Articles by Sherry Truhlar on ArticleSnatch.com

Smart Ideas for Penny Pinching When it Comes to Fundraising Auction Printing

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:47:06 -0400

With many organizations trying to cut expenses, and with printed materials accounting for a large percentage of any charity auction gala budget, it's worth taking a look at how to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to printing. Here's my opinion on when to splurge and when to save. Fundraising Auction Invitation: WORTH IT, depending on ticket price The formal printed invitation has not yet been made obsolete by the "evite" and many guests will expect to receive their copy in the mail (especially if you have a more expensive ticket price). But make sure to have an electronic version handy, especially for corporate donors who increasingly do business by email only. This will help to cut down the number of invitations that have to be printed and mailed, saving you postage costs (which is another pricey portion of any auction budget). Dinner Program: WORTH IT, in a 'lite' version If a guest is enjoying themselves at an event, they won't read lengthy program cover-to-cover. The truth is very few guests do. **End Summary** Topics: auction ideas]]> auction printing]]> charity auction]]> auction invitation]]> auction signage]]> auction catalog]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Fundraising auctioneer Sherry Truhlar, CMP, BAS featured in national publications for her trend-setting work with auction fundraisers is more than an effective auctioneer, she teaches auction chairpersons steps for improving an auction's bottom-line. Her FREE Auction Item Guide TM gives procurement help (listing the 100 top-selling items). GET YOURS AT http://www.redappleauctions.com/ .

What to Do When Your Benefit Auction Guests are Gen X or Gen Y

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 08:43:27 -0400

Who is giving you the big bucks at your charity auction? If your auction trends the way of many groups, your largest donors are likely 46 years old plus. They are at least Baby Boomers, but most may be older. Certainly many of the most successful auctions held annually are filled with 45+ year old gala attendees. So what the heck are you supposed to do if you're holding an auction filled with young professionals? How will you hit a $40k goal if you've got a room filled with Gen X and Gen Y buyers? I've got a suggestion, thanks to some data published in The Chronicle of Philanthropy's recent post on How Americans of Different Generations Give to Charity*. Here's a snippet of what the research shows: Gen X: born 1965-1980 Of those who give, 32% give less than $100 37% give between $100 and $500 Average amount to top charity: $272 Gen Y: born 1981 to 1991 Of the 54% who give, most of them -- 58% -- are giving less than $100 28% of them give between $100 and $500. **End Summary** Topics: Fundraising Auction]]> Fundraiser auction]]> Charity Auction]]> Live Auction]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Fundraising auctioneer Sherry Truhlar, CMP, BAS featured in national publications for her trend-setting work with auction fundraisers is more than an effective auctioneer, she teaches charity auction chairpersons steps for improving an auction's bottom-line. Her FREE Auction Item Guide TM gives procurement help (listing the 100 top-selling items). GET YOURS AT http://www.redappleauctions.com/ .

Forgot to Include the Live Charity Auction Items in Your Program? Fundraising Auction Schedules Can

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:54:13 -0400

Sometimes benefit auction catalogs are misplaced before the live auction begins. Other times a catalog isn't printed. Some groups print a program, but fail to include the live fundraising auction items, either because the items weren't yet decided by the printing deadline, or because they simply forget to include them. To help guests follow along with the order of sale in the live auction portion of your fundraising auction, you'll want to provide some type of schedule. This can be placed on the table in advance of the guests arriving. This way, guests don't need to carry the schedule with them as they shop and mingle during the silent auction. A schedule is particularly critical if you have a number of items to sell (I'd say anything more than 6) and expect guests to tune-in and tune-out throughout the evening. Guests can visit with their neighbor, glance at their schedule, and still have a sense of what item is being sold, thanks to your schedule. "I'm interested in item 18," your guest thinks, "And it looks like the auctioneer is selling item 10. Well in that case ... I've got time to go to the restroom ... or get a drink ... **End Summary** Topics: auction catalog]]> auction fundraiser]]> auction ideas]]> auction schedule]]> live auction]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Fundraising auctioneer Sherry Truhlar, CMP, BAS featured in national publications for her trend-setting work with auction fundraisers is more than an effective auctioneer, she teaches auction chairpersons steps for improving an auction's bottom-line. Her FREE Auction Item Guide TM gives procurement help (listing the 100 top-selling items). GET YOURS AT http://www.redappleauctions.com/ .

