In the process of pulling together content for my new Auction Item Guide, I was reminded of the many themes my clients used over the past year. Here are the auction themes I thought most creative. The Eye Ball: See and Be Seen - The event raises money for eye research and corneal transplant, so the theme is directly tied to the mission of the nonprofit. I wrote about this event first in 2018 when the organization used a different, but equally clever, sub-theme. An Evening in CASAblanca - ... Read On >
Theme
School auction theme: Green for St. Patrick’s Day
I came across a few never-posted photos and videos featuring a few school auction themes. I was the fundraising auctioneer at an event that seems perfect to highlight this week, in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day this weekend. The Green Gate Gala is so named because of a green gate found on the Catholic school's campus. The school color is green. The event is held around St. Patrick's Day and boosts the Irish vibe with Irish dancers, shamrocks, and similar thematic elements. ... Read On >
Using the auction bid paddle as a sponsorship opportunity
Some nonprofits will print a guest's bid number on both sides of an auction bid paddle. The benefit of this approach is that regardless of which side of the paddle is shown to the auctioneer, the bid number is viewed. Another idea is to sell the space on the back of the bid paddle. The back of the bid paddle can be combined with other benefits and offered to a single sponsor at a high commitment level, or it can be sold as a standalone benefit to a company underwriting a specific ... Read On >
Creative event names for your auction gala fundraiser
I love word play. Thoughtful poems and good song lyrics beg for me to memorize them. And when rhymes are tied to rhythm in a rap, remembering lyrics is even easier. But word play isn't just for music. I recall listening to Sam Horn (the speaker, not the baseball player) sharing a story about her book title, "Tongue Fu! How to Deflect, Disarm, and Defuse any Verbal Conflict." What a great name. Kung fu conjures ideas of self-defense, and Sam ingeniously used the same alliteration ... Read On >
Using “Alice in Wonderland” for a school auction theme
It's not uncommon for school auction themes to be inspired by children's books. Here's one example. This Wonderland auction was inspired by the book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I worked this event earlier in the year. The committee put a lot of care into creating this experience. Everywhere I turned I saw clever details that supported the theme. View the video to see how this auction committee re-imagined Wonderland for their own school fundraiser. Quick overview ... Read On >