A group recently asked me about fundraising auction ideas they might use that would incorporate vegetables. They have a food-focused nonprofit, so the idea of talking about vegetables in a conversation isn't oh-so-odd. Using vegetables in your auction isn't a crazy idea; there are actually many ways you CAN use them. In this podcast, we look at some areas of your auction -- decor, raffles, selling them, visual displays -- and how to include them.The not-so-lowly, rich-in-antioxidant vegetable is ... Read On >
centerpiece
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 >
Good auction centerpiece ideas start with shrinking them
When I was a corporate event planner, deciding on centerpieces for special events was one of the creative aspects of my work. Part of the process was making them functional and fun. In my new career as an auctioneer, I have definite auction centerpiece ideas! What makes a centerpiece "good" now is a bit different than in my old days. At my former events, making money wasn't the goal. Now it is. To keep this post short, I'm only going to talk about fresh floral centerpieces. Non-floral ... Read On >