Benefit Auction Centerpieces: Two Approaches for Your Gala

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 23:10:47 -0400

When I worked as a corporate event planner, I knew the trick. The least expensive way to decorate an event "on the cheap" was to dress up the table. Let the room décor fall by the wayside, but make sure the table looks good! It was the table - not the room - where guests would focus most of their attention. So let's talk centerpieces. Centerpieces are fun in that they can bring the theme of an event together. And talk about variety! There are a vast number of options and your choices are growing. There is no end to the creativity of auction committees as they look for ways to be elegant, unique, and budget conscious. Benefit auction centerpieces tend to fall into two camps: a "single item" centerpiece versus what I call "the cornucopia" centerpiece. An example of a single item would be a floral centerpiece in a vase. Red daisies in a glass vase fit that model. These types of centerpieces offer consistency at the gala. In contrast is "the cornucopia." These centerpieces are created by using a collection of items to create a "tablescape. **End Summary** Topics: auction centerpieces]]> Fundraising Auction]]> benefit auction]]> Charity Auction]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Benefit auctioneer Sherry Truhlar, CMP, BAS has been featured in for her trend-setting work with auction galas. In addition to offering traditional auctioneer services, she shares tested tactics to improve profitability for a benefit auction . To jump-start your gala, get her FREE AUCTION ITEM GUIDE TM, an annual listing of the 100 top-selling items. It's a pefect resource for procurement teams: http://www.redappleauctions.com/

Auction Tips for Selling Art in your Fundraiser: Part 2

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:59:08 -0400

(This is part 2 of a two-part post discussing the selling of art in your auction fundraiser.) Last week I talked about why you should avoid selling traditional art in your live auction fundraiser. I gave tips for selling art, and I'm adding to it this week with three additional ideas. Keep art politically "neutral." In 2009 at a more liberal school auction, I sold a signed print of Frank Shepard Fairey's iconic HOPE poster for $2500. It was so popular, I was able to sell it three times, earning the school $7500. Just 30 days prior to that auction, I worked at a conservative school fundraiser. An item had been — the charity auction chair believed — intentionally damaged because it had President Obama's image on it. This brings home the challenge of politically-themed art. There's a chance that at least 50% of your audience will immediately dislike it. You've got to know your crowd. Suggest a signed and numbered print. If you aren't getting an original piece of art (and you usually won't), it helps to have the piece signed and numbered. "It's 14 of 100 prints," sounds better than, "It's a print. **End Summary** Topics: art]]> auction ideas]]> fundraising auctions]]> silent auction tips]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Fundraising auctioneer Sherry Truhlar, CMP, BAS featured in national publications for her trend-setting work with auction fundraisers is more than an effective auctioneer, she teaches charity auction chairpersons steps for improving an auction's bottom-line. Her FREE Auction Item Guide TM gives procurement help (listing the 100 top-selling items). GET YOURS AT http://www.redappleauctions.com/ .

Charity Auction Ideas: How to Find a Fundraising Auctioneer

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:24:01 -0400

If you're new to fundraising auctions or new to working with auctioneers, you might be unsure of how to go about finding and selecting a charity auctioneer. Here are six steps auction planners can use to not just survive the selection process, but actually enjoy the conversations. #1: Locate some auctioneers If you're starting from a blank slate, visit the National Auctioneers Association website* and use their "Find an Auctioneer" search tool. Auctioneers with a "BAS" credential indicates that he or she has had specific training and testing in fundraising auctions. It's a good way to start weeding through the masses. Similarly, if you research your state auctioneers association, many state groups also have a similar search tool useful for finding area auctioneers. Another great option is to call other organizations whom you respect which are conducting their own charity auctions. Ask them who they use, and why. #2: Research and compare auctioneers by studying their websites To be frank ... in today's society, if a business doesn't have a website, they aren't doing much business. You can glean a lot from how serious a company is simply by reading what they have posted online. - Is the content fresh? **End Summary** Topics: benefit auctioneer]]> charity auctioneer]]> DC Auctioneer]]> female auctioneer]]> florida auctioneer]]> fund raising auctioneer]]> fundraising auctioneer]]> how to hire an]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Fundraising auctioneer Sherry Truhlar, CMP, BAS featured in national publications for her trend-setting work with auction fundraisers is more than an effective auctioneer, she teaches auction chairpersons steps for improving an auction's bottom-line. Her FREE Auction Item Guide TM gives procurement help (listing the 100 top-selling items). GET YOURS AT http://www.redappleauctions.com/ .

