Traveling fills my imagination with new ideas. I'm still writing about stuff I saw after last month's journey west. Before flying home after the fundraiser, I saw that the 2016 Honolulu Marathon -- the 4th largest marathon in the United States -- had a free trade show. The Hawaii Convention Center was just a short jaunt from my hotel, so I visited. Recall that I already wrote about how this trade show used a Graffiti Wall, which is an idea I've already seen used at a Florida benefit ... Read On >
Sponsorship
When I retire, I’ll move to Princeton, NJ for this. (And a lesson in thanking event sponsors)
The Princeton Senior Resource Center (PSRC) in Princeton, NJ has got it going on. This group has such a nice spirit and does so many things well, I am disappointed that my Mom doesn't live in New Jersey so she could take advantage of their senior-focused programs. I get their newsletter, read their upcoming events, and I want to sign up for all their classes. But that's not why I'm writing about PSRC today. Here's some background. In 2014, this group celebrated its 40th anniversary. To ... Read On >
Marketing *after* your benefit auction: 5 reasons to create an auction gala highlights reel
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 >
How to personalize a benefit auction catalog so guests take it home and use it
I suspect many auction planners consider their auction catalog to be a necessary evil. It might be viewed as a "must do" because allowing advertising in the piece is one of the few sponsorship benefits a company or individual receives for investing in the fundraiser. Others see it as a vehicle for sharing information about the nonprofit, describing the auction items, or even as a place to hold less interesting content, such as benefit auction rules or checkout procedures. But catalogs (or ... Read On >
VIDEO: Benefit Auction Gift Ideas for Guests
It's a rare bird who wouldn't like to leave a party with a treat, and that includes your auction guests. But gifts don't have to take the form of a traditional gift bags filled with your nonprofit literature, either. (I'd rather they not.) In this video, I share several benefit auction gift ideas I've seen at events, starting with the more traditional and mundane (think edible goodies) to the more exquisite and rare. Gifts are best when they support your mission, a ... Read On >