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You are here: Home / Blog Post / Where to get volunteers to help at your benefit auction. (I interviewed Sandy Rees for ideas.)
Oct 03

Where to get volunteers to help at your benefit auction. (I interviewed Sandy Rees for ideas.)

Sherry Truhlar 1 Comment

where to get volunteers interview with Sandy ReesLast Friday, my friend Sandy Rees of Get Fully Funded released her new book, “Get Fully Funded:  How to Raise the Money of your Dreams.” Sandy always has practical ideas, so I interviewed her on the topic of where to get volunteers for your benefit auction.

Sherry: Benefit auctions rely on volunteers. What advice might you have for my readers?

Sandy: There are three steps I like to address.

First, be clear about what you need. As a fundraiser, you’ll soon realize that you need to clone yourself because you simply can’t do it all. How do you clone yourself? You get volunteers.

People will help, but they need to understand what you’re asking them to do. Start getting clear about what you’re doing and even your process because you’ll be teaching that to others. You’ll be explaining to people what they would need to do.

Second, recruit the right people. You can’t assume that just because someone is involved in nonprofit she knows how to do something.

For example, at your auction, you can’t assume that someone just “knows” how to greet a guest at registration and grasps the underlying process of check-in. Or you might have a good-hearted person helping your nonprofit, but they come across wrong. Maybe you shouldn’t ask that person to go out and ask for donations. Think about the personality of the person. Is it a good fit? Will it work?

Sherry: Yes, I see a number of auction committees recruit inappropriate people for raffle ticket sales, for instance. Nice people, but not really sales people. What’s the third step, Sandy?

Sandy:  You need to set them up for success. Give them everything they need to do the job, and I mean everything:  materials … training … structure. Whatever it looks like, set them up for success.

Sherry: Here’s another common question. Where would you suggest auction planners find volunteers?

Sandy:  Just start asking around. Does the Board know anyone who would want to play? Instead of asking people to work or volunteer, ask them to come “play.” I do everything I can to make it fun. I want them to have a win, because when they have a good experience, they will come back again.

Where are volunteers? They are all over. Keep your eyes open. Spread the word.

I’ve used the organization’s newsletter, its website, social media, and simply asking current staff if they know someone. Even as I’m out networking in the community, I ask people if they’d like to come and play.  I once used VolunteerMatch.com, and even that worked. I was really surprised because I thought it might only work in the cities, but it worked in my rural area.

Here’s another tip: Think about those volunteers who seem to be the most successful, create a profile of them, and then go find people just like them. For instance, your profile for staffing an event is different than your profile for someone working in an office.

I once created “repetitive volunteers.” At one of my jobs, I oversaw a telethon. I needed 6-8 people to answer the phone live on TV. They needed to look upbeat, sound pleasant, answer questions, and accurately record information. I didn’t have to recruit beyond the second year because my first year volunteers worked so well and enjoyed it so much, they returned.

Sherry:  Those are some good tips.  I especially like the idea of “playing” versus volunteering. It softens the edge. Here’s another question I frequently hear. How do you get your Board to help with the auction?

Sandy: You can’t make the Board do anything. If they haven’t bought in, they haven’t bought in. If they aren’t interested in helping with your event … if they aren’t interested in bringing people to it or helping with procurement … then you’ve got a bigger problem than just that auction.

Sherry: Exactly! And that’s when I tell my nonprofits to call you because they need more help than I can give them.  Now tell me about your new book, Get Fully Funded:  How to Raise the Money of your Dreams?

Sandy: I include many “how to” activities in the book – how to write a grant, how to raise money –  but there’s also a good portion on mindset, like making fundraising a priority. To make it as easy as possible to implement, I’ve included 101 checklists and templates. It’s one thing to give someone the information they need to run a program; it’s totally different to get them to implement it. So the checklists help with, “Here’s the first step, and the next step, and the next.”

Sherry: So is the book targeted towards Development Directors?

Sandy: Development Directors of nonprofits, or Executive Directors responsible for fundraising. It teaches my fundraising system.

Sherry: I’m already enjoying the first chapter, Sandy. And thank you for your tips on benefit auction volunteers today. (Reader: If you want information on the book, click here.)

Sandy:  My pleasure!

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Copyright © 2011 Red Apple Auctions Co. All Rights Reserved

About Sherry Truhlar

Fundraising auctioneer and educator, helping schools and nonprofits plan more profitable benefit auctions. A prolific writer for her own blog and other fundraising sites, she’s been covered in The Beacon-News, Town & Country Magazine, The Washington Post Magazine, Northern Virginia Magazine, Wiley's Special Events Galore!, AUCTIONEER, and other publications.

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PODCAST: Where to get volunteers to help at your benefit auction. (I interviewed Sandy Rees for ideas.)

Comments

  1. Betsy Baker says

    October 4, 2011 at 7:39 PM

    Sherry, what a coup landing Sandy for an interview! I love her plain-spoken advice. Great idea too for volunteer recruitment – play up “fun” because galas and auctions are fun! Thanks for the guidance. 🙂

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Sherry, oh, Sherry! You were an invaluable asset to this year’s gala. With your assistance we were able to add so many new elements that truly made a difference in taking our event to another level. This year was the most successful yet! Everyone loved you and the amazing energy that you brought to the event. We look forward to having you again in 2018!