Three Free Phone Resources Every Benefit Auction Chair Should Be Using

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:51:02 -0400

Serving as Charity Auction Chair is stressful enough. Let's ensure you've got at least some basic tools to make planning the charity auction easier. I often equate running a benefit auction to running a small business. Many small businesses will have gross incomes of less than $100,000 so you can see how many non profit auctions rival the income of a small business. If you are chairing an auction, you have to think like you are running a business and you have got to have the right tools run the operation. Here are three tools to help make planning the auction easier. 1. Free conference calls No Cost Conference Your Fundraising Auction Committee needs to touch base. Regularly! So use this free service to chat it up. It has successfully managed my teleclasses when I have hundreds of people on the line, so I know it will work for your 5, 10, or 15 person committee. One of the great capabilities is the control the moderator has. **End Summary** Topics: auction committee help]]> Auction Committees]]> auction planning]]> conference call]]> phone call]]> how to chair a fundraising auction]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Fundraising auctioneer Sherry Truhlar, CMP, BAS featured in national publications for her trend-setting work with auction fundraisers is more than an effective auctioneer, she teaches auction chairpersons steps for improving a fundraising auction 's bottom-line. Her FREE Auction Item Guide TM gives procurement help (listing the 100 top-selling items). GET YOURS AT http://www.redappleauctions.com/ .

Fundraising Auction Tips for Selling Art in your charity gala Part 1

Tue, 25 May 2010 22:37:42 -0400

I'm going to make a bold statement: Avoid selling traditional art in your live auction, unless you are an exclusive art auction. Traditional art pieces — items like sculptures, paintings, drawings, and mixed media which are produced by a professional artist who makes his or her living from selling artwork - are risky auction items for the standard, non-art benefit auction. Art is too subjective. What I like, you don't. What fits my home décor, doesn't match yours. Art has limited appeal, and the goes against the most general of fundraising auction strategies which is to select auction items with broad appeal. Are there exceptions? Of course! Your school can sell artwork made by the children. And an arts organization whose entire focus is on art may have an art-loving and art-buying crowd (although even art auctions can be tweaked). Despite best intentions, sometimes art is included in the live auction. Perhaps a respected donor insists that you sell her artwork, or a renegade Board member has a best friend who happens to be a "great" artist. What do you do then? Consider these auction tips: Well-known local artists will sell better than non-local artists. **End Summary** Topics: art at auctions]]> silent auction]]> silent auction how to]]> silent auction ideas]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Fundraising auctioneer Sherry Truhlar, CMP, BAS featured in national publications for her trend-setting work with charity auctions is more than an effective auctioneer, she teaches auction chairpersons steps for improving an auction's bottom-line. Her FREE Auction Item Guide TM gives procurement help (listing the 100 top-selling items). GET YOURS AT http://www.redappleauctions.com/ .

Charity Auction Ideas: How to Promote with Tweets

Sat, 10 Apr 2010 17:45:16 -0400

Got an auction for charity coming up, and wondering what to tweet? Or maybe you just want to help a charity you love by getting the word out on Twitter? Regardless of your motive, here are some ideas to model. I see great benefit auction-related tweets all the time on Twitter and pulled a few to get your juices flowing. (As a side, does this count as a RT (retweet)? I'm not sure what a tweet-to-blog communication is called.) 1. You can tweet about donations received. juliawun @mollyalgray I wrote a grant to Disney, asking for free tix as a fundraising effort and we got 4 to auction off at lunatique! TPAMagazine Charity auction: Be the first to ride Intimidator at Carowinds. Starting bid: $50 http://bit.ly/5ym1uQ@latimesfunland ) 2. You can tweet about donations received, while emphasizing the donor. This tweet does a nice job of announcing the donor while simultaneously promoting her business and thanking her. LoveYourPetExpo Barbara Williams has donated a hand-drawn portrait for our charity auction. http://www.bacwilliams.com/ Thank you, Barbara. 3. Give a shout-out to acknowledge your sponsors. **End Summary** Topics: benefit auction]]> charity auction]]> tweet]]> Twitter]]> benefit auction ideas]]> auction for charity]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Want to see PHOTOS of the great (and not-so-great) ideas benefit auctioneer Sherry Truhlar encounters on a weekly basis? Sherry shares photos and explains practical & new auction techniques in her popular FREE auction Ezine . As a bonus, you'll receive her Annual Auction Item Guide, featuring "The Top 100 Items Sold at Benefits." Visit http://www.RedAppleAuctions.com.

