Sometimes the smallest suggestions make the biggest difference. Make sure your auction items have expiration dates. As a charity auctioneer, I can tell that preparation and forethought are paramount to making sure you encounter as few headaches as possible when planning and executing your fundraising event. When you make sure each applicable auction item has an expiration date, you ensure that the donor and buyer have clear expectations as to when they can redeem their item. Examples of auction times that need expiration dates include trips, vacations, and dinner experiences. I recommend an expiration date no less than 6 months and no more than 2 years from the date of purchase.
When you don’t have an expiration date on auction items, buyers may wait to plan their experience too late when circumstances surrounding the donated item may have changed. The owner of the restaurant or resort may have changed and they may not honor the experience purchased at your auction. Or, the person holding the timeshare may sell their shares and the location is no longer available. For example, I served as a live auctioneer for an organization in the past. An attendee bid on and won an airfare and hotel package to New York City. The buyer waited three years to redeem the package and, by that time, the hotel had changed ownership. The organization was in a pickle. No organization wants to tell a donor that they can not redeem an auction item. So, the organization decided to save the relationship with the donor and pay for a different hotel stay at a cost to the organization. Planning a fundraising auction takes a lot of foresight in your preparation. Placing an expiration date on experiential auction items will lead to less stress to your organization and donors.
For more 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.
When you don’t have an expiration date on auction items, buyers may wait to plan their experience too late when circumstances surrounding the donated item may have changed. The owner of the restaurant or resort may have changed and they may not honor the experience purchased at your auction. Or, the person holding the timeshare may sell their shares and the location is no longer available. For example, I served as a live auctioneer for an organization in the past. An attendee bid on and won an airfare and hotel package to New York City. The buyer waited three years to redeem the package and, by that time, the hotel had changed ownership. The organization was in a pickle. No organization wants to tell a donor that they can not redeem an auction item. So, the organization decided to save the relationship with the donor and pay for a different hotel stay at a cost to the organization. Planning a fundraising auction takes a lot of foresight in your preparation. Placing an expiration date on experiential auction items will lead to less stress to your organization and donors.
For more 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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