In just a couple of days, flowers -- especially roses -- are going to be delivered to doorsteps and offices all over the USA, brightening the faces of many as they are honored by a beloved for Valentine's Day. Fresh flowers are still a popular centerpiece choice for many auction galas, but if your budget can't swing fresh, then let's look at fake. Two of my clients figured out how to fill their tables with colorful flowers on the cheap. Last fall I worked two auction fundraisers ... Read On >
centerpiece
Dispersal of auction centerpieces when they are rented *and* donated
It is Thanksgiving week in the United States, which means it's a short week for many. I can sense the eagerness to get out of the office, so here's a short, helpful idea to finish out our month. Centerpieces can be a source of stress for gala chairs. I've been involved in discussions around the size and cost of a centerpiece. Once I witnessed two gala chairs in a feisty debate about the style of the centerpiece. A friend of mine tells a hilarious (?) story about how live fish were used ... Read On >
The easy way to train benefit auction volunteers
Oh I wish I had a video that captured the vignette I’m about to describe ... In late September I was in Ohio speaking. The next day, I met with a public school foundation for a private consultation. The group is dramatically changing their gala, so I was sharing photos from appropriate events to give them ideas. One of the Co-Chairs said, “Do you have other photos I can see?” As if on cue, the Executive Director whipped out her copy of Creative Auction Themes, Decor & Centerpieces, handed ... Read On >
Fundraising auction tips: The simplest decor idea on the planet
Maybe you don't WANT an auction theme. It's not your style. Maybe it seems like too much work. But still, the idea of nothing on the gala tables or silent auction areas seems UNfestive. What to use? I worked at three auctions this past weekend. Two of them were for schools and one for a nonprofit. One of the schools utilized a tactic I've seen often used at nonprofit galas that didn't have a specific theme. The school decorated the tables with glass beads in colors befitting of their theme ... Read On >
Use lemon scent to boost charitable giving at your gala auction
Before the live auction begins at your next gala, consider running through the ballroom spritzing a lemon-scented air freshener. Worst case, ask the hotel housekeeping for a clean-smelling window cleaner and do the same thing. Some 2009 research proved that smelling citrus dramatically increases our charitable nature. The study found a big improvement in ethical behavior with just a few spritzes of citrus-scented Windex. Katie Liljenquist of Brigham Young University, Chen-Bo Zhong of The ... Read On >