One of my clients is scrambling as she looks at new charity auction venues. Last year, she booked a restaurant for her nonprofit’s December luncheon fundraiser. Two weeks ago the restaurant called her, mortified. Due to a glitch in their new scheduling system, they inadvertently double-booked the space. Her group is no longer able to use the venue. My client is now trying to find a new location. She's also researching the implications and penalties which will affect her organization if she ... Read On >
Venues
Woolly Mammoth Theatre as an auction venue
In a search for some new Washington DC auction venues, last TuesdayI headed into the District to check out the open house offered by Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. I've been to Woolly Mammoth before, but under different pretenses. As recently as six months ago I was in that same space, but I was attending as a patron of the arts. I hadn't paid attention to critiquing the space as a potential venue for an auction because - like any good theater-lover - I was focused on the production itself ... Read On >
Tempting offers from charity auction venues still found
Last April I wrote about one positive point of a down economy: discounted charity auction venues. Given the number of charity auctions which are held in hotel ballrooms and unusual venues, a falling price point for rental space is attractive for many groups. Some venues are still aggressively competing on price. Vibrant Table Catering & Events in Portland, OR recently sent out a tweet (below) Hey Non-Profits The Treasury Ballroom waives rental for midweek events. Great for your spring ... Read On >
Unusual fundraising auction venue – Airplane hangars
One of the stories in the August 2009 issue of Small Market Meetings was "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Transportation Museums are on a Roll." The article discussed the many types of events held in transportation museums. I haven't conducted a gala in a transportation museum yet, but I have experience conducting auctions in transportation facilities. This article covers a school auction held in an executive airplane hangar. An unusual fundraising auction venue can make a guest do a ... Read On >
FREE teleclass: How to negotiate your charity auction venue contract
UPDATE: This class has passed. To keep abreast of future calls, subscribe to Benefit Auction Ideas. ++++++ I wish someone had offered this class when I was a full-time event planner. Many nonprofits and some schools hold their charity auctions at outside venues ... most of which will require the group to sign a contract. But if you don't regularly work with contracts, they can be overwhelming. Not every organization can afford to have an attorney on staff to negotiate those written tomes, ... Read On >