[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":2529},["ShallowReactive",2],{"sanity-cMzadwwxTU":3},[4,18,31,42,53,64,77,88,99,110,121,134,145,156,166,177,188,199,210,221,232,243,254,265,276,287,298,309,320,331,342,353,363,374,385,396,406,417,428,439,450,461,471,482,493,504,515,526,537,548,559,570,581,592,603,614,625,634,645,656,666,677,688,699,710,721,732,743,754,765,775,786,797,808,819,830,841,852,863,874,885,896,907,918,929,940,951,962,973,984,1022,1032,1043,1054,1065,1076,1087,1098,1109,1120,1131,1142,1153,1164,1175,1186,1197,1208,1218,1229,1240,1250,1261,1272,1283,1294,1305,1316,1327,1338,1349,1360,1371,1381,1392,1403,1414,1425,1436,1446,1457,1468,1479,1489,1500,1511,1522,1533,1544,1555,1566,1576,1587,1598,1609,1620,1631,1642,1653,1664,1675,1686,1696,1707,1718,1729,1740,1751,1762,1773,1784,1795,1806,1817,1828,1839,1850,1861,1872,1883,1894,1905,1915,1926,1937,1948,1959,1970,1981,1992,2003,2014,2025,2036,2047,2058,2069,2080,2090,2101,2112,2123,2134,2145,2156,2167,2178,2189,2200,2210,2221,2232,2242,2253,2264,2275,2286,2322,2333,2344,2355,2366,2377,2388,2399,2409,2420,2431,2442,2452,2463,2474,2485,2496,2507,2518],{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":6,"category":7,"id":5,"image":10,"publishOn":13,"slug":14,"teaser":16,"title":17},null,"\nProcurement and Donation List Suggestions\nDonations of many types and sizes are warmly welcomed.  Donations can be sold as stand-alone or bundled for a more creative unique item.  \n\n\n## Auctria's Donation Solicitation Form\n\nWith Auctria's  Solicit Items feature, you can easily receive donation information online and enable donors to contribute items for your organization’s fundraising event. Once you have your event website up and running use a Pre Built Section that donors can use to submit donation details to you. As an admin you will then receive a notification and have the ability to accept, reject or edit. This streamlines the communications between the Donor and the auction team. The donor can even share images, this makes it both fast and easy to fill the auction catalog.\n\n\n1. To get started, simply add an Add Donation Items page to your event website using our special “Solicit Items” form. This user-friendly, multi-part form allows donors to enter information about the items or services they wish to offer for the fundraising event.\n\n2. Direct donors to your Add Donation Items page! Donors can enter the item information, contact information and image and at their convenience 24/7.\n\n3. You receive an email that an online item donation was made and you do the final review! On the Auction Dashboard Items section you can Review Solicited Items  and manage the donated items with ease.\n\n\n## Online Donation Requests\nMany sports teams, manufacturers, retailers, restaurants use online donation forms to manage to the incoming donation requests.  Follow the Auctria Pinterest boards for over 600 links to donation request pages and auction fundraising tips.  \n\n## Mega-Donation Board links to donation pages\nLinks to over 200 national and local restaurants and general merchandise and services. [Donation request pages are all pinned here.](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/mega-auction-donations-from-auctria/)\n\n[![Auctria mega auction general donation seal 200.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Auctria-mega-auction-general-donation-seal-200.jpg)](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/mega-auction-donations-from-auctria/)\n\n## Sports-Donation Board links to donation pages.\nSports-Donation Board links for sports donations\nLinks to donation pages for NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA College sports and more.  [Sports donation request pages are all pinned here.](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/mega-donations-sports/)\n\n[![Auctria mega auction sports donation seal 200.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Auctria-mega-auction-sports-donation-seal-200.jpg)](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/mega-donations-sports/)\n\n## Keepsakes & Collectibles links to inspire\nKeepsakes are priceless and can yield BIG donations when created with love and promoted with passion. [Links are here for keepsakes, collectibles and priceless items.](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/keepsakes-priceless-for-auction-from-auctria/)\n\n[![Auctria keepsakes donation seal 200.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Auctria-keepsakes-donation-seal-200.jpg)](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/keepsakes-priceless-for-auction-from-auctria/)\n\n## Golf Tournament Board links to donation pages.\nDonation request links for golf equipment, resorts and experts. [Golf donation request pages are pinned here.](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/golf-tournament-auction-board/)\n\n[![auctria golf donation seal 200.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/auctria-golf-donation-seal-200.png)](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/golf-tournament-auction-board/)\n\n\n\n\n\n## It is OK to say no thank you\nAccept only donations with a true retail value and can be considered sellable.  A 2 for 1, trial coupon or buy-this-get-that are ordinary have little monetary value.  Respectfully decline these (or perhaps take them with the notion of using as token of appreciation for volunteers).  DON’T clutter the auction with junk.\n\n## Procurement Letters\n* Get the [procurement basics](http://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/procurement_basics) straight, then start asking for donations\n* [Sample letter for a school](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/ProcurementLetterSAMPLESchoolposted69.pdf)\n* [Sample letter non-education related](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/SampleProcurementletterENVIROCARE.pdf)\n\n## No Risk or Consignment Auction Items\nNo risk auction items may feel a little intimidating or risky but used wisely can greatly enhance the auction. Using consignment items can help attract more bidders overall when matching the items to audience interests.  \n\n**Consigning Sports & Pop Culture Items** \nMany companies offer unique goods for consignments such as sports memorabilia, experiences and events.  Consignments can be fun and flashy but do your due diligence and read the fine print.  Taking consigned goods means the charity agrees to offer at auction an item usually with a minimum sale price.  Collections above the required minimum gets donated back to your function.  If merchandise does not sell it goes back to the consignment house.  Be sure to budget the starting value and potential profit margin to see if consigning is a true value added effort.  In addition, bidders are most likely not aware that an item is consigned, and when they win or purchase that coveted paraphernalia with a large donation, most believe that the charity gets the funds.  Be sure to budget time for receiving and potentially shipping back unsold goods.  \n\nFinding the right partner and using the items to help market the auction can help reach fundraising goals. The right partner will never pressure, will listen FIRST to your needs then offer suggestions SECOND. Engage with a professional where helping fundraisers is the priority of the business, not an offshoot of a current business trying to find another marketing angle. No risk items should always include a letter of authenticity and matching, tamper-proof holograms are affixed to each letter of authenticity and directly to each item.\n\n[Attract more bidders and higher bids with really cool auction items.](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/no_risk_auction_items)\n\n**Consigning Travel Packages**\nAsk your board.  When procuring items for a fundraising auction, you have very limited time. Make the most of it by pursuing valuable, exclusive auction packages that not only add to your bottom line at the event, but help identify potential major donors in the future. One way to know what interests this type of spender: Ask your board. Board members are high net worth, enthusiastic and well connected supporters of your cause. Take them out to lunch or coffee and find out, What are their interests? What experiences or destinations are on their bucket list? In other words, what would make them, and others like them, raise their bid cards? \n\n“WOW-worthy” [travel packages may be the answer you are looking for.](http://demo.experiencecharity.com/#/)\n\n## In Kind Donations\nTrue, [finding auction donations is still the biggest challenge event organizers face, but a strategic approach makes it easier.](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/in_kind_donations_donationmatch) According to Renee Zau at Donation match here are some tips starting from preparation to lead resources:\n * Start As Soon As You Can\n * Make It Easy for Others to Help\n \nLeverage, Leverage, Leverage\n A key to maximizing my success has been prioritizing the \"one to many\" opportunities, potentially yielding multiple donations with a single touch. Donors of past events, Your Board of Directors, Staff, and Event Committee, [HARO](https://www.helpareporter.com/) (sign up as “Journalist/Reporter” and indicate “Giftbag” as the only category), [DonationMatch](https://my.donationmatch.com/landing/RF15466?referral_code=RF15466&redirect=www.donationmatch.com) (sign up as a Nonprofit to list events needing items)\n\n\n## Auctria  maximizes and organizes the efforts of the team!\n\n### Organize Donor Contact Information\nDonor contact information is easy to load and organize with Auctria.  The team centralizes all the donor data contact points and donation notes.  Track donor information with Auctria to make best use of the procurement team’s time  for loading actual donation items and after the auction closes creating donor receipts and thank you correspondences.\n\n## Follow our [Pinterest Boards](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/) for links to many donation pages.\n [![Pinterest-badge-36px.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Pinterest-badge-36px.png)](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/)\n\n\n## Here is list for inspiration:\n### FAMILY [Products & Services](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/mega-auction-donations-from-auctria)\n  * gymnastics programs\n  * ballet studios\n  * martial arts programs\n  * surfing\n  * local camps\n  * health & fitness centers\n  * music lessons\n  * children’s salons\n  * trampoline & jumping locales\n  * arcades\n  * inflatable and party locales\n  * performing arts classes & camps\n  * tutoring\n  * children’s museum\n\n### PROFESSIONAL SERVICES\n  * weight loss centers \n  * teeth whitening\n  * orthodontics\n  * home services: cleaning, pool \n  * pediatric services\n  * vehicle detailing\n  * wellness center\n  * attorney consultation\n  * spa\n  * gym membership: crossfit, pilates, barre, martial arts, boxing\n  * glamour services: nail salon, lash salon, waxing salon tanning salon\n\n\n### THINGS TO DO\nFamily friendly activities are quite wide ranging.  Seek out a variety to maximize bids.  Most [theme parks small and large will honor donation requests.](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/348888302360507877/)\n  * major theme parks like Disney World/ DisneyLand, Universal Studios\n  * theatre: ballet, orchestral, musicals plays, children’s, \n  * museums: art, science, space, children’s\n  * local theme parks \n  * water parks\n  * horticultural and nature center \n  * boating\n  * camping\n  * movie theater\n  * cultural center\n  * mini-golf\n  * bowling\n  * sailing\n  * zoo\n  * symphony & orchestra\n\n\n### [SPORTING](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/mega-donations-sports/)\nProfessional and collegiate sports teams have community relation departments that are designed to help local not-for profits.  Ask them all!  hockey, baseball, basketball, football, soccer, tennis, lacrosse, softball.  Most will donate autographed and authenticated merchandise or tickets.  \n  * personal sporting experiences: golf outing and/or lesson, tennis, batting cages\n * semi-professional sports teams enjoy donating for additional exposure\n * local adult and student recreational leagues will donate a free next seasons registration leagues.  \n * Consider the local league for: hockey, baseball, basketball, lacrosse, tennis, softball, t-ball, soccer, archery, equestrian.\n\n\n### PETS\nPeople love their pets!  Offering pet related services and goods are popular for auctions.  \n  * grooming\n  * pet-sitter\n  * pet shops for food or services\n  * veterinary services\n\n### [RESTAURANTS](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/mega-auction-donations-from-auctria/)\nAsk for the donation while you are there dining, they will almost ALWAYS give.\n* restaurants give the auction catalog an immediate interest factor \n* local restaurants are usually very kind and donate to locals that frequent the establishment\n* national chains bring brand recognition to the auction\n\n#### TIMING\n**The best time to ask for a donation for a local establishment is at the time you are making a purchase** simply bring your procurement letter with you each time you eat out ask the service person to pass along the request- you will be surprised how many will honor it on the spot or ask you to return shortly\n\nWhen stopping by a restaurant when not dining do so plenty of time prior to the lunch service.  The decision makers tend to be in-house at that time.  Stay away during peak dining times unless you are dining- then go for it!\nNational restaurant chains sometimes make local, onsite donations while others ask that donations be requested through their websites.  Once you establish this information be sure to document in Charity Auction Organizer so you can have the data to make best use of the procurement team’s time going forward.",{"id":8,"title":9},"article","Articles",{"asset":11},{"url":12},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/06b953dcef00561b8f5acfba43279f4a111a67ed-600x320.jpg","2023-08-04T14:25:19.482Z",{"current":15},"finding_auction_item_donations","Help!  How & where do we find auction donations?  Auctria has done the legwork for you!  Auctria Pinterest boards have over 500 links to donation request pages.","Finding Auction Item Donations",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":19,"category":20,"id":5,"image":23,"publishOn":26,"slug":27,"teaser":29,"title":30},"Your nonprofit relies on its supporter community for almost all aspects of your mission—these supporters include your donors, event attendees, volunteers, and advocates. Finding and engaging these individuals in your nonprofit’s activities is crucial for the ongoing success of your fundraising campaigns and projects. \n\nBut this is a task easier said than done. Just as your nonprofit is unique, so too are your supporters. Therefore, they each require different strategies for outreach and engagement. \n\nBefore you kick off your outreach, communication, and engagement strategies, ensure that your whole nonprofit staff is on the same page regarding these strategies. In order to help your team move forward together, we’ve laid out some basic questions that everyone involved may have:\n\n1. How should I define engagement?\n2. What is donor segmentation?\n3. How should I segment my donors?\n4. What do I need to know about my donors?\n5. How should I communicate with my donors?\n6. What is a good engagement rate?\n7. How do I improve engagement going forward?\n\n**Your engagement strategy will look different from every other nonprofit’s because of your unique mission and organizational culture, but the techniques underlying your organization’s strategy should be based on some tried and true nonprofit concepts.** \n\nLet’s start answering some of these burning questions. \n\n![Averill_Auctria_How-to-Segment-and-Engage-Your-Donor-Population-A-Q&A_header-1.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Averill_Auctria_How-to-Segment-and-Engage-Your-Donor-Population-A-Q&A_header-1.jpg)\n\n## 1. How should I define engagement?\n*Engagement* is the pattern of interaction that a supporter in your community has with your nonprofit. Any time that a supporter comes into contact with your nonprofit, whether that be online, through the mail, over the phone, or in person, they are *engaging* with you and your mission. \n\nThis is a very broad definition, however, and might not necessarily be the most helpful one for your organization. Instead, you should take this definition and view it through the lens of your nonprofit organization’s actual activities. \n\nAsk yourself some of the following questions: \n\n * How do my supporters interact with our organization’s online presence? \n * How do my supporters interact with our email campaigns?\n * How do my supporters [interact with our events](https://www.auctria.com/CAO)?\n\n**Think about all the opportunities that your organization has to connect with your community, and then try to quantify them.** It will be important for you to be able to measure your engagement levels accurately, so that you can make data-driven decisions for the future.\n\nYour supporters may engage with your organization through: \n\n * Volunteer opportunities.\n * Event attendance. \n * Donations, either monetary or in-kind. \n * Advocacy actions.\n\nIf you don’t host in-person events, then event attendance won’t be a useful metric for measuring engagement. Measuring engagement will depend on how your organization opens its doors to the community. For example, [look back at your past annual fund campaigns](https://averillsolutions.com/annual-fund-campaign-guide/). Did you raise the most money through event registrations, or a direct mail campaign, or neither? \n\nOnce you know how your own supporters have interacted with your organization in the past, you can determine how you should define engagement for your nonprofit. \n\n![Averill_Auctria_How-to-Segment-and-Engage-Your-Donor-Population-A-Q&A_header-2.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Averill_Auctria_How-to-Segment-and-Engage-Your-Donor-Population-A-Q&A_header-2.jpg)\n\n## 2. What is donor segmentation?\n*Donor segmentation* is a process in which your nonprofit splits up your entire community into smaller groups according to their similarities. These similarities can be anything: age ranges, engagement history, donation level, or gender. \n\nNo matter how you segment your supporters (and we’ll cover how with the next question), it will be a useful tactic for a lot of strategies. You can use donor segmentation to make all of the following activities more fruitful: \n\n * Event invitations. \n * [Asks for donations.](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/do_dont_askingfordonations)\n * Asks for volunteers. \n * Social media campaigns.\n\nWhen you segment your donors, your nonprofit will be able to more successfully reach and communicate with your donors, increasing your engagement rate and the success of your fundraising campaign or event. \n\n**General outreach, aimed at your entire donor population, will be less effective than targeted outreach for specific groups of people.** \n\nWhen you try to make your asks or newsletters applicable to your whole population, they end up becoming applicable to none because they’re too vague to be moving or inspiring. However, creating more specified content will better resonate with individuals because they better relate.\n\nNext, let’s discuss how an organization can determine how best to segment its own supporter population.\n\n![Averill_Auctria_How-to-Segment-and-Engage-Your-Donor-Population-A-Q&A_header-3.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Averill_Auctria_How-to-Segment-and-Engage-Your-Donor-Population-A-Q&A_header-3.jpg)\n\n## 3. How should I segment my donors?\nThis question gets into the nitty-gritty of segmentation. Segmentation as a concept isn’t difficult to grasp, but it can be more difficult to put into practice. In order to make your organization’s [segmentation strategy](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/overview_key_segments) as effective as possible, start by looking at the supporters that you know belong to your community. \n\nFor example, you wouldn’t want to base your segmentation strategy on age groups if you know that the majority of your supporters are all part of the same generational group. Similarly, you wouldn’t want to create a direct mail campaign if your supporters are more comfortable with online or over-the-phone asks. \n\nLook at the data that you already have in your CRM and ask yourself the following questions: \n\n * Where do my supporters live?\n * What ages are my supporters?\n * What campaigns do my supporters give to?\n * What communication strategies have been most effective?\n\nOnce you have the answers to these questions, you can break your population down into segments. **Your segmentation efforts should allow you to create marketing or communication materials for each segment that specifically target some aspect of their interests.** Some common segments include: \n\nEvent attendance history\nPreferred method of communication\nGeographic region\nLevel of giving\n\nYou can use these segments to draw some conclusions about your donors that can help you reach out to them more effectively. \n\n![Averill_Auctria_How-to-Segment-and-Engage-Your-Donor-Population-A-Q&A_header-4.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Averill_Auctria_How-to-Segment-and-Engage-Your-Donor-Population-A-Q&A_header-4.jpg)\n\n## 4. What do I need to know about my donors?\nIn order to create the best outreach plan possible and improve your engagement rates, you have to know what inspires your donors to get involved. Newton’s first law of motion also applies to people in your community: **an object (or supporter) at rest will stay at rest until acted upon by an outside force.** \n\n**Your communication methods should be the force that inspires your supporters to move.** It is easier for a person to do nothing than to do something, so you should keep in mind that you have to overcome that inertia to inspire your donors to act. \n\nWhen you create segments, you’re actually trying to create a compelling reason for your supporters to move, to act, to donate to your cause. Creating segments allows you to get closer to a personal call to action, by analyzing what has caused someone to contribute or engage in the past. \n\nThe things that you need to know about your donor are: \n\n * **The aspects of your cause that are closest to your donors’ hearts.