Fundraising Auctioneers and Consultants
Check out this new “movie trailer” video showcasing Elite Auctions and Fundraising Services. We are so proud to be in this exciting business and LOVE our nonprofits and schools for the good they bring into each community we serve. If you need a professional benefit auctioneer and consultant we would be honored if you considered us!
Just about all of us love to eat and what you serve can have a definite impact on what you raise when it comes to fundraising auction events. If you are wanting to raise a substantial amount of funds then serve your donors high quality food like steak, lobster, prawns, etc. It definitely sets a subconscious message to your guests for the auction and fund a need giving. This all depends on the style of event you have of course, but I’m speaking in more of a general sense. We always recommend a plated dinner versus a buffet which you can read more about HERE. The picture to the left (from gorare.com) screams high class and high value, which is the mindset you want your bidders in when they are about to donate to your important cause.
Another piece of advice is to stay away from desserts that involve ice cream for the simple fact that ice cream can easily melt, and you never know the exact amount of time dessert may be put on hold to finish fundraising efforts.
Overall, if you are having a classy event that you are expecting large donor participation at high levels then serve them a great meal so they know you appreciate their generosity and count on them to return the generosity when they give.
Written by Mike Grigg, AARE, BAS of Elite Auctions and Fundraising Services
We all know that the Fall fundraising season just came to a close and everyone is in holiday mode now. All I can say is DO NOT wait to start planning, procuring and cultivating your donor list until the last 2 months prior to your next benefit auction event! Here are three simple things you can do in the “off-season” to start planning for your next charity auction event:
1. Cultivate your donor list – Start making those important phone calls and contacts to your donors that generously gave at your last event. You don’t have to start asking for more at this point, just thank them for their donation and start to develop a relationship with them. Don’t just call them when your next event is approaching and ask for money or items; this looks like you only care about them when you need something! Really try to get to know them and take some notes as you talk to them to remind you for future calls.
2. Hire your professional fundraising auctioneer and consultant – Good auctioneers book up extremely quickly, many times 8 months to a year in advance! DO NOT WAIT TO BOOK THEM OR YOU MIGHT NOT GET TO WORK WITH YOUR FAVORITE AUCTIONEER! I recommend booking your benefit auctioneer immediately following your last event if you were happy with the service they provided.
3. Start to procure for items – It’s never too early to start procuring items for your next event. In fact, you have a great opportunity to ask for items or help getting items for your next event as you stay in touch with your donors and build those relationships (not necessarily the first phone call thanking them for their participation).
There are obviously many things you should be prepping for in regards to your next fundraising auction event, but these are three simple things that you absolutely should be doing well in advance to ease the panic when your event is right around the corner.
Written by Mike Grigg, AARE, BAS of Elite Auctions and Fundraising Services
Here at Elite Auctions & Fundraising Services we are always searching for alternative “revenue enhancing” ideas at our fundraising auction events other than the live auction, silent auction and fund a need or ask. We have compiled a book of several revenue enhancers to use at your event and share this with all of our clients. Well, here is one of those enhancers that works well if executed properly… Sign Up Boards. When your organization has an over abundance of 8-20 person parties, like a bourbon and cigar tasting party for the guys or a fiesta and salsa dancing party for the girls, then a sign up board may just be the thing you’re organization is looking for.
Here’s how it works.
Step 1: Design a poster board with the amount of lines matching the amount of people the party is for and number them 1-8, 1-10, etc. and set a fixed price for each participant (i.e. $50, $100, etc.)
Step 2: Have a reveal time when the board(s) are uncovered and open for sign ups (Hint: Have your professional auctioneer make a big deal about it on the sound system).
Step 3: When guests come over to the boards have volunteers explain each party to them and have the guests put their name/bidder number on the open lines. Once the board(s) are full then your parties are sold out!
Simple, fun and effective!! This is one of many ways to add a revenue enhancer into your fundraising auction event. Good luck with your fundraising auction event!
Written by Mike Grigg, AARE, BAS with Elite Auctions & Fundraising Services
When it comes to raising money from your donation pages I think every bit of advice can help. Here are some suggestions from the blog of John Haydon’s: “19 Ways to Raise More Money From Your Donation Pages.”
This should get your donation page on track:
Written by Tracy Karbus of Elite Auctions & Fundraising Services with information from John Haydon.
When it comes to creating outreach materials it is so easy to become overwhelmed by the pressure of meeting and exceeding goals that one can forget about the receiver of the solicitation. Here are a few donor focused tips to ponder as you take a swim in the ocean this summer:
1. Ask yourself, if this was sent to me how would I respond?
2. Get into their heads, their hearts, and what makes their world spin (Yes, you have to do homework on this one).
3. Make sure you’re offering a solution to the problem as the donor understands it, not as you do.
4. Make sure this applies to all of your outreach, not just the written word.
5. Now, go for a swim, climb a mountain, read a good book, or just unplug at least once this summer. You need to re-energize your batteries too.
Written by Tracy Karbus Fundraising Consultant with Elite Auctions & Fundraising Services
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What you’re actually paying for:
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| Condoleezza Rice speaks at the Solutions for Change Auction |
Volunteers are an extremely important part of your
fundraising event!! Here are a list of “jobs” that your volunteers need to be placed in for optimal success from Mike Grigg at Elite Auctions & Fundraising Services:
Volunteers that are not used or managed in the proper way can cause more problems than they help with, therefore make sure you have a manager in charge of training your volunteers. Also, don’t give each volunteer too much to do; If you overwhelm your volunteers they become less effective. Good luck with your fundraising events and always make sure to hire a professional auctioneer/consultant to maximize your fundraising results!
Written by Mike Grigg, AARE, BAS with Elite Auctions & Fundraising Services
