The i.am.angel foundation is the brainchild of will.i.am, an American musician, rapper, record producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. The i.am.angel foundation administers charitable activities and programs targeted towards providing college scholarships, college preparation, and opportunities in STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics). I was asked to run the fund-a-need in 2016, but I was giving birth. So, I was excited to work with the foundation in 2017.
Let’s address the challenges and then we’ll move to the successfulness of the event. As a professional charity auctioneer, I think about all of the details of an event to ensure flow and the maximum amount of donations raised. This event was connected enough to secure a visit from Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. However, Mayor Garcetti spoke before the fundraising portion of the night. While attendees were focused on photo ops with the Mayor, they were not focused on the auction. As an improvement, I suggest having most aspects of your fundraising before your keynote speaker. This keeps guest engaged through the fundraising and speaking parts of the program.
Despite the challenge, the event was not only lovely, but also successful. Held at Milk Studios in Los Angeles the College Track preparedness program brought in over 400 people with five desirable auction items. I was able to bring in $55,000 for one of the five auction items, exceeding the expectations of the client and contributing to the largest fund-a-need in their history.
Every event faces challenges. What’s important is making the effort to plan for any unforeseen complications and then rising to the challenges. Having the right professionals on your team from the beginning will help you evade these hiccups but will also help you succeed despite those hiccups.
For more Fundraising Charity Auction ideas and helpful tips on planning your next charity fundraiser, follow Generosity Auctions on Facebook or Instagram @GenerosityAuctions. Abra Annes is the leading Charity Auctioneer based in California. Abra is the owner and founder of Generosity Auctions, the premier choice for Non-Profit Organizations looking to maximize their event fundraising.