Pull together Non-Floral Centerpieces for Great Looking Benefit Auction Tables

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 01:53:09 -0400

Many of the benefit auctions I work use a floral centerpiece on the table. I certainly enjoy the freshness they bring to a table, but I've also seen some creative non-floral centerpieces at my auction fundraisers. Most often an organization will opt for a non-floral centerpiece due to cost. As attractive as they are, flowers can be expensive. Flowers are a "nice to have," not a "need to have," so they can be quickly cut from a budget. A beautiful table is still the benchmark for the benefit event. Kids can be tapped into as the manpower to create many non-floral centerpieces. This is useful if you are running a school auction or a non-profit which benefits children. At the "Night at the Museum" benefit auction each table had a creative centerpiece showcasing a different museum around the United States. A popular table hosted the National Baseball Hall of Fame museum. Often times, a benefit auction will opt for a cornucopia when they go with non-floral centerpieces. What I am calling cornucopia is the tablescapes that are created with a collection of items and those might not be consistent across all the tables. **End Summary** Topics: auction centerpieces]]> auction fundraisers]]> benefit auction centerpieces]]> centerpieces for auction tables]]> centerpieces made by kids]]> charity auction]]> fundra]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Want photos? If you liked this article, you'll love award-winning benefit auctioneer Sherry Truhlar's bi-monthly e-zine with photos and practical auction techniques. Sign-up for your free copy at Red Apple Auctions and receive (as a bonus) her Annual Auction Item Guide ($29 value), featuring "The Top 100 Items Sold at Benefits."

A Staple and a Less Frequent Theme in Benefit Auctions: Charity Galas themes of Venetian & Money

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:08:58 -0400

Every auction committee has a challenge. Whether they are working to set a fundraising record or seat more guests than last year, there is room to get creative. An auction's theme can set the mood for fun while still being functional. At the same time, a theme can whew guests and tow the line with the budget. My team works between 40 and 50 fundraising auctions a year, so I see my share of great themes. There is a staple in the theme department: Venetian. Money and banking came together as the theme for an event I recently worked. Both themes may inspire you as you put the polishing details on theme for your charity auction. Using masks as centerpieces and as d�cor at benefit auctions: Venetian theme is a staple for charity galas A Venice theme is popular for fundraising auctions. The imagery of the city is perhaps most closely associated with its famous canals, followed by its infamous Carnival. As canals are harder to build into a benefit auction theme, I most often see Carnival masks. Masks are festive elements to use, easily portable, and come in a range of price points. **End Summary** Topics: auction ideas]]> benefit auction]]> charity auction]]> fundraising auction]]> theme ideas]]> live auction]]> silent auction]]> silent auction ideas]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Award-winning fundraising auctioneer Sherry Truhlar, CMP, BAS runs Red Apple Auctions, a firm specializing in teaching non-profits the techniques proven to grow auction profitability. She offers a number of FREE auction ideas on her website, including the popular Auction Item Guide, a meaty compilation of best-selling auction items . Sign-up for the Guide at Red Apple Auctions.

Persuade an Artist to Donate to a Benefit Auctions - Steve Haskamp Tells All

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:01:47 -0400

Meet Steve Haskamp, an honest-to-goodness, full-time artist. He's a busy man with designs that are used on greeting cards at Trader Joe's, children's clothing, tote bags, books, magazines, prints, housewares and a ton of other stuff. (You can see actual samples of his work at his blog at http://stevehaskamp.blogspot.com. ) I met Steve through his partner, Dale, who is good friend of mine from college. Steve has one of those jobs that others (or at least me) find interesting. Each day, he sits in his studio and creates images. Steve showed me a few of his works in progress. He told me these images would become stickers, maybe even scratch-n-sniff stickers. The images are sent to his agents. They review the designs and promote them to companies they think might use the image: a clothing manufacturer, a wallpaper company, a book publisher, etc. On occasion, Steve is asked to create designs for a specific project. He was recently asked to create some illustrations of President Obama's new family dog! Two weeks ago I stayed with Dale and Steve while attending a business conference in San Diego. **End Summary** Topics: auction donation ideas]]> auction item ideas]]> auction procurement]]> school auction ideas]]> selling art at benefit auction]]> silent auction item]]> artists]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Award-winning fundraising auctioneer Sherry Truhlar, CMP, BAS runs Red Apple Auctions, a firm specializing in teaching non-profits the techniques proven to grow auction profitability. She offers a number of FREE auction ideas on her website, including the popular Auction Item Guide, a meaty compilation of best-selling auction items . Sign-up for the Guide at Red Apple Auctions.

Does the Donated Item Go Gnto the Silent or Live Charity Auction? How do I Know?

