You’re invited! If you’re tired of your benefit auction, wondering “how to get to the next level” or seeking ways to make your event different from others in town, here’s the secret sauce. Track my progress and join me as I travel around the USA sharing information about fundraising auctions that others won’t tell you.
Using one of your tips from the workshop, we increased the silent auction results to 95.36% of value … last year we were less than 70%. Yahoo!!! We also found it easier to manage. John B. Donovan, Executive Director Dubuque Mercy Health Foundation (Dubuque, IA)
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Better Benefit Auctions: How to create a high-performing auction
Here’s what we’ll be covering …
- 7 of the SIMPLEST and most UNDERUTILIZED ways to make more money in your silent auction. I’m sharing EASY ideas that my clients love … things that even tiny nonprofits can do. And to ensure you really understand, you’ll see several photos of these methods in action so you can model them without confusion. (Read some of the testimonials on this page to get an idea of how much BETTER your silent can perform.)
- 6 strategies to MAKE YOUR AUCTION UNIQUE for a stand-out event. These are cool ways I’ve seen to differentiate your gala from others in town and get people engaged. You don’t need to go to Los Angeles or Dallas for cool ideas … I’ll bring them to you.
- Your BEST low-cost / no-cost marketing for promotion. Did you catch my “Auction Summer School” webinar series? One of the most popular webinars covered marketing. Learn how some groups have DOUBLED their attendance because of good marketing.
- CREATIVE BENEFITS TO ATTRACT SPONSORS. If you’ve been running an auction without a sponsorship program, or need some ideas for developing this area, grab a pen. This is an area that needs “freshening up” for many groups.
- HOW TO NEGOTIATE with a benefit auctioneer. Whether you’ve hired one for several years, or want to start using a pro, here’s how to arm yourself before you make the phone call.
Three more things to know:
Learn from real auction photos … not wordy slides. Time and again, workshop attendees say that when compared to other presenters, they love learning from my photos (which are from ACTUAL AUCTIONS) and hearing practical stories from “behind the scenes” (which are from CURRENT AUCTIONS).
- “Open mic:” This isn’t a one-way information dump. Questions allowed.
- Special offers and prizes
Our grade school auction is in its 21st year, and although we raise over $130K each year, we knew we needed guidance to push us to the next level. Sherry gave us countless ideas that aren’t going to cost us a penny, but will ensure that we are getting the most out of every auction item and every donor (while also making our valued donors feel that they got a great “deal”). Cindy Hemsath of Blessed Sacrament School (Kentucky)
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Workshop information
None currently scheduled.
When my next workshop is scheduled, you’ll find information on the location, hours, cost, food / beverages, parking, directions, and more on this page.
Want to host a workshop in your city? Hosts receive a private, complementary two-hour consultation.
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May 2015: Auction planners attending the North Carolina workshop
Past workshops
Here’s where I’ve already been:
- Southern Pines, NC (May 2015)
- Nashville, TN (October 2014)
- Louisville, KY (July 2014)
- Honolulu, HI (November 2013)
- Chicago, IL (September 2013)
- Cincinnati, OH (September 2013)
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About your presenter:
I’m Sherry Truhlar, founder of Red Apple Auctions. As an auction educator and onsite benefit auctioneer, I help thousands of auction planners each year via my website, and serve as onsite auctioneer at over 50 galas a year, coast-to-coast. Whether I’m running a live auction, emceeing an event, or dedicated to speaking your Fund a Need, I take meticulous notes on best practices on how to do EVERYTHING. Then, I teach it!
You’ll enjoy the INSIDE STORY of how to run an auction. These aren’t just “cool ideas I’ve heard about, but never tested.” You get the truth — what works and why. Perhaps as important, I teach it in a way that people “get.” (Read all the testimonials on this page to hear what people like you had to say.)
I look forward to meeting you.
