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Seven Skills All Genius Fundraisers Must Master

6/28/2019

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Unfortunately, the nonprofit world is filled with a lot of mediocre fundraisers.

Fundraising is a skill. It takes time and practice to develop the skills necessary to be successful in this industry.


Over my years working with hundreds of nonprofit fundraisers, I have found that many development professionals have no clue what they are doing. They have had little to no training, and have had to navigate the world of fundraising on their own. To make it worse, the nonprofit  industry historically has very low standards, because nonprofits are just happy that someone is doing the job for the measly salaries they can offer.


But all is not lost! You can learn the skills necessary to become an amazing nonprofit fundraiser, all you have to do is put in the time.


Here’s a look at the seven skills you must master if you want to become a genius fundraiser.  


1. Follow-Through.
It’s surprising how many people ruin their chances of success by not following through on their promises. This is such a simple, but so so important, aspect of this job. You simply must do what you say you are going to do. People donate to those they know and trust. Not following through on your promises is a great way to lose trust.


2. Know your community.
Get out there and interact with the community as much as possible. Go to the farmer’s market, attend the yearly tree lighting, patronize local businesses. People donate to people, not to organizations. You must make yourself available and approachable.


Start laying the groundwork to build the relationships that ultimately end in a gift for your nonprofit. Say you live in a small town and all your donors go to the grocery store at 5pm on Fridays. You should also be “grocery shopping” for two hours on Fridays so you can mingle and network with the residents of your town.


3. Give good phone.
Be happy and upbeat. Be somebody people want to talk to when they can’t see your face. Be personable, but get to the point. Your donor’s time is valuable; aim for short and sweet whenever possible.


Remember: People donate to people, not organizations. This business is about people and relationships.


4. Love rejection.
As a fundraiser you will hear “no” often. Learn to love rejection. I always think of a “no” as “not right now.” There’s always a few months from now! If you still hate hearing the word “no,” learn to persevere through it.


Keep pushing forward and honing your skills. Donors can say no for any number of reasons, very few of which have anything to do with you.


5. Ask the right questions.
When speaking with a donor about their gift, involvement, or lack thereof, your questions should ALWAYS be open-ended and philanthropy-focused.


Ask questions that get your donors talking about their philanthropic goals.
This is particularly important when working with major donors who likely have larger goals they are trying to achieve with their philanthropy, but it is helpful with donors of all levels. Once you know what they are trying to achieve, you can present opportunities with the organization that align with your donor’s goal.


6. Set parameters.
This is as true in fundraising as it is in any field. Focus on your job. Development professionals can end up spending the majority of their time planning events or focusing on board meetings or leadership development. If you are a fundraiser everything you do should be focused on donor cultivation and raising money.


7. Fundraise every day.
Fundraising should be part of every single day. That’s right. Each and every day presents opportunities for donor cultivation and fundraising and fundraising strategies. We all know that development is not a 9 to 5 job. Use every opportunity presented to you to cultivate existing donors, meet new donors, and close gifts. You never know when the next major donor is going to walk in the door.


Each and every one of these skills can be learned and honed over time. With time, energy, and practice you will become an in-demand fundraiser. But don’t expect it to happen overnight. Have patience with yourself as you learn each of these new skills and before you know it you’ll be leading the way in the fundraising world.

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Improve Your Nonprofit’s Office Culture in Thirty Minutes a Day

6/24/2019

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Too little time.

Too much to do.


Too little pay.


Long hours.


A frustrating board member.


A rejected grant proposal.


Sounds like a normal stressful day at any nonprofit across the county. No wonder many nonprofit employees vent and complain to anyone who will listen.


This situation is really indicative of an unhealthy work culture.


I experienced this first hand when I worked for a large nonprofit. The toxic, negative work environment seeped into my life outside of work hours. I would come home and talk to my boyfriend for hours about how frustrated/mad/upset/stressed/angry I was on a daily basis. It got to the point where he said, “You need to quit. I can’t listen to you talk about this for another minute.”  


It didn’t have to be that way at my prior nonprofit and it doesn’t have to be that way at yours.


Here are ten easy, simple, and often free fixes to improve your nonprofit’s office culture in just thirty minutes a day.

1. Communal Coffee Breaks. When caffeine calls, workers typically leave their desks in groups of no more than two or three. Why not schedule a daily coffee break for everyone in the office instead? This gives everyone an opportunity to power through their morning projects before taking a break to chat.

