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5 Easy Fundraising Ideas for your Nonprofit Event

7/24/2017

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Number 5 - Raffle
Raffles are a fun and easy way to increase the fundraising at your next charity fundraising event. Entice your donors to participate with a multi-tiered ticket pricing. Consider selling one ticket for $25, three for $50  and 10 tickets for $100. Everyone loves a good deals, so entice your donors with a deal they can’t refuse. This will incentivize your donors to purchase the higher dollar amount in order to increase their chances of winning.

Number 4 - Silent Auction
Hosting a silent auction is a tried and true way to raise money. This is an easy and familiar way to raise money that works well if you have compelling silent auction items. Freshen up your Silent Auction with Mobile Bidding or phenomenal Buy-In Parties.  

Number 3 - Sponsorships
Sponsorships are a unique and fun way to offset the cost of your fundraiser. The hot trend for 2017 and into 2018 will be specific event item sponsorships. Instead of having platinum, gold, and silver sponsorship levels, ask a company/person to sponsor the centerpieces, bar, or dessert, entertainment, even your charity auctioneer. The sponsorships can be branded to increase visibility for companies and individuals.

Number 2 - Live Auction
Live auctions consistently bring in a high return on your investment. Live auctions don’t require a ton of work. Really, all you need are 5 - 8 phenomenal items that will sell at a high dollar amount to reach your fundraising goals. Make sure that all your items are donated so that you can maximize your bottom line. Once you have your Live Auction line-up, promote, promote, promote so that your guests known what is coming up for auction the night of your event.

Number 1 - Fund-A-Need
A fund-a-need has a lot of names. It be called a special appeal, cash call, fund-a-need auction,  call to action, paddle raise, etc. Whatever you call it, a fund-a-need is a great opportunity to encourage participation from everyone who attends and everyone has an opportunity to donate at multiple levels. It is hands down the best way to fundraise at an event.

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.
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Board Engagement - 4 Ideas for Board Members At Fundraising Event

7/20/2017

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Your board is a powerful tool, but you may not be engaging at your charity fundraising event. While board members may want to socialize with each other and their guests, they should have expectations of specific roles and responsibilities both during the night of and after the event. Here are 4 ideas for Board Members that not only get phenomenal results, but are easy asks that board members will enjoy undertaking.

  1. During the dinner break or a break in the program, ask board members to leave their table and visit with guests at another table. The board member should then introduce herself to everyone at the new table and personally thank them for coming. If you have more tables than board members, assign board members 2-3 tables each. This personalized introduction makes new guests feel welcome, existing guests feel special, and makes all feel important and valued.
  2. If you board hosts or purchases tables, ask your board members to write a personalized note to all guests at their table. The note doesn’t have to be long but it should thank the person for attending and let them know why the organization is special to them. Customarily, board members will purchase a table for your fundraising gala and invite their friends and neighbors to join their table. These notes will be easy to write and makes each guest feel special and compelled to support financially when the time comes.
  3. Create a target list of donors in attendance who have a capacity to give. Assign board members the task of  connecting with/talking to 1-2 of these donors during the cocktail hour. This should be a natural introduction & conversation and not an interrogation. Ask the board member to introduce themselves, welcome the potential donor and get to know them a little better. Ask them where they work, why they’re at the event, and other general donor cultivation details. The board member should report their findings at the post event debrief.
  4. Make sure you ask your board to follow up with everyone who was at your event and offer a personal thank you. They should thank the target donor with which they spoke, the guests at their own table and the guests at the tables they visited.

Using your board effectively at your next fundraising charity event will help build relations among your donors and raise money.

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.

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How to Run a Successful Silent Auction - Create a Project Plan

7/17/2017

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After several years of successfully raising money for organizations on both coasts, I have been asked repeatedly by organizations what steps they should take to have a successful silent auction fundraiser. Although Silent Auctions are trending down, many organizations still have very successful silent auctions. I’ve taken the time to put together a comprehensive workbook of all things Silent Auctions. Click here to sign up for the list it so you will be the first to know when it goes on sale this fall. For the next few weeks, I will be highlighting areas of the guide to give you additional information to make your next fundraising charity event successful.
 
Creating a project plan is probably the most important, and first step you should take if you want to run a successful silent auction. Your project plan will make sure that you know everything that needs to be done for the fundraiser and identifies your goals in advance. The project plan should include a few elements including the project objective, A/V requirements, facility preparations, volunteers, logistics, transportation, setup, checkout, thanks yous, solicitation, and communication. For more information on each element, purchase the complete guide by clicking here. Below, I will outline three elements: project objective, facility preps, solicitation.
 
Project Objective
The purpose of the project objective is to identify the objective and goals of your silent auction within project plans. Your project objective should include how many items you’d like to procure, how much money you need to raise and the average retail value for each item donated in order to reach your goal. When creating a project objective I like to use an excel sheet that includes information like the names of volunteers, the staff or committee member who is the lead on each objective, due dates, and milestone check-ins.
 