** Pay attention to which campaigns a donor gives to over the course of the year. Are their preferred campaigns education-based? Are they consistently responsive to your [annual fund appeals?](https://averillsolutions.com/annual-fund-appeal/) Analyze their giving history to make an educated guess at what drives them to give. \n\n * **The ways that they prefer to give.** Some people like giving in-kind donations over cash, because they feel like it’s more personal. Others will prefer to give online via a credit or debit card, because it’s easier than attending an event or giving in cash. And still more are more willing to pay for event registration than make an outright donation!\n\n * **How your donors like to be communicated with.** Many professionals aren’t willing or able to spend a long time giving an over-the-phone donation. Others prefer phone calls to email or texting. And even more will enjoy the thoughtfulness that a direct mail campaign provides. \n\nIn order to make your outreach campaigns effective, you need to know these three things about your supporters. When you reach out through their preferred communication method about a cause that they’re passionate about, and then offer their preferred way to give, you’ll be far more successful in your outreach. \n\n![Averill_Auctria_How-to-Segment-and-Engage-Your-Donor-Population-A-Q&A_header-5.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Averill_Auctria_How-to-Segment-and-Engage-Your-Donor-Population-A-Q&A_header-5.jpg)\n\n## 5. How should I communicate with my donors?\nIn order to determine how your donors like to be reached out to, you have to take into account [their previous behaviors.](https://www.dnlomnimedia.com/blog/donor-analytics) On a large scale, you can look at some donor analytics like: \n\n * Open and click-through rates for different email campaigns. \n * Response rates for direct mail campaigns. \n * Answer and donation rates for phone call solicitations. \n * Donation rates for [social media](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/auctria_social) fundraising campaigns.\n\n**These metrics indicate how your campaigns perform through the different media, and even allow you to determine which supporters prefer which method of communication.** \n\nOnce you’ve analyzed your existing data, use your findings to segment your donors by communication method. If you find that you have data that provides inconclusive results about your supporters, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask how they want to be contacted! \n\nIn addition to knowing what method your supporters like to be communicated through, ask yourself this question again with a different answer in mind. \n\n**Q:** “How should I communicate with my donors?”\n**A:** “In a way that is personal, donor-based, enthusiastic, and respectful.” \n\nThe words that you use in your asks are just as important as the method that you use to deliver them. Center your communications around what the donor does for your nonprofit, instead of what your nonprofit does for the community. By keeping your outreach donor-centric, you’ll inspire them more easily. \n\n“We can’t do this without you!” or “We miss you; attend our event!” are both ways to make the donor the center of attention while still reminding them of your mission. Use language like this to convince them to donate, attend events, or volunteer. \n\nFor more help writing better letters and emails, take a look at [these templates from Fundraising Letters.](https://fundraisingletters.org/) These examples can help you craft better supporter-focused messages.\n\n![Averill_Auctria_How-to-Segment-and-Engage-Your-Donor-Population-A-Q&A_header-6.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Averill_Auctria_How-to-Segment-and-Engage-Your-Donor-Population-A-Q&A_header-6.jpg)\n\n## 6. What is a good engagement rate?\nNow that you’re a pro at reaching out in ways that inspire your supporters to get involved, it’s time to establish your goals for your engagement rate. \n\nWe can’t give you a magic number to use for your engagement rate that indicates that your nonprofit is doing well. Every nonprofit is different. Your engagement rate will vary wildly from others’ based on your supporter population size, fundraising capacity, mission, and more. Instead, you should establish engagement rate goals based on your own history. \n\n**The only organization that you need to compete with is yourself! Therefore, use your engagement rate baseline to determine where you need to go from here.** \n\nSome examples of this approach are: \n\n * If 25% of the supporters in your CRM attended your last fundraising event, try to [increase that number to 30%](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/selling_tickets_filling_seats) for your next event. \n * Aim to increase your fundraising goal to 15% more than your previous goal.\n * Try to increase the click-through rate of your emails by focusing on creating more effective segments and improving your emails overall. \n\nCreating measurable and achievable goals is a great way to push your nonprofit organization to new heights while still focusing on your mission and community. \n\n![Averill_Auctria_How-to-Segment-and-Engage-Your-Donor-Population-A-Q&A_header-7.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Averill_Auctria_How-to-Segment-and-Engage-Your-Donor-Population-A-Q&A_header-7.jpg)\n\n## 7. How do I improve engagement going forward?\nWe’ve covered a lot of ground here. Between measuring your current engagement levels, implementing a supporter segmentation strategy, and learning how to use the data you have to find actionable insights, you’ve learned a lot about how to measure engagement. \n\nBut just including a new strategy in your outreach techniques isn’t enough to power real, sustainable change through the future. Your nonprofit team has to be committed to improving your engagement rate across the board. \n\n**To continue to grow and learn, your team has to use the data that you collect at every opportunity to get to know your community better and use that knowledge to create more enticing marketing campaigns, events, and volunteer opportunities.** \n\nEvery time you send an email or host an event, you can learn about your supporters’ motives, passions, and interests. Improving your engagement rate in the future is as simple as continuing to listen and change as your supporters engage with your nonprofit. \n\n-------------------------------\n\nSegmenting and engaging your donor population may seem like a daunting task. It’s difficult to reach out to a large group of people when you’re not sure how to inspire them! But when your nonprofit staff is armed with data-based decisions and new ideas for engagement, you’re sure to create a community of active and engaged supporters. \n\nIf you need more help analyzing your fundraising data before your next campaign, check out [this guide to fundraising feasibility studies from Averill Fundraising Solutions.](https://averillsolutions.com/fundraising-feasibility-study-sample/) With a dedicated effort to understand your community before you start fundraising, you’ll be able to set better engagement benchmarks and reach your fundraising goals.  \n\n-------------------------\n\n![Bob-Happy-200.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Bob-Happy-200.png)\n\nSpecial thanks to Bob Happy from [Averill Solutions](https://averillsolutions.com/) for sharing his expert advice on fundraising planning and feasibility.  \n\nBob Happy brings nearly 35 years of experience providing expert leadership and direction to clients across the not-for-profit sector to his current role as President of Averill Solutions. Before forming Averill Solutions, Bob served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the nation’s largest fundraising firm. He has mentored hundreds of professional fundraising practitioners and many have joined him at Averill Fundraising Solutions.\n\n![Averill logo.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Averill-logo.jpg)",{"id":21,"title":22},"blog","Blog",{"asset":24},{"url":25},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/2fa2f22506842e1f09047e4c54e32884e6c27ddf-600x320.png","2019-03-05T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":28},"segment_engage_averill","Techniques underlying your organization’s strategy should be based on some tried and true nonprofit concepts.","How to Segment and Engage Your Donor Population: A Q&A",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":32,"category":33,"id":5,"image":34,"publishOn":37,"slug":38,"teaser":40,"title":41},"# How to Turn Bidders Into Donors\n\n## They won something at your auction. Great!\n\nYou collect their money and they leave with the item.\nAfter the event, you add their name and address to your donor list so you can ask for a donation later.\nBut is that the right thing to do?\n\nAre they really a donor just because they bought something at your auction?\nThe answer is no.\nThey are not yet a donor. \n\nDonors give money without getting something in return. They give because they believe in the work your nonprofit is doing and they want to see you be successful.\n\nBidders are people who just participated in a transaction that happened to benefit your nonprofit.\nSee the difference?\n\n**You CAN convert them into donors, but it’s going to take a little work.**\n\n![bidder to donor info.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/bidder-to-donor-info.jpg)\n\n## Here are three steps you can follow to move your auction bidders toward becoming donors for your organization\n\n * **Give them a reason to care**\nJust because they came to your event and spent money on an auction item doesn’t mean they’re bought in to your cause. Take the time to tell them about your work. Share the need your work addresses and how you’re making a difference. Tell them a before and after story so they can get the real impact you’re making.\n\n*For example, after your event is over, you might send them a short video explaining what your organization does and why you do it.* Show them what their support is making possible. Video is powerful and when people can see for themselves what the need is, they may be moved to give.\n\n* **Motivate them to give**\nCreate a sense of urgency by showing them why they should give NOW. What will happen to those you help if people don’t give? What will happen if they DO give? If you’ve got a waiting list, help them understand that their donation may remove someone from that waiting list or eliminate it entirely. And explain that for every day that goes by, those on the waiting list are suffering. When people understand that help is urgently needed, they’re more likely to give.\n\n * **Stay in touch and be patient** \nChances are good that you won’t be able to convert all of your auction buyers, but you can probably convert a good many. It may take a combination of a video, a story, and several months of consistent updates before they’re ready to give. You need to be giving your regular donors consistent information anyway, so this shouldn’t be an extra burden. Think of your auction bidders as warm prospects, and give them the time and inspiration they need to make the switch.\n\n**Above all, remember that in order to inspire someone to give, you need to connect their heart with your client’s needs.**\n\n\nIn other words, don’t ask people to support your annual fund or help reach your annual goal. Donors don’t care. Smart nonprofits are [asking their donors to give](http://getfullyfunded.com/key-grabbing-keeping-donors-attention/) to help change lives. \nI heard it said recently that “donors don’t give TO you, they give THROUGH you” which means that donors want to help you make a difference in the world. \n\n![sandy quote bidder donor.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/sandy-quote-bidder-donor.png)\n\nSo, smart nonprofits are asking “Please help us eliminate this waiting list so people can get the help they need” instead of “Help us reach our goal to fund our budget.” \nSee the difference?\n\nBy focusing on the need, connecting bidders emotionally to your work, and inspiring them deeply, you’ll be more likely to convert them into donors for your nonprofit.\n\n\n______\n\nSpecial thanks to Sandy Rees for this article contribution and teaching us how to convert auction bidders to year round donors.  \n\nSandy Rees, Fundraising Consultant, Chief Encouragement Officer and Founder of Get Fully Funded.  She is a prolific writer and you may find her stuff in past issues of Fundraising Success Magazine, at (www.ezinearticles.com)[http://ezinearticles.com/expert/Sandy_Rees/13321] where I’m a Platinum Author, on the [Get Fully Funded blog,](http://getfullyfunded.com/blog/) or as a guest blogger on dozens of sites on the net.\n\nSandy on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/getfullyfunded)\nSandy on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/SandyRees)",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":35},{"url":36},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/7e60e5315d3245f8ae4d9e91eb6c7bf7453f98b0-600x320.jpg","2017-05-05T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":39},"bidder_into_donors","Convert bidders into donors for your nonprofit","How to Turn Bidders Into Donors",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":43,"category":44,"id":5,"image":45,"publishOn":48,"slug":49,"teaser":51,"title":52},"Nowadays, social media is a completely necessary part of any organization’s marketing campaign. It helps get the company name out there and into people’s minds. As this happens, companies also start to develop deeper relationships with consumers, leading to more customer loyalty, honest feedback, and invaluable market insights. Similarly, social media also increases the potential to reach more people and generate exposure for fundraising efforts or other specific initiatives.\n\nWith all of these benefits in mind, let’s take a look at how you can go about growing your organization’s social media following.\n\n## Get set up on multiple social media platforms\n\nJust [as our ‘Digital Marketing 101’](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-to-engage-online-donors-digital-marketing-101/) piece discusses a multichannel approach to marketing in general (incorporating your website, email marketing, SMS, and more), adopting a multi-pronged strategy with social media is crucial. While it can be a challenge to keep up with several social media accounts at once, doing so will ultimately help your organization far more than if you stick with just one or two (even if you’re prioritizing the one where you see the most activity). You’ll be able to reach more people across more demographics, which accomplishes two goals. First, it broadens your pure exposure; second, it will enable you to gather data on which social marketing approaches are most effective across platforms and demographics, so that you can adjust your strategies accordingly.\n\n## Do your research\n\nAnalyzing the market is a crucial step in reaching not only more people, but the right people. First, research the platforms you’ll be using to get an idea of the demographics they cater to. Then conduct surveys, assess your organization’s sales and conversions, and observe competitors’ consumer bases to determine who your ideal customer is. [MarTech claims this sort of research](https://martech.org/dont-miss-out-on-what-your-customers-actually-want/) helps you to determine “what your customers want right now.” This is true not only with regard to the products or services your organization is ultimately trying to sell, but also the messaging and content you’re delivering over social channels. The more you know about your potential customers, the better prepared you’ll be to create relevant and engaging content for them.\n\n\n## Take advantage of “tagging a friend”\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/d8de0f5666df3231253be40ba29d2ce671a2b0c4-789x442.jpg)\n\nThe “tag a friend” strategy, which is what we often see in social posts promoting giveaways and other similar initiatives, is a way to encourage your organization’s current followers to reach out to others and bring them into the loop. Naturally, the primary benefit of this approach is to gain more followers by way of what essentially amounts to word of mouth. There is a potential secondary benefit as well, however. In a post specifically [about increasing Instagram followers by AskMoney,](https://www.askmoney.com/investing/increase-instagram-followers) it explains that if your content goes viral thanks to followers tagging their friends, your post may appear more prominently in search results within the app, or be listed in places like the top of the “Explore” page on Instagram. Naturally this in turn amounts to even greater exposure and more followers.\n\n## Create consistent content\n\nThe consistency of your content operation is also crucial to gaining (and retaining) followers. The best approach is to create a calendar for content creation and uploading. [Forbes](https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2019/02/11/why-content-consistency-is-key-to-your-marketing-strategy) explains that keeping a regular content calendar like this helps your organization build credibility, a strong reputation, and brand trust, and also helps you to cultivate a better customer experience. Alternatively, when potential customers pick up on irregularity in your social media presence –– and thereby your public image –– it can create a sense of distrust. Naturally this is something you want to avoid (particularly if you’re gearing up for a social-oriented fundraiser).\n\n## Create relevant content\n\nFinally, while you do want a regular schedule for social media content output, it’s also important to avoid posting for the sake of posting. Your content should always have a purpose, and should be designed to resonate with your target audience. This doesn’t mean that all content has to be an attempt to directly drive sales; some common purposes for content include entertaining, inspiring, educating, informing, and convincing. The goal, overall, is to use your market research and understanding of your target audience to develop a trustworthy, likable, and useful presence on social media. Content should engage consumers, establish and maintain your organization’s personality, and keep up a consistent tone. It should also be made as easy as possible to consume.\n\nGrowing your organization’s social media presence is the best way to reach the right people and drive more conversions. It takes a fair amount of effort, but if you begin to follow the steps above, you’ll be on your way to developing a larger and more productive following across platforms.\n\n--------------------------\nSpecial thanks to Roseanne Jane for sharing this expert content. Roseanne Jane became a lifestyle and community outreach blogger after being inspired by her volunteer work in a local senior home. Volunteerism is tough work, but she hopes that she can ignite her readers' calling through her articles.\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":46},{"url":47},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/7b6438cdc7715f7a4a740354b835935835084fcd-600x320.jpg","2022-03-18T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":50},"how-to-grow-your-organization-s-social-media-following","Adopting a multi-pronged strategy with social media is crucial","How To Grow Your Organization’s Social Media Following",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":54,"category":55,"id":5,"image":56,"publishOn":59,"slug":60,"teaser":62,"title":63},"Promoting the auction in advance is strategic \nEarly promotions has a two-fold purpose: \n 1. Increase procurement \n 2. Increase reach for auction attendees \n  \nHaving a website dedicated to the fundraiser help establish credibility of the event and the organization.  Reach out through multiple channels multiple times.  E-Philanthropy is completely mainstream.  Caring and sharing go together so use the social streams to encourage engagement and sharing.  Start [branding the auction NOW](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/brand_auction_story) for greater recognition short and long term.\n\n## Boost Attendance\nAlthough fundraising goes on all year round, there’s nothing like a blowout fundraising event to get nonprofit supporters excited about your cause. Your most reliable donors enjoy coming together to learn about your recent successes, support your cause and meet other like-minded people.  Don't just rely on those supporters who you know will show up every time. [Boost Attendance.](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/dk_boost_attendance)  As your nonprofit grows and takes on more ambitious projects, you need to draw more people (and larger donations) to your events every time. \n\n![promote auction bullhorn 400.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/promote-auction-bullhorn-400.png)\n\nBoost attendance with enticing event only activities.  [Host the perfect event](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/host_perfect_fundraising_event) and encourage attendance and gain excitement with these themed events combined activities:\n * Raffles\n * Teachers in Jail\n * Themed Youth Group Party\n * Noisy Sunday\n * Ugly Christmas sweater party\n * Decades party (70s, 80s, 90s)\n * Neon party\n * Hawaiian theme or luau\n * Walkathons and fun runs\n\n\n\n## Increase Procurement\nPromote and assist the [procurement efforts](http://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/procurement_basics) and provide save the date and & relevant event details.  Promote a save-the-date in communication channels that reach your audience, consider newsletters hard copy and digital, flyers for schools, facebook, twitter etc.  *ASK everyone* on these channels for donations.  Provide simple instructions how to donate to the auction, include key contact information on the [procurement letter.](http://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/procurement_letter_elements)\n\n\n## Increase Reach\n*Early Promotion with an incentive* can increase attendance and auction preview.  Event tickets to the fundraising auction event itself is part of the promotion process.  