Have you ever pulled together a video of your gala to use as a marketing tool for your auction the following year? If not, here's a typical example of a video you might wish to model. A couple of months ago (November 2014), one of my first-year clients was St. Marcus School, a private school in Milwaukee, WI. The school has been widely touted as a national model for inner city education. (You can read newspaper articles about the school's approach and philosophy. Most students attend ... Read On >
Marketing
My favorite #Unselfie #GivingTuesday campaign
This past #GivingTuesday, I received a number of email blasts from nonprofits. I thought this one from one of my clients, the Alexandria, VA homeless shelter Carpenter's Shelter, was the most catchy. If you're unfamiliar with pop culture and current songs, you likely wouldn't "get" this. Let me bring you up to speed. By now, you've probably heard of "selfies." It's when you take a photo of yourself, typically with your mobile phone. These photos are often used for posting on social media ... Read On >
Getting charity auction guests to register their credit cards
Anyone who has followed my trainings on how to properly conduct a benefit auction registration and checkout process knows my analogy of the hotel versus the grocery store. At your benefit auction, it's best to function like a hotel, swiping each guest's credit card before letting them enter your property (i.e. the silent auction). Operating like a hotel means that your charity auction team must use credit card terminals designed for an auction environment. Once those terminals are rented and ... Read On >
Silent auction ideas for fourth quarter auctions
One of the natural advantages of hosting a auction in the late fall (think October through December) is its proximity to Christmas. Whether you celebrate the holiday or not, December marks a big month of gift giving for many people. Why not play on that natural cycle and use it to help sell your items? Here are some tips to make the most of the season. 1. Be blatant. Don’t try to hide anything. In your marketing literature, remind people that they should be on the look-out for gifts at ... Read On >
Video: Brand your fundraiser with a consistent gala auction theme
A few years ago I worked with an American Heart Association chapter located in a less populated area. Because of their size and budget differences, they approached their gala differently than the larger chapter I worked with in Washington, D.C. To conserve money on design and printing, they collaborated with two other regional AHA chapters. All three used the same gala theme each year in their respective locations. The marketing materials, forms, and even some decorative pieces of the ... Read On >