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Busted! Be wary of images used in fundraising auction displays

In the summer of 2015, the nonprofit division of Venable law published "Busted: Nonprofits Will Have to Pay the Photography Piper." The article itself is short and worth reading, but here's the synopsis. For many years, nonprofits have pulled images from the internet and used them in their publications or websites.Until recently, software didn't exist to make it easy for photographers and their agents to track down these copyrighted images.  Now the software exists, and nonprofits are ... Read On >

[Video] Should you promote the benefit auctioneer?

Yesterday I received this question from a client. Again this year, we are thinking about putting a Smartphone Auction card in our invite and on the back, adding information about two or three exciting live auction items with details about our auctioneer (you), including maybe your photo.  We are trying to inform our guests that we have a new auctioneer.  Here is what we were thinking we could say: "We’re putting together an exciting array of auction prizes, including X, Y, Z, and more! ... Read On >

[Video] Get aggressive about email marketing your auction

Boy was I on fire when I recorded this video!  I shot this about three months ago, after having two conversations with clients that got me all flushed about email marketing. I turned on the camera and my passion oozed out. (The audio didn't sync with the video on this, but the content is fine.)I get frustrated when clients explain that a school / nonprofit policy states they can’t send out more than one or two emails a month. Or that they have to promote the auction in a section of the ... Read On >

Marketing *after* your benefit auction: 5 reasons to create an auction gala highlights reel

Have you ever pulled together a video of your gala to use as a marketing tool for your auction the following year? If not, here's a typical example of a video you might wish to model. A couple of months ago (November 2014), one of my first-year clients was St. Marcus School, a private school in Milwaukee, WI. The school has been widely touted as a national model for inner city education. (You can read newspaper articles about the school's approach and philosophy.  Most students attend as part ... Read On >

Silent auction ideas for fourth quarter auctions

One of the natural advantages of hosting a auction in the late fall (think October through December) is its proximity to Christmas. Whether you celebrate the holiday or not, December marks a big month of gift giving for many people.  Why not play on that natural cycle and use it to help sell your items? Here are some tips to make the most of the season. 1.     Be blatant. Don’t try to hide anything. In your marketing literature, remind people that they should be on the look-out for gifts at ... Read On >