Category: charity
- Experienced fundraising auctioneers know how to interact with the audience and drive the prices of your items to their full potential. It is a proven fact that experienced auctioneers can easily attain 15%-50% higher for your items.
- Experienced fundraising auctioneers have a passion for their profession and understand that their performance reflects the quality of their public perception. Having a volunteer call your auction is like having an accountant work on your car.
- Experienced fundraising auctioneers understand that the main goal of any event is to raise money, whether it be for a charity, business, or organization. Auctioneers make giving money fun, emotional and competitive!
- Experienced fundraising auctioneers understand that keeping the audience entertained and having fun is the key element to a successful auction event. According to a National Auctioneers Association survey, FUN is the number one reason why people attend auctions.
- Experienced fundraising auctioneers have all of the necessary tools to make your event unforgettable. Good auctioneers are always training and educating themselves about the latest trends in the business.
There are many ways that a Board member can contribute to raising funds, directly and indirectly. Below is a brief list of things to keep an eye on to help Board members set themselves up for success:-Unknown
Our record-breaking fundraising ideas and

When: Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Morning Session: 8:30 am – 12 noon
Where: Bakersfield Assoc. of Realtors 2300 Bahamas Dr. Bakersfield, CA
Look at all the great content you will discover:
Which Auction Items Are Hot & Which Are Not
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How to Knock Your Auction Revenue Out of the Park
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Cutting-Edge Fundraising Techniques (known only by professional auctioneers & consultants)
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Increase Your Results by 10%, 20% or More
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Run of Show
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Questions and Answers
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(Photo by Henry A. Barrios, The Californian)
Who is this perfect for?
Auction Chairpersons
Non-Profit Staff
Auction Planners
Board Members
Auction Committee Members
Volunteers
Anyone involved in a charity auction!
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That’s over $500 in FREE bonuses just for attending!
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Your investment today is only:
Register online: $67 (save $30 by registering now!)
Register at the door: $97
Additional Members: $20
PRLog (Press Release) – Aug. 20, 2013 – NAPA, Calif. — Napa Valley, CA – Elite Auctions and Fundraising Services more than doubles Sunrise Horse Rescue’s profit at their 4th annual Harvest of Hope Benefit Auction Event. Professional auctioneer, Mike Grigg presided over the live auction which brought in nearly $50,000 and the fund a need which brought in $21,000. The funds will go to benefit horses and the rescue operation in the Napa Valley area.
The event was held at the Blossom Creek Farm in Calistoga, CA where some of the rescued horses were present to interact with the over 180 attendees. There was a silent auction, live auction and fund a need which coupled with ticket sales raised in the area of $100,000.
Elite Auctions and Fundraising Services has record-breaking fundraising ideas and customized strategies that are key to nonprofit organizations’ success. They present seminars all over the state of California teaching their secrets to nonprofit fundraising success.
Every year, countless horses go without enough food, shelter or love. Sunrise Horse Rescue is the only non-profit organization in Napa County dedicated to saving such horses and providing them with forever homes. Children and adults in the community gain life-skills by assisting in the rehabilitation of these horses and provide them with the loving attention they so deserve.
Sunrise Horse Rescue was founded in November of 2007 as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We are located in the heart of the Napa Valley, in beautiful Saint Helena, California.
Our Mission: to provide a sanctuary for rescued abused and neglected horses in Napa and Sonoma Counties as well as provide students of all ages with life enhancing skills derived from the care and rehabilitation of the horses.
Elite Auctions Attends 64th International Auctioneers Conference and Show
July 23, 2013 – Bakersfield/Los Angeles-based fundraising auctioneers/consultants, Mike Grigg, AARE and Connie Waddell, joined their fellow auctioneers from across the world at the National Auctioneers Association’s (NAA) 64th International Auctioneers Conference and Show at the J. W. Marriott in downtown Indianapolis, July 16 – 20, 2013.
Mike graduated from the prestigious “World Champion College of Auctioneers” and is a published author of the book: “Maximizing Your Charity Event’s Bottom Line.” He has participated in many charity, benefit and fundraising auctions as an auctioneer and fundraising consultant. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing and graduated from the Fundraising Auction Academy. Mike serves as Past President and current member for the California State Auctioneers Association (CSAA).
