When working with this San Francisco dance organization, I wanted to make sure the message and mission of the group was incorporated into all aspects of the evening. There were images of dancers and the auction items focused on dance and how it achieves the mission of the organization. Some of the auction items offered included travel with the dance company and walk-on role during the Christmas Ballet. It was important to play up dance during the event as wanted the programming to feel unique to attendees. We did not want this event to feel like every other gala fundraiser in the city. We wanted to give patrons something different, special, unique and memorable. And it was.
Bidding was crazy for the mission focused/dance items sold like crazy. There was tons of bidding and the energy in the room was kinetic. I broke through the organization’s $140,000 fundraising goal and raised a total of $260,000 through both the live auction and the fund-a-need. That’s an 85% increase over what was anticipated. And, when table sales and other donations were calculated, the organization raised over a half-million dollars. Despite being in existence for over 10 years, this was the largest the organization had ever raised at their gala event!
When you host your gala charity fundraising event, make sure you infuse your organization’s unique identity into your event so that it feels unique. Your donors want to understand why they’re at your event and how their giving can better connect them to your organization.
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.