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:24:23 -0500

As part of my auction consulting services with clients, I'm often asked for my opinion about items. "Should we include this airfare?" one will inquire. Or, "How should we promote this?" If my client is only conducting a silent auction, I am never asked whether an item belongs in the silent auction or live auction - there's no choice! But if the auction fundraiser includes both components, the "silent versus live" debate often arises. In this article, I want to discuss how an auction item can be affected by its placement in a silent section versus the live auction. One of my clients has a wonderful patron who looks like Santa Claus. He's a friendly guy and looks remarkably like Santa. All around the world, people stop him to comment on his resemblance to St. Nick. In 2008 the charity created a fun auction item package in which this patron agreed to dress as Santa and attend a holiday party. The item sold in the live auction almost $2000. It was so popular, we might have even sold it twice. In 2009, the item was moved into the silent auction. **End Summary** Topics: auction acquisitions]]> auction ideas]]> auction procurement]]> benefit auction]]> charity auction]]> fundraising auction]]> item ideas]]> live auction]]> silent auction]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Want to see PHOTOS of the great (and not-so-great) ideas benefit auctioneer Sherry Truhlar encounters on a weekly basis? Sherry shares photos and explains practical & new auction techniques in her popular FREE auction Ezine . As a bonus, you'll receive her Annual Auction Item Guide, featuring "The Top 100 Items Sold at Benefits." Visit http://www.RedAppleAuctions.com.

Now's the Time to Request Oprah Tickets for Your Auction Fundraisers

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 07:12:12 -0500

As seen on the shelf in my grocery store: Oprah's Dec 2009 "O Magazine" cover has a teaser in the upper right corner about winning a trip "to the Oprah Show." I am often asked what is the best auction item to secure for an auction fundraiser. Easy answer: Tickets to The Oprah Winfrey Show In your fundraising auction, Oprah will outsell tickets to the Superbowl, a private helicopter charter to a Relaix and Chateaux property, and even the chance for a Presidential meet-and-greet. Friends, when Oprah tickets are up against any other auction item, it is -- to borrow a WWE term -- an Oprah SmackDown. As one auction guest told me, "Even if you aren't a huge fan of Oprah, she's so generous, you might happen to be in the audience on the day she gives everybody some fabulous gift ... like a car." Last week, Oprah announced she's leave the show in the the fall 2011, at the end of its 25th season. But she's not retiring. She'll reappear in some fashion on her new venture, The Oprah Winfrey Network, which will replace the Discovery Health channel. **End Summary** Topics: Oprah Winfrey Show auction]]> raffle tickets]]> auction tickets]]> non profit auction]]> charity auction]]> Oprah]]> auction fundraisers]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Award-winning fundraising auctioneer Sherry Truhlar, CMP, BAS runs Red Apple Auctions, a firm specializing in teaching non-profits the techniques proven to grow auction profitability. She offers a number of FREE auction ideas on her website, including the popular Auction Item Guide, a meaty compilation of best-selling auction items . Sign-up for the Guide at Red Apple Auctions.

Silent Auction Proof: Revisiting Printer's Plates

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 02:53:51 -0500

At a recent event I was reminded of one of my earlier articles regarding printer plates and their use in silent auctions. For those who may have missed the article, here's a quick overview. Printer's plates are the image from the newspaper's front page. These plates are relatively easy to obtain, even without a contact at the paper. For example, you can check your local newspaper's Contact Us page and find either a telephone number or email address to begin the process. They make for nice silent auction items because they are unusual. Multiple plates are often made of the various front pages so you may be able to obtain one that has historical significance such as Presidential inaugurations, World Series, etc. At a recent benefit auction, I was doing a walk-through with my client before guests arrived. As we approached these plates (one of which was a gorgeous printer's plate from an uplifting day in history for Cal Ripken and his fans), she said, "We're really excited about these." "Wow!," I said, "I wrote about how to get these donated a few months ago, but I don't often see them in auctions. **End Summary** Topics: auction procurement]]> printer's plates]]> charity auction ideas]]> silent auction idea]]> silent auction item]]> Cal Ripken]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Want photos? If you liked this article, you'll love award-winning benefit auctioneer Sherry Truhlar's bi-monthly e-zine with photos and practical auction techniques. Sign-up for your free copy at Red Apple Auctions and receive (as a bonus) her Annual Auction Item Guide ($29 value), featuring "The Top 100 Items Sold at Benefits."