Krystal Fenwick

Thank you so much for the outstanding job you did for us on April 1! I have received so much positive feedback from so many who attended. You even earned Sister Suzan’s (our Vice-Principal) seal of approval! Safe travels to all your many events and thank you for making our biggest fundraiser of the year our best ever!

Diane Albano, Director of Development
St. Joseph Academy Catholic High School (St. Augustine, FL)

Sherry is flexible and easy to work with. She gives honest feedback and advice throughout the planning and implementation process. Without a doubt, Sherry and Red Apple Auctions has helped take our annual fundraising event to the next level.

Beckie Middendorf, Development Director and Janet Gulla, Development Coordinator
St. Henry District High School (Erlanger, KY)

Sherry is “on board” from day one of auction planning, works closely with our steering committee and is only just a phone call away. The night of the auction, we toss her the keys and let her drive the event! We are never disappointed!

Charly Ryan, Director of Institutional Advancement
The Academy of the Holy Cross (Kensington, MD)

I was very fortunate to have Red Apple on board for my first auction. Working with Sherry was invaluable. She provided guidance at every phase of planning, from procurement on forward – and she challenged us to make our event more ambitious and more successful at every stage. Thank you, Sherry!

Pete Goldlust, Director of Development
Oak Hill School (Eugene, OR)

If your auction needs to upgrade, call any auctioneer you find on Google. But if you want your auction to be impressive, meaningful, and profitable, you need to call Sherry.

Erin Banda
2016 NYUMBANI Board member

The auction was entertaining .. proactive … the crowd was involved and felt a part of it,” he said, emphasizing, “The entertainment value was huge.

Darrell, a long-time attendee

We plan on booking Red Apple Auctions much earlier for our next event so we can take advantage of more of the pre-event offerings.

Nicole Carr, Director of Grants and Special Events
The Ivymount School (Rockville, MD)

2012 Oakcrest Anne and CarolinaSherry, personally, I can’t even begin to tell you the immense amount of positive feedback that I received having YOU (and Darby) there with is this year!… Read The Rest “Anne Livaudais Knudsen, 5th year gala co-chair”

Aren’t KK and Michael a cute couple? PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiIHNyYz0iaHR0cDovL3JlZGFwcGxlLmV2c3VpdGUuY29tL3BsYXllci9NakF4TWkxSGRXVnpkSE10UW5Wc2JHbHpMVXRMTFdGdVpDMU5hV05vWVdWc0xVcHZjMlZ3YUM1dGNEUT0vP2NvbnRhaW5lcj1ldnAtV0JBVTkwTlVBUyI+PC9zY3JpcHQ+PGRpdiBpZD0iZXZwLVdCQVU5ME5VQVMiIGRhdGEtcm9sZT0iZXZwLXZpZGVvIiBkYXRhLWV2cC1pZD0iTWpBeE1pMUhkV1Z6ZEhNdFFuVnNiR2x6TFV0TExXRnVaQzFOYVdOb1lXVnNMVXB2YzJWd2FDNXRjRFE9Ij48L2Rpdj4= They liked that I “moved the crowd along … kept the crowd engaged but wasn’t obtrusive or invasive. We were able to talk but still keep track of what was going on.”

Staci Meruvia 150 ptYou have NO idea of how many people came up to me (I know Julie as well) and said, ‘That auctioneer was incredible … she engaged the crowd, …… Read The Rest “Staci Meruvia”

Geri said: “Great job of getting potential donors in the room to step up to the plate and not feel guilty or bad about it. They actually wanted to give more … and that’s not something I’ve seen in many other auctioneers.” 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 The following… Read The Rest “Geri”

Irene attended one of my New Hampshire auctions and assumed I must be a radio personality — until I started to chant that fast talk. PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiIHNyYz0iaHR0cDovL3JlZGFwcGxlLmV2c3VpdGUuY29tL3BsYXllci9SM1ZsYzNRdE1qQXhNUzFPU0ZOUVEwRXRTWEpsYm1VdWJYQTBMVEU9Lz9jb250YWluZXI9ZXZwLTVHMlVHQlFGN1YiPjwvc2NyaXB0PjxkaXYgaWQ9ImV2cC01RzJVR0JRRjdWIiBkYXRhLXJvbGU9ImV2cC12aWRlbyIgZGF0YS1ldnAtaWQ9IlIzVmxjM1F0TWpBeE1TMU9TRk5RUTBFdFNYSmxibVV1YlhBMExURT0iPjwvZGl2Pg== “I’ve been to this event before with a couple of other auctioneers,” she said, “Your ability to get personal… Read The Rest “Irene”

Most product & consulting remarks are found on their respective webpages, but I’ve listed two below so you’re assured my products are as spot-on as my auctioneering.   Not only was our 2013 auction a blast, but our Washington, D.C. public school raised $67,000 — that’s $25,000 more than last year! The evening went… Read The Rest “Carolyn Kahn-Hall and Andrea Del Vecchio”

Cynthia Steele Vance_150X180As a former Fox News Anchorwoman, I am often called on to perform at auctions. So, I know first-hand that auctioneering can be a difficult job. Sherry Truhlar is one of the best in the business.… Read The Rest “Cynthia Steele Vance”

Cynthia Steele Vance
Guest at The Potomac School 2014 auction (McLean, VA)

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