I am often asked:

Is the Economy Affecting Fundraising Events?

And the answer, of course, is yes!  Many people just do not have the discretionary funds to spend that they have had in recent years. Overall attendance at fundraising events is down slightly and the big spenders are harder to find in the audience. 

Big ticket Opportunity Drawings require twice as much asking to find takers.  Silent Auctions have not been affected as much as Live Auctions - small valued items vs. large valued items.  Finding auction items, especially large auction items, is tougher than in previous years.  Some Event Sponsors have reduced their level of giving or stopped altogether.

But all is not lost!  You must learn to approach your fundraising event like a business and employ all of the tricks available to you to maximize your revenues.  Be smart, use common sense and have a plan.

You must recognize the effect of alcohol on your guests, as well as your volunteers.  Timing is everything when alcohol is in play.  Set a tight schedule and stick to it!

Communicate effectively both verbally and visually - make things easy to locate. There is no better way to direct your guests in a crowded room than the use of colored helium balloons.  Your investment in providing an appropriate sound system that matches your venue and the size of your crowd, will more than pay for itself and allow your auctioneer to do his/her job.

You must understand the bidder’s habits and provide user-friendly bid forms that maximize your Silent Auction revenues.  Your item titles and descriptions must be to the point and printed large enough to be easily read from 2 to 3 feet away.  Nobody wants to put their glasses on!

Most bidders wait until the end to place their final bids.  You must allow and encourage heated competition at the close of every item.  Never pull a bid slip out from someone who wants to bid!  You want that money!

Don’t give away the profits on your Opportunity Drawings.  People will purchase tickets to participate, not for the prize!  You will always make much more on items placed on the Opportunity Drawing than on the Silent Auction.  It’s not how many tickets you sell, it’s how much money you make!

When it comes to Live Auction items, think outside the box.  Often the best selling items are items that cost little but provide an opportunity unavailable anywhere else.  Make your Live Auction the priority and not placed after the blah, blah, blah of speeches and awardees.  Make it quick, fun and profitable!  Remember, alcohol is in play and timing is everything!

Provide your guests a chance to give one more time with a well choreographed, well timed and well executed Direct Giving, Raise the Paddle or Fund-an-Item.  If you don’t ask, you won’t receive!

And lastly, the best piece of advice I can give you is to hire me for your next event!  I will work with you and your committee prior to the event to ensure that you are doing the right things to maximize those revenues and keep the experience positive for your attendees. Plus the night of the event, I will work my magic and make your event rock!  Really!

If I am not available for your event, or you have an Auctioneer or Celebrity that you are committed to, I am available to meet your organization to teach you what you need to know.  Give me 1 to 3 hours and I will make you an expert!

All of my new customers this year made more than they ever had in any previous year.  Some substantially!  Repeat clients continue to see improvement in their bottom line and guest experiences from year to year.  I am booked a year in advance for a reason!