Make it a fun, celebratory time of day when everyone talks and stretches their legs for fifteen minutes before going back to their desks. Consider setting expectations of time duration so that everyone knows how long the break lasts. Encourage everyone to attend and you’ll find your staff looks forward to this as part of the day.


2. Walk a Mile In Their Shoes.
Schedule thirty minutes a week for members of different departments to sit together. For example, a member of your fundraising team and a member of your program team spend thirty minutes together. During this time they start to learn about each other’s days and the importance of their work to the organization. Every staff member at your organization should spend time learning about the other parts that make your organization whole.


The Executive Director or CEO should do the same thing with a member from each department. This keeps them up to date with what’s happening in every corner of the organization and prevents them from becoming disconnected from the day-to-day work that makes the organization run.


3. Set Email Limits.
One of the largest stressors in any office is email. Piles and piles of it. What about setting an office email policy that sets expectations for how long employees have to respond to emails from one another. What would occur if emails were responded to within 24 or 48 hours? Would there be less email? Would your staff be more productive?


Many nonprofit employees get distracted from important projects by answering emails that don’t need an immediate response. Setting parameters for responding to emails will give your employees some breathing room and might cut down on excessive emails.


4. Free Professional Development:
Investing in your employee’s professional development not only shows that they are appreciated, but gives them the skills to do their job better. Consider getting the entire office together and listening to or watching a fundraising podcast or webinar over lunch. Breaking up the monotony of the workday with a new activity that is still work-related can help renew focus and spark conversation.


5. Weekly Feedback:
When was the last time you asked for feedback from your team?


Most nonprofits only ask employees to submit feedback once a year, if at all. If you want to be able to accurately track how your employees are feeling about your organization, consider sending out a weekly survey. It should be short (ten questions or less) asking each employee about their accomplishments, workflow, how they felt about their projects, and how they are feeling about the office. Create one survey and automate it to send weekly. Now you’ll have data points from 52 weeks to evaluate office culture rather than a yearly check in. Weekly information also allows you to address staff concerns as they come up rather than letting them fester for a year.


6. Appreciation:
You can never show your team too much appreciation. Make staff appreciation a daily habit.


A recent study from the O.C. Tanner Learning Group
states that 79% of people leave their jobs because they feel unappreciated. And since nonprofits typically can’t pay high salaries, you better smother them with appreciation. Make your appreciation sincere and heartfelt. Leave a note on their desk, wash all the dishes in the break room, or praise your employees publicly at a meeting.


7. YES!!!!:
Practice saying yes whenever feasible. Let your team explore and try new ideas. Some will fail and that’s okay. This practice will lead to a culture of experimentation and growth, and eventually you’ll land on something awesome.


8. Organize.
Whether you use Google Drive, Dropbox, Box or some other file sharing system, keep it organized. Nothing is more frustrating than being unable to find documents, reports and information when you need it. Make it a habit to spend thirty minutes a week cleaning up your drive so that it is nice and organized.


9. Early dismissal:
Every once in awhile surprise your team by letting everyone leave thirty minutes early. This is an easy and simple way to show that you appreciate employees and want them to enjoy their lives outside of the office.


10. Chore Charts.
It sounds like kindergarten, but everyone gets annoyed when the coffee machine runs out or the garbage isn’t emptied. Keep things fair and organized from the beginning to prevent future animosity with an office chore chart that rotates on a weekly basis.
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Nonprofit Caucusing: The Easiest Way to Get Your Board Members to Give!

6/21/2019

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In my previous life I was a Development Director for two large nonprofits. I ran board meetings, solicited donors, and created fundraising campaigns. I even had a board who closed their gifts early and all on the say day. How, you might ask? Through a caucus.

A caucus?


Yup. 

A caucus.

I’ve brought up this strategy with many of my clients and they all look at me like I’m crazy.


I assumed, incorrectly that most fundraising professionals know what a caucus is. I was wrong.


If you are struggling to close board or committee gifts, holding a caucus might be the strategy you need to not only lock in donations, but to bring your board or committee members closer together.


What is a Caucus?


A caucus is a group of people meeting to advance a shared cause. This term is most often used in relation to politics - but it also applies to nonprofits.


How Does it Work?


