Human psychology factors into fundraising auctions in many ways.The fear of loss propels a bidder to bid. Smart pricing strategies in a raffle influence how many tickets will be sold. Properly structured silent auction bid sheets generate 10% to 30% higher sales. Well-written auction donation request letters secure more "yes" responses than "no" responses. Using a proper method to properly close a silent auction generates higher sales on the most popular items. (E.G. Create an ... Read On >
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Spring auctions suck. Have a winter benefit auction instead.
My company has four auctions booked for Saturday, March 2, 2013. Last Friday, yet another school called asking if I had any auctioneers available on that date. "We thought we had one," she shared, "but apparently we don't. And here it is November and I'm calling for a March auction ..." Her voice trailed off. Yeah, she knew she was in trouble. By my count of bookings and schools I've already declined, that is 9 Washington D.C.-area schools that *I* know of competing for donations for March ... Read On >
VIDEO: Who opens the headline entertainment at your charity auction?
When your auction entertainment ideas skew to the grand, be careful! Incorporating headline entertainment into a charity auction is an impressive addition, but when you allow your event to become a stage for a top performers, there is a risk. It's possible that your mission and good works will be eclipsed by the entertainment. How do you ensure that doesn't happen? You organize the gala schedule in such a way that it allows you to do mission-related work first. Watch the video for details ... Read On >
Who opens the headline entertainment at your charity auction?
A couple of times a year, the Red Apple Auctions team works a gala that has booked headline entertainment as part of its show. One of those events is the Washington Performing Arts Society (WPAS) gala, one of Washington, DC's top fundraising events. This year the organization announced that over $1 million was raised. Among other things, that means that a lot of children in DC's public schools will have access to an arts education. I like to say, a bit tongue-in-cheek, that Red Apple Auctions ... Read On >
Live items should be on an auction schedule
If you're searching for some fundraising auction ideas that have an impact on the live auction, this is a simple but good one.Sometimes auction catalogs are misplaced before the live auction begins.Other times a catalog isn't printed. Some groups print a catalog, but forget to include the live auction items. Other groups can't include their live auction items into a catalog because the items weren't yet confirmed by the printing deadline. Whatever the reason, guests should have ... Read On >