Solicitation
The solicitation portion of your project plan will probably be the longest. It should include a list of businesses to solicit, a tracking sheet, dream silent auction wish list and solicitation letters. You’ll need at least  two versions of your solicitation letter. 1) General Ask 2) Specific Ask
 
The General Ask solicitation letter is sent to your entire mailing  list and asks for recipients to donate something to the silent auction. The specific ask solicitation letter is to business and people  that you know and or have a personal connection with.  For instance, if you have a personal relationship with the owner of your local ice cream shop, specifically ask her to donate an ice cream party as a silent auction item.
 
One of the most important parts of the solicitation section of your project plan is a shared document that allows all volunteers/committee members to keep track of the auction items you have secured, the ones you didn’t secure, the description of the time, the business that donated, the fair market value of the item, and the date of follow up with the business after the fundraiser.
 
Facility Preparation
Define the facility needs for your event. Will you need to rent tables and chairs separately?  If so, who is in charge of ensuring this gets done. Will you need easels to display auction item descriptions? What type of audio video equipment will you need? Complete a walkthrough of the event space to determine what the facility will provide and what your organization will need to provide. Ask about  microphones, podiums, placement of electric outlets, etc.
 
If this project plans sounds intimidating - take a deep breath. You are not alone. There are many details that should be included on your project plan and with your committee’s help you won’t miss a single one.  If this still sounds intimidating and you’d like to purchase a copy of our project plan for $4.99 click here.
 
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.
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How to Run a Successful Silent Auction - Complete Step by Step Guide

7/13/2017

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After several years of successfully raising money for organizations on both coasts, I have been asked repeatedly by organizations what steps they should take to have a successful silent auction fundraiser. I’ve taken the time to put together a comprehensive workbook of all things Silent Auctions that you can purchase here. For the next few weeks, I will be highlighting areas of the guide to give you additional information to make your next fundraising charity event successful.
 
Step 1 - Start Early
You can’t hold a successful fundraiser if you start your planning three months in advance. I suggest you begin planning between six and nine months before the event. An early start is important because there are a lot of components that go into planning a successful event. Here are some of the things you should consider when you start your planning:
 
  • Think about what auction items you have access to. Create a wishlist of unique items that could be donated.
  • Build your solicitation tracking sheet to keep track of everyone you have asked to donate and what they have donated.
  • Write three to four versions of your solicitation thank you letters. You should have a thank you letter for the donated item, a thank you letter after the auction letting the business know how much the item sold for with pictures from the event.
  • Find your favorite computer software to keep track of all of your donations.
  • Create a Project Plan. A project plan is very important so that you can be prepared and have a professional and successful fundraiser.
 
In the next installment, I will talk about what elements are important to include in your project plan.
 
To purchase the complete guide, click here.
 
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.
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9 Ways Nonprofits can engage Millennials in Philanthropy {Infographic}

7/11/2017

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Millennials are an interesting group. They have disrupted huge industries, created new and useful technology and think differently that most of the previous generations. They also tend to get a bad rap around the world of philanthropy and nonprofits. But multiple studies show that Millennials DO care and want to be engaged and involved in causes that they care about AND causes that understand how they work.

As a Millennial myself (I'm the oldest possible Millennial) I bridge the gap between previous generations and the current. I have lots of traits and habits that are quintessential millennial and a few that are not. I always encourage my clients to start thinking about engaging Millennials NOW! I've created this easy and simple infographic with 9 simple and easy ways for your nonprofit to start engaging Millennials and next generation donors today.

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Nonprofit Lessons from Elvis

7/10/2017

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Music is a very important part of my life. As a charity fundraising auctioneer, I have had the ability to interact with musical artists like Snoop Dogg, will.I.am, and Janelle Monae. One of my favorite artist of all time is Elvis Presley! I grew up in a musical home where the radio station was always playing Oldies. I was instantly drawn to the style, coolness and silky voice of Elvis. My love of Elvis grew even stronger after I visited Graceland and learned about the legend and tour his property. And, to let you know how much I really, really, love Elvis, I even had an Elvis impersonator at my wedding!
 
After listening to all of his songs, I began to see a connection between the lyrics and how they can be applied to the world of nonprofit fundraising. We’re starting this series with Elvis Presley, but check back periodically as I post lyrical lessons I’ve learned from other artists I like.
 
Walk a Mile in My Shoes
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The chorus of this song goes like this:

 
Walk a mile in my shoes
Walk a mile in my shoes
Yeah, before you abuse, criticize, and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes


​In the nonprofit world, it’s easy to judge your donors or clients. Even though the nonprofit space is supposed to be more empathetic than other industries, judgment does exist. Your development director may judge the actions of donors and how much they do (or do not) contribute without knowing what’s currently going on in their lives. Whatever your position is at your nonprofit, whether you’re the Executive Director, the Volunteer Coordinator, or the Development Director, play this song when you begin to feel judgy and think about what it feels like to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.


​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.
 

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