Mike has called hundreds of auctions in California cities like Los Angeles, Bakersfield, San Diego and San Francisco, to name a few, and knows what it takes to get the buyers to competitively bid and drive the prices up while delivering a clear message about each organizations’ cause. His attention to detail and heart for each organization makes him one of the best in the business. Mike has mastered the fund-a-need and has developed many revenue enhancers to help boost his clients’ proceeds to record breaking numbers.
Mike was the 2004 California State Auctioneers Association Rookie Bid Calling Champion and was crowned the 2009 California State Auctioneer Champion. Mike began his career in the auction business in 2002 and believes that auctions are the purest form of price realization. His recent accomplishments include a charity auction to benefit Solutions for Change which raised $1.7 million, a three-day prop, costume, and set piece auction for NBC Universal‘s hit show, Battlestar Galactica presented by Propworx where almost 1,000 lots were sold, and helping a private high school in Orange County triple their previous year’s fundraiser result.
Professional Memberships:
- Past President & current member of the California State Auctioneers Association (CSAA)
- Member of the National Auctioneers Association (NAA)
- Past Board Member for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central California (Evening of Wishes Gala)
- Accredited Auctioneer of Real Estate (AARE) designated by the National Auctioneers Association
Connie Waddell is Co-Founder and CEO of Elite Auctions with specific responsibilities overseeing the general operations and marketing department. She has over 25 years experience in marketing. Her success comes from utilizing her experience and skills to zero in on the exact objective of any marketing campaign and the precise market to target. She was recently awarded first place for brochure design by the California State Auctioneers Association.
She has been recognized throughout her career as an accomplished business professional with an entrepreneurial spirit, outgoing personality, and with excellent communication and leadership skills.
Ms. Waddell graduated from the Professional Ringmen’s Institute (PRI). The Ringman (professional bid spotter) is a very important member of every live auction team whose contributions and responsibilities include an accurate interpretation of the bidder’s interest and effective communication of each bidder’s participation to her auctioneer.
While involved with several charitable organizations, two very dear to her heart are Autism Speaks and Kern Autism Network in an effort to aid her grandson, Adam, and other children on the autism spectrum.
Among dozens of educational seminars, highlights included: how to excel in any interview process with clients and companies; how to build a community of online buyers; how to transition from free to a fee with non-profit groups; and more.
Additionally, attendees took advantage of the opportunity to network with their fellow auctioneers from across the globe.
Along with industry-leading education, the annual Conference and Show also featured several exciting auction competitions. This year, the NAA celebrated the 25th anniversary of the International Auctioneer Championship (IAC) competition, which crowns the world’s top male and female auctioneers. The annual conference also included the world’s largest auction tradeshow, which provided a large, engaged consumer base. In fact, more than 900 auction professionals attended the 2013 event, making it the largest Conference and Show since 2009.
To learn more about the Fundraising Auction business visit www.EliteFundraisingAuctions.com. To view a schedule of events that were held at the 64th International Auctioneers Conference & Show, visit conferenceandshow.com
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About Elite Auctions & Fundraising Services:
Elite Auctions & Fundraising Services is the premier auction and consulting company in the state of California. We provide non-profit organizations with the tools and expertise to maximize their ability to knock fundraising auction and event revenue out of the park.
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We would like to welcome Tracy Karbus our newest Fundraising Consultant to the Elite Auctions and Fundraising Service’s family…
In proving her reputation for creating possibilities, Tracy Karbus utilizes her 18+ years of corporate and non-profit experience working with businesses and individuals, helping them maximize with businesses and individuals, helping them maximize resources and leverage their time and philanthropic efforts. In particular, she can relate to the challenges and opportunities of many non-profits as she spent the last 14 years in various roles within the non-profit sector. From Regional Director, Board Member, volunteer, and event coordinator, she has a grasp around the various roles that make up a successful development team and the challenges associated with ‘the ask.’ She also understands the importance of creating community as a key component of any sustainable giving program and has been known to receive unprecedented funding commitments in communities known to be stringent with funding awards.
A big picture thinker with an eye on details, she maintains a relentless commitment to research and preparation as a fundraising consultant with Elite Auctions. She enjoys partnering with development teams in crafting customized fundraising auction strategies to support the individual needs of each organization.