Along with the rest of your executive team, dedicate one entire board meeting to caucusing. Divide up into small groups of three or four people. Do not let people choose their own group. Instead, put people together based on their interests, passion, and giving capacity.


Instruct everyone to open up and talk about why they are involved with your organization, why they are passionate about your cause, and what in their life led them to your organization. Lastly, ask people to share either how much they are going to donate or how much they are going to increase their gift/donation for the year.


If this is your board’s first time caucusing together, it may be helpful to have a list of questions to help guide your groups in their discussion.  


The “why” is the most important part of the caucus because
it is so easy to lose focus on why we’ve chosen to give to specific organizations. Vocalizing this choice helps people remember why they got involved with the organization and it can reinvigorate board members who were losing their emotional investment in the organization.


Sometimes there’s even a bit of friendly peer pressure in this situation. If one member is only giving $200 and everyone else is giving $1000, that person may be inspired to increase their gift.


Caucusing is a unique and fascinating way to fundraise because of the personal nature of the discussions that arise. These discussions will often form the basis of new friendships and deepen the bond between board members. Best of all, you can close everyone’s gift in just about two or three hours. Talk about expedient!


The idea of caucusing and talking about giving can make some people very uncomfortable. Reassure your board/committee that this will be a positive process. By the end of the caucus the skeptics are usually won over and are often the biggest proponents of caucusing.


I recommend trying a caucus with your board this year. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how well it works and how good your board members feel about your nonprofit afterward.

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Keeping Your Committee Happy

6/17/2019

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There’s no doubt about it, committee meetings can be a chore. Even the most well-run committees can fall victim to the same issues that plague work meetings in general—hello, meetings that could have been emails.

Sometimes you just can’t get around holding a meeting.

For those times, there are small things you can do help keep your committee happy.
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  1. Start positive. Start every meeting with a show of gratitude. Thank your committee members for the valuable time and energy they give to your organization. Be sincere.
  2. Feed their minds & stomachs. Always have food and drink available at each meeting. If your meeting is in the morning, provide bagels or donuts and hot beverages. If your meeting is in the afternoon or evening provide savory and sweet snacks. It doesn’t have to be much, it just has to be something. Nobody does their best work hungry. If you want your board members to do their best work, give them food to feed their brain.
  3. Use name tags. Name tags and table tents are a must at every meeting. Not everyone is great with names and it can be difficult to remember the names of fellow committee members with a few weeks between meetings. Name tags are especially important if your committee sees a lot of turnover. Placing table tents with names in front of each attending member helps other people know who is speaking, especially if your committee is on the larger side. Everyone wins with name tags.
  4. Break into small groups. If the discussion is getting lively and there isn’t enough time to hear all options/ideas, consider breaking your committee into three or more smaller groups. Each group can discuss their ideas in a deeper and more efficient way. Task each group to come to a consensus before returning to the main group. Once back together, have each group share their findings/opinions about the matter. It’s much easier to have debate and come to a group decision when you’re debating three options instead of thirty. Bonus: Your committee members will feel more engaged with the process.
  5. Location, Location. Location. Do you hold your meetings in the same windowless board room? Do you have trouble getting the attendance you would like at committee meetings? Consider switching up the location of your meetings. Holding meetings in the same room gets boring. Find new and exciting locations that are appealing to your committee members. Try museums, board member offices, wineries, private dining rooms at local restaurants.
  6. Virtual meetings. What happens when one of your members misses a meeting? Do you, like most nonprofits, send an email containing a multi-page document of notes and then hope the person reads them? If your answer is yes, consider allowing virtual attendance at some meetings. We’re all so busy day-to-day, help everyone make it to your meeting easily by allowing them to attend virtually if that it what best fits their schedule. Blue Jeans, Zoom, Google Hangouts, and Skype make it easy for those who are not in physical attendance to be there via the internet.
  7. Make your meetings interactive. No one wants to listen to a lecture. Encourage all committee members to participate in the conversation. When people feel like their contribution is valued, they are more likely to show up and take it seriously.

We all know that feeling valued by an organization leads to higher productivity levels. Do the work necessary to show your committee members that they matter to your organization and that the work they do is important. In return, they will show up and give their all for your cause.
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Is Email Killing Your Daily Productivity?

6/14/2019

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If you are like most of the nonprofit employees I know, you have an inbox with hundreds of emails in it waiting to be read at any time. Most of those emails will not help you accomplish your goals on a daily basis and yet you spend hours and hours clearing your inbox.

