My team and I worked an event in southern Virginia which was one of the most attractive and creative auction themes I've attended. It wasn't a large audience -- the crowd only numbered around 225 -- but the decor and atmosphere was exquisite! It was one of the more magical auctions I've attended. The theme was Treasures of the Deep. All things of underwater intrigue could be found here. The dark, mysterious, quiet of the ocean seemed to come alive in this fitness facility (not that you could ... Read On >
centerpiece
Auction centerpiece ideas – LEDs for low-cost glam
Here's a simple way to add glitz to your benefit auction centerpiece... A recent issue of BizBash Magazine Florida featured Uplyte's mini LEDs (light emitting diode) which can be submerged in water and have twice the brightness of traditional LEDs. They have a 12-hour battery life in water, which is plenty of time to drop them into the base of a centerpiece and let them glow through the speakers, dinner, live auction, entertainment, and whatever else you've got planned for the benefit ... Read On >
Fundraising auction ideas for vegetables
Say what? Ideas ... for vegetables? A group asked me about vegetables recently, so I thought others might have a need, too. It's not that crazy of an idea. I already broached the topic (sort of) this past summer in my post Four Ways to Sell Farm-to-Table Donations. Here are some fundraising auction ideas for those not-so-lowly, rich-in-antioxidants vegetables. Centerpieces Colorful veggies in a clear vase. See the photos for ideas. GraphicsIf you're hosting an event that focuses on the ... Read On >
Creative non-floral auction centerpieces from Robin Hood Foundation
I cut this out of the Wall Street Journal (I think it was WSJ). It was a story about the Robin Hood Foundation's 2009 auction fundraiser. I saved it because of the auction centerpieces. What in the devil IS it? Can anyone tell me? (For you centerpiece lovers, see the related posts at the bottom of this page to read other posts on auction centerpieces.) I can't quite make out the details. It appears the centerpiece had some sort of skyscraper "skyscape" theme, perhaps representing the location ... Read On >
Auction centerpieces: Should you sell them or give them away?
When I worked as an event planner, I loved auction centerpieces. If I needed to dress the room on the cheap, I knew the trick -- Forget wall decor and divert a tad more money into the table decor. Guests spend most of their time at the table, and with the right linens and a fun centerpiece - BAM - you've got yourself a festive atmosphere. The rest of the room be damned; if the table looked good, the theme worked. But now that I teach nonprofits how to improve their return-on-investment in ... Read On >