Since 2014 when President Obama re-established relations with Cuba, the country has been a popular topic in my client meetings. And with the recent death of Fidel Castro, news about Cuba has been widely covered in the papers and on television. For this post, let's discuss Cuba through the lens of our focus on fundraising auctions. ======================== Readers want to know if it's tacky to use Cuba as a theme. Here's a question I was asked last week via Facebook. ("Like" me ... Read On >
Live Auctions
[VIDEO] When to use a theater-style layout for your fundraising auction
When time allows during the spring auction season, I create highlight videos from some of my fundraising auctions. These videos are posted on the Red Apple Auctions Facebook page but you'll only see those if you 1) use Facebook, and 2) have "liked" the Red Apple Auctions Facebook page. As not all readers are Facebookers, I thought it might be a good idea to share these on the blog too. It allows all auction planners to get ideas from some of the top notch events my clients produce. The ... Read On >
[VIDEO] Free donations to sell at school auctions, like Spirit Rock
I'm working with a lot of schools right now as this is the height of school auction season. In keeping with the season, here's an idea specifically for you school auction committees. I'm often asked for ideas for items that a committee can procure for "free." By "free," the committee means they won't have to ask a company for a donation. It can also reference the fact that the item itself doesn't have a hard financial value associated to it. Some more common examples of free items are ... Read On >
Is your live auction “average?” (2015 by the numbers)
Two weeks ago while interviewing Lori Jacobwith about storytelling (Awesome call, by the way. Use all of her tips in planning your next Fund a Need), I asked her if there was a "right" number of stories to include in a fundraising event. Lori had a solid answer -- five. She explained what each story should do and who should tell it. (You can get details in our free call.) I commented that I often get a similar question -- "How many items should we sell in our live auction?" or "What's the ... Read On >
An attractive display for a bad live auction item: Tiffany dishes
My clients procure some excellent live auction items. Each year I whittle down my favorites and list them in my Auction Item Guide™. (Speaking of which, the current guide, What Sold Like a Dream in 2014, will vamoose December 31. Download your free copy before then.) But every so often, I have to sell an item that isn't strong by benefit auction standards. An oriental rug A trip to a luxurious resort in a dangerous country. A set of Oneida dishes. With a dining room table. This ... Read On >