Venice is a popular fundraising auction theme. The imagery of the city is perhaps most closely associated with its famous canals, followed by its infamous Carnival. But as canals are difficult to recreate in a school gym, most groups opt for the Carnival masks. Venetian masks are festive elements to use, easily portable, and come in a range of price points that fit most any budget. At a school auction, both hand-crafted and purchased masks were used. They were placed on the silent auction ... Read On >
Centerpieces
Non-floral school auction centerpieces at “Night at the Museum”
Many of the galas I work use a floral centerpiece on the table. I certainly enjoy the freshness flowers bring to an event, but I've also seen some interesting non-floral options, especially when it comes to school auction centerpieces, as the one in this photo. Why do nonprofits opt for a non-floral arrangement? 1. Lower event expenses. As attractive as they are, flowers can be expensive. They become a "nice to have," not a "need to have," so they can be quickly cut from a ... Read On >
Fundraising auction ideas for vegetables
Say what? Ideas ... for vegetables? A group asked me about vegetables recently, so I thought others might have a need, too. It's not that crazy of an idea. I already broached the topic (sort of) this past summer in my post Four Ways to Sell Farm-to-Table Donations. Here are some fundraising auction ideas for those not-so-lowly, rich-in-antioxidants vegetables. Centerpieces Colorful veggies in a clear vase. See the photos for ideas. GraphicsIf you're hosting an event that focuses on the ... Read On >
Creative non-floral auction centerpieces from Robin Hood Foundation
I cut this out of the Wall Street Journal (I think it was WSJ). It was a story about the Robin Hood Foundation's 2009 auction fundraiser. I saved it because of the auction centerpieces. What in the devil IS it? Can anyone tell me? (For you centerpiece lovers, see the related posts at the bottom of this page to read other posts on auction centerpieces.) I can't quite make out the details. It appears the centerpiece had some sort of skyscraper "skyscape" theme, perhaps representing the location ... Read On >
Five places to cut costs in your auction fundraiser. (Spend money wisely to make money.)
How many times have we heard that adage that you must spend money to make money? SuccessfulMeetings.com posted an article last week, "Business Travel Study: Companies That Spend More, Make More." The study was funded by the National Business Travel Association and found that for every $1 spent on business travel, over $15 could be earned. The report examined ten years of data, and cautioned that under-spending on travel during a recession could cause companies to lose out on profit. "Find ... Read On >