This used to happen to me too. When I worked at a nonprofit, I spent all day answering emails. Days would go by where I got nothing done except for clearing my inbox.


When I started
Generosity Auctions, I quickly discovered I was spending 90% of my day on the phone. This meant that I could only address emails first thing in the morning or at the end of the day while I’m on the couch watching TV. This accidental email model has worked so well for me that I started recommending it to clients and they have also reported a sense of freedom after being untethered from their email accounts.


Here’s what I’d like to suggest:


Carve out two blocks of time during your work day for answering emails; an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening.


The hour in the morning is before you even get to work, I’m talking while you are getting ready or on the train. Scan your email and respond to only the most important emails. Everything else waits until the end of the day. This way when you get into work you can focus on the projects and tasks that move your nonprofit forward.


At the end of the day, your second hour is used to respond to all other emails. You’ll be able to weed out the emails that got resolved during the course of your day, and hopefully tackle the others during that hour.


Any emails that aren’t addressed by the end of your evening email hour get saved for the following day.


Try it for two weeks and let me know what you think.


Caveat: If you are a small nonprofit with two employees or less this model probably will not work for you. You simply do not have the manpower to let the issues resolve themselves over the course of the day. However, I would still set limits for your email time so that you can accomplish your bigger goals such as prospecting donors and writing grants.

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Fat Databases and Slim Bank Accounts: Are Honorees to Blame?

6/10/2019

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We’ve all seen it.

A bigwig in your community is called up to the stage to receive an award at a fundraising event or gala. They speak for a few minutes and then head back into the audience. Their wealthy friends cheer and slap them on the back.


Is this a fundraising strategy?


For some nonprofit organizations, it is.


For many nonprofits having an honoree at the annual gala is a tradition; a tried and true method of fundraising at special events.


If your nonprofit hasn’t yet boarded the guest of honor train, take an extra minute at the station and make sure this is something you really want to commit to. Because once you get on this train, it is almost impossible to get off. Know what your nonprofit is getting into before starting down this path.


Most nonprofits choose a well-connected, well-known, wealthy individual as their honoree. This is because they believe the honoree will invite their network to watch them receive the award at your event. The hope is that this group will make a large token donation in support of your organization and in honor of their friend who is receiving the recognition.


Most nonprofits choose to have an honoree because they believe the following formula is true:


    Wealthy person + giving them award = wealthy person invites all their friends to see them receive reward
∴ Your organization reaches fundraising goal due to large donations from honoree and all their wealthy friends

This formula is not always true. In fact, this formula is often false.

We know that the best way to fundraise, especially for major gifts, is true donor cultivation. Unless your honoree and their network have already been cultivated as donors
there is a high likelihood that they will not turn into long-term, major gift donors.


Instead, you may get a donation once, when they are being honored. Typically, unless properly cultivated and connected to your organization, honorees and their network will not attend your nonprofit special event again. And why should they? They received the award from your organization, they impressed their friends, and now they’re done.


This fundraising method is great for a quick infusion of cash, but it is not sustainable over the long-term.


However, if your nonprofit has found that the honoree method DOES work for you, following the tips below will ensure your continued success when honoring a member of your community.


Securing an Honoree

If the date of your annual gala is already set, start by making a list of four or five people in your community that you could honor at this event. It is best if these people are already connected to your nonprofit, but it is not an absolute necessity. A list of four or five potential honorees is key because it increases your chances of finding an honoree who is available on the date of your event.


If the date for your annual gala is not set and you have an honoree in mind, you should set the date of your gala around their schedule. This often means having a fundraising event on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Sunday because your honoree is so busy.


When soliciting guests of honor it’s important to have a game plan. You can’t just call the person up and expect them to say yes, especially if they have never heard of your organization before.


Networking is key.
Introduce yourself to other people around your target honoree and work on educating them about your nonprofit’s work in the community. If one of your board members already has a connection to the honoree, ask them to reach out on behalf of the organization.


Have a reason for honoring the person. Don’t just pick a random wealthy person from your community in an attempt to secure a large donation. Learn about the prominent members of your community, the work they do, and their other philanthropic interests. Reach out to potential honorees that make sense for your nonprofit mission.  


What to Do When They Say Yes

When they say yes, it’s best to put all your cards on the table. Set your expectations up front.


