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You are here: Home / Administration / Groundhog Day Blasé: 5 benefit auction ideas to update tired galas
Jan 31

Groundhog Day Blasé: 5 benefit auction ideas to update tired galas

Sherry Truhlar 7 Comments

Benefit auction ideas - wombat for Groundhog Day

This 1994 photo shows me holding a wombat in Australia. A wombat is not a groundhog, but they look similar. (And I don’t have a photo of me holding a groundhog.)

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 Connors (played by Bill Murray) falls asleep each night only to wake up and relive the same day — Groundhog Day — again and again.

At first he uses the phenomenon for personal gain. But after experiencing the same day hundreds of times, he becomes bored of his personal pursuits and finds greater satisfaction in helping others.

Some benefit auctions are a lot like Phil Connors day in that movie.  Nonprofits just repeat last year’s formula, year after year.

I call it “Groundhog Day Blasé” and here are the most common areas for you to be at risk.

Risk #1: Selling the same live auction items year after year.

School auctions seem to be at greater risk in this area than many nonprofit benefit auctions.

“Name the Lane?”

Enough said.

This blog has over 200 posts to browse for ideas on items, or get the current (free) Auction Item Guide™.

Risk #2: Using the same raffle.

There are dozens of fun raffles, and I strongly encourage you to move beyond a 50-50 raffle — which is one of the worst raffles ever for your charity.

Risk #3: Tied to this point (but slightly different) is using the same pricing.

One ticket for $5 and 6 tickets for $25 is … boring. And it’s likely not the best way for you to make the most money.

Risk #4: Relying on the same game every year.

Sure, Heads & Tails is interactive. But geez Louise, there are other auction games you can use to involve the crowd and make more money.

Risk #5: Using the same theme.

If yo have branded your auction by calling it the same name each year (such as the “Annual Fundraising Auction for Scholarships”), I can accept that.

But let’s make sure that we change the theme … the colors … the invitation. Let’s keep the look fresh. The name can remain, but let’s ensure it “feels” new and interesting to your guests.

To be clear, I love consistent branding in benefit auctions. But branding doesn’t mean every year the auction is the same.

For instance, I use a consistent brand with my own company’s marketing … but I don’t send out the same postcards year after year. My marketing practices are fairly consistent, but my marketing materials change. I’d encourage you to adopt that same approach.

P.S. If you’re lacking for ideas on new auction games, raffles, and the like, check out Charity Auction Bells & Whistles*.  You’ll learn 22 different interactive activities to reinvigorate your event, your volunteers, and you. (*Note: We change programs every so often, and this program is no longer available. Check out the “Store” for what’s current.)

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Copyright © 2011 Red Apple Auctions Co. All Rights Reserved

About Sherry Truhlar

Fundraising auctioneer and educator, helping schools and nonprofits plan more profitable benefit auctions. A prolific writer for her own blog and other fundraising sites, she’s been covered in The Beacon-News, Town & Country Magazine, The Washington Post Magazine, Northern Virginia Magazine, Wiley's Special Events Galore!, AUCTIONEER, and other publications.

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Comments

  1. BH says

    February 23, 2011 at 1:35 AM

    Great points in reminding everyone that keeping it fresh is always important.

    Reply
  2. Gail Perry says

    February 3, 2011 at 10:22 AM

    Great suggestions, Sherry! It’s so important to keep reinventing those events – otherwise they get stale. I”m with Kivi, I’m forwarding now too!

    Reply
  3. Kivi Leroux Miller says

    February 1, 2011 at 3:59 PM

    I’m going to forward this to some nonprofits I work with on events right now!

    Reply
    • Sherry Truhlar says

      February 1, 2011 at 9:07 PM

      Uh oh … sounds like some might feel like broken records? 🙂

      Reply
  4. Lori L. Jacobwith says

    February 1, 2011 at 7:00 AM

    Keeping things fresh for your events, how you acknowledge donors after they give, and even in how you communicate with them all year-long is critical.

    Reply
    • Sherry Truhlar says

      February 1, 2011 at 9:09 PM

      Lori, I talked to a volunteer Mom today who said that her school auction parents haven’t been donating so much because — she learned, after research — they had never been thanked. One said that he’d donated year and year … and never been thanked. She was appalled, but admitted she’d never received a thank you, either. Yikes!

      Reply
  5. Betsy Baker says

    January 31, 2011 at 5:57 PM

    Benefit auctions are so much fun and are an anticipated event. Don’t disappoint your attendees with the same old stuff. Keep it refreshing with surprising items.

    Reply

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Sherry, oh, Sherry! You were an invaluable asset to this year’s gala. With your assistance we were able to add so many new elements that truly made a difference in taking our event to another level. This year was the most successful yet! Everyone loved you and the amazing energy that you brought to the event. We look forward to having you again in 2018!

