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You are here: Home / Blog Post / Turning Millennials into cutting-edge benefit auction volunteers
May 25

Turning Millennials into cutting-edge benefit auction volunteers

Sherry Truhlar Leave a Comment

I read an interesting article about Millennials in Delta’s May 2010 Sky magazine.

“The M Factor” (written by generational speakers Lynne Lancaster and David Stillman) examined how Millennials were impacting the workplace.

Although ‘Millennials on the job’ was the focus of their article, the points made are applicable to benefit auctions. I know you’re managing volunteers as part of your auction responsibilities, so I’m going to apply the authors’ findings to how you can attract this group and get them to be a committed auction team.

Millennials are those born from the early 1980s to the year 2000.

(Gen Y is a subsection of the Millennials. You can read about Gen Y and Gen X auction guests.)

The authors emphasized that Millennials are searching for “meaning” in their work.

“Meaning” for this group is composed of six motivators.

1. They want to make a difference in the world.

“In many ways,” the authors write, “they see it as their job to clean up messes made by previous generations.”

PERFECT!

If your organization cleanly fits into a mold of “we are cleaning up someone else’s mess,” you’ve already got an ‘in’ with this generation.

Point out the oversights of the previous generation and explain how your mission was birthed from the situation left behind.  You’ll be in like flint.

2. They want to feel they are contributing.

The authors explain that younger workers need to understand how they are making a difference for the boss, for the customers, for their team members, and so forth.

When using Millennials in your auction, connect the dots for them.

The auction raises money for XYZ program, which ensures 100 homeless kids each year are provided shelter / saves 250 dogs from euthanasia / funds research for brain cancer.

Your Millennial volunteer should understand the relation between your auction’s success and your programs.

3. They want to be innovators

Millennials have received high marks for their ability to create and innovate.

Technology is easy for them to understand and they love gadgets. This is good news for you. If you’re needing to create a Powerpoint presentation or a video about your group’s success stories, hand that project over to Millennials.

If you’re trying to tackle a new problem, ask some Millennials to sit on the sub-committee.

If you’re trying to get young professionals involved in your event, ask these young professionals (AKA Millennials) to develop a plan of action.

4. They want to be heard

“Time and again,” the authors wrote, “Millennials have told us it isn’t about whether all their ideas are accepted; it’s more about feeling someone is willing to hear what they have to say.”

Listen to them; ask their opinion.

“We’re trying to figure out a better online registration process,” you might say, “could you take a look at it and offer some opinions?”

5. They want to know they’re succeeding

Millennials were raised with standardized testing and are accustomed to being rewarded for progress.

“The main point isn’t to tell them that they did well…” the authors write, “it’s to tell them what they did well.”

Well, this sounds like good common sense. I think everyone — Millennials or not — enjoy hearing “atta boys.”

Furthermore, being told that you did that really well is good etiquette.

“Emma, we really appreciated your help in asking Jim for that Texas trip donation. He donated it, and it rounded out the live auction. We sold it for $2000.” That’s a specific compliment. (And it just feels good saying it).

6. They want to express who they are through work

This might be the toughest motivator for you to master.

“From individual taste expressed via clothes or personalized websites, to inventing their own charitable causes, Millennials have found meaning in self-definition and self-expression,” write Lancaster and Stillman.

OK, watch out.

My experience has been that non-profits (at least the medium-to-large ones) have certain norms that need to be followed. There are procedures. There is protocol.

Self-expression is allowed, but only to a point.

The article gave an example of how this was being incorporated in the for-profit world.

In one case, employees could choose their own titles from a list of approved ones. If you’re an external sales representative, you might opt for “sales professional,” “customer account executive,” or another approved title. In another example, a company let Millennials run the annual charitable-giving campaign.

What can you offer?

Is there a chunky side project the Millennials can oversee? Do they get decor decisions? Do they create the auction website and social media plan? Options may abound.

In conclusion, your charity is meaningful and Millennials are seeking meaning. This is a perfect fit.  If you can find the right Millennial partners, you can look forward to a productive relationship.

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Copyright © 2010 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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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”

Cynthia Steele Vance_150X180As a former Fox News Anchorwoman, I am often called on to perform at auctions. So, I know first-hand that auctioneering can be a difficult job. Sherry Truhlar is one of the best in the business.… Read The Rest “Cynthia Steele Vance”

Cynthia Steele Vance
Guest at The Potomac School 2014 auction (McLean, VA)

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