A multi-tier admission pricing encourages early sales and bidder pre-registration.  As soon as the date for the auction is secured create a website for the auction.  Promote the fundraising auction with lots of lead time up to the event date.   The committee will do all the necessary activities prior to the actual event, then figuratively ‘flip-the-switch’ to auction pre-sale.  \n\nInclude on the auction website: \n* date\n* time\n* location\n* mission of the charity and fundraiser\n* how to donate auction items  \n\nCalculate the actual overhead expenses and discount accordingly.\nExample with a $100 face value ticket price:  \n\n\u003Ctable class=\"table\">\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Cth>Time Prior to Event\u003C/th>\u003Cth>Ticket Price\u003C/th>\n\u003C/tr>\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>4 weeks\u003C/td>\u003Ctd>$75\u003C/td>\n\u003C/tr>\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>2 weeks\u003C/td>\u003Ctd>$85\u003C/td>\n\u003C/tr>\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>at the door\u003C/td>\u003Ctd>$100\u003C/td>\n\u003C/tr>\n\u003C/table>\n\n *QUICK TIP: Use Auctria to sell admission to the event and as a launch point to sell tickets & pre-register bidders* [Create event tickets as items](https://docs.auctria.com/v3/tickets/create-event-tickets-as-items)\n\n\n## Promotional Message Essentials  \n\n### Communication Channels \nUse each and every communication channel that the potential bidder or donor audience can be reached.  Consider how the group regularly communicates formally and informally.\n * hard copy flyers, include a QR code \n * weekly or monthly newsletter, include a QR code\n * digital newsletters\n * automated telephone calling system\n * [Facebook for non profits](https://nonprofits.fb.com/)\n * [Twitter](https://support.twitter.com/articles/100990)\n * Facebook [micro-targeting](http://www.auctria.com/Web/News/fb_video_instructions) and advertising, depending on the marketing budget\n * bulletin board on property\n * bulletin boards in local businesses that promote local events (think Starbucks, Panera, local lunch shop, community centers)\n * community e-bulletin boards, blogs, emails\n * newspapers allow public, local submissions to event sections that can be submitted for print and online listings, use [Help A Reporter Out](https://www.helpareporter.com/) to promote the event & cause\n * local magazines encourage public submissions to local fundraising events\n\nEmail newsletters should already be a part of your engagement strategy is already an important first step for your organization, if it's not don't worry- the auction is a great time to start.  The magic key is getting the email opened.  \n\nStart with these 5 key strategies:\n\n * Use catchy subject lines\n * Link to your donation platforms\n * Include social media buttons\n * Feature a calendar of upcoming events\n * Recognize members or donors\n\nExplore more on how to can [maximize the use of your email newsletters](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/leveraging_email_newsletter) to make this happen for your organization. \n\n\n### More than just the basics: \n * Charity or group name with a recognizable logo\n * date, time and details of the fundraising event\n * website to access all the details \n * DO include pictures of last year’s events, or how past donations helped the cause\n * Use graphics to garner attention\n * Answer the question: what’s in it for me as a donor or bidder?\n* “call to action”  such as Register as a bidder now, Purchase your event ticket today, Support the cause with a donation right now\n\n### Use a QR Code \nQR code is a matrix (square) bar-code that when scanned takes the user directly to the auction website.  QR code is read by a camera on a smartphone or mobile device that is equipped with a reader.  QR [code generators are free and easy](http://www.qr-code-generator.com/) to find with a simple Google search. Create a QR code for your auction website and include the code on printed materials, emails to your audience \n\nHere is an example of a QR code that was created directing users to the Auctria DEMO auction website\n\n![qrcode.33389909.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/qrcode.33389909.png)\n\n\n## Social Media\n\nUsing Video for Facebook is a Must Do\nFacebook videos are a MUST do to promote the auction fundraiser. Luckily Facebook has made this super simple. Ever notice how many videos you see on your Facebook thread? This is not a coincidence. FB algorithms are favoring videos and this can help gain attention for a fundraising auction.  In advance have 3-10 photos chosen that you want to use, This can be photos of last year's auction event, current flyer, or screenshots of the auction website. Got more than 10 to share? Make a second or third video.  Follow along for [instructions on how to use Facebook to create and upload video.](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/fb_video_instructions)\n\n### Timing of Posts\nSpace out the timing of your posts so as not to bombard your followers. Vary the day of the week as well as time of day. Facebook allows posts to be saved as Draft or Scheduled. Take the time to create a few and schedule the posts leading up to the big auction day.\n\n### Snapchat\nRecent changes to Snapchat has given innovative companies the opportunity to catch a new wave. Though Snapchat has been around for several years, it now has more active users than Twitter. This has marketers looking for creative ways to leverage this up and coming technology. Auction fundraiser teams are always looking for newer, more creative ways to promote and build their brand- this is an easy one. [Snapchat custom geo-filters](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/snapchat_geofilters_wood) are not a new feature for Snapchat, but the ability for companies or individuals to customize and broadcast is. The technology has developed in a way to allow geographically broadcasting of custom photo filters to an area as small as 100 square feet for a predetermined date and time.\n\n### Professional Social Media Expert\nIs your organization wasting time and effort trying to get your message out through social media channels? Often the challenge is knowing which social sites are best for non-profit organizations and how often you should be pushing content. Barton Wood – President at Firefly Creative, Inc., and Atlanta based marketing firm, says: “We’re constantly asked by our clients, [is there a need for a social presence if we already have a website?”](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/social_marketing_portal) The response is a resounding “YES”. Sometimes it’s hard to justify the time and effort needed to create content and respond to online posts, but more and more people are using the web to validate, rate and review organizations through social sites.\n\n### Reaching Millennials\nHow to get millennial donors? Social media is the best place to start.  Many nonprofits create a message for their donation campaigns on social media the same way they would an ad for their organization. They say things like, “Support our organization...” or “You can help us by…” The problem is these types of messages ask millennials to do something with little context — the same way advertisements do. Unfortunately, millennials hate ads. In fact, only 1% of millennials say they would trust an organization based on a compelling advertisement. [Millennial donors](https://www.wildapricot.com/blogs/newsblog/2017/12/13/millennial-donors-from-social-media) want the full story- so give it them in text, photo and video!\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":57},{"url":58},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/a84f35b728b770f87d8a88b9242dd58dc6996ef6-600x320.jpg","2016-01-05T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":61},"promote_promote","ALWAYS be promoting.  Use these tips and bidders will come to you.","Promote, Promote & Promote",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":65,"category":66,"id":5,"image":69,"publishOn":72,"slug":73,"teaser":75,"title":76},"Unlock a new level of fundraising potential in 2024! \n\nNot only does Auctria have new features, but also added more team members to better support you this coming event season!\n\nAlso, find some inspiration from The Boys and Girls Club of Walker County as they share their fundraising story.\n\n### New Auctria Features:\n\n* **Built-in Health Check**: ensure your event is configured for success. Auctria Health Checks are a helpful tool designed to check that everything is set up correctly and avoid any unexpected issues. We've included action links for each problem, making it easy to take the necessary steps.  We want to make sure that your event is as stress-free and seamless as possible.  Learn how Health Checks can help you: [Auction Health Checks | Auctria](https://guide.auctria.com/features/auction_healthchecks/)\n\n* Ticket Hub: dedicated guests' space to manage tickets. Streamline your next ticketed event with Auctria’s latest updates. Now, with your E-Ticket and Ticket Statement emails, you can “Add to Apple Wallet” or “Add to Google Wallet'' with a click of a button.  The powerful “Ticket Hub” will set your ticket purchasers and sponsors up for success with an easy-to-access page to update all of their guest details.  Watch [our Tickets Video](https://www.auctria.com/video/?id=895875281) for more information.\n\n### Bingo Boost at the Boys & Girls Club of Walker County\n\nAuctria recently had the privilege of speaking with Michelle Spencer, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Walker County (BGCWC). The club has a distinctive approach to fundraising focused on involving its community and highlighting its mission. They seized the opportunity to organize a themed and entertaining evening of Bingo (and so much more) that effectively united their community. \n\nHere are some tips they gave for success:\n\n😄 Make it fun: They added crowd-pleasers: Dessert Auction, Door Prizes and Raffles!\n\n🔎 Know Your Audience: The Oktoberfest-themed Bingo event had spirited music, and mouth-watering food, that engaged  attendees\n\n📝 Plan ahead: Auctria + Early Planning = Event Success\n\n[Read the full article here](https://www.auctria.com/blog/bingo-boost-at-the-boys-and-girls-club-of-walker-county/)\n\n#### Ask Auctria! \n\n❓ Can we use Auctria for texting?\nA: The good news is all of Auctria's paid licenses (in\nthe US and Canada) include texting, and it only\ntakes 1 click to enable Standard Texting! For most\norganizations, Standard Texting is a great fit. All\nsystem-generated text notifications, including\nbidding updates, registration confirmations, check-\nin notifications, and item won alerts are supported\nBidders can reply to outbid notifications to place\ntheir next bid by text.\nIf you would like to send custom texts, you would\nneed Advanced Texting. Advanced Texting is\navailable to 501(c)3's in the United States and for\nany organization in Canada. US organizations will\nneed to submit a profile which has to go through a\nregulatory vetting process.\nRead more to see which option is best for your organization:\n[Standard And Advanced Texting](https://guide.auctria.com/redirect?id=StandardAndAdvancedTexting)",{"id":67,"title":68},"news","News",{"asset":70},{"url":71},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/f1d65dd090114b7cb02066a8939e85a5092f6f14-600x320.png","2024-01-19T17:24:00.000Z",{"current":74},"auctria-updates-january-2024","Unlock a new level of fundraising potential in 2024! ","Auctria Updates January 2024",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":78,"category":79,"id":5,"image":80,"publishOn":83,"slug":84,"teaser":86,"title":87},"Your nonprofit’s website is the core of its online existence. It’s the go-to for all information your supporters might need, especially regarding events. \n\nAn event landing page is a guide to your upcoming event for new and existing supporters alike. A well-constructed landing page can increase hype, explain how your event ties into your mission, and boost attendance. From Walk-a-Thons to [hybrid](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-to-host-a-hybrid-fundraising-event/) auctions, every nonprofit event needs to be promoted ahead of time and have a reliable source of clear information for guests. \n\nCertain [design practices](https://morweb.org/post/nonprofit-web-design-best-practices) can help your page stand out and garner support. Use these five essential strategies to design an event landing page that will make your next event a success. \n\n## Incorporate your nonprofit’s branding\nYour nonprofit’s brand is a key part of your identity and establishes unmistakably that this event is being hosted by your organization. For your event landing page, drive impact by incorporating your brand’s mission, voice, logo, and font:\n\n**Mission:** What is the purpose behind your organization? How will this particular event support your cause? Consider these questions and accurately list why supporters should care about this event.\n\n**Voice:** Use the same tone and messaging from your website and other marketing materials in your event landing page to ensure consistency.\n\n**Logo:** Display your logo prominently on your event landing page so supporters can feel confident that this event is being hosted by your nonprofit. If you don’t have a logo yet, make sure the design is simple, memorable, and relates to your nonprofit’s mission and values.\n\n**Font:** Use the same fonts from your organization’s other marketing materials and rest of your website and ensure that they’re appropriately sized for readability. \n\n[Kwala advises](https://kwala.co/nonprofit-branding/) creating a brand that makes your organization uniquely identifiable while emphasizing your mission and values. This helps supporters emotionally connect with your cause and feel like your organization is legitimate.\n\n\n## Add logistical details\n\nYou probably wouldn’t go to a party without receiving an invitation. How could you if you didn’t know when it started or where it was happening? In the same way, don’t leave any room for confusion when giving your supporters information about an event. \n\nRemove the mystery by providing everything people would need to know if they attended. This includes: \n\n* Location\n* Attire\n* Purpose of your event\n* Agenda\n* How to register\n* Cost of attendance (if applicable)\n\nDepending on your event, there may be other pieces of information to include. If you’re hosting a [virtual event or campaign,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-to-win-at-virtual-fundraising/) include clear instructions on how to access your livestream or virtual platform. Other events, in-person and virtual alike, may also involve event ticketing platforms or online promotions that should be clearly linked to your landing page.\n\nAbove all, be careful not to leave anything out. Your landing page is the most reliable source of information for your event; make it trustworthy! \n\n## Include impactful visuals\nThere’s a reason social media is effective in catching people’s attention. Images and videos can give people an inside look at what to expect at your event. Consider creating videos featuring your volunteers or staff describing your event and why people should attend. Your supporters might be inspired from the most reputable review they can get: a direct testimony from someone involved in the organization.\n\nIf you’ve hosted this event in the past, you can also include images that show your event in action. This gives supporters a better idea of what they can expect upon attending.\n\nIf you haven’t hosted this event before, include pictures and videos that show your nonprofit’s other work so people understand how their contributions and attendance will actually make a difference. For instance, include images of animals your animal welfare organization recently saved because of donor support. A healthcare organization may highlight patients who received lifesaving care because of donors’ efforts.\n\nYou might also cater to your audience by meeting them where they’re at on [social media](https://www.auctria.com/blog/promote-online-auctions-on-social-media/) platforms. If most of your supporters are active on Instagram, for example, share your photos and a link to your landing page there so that your audience can find it more easily. \n\n\n## Registration form tips:\n\nThe ideal registration form should have the following characteristics:\n\n* **Limited number of prompts:** This helps supporters sign up quickly and easily and ensures they won’t get frustrated. Make sure to only ask for the most essential information like name, contact information, and billing information if applicable.\n\n* **Mobile-friendly:** Make sure the process is convenient for your mobile users by making all prompts legible and easy to fill out on a mobile device.\n\n* **Clear “submit” button:** Make your submit button stand out by using bold font or incorporate striking colors so supporters can easily send in the registration form and not accidentally fill it out and abandon it.\n\nAn embedded registration widget might be part of the nonprofit CMS platform you choose for your website or available as a plugin or add-on. It will allow you to facilitate the external process directly on your page, so aspects like your event’s registration form can be consolidated with all the information about your event.\n\nAdd accessibility elements\nAccessibility is an ongoing movement to make the web more accessible for everyone. According to [Morweb’s tips on web accessibility,](https://morweb.org/post/nonprofit-web-accessibility) “this means that people of all abilities should be able to access and engage with digital content - including your nonprofit’s website.”\n\nTo ensure your website is fully accessible, include elements like:\n\n* **Alt text:** Brief descriptions of your image so people with visual disabilities can still engage with your content.\n\n* **Contrast between the text and background:** Text should stand out boldly from the background to increase readability.\n\n* **Closed captioning and transcripts:** This allows people with hearing disabilities to interact with your video content.\n\n* **Simplified language:** Avoid using technical jargon. If it’s absolutely necessary, provide explanations of what a given word or phrase means.\n\nThankfully, [digital tools](https://www.auctria.com/blog/4-ways-nonprofits-can-adapt-to-the-digital-age/) make web accessibility much more inclusive. Make sure to choose the right tools for providing information about your event and consider all the ways you can make your information available to everyone.\n\n## The Gist\nDisorganized and confusing information makes your website purposeless. Rather, impressive websites are easy to navigate and clearly understood. Make it easy for attendees to show their support at your event by including all relevant information on your event landing page. Don’t stop at information: balance your page’s practicality with design. Use your organization’s brand and impactful visuals to capture your supporters’ attention. Remember: your digital content should serve your supporters.\n\n---------------\n\nSpecial thanks Murad Bushnaq, Founder and CEO of [Morweb](https://morweb.org/) for the expert advice. Since its inception in 2014, Murad has acted as Creative Director and Chief Technologist to help nonprofits spread their vision online through engaging design, intuitive software and strategic communication.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":81},{"url":82},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/25738389f663065e83f67fced5fe5ed4243ffb20-510x276.jpg","2023-02-06T16:36:37.935Z",{"current":85},"designing-an-event-landing-page-5-strategies-for-nonprofits","Your nonprofit needs a strong event landing page to attract prospective attendees and give them all the information they need. Use these key strategies. ","Designing an Event Landing Page: 5 Strategies for Nonprofits ",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":89,"category":90,"id":5,"image":91,"publishOn":94,"slug":95,"teaser":97,"title":98},"# Auction Items for Virtual Galas\n\nWant to know more about virtual silent auction items?\n\nIf you’re like thousands of nonprofits, you’re throwing a [virtual gala](https://blog.travelpledge.com/benefit-auction-resources/the-definitive-guide-to-virtual-galas/) to raise vital funds while remaining socially distant. Though, is your historic lineup of auction items still appropriate for these unprecedented times? In this post, I’ll cover how to choose the best format and choose the right virtual silent auction items.\n\n## Choose Your Auction Format\n\nThere are three main auction formats available to virtual galas:\n\n * **Regular Online Auction:** Bidders log in to your online auction system to browse items and place bids. This can take place days before or after your streamed event.\n *  **Virtual Live Auction:** An auctioneer presents items and reviews bids on live video. Commonly, all items open for online bidding at once, and the auctioneer “checks in” on each item.\n * **Silent Auction w/ Live Items:** An auctioneer presents each item that would have made your in-person live auction. Attendees have a few hours after the presentation to bid.\n\n## Which Auction Format is Best for Your Virtual Gala?\n\nThe best option depends on your audience’s preference and your organizational capabilities.\n\nThe Virtual Live Auction requires a commitment to planning and rehearsal. It also requires an engaged audience, a talented auctioneer, and a [low-latency](https://www.auctria.com/blog/latency-of-streaming-services/) streaming platform. Further, the time constraints of a virtual gala require the live auction to be tightly run.\n\nIf the Virtual Live Auction is out of your wheelhouse, I recommend you use a combination of the Regular Online Auction and Silent Auction w/ Live Items.\nSchedule your Regular Online Auction to open four days before your streamed event. Then, close auction sections two days, one day, and immediately before your streamed event to create bidding urgency.\n\nDuring your streamed event, present your five best items and allow bidding for two hours after you sign off the air. This option is great if your virtual gala is pre-recorded.\n\n## Choose Your Auction Items\n\nNow that you’ve determined your format, it’s time to procure auction items.