Creative Live Auction Idea: How to Successfully Sell a Puppy

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 01:25:07 -0500

I love dogs. And I'm not alone -- my town of Alexandra, VA is one of the United State's friendliest dog towns. Since there are lots of dog lovers in this part of the world, each year I usually sell one or two donated puppies as part of a live benefit auction. Selling a puppy in a live auction makes the event memorable and typically (in D.C.) brings a $2,000 to $5,000 sale. Most bidders respond to the animal positively and are eager to pet the little guy while inquiring about its age, vaccinations, breed, etc. Be sure that you have the paperwork proving the vaccinations were done at the appropriate time are furnished by the veterinarian administering the shots. In the event the winning bidder is from out of state, it is necessary to show proof of Rabies vaccination. It's best to keep all of the puppy's veterinary paperwork together in a file that can be given to the winner so that the exchange can be done quickly and smoothly. To make the sale a positive experience for human and creature, here are some tips. 1. **End Summary** Topics: auction item ideas]]> benefit auction item idea]]> live auction ideas]]> school auction ideas]]> selling a puppy]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Award-winning benefit auctioneer Sherry Truhlar , CMP, BAS writes auction tips from her home base of Washington, D.C. If you are involved in a benefit auction and seek some fresh ideas and solid guidance to having a successful auction, get started with Sherry's Auction Item Guide. This FREE Guide ($29 value) gives your committee great ideas for procurement. It's available to those who request it at Red Apple Auctions .

Your Fundraising Auction Can Be Jeopardized by These Three Licensing Mistakes

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 13:09:05 -0500

With so many rules to follow from federal, state and municipal bodies, it's really difficult to stay on top of things. As event planners know, inadvertently overlooking one of these details could have shut down my event. Licensing varies greatly from location to location, but here are three common licensing issues I typically see with regards to a fundraising auction. (I don't hold myself out to be an expert in this area, so always verify with authorities in your corner of the world.) #1: A License for the Raffle Many states have regulations around raffles, sweepstakes, and contests. My Washington, D.C. clients have debates as to whether they want to involve themselves in the raffle licensing laws. Securing a raffle license is only the beginning for an organization. It must follow rules affecting the number of tickets sold, advertising, and even the draw (an official typically visits the site to witness the draw). In contrast, a sweepstakes - like a raffle - allows for a drawing and for prizes to be awarded, but there is no requirement that a guest pay for the ticket. **End Summary** Topics: licensing mistakes]]> raffles]]> fundraising auction mistakes]]> benefit auction]]> raffle license]]> charity auction]]> benefit auction mistakes]]> benefit auction]]> auctio]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Award-winning fundraising auctioneer Sherry Truhlar, CMP, BAS runs Red Apple Auctions, a firm specializing in teaching non-profits the techniques proven to grow auction profitability. She offers a number of FREE auction ideas on her website, including the popular Auction Item Guide, a meaty compilation of best-selling auction items . Sign-up for the Guide at Red Apple Auctions.

Auction Item Ideas: Stock the Bar

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:36:52 -0500

The upcoming holiday season has me thinking about seasonal get-togethers. Here's an idea around that theme. I heard of an older couple who opted to forego the traditional gifts at their wedding. If any guest wanted to give a gift, the couple suggested bringing a bottle of wine so they could "stock the cellar." (I like this idea! I've got enough "stuff" for my house, but the cellar can always be filled.) Similarly, some bridal showers (co-ed) are "stock the bar" parties. The idea is for guests to bring the happy, soon-to-be-hitched couple all the wine, spirits and related accouterments they need to stock the bar for future entertaining of friends and family. What a great idea! We can use the same premise with benefit auctions. When is a good time to hold this "Stock the Bar" pre-party? Usually they are held a month or so before the benefit auction.A few of our clients host a party, which consists of heavy hors d'oeuvres (such as California rolls, baked cheese olives, etc.) and a wine tasting. The attendees would pay an entry fee of a bottle of wine that costs $30 or more. **End Summary** Topics: benefit auction items]]> ideas for auction items]]> live auctions]]> pre-event activities]]> entertainment]]> silent auction ideas]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Award-winning auctioneer Sherry Truhlar regularly writes about ways to improve the bottom line at charity auctions. If you're looking for other auction ideas, she invites you to download her FREE Auction Item Guide available at Red Apple Auctions The Guide lists 100 of the best-selling items currently selling well in auction fundraisers.

School Auction Procurement Idea; Heavy Equipment Training School

Sat, 26 Dec 2009 03:16:43 -0500

Every auction is made more interesting when there are a few unusual items that get guests talking. I have a great item idea for your next fundraiser. Today I drove past a chain link fence with a large sign that read HEAVY EQUIPMENT TRAINING ACADEMY. Bulldozers, dump trucks and other construction equipment sat behind the fence. On the other side of the street was another chain link fence with even more equipment. A search on Google told me what I already knew -- the Academy was a training school for those interested in learning how to operate heavy equipment. A bit more internet digging revealed there are many of these heavy equipment schools across the country. Although the individual training courses offered by most of the academies appeared to be several weeks long, it got me to thinking. I wonder if an academy might be persuaded to donate a one hour hands-on lesson (with an instructor) to operate a bulldozer? Or a backhoe? Or an excavator? Imagine the potential of this idea ... If Tonka dump trucks were your husband's favorite sandbox toy, you could buy him the real deal experience at your charity function! **End Summary** Topics: charity auction]]> fundrasing auction]]> fund raiser auction]]> auction item ideas]]> auction ideas]]> auction items]]> auction procurement]]> auction acquisitions]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Award-winning auctioneer Sherry Truhlar regularly writes about ways to improve the bottom line at charity auctions. If you're looking for more procurement ideas, she invites you to download her FREE Auction Item Guide, available at Red Apple Auctions The Guide lists 100+ of the best-selling items currently selling well in auction fund raisers.

