Is it a bad idea to split the proceeds from your auction lot with other charities? If you read the article I wrote about Harvey Weinstein and his ties to the AmFAR Cannes auction, you might think it is. Recall that AmFAR is being investigated, and their problems began when they agreed to Weinstein's demands of splitting the proceeds on the sale of an auction package he secured. AmFAR had never before split proceeds with another charity. (Weinstein wanted half of the proceeds from his ... Read On >
Procurement
The best year-end tip for auction procurement
The holidays are here! As you mingle and jingle through the rest of December, keep this tip for auction procurement in mind. Listen to the chatter. Here's the deal. There's not much auction committee work getting done between now and January 1. Instead, it's a season for socializing. Companies host holiday parties. Friends host open houses. Families reconvene at homesteads. As your co-workers, friends, and relatives swap stories about what they've been doing, pay ... Read On >
Selling better sex and other awkward fundraising auction donations
These are real fundraising auction donations that have been sold by nonprofits. Vasectomy Vaginal tightening Various cosmetic surgery, cosmetic procedures, and diagnostics (e.g. injections, tummy tucks, impotence evaluation) Fertility treatment (IVF) I'm fairly certain that every donation received made the gala chair wince, followed by a "How am I going to sell this" moment. Though I have sold these types of donations in live auctions, they don't belong there. First, ... Read On >
When to use “Submit your best bid” for item donations that can’t be sold at the fundraising auction
Earlier this month I wrote about how nonprofits can sell item donations that arrive after the fundraising auction, or arrive before the event, but have a date restriction preventing the item from being sold at the auction itself. Typically these are donations for a sporting event, concert, or festival. If you run enough auctions, this situation is likely to happen to you. There are a few approaches for converting these donations into of these tickets to the highest bidder. For example, ... Read On >
One of the best auction donations from authors – writing your name in a book
In past posts I've written about the importance of securing the best auction donation from an author. Perhaps the most thorough post was from 2012, "Careful! Donations from book authors could be your next live *or* silent auction item." For instance, signed books are OK, but they are common. We tend to sell a collection of signed books in a silent auction. But if you secure something more juicy, we sell it in the live auction for thousands of dollars more. One of the several examples ... Read On >