During recent client consultations, discussions turned to when my client should open and close their silent auction. The best answer is, it depends. Do you desire wide participation? Better have your silent auction run entirely online, so more can participate. Do you want to avoid shipping items, or having winners drop by your office to pick up their winnings? Better close the silent auction at the gala and ensure that only gala guests can win packages. There are any number of ... Read On >
About Sherry Truhlar
Auction trends of 2024: Three trends to watch
Unless one is working in the weeds of galas, they'd never notice the minor shifts taking place each year. Yet shifts happen. Let’s consider some fast-moving auction packages as a quick example. Peloton bikes were the rage during the 2020 pandemic. It morphed into MIRROR and Tonal when virtual galas continued into 2021. Solo stoves were also a pandemic favorite. That offering morphed into Ooni Pizza Ovens. Auction old-timers will recall the significant donations from Kuerig, Green ... Read On >
Popular auction themes from 2023
This is the time of year many committees are turning their attention to selecting a theme for their 2024 auction. A theme isn’t required to raise money, but a good one will help focus the décor efforts and energize volunteers. Team members get creative with language, decorations, and games as it ties to a chosen theme. Here are some of the themes I witnessed in 2023. If you’re searching for ideas, perhaps something below will spark your imagination. Gala themes loosely inspired by ... Read On >
How to properly attribute consignment items in your auction catalog
In a fundraising auction catalog, most groups list the donor of an item. It acknowledges and thanks the person or company who gave the item to the nonprofit. In some cases, knowing who donated the item is also important for guests. As I stand near live auction displays talking with passersby, I frequently have conversations with them about the vacation homes available in the auction. “You can talk with the donor tonight,” I’ve said, “The donor is attending this event, too!” I’ve even ... Read On >
Can you ditch the paper auction catalog?
In an effort to cut costs and save time, some nonprofits nix paper catalogs. Guests are encouraged to go online to read about auction packages. I dislike this, and strongly advise an old-school approach: print a catalog. Paper catalogs are easier for guests to use (picking up a paper catalog is more convenient than logging into a phone), more reliable (if WiFi crashes, the paper catalog still works), put package restrictions front-and-center (which eases guests minds for bidding higher), ... Read On >