Explain what being honored means, what you expect them to do before the event, and what you need from them during the event. If you don’t lay out your expectations in advance you can easily end up in a situation where both parties are disappointed after the event.


Some common expectations are:

  • Sponsoring the event and/or purchasing a table
  • Encouraging their high net worth friends to attend
  • Publicizing the event through their social media accounts
  • Donating and/or purchasing live auction items
  • Giving a speech
  • Sitting on the host committee.

Honoree Best Practices
  • Put your honoree’s name, picture, and a short bio on the invitation.
  • Have them write personalized notes on the invitations for their close friends and connections.
  • Consider creating a video about them and the work they have done to receive the award.
  • Ask them to arrive early so you can take pictures without distractions.
  • Decorate their table differently than the rest of the tables at your event. Consider a different color table cloth or a different, slightly larger centerpiece. Anything to make it stand out. Additionally, your honoree should have the best table, typically closest to the stage or podium. Make it obvious to others which table your honoree is sitting at and go out of your way to make sure they are comfortable.
  • Follow up with them after the event. Make sure they were happy and get their honest feedback. You need to know what did and did not work so that you can adjust your process going forward.

​In my opinion, it is better to spend your time cultivating major donors that know and care about your organization than researching and working with new honorees every year and hoping they donate to your organization.

I personally like honorees who are actually involved in the nonprofit organization; someone who gives their time and money every year. These are the people that really make a difference for your organization and truly deserve to be honored. But I also believe it’s better to receive $5K from a valued long-time donor and all his friends each and every year than to receive a one-time donation of $25,000 from an honoree that is not connected to you.

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Your Nonprofit Needs to be on Facebook Live

6/7/2019

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Facebook Live is an amazing free resource that you are probably missing out on. This service allows you to stream video and interact with your viewers through your Facebook page or profile. It’s the best donor engagement tool you’re not using.  

If you are nervous about incorporating video as part of your nonprofit’s outreach efforts, consider that up to 78% of people watch videos online each week,
according to Hubspot.


With that percentage in mind, it seems silly to disregard the community engagement possible through Facebook Live.


If your nonprofit doesn’t have a Facebook page, why not?! Dedicate some time in the upcoming weeks to get one set up.


When your nonprofit is ready to take Facebook Live for a spin, set a standing time each week to stream for a short bit. Have a different member of your team run the stream each week and give people a look at your nonprofit from the inside.


Facebook Live is great for:

  • Sharing information and updates about your nonprofit
  • Responding to any relevant news pertaining to your industry
  • Sharing a story about a recent success
  • Answering questions from the community
  • Keeping your followers updated on your nonprofit’s fundraising goals
  • Sharing any information that you would have sent out in an email
  • Interviewing incoming/outgoing board chairs
  • Crowdsourcing ideas and solutions from the community
  • Interviewing a recipient who has benefited from your organization

The potential is limitless.

One use for a Facebook Live stream that I just love is as an alternative to sending out a weekly newsletter. No one reads newsletters - not even you, if we’re being honest.  


Unless your nonprofit has over a 10% open rate on your email newsletters, please do everyone a favor and stop sending them out. Use Facebook Live instead!


Once the live video has concluded, Facebook automatically posts the entire video to your page. The video will be available on your nonprofit’s Facebook page forever so people can watch and participate in the conversation whenever they want.

According to TechCrunch, people watch 100 million hours of video on Facebook every single day. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to engage with your community and donors using this fantastic tool.
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Hiring a Charity Auctioneer: Ten Questions Nonprofits Should Ask

6/3/2019

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Looking for a charity auctioneer can be overwhelming. Of course, you want your nonprofit event to be a success, so it can feel like a lot is riding on this decision. If you have never hired a charity auctioneer, or are looking to form a relationship with a new one, here is some advice to get you started.

To the Internet!

Start with
Google. Unless you know someone who can recommend an amazing charity auctioneer, the best place to start looking is on the internet. Use keywords like “charity auctioneer” or “Fund-A-Need auction” to get you started.


I also recommend looking at YouTube. Many charity auctioneers have videos out there. This is a great way to find auctioneers to interview and to see them in action.

If you want a more thorough search, head over to the National Auctioneers Association website where you can take a look at every registered auctioneer in the country.

And, of course, there’s always Yelp, which will give you a picture of who is available locally.