The Charity of Celebrities: Do Your Research to Enlist Stars to Your Fundraiser

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 07:18:14 -0500

Sometimes a non-profit will seek advice on how to find the most appropriate celebrity to promote their cause. The group may be considering the impact a well-known actor or musician could have at its auction fundraiser. The charity's goal is multi-faceted. The presence of a star could draw others to attend their gala, or the star himself might donate to the auction, thereby raising funds in a more direct way. When Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson - both active in several different charities - passed on the same day, the uncanny timing of their death drew considerable awareness to their respective charities. Contacting and cementing a relationship with a star can be a lengthy process, so targeting the right celebrity upfront is important. It would be a waste of time to send correspondence to a star who has no interest in supporting your cause. An important point is to research celebrities before you attempt to contact them. Only contact those who have a direct tie to your charity's mission. Questions you might consider include: * Where was the celebrity raised? * What city does the celebrity identify as his or her "home town? **End Summary** Topics: benefit auction]]> charity auction]]> fundraising auction]]> celebrities]]> auction ideas]]> auction tips]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Award-winning auctioneer Sherry Truhlar regularly writes about ways to improve the bottom line at charity auctions. If you're looking for other auction ideas, she invites you to download her FREE Auction Item Guide available at Red Apple Auctions The Guide lists 100 of the best-selling items currently selling well in auction fundraisers.

Silent Auction Item Displays: How to Create Vertical Displays Without Using Acrylic Stands

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:13:45 -0500

Silent auction items are more easily seen when they have a vertical display. Most often used are acrylic stands. But if you prefer a different look, or can't find a reasonably priced plastic stand, here are three other ideas. These ideas typically involve more hand labor and may involve costs associated with having the frames built. On the positive side, your auction will have a more distinct look and the silent auction descriptions will be easier for guests to read. (Sometimes the acrylic frames can create a glare which makes it difficult to read about the item. This is important to remember if your auction fundraiser will be in a brightly lit area that could cause a glare on the displays.) OPTION 1: OVERSIZED VERTICAL DISPLAYS One auction team printed item descriptions in large font on standard 8.5" X 11" white paper. They glued the standard white paper to a heavier-weight colored paper (a posterboard-type of material) and cut the posterboard slightly larger than the white paper in order to give the description a colored edge. **End Summary** Topics: auction ideas]]> auction tips]]> fundraising auction]]> how to display auction items]]> display silent items]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Want to see PHOTOS of these ideas? Visit charity auctioneer Sherry Truhlar's blog and search for this post. In addition, sign-up to be emailed her F*R*E*E Auction Item Guide ($29 value). The Guide lists 100 of the best-selling items being sold in fundraising auctions. Visit Red Apple Auctions to learn more.

Fundraising Auctions Should Consider Their Audience Before Inviting Clients to the Party

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:19:02 -0500

A few of my firm's charity auctions have a diverse mix of guests who seem to be comprised of three distinct groups - non-paying clients - non-paying or reduced-ticket-price employees of the non-profit - full-paying guests Although I can appreciate why a handful of "free" guests might be allowed to attend (e.g. a reward to an employee, or asking someone to speak), in a few charity auctions I've worked, the majority of the attendees -- the majority! -- were non-paying or reduced-paying guests. Let's consider three reasons as to why this might be a bad idea. 1. What is the purpose of your event? When an event manager is given an assignment to plan any event, the first question they are taught to ask is, "Why are you having this event?" In other words: "What is the purpose of this auction fundraiser?" During my studies in event management at George Washington University, this question was drilled into us students. It's an important point because the answer establishes the tone of the event. So what happens when you have non-paying clients, non-paying (or reduced-fee) employees, and paying guests? It confuses the focus. **End Summary** Topics: fundraising auction]]> charity auction]]> auction fundraiser]]> non profit fundraisers]]> benefit auction]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Award-winning fundraising auctioneer Sherry Truhlar, CMP, BAS runs Red Apple Auctions, a firm specializing in teaching non-profits the techniques proven to grow auction profitability. She offers a number of FREE auction ideas on her website, including the popular Auction Item Guide, a meaty compilation of best-selling auction items . Sign-up for the Guide at Red Apple Auctions.

