymous to "nonprofit auction software." I know, the jargon is confusing. Better to say that mobile bidding is a feature of some nonprofit auction software platforms. Referring to them as the ... Read On >
This auction bid card served many purposes: bid number, seating assignment, advertisement, and more
Here's a clever way to ensure guests keep their auction bid card as they mingle during the silent auction reception. One of my client's included key information on the back of each paddle. The guest's name Guest's table number Schematic diagram of the ballroom, with highlighting on the table at which the guest would be seated. (Notice that the guest's table is highlighted in yellow to make it easy for the guest to locate.) An introduction of the auctioneer Information about ... Read On >
Transforming a mundane auction checkout receipt into a mission-driven missive
There was a problem at one of my spring fundraising auctions. The event was new, designed to take the place of a more traditional fundraising dinner. For many years the dinner reliably drew 400- 500 guests. The hope was that this new event would attract a similarly sized crowd. It didn't. At first the planner dropped the guest count estimate to 300. Five days prior to the auction, the count wasn't yet 100. It didn't climb much higher than that. (Not all events are stellar out ... Read On >
The magic words that get bidders to hand over their credit card at auction registration
One key to running a fast auction checkout process is to collect credit card information as guests arrive. A long line at checkout is virtually guaranteed if a nonprofit decides to wait until the end of the event to collect a guest's credit card information. Instead, the secret to smooth auction checkout to swipe the credit card at the registration desk. However, some Gala Chairs have found it hard to convince guests to hand over their credit cards upon arrival. "Our team says that ... Read On >