Last week I read an article about relationships. In it, the researchers labeled couples with behaviors that enabled them to stay together for the long term as "masters." Couples with behaviors that tore them apart were labeled as "disasters." I thought the alliteration was clever. Plus, the concept of being really good at something or really bad, can be applied to so many things. Are you a master at parallel parking? Or a disaster? Are you a master at baking cookies? Or a ... Read On >
Training / Education
2020 recap of free virtual gala training
Some great partners asked me to speak this past year and I've consolidated the list below. Though some of the earlier programs I gave on virtual galas might already be dated, there are often tidbits in the mix that make it worthwhile to hear anyway. If you're seeking some educational resources over the holiday downtime, you might enjoy one or all of these. Fired Up Fundraising with Gail Perry, April 2020: "Let's talk about virtual events" The Grow Report with Pamela Grow, May ... Read On >
Your virtual auction event is already changing
It's been about one month since COVID-19 checked into the gala scene and prompted a wave of cancellations and reschedules. In that short period of time, the ingenuity of our industry has been on full display. Virtual gala fundraisers are mutating more rapidly than the virus! In five weeks, virtual auction events have pivoted twice. 1. First they shifted from in-person galas to livestreams. Gala chairs hosted these high-tech, scaled-down events in traditional auction venues ... Read On >
Free webinar: Online “virtual gala” options and what’s best for you
More likely than not, you're reading this from the comfort of your own home. We are, as my friend Amy said, on forced sabbatical. It's not our ideal sabbatical, but here we are. During this imposed break, I've been following the journey of those I know who are ill, educating myself on virtual gala options, and working on other projects. ========================== Short on time? Click to register for my complimentary webinar. Date: Friday, March 27, 2020 at 1 PM Eastern Title: ... Read On >
Who needs Fundraising Auction Rules? Everyone.
No bones about it, auction rules should be included somewhere in your catalog. Maybe even at the registration desk. And online. Printed auction rules serve as the governing principles of the auction and can help mitigate problems. (You might also be interested in reading, "What not to do when the auction winner doesn’t pay.") Over the past year I've had two episodes that brought the topic of auction rules to the forefront. At one auction, a woman seated at a sponsored table ... Read On >