School Auction Idea: A Potato Cannon

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 07:36:11 -0500

"One of a kind" auction items will always perform well in a fundraiser benefit auction. A potato cannon ... made by the school's beloved maintenance department ... in an all-boys Catholic school ... is a perfect example. What is a potato cannon? True to its name, the cannon is designed to propel a potato hundreds of yards. It is typically constructed of ABS pipe and uses a can of hairspray as the propellant to launch the potato. For obvious reasons, this is an item better suited to boys who live in wide open spaces and not in a city. Damage would no doubt ensue. (After looking at the cannon, one auction guest - a grown man - told me, "Oh, I could have some fun with this.") If you have the means to build a cannon, be sure to market it appropriately. Here's what this school did to ensure the cannon sold like a rocket. 1. In the two weeks leading up to the auction, the cannon was proudly on display in the maintenance department. Every boy in the school had an opportunity to visit the department at least once to see the cannon. **End Summary** Topics: school auction ideas]]> live auction ideas]]> auction item ideas]]> auction packages]]> charity auction ideas]]> benefit auctions]]> fundraising auctions]]> non profit auc]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Did you enjoy this article? If so, you'll love award-winning benefit auctioneer Sherry Truhlar's bi-monthly e-newsletter. It's filled with auction ideas and photos for auction committees. Sign-up at Red Apple Auctions and automatically receive her Auction Item Guide ($29 value) as a gift. The Guide lists 100 of the best-selling items in benefit auctions.

Non Profit Auction Tips: Four Investments Worth Making

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 04:17:08 -0500

Whether you are a volunteer Gala Chair or a paid Special Events Manager, you want your event to be a success. Let's look at some investments which will make your job easier and make you look good! 1. Invest your time upfront in placing volunteers into appropriate roles where they can shine. Not all volunteers are created equal. To ensure fewer headaches for you later, make an effort early in the process to get to know your volunteers and committee members. Find out their interests and strengths. Two years ago my friend launched the first-ever Reading Festival in her Kansas hometown with the help of her Altrusa Club members. As a former human resources manager, interviewing club members for the right volunteer role came easily to her. Sometimes the "interview" was a simple meeting over lunch which provided my friend with enough information to determine if her fellow Club member was the best fit for a particular committee. You could do the same. The other advantage of interviews is that you begin to establish a relationship. Developing an individual connection early-on will help your working relationship down the road. 2. Focus on making high-impact decisions. **End Summary** Topics: Benefit auctions]]> school auction fundraiser]]> auction planning]]> charity auction tips]]> fundraising auctions]]> non profit auction]]> auction resources]]> charity auc]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Did you enjoy this article? If so, you'll love award-winning benefit auctioneer Sherry Truhlar's bi-monthly e-newsletter. It's filled with auction ideas and photos for auction committees. Sign-up at Red Apple Auctions and automatically receive her Auction Item Guide ($29 value) as a gift. The Guide lists 100 of the best-selling items in benefit auctions.

Fundraising Auction Procurement Trend - A Cocktail Instruction Party

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:18:04 -0500

Cocktails are hot! As I travel to different cities, I invariably read an article on the train or plane about some local cocktail bar, a local bartender who has created a fabulous new cocktail, or even the types of music to play at a cocktail party. Why not ride this benefit auction trend and work to incorporate a cocktail element into your own auction? Is there a up-and-coming bartender in your city? Or maybe you know of a popular place that the after-five o'clock crowd likes to frequent? At one benefit auction earlier this year, I sold a unique cocktail package. It consisted of a two-hour cocktail instruction for six guests and was hosted by a popular mixologist known for his unique spin on traditional drinks. The item sold for $900 - almost twice its value - and drew lots of interest from the crowd. We sold the same item a few months later at a different event for $1500. Not a bad price! This particular bartender had won the regional semi-finals for the Domaine de Canton Bartender of the Year competition in December 2008, beating out nine top New York bartenders. **End Summary** Topics: auction procurement trend]]> cocktail instruction]]> auction procurement]]> fundraising auction]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Like photos? Award-winning benefit auctioneer Sherry Truhlar shares photos and ideas for benefit auctions in her bi-monthly e-newsletter. To receive her "Benefit Auction Ideas" ezine, sign up at Red Apple Auctions . As a bonus, you'll receive her Auction Item Guide ($29 value) , which features the best 100 items sold at her benefits.