So, what month should you hold your fundraising auction event? There really is no completely correct answer here, however I would suggest that you consider holding your event in mid-February or early June. The reason being is that most other nonprofits hold their events in March-May and September-early November so you will cut down your possibility of having competing events on the same night.
The advantage to February is that you will be one of the first benefit auction events of the year! Many businesses and people attend multiple charity events throughout the year and allocate a certain amount of funds to be given to nonprofits. By being the first event of the year you will have first “dibs” at those allocated funds and be able to set off the fundraising season.
The advantage to June is the simple fact that most of the Spring events are completed and you will have less competing events on the day that you choose, also you will be ahead of the Fall fundraising curve as well. I would also suggest considering a Friday night event to avoid competition; this also allows your guests the entire weekend to travel, relax or do what they want to do with their weekend.
I don’t want any of you to think that because your event is at a different time of year it won’t be successful because that is dead wrong; this blog is simply designed to open your eyes about other alternatives that will work for your event. You can have a successful event any time of year, it mostly depends on what type of donors you can get in the room and having a professionally run event. Check this blog out for more information regarding “The Most Important Ingredient to a Successful Fundraising Event.”
Written by Mike Grigg, AARE, BAS of Elite Auctions and Fundraising Services