Your #1 fan,
Sherry Truhlar, CMP, BAS, CAI – Benefit auctioneer and gala consultant
Here’s what workshop attendees said:
Sherry freely shares her wealth of knowledge and experience in nonprofit fundraising. It’s like having a great partner on the fundraising committee. Webinars, printed materials/cds, and the live Roadshow are all loaded with practical advice that we can use to make our yearly event profitable. Sherrie Zagorc, Kiddie City Child Care Community (Ohio)
I’ve been doing auctions and events for over 20 years and I still learned some new tips and tricks in one four-hour workshop. Sherry has been there, seen that, and more than has the t-shirt. Heck, she printed the t-shirt. Not only does she know her stuff, she is able to make the entire time entertaining for all. John B. Donovan of Dubuque Mercy Health Foundation (Iowa)
The presentation in Chicago was awesome. Sherry presented many creative and cool ideas to increase bidding in silent auctions. I loved her philosophy that a silent auction is much like a “store” and that you have to make it visually appealing and attractive. She gave the group great ideas to make their events shine and to expand the audience base. I loved it! Nancy Swabb of Chicago Charity Events (Illinois)
I’ve been a Board member of a community non-profit which has had three gala auctions in the past three years and is planning to have a fourth. Income has been about $20,000 for both live and silent events each year. I decided to participate in Sherry’s Louisville workshop because my scare/concern is that our events may become “old hat” and we will lose participants/income. I first took part in a webinar with Sherry that was coordinated by a North Carolina fundraiser consultant. I found her 90 minutes were jam packed with great ideas; plenty of energy, time for questions and leaving me wanting more! I’m so glad I followed up with attending a “live” workshop, both for Sherry’s info and info from other professionals/ participants. Dana N. Courtney (North Carolina)
I am a parent volunteer from a small private school in Nashville. Our school auction is basically run by a bunch of moms that change every year. We really needed YOU and YOUR ideas to put some pizazz back into our event. We are going to be trying a rolling close, new bidding sheets, and some of your games. We’ll let you know how it turns out! Nicole, a parent volunteer (Nashville, TN)
Sherry, the workshop in Louisville was fantastic! Phyllis Wilkins, Director of Development for Christian Academy School System (Indiana)
The Roadshow Tour was the ultimate boot camp training for benefit auctions! At the end of the day, I was delightfully exhausted and full of ideas to implement. Sherry believes in putting the fun back into the silent auction. Just because it’s called a silent auction, doesn’t mean it is quiet! The biggest benefit: My team saw my enthusiasm and now they are even more committed to making ours a premiere event. Thank you. Vel Hux of WCCS, Inc. (Ohio)
Sherry has a wealth of information about benefit auctions.Her unique perspective from the standpoint of an auctioneer allows her to share what works in reality and not just on paper. Her energy and enthusiasm are extremely contagious. Pat Seuberling, Executive Director of Wyoming School Foundation (Ohio)
I learned a lot from Sherry on analyzing my auction’s past performance so I could be better prepared for future auctions. She was very knowledgeable and a great resource for anyone running a benefit auction. Megan Meserve of Lexington Habitat for Humanity (Kentucky)
Our grade school auction is in its 21st year, and although we raise over $130K each year, we knew we needed guidance to push us to the next level. Sherry gave us countless ideas that aren’t going to cost us a penny, but will ensure that we are getting the most out of every auction item and every donor (while also making our valued donors feel that they got a great “deal”). Cindy Hemsath of Blessed Sacrament School (Kentucky)
And from other workshops …
Several years ago, I took a workshop from auctioneer Sherry Truhlar. I thought I knew a lot about auctions when that workshop started, but Sherry’s presentation was truly an eye opener. Many of the positive changes that resulted in big growth in our auction have roots there. Sherry was an engaging presenter from the moment she took the stage and I learned so much from her that day and in the advanced training webinars we bought that year and since. The honed growth our silent and live auctions have enjoyed over the past three years is directly linked to what our committee has learned from Sherry along the way and the resources she has provided for companies we didn’t have access to before. Those resources have resulted in airfare, Disney tickets, a Coach bag, and all manner of great items for packages that have built our auction. Jan Hatchard, Director of Development Philadelphia Children’s Alliance (Philadelphia, PA)
Crowd comments from a lecture given to Gail Perry’s Fired Up Fundraising Insiders Community: * Gail, this was one of the most appropriate and helpful seminars I’ve heard … Even though I’ve been actively reviewing many of these companies, it was very helpful to have a comprehensive list and how they all came together. I also learned some new resources that I am definitely checking out! * As you said – Sherry gave an objective overview! It’s soooooo hard to find! I wish I’d heard this before talking to EVERYONE! 🙂 * This was extremely helpful in deciding how to proceed with our auction. * Learning that their are other resources for procurement was so helpful! * I feel confident in my choices of the companies with whom I choose to work. * Thank you Gail! I missed Sherry’s last one and I am definitely going to listen to it soon!
I have found Sherry of Red Apple Auctions to be an amazing support for the nonprofit community. Her recent webinar guest appearance with my Ignited Online Fundraising Community was one of the best, information packed sessions I’ve ever seen! My community’s response to her was incredibly positive. Even days later, they are still raving about not just her tips, but her presentation skills, describing her with phrases like “excellent communicator,” “upbeat and positive energy,” and “makes weary not-for-profits feel very RE-energized.” Lori Jacobwith, Fundraising Coach Where Your Mission Meets Its Match (Minnesota)
From a workshop in Radnor, PA: * Very dynamic and obviously well versed in the field. I appreciated her honesty and opinions as much as her facts and details. * Sherry seems to have a wealth of knowledge and I’m glad to have seen her in this seminar. * Very down to earth, very professional, easy to listen to, very engaging and knowledgeable. Would definitely consult her regarding auction issues. * Sherry is the queen. ‘Nuf said. * So great! * Sherry is a true expert and very engaging. * Excellent speaker, very valuable information * Very interesting! * Amazing woman!
From a 2012 silent auction seminar hosted by Progressive Conferences: * I appreciated the simple manner in which item acquisition, audience development and operations were introduced. Many of the ideas can be implemented with ease. * We have an annual fundraiser event with silent auctions, a Chinese auction, and live auctions and participated to get more insight into improving our ROI. It was most useful to learn calculations, see photos of presentations, and figuring out metrics. * It was useful to see specific practical examples and her overall successful experience from other auctions. I wish this could have been a longer presentation. I can see as how we can keep people bidding by priming the pump. * I was pleased to take away a number of new ideas to improve our silent auction as well as a few areas that we need to re-think. Her candor and examples were humorous and spot on. Ms. Truhlar clearly has developed ways to address many of our issues with productive methods and successful results. It was helpful to hear new approaches to our issues.