One of the school auctions I worked this past Saturday has always done a nice job of sticky-note marketing in their silent auction. I should clarify that "sticky-note marketing" is what I call it. I doubt it's a real marketing term. I use it to refer to the practice of putting notes onto silent auction items to remind guests of why they should buy it. The notes are simple silent auction tips, but they work! Here's why: It's similar to putting a sticky-note on a document; you're calling ... Read On >
Procurement
Nonprofit silent auction items that go up in smoke (positively)
Smoking is one of those habits many wish to break. Unless you're part of a spiritual community that bans it at your gala, hit "print" and use this article to make money on that vice. Cigars sell. You might not like smoking. You might like pipes but not cigars. You might smoke cigarettes, but hate cigar smoke. It matters not. Unless you're the big spender procuring and buying ALL of the items at your gala, check any righteous attitude you hold. Do what's best for the cause -- procure some ... Read On >
4 steps to find your 501(c)(3) number for the school auction donation letter
This question surfaces once or twice a year. Volunteers working on school auctions seem to ask me the most often. A parent tasked with getting donations for the school gala becomes concerned about whether she should be including the school's PTA tax ID number on the school auction donation letter and other relevant forms. It's easy to understand her concern. We've been warned about putting our birth date on Facebook and cautioned against using our social security number as a computer ... Read On >
Become a charity auction rock star with these just-released procurement tools
With the new year brings a return to routines. I'm attending many committee meetings and watching volunteers working hard on spring auctions. The questions I'm asked most center around charity auction procurement. And no wonder! It's one of those make-or-break areas of an auction gala. If you don’t nail it – if you can’t get the right items -- your guests won’t be bidding and you won’t be raising money. Some of the more frequent questions committees have are: Who likes to donate? Which ... Read On >
VIDEO: Where to get charity auction items
It's one of the biggest stresses of any auction committee ... where to get items. If you're involved in a first year event, the item procurement process is especially tedious. Knowing what items to get -- and WHERE to get them -- is overwhelming. To help you understand the process at a high level, here are the three primary ways to procure charity auction items. (And I'm guessing that you've never heard of #3!) (UPDATE: The Tech Teleseries mentioned in the video has passed. Stay abreast of ... Read On >