Krystal Fenwick

Thank you so much for the outstanding job you did for us on April 1! I have received so much positive feedback from so many who attended. You even earned Sister Suzan’s (our Vice-Principal) seal of approval! Safe travels to all your many events and thank you for making our biggest fundraiser of the year our best ever!

Diane Albano, Director of Development
St. Joseph Academy Catholic High School (St. Augustine, FL)

Sherry is flexible and easy to work with. She gives honest feedback and advice throughout the planning and implementation process. Without a doubt, Sherry and Red Apple Auctions has helped take our annual fundraising event to the next level.

Beckie Middendorf, Development Director and Janet Gulla, Development Coordinator
St. Henry District High School (Erlanger, KY)

Sherry is “on board” from day one of auction planning, works closely with our steering committee and is only just a phone call away. The night of the auction, we toss her the keys and let her drive the event! We are never disappointed!

Charly Ryan, Director of Institutional Advancement
The Academy of the Holy Cross (Kensington, MD)

I was very fortunate to have Red Apple on board for my first auction. Working with Sherry was invaluable. She provided guidance at every phase of planning, from procurement on forward – and she challenged us to make our event more ambitious and more successful at every stage. Thank you, Sherry!

Pete Goldlust, Director of Development
Oak Hill School (Eugene, OR)

If your auction needs to upgrade, call any auctioneer you find on Google. But if you want your auction to be impressive, meaningful, and profitable, you need to call Sherry.

Erin Banda
2016 NYUMBANI Board member

The auction was entertaining .. proactive … the crowd was involved and felt a part of it,” he said, emphasizing, “The entertainment value was huge.

Darrell, a long-time attendee

We plan on booking Red Apple Auctions much earlier for our next event so we can take advantage of more of the pre-event offerings.

Nicole Carr, Director of Grants and Special Events
The Ivymount School (Rockville, MD)

2012 Oakcrest Anne and CarolinaSherry, personally, I can’t even begin to tell you the immense amount of positive feedback that I received having YOU (and Darby) there with is this year!… Read The Rest “Anne Livaudais Knudsen, 5th year gala co-chair”

Aren’t KK and Michael a cute couple? PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiIHNyYz0iaHR0cDovL3JlZGFwcGxlLmV2c3VpdGUuY29tL3BsYXllci9NakF4TWkxSGRXVnpkSE10UW5Wc2JHbHpMVXRMTFdGdVpDMU5hV05vWVdWc0xVcHZjMlZ3YUM1dGNEUT0vP2NvbnRhaW5lcj1ldnAtV0JBVTkwTlVBUyI+PC9zY3JpcHQ+PGRpdiBpZD0iZXZwLVdCQVU5ME5VQVMiIGRhdGEtcm9sZT0iZXZwLXZpZGVvIiBkYXRhLWV2cC1pZD0iTWpBeE1pMUhkV1Z6ZEhNdFFuVnNiR2x6TFV0TExXRnVaQzFOYVdOb1lXVnNMVXB2YzJWd2FDNXRjRFE9Ij48L2Rpdj4= They liked that I “moved the crowd along … kept the crowd engaged but wasn’t obtrusive or invasive. We were able to talk but still keep track of what was going on.”

Staci Meruvia 150 ptYou have NO idea of how many people came up to me (I know Julie as well) and said, ‘That auctioneer was incredible … she engaged the crowd, …… Read The Rest “Staci Meruvia”

Geri said: “Great job of getting potential donors in the room to step up to the plate and not feel guilty or bad about it. They actually wanted to give more … and that’s not something I’ve seen in many other auctioneers.” 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 The following… Read The Rest “Geri”

Irene attended one of my New Hampshire auctions and assumed I must be a radio personality — until I started to chant that fast talk. PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiIHNyYz0iaHR0cDovL3JlZGFwcGxlLmV2c3VpdGUuY29tL3BsYXllci9SM1ZsYzNRdE1qQXhNUzFPU0ZOUVEwRXRTWEpsYm1VdWJYQTBMVEU9Lz9jb250YWluZXI9ZXZwLTVHMlVHQlFGN1YiPjwvc2NyaXB0PjxkaXYgaWQ9ImV2cC01RzJVR0JRRjdWIiBkYXRhLXJvbGU9ImV2cC12aWRlbyIgZGF0YS1ldnAtaWQ9IlIzVmxjM1F0TWpBeE1TMU9TRk5RUTBFdFNYSmxibVV1YlhBMExURT0iPjwvZGl2Pg== “I’ve been to this event before with a couple of other auctioneers,” she said, “Your ability to get personal… Read The Rest “Irene”

Most product & consulting remarks are found on their respective webpages, but I’ve listed two below so you’re assured my products are as spot-on as my auctioneering.   Not only was our 2013 auction a blast, but our Washington, D.C. public school raised $67,000 — that’s $25,000 more than last year! The evening went… Read The Rest “Carolyn Kahn-Hall and Andrea Del Vecchio”

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