Certificate – Micro enterprise Skill-Building AEO Training Institute
Certificate – Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership and Management
When guests arrive at your event make the check in process simple by dividing them alphabetically by last name or company name in about five to seven different check in areas. This will help cut down on long lines and crowd size.
I highly recommend collecting credit card numbers upfront at check in and assigning bidder numbers to each person/couple. This will make check out much easier and more efficient. If people are not willing to give credit card numbers upfront explain to them that their check out process may take a little longer. You can even have VIP check out for those that submit credit cards upfront as an incentive. Come up with a perk that VIP check out can offer your guests. You could deliver their items to their tables or they could simply have a special checkout line.
In order to have the most successful fund-a-need, silent auction and live auction, assigning bidder numbers is a must. It will help tremendously to have everyone identifiable by bidder number rather than name, and it will dramatically cut down on the amount of runners and people having to collect information throughout the event. The fund-a-need alone can almost not be done with a big group if bidder numbers are not assigned to each person/couple.
“High rollers” or the guests that are known to be high donors should be strategically placed at the front of a room or near the auctioneer. These guests will more than likely bid several times and it helps to keep the flow of the auction if the auctioneer can easily find them. Let the auctioneer know where the high rollers will be sitting prior to the start of the auction, and don’t hesitate to introduce the auctioneer to the high rollers so he can build some rapport with them.
Here is a handy checklist from start to finish that you can use. Not all topics on the checklist are covered in the post, but many are self explanatory.
9 – 12 Months prior to Event
- Choose an Event Chair or President
- Select your Committee Coordinators
- Figure out a budget
- Choose a venue
- Choose a theme for the event
- Figure out who your target guests will be
6-8 Months prior to Event
- Develop a marketing plan
- Figure out the event timeline
- Choose an auctioneer
- Choose the Audio/Visual company
- Choose your entertainment
- Begin procurement and table sales (ongoing until event)
- Create a sponsor kit with different levels
3-5 Months prior to Event
- Viewing of the venue with committee members
- Advertising and PR for the event
- Develop your fund-a-need cause
- Send out invitations/save the dates
- Figure out how you will collect the money at the event
1-2 Months prior to Event
- Begin setting up your staff
- Secure volunteers
- Finalize the event’s timeline
- Get the live auction list to the auctioneer to put in appropriate order
- Finalize the Program and send to printer
- Finalize any videos or auction Power Points
0-1 Month prior to Event
- Let your auctioneer know if there have been any changes
- Start packing supplies, displays, and anything you need to bring to the venue
- Send out a Facebook announcement, website blog, or email blasts to remind guests
- Let the venue know how many guests will be attending
- Finalize the guest list
- Finalize all forms that will be needed at the event
- Meet with your committee and volunteers the day prior to the event
Post Event
- Finalize your accounting
- Send out thank you announcements to guests
- Have a post event meeting with committee and auctioneer
- Go over pluses and minuses
- Set the date for the next event
- Book the auctioneer for the next event if you were happy with him
- Send out a press release of the organization’s success
- Take a short vacation!
There are many questions that arise when planning for a charity event. Here are some commonly asked questions and answers.
Q: How much time do I need to plan a successful charity event?
A: Every organization is going to need a different amount of time to plan, but do not cut yourself short. There are many aspects that need to be covered prior to the event and if you do not get your invitations out or your tables sold with plenty of time prior to the event your guests may already have that night booked up. At a bare minimum you should start planning at least six months in advance, but it is best to have an entire year so you are not completely stressed out to hit deadlines.
Q: Our emcee has a great personality and is well respected in the community. Should we just ask him to be our auctioneer?
A: This is the biggest mistake you can make! Charity auctioneers are professionals in their field and will increase your bottom line not only with their bid calling skills, but also with their consulting and revenue generating ideas. The cost of paying a professional charity auctioneer will be absorbed by the extra money they bring to your organization… so don’t skimp in this category.
Q: Where should we hold our charity event?
