It’s very much like entering a relationship; if you don’t have the right chemistry, it won’t be a good fit. The relationship must be a good fit for everyone involved: the auctioneer, your nonprofit, and the guests in attendance.
As I become more comfortable as a business owner and a fundraiser, I know what works for me and my staff.
I’m very transparent with potential clients. I want to make sure they know that I don’t always get hired because I’m not always the right fit for their event.
Why I Get Hired
The number one reason I get hired is because people see my videos on YouTube and they love my energy and style. I get out in the crowd and interact with people. My auctions are more of a show than a traditional auction. I get hired to have fun with the crowd.
I get hired because I’m a woman and there aren’t many of us in this business. We know that women lead men in philanthropy, but so few women get involved as fundraisers.
I do my homework. People see me or one of my other auctioneers live and are blown away by how well we understand the organization we’re supporting.
Nine times out of ten I get rehired because of the Fund-A-Need auction. My Fund-A-Needs are amazing. I often hear, “The auction was fun, but the Fund-A-Need was spectacular.” This is because of my professional development and my passion for raising money.
I know how to ask people for money in a way that sounds good and feels good.
Why I Don’t Get Hired
The main reason why I don’t get hired is because people see my videos on YouTube and are turned off by my energy and style. Sometimes the upbeat, party atmosphere is not what a nonprofit is looking for, and that’s okay. There are plenty of fundraisers out there who specialize in more formal, traditional events.
More times than I would prefer, a committee is scared to have a female auctioneer and I am not hired solely because I am a woman. Many people believe that a woman cannot hold the room or command the stage with a female voice and presence.
Why I Turn Down Jobs
Occasionally, I turn down jobs because I don’t think the nonprofit’s mission or staff is good fit for Generosity Auctions.
Over the years we have developed parameters for working with nonprofits. We know what works for us and our style.
I won’t take on auctions that have more than ten items. With our style it takes longer to sell each item, and ten items is our maximum.
We also require an external sound system and if your event is using the ceiling speakers at a country club, we will politely decline.
Although we would love to help every nonprofit reach their fundraising goals, ultimately we need to be partners in fundraising. We do our homework and can’t risk putting your event or our reputation at risk by working a fundraiser that we don’t feel is a perfect fit for both parties.