\n\nHow many auction items do you need?\n\n### The One Item Per Bidding Unit Rule\n\nFor your Regular Online Auction, the [rule of thumb](https://blog.travelpledge.com/how-many-items-to-include-in-silent-auction/) for in-person silent auctions still applies: You should not have more than one item for each buying unit. This helps maintain a “seller’s market” where competitive bidding drives up proceeds.\n\nThat said, Regular Online Auctions differ from in-person silent auctions because they span for multiple days, and there are no limits to your display space. This affords you as an organizer some flexibility.\n\nSuppose you procured more items than what you thought would be optimal for competitive bidding, and then more people start bidding online than you expected. You can add your extra items to the later closing sections to earn incremental revenue.\n\n### Fewer Items for Your Virtual Live Auction\n\nFor your Virtual Live Auction or Silent Auction w/ Live Items, include significantly fewer items than you would have in an in-person live auction. This is because your online audience’s attention span will be much shorter than at your dinner gala.\n\nWhere you may have had 15 items at your in-person live auction, you’ll want a maximum of five items in an online event.\n\n## What Are The Best Categories of Auction Items for Your Virtual Gala?\n\nThe uncertainty surrounding the pandemic has greatly affected auction item selection. Below are some categories of items that should perform the best given the circumstances.\n\nCause-Related PrivilegesCause-related privileges are fun perks that your organization awards the winning bidder. Here are some examples:\n\n * Name next year’s gala theme\n * Street, park or other space named after you\n * Private tour\n * Principal for a day\n * Premier parking space\n\nThese privileges are easy to procure and can’t be acquired elsewhere by the winning bidder. They generally grab attention and spur competitive bidding.\n\nFurther, bidders’ ability to collect and redeem cause-related privileges is generally unaffected by social-distancing measures. For privileges that are impacted, most bidders will still bid in the spirit of helping your organization (vs. gaining a personal benefit).\n\n### Local Experiences\n\nAs people grow tired of being cooped up in their homes, they will look to drivable destinations for their first getaways since the start of the pandemic.\n\nThis is due to travelers’ reluctance to board airplanes and uncertainty about restrictions on international travel. There is also a desire to patronize local businesses hit hard by the shutdown.\n\nWeekend getaways to B&Bs, lake houses, and golf resorts within a three-hour radius make the perfect online auction items. For smaller items, golf rounds at local courses and gift cards to local restaurants fit the bill as well.\n\nBidders will feel reasonably confident that they will safely be able to redeem their certificate sometime in the next year.\n\n### Trips With Generous Expiration Dates\n\nThe previous section is not to say you should completely rule out vacations that require air travel. We at TravelPledge have seen numerous international trips sell during the pandemic.\n\nWe explain these sales as “aspirational,” meaning bidders know they won’t redeem them during the pandemic, but they want to look forward to a spectacular trip in 2021 and beyond.\n\nThe key to selling trips that require air travel is to emphasize generous expiration dates. Many hospitality companies expect to have plenty of extra rooms for the foreseeable future and will likely grant a multi-year redemption window.\n\nFeature prominently any trips with generous expiration dates by pulling the expiration restrictions out of the fine print and into the main description. It will be the number one piece of information bidders will look for.\n\n### Virtual Experiences\n\nPerhaps the most obvious category of items to include in your online auction is virtual experiences. I use “virtual experiences” loosely to describe any item that can be redeemed online.\n\nExamples include:\n * Online lessons\n * Subscriptions\n * Private concert\n * Professional services\n * Celebrity shoutout videos\n\nWhile there is a fairly low ceiling to the amount of revenue a virtual experience could bring in, it is easy for bidders to see themselves benefiting from their purchase right away.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/1e9bcbc8f3026170cee0af3a84f48fcefa0f5511-1519x898.png)\n\n### Avoid Anything That Requires Pickup\n\nFor tangible items, you should avoid anything that cannot be shipped to winning bidders. This includes large items, like cars and appliances, and certain collectibles like memorabilia.\n\nBidders will be in an “online shopping” mentality by bidding from their smart devices. Part of online shopping is getting your purchases delivered to your door.\n\nFurther, the pickup requirement serves as a barrier to some bidders who feel unsafe with any in-person interactions.\n\n## What Should the Starting Bid and Bid Steps Be?\n\nWhen choosing starting bids, your challenge is to choose bid steps small enough to encourage competitive bidding while big enough to guarantee a meaningful donation if an item sells.\n\nFor your Regular Online Auction, start the bidding at 30% of the fair market value (FMV) for your fully donated items. For fixed-price consignment items, add 10% to your cost if the item sells. For TravelPledge items, use the minimum bid we provide you.\n\nYour bid steps should be about 10% of the value of your item, and you should have around 14 steps, with the first step being the starting bid and the 14th step being the “Buy-it-now price”.\n\nFor example, suppose you have a fully donated item valued at $500. Then your starting bid would be $150, and the following bids would be $200, $250, etc…all the way until a buy-it-now price of $800.\n\nFor your Virtual Live Auction or Silent Auction w/ Live Items, raise the starting bid to at least 50% of the FMV. These items are not for bargain hunters so you want to maintain a premium perception.\n\nLooking for a [powerful tool](https://www.auctria.com/features/) to run your fundraisers? For more information on virtual galas and virtual silent auction items, contact [Auctria](https://www.auctria.com/) today. If you want to read more on how Auctria has helped non-profits across the country, browse through our [case studies](https://www.auctria.com/case-studies/). \n\n-------------------------\nSpecial thanks to Alex McDonald at [TravelPledge](https://www.travelpledge.com/) for sharing his advice for auction items for virtual galas. [**TravelPledge** is your benefit auction’s connection to generous business owners.](https://www.travelpledge.com/) Access local packages (think B&B getaways, not safaris) and always keep at least 40% of the winning bid. We exist so you generate a meaningful donation no matter what.\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":92},{"url":93},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/2e523531145c29dfc8234e2e5cc11f6a83ef056e-600x320.png","2020-07-24T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":96},"auction-items-for-virtual-galas","As virtual galas and silent auction items are different from regular auctions, care must be taken to choose items wisely. Auctria explains.","Auction Items for Virtual Galas",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":100,"category":101,"id":5,"image":102,"publishOn":105,"slug":106,"teaser":108,"title":109},"# Marketing & Describing Auction Items\n\n## Items are central to your auction! \nMarket auction items with captivating descriptions and photos.  Proper marketing is essential to securing initial and subsequent bids.  Use [vivid item descriptions](https://docs.auctria.com/v3/items) to market first, then sell.  \n\nRobust bidding occurs when an item is demand, an item is in demand when it appeals to a large number of bidders.  [Promote the auction](http://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/promote_promote) to increase the number of bidders.\n\n![hand money donate robust bidding500x.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/hand-money-donate-robust-bidding500x.jpg)\n\n\n### Auctria  program generates the entire auction look that is both captivating and professional. Choose from over a dozen website templates.  Modify and create the auction theme and content.  Auctria has built the framework, just load the details and publish.  \n\n## Basic item description should include at a minimum:\n * Donor name, logo and website\n * Descriptive yet clear title\n * retail value\n * starting bid\n * bid increment\n * specifics related to the items or outlined in gift certificate\n * expiration date\n * usage limitations\n\n## Paint the Picture\nExceptional item descriptions should paint the picture with words creating human interest:\n * Services-how will this item make me or my family feel?\n * Restaurants- what is the ambiance, food style and when dining with friends or family\n * Goods- how will this affect the donor in a personal way?\n * Experiences- What forever memories will be created with the experience? and with whom? \n * Raffle Baskets-[raffles](http://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/raffles_success) can include all items big and small\n * Keepsake- Use the sentimentality fully\n * Priceless- why is this item a true treasure and how will it delight? \n\n### Auctria features the ability to load single or multiple photos for each item.  [Multiple photos](https://docs.auctria.com/v3/using-auctria/add-and-modify-images) create a mini-scroll that captivates. \n\n## Use lots of pictures, gain bidders, rocket bidding up-and-up!\n\n![auction descriptions.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/auction-descriptions.jpg)\n\nConsider this, which Portrait Session would you prefer to bid on?  #1 with minimal information or item #2 with lots of information and pictures?\n\n## **#1 Family Portrait Session**\n\n![describe auction items basic.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/describe-auction-items-basic.png)\n\n## **#2 Family Portrait Session**\n\n![describe auctio items detailed.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/describe-auctio-items-detailed.png)",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":103},{"url":104},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/8d19475217894cd2d8bb3121e26084c2816b0a02-600x320.jpg","2016-01-15T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":107},"describing_auction_items","Market and retail auction items for impact and higher bids","Marketing & Describing Auction Items",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":111,"category":112,"id":5,"image":113,"publishOn":116,"slug":117,"teaser":119,"title":120},"Auction  is coming, find items now! Your big annual fundraising auction is around the corner, and you haven’t had enough time or volunteers to collect all the in-kind donations you need. With so little time and so much to do with logistics, staffing volunteers, sponsor/donor promotion, and ticket sales… how do you find quality items for your event? \n\n\n## Renee Zau from DonationMatch is here to help\nI’ve served on over 60 silent auction committees as a volunteer or auction chair for a range of organizations--from nationally recognized charities with paid staff to my children’s school PTA’s. I’ve also personally spoken to hundreds of event leaders and donation decision-makers at companies as the Co-founder of DonationMatch. Rumors, confirmed by benefit auctioneers, say that it takes the same amount of time to prepare a fundraising auction (not counting event planning) as it does to plan a wedding. I wish I could say there were a magic bullet for securing in-kind donations (we’re working on it). It’s still the biggest challenge event organizers face, but a strategic approach makes it easier. Here is mine, starting from preparation to lead resources.\n\n\n### Start As Soon As You Can\n\nThis isn’t just to lessen the workload and protect your sanity. As soon as your day/time/place has been inked, you’ll want to start your asks in order to qualify for the most opportunities, ideally at least 6 months ahead. Some giving programs are seasonal or simply run out of inventory--which can be unexpected and disappointing. You may also need time for second and third follow-ups. Work smarter, not harder, and start those relationships with potential donors early.\n\n\n### Make It Easy for Others to Help\n\nCreate an event website (a central hub for event information, ticket sales, and sponsor/donor promotion) and sample communications (email, social media posts, images from past events, donation request letter, sponsorship letter) to make sharing by others as easy as copying and pasting. Your event website should have a contact name, email address, phone number available for questions. [Google Drive](https://www.google.com/nonprofits), free to nonprofits, is a great place to make social media posts and letters accessible to all committee members, especially if you want the option to update it or add more later--and don’t forget to share the folder link on every committee communication.\n\n\n### Leverage, Leverage, Leverage\n\nA key to maximizing my success has been prioritizing the \"one to many\" opportunities, potentially yielding multiple donations with a single touch. Once your letters and website are ready, take that information to these go-to resources to reach multiple companies at once.\n\n![donation match infographic.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/donation-match-infographic.jpg)\n\n#### Donors of past events\n * Key to Success: Thank them for past support, share what it achieved, invite them to be a part of your community again.\n * Pros: More likely to donate with fewer touches, shown they already like you\n * Cons: Need to segment list by preferred method of accepting requests: online forms/mail/email\n\n#### Your Board of Directors, Staff, and Event Committee\n * Key to Success: Sharing opportunity for event exposure with their fellow business owners, LinkedIn contacts, industry associations, clubs or groups they belong (church, workplaces, friends/neighbors, Chamber of Commerce) \n * Pros: Obvious supporter and knowledgeable about your organization, may donate personally or from own business\n * Cons: Limited time, possible donor burnout, may want to set a goal or expectation for number of items each person secures\n\n#### [HARO](https://www.helpareporter.com) (sign up as “Journalist/Reporter” and indicate “Giftbag” as the only category) \n * Key to Success: Being concise about type of event, event date, audience demographics, items needed and quantity needed.\n * Pros: Companies browse event lists each week\n * Cons: “Shot in the dark” with regards to responses you may receive, if any; cannot contact companies yourself, gift bag items only\n\n#### [DonationMatch](https://my.donationmatch.com/landing/RF15466?referral_code=RF15466&redirect=www.donationmatch.com)  (sign up as a Nonprofit to list events needing items)\n * Key to Success: Pictures and a concise description of how companies will be promoted at your event\n * Pros: Free to use and secure 5 items, only one application to complete, instant delivery of printable gift certificates upon approval, can export donation data (paid feature)\n * Cons: Selection limited in some areas\n\n#### Consignment Companies i.e.[Winspire](http://donationmatch.experiencecharity.com)\n * Key to Success: Surveying attendees about travel and entertainment interests to select likely bestsellers, selecting multiple package options, understanding the fine print.\n * Pros: VIP and priceless experiences can attract bidders to your event, no-risk items can be used any way you wish (Winspire blog has creative raffle and auction ideas)\n * Cons: Need to deduct cost of package from amount raised once sold\n\n\n### More Resources\nIf you’ve exhausted these and still need more items, here are some free resources where you can find information to reach one company at a time. I would split these among committee members, if possible:\n  * Pinterest boards with links to companies’ donation request pages:[Auctria Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria) (multiple boards by interest), [DonationMatch](https://www.pinterest.com/donationmatch/charitable-companies), [FundraiserHelp](https://www.pinterest.com/fundraiserhelp/donations), [PTO Today's ultimate donations message board](http://www.ptotoday.com/boards/35-auctions/166521-ultimate-donation-list) (jump to last page for most recent updates), \n * [FundraiserHelp](http://www.fundraiserhelp.com/ebooks/business-donation-request-fundraiser-source-list.pdf) (PDF with list of links)\n\n\nI hope you discovered some new ideas here that will make the best use of your time and maximize what your fundraising event earns. Please feel free to share any I’ve missed!\n\n\n\n____________________\nThanks to guest blogger Renee Zau for her expert advice!\n\nRenee Zau is a leading expert on finding in-kind donation requests. She built [DonationMatch](https://my.donationmatch.com/landing/RF15466?referral_code=RF15466&redirect=www.donationmatch.com) to streamline handling requests and enable companies to more easily do well by doing good.",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":114},{"url":115},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/f001d8a724a7f655a9651d92461cee93ca6f4d0e-600x320.jpg","2016-12-05T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":118},"in_kind_donations_donationmatch","Turn one touch into many opportunities.","How to efficiently find in-kind donations",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":122,"category":123,"id":5,"image":126,"publishOn":129,"slug":130,"teaser":132,"title":133},"Pairing with Parasport Spokane. It’s not marketing or just the mission, it’s a complete culture proposition. ParaSport Spokane develops athletes with integrity utilizing sport as a catalyst for life. Their annual event fundraiser celebrates the athlete with integrity. Just like they do every day by providing training, recreational, and competitive opportunities ​for youth and adults with physical disabilities that promote success, self-worth, and independence.\n\nDavid Greig and Brittany Croft, along with the auction team have used Auctria for a few years and are happy to share a few tips. Their event success top-level goals are driven by the mission and the money follows. They want all supporters to know ParaSport for athletics and how that contributes to lifelong empowerment. \n\nThe event and auction fundraiser's overarching goal is to let the supporters get to know the athletes. Supporters include sponsors, bidders, and donors. Meeting the athletes 1:1, talking and chatting throughout the event, and formal video presentations make ParaSport Spokane fundraising very personal.\n\nThe event and ParaSport Spokane grow each year in both fundraising and strategy. The annual event and auction have been running for six years. When the event started they were unsure where it would go and considered a goal of $8000 as a reach. To their surprise, they more than doubled this the very first year. As they exit the sixth year they continue to exceed expectations at over $100,000. These dollars fund recreational athletics, equipment, and tournaments along with competitive athletic and travel opportunities. \n\nHere are the top three tips to share:\nMake the organization indelible in the supporters mind\nEvent flexibility and fun\nPairing with ParaSport\n\n## The Indelible Image of a Red Herd\nAt the event fundraiser, they capture hearts as the Red Herd. ParaSport Spokane's signature color is red. As the athletes travel they do so together proudly wearing ParaSport gear. As they all wheel or walk together as a group they evoke wonder from the passers-by. En Masse they have been referred to as the Red Herd and this name has stuck with them, in a good way! \n\nThey have embraced the moniker and use that as part of their branding for the organization in general as well as the event and auction fundraiser. At the event, fundraiser athletes mingle amongst the party-goers and help sell raffle tickets and goodies such as fudge. The older athletes are paired with younger athletes to help with communication and life skills. How to present yourself first as a person, then as a ParaSport athlete. \n\n> A Facebook post from ParaSport shows how \n“Red Herd is so much more than a sport. The games are fun, wins are a nice outcome. However, learning and growth is the thread throughout. Team grocery runs, collaborative meal prep, study hall, mentorship, reflection, shared analysis are all foundational in the whole team trip experience. We love utilizing @airbnb when on the road for all of these reasons. When the Red Herd rolls into town this fam  is ready to make lifelong memories together and have some fun.” \n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/edbe805d5c251549bc2722e42eebd7dee799fbbd-1800x1800.jpg?w=450)\n\n## Event Fundraising Fun\n\nParaSport hads fun with their fundraisers. At the auctionevent fundraiser they conduct a dessert auction. Party goers have the opportunity to bid on dessert for the table. The bids soar and will gor for hundreds of dollars. To make it more competitive, not every dessert is equal. So tThe more desirable desserts have aggressive bidding. This equates to more money raised and lots of friendly fun.\n\nFlexibility and creativity has always been a driver for the auction fundraiser. When the event was in-person the group utilized kiosk bidding to assist bidders that needed a little extra help. When the pandemic hit all bidding was shifted to all online. The most recent event after the pandemic dangers have lifted brought together the lessons from previous years creating a hybrid auction and event. The group utilized kiosk bidding to assist bidders that needed a little extra technical support.\n\nParaSport credits much of the energy and fundraising generated from the stage to their emcee’s, Maggie Crabtree & Sam Adams. Maggie is a radio personality and Sam is a morning news show anchor. Both are incredible storytellers.They capture hearts and that value is intangible. Sam regularly interviews the athletes about sports and places the sports angle first in every story. Maggie carries this forward to the Pairing With ParaSport event with depth in character. These great emcees raise the bidders’, donors’ and sponsors' knowledge of ParaSport fromby  seeing showcasing even more of the long term goals, how relational the athletes are, and seeing the mission actualized from young athlete to lifelong success. \n\nParaSport runs fundraising events year round. Some are combined with athletic activities like tournaments and a basketball shoot-a-thon. Others include a merchandise give back with a local coffee roastery.