A: Large ballrooms at hotels or country clubs make great venues for your event. Smaller events can use smaller rooms of course but make sure you have plenty of “breathing room” for your guests or they can become frustrated and possibly leave early. Simple box-shaped rooms will be easiest for your auctioneer to conduct a smooth-flowing auction because they can see all of the bidders.
Q: Where can I procure items for the auction?
A: Ask your friends and relatives if they can donate anything to start. Business clients and vendors are another great source and many times are glad to be part of an event that is raising money for a good cause. If you donate items, it may be an easier sell to others because they see that you have a vested interest as well. Quite simply, you have to hit the pavement and know that every no brings you closer to a yes.
Q: Should I accept items that have to reach a certain amount before we can sell them?
A: This is called consignment and is not recommended. If a donor needs to receive $300 for an item before you can sell the item and you sell it for $500 then the organization only receives $200. This also takes $300 of bidding out of the auction and the auctioneer will have to make an announcement that the item has a minimum bid or reserve prior to selling it. If the item does not bring at least $300 you have to pass on it during the auction and this can be very discouraging for the bidders.
Q: If someone wants to donate cash should I take it?
A: Absolutely! Actually you can use cash donations in your fund-a-need segment to spur on bidding. For example, if a donor gives $5,000 you can incorporate their donation in the fund-a-need by having the auctioneer say “We have an opening donation of $5,000 from Mr. Smith would anyone like to match?”
Q: We are thinking about doing a buffet dinner, is this a good idea?
A: Buffets take too much time and encourage guests to be out of their seats. Always do a plated dinner so your guests are in their seats and paying attention to the auctioneer. Saving on the cost of food by having a buffet will seriously hurt your bottom line.
Q: Should we have a raffle at our event?
A: Raffles are great ideas for extra revenue and tickets should be sold during the silent auction and prior to the start of the live auction. Close the raffle sales prior to beginning the live auction so that your guests have their full attention on the live auction and the fund-a-need. Raffle sales are also great to keep people at your event until the winners are announced. Save the winner announcement until the live auction and fund-a-need are completed.
Q: How can we most effectively use all of the gift cards that we received during procurement?
A: Gift card frenzy as I described in chapter four is a great way to utilize all those gift cards.
Q: How can we increase our silent auction results?
A: Always use silent bid sheets with pre-printed increments and only have the bidders put their bidder numbers on the sheets. I am a firm believer in having the auctioneer talk up the items on a sound system in the silent auction area. Not too much talking but just enough to keep guests thinking about bidding. Also, do not have opening bids that are more than 33 percent (one third) of the items value.
Q: Should we have an auction event coupled with a golf tournament?
A: Golf tournaments are an all-day event and are designed to raise money generally with an entry fee that each golfer or team pays to participate. After a long day of golf the competitors are usually exhausted and just want to eat and head to bed. Attempting to sell auction items to them will negatively affect your bottom line. Either have a golf tournament or have a fundraising auction, do not attempt to mix the two. If you absolutely must have both then have the golf tournament on the second day following the charity auction event.
Q: Should we use bidder paddles or just have runners collect names and information from the bidders?
A: Using bidder paddles is the best way to keep the auction simple. You don’t want runners having to go out and find all the bidders after they have won an item and make them write down all their information. This distracts their entire table from focusing on the next item up for auction. With a fairly large group, the fund-a-need would be nearly impossible without having bidder paddles. A simple way to make bidder paddles is by putting bidder numbers on the back cover of each program in big, bold, easy to read font.
Q: We have two items that are exactly the same to sell; how should we sell them?
A: You never want your bidders to know that you have two items that are exactly the same to sell or they will hold back on their bidding. Have the auctioneer sell the item while keeping the bid increments close. Once the winning bid is sealed then the auctioneer will tell the winning bidder and the back-up bidder that there are two items available and offer the items to both bidders at the back-up bidder’s price. For example, the winning bid amount is $1,000 and the back-up bidder’s bid was $900; the auctioneer will offer both bidders the item at $900 resulting in a final amount of $1,800.
Q: Will the auctioneer help with consulting as well?
A: Myself and most other professional charity auctioneers will help with consulting and can let you know the best way to accomplish each one of your goals for the event. We are not only bid callers but are charity event professionals and have been involved with just about every scenario you can imagine. We know what works and what doesn’t.




