As a child of the 1980′s, I know the Smurfs. I didn’t watch the cartoon, but the merchandising was so strong that you were bound to run into a Smurf-something. And this Friday, Papa, Brainy, Smurfette, and the rest of the gang return when The Smurfs movie is released. As an educational post on the meetings industry and its tie-in to your auction fundraiser, today’s post teaches about SMERF: the SMERF market. In the meetings industry, SMERF stands for Social, Military, Educational, ... Read On >
VIDEO: Trends in benefit auctions for 2011
Seeking some suggestions on how to keep your gala trendy? Here are five ideas I've spotted that you might want to keep your eye on. Watch the video below. ... Read On >
How smart planners get more done before 9 AM than the Army does all day
With this headline and my physical proximity to the Pentagon, a bunch of men in uniform could be knocking on my door later today. (If I could only be so lucky...) But knowing auction planners, my provocative headline is only a tad tongue-in-cheek. (If you're scratching your head, watch the Army commercial.) When you're organizing an auction with thousands of details, time is precious. Despite the pressure, some of the most fun people I know plan benefits. They are creative, interactive, and ... Read On >
VIDEO: Should you add an online auction into your gala?
If you answer "yes" to any of the four statements in this video, your nonprofit should consider incorporating an online auction software to help raise funds. Watch the video below. ... Read On >
Steal this “walk-a-thon” idea for charity auctions
An old friend who never writes -- except to ask that I spend money buying into her latest business venture or charitable adventure -- emailed to ask that I support her in yet another walk-a-thon. This time, I declined. Even though I'm not contributing, others will. Walk-a-thons, bowl-a-thons, dance-a-thons ... you name it, "a-thons" have become popular in recent years. A business colleague confided that his informal research indicated "a-thons" were at the peak of their trend. "It's that ... Read On >