\n\n\n## Pairing with ParaSport \n\nThis strategy is not isolated to a single fundraising event day/night. Board members, and sponsors get to know the athletes on an individual level. ParaSport Spokane has found that these connections make for fiercely passionate supporters. This means supporters will donate money, lend a voice to social media sharing and come out not only to fundraising events but the athletic events as well. And this is exactly what they want, their athletes to be seen as athletes.\n\nPairing with ParaSport goes into the boardroom and sponsors hearts. The athletes are provided training on how to advocate and promote and grow the awareness for youth and adults with disabilities. Whether they walk or roll into a board room or sponsor's office or location they are carrying the Red Herd story. When sharing their personal stories with these business partners the business partners in turn become vocal influencers. Pairing doesn’t just end with sharing a few notes on social media. \n\nPairing with ParaSport has created a very passionate society that shares the excitement and continues to develop more awareness. Collectively the messaging reaches even more curious athletes, volunteers, sponsors, and business partners.\n\nParaSport Spokane uses adaptive sports as a catalyst for life. They do so through sports as a catalyst for life. Wheelchair basketball, para-track and field, sled hockey, swimming, strength and conditioning, para-fencing, and wheelchair racing all contribute to the learning environment. In Pairing with ParaSport sponsors are invited and frequently come out to athletic events. Seeing the athletic events in person is one of the best ways for sponsors to see how their funds make a difference. \n\n--------------------\n\n\n\nSpecial thanks to ParaSport Spokane’s David Greig and Brittany Croft for sharing their fundraising story. To learn more about ParaSport Spokane please visit their website [https://www.parasportspokane.org/](https://www.parasportspokane.org/)\n\n\nSome frequently asked questions about ParaSport\nHow do I get involved in ParaSport Spokane?\n* To learn more contact our Executive Director Teresa Skinner (509)999-6466 or [tskinner@parasportspokane.org](mailto:tskinner@parasportspokane.org)\nIs ParaSport Spokane just for children? \n* Our members are all ages and abilities. Give us a call, we would love to meet you! \nDo I have to be competitive to participate? \n* Anyone can be athletic and an athlete. ParaSport Spokane members have a wide variety of goals. Many want to be recreational, other's love the social outlet, a number have Paralympic aspirations. We're an avenue to help people become the best version of themselves. \nMy child has a disability but doesn’t use a wheelchair, can they still participate?\n* Of course. There is a very wide variety of disability diagnoses which allow for participation within Paralympic Sport. Give us a call to find out!\nDo we need to provide our own adaptive equipment?\n* If you have your own equipment, you are encouraged to use it. ParaSport Spokane provides access to equipment where possible and will help in seeking grant opportunities which provide equipment grants.\nIs there a cost to participate?\n* This is a zero participation fee for service program. Costs may be incurred when athletes start to travel with our competitive teams. Financial hardship is not a limiting factor.\nI know someone who may be interested in participating, what should I do?\n* Let us know who they are and how we can reach out to them, or to their parents.\nHow is this different than Special Olympics?\n* The Paralympic movement was created for persons with physical disabilities. Typically participants will not have a cognitive impairment.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":124,"title":125},"casestudy","Case Study",{"asset":127},{"url":128},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/d2f6a1a75172828c02c6b4013d212b2dab2bf87d-600x320.jpg","2022-04-11T16:11:00.000Z",{"current":131},"pairing-with-parasport-spokane","Make the organization indelible in the supporters mind. Here is how.","Pairing with ParaSport Spokane",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":135,"category":136,"id":5,"image":137,"publishOn":140,"slug":141,"teaser":143,"title":144},"Published on: [September 12, 2025]\n\nAuctria is making it easier than ever for auction teams to raise money with less stress and more success. After hours of research and curation, Auctria has compiled over 500 direct donation request links—from restaurants and retailers to sports organizations and entertainment venues—saving organizers from endless Google searches.\n\n## Why This Is a Game-Changer\nNow, with just a few clicks, you can connect with companies known for giving back and request in-kind donations right from your desk. No more hunting and pecking across dozens of sites—Auctria’s curated Pinterest boards deliver everything you need in one place.\n\n## Why This Matters\nOrganizing a successful auction takes time—Auctria’s Pinterest boards give some of that time back. With this resource, you can: Save hours of research with direct links to donation request pages. Collaborate efficiently by sharing boards with your team. Raise more money by discovering new donation sources and fresh ideas.\n\n## Explore Auctria’s Pinterest Boards\nAttractions that Support Nonprofits – Find museums, amusement parks, and entertainment venues that donate tickets and experiences.\n\n\n* [**Auction & Fundraising Tips**](https://ca.pinterest.com/Auctria/auction-fundraising-tips/) – Packed with checklists, strategies, and ideas to help you plan smarter and raise more money.\n\n\n* [**Auctria Webinars**](https://ca.pinterest.com/Auctria/auctria-webinars/) – Direct access to educational sessions and replays featuring fundraising experts and best practices.\n\n\n* [**Corporations Supporting Nonprofits**](https://ca.pinterest.com/Auctria/corporations-supporting-non-profits/)  – Companies that give back with in-kind donations, sponsorships, and charitable programs.\n\n\n* [**Golf Tournament Auction Board**](https://ca.pinterest.com/Auctria/golf-tournament-auction-board/) – Inspiration and donation links tailored for golf tournaments and sports-themed events.\n\n\n* [**Grocers that Support Nonprofits**](https://ca.pinterest.com/Auctria/grocers-that-support-non-profits/) – Supermarkets and food retailers offering charitable giving programs and gift card donations.\n\n\n* [**Keepsakes & Priceless for Auctions**](https://ca.pinterest.com/Auctria/keepsakes-priceless-for-auction-from-auctria/) – Unique, memory-making items perfect for raffles, auctions, and premium packages.\n\n\n* [**Nonprofits Supporting Nonprofits**](https://ca.pinterest.com/Auctria/non-profits-supporting-non-profits/) – Foundations and organizations that provide grants, sponsorships, or auction donations.\n\n\n* [**Raffle Ideas**](https://ca.pinterest.com/Auctria/raffle-ideas/) – Creative and profitable raffle concepts to boost your event revenue.\n\n\n* [**Restaurants & Eateries that Support Nonprofits**](https://ca.pinterest.com/Auctria/restaurants-eateries-that-support-non-profits/) – Direct donation links to restaurants ready to contribute gift cards or meals.\n\n\n* [**Small Business & Co-ops that Support Nonprofits**](https://ca.pinterest.com/Auctria/small-businesses-coops-supporting-non-profits/) – Community-minded businesses and cooperatives eager to support your cause.\n\n\n* [**Sports Organizations that Support Nonprofits**](https://ca.pinterest.com/Auctria/sports-orgs-that-support-non-profits/) – Featuring 100+ professional and collegiate teams donating tickets, gear, and appearances.\n\n\n## Before You Start: Be Ready to Apply in Minutes\nYou’ve got the links—now make them work for you. The quickest way to take advantage of these boards is to be prepared before you start filling out donation forms. Many organizations will ask for similar details, so getting them together ahead of time helps you move smoothly through each application. Gather this info ahead of time:\n* Your charity’s formal name\n* Tax ID number\n* Primary contact information (name, email, phone)\n* Your event website URL\n* Your donation request letter (PDF is usually preferred)\n\n\nWith these details at your fingertips, you can complete more requests efficiently and stay focused on securing great items for your auction.\n\n## Find Your Donation Inspiration on Pinterest\nCurated Links, Streamlined Search. Auctria’s updated Pinterest boards go beyond inspiration—they’re practical tools. Each pin links directly to a donation request page, helping you quickly apply for auction items without the guesswork. Organized by Category for Easy Browsing\nBoards are grouped by theme so you can find exactly what you need and make procurement easier than ever.\n\n## Explore Auctria on Pinterest\nReady to jumpstart your procurement process? Visit Auctria on Pinterest to explore all 500+ donation links, themed boards, and fresh inspiration to make your next fundraiser unforgettable. For even more resources, check out Auctria’s blog for tips, checklists, and trends designed to help you raise more money and awareness for your cause.\n",{"id":67,"title":68},{"asset":138},{"url":139},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/6cdca9628115bb02f40f516bb1b4a81902463a3c-1920x1080.png","2025-09-12T13:46:56.102Z",{"current":142},"save-hours-of-research-with-auctria-s-ultimate-pinterest-boards-your-shortcut-to-auction","Stop Searching, Start Pinning. 500+ direct donation links are waiting on Auctria’s ultimate Pinterest boards.","Save Hours of Research with Auctria’s Ultimate Pinterest Boards: Your Shortcut to Auction Donations",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":146,"category":147,"id":5,"image":148,"publishOn":151,"slug":152,"teaser":154,"title":155},"\nNo risk auction items may feel a little intimidating or risky. Finding the right partner such as [Auctria ](https://www.auctria.com/) and using the items to help market the auction can help reach fundraising goals. The right partner will never pressure, will listen FIRST to your needs then offer suggestions SECOND. Engage with a professional where helping fundraisers is the priority of the business, not an offshoot of a current business trying to find another marketing angle. No risk items should always include a letter of authenticity and matching, tamper-proof holograms are affixed to each letter of authenticity and directly to each item.\n\nAfter choosing really cool items, use photos and descriptions to attract potential bidders. Promote these items with save the date notices and in pre-sales communications. Items that include a photograph of the celebrity signing the item captivates interest and broadens the bidder base.\n\n**Remember: the more bidders, the higher the bids, the more funds raised.** \n\n\n![what are no risk.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/what-are-no-risk.png)\n \n## What are No Risk Auction Items?\nOne of the biggest challenges of planning a [fundraising event](https://www.auctria.com/learning) is securing auction items that your guests will be excited about. Many charities include no risk auction items such as sports memorabilia, celebrity memorabilia, and vacation packages in their auctions so that they can have unique items that will enhance their auctions without having to pay any upfront cost for the items.\n\n![how does no risk work.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/how-does-no-risk-work.png)\n\n## How Does the Consignment Process Work?\nThe consignment process varies depending on the company that you work with. If you decide to feature no risk items in your auction it is important to understand each step of the process including when you will receive the items, when you will need to provide payment for items that are sold, and how any unsold items will be returned after your event.\n\n![expect results for no risk.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/expect-results-for-no-risk.png)\n\n## What Kind of Results Can I Expect from No Risk Auction Items? \n\"Based on my twenty-five years of experience providing no risk auction items to non-profit organizations I have learned that greater customization should equal higher expectations.\" - Justin Dennis, DSC Consulting\n\nAt many events in northern California, a Joe Montana hand signed San Francisco 49er’s jersey is likely to generate a significant amount of donations. If you are planning a similar event in the Seattle, Washington area the Montana jersey will do well for you but not nearly as well as an item that is hand signed by Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.\n\nThe geographic location of your event is not the only factor that should be considered when selecting no risk auction items. Another important factor is the starting bid price of the items. For most events, we recommend that you feature items with a wide range of starting bid prices so that all your guests can have fun by participating in the auction and helping to raise money for your cause. However, some organizations will be more successful with only lower priced or only higher priced items.\n\n\n![things to consider.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/things-to-consider.png)\n\n## Are You Considering Including No Risk Items in Your Auction?\nIf you think that no risk items including memorabilia or vacation packages might make great additions to your auction please check out these strategies for selecting the best provider to partner with.\n\nConduct research online about no risk auction companies and ask them to provide you with references.\n\nIf you are going to feature sports or celebrity memorabilia ask the company to describe the certificate of authenticity that will come with each item. Every company provides some type of certificate but certificates from well-known companies that have done signings with the athletes and celebrities and certificates from respected authentication companies like PSA/DNA and Beckett are far superior to generic certificates of authenticity.\n\nBe sure to choose a company that can customize the selection of items so that it is a perfect fit for your event. For more information on no risk auction items, [contact](https://www.auctria.com/contact/) Auctria today!\n\n\n--------------------------------------\nSpecial thanks to Justin Dennis for providing content on understanding no risk and consignment auction items.  Justin is the President and co-founder of DSC Consulting. Since 1993, DSC Consulting has generated excellent results for thousands of nonprofit organizations by providing them with no risk auction items including hand signed, authenticated sports and celebrity memorabilia.\n\nListen to Justin as he was featured on [Events with Benefits Podcast episode 28](http://www.eventswithbenefits.com/28)\n\nConnect:  \nemail | [densports77@gmail.com](mailto:densports77@gmail.com) or visit | [noriskcharityauctions.com.](http://www.noriskcharityauctions.com/)\n\n[![noriskauction.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/noriskauction.png)](http://www.justinsports.net/dscconsulting.html)\n\n[![magicsigningsmall.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/magicsigningsmall.png)](http://www.justinsports.net/dscconsulting.html)",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":149},{"url":150},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/46bfdbde312fe5be6033f7574bb4a4e461d8ee22-600x320.jpg","2017-10-04T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":153},"no_risk_auction_items","Finding the right fundraising partner such as Auctria can help you leverage the benefits of using no risk auction items. Read on.","What to expect from no risk auction items",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":157,"category":5,"id":5,"image":158,"publishOn":161,"slug":162,"teaser":164,"title":165},"In times of economic downturn or uncertainty, the natural instinct for many nonprofit leaders is to scale back. However, market history shows that giving remains remarkably consistent across economic cycles. The share of income Americans commit to charity has remained constant ([around 2% of GDP](https://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/almanac/statistics-on-u-s-generosity/)) for over four decades, even through the Great Recession.\n\nYou’ll find stability not by waiting for calmer waters, but by optimizing the systems that turn donors’ casual interest into long-term investment. Below is your roadmap to weathering economic challenges, from investing in high-yield opportunities like [auctions](https://www.auctria.com/blog/why-auction-fundraiser/) to working with AI responsibly and authentically. \n\n## 1. Diversify revenue through high-yield events.\n\nIn times of economic uncertainty, events offer tangible value that can feel more justifiable to a donor than a straightforward monetary gift. Events offer a win-win: your nonprofit raises funds, and attendees enjoy an engaging experience that enriches their lives in meaningful ways.\n\nHere are a few examples of events to effectively engage supporters: \n\n* **[Silent](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-does-a-nonprofit-silent-auction-work-3-tips-for-success/) and live auctions**. Auctions offer attendees access to valuable prizes, and the money they spend supports your mission-critical work. Participants can leave an auction event as the new owner of a coveted item, such as an autographed sports jersey, or with an exciting new experience to look forward to, such as a vacation. Streamline your auction experience by implementing mobile bidding to remove physical barriers, offering buy-it-now items for instant transactions, and sending outbid notifications to increase engagement.\n* **Events related to your nonprofit’s work**. Chances are high that supporters who donate to your cause are also interested in the ins and outs of your work. Planning events related to your nonprofit’s core mission can give supporters a way to engage first-hand with your cause. For example, a nonprofit that provides free golf lessons to low-income families might plan a charity golf tournament for donors. \n* **Events that further supporters’ understanding of your work**. Your donors are also likely to be interested in learning more about your mission and in being part of the change your organization is making in the world. Educational events, like conferences and training seminars, are very popular among supporters. For instance, a conservation nonprofit might host training webinars about recognizing and protecting local plant species. You could even offer [asynchronous training courses](https://blog.topclasslms.com/asynchronous-online-courses) for supporters to complete to further their understanding of your work. \n\nIncrease participation in your events with a smart ticketing process. Use ticketing software that facilitates mobile and digital wallet-friendly tickets for convenient purchasing and check-ins. Also, ensure your ticketing system facilitates secure, PCI-compliant payment processing to enhance audience trust. \n\nWith engaging events and simple ticketing, you can encourage supporter attendance, even in times of economic instability. \n\nIncrease participation in your events with a [smart ticketing process](https://www.auctria.com/blog/smart-ticketing-elevates-your-fundraising-events/). Use ticketing software that facilitates mobile and digital wallet-friendly tickets for convenient purchasing and check-ins. Also, ensure your ticketing system facilitates secure, PCI-compliant payment processing to enhance audience trust. \n\nWith engaging events and simple ticketing, you can encourage supporter attendance, even in times of economic instability. \n\n## 2. Modernize procurement tactics for tangible appeal.\n\nAs donors become more selective amid high inflation and other economic troubles, your [procurement strategy](https://www.auctria.com/blog/procurement-letter-elements/) must move from focusing on the quantity of donations or donated auction items to the quality of supporters’ connection to your mission. This helps you secure the short-term, urgent support you need to weather economic challenges, while laying the foundation for long-term partnerships. \n\nMove away from generic requests toward specific, personalized inquiries. When crafting procurement letters and donation requests, you should: \n\n* **Be specific about your needs**. Highlight how donations directly solve current community needs. For example, your current campaign may focus on building three new community homes for families in need. You could include photos of these families along with key details about their backstories. These details make your requests more visceral for potential donors. \n* **Personalize procurement requests**. Ensure your outreach letters address potential donors’ needs and interests directly as well. For example, in a letter asking a local business to become a corporate sponsor, frame the partnership as a way to maintain their community presence during lean times.\n* **Learn how to respond to rejection**. Sometimes, the right follow-up approach can turn rejections into future opportunities for donations or partnerships. Ask why potential donors can’t give right now to get to the heart of their hesitation. Identify common rejection rationales and develop a tailored plan to address them proactively in future procurement letters. \n\nThese strategies will help you turn a simple donation request into a more engaging two-way conversation. You’ll show donors that you’re committed to building genuine relationships and finding personalized ways for them to deepen their engagement in your mission. \n\n\n## 3. Prioritize mid-level donor retention.\n\nWhile major gifts are transformative, your mid-level donor base often provides the consistent cash flow needed for daily operations. [A survey from Sea Change Strategies and Edge Research](https://seachangestrategies.com/missing-middle-4/) found that supporters who gave between $1,000 and $10,000 annually accounted for only 1% of total donors, but were responsible for over 30% of income from individual donors.