The speakers at your fundraising auction or event are the ones who promote and speak on behalf of the mission of your organization. With such an important task, your ‘Ask Speaker’, the person making the case for giving, should be well rehearsed and prepared. Here are some tips to get the most impact from your speakers.
Do Your Research Early
You’d be surprised how many organizations don’t look for a fund-a-need speaker until the last minute. Instead, they focus their time and energy on the venue, auction items, and decor and save the most important task for last. Securing your fund-a-need speaker should be one of your first tasks. Start looking for your ‘Ask Speaker’ 3-4 months before the event. Remember, finding a speaker is not always an easy task. Focus on finding the right person to represent your organization. I suggest holding an essay contest. Buy a highly coveted a prize such as an iPad, Kindle or VR goggles. Promote the contest and encourage your clients to participate. This way you will get an influx of entries and you can pick the best essay to adapt into a speech for the event. Additionally clients that you may not be familiar with may have a moving story and this allows for a wider pool of speaker selection.
Write it Down
Your fund-a-need speaker should remind your audience of two things: 1) the mission of the organization and 2) how the organization has impacted their life. Your speaker may be a client, a volunteer, a student or any person who has been personally affected by your organization. In order to extract the best story, with the most impact on your donors your ‘Ask Speaker’ should have their speech written down. Word for word, including pauses for laughter or for impact.
Stick to the Script
Because many organizations provide life-altering experiences for volunteers and clients, it is important that this testimony be scripted in order to receive maximum impact from your donors. The goal is to tell a story that highlights the mission, the impact on an individual’s life, and how the donations from the event will be used to continue to change lives. When your speaker has a written speech that addresses these particular points, you create an emotional connecting with your donors, which turns into more money raised.
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.
Do Your Research Early
You’d be surprised how many organizations don’t look for a fund-a-need speaker until the last minute. Instead, they focus their time and energy on the venue, auction items, and decor and save the most important task for last. Securing your fund-a-need speaker should be one of your first tasks. Start looking for your ‘Ask Speaker’ 3-4 months before the event. Remember, finding a speaker is not always an easy task. Focus on finding the right person to represent your organization. I suggest holding an essay contest. Buy a highly coveted a prize such as an iPad, Kindle or VR goggles. Promote the contest and encourage your clients to participate. This way you will get an influx of entries and you can pick the best essay to adapt into a speech for the event. Additionally clients that you may not be familiar with may have a moving story and this allows for a wider pool of speaker selection.
Write it Down
Your fund-a-need speaker should remind your audience of two things: 1) the mission of the organization and 2) how the organization has impacted their life. Your speaker may be a client, a volunteer, a student or any person who has been personally affected by your organization. In order to extract the best story, with the most impact on your donors your ‘Ask Speaker’ should have their speech written down. Word for word, including pauses for laughter or for impact.
Stick to the Script
Because many organizations provide life-altering experiences for volunteers and clients, it is important that this testimony be scripted in order to receive maximum impact from your donors. The goal is to tell a story that highlights the mission, the impact on an individual’s life, and how the donations from the event will be used to continue to change lives. When your speaker has a written speech that addresses these particular points, you create an emotional connecting with your donors, which turns into more money raised.
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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