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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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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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.