\n\nAccording to [BWF’s mid-level donor strategy guide](https://www.bwf.com/mid-level-donor-strategy/), “Donors tend to contribute reliably at this giving tier when they’re engaged with the mission in multiple ways and when they have personal connections to your organization’s staff or fellow donors.” Follow these tips to engage mid-level donors and build strong personal connections with them: \n\n* **Identify your mid-level donors and move them into a dedicated stewardship track**. These donors lie between your mass-market audience and major-tier gifts. Segmenting them into their own group allows you to communicate through more personalized outreach, rather than lumping them with other groups with whom they may not have much in common. \n* **Develop a distinct communication strategy**. Your approach for this group should sit between broad-based appeals and high-touch major gift stewardship. Send these supporters regular updates that acknowledge their role as the financial bedrock of your organization. For example, instead of a polished marketing video, send a raw, direct-to-camera update from a program director or the CEO. You could also invite mid-tier donors to a 30-minute “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) Zoom session. Frame it as a technical deep dive into a specific project, offering data-heavy insights not shared in broad-based outreach like your general newsletter.\n* **Regularly share the truth about organizational challenges**. To build a partnership rooted in transparency and shared problem-solving, ensure mid-tier donors are aware of both your successes and challenges. For instance, if a program fell 15% short of its goal due to rising costs or logistical shifts, send a brief “Lessons Learned” recap email. Explain why it happened and what the data suggests for the next quarter.\n\nUsing these tactics, you can build stronger relationships with mid-level donors and give them a vested stake in your organization’s success. Their support can provide the critical stability you need to emerge from economic challenges in a strong position. \n\n## 4. Cultivate donor loyalty through transparency.\n\nWhen donors have limited disposable income, they require a more compelling explanation of their return on investment (ROI) for every dollar they give to your organization. [Building donor loyalty through transparency](https://www.bwf.com/donor-loyalty/) can be hard work, but it will ultimately pay off.\n\n[Data from the Fundraising Effectiveness Project](https://publications.fepreports.org/?_gl=1*1dedquh*_ga*MzY5NTEwMDE4LjE3NzE4NzU2MTY.*_ga_39XEB5TCJ5*czE3NzI0NzczNTIkbzEkZzAkdDE3NzI0NzczNTMkajU5JGwwJGgw) shows that repeat-retained donors (supporters who have given repeatedly to the same organization over the years) remain the most stable donor base segment, accounting for around two in five donors through Q3 2025. These donors generate over 60% of all dollars raised. \n\nBuild long-term loyalty with your supporters by taking these steps:\n\n* **Move beyond the standard thank-you note** by providing real-world data that shows exactly where a donor's contribution landed. For example, if a donor contributes an auction item, follow up with a specific stat (e.g., the number of books purchased for a literacy program using auction earnings). This detailed reporting turns a one-time transaction into a documented investment in a measurable outcome.\n* **Create a feedback loop** showing donors their actual impact through rigorous analysis and reporting. Develop an interactive impact dashboard or a quarterly PDF with data visualizations. Instead of only spotlighting current reporting, use year-over-year comparisons to show how consistent funding improves efficiency. This rigorous analysis proves that your organization is a responsible steward of donor capital. \n* **Treat supporters as authentic partners and co-creators**, not just funding sources. Engage them in solutions by seeking feedback on digital giving platforms or impact reports, or by inviting them to serve on advisory boards to gain insights into organizational challenges.\n\nTransparent impact reporting and two-way communication demonstrate that your organization cares about helping donors make informed philanthropic decisions amid economic uncertainty. \n\n## 5. Deploy AI solutions responsibly to scale efficiency. \nIn a tight economy, your team must do more with less without losing the human touch. [Responsible use of AI solutions](https://www.bwf.com/responsible-ai/) can provide significant support here, allowing you to streamline routine tasks and refocus your energy on high-level strategies and deepening donor interactions. Consider the following strategies to use AI effectively and responsibly: \n\n* **Use AI to automate the identification of donor patterns and wealth indicators that the human eye might miss**. For example, deploy AI solutions to analyze donor behavior and flag highly-engaged supporters who may be open to requests to upgrade their giving to a new level. \n* **Ensure your AI implementation is grounded in ethics and data integrity to maintain the trust you have built with your community**. Use robust security measures, such as access controls and multi-factor authentication, to protect donor data. You should also publish a thorough, transparent AI policy on your website so supporters know how your organization uses AI in fundraising and can opt out of having their data included in these processes. \n* **Leverage predictive modeling to determine which donors are most likely to lapse**. Use predictive analytics to identify donors that exhibit signs of disengagement, such as not giving for over six months. Then, you can plan proactively to intervene and send personalized outreach to bring them back into the fold. \n\nMaintain a commitment to data integrity by ensuring all AI-driven insights are used to enhance, not replace, the authentic human connections that drive long-term loyalty. For example, don’t use generative AI to automate thank-you messages for high-impact auction donors—provide a personalized touch by calling them to say thank you or by recording personalized videos highlighting their unique impact. \n\nEconomic volatility does not have to mean a decline in impact; often, it is the catalyst for clarifying your organization's most essential work. The most successful organizations lead with the truth and back their intuition with rigorous data. When you treat your donors as authentic partners in solving major problems, you create a bond that is far more resilient than the market itself.\n\n\n",{"asset":159},{"url":160},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/5174e3fb8a155bfdfa733af3a1e5b185214b4754-900x600.jpg","2026-03-13T18:25:00.000Z",{"current":163},"how-nonprofits-can-find-stability-in-economic-turbulence","In times of uncertainty, you can optimize your donor's interest into long term relationships","How Nonprofits Can Find Stability in Economic Turbulence",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":167,"category":168,"id":5,"image":169,"publishOn":172,"slug":173,"teaser":175,"title":176},"\nBuilding an event fundraiser takes effort—so use your marquee event as a foundation to boost income! **Auctria’s features** provide the tools to meet goals, engage supporters, and keep your mission thriving year-round.\n\nKeep donors engaged and maximize your Auctria license and features:\n\n\n1. Make The Most Out Of A Marquee Event\n2. Make A Singular Event Shine\n3. Ticketed Only Event\n4. Online Fundraisers\n5. Giving Days & Appeals\n\nYour license is valid for a whole year, with no performance fees, and can be used for multiple events. Boost your fundraising success by driving year-round giving and engagement.\n\n\n## 1. Marquee Events: Make Your Big Event Shine\n\nTurn your annual gala, auction, or signature fundraiser into a record-breaking success. Adding sponsorships, engaging activities, a dessert dash, raffles, and special catalog items can increase event engagement, which drives greater participation and takes your annual event to the next level of success.\n\n#### Sponsors Beget Sponsors\nDevelop a sponsorship package that aligns with your goals and offers higher levels than you think will sell—you might be surprised! [This behavioral sales technique](https://www.auctria.com/webinar/fuel-your-fundraising-with-the-actionology-method-using-behavioral-science/) encourages higher-tier participation and makes lower levels more appealing. \n\nPromote your sponsorships on your event website by featuring logos, clickable URLs, and premium sponsor recognition in the footer of every page and your transactional emails. Advertising sponsorship opportunities adds credibility and purpose to your event. \n\nWatch your sponsorships sell out! Nothing motivates buyers more than seeing others already committed. Creating FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) can drive urgency and turn your next event into a sold-out success. Don’t leave money on the table; while some businesses may not be able to donate cash, they can and will purchase sponsorships, often from their marketing budget, making it an easier sale for you.\n\n[Learn more about sponsorships in Auctria.](https://guide.auctria.com/redirect?id=Intro_Sponsorships)\n\n#### Engaging Activities and Boosting Revenue\n\nThink about the guest experience and choose activities that fit the vibe of your event and align with your timeline.  Plan ahead and let guests pre-pay for activities to start the evening with a zero balance — adding to the excitement of the evening while boosting your event's revenue!\n\nFun features to consider:\n\n* VIP Perks – Early access to the event, special seating, and premium drinks that are special for the event.\n* Games of Chance – Ring toss, balloon pop, and airplane contests add to the fun.\n* Pre-sell Food & Drink Tickets online – Simplify purchases and speed up lines at the event. \n* Wine Wall – Guests pay a fixed amount to pick a mystery bottle. [See how to set up For Sale items in Auctria.](https://guide.auctria.com/redirect?id=ForSaleItems)\n\nThese activities can add to the excitement of the evening while boosting your event's revenue.\n\n#### Dessert Dash: A Competitive Crowd Favorite\n\nWho doesn’t love a **dessert dash**?! If you are unfamiliar with this, it’s a blast and a great motivator for donations! At a gala, desserts are on display, but the table that raises the most money gets to choose first. These get VERY competitive and are a high-energy way to raise more funds.\n\nCapturing pledges with pen and paper? [Auctria’s Dessert Dash dashboard](https://guide.auctria.com/redirect?id=DessertDashDashboard) gives you one place to print the table's Dessert Dash sheet, record Dessert Dash pledges, and generate reports. \n\nWould you like to have donations online? Set it up as a donation item and place the QR code display page in the center of the table.\n\nEven better, if you are using Auctria’s Tables feature with your Ticket sales, Dessert Dash tables will be generated automatically once enabled from the dashboard.\n\nA little friendly competition = big donations!\n\n#### Raffles: A Smart Way to Engage More Donors\n\nSome guests may not bid on auction items—but they love a good raffle!  Adding these to your event fundraiser gives people another chance to donate, especially if they don’t see an auction item they love or know they will not win.\n\n**Jumbo raffle tickets** are popular on the [Auction Team Talk page](https://www.facebook.com/auctria/). Here are a few examples that were entirely sold out this past season:\n\n**1. $2,000 AirBnB Gift Certificate**: $50/ticket, 100 tickets = $5,000 in sales.  Subtract the gift certificate cost, and there is a  $3,000 net profit.  \n**2. $500 Amazon Gift Card:** $25/ticket, 100 tickets = $2,000 net profit. Covering the cost of the gift card is a great sponsorship opportunity, and then the sales are 100% profit.\n\nSell the tickets online or in-room.  The Auctria Admin App allows event organizers to [manage guest sales](https://guide.auctria.com/redirect?id=AdminApp_Sales) on mobile devices.  Give this a try for your next event fundraiser!  \n\n#### Auction and Raffle Donations \n\nStruggling to find auction and raffle donations? \n\nHere’s how to make it easier: use the Item Solicitation form to streamline requests, explore no-risk items, seek out local experiences or celebrities, and get inspired with [Pinterest boards](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/mega-auction-donations-from-auctria/). These tools make gathering exciting items a breeze!\n\nOn [Auctria’s Partners](https://www.auctria.com/partners) page, you'll find corporate donation aggregators (like DonationMatch and The Shareway), plus no-risk item consignment companies offering travel, one-of-a-kind experiences, jewelry, and memorabilia. These partnerships help you secure amazing items with less work and no upfront costs!\n\n\n## 2. Ticketed-Only Events: Maximize Revenue & Engagement\n\nSingle-focus fundraisers are a fantastic way to engage your audience and drive a big impact.  \n\nThey offer incredible flexibility for managing admission to all gatherings — from Bingo to tournaments, walks, runs and community events. \n\nThey’re perfect for building community through stand-alone events like talent shows, spelling bees, school activity nights, or craft fairs.\n\nWith Auctria’s Tickets portal, you can easily share tickets with guests, and they’re even downloadable to mobile wallets for added convenience.\n\nTournaments are a powerful way to bring in big dollars, attract a unique audience, and welcome new supporters to your cause. With Auctria’s pre-built templates, you can launch a tournament quickly — just grab and go! \n\nPlus, tournaments create a fun, competitive spirit around giving, where philanthropy thrives as people come together, rallying for a cause while having a blast! Auctria even has templates that are designed JUST for golf and pickleball!\n\nTickets are included in all Auctria licenses; there is no separate module to pay for or add on. \n\n[Learn more about tickets in Auctria.](https://guide.auctria.com/redirect?id=Intro_Tickets)\n\n\n\n## 3. Additional Events: Turn Any Gathering into a Fundraiser\n\n\nFundraising doesn’t have to be a standalone event — why not add giving opportunities to events where your audience is already engaged? Host a singular focused event and make it shine. \n\nAdd fundraising to well-attended events like school award ceremonies, concerts, or toy drives — where attendees are already gathered and enjoying the moment — by setting up easy, passive donation options like QR codes, text-to-donate, or a raffle.\n\n**Creative Fundraising Ideas**\n* Pie & Cake Auctions – Have supporters bid on delicious homemade desserts.\n* Game-Worn Jerseys & Keepsakes – Sell memorabilia from local teams or schools.\n* VIP Upgrades – Offer exclusive seating or backstage access at existing events.\n\nWith a little planning, any event can become a successful fundraiser!  \nUnique Events![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/39ef49d3e237b0ad28916464ef1f28fff3a54b3d-975x569.png?w=850)\n\n[View our gallery of unique events hosted in Auctria.\n](https://www.auctria.com/unique-events/)\n\n## 4. Online Fundraisers: Expand Your Reach & Maximize Impact\n\nHolding your auction online removes geographic barriers, inviting supporters to give from anywhere, anytime. After all, fundraising brings people together, turning shared passion into powerful support!\nWith Auctria, you can host online auctions, accept secure item donations through a special website page, and use max bidding with bid extensions to keep the excitement going. Every great campaign needs a great website — tell your story on your Auctria event and make giving easy!\n\n\nAuctria offers a streamlined approach to [peer-to-peer-lite fundraising](https://guide.auctria.com/redirect?id=PeerToPeer), making it easy to expand your reach. Empower supporters to become ambassadors for your cause, encouraging their peers to donate. Enhance engagement by adding a donation tracker or thermometer to their online page, making tracking pledges and celebrating progress simple.\n\nWant to make the donation page scannable? Print a display page with a QR code to take them directly to the page. The faster someone can access the donation page, the faster they can donate!\n\n\n## 5. Giving Days & Appeals: Drive Focused Donations\n\nDonation-only events are a powerful way to rally support, whether for a local giving day or a national initiative like Giving Tuesday. These focused campaigns highlight your mission and allow you to showcase a specific need, making it easy for donors to connect with your cause.\n\nTo maximize impact, tie each donation level to a tangible outcome. When donors see how their contributions make a difference — feeding families, providing essential supplies, or funding critical programs — they’re more likely to give and engage at higher levels.\n\nWith Auctria, setting up a Giving Tuesday campaign is simple — just three clicks, and your site is ready to go! More than just another ask, your giving day becomes a movement that inspires action and drives real change.\n\nAuctria makes it easy to keep donors engaged and maximize fundraising all year long. Ready to elevate your next event? [Explore Auctria today!](https://www.auctria.com/)\n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":170},{"url":171},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/aecda64638b55ffb295f28103cbb59b553b39e7c-960x540.jpg","2023-03-17T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":174},"12-more-ways-to-use-auctria-to-make-more-money","Use the event fundraiser as a foundation to catapult the income. ","Maximize Auctria: More ways to fundraise",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":178,"category":179,"id":5,"image":180,"publishOn":183,"slug":184,"teaser":186,"title":187},"# Understanding hybrid fundraising events & how to host one\n\nHybrid fundraising events have gained immense popularity in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, giving non-profits a feasible platform to further their fundraising causes. Read on to find out more from [Auctria](https://www.auctria.com/).\n\n## What is a hybrid event?\n\nSimply put, hybrid events are a combination of in-person and virtual formats running simultaneously during the event. Two separate audiences attend the same fundraising event, but from multiple online locations as well as at the designated venue. Call it practical or just ‘the best of both worlds’, hybrid fundraising events are improving the way non-profits fundraise. Auctria outlines the benefits of such events.\n\n## What are the benefits of a hybrid event? \n\nThe primary benefit a hybrid fundraising event offers is flexibility. Donors and supporters who are not able to attend in person can still participate through online fundraising platforms or \n technologies. This can be an excellent option as the world is still navigating its way through the pandemic.\n\nThe virtual features of hybrid fundraising increase the overall reach of your event as people from across the world can be invited to participate and contribute without the overhead costs involved in a regular event. This huge widening of the audience can bring in greater donations and engagement too.\n\nHybrid events and their two sets of audiences can provide your organization with a treasure trove of data that can be used to track, analyze and predict engagement, interactions, donations and more.\n\nFinally, hybrid events are excellent avenues to showcase short content schemas that supporters and donors enjoy.\n\n## Tips to host successful hybrid fundraising events\n\nAuctria outlines the following tips so you can organize your own successful hybrid event.\n\n### Weigh your options\n\nThere are several important questions you must ask yourself before embarking upon the hybrid journey. These include:\n\n1. Do you have enough time to plan the event? It is recommended to have at least 3 to 4 months to plan your hybrid event.\n2. Do you have the technical capacity to organize the event? Or will you be hiring a production house to help?\n3. What is the main focus of the hybrid event?\n4. What types of fundraising activities are you planning to include?\n5. In terms of the audience, will you have greater numbers in-person or on a virtual platform?\n6. What goals are you looking to achieve with the virtual part of your hybrid event?\n\n### Budget and technical needs\n\nNext, it is important to set your budget as well as evaluate your technical capability to organize an engaging hybrid fundraising event. It may be useful to set budgetary and engagement goals to work towards.\n\n### Hybrid team\n\nWhen organizing a hybrid event, it is important to have a robust team that can handle varied tasks including items procurement, sponsorships, logistics, promotions, technology and more.\n\n### Fundraising software and website\n\nUse effective fundraising software such as that from Auctria or build your own fundraising website to get the most out of your virtual fundraising efforts. Auctria’s powerful, easy-to-use software is cloud-based, flexible, mobile-optimized and offers built-in reporting and analytics.\n\n### Promote your event\n\nIn a hybrid fundraising event, the sky is the limit when it comes to attendees as the virtual part of it opens up the event to people from all over the world. Follow these tips from Auctria to ensure your event has the reach it deserves:\n\n1. Inform supporters and donors about the hybrid nature of the event\n2. Take the time to explain how hybrid and especially online fundraising work\n3. Share the link for registration and donations\n4. Use social media to inform, engage and excite\n\n## How can Auctria help? \n\nAuctria’s web-based fundraising software can make running your hybrid events more seamless and effective. Using our software, nonprofits across the board can organize several types of auctions as well as track data including bidding and donations.