Interviewing an Auctioneer

Once you have found a charity auctioneer or two that you want to interview, you’re going to need some questions. Lucky for you, I have a list of ten important questions to ask any charity auctioneer before you commit to working together.


1. What do you know about our organization?
Any charity auctioneer you hire should have gone online and learned a little bit about you before your first meeting. This shows you that they are committed to the relationship and are willing to take the time necessary to make your event a success. If they didn’t take the time to visit your website before chatting with you, ask yourself if they are the type of person you want to work with for the next six months.

You did your homework, they should do theirs. If the conversation begins with the charity auctioneer asking you to explain what your nonprofit does, consider that a major red flag.

2. Are you BAS certified?
The Benefit Auctioneer Specialist (BAS) certification means the person trained with the National Auctioneers Association. To receive this certification they must do at least six benefit auctions and write a detailed case study on one of those auctions. Only 150 auctioneers around the country have this certification.

3. How many auctions do you do a year?
You will want to know if they are working regularly. Is this a full-time or part-time gig for them? A charity auctioneer who works infrequently may show up a bit rusty on the day of your big event.

4. What differentiates you from other auctioneers?
Every charity auctioneer should be able to tell you what makes them different from all the other charity auctioneers out there. They should also be able to make a case for why you should hire them.

5. Do you have any recent videos I can watch?
Most auctioneers have videos of themselves in action. If they don’t have videos you can watch how are you going to know how they perform on the day? You want to pick an auctioneer with a vibe and style that resonates with you and your audience. The best way to do this is to see them in action.

Be sure to ask for recent videos. If your auctioneer does not have any recent videos and only offers footage from an event over three years ago, consider attending one of their upcoming events to see them in action.

6. Do you have any experience with mobile bidding technology?
Technology is exploding across the fundraising world. If you are planning to utilize any technology, mobile bidding or otherwise, at your event make sure your charity auctioneer has experience with that technology, especially if you are using that technology for the first time. You don’t want to wind up in a situation where both you and your charity auctioneer are learning the technology simultaneously.

Need help figuring out if mobile bidding technology is right for you? Check out my recent article, “Is Mobile Bidding Technology Right for Your Next Nonprofit Fundraising Event?”

7. How much do you charge?
There are five standard ways that charity auctioneers typically structure their fees:

  • Flat Fee: One price, generally all-inclusive. Always ask if the price is all-inclusive. This pricing model guarantees there are no surprises or hidden charges for your nonprofit organization.
  • Base + Commission: They charge a flat rate plus a percentage of what they raise for you at the event. For example, if you raise $150,000, the auctioneer will take anywhere from 5-20% of the money raised. When using a base+commission model, set a ceiling for the commission portion so that you don’t go over your budget.
  • Straight Commission: Auctioneers do the work for free, but they take a larger chunk of the money they raise you on the day.
  • Flat Fee + Bonus: You pay a flat fee plus a bonus, or multiple bonuses, for hitting certain fundraising targets and goals.
  • Hidden Fees or Extras: Some auctioneers have your nonprofit pay for bid spotters. Some require you to cover their meals or hotel room. Some require you pay for their parking. Factor in any of these extra charges that your auctioneer requires.

8. Do you consult before hand?

Consulting is one of the main benefits you get from working with a seasoned, professional charity auctioneer. They can advise you on your timeline, auction items, and trends. This advice can be invaluable. Some charity auctioneers arrive on the day of your event, grab a program, and bid call from stage.

Other charity auctioneers include consulting services or charge extra for the service. Find out which way your charity auctioneer works. If they offer consultations, they may give you unlimited access or an allotted number of meetings or hours on the phone.

9. Are you going to be the auctioneer?

Many firms have a number of auctioneers working for them, which means you may get a different charity auctioneer on the day. You should know who will be consulting and who will be doing the event.

10. Do you have any questions about us, our organization, or our event?

Similar to getting into any relationship, you need to figure out if your auctioneer is as in to you as you are to them. Are they excited to work with your organization? Do they have any ideas for improving your event?

You will be working with your charity auctioneer for several months, you need to be sure that you get along and are on the same page. Their answer to this question will also show you whether or not they have done research on your organization. Both parties should be interested in working with each other.

​Asking these questions, and any others you can think of, will help you make an informed decision when it comes time to hire a charity auctioneer for your next nonprofit event.

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