\n\nNow that you have all the information you need to organize your own hybrid fundraising event, why not [contact Auctria](https://www.auctria.com/contact/) and let us help?",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":181},{"url":182},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/0af9fda55119648b067656d7bb7a28b9f0f04142-600x320.jpg","2021-12-01T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":185},"how-to-host-a-hybrid-fundraising-event","Hybrid fundraising events are key in our pandemic-stricken world. Find out more from Auctria about how your non-profit can organize a successful one. ","How to host a hybrid fundraising event",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":189,"category":190,"id":5,"image":191,"publishOn":194,"slug":195,"teaser":197,"title":198},"When art funding was slashed from San Diego school budgets, ArtReach said we need to do something. ArtReach was founded to not only fund but actually do outreach to facilitate art programs. \n\nArtReach’s annual Charity Art Auction is a highly anticipated event that showcases the talent of local and renowned artists. The fundraiser challenges artists to transform ordinary objects into unique and extraordinary works of art, highlighting the idea that anything can be art. By participating in the auction, artists have the opportunity to expand their client base while supporting arts programs for youth.\n\nWhile the auction takes place online and is open to anyone nationwide, ArtReach has partnered with [ArtWalk](https://artwalksandiego.org/) since 2019 to showcase the art at their outdoor festivals. These events provide local and visiting attendees the opportunity to view the auction items in person and place bids in person. The exposure provided by ArtWalk increases the audience to both the auction and the programs. \n\nThanks to the generosity of businesses and major supporters, ArtReach has had access to a wide range of items that artists can use as their canvases. These partnerships ensure that the entirety of the funds raised support both the participating artists and ArtReach’s free programs for youth that do not otherwise have access to visual arts opportunities.\nSince 2019 the impact has funded over $119,000 for Arts Education. Over 332 custom art pieces have been designed by 113 professional and student artists.\n\n## Art on Bicycles\n- 10 BICYCLES \n- 65 HELMETS, BELLS, & BASKETS \n- 29 ARTISTS\n**New bicycles and accessories donated by Electra Bicycle Company**\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/0b05bb05a74a08b32441f4f31930e35c57184140-600x320.png)\n\n[Electra Bicycle Company,](https://electra.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/?) a San Diego-based company and the leading lifestyle bicycle brand in the U.S., has generously donated a collection of bikes and accessories to be transformed by local artists. Founded in Southern California in 1993, Electra has aimed to put the fun into bike riding again. Their founding philosophy combines creativity, innovation, design, and attention to detail to make the most comfortable bikes possible. We’re so honored and thrilled to be partnering with them on this event!\n\nArtReach has partnered with [Mission Fed ArtWalk](https://artwalksandiego.org/missionfederal/) to showcase the Bicycle Art Auction during their event on April 29th & 30th. Visitors can view the art at the Piazza della Famiglia in Little Italy to view painted bicycles and accessories up close! ArtReach staff is on-site to facilitate in-person bids on your favorites. Proceeds from this Charity Art Auction directly benefit our free programs for youth that do not otherwise have access to visual arts opportunities.\n\n[Read more about Art on Bicycles.](https://www.artreachsandiego.org/charityartauction/bicycles-2023/)\n\n## Art on Vans Sneakers\n- 93 pairs of shoes\n- 39 artists\n**New shoes donated by Vans Fashion Valley**\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/53723662e61d6db138d872d5edbe6ff718d87dbb-508x373.png)\n\n[Vans Fashion Valley](https://www.vans.com/en-us) donated over 100 pairs of Vans shoes to be transformed into custom, wearable works of art by local artists. Artists customized the shoes with acrylic paint, paint pens, crystals, a collage technique using printed fabric images, and even paint that is black light reactive to create truly unique, custom art for your feet.\n\nAll 87 pairs of Vans were sold through an online auction and were exhibited during [ArtWalk @ Liberty Station](https://artwalksandiego.org/libertystation/) in August 2022. In addition to the auction, this was the first project where two featured artists joined our team at ArtWalk to custom-paint Vans live for attendees to take home on the spot. Proceeds from this Charity Art Auction directly benefited our free programs for youth that do not otherwise have access to visual arts opportunities.\n\n[Read more and see the Vans Art in the news.](https://www.artreachsandiego.org/charityartauction/vans-2022/)\n\n## Art on Vinyl\n- 138 Records\n- 51 artists\n- 33 student artists\n**Recycled vinyl records from local record stores**\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/d845b002556cf840fdfb44bdd65d00e32e9f5460-511x361.png)\n\nOver 130 vinyl records were collected from local record stores to be transformed into custom works of art. The project also featured three electric guitars that were donated by Fender for artists to transform into unique, playable works of art. Artists customized the records and guitars with a variety of mixed media, acrylic paint, oil paint, resin, spray paint, glass, collage art, and fibers to create truly unique, custom art. Some of the artists also created 3D sculptural pieces, featuring a dress form made from melted vinyl and fibers, a relief sculpture made with carved vinyl and live moss, and a 4’x6′ relief painting of an owl made up broken-up pieces of vinyl.\n\nFor the first time, the auction featured art by local student artists. Participating artist and teacher Paul Mericle led his 9th-12th grade students at Francis Parker School through a mixed-media project, incorporating vinyl record art that will be included in the auction. ArtReach is proud to support student artists by giving them the opportunity to experience the process of exhibiting and selling their artwork.\n\nAll of the records and guitars were sold through an online auction and were exhibited during [Mission Fed ArtWalk](https://artwalksandiego.org/missionfederal/) in April 2022. Proceeds from this Charity Art Auction directly benefited our free programs for youth that do not otherwise have access to visual arts opportunities.\n\n[Read more about Art on Vinyl.](https://www.artreachsandiego.org/charityartauction/vinylrecords-2022/)\n\n## Art of Guitars\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/0b7d6275b84d4c56c013b0e8cf14935d14eba230-1095x409.png)\n\n2021 Art on Guitars\n- 32 GUITARS\n- 32 ARTISTS\n**New electric & acoustic guitars donated by Fender**\n\nElectric guitars were transformed into playable art! [Fender](https://www.fender.com/en-US/start) generously donated 32 electric, acoustic, and bass guitars to be transformed into playable works of art by local artists. Artists customized the guitars with acrylic paint, resin, spray paint, tape dots, Posca pens, and ink to create truly unique, custom art.\n\nAmong the participating artists were singer-songwriter and philanthropist [Jason Mraz](https://jasonmraz.com/) and musician [Tom Delonge](https://www.instagram.com/tomdelonge/?hl=en) of Blink-182.\n\nAll 32 guitars were sold through an online auction and were exhibited during [Mission Fed ArtWalk](https://artwalksandiego.org/missionfederal/) in April 2021. Proceeds from this Charity Art Auction directly benefited our free programs for youth that do not otherwise have access to visual arts opportunities.\n\n[James Hood Guitar](https://www.jameshoodguitar.com/) and [Wildcat Guitars](https://wildcatguitars.com/) in Escondido donated their time and services to reassemble all of the guitars and ensure they were all playable and ready for the auction.\n\n[Read more about 2021 Art on Guitars](https://www.artreachsandiego.org/charityartauction/guitars-2021/)\n\n2020 Art on Guitars\n- 31 GUITARS\n- 31 ARTISTS\n**New electric & acoustic guitars donated by Fender**\n\n[Fender](https://www.fender.com/en-US/start) generously donated 30 EVH Wolfgang Standard electric guitars to be transformed into playable works of art by local artists. As an added bonus, an anonymous donor provided a Mark Hoppus Signature Jazz Bass from their personal collection to also be included in the auction. Artists customized the guitars with acrylic paint, resin, spray paint, glass mosaic, collage art, and even crystals to create truly unique, custom art.\n\nAll 31 guitars were sold through an online auction and were exhibited during [ArtWalk @ Liberty Station](https://artwalksandiego.org/libertystation/) in October 2020. Proceeds from this Charity Art Auction directly benefited our free programs for youth that do not otherwise have access to visual arts opportunities.\nAmong the participating artists was singer-songwriter and activist [Michael Franti,](https://michaelfranti.com/) who painted the title of his popular album and song, “Stay Human.”\n\n[James Hood Guitar](https://www.jameshoodguitar.com/) and [Wildcat Guitars](https://wildcatguitars.com/) in Escondido donated their time and services to reassemble all of the guitars and ensure they were all playable and ready for the auction. [Check out this behind-the-scenes video of James Hood adding a glossy finish to the “Rock on Child” guitar by Lee Kohse.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq4XpcYIQXQ)\n\n[Read more about 2020 Art on Guitars.](https://www.artreachsandiego.org/charityartauction/guitars-2020/) \n\n\n\n## Art on Surfboards\n- 35 surfboards\n- 35 artists\n**Recycled surfboards donated by Rerip**\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/d08b8e7be5c3350dd6a68647f88ec80bea4665d5-532x382.png)\n\n[Rerip](https://www.rerip.org/rerip-story/) generously donated 35 recycled surfboards to be transformed into custom works of art by local artists. Artists customized the guitars with acrylic paint, oil paint, resin, spray paint, and glass mosaic to create truly unique, custom art. One surfboard was even created completely out of wood.\n\nAmong the participating artists was singer-songwriter and philanthropist [Jason Mraz,](https://jasonmraz.com/) whose all-white “PEACE AND QUIET” surfboard transformed under black light to show the bright and bold “MAKE SOME NOISE.”\n\nAll 35 surfboards were sold through an online auction and were exhibited during [Mission Fed ArtWalk](https://artwalksandiego.org/missionfederal/) in April 2019. Proceeds from this Charity Art Auction directly benefited our free programs for youth that do not otherwise have access to visual arts opportunities.\n\n[Read more about art on surfboards.](https://www.artreachsandiego.org/charityartauction/surfboards-2019/)\n\n## Recognition\nEach year ArtReach chooses a new canvas to which artists create one of a kind masterpieces and those precious pieces are auctioned off. Because of the unique nature of these pieces and the work of the ArtReach Marketing and PR team they get lots of local attention. They are masters at partnering and recognition. Here are some examples of the public ways they solicit for artists and support.\n\nArtists and donors that want to partner with ArtReach on a future Charity Art Auction \nIf you or your business share our commitment to ignite youth creativity, here is how they work together!\n\n- Website: Feature your linked logo on the ArtReach [website](https://artreachsandiego.org/partners) as a partner. (3k monthly visitors)\n\n- Media: Include you in the auction-related press release for distribution to local media, with an opportunity to appear on local news/comment for articles related to the fundraiser.\n\nEmails/Newsletters: Feature you in email blasts related to the fundraiser, directing our supporters to your website. (4k subscribers)\n\nSocial Media: Tag you on social media posts related to the fundraiser on [Instagram,](http://www.instagram.com/artreachsd) [Facebook,](http://www.facebook.com/artreachsd) [Twitter,](https://twitter.com/ArtReachSD) and [LinkedIn accounts.](https://www.linkedin.com/company/artreachsd) (8k followers)\nEvent: Include your name and logo on event signage/promotional items.\n\n\n------------------\n\nSpecial thanks to Anna Laroque, Community Engagement Manager at ArtReach San Diego Area for sharing their fundraising story here. \n\nArtReach is very active on social media. Follow them on:\n[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/artreachsd/)\n[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ArtReachSD)\n[Twitter](https://twitter.com/ArtReachSD)\n[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/artreachsd/)\n\n \n\n \n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":192},{"url":193},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/0b05bb05a74a08b32441f4f31930e35c57184140-600x320.png","2023-04-19T19:39:30.806Z",{"current":196},"transforming-ordinary-into-extraordinary-for-fundraising","Art for Fundraising | Bikes, helmets, sneakers, surfboards, guitar are art! ","Transforming Ordinary into Extraordinary for Fundraising",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":200,"category":201,"id":5,"image":202,"publishOn":205,"slug":206,"teaser":208,"title":209},"# Shifting Silent & Live Auction to Virtual Live Auction\n\nCOVID-19 is shutting down entire states and community activities. This has an obvious impact on any in-person auction fundraising event. Sadly the fundraising needs in times of crisis only rise causing more havoc.\n\nWith a nimble team, this means opening new doors to the fundraising efforts. Instead of walking into a gala or party, bidders are clicking and joining live streams. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/bcd50152413c0c4b879fbd3302dea8621a32d922-629x395.png)\n\nNorth Star Academy had the unlucky timing of having scheduled their Casino Royale Auction fundraiser at the exact same time that all community events were being canceled due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements being implemented. There were urgent and swift closures that required immediate action putting all the previous work at risk. The team quickly explored options to cancel, convert or postpone.\n\n**Spoiler alert: NorthStar Academy made as much as they did last year!**\n\nTerri M was kind enough to share her team’s experience with us. During a post-event follow up question and answer here is how they did it. \n\n## Making the Decision to Convert to Online Auction\n\n**Backstory:**\nOn Tuesday morning, March 10th, we were looking at the due dates for the balance of the dinner and other payables, the large portion of which were due on Friday.  We are in the San Francisco Bay Area, and things were going from \"please cancel large events\" to schools in San Francisco closing while schools south of us were closing, too. \n\nWe spent some time running numbers--what if we paid the balance for the dinner and it was canceled vs. an online live auction at 60% revenue. The dinner is quite expensive, and running the numbers, it became clear that even 60% revenue was better than paying the balance and risking the dinner being canceled.  And we didn’t know if people would come anyways. In the end, it didn’t matter--within hours after the auction chair made the decision, the superintendent announced that all events and field trips were cancelled including the auction.  By Friday, schools sent the kids home with all their stuff.  \n\n\n**Question:** Did you keep the same date of the event why or why not?\n\n**Answer:** We kept the same date.  Because of the shelter-in-place, we knew everyone was free that night, so why not?  We also had a couple of weeks to prepare.\n\n**Question:** How did you decide to continue with the auction fundraising event? \n\n**Answer:** As we were deciding about how to do an online live auction--do we merge our live auction lots into the online silent auction in Auctria or do we do a live-streamed auction--our auctioneer invited us to watch an online live auction he was doing for a school in San Francisco (talk about a VERY tight schedule--they had less than a week to go online, but at least they were allowed to be together in the same room). We watched the webinar, and decided that while there were issues that needed to be worked out, it was definitely worth a try.   \n\n**Question:** Did you message your audience differently?\n\nAnswer: I don't think so.  We normally send them quite a bit of email asking them to sign up for the dinner auction, this time we simply asked them to sign up for the online live auction.\n\n**Question:** How long was the online event, and would you do it longer, shorter, or was it just about right?\n\n**Answer:** The event ran from 7pm to 8:35pm with 15 minutes of music before and 5 minutes of music after.  It was just right, in my opinion.  We may have lost some people at the end though.\n\n**Question:**  How did bidding work?\n\n**Answer:** The auctioneer would ask for a certain bid amount and people would type their bid into the chat area.  Since there was minimal lag for chats, it worked quite well, even if the presentation was delayed.   In order to catch anyone with an audio lag, he slowed down at the end of the bidding, and his wife who is his assistant tried to count down in the chat: 5-4-3-2-1-Sold! \n\nWe agreed that if a bid came in before \"SOLD\" was typed, then we were back to bidding regardless of what the auctioneer had voiced due to the possible audio lag that some viewers might have.  \n\n**Question:** In retrospect, what can you share with others so they too can find fundraising success? \n\n**Answer:**  We decided to retain our original speaker schedule and added the DJ back in at the last minute to provide music before the auction started so that people could check their sound.  Whether a speaker should be live or recorded depends on the speaker’s internet connection.  We were fortunate that our principal was able to record her fund-a-need presentation at the school.  Our Parent Club president was also able to start off the night with live video, but if someone doesn’t have a reliable internet connection, they should record their speech as the video can be pre-loaded on the software’s servers or youtube.  As we did our practice runs, it became clear that we needed a live audience to round out the presentation.  Unlike our auctioneer’s first online live auction where the staff cheered in the background, we could not gather in the same place.  Since the PC president was going to speak twice, we left her on audio-only throughout the presentation and had her family in conjunction with the DJ do laugh and applause as if they were the audience.  It worked out very well, giving everyone the feeling that they were witnessing a live event.\n\n\n## Choosing the Auction Items\nWe did move some of our lots to our silent auction to keep the live auction to 40 minutes.  In particular, we moved a consignment trip and our two dedicated parking spots to our silent auction.  The consignment trip did not sell at all and the parking spots did as well as they did in previous years.  We also moved a \"last man standing\" dinner party for 12 to the silent auction because the logistics of trying to figure out who is still \"standing\" in a chat room didn't appeal to us.  The dinner sold out in the silent auction.  \n\nWe also offered raffle prizes throughout the evening to entice bidders to attend.  Bidders had to respond in the chat to claim their prize.\n\n## Livestream Considerations\n\n**Question:** What live-streaming software did you choose and why?\n\n**Answer:** We used Livestorm--in general, it had excellent connectivity for audio and video on laptops/computers and a known 10-15 second lag for phones which use \"compatibility mode\".   The software specifically tells viewers when they're on \"compatibility mode\" so that they are aware of the lag, and it tells you, the host, who those people are in the list of attendees. Regardless of audio-delay, the chat messages come within a second or two on all devices  so bids would arrive promptly.  \n\nLivestorm allows 6 speakers at a time (we only needed 4--the DJ, the Parent Club president, the principal, and the auctioneer) and the slide may take up one of those slots, plus it has an easy to use interface for making a presenter or slide take up the large part of the screen.  Livestorm doesn't require a download which was one of our requirements when we started, although, now that every kid in the school has Zoom downloaded, I think we could've looked into that platform as well.\n\nOverall, Livestorm worked well, but there are four caveats to using it:  first, on certain browsers (notably Safari), people may connect and not be able to hear anything at all (they are working on this, and it might be fixed now).  Second, about 2% of the audience was unable to hear the parent club president even though they could hear everyone else.   As long as it was not the auctioneer, though, we were fine!  Third, Livestorm is in France and support is available during France’s business hours, so there is currently no tech support for running a weekend auction (they say they are planning to eventually have 24-7 support, but I don’t know when that will go into effect).   Fourth, some people never received their unique attendance link while others found it in the Spamtrap, so we specifically asked people to email us if they didn’t get their link.  This issue seems to be common with live-streaming software as I’d experienced it with other vendors as well.\n\n**Question:** What other livestream options would you suggest for consideration?\n\n**Answer:** I would recommend looking into Clickmeeting, Onstream Webinars, and possibly Zoom in addition to Livestorm.\n\nClickmeeting, Onstream, and Livestorm have a very short delay for most modern browsers (1-3 seconds), but there are significant differences in what you can do in the presentation and to what extent you can control what the attendees see.   We did not look into Zoom because we didn't want to make people download anything but in retrospect, all the kids now have it on their computer, so it's a moot point (I don’t know what the latency is as a webinar because I didn’t test it).\n\nEverything else I tested either had latency issues (Webinarjam, WebinarNinja, On24), required a download (Gotowebinar, Webex, Zoho, Zoom), or had bugs that would prevent reliable bidding (Demio where there were issues with the chat reliability).  I wasn't able to test Livestream (it would only let me create a webinar, but I couldn't view it on another device), and haven't tested Easy Webinar or Twenty-Three. \n \nWhatever you choose, consider the following aspects:  \n\n- What is the quality and delay in audio/video?  \n- What is the delay in the chat?  Is the chat reliable?\n- How easy is it for someone to register?  (Do they have to download software or create a login?) Do you want a unique link sent via email to verify you have a valid email address, or do you prefer that bidders have immediate access to the webinar without email verification to allow last minute attendees to join more easily? Do they have a registration widget that you can put on your Auctria website?) \n- Can you smoothly transition your presentation using the software?\n- How easy is it for a bidder to reload the page if the presentation freezes?\n- If your presentation has a video, how does it play back?  (For some software, videos would automatically play on one device, while the viewer had to press play on other devices which makes your presentation out of sync for the audience.  This was especially true if the videos were on youtube instead of live-streamed by the webinar software.)\n- Price--if you’re only doing one auction, do you have to pay for a whole year, or can you simply buy a month?\n\n## Post Auction Wrap-up\n\n**Question:** Will you be shipping all items to auction winners or providing a safe pick-up?\n\n**Answer:**  Since everyone is home, we are delivering items.  To be 100% safe, you can package the items, set them aside for 5 days, and deliver with mask and gloves on using appropriate distancing.\n\n**Question:** What would you do again or what would you change to make it better next time?\n \n**Answer:** I would do everything we did again but would also focus ahead of time on practicing the \"backstage\" connections between the speakers and auction team.  I highly recommend doing multiple practice runs.\n\nI would especially recommend the DJ and A \"live audience\" which you can have on audio only as it really adds to the presentation.  You're essentially hosting a show, and the auctioneer is the main actor.\n\n## Fundraising During the COVID-19 is Okay\nOrdinary business is not ordinary anymore. Fundraising and charities are in a unique situation in terms of continuing their charge. While some people may not be able to give due to job loss or job insecurity many can still give. When asking for donations or help with a fundraiser do be sensitive but also be pragmatic. \n\nRecently on the [Facebook Group Auction Team Talk](https://www.facebook.com/groups/AuctionTeamTalk/) this exact subject was raised. John Fuse, from EventFull responded: \n\n> “I have been on many conference calls about that. The fact of the matter is a non-profit is a business and needs a revenue stream to provide their mission to their community. There are still supporters who believe in the work you do and are willing to support.”\n\nMany charities, schools, 501(c)3’s are still needing funds to continue to serve their populations. Schools more than ever need help with technology, homelessness needs safe housing, hungry need access to untainted food, animals still need care, medical conditions don’t go away or research themselves because of COVID-19. If your cause is not fully funded, a modified event fundraiser is better than no fundraiser. In our experience people that can give, still give--they just need to be asked and have an easy avenue to do so. \n\n-------------------------------------\n[Read more about fundraising in the shadow of Covid-19](https://www.auctria-dev.xyz/blog/your-auction-fundraiser-in-the-shadow-of-covid-19/)\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":203},{"url":204},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/3c7b82bc651955a5bc8b63ac27c183528d36a16e-600x320.png","2020-04-15T15:46:59.121Z",{"current":207},"shifting-silent-and-live-auction-to-virtual-live-auction","Having to convert to a virtual auction in the wake of Coronavirus? Moving from in-person event to virtual event can yield the same fundraising dollars.","Shifting Silent & Live Auction to Virtual Live Auction",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":211,"category":212,"id":5,"image":213,"publishOn":216,"slug":217,"teaser":219,"title":220},"\nWhether you’re planning a virtual or in-person fundraising event, a Paddle Raise can be a great way to build excitement and encourage donations! We aren’t talking about the paddle raising for item bidding: we’ve all seen auctions in movies and tv shows with characters raising their paddles, getting into bidding wars for the most coveted item on the auction block. Don’t let your team and guests get confused! We’re discussing a Paddle Raise to generate donations—your guests won’t receive anything (except a tax deduction opportunity!). Putting on your own Paddle Raise isn’t complicated, but there are a few simple things you can do to make it a smooth, successful event that raises lots of money for your organization.\n\nIn this article, we’ll discuss:\n* What a Paddle Raise that is conducted at and event or auction\n* 3 key steps for a successful Paddle Raise\n* How to take your Paddle Raise to the next level\n* How Auctria can make your Paddle Raise be a success!\n\n# What is a Paddle Raise at the Event and Auction Fundraiser?\nAs quintessential as a Paddle Raise auction might be in the media, the scripted scenes aren’t quite the same as putting one on yourself in real life—so let’s dig into what actually makes your auction a Paddle Raise!\n\nA Paddle Raise often starts with the announcement of a large donation. This serves to generate excitement and motivate your attendees to join in and increase the funds raised to make a bigger difference for your organization! Announcing a large donation this way also allows you to spotlight a significant donor and give them the proper recognition. When the large donation is announced, the emcee or auctioneer will call on your guests to add their own donations, similar to a donation match but without matching the exact amount.\n\nThe announcer will then call out progressively lower monetary amounts and guests will raise their numbered paddles for the amount they wish to give. As the amounts get lower, make sure your announcer reminds people that small donations can add up and be just as impactful as a single large donation to help motivate attendees to give what they can. This can work for in-person or virtual events, and is a great way to bring some energy to your fundraising event.\n\n## 3 Key Steps to a Successful Paddle Raise\nA successful Paddle Raise is, at its core, dependent on an emotional appeal to your guests, asking them to increase the support for your organization and its mission. This kind of appeal has 3 key elements that make it successful time and time again, for every organization and every mission. \n\n[In an interview with Kelly Russell from Artisan Auctions, Sam Swaim,](https://www.artisanauctions.com/post/special-appeal-structure-with-swaim-strategies) a fundraising strategist from Swaim Strategies, sums it up as “people give to people”.\n\nThe 3 steps for a successful Paddle Raise are:\n* The Story\n* The Ask\n* The Collection\n\n**The Story: Psychologically, attendees give most when it comes from a place of emotion.** The quickest way to create emotional connections is through good storytelling! Your mission is the emotional heart of your organization, so it’s important to communicate it clearly and effectively. Why is your mission important? Who does it impact? How does the money you raise make a positive impact?\n\nMake sure the answers to these questions are told in a cohesive, compelling manner during your event. Even though attendees are likely familiar with your mission, this is a key time to reiterate why your organization does the work it does. If you’re not sure how to tell your story,  consider [storytelling to be THE HEART of a successful fundraiser with some key tips on how to communicate your mission!](https://www.thestorytellingnonprofit.com/blog/storytelling-is-the-heart-of-a-successful-fundraiser/)\n\n* Make the Most of Your Website\n* Write and Record an Impact Video\n* Share Your Call to Action\n\nHere’s one key tip: to capitalize on the idea of “people give to people”, interview someone who has been directly impacted by your organization! You can bring them up as a live speaker or play a recording. Hearing from someone who’s experienced the benefits of your mission is a great way to help your audience connect emotionally with your mission.\n\n**The Ask: have a clear call to action.** The most effective stories about your organization and its mission should finish with a strong call to action that encourages your audience to provide support. A strong, clear call to action is essential—just because you’ve told the story doesn’t mean that donors will understand that donating is the next step. For a Paddle Raise, this is where you should let them know that you’ve received a large donation, and that they can help you take that donation even farther by donating themselves to grow the impact.\n\n**The Collection: this is the Paddle Raise in action!** Once you’ve communicated your story and given the call to action, it’s time to follow through and collect those donations. Having a good emcee or auctioneer is key here: they should keep the energy up, reminding guests that every dollar helps your organization make a difference to motivate everyone to donate.\n\n> “One person [donates] $6,500…And then their friend raises their paddle and goes, ‘we'll do that too’...they wanted someone to match them…giving is contagious. So you gotta set yourself up for success. If you know you're starting at $5,000, try to fish for more. And if you can find and identify a donor, or a sponsor, this is a great opportunity for them to give at this moment to motivate others to give.” - Auctioneer Seth Weiner\n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/416285e55921873664f3396decabd9cd24a7c20c-800x400.png?w=450)](https://www.auctria.com/video/?id=1119578131&t=1119578131)\n\n## How to Take Your Paddle Raise to the Next Level\n\nThere’s a few ways you can make sure your Paddle Raise drives as many donations as possible.\n\nArranging for several precommitted, larger donation amounts from regular donors is a great way to get the ball rolling even at larger monetary amounts. If the announcer calls out the larger monetary amounts and no one breaks the ice to start donating, it may stall the momentum and deter donors from donating even at lower levels. By guaranteeing several immediate donations, you’ll keep energy high and encourage more donations at every level!\n\nTrack how many attendees have donated and aim for a 100% engagement level! If you have someone quickly tracking who has raised their paddle, you could show the number or percentage of guests who have donated on the screen. The higher the percentage, the more motivated other guests may be to donate! The emcee can call out the rising percentage as well, verbally calling on guests to achieve a 100% donation rate. No one likes to be left out or feel like they’re the only one not contributing, so this can be a powerful motivator.\n\n*Hint: You can do this easily with Auctria!*\n\n[Bobby D. Ehlert, founder and fundraising auctioneer at Call to Auction,](https://www.calltoauction.com/) noted an interesting trend he saw this year. \n>The fund a need gives the opportunity to engage one hundred percent of the audience. \n\nHe goes on to explain what levels to choose and how to incentivize levels of giving. \n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/1a5f0c9c544055c5d5a0b36ea3e4de1c41fc0afa-800x400.png?w=450)](https://www.auctria.com/video/?id=1144667522&t=901)\n\n> “A recent trend in 2025 is being more creative with levels with the Paddle Raise. For example, starting at $12,000, which can be presented as $1,000 a month to help a program. Then you might go to $6,000, presented as half a year, and then $3,000, and $1,500.\"\n\n>“Another level seeing a lot of participation is the “365 level” ($365), tied to the organization showing up every day of the year. This is presented as an opportunity to be a partner and make a donation for a dollar a day. This is an example of tying the mission to the different levels.”\n\nIf you want to dig in even further on how to motivate your attendees to donate more, fundraising auctioneer and friend of Auctria [Kelly Russell, Artisan Auctions,](https://www.artisanauctions.com/)  goes into detail about her “sweep” strategy! By having guests raise their cards for a photo and then asking them to leave them raised if they’d like to make a small donation, you can employ a gentle amount of social pressure to encourage donors to make another small donation, which can add up to a significant amount.\n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/e3a96c52bc3732c693db393866f53bb1c7d6c6b6-800x400.png?w=450)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O95MjmhQ3HY)\n\nThere’s a lot of ways to get creative with how you pitch the donations to your attendees—do some brainstorming with your team to make sure you’re maximizing the impact of your Paddle Raise!\n\n## How Using Auctria Can Make Your Paddle Raise a Success!\nWith Auctria, you can transform your most powerful mission moments into meaningful giving. We make it easy to set customizable paddle raise levels that match your capacity in the room. For data entry ease, set increments input each donation entry. Then, record gifts during the event for immediate payment or in-person checkout, or enter them later and send guests a statement or batch payments using pre-registered cards.\n* Simple Setup with Paddle-Raise Dashboard\n* Use donation levels that match prior levels of giving\n* Use a progress tracker so donors can see total donations\n* For greater impact, add custom images next to the donation\n* Place donation buttons throughout the event website for easy donation\n* Add a donation section to the event website's footer to display on every page\n\nOne Auctria user, [Almost Home, saw their Paddle Raise bring in 42%](https://www.auctria.com/blog/fundraising-for-community/) of their event’s gross income! Having an engaging MC or auctioneer and sharing mission moments can make a huge difference in the success of your Paddle Raise. Check out our [Features page](https://www.auctria.com/features/donations/) to see all the customizations you can make to help your event be a success.\n\n## Yes, a Paddle Raise is Right for Your Event\nWe hope that this helps you and your team get started when considering how to inspire, engage, and motivate your attendees to donate! Want to see how other organizations are using Auctria to power their fundraisers? Check out our [Public Auction and Fundraising Events page!](https://events.auctria.com/) This page features live updates with currently active events so you can see exactly how other nonprofits are running their events.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":214},{"url":215},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/a1325087c5fbeb30fb73598ebbac53712d9e4811-600x320.png","2025-12-24T19:43:00.000Z",{"current":218},"the-magic-of-a-paddle-raise-your-most-profitable-moment","Learn how a well-run Paddle Raise turns shared purpose into one of your event’s most powerful giving moments.","The Magic of a Paddle Raise, Your Most Profitable Moment",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":222,"category":223,"id":5,"image":224,"publishOn":227,"slug":228,"teaser":230,"title":231},"Don't miss your chance to make money at an auction fundraiser by bringing the fun! Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County shows us how they do both. The more money they raise the more doors are unlocked to affordable housing. Habitat for Humanity’s mission is to bring affordable housing to their local community. \n\nUnlock the giving by filling the room with an audience that shows up year after year and event after event. Hillary Pritchard, Community Outreach Director shares the fundraising story. The team is not afraid to try new things each year. They take the information gathered from each event and use that to keep or make changes for the next event. Two reasons that the event fundraiser does so well: \n\n- Branded and well known\n- Event goers have fun and come back year after year\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/e89686108ddb0c4767873ff894f65781f3276050-1250x250.gif)\n\n\n## Branding the Event\n\nHabitat for Humanity uses the title “Raise the Roof” on a national level to create a strong affiliation for fundraising. Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County takes that concept and makes it local. They create imagery that is memorable and beautiful. Capitalizing on the prior event success they create an online presence early with appalling imagery and ease of use. The image above was used on the event website and all the auction and event promotional communications. This gives the supporter a good way to know that they landed in the right place to make a purchase or donation. \n\nHabitat for Humanity kept it simple with tickets, offering two types. A single ticket for $50 and a table of eight for $300. Pulling through the imagery again on the ticket sales page. \n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/1edd6c66b8fdb171b3972fe090022a31f39e3ca6-500x281.png)\n\n## Make it Fun\nWhen talking to Hillary about how they fill the seats at the annual Raise the Roof auction she says, ``that's easy, they come back year after year”. In reality it may seem easy from the outside, however the event team is quite strategic with how they fill the time and the type of fundraising activities that go on during the event. It’s fun, and that means people come back year after year. Some of the favorites are:\n\n* **Heads & tails raffle.** In this raffle participants can buy a single entry or five entries. As the game begins those that bought in stand up. They choose to guess heads or tails with a thumbs up or down, a coin is flipped. If they guess correctly they stay in for the next round. If they did not and only had one entry or necklace they have lost and must sit down. If they lost but bought multiple entries they remove one necklace and can stay in for the next round. Last person standing wins the prize. This year the prize was a gift basket loaded with wine and gift certificates and total heads & tails sales exceeded expectations to over $950.  \n\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/bb8fe02e51339c1cd1fd2b51250e4bf666428b91-2048x1517.jpg)\n\n* **Paper Airplane Toss.** In the past the Raise the Roof event had been held in an airplane hangar. Inspiration to sell chances to fold and launch a paper airplane was born. Participants can buy in for $5. They get a single piece of paper to fold then toss as far as possible. The paper airplane that went the furthest wins. **This year the airplane that went the furthest registered a flight of 30 feet!**\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/d7782a192a7db984e24f156396814252ad65c524-2048x1455.jpg)\n\n* **Trashion Show.** The trashion show is a highlight of the evening. Participants are challenged to create a high fashion ensemble out of items that would have been discarded. \n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/b89c2157f480ce906f4e119768af2df1d858a512-500x333.jpg)\n\n2022s winner was from the Whatcom County Guardian NW Title & Escrow Team. They  created a lovely “High-Low” style dress and hat that would be perfect for an evening of wine tasting! It is made from salvaged office paper such as recorded deeds of trust & other real estate documents folded in origami & those “Oh-So-Obsolete CD’s!” \n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/abca94298f922686e7bdec7c0e0ada3eac91bbe6-2048x2048.jpg)\n\n* **Unique Raffle.** Hillary and the auction team know that unique items for raffle also draw the audience to give. For 2022 they raffled off a shed! The shed was brand new and women built. They sold tickets in advance as well as at the Raise the Roof event.  Tickets cost $10 each or a bundle of 5 for $40 and were sold at the Habitat Store as well as at pop up events around town. \n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/241b8293ca6171a8744f7501196d8c63508522d1-545x574.png)\n\n\n2023 raffles were sold out when they auctioned off a Evelo Compass Electric Tricycle. This is the most popular Mid-Drive electric tricycle on the market. The Compass is the hottest selling tricycle in the US featuring both Pedal Assistance and a Throttle. \n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/50f69f76e1c472506cc147a74cc39614c47800be-500x449.jpg)\n\n\nHabitat for Humanity of Whatcom County continue to interact with their sponsors and supporters year round. At the conclusion of the event they publish a very appreciative social media post and website recognizing the contributions to reach the goals. Tagging each and publishing their logos on their main website give a long term awareness to those sponsors.\n\nEvents continue throughout the year as well. A gingerbread contest in the winter, a golf tournament in the spring and an end of year campaign drive. Each one is topped off with a sincere thanks and images showing how the funds raised are helping raise the roof every day in the community. 52 homes completed since 1988 and going strong!\n\n----------------\n\nSpecial thanks to Hillary Pritchard and Fred Sheppard at [Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County](https://www.hfhwhatcom.org/) for sharing their auction and event fundraising story. Serving Whatcom County since 1988, they have completed 52 homes and housed more than 188 Whatcom residents.\n\n[Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County](https://www.hfhwhatcom.org/) is a locally governed affiliate of [Habitat for Humanity International.](http://www.habitat.org/) We are a non-profit organization committed to eliminating substandard housing through the building of safe, decent, affordable homes with our partner families.\nHabitat has built over half a million homes around the world. \n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":225},{"url":226},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/e3bcedb3373664064c31e95e1a4ceee5c0e0660d-600x320.png","2023-01-03T16:40:07.740Z",{"current":229},"unlock-the-giving-unlocks-the-doors","Unlock the giving by filling the room with an audience that shows up year after year and event after event","Unlock the Giving, Unlocks the Doors",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":233,"category":234,"id":5,"image":235,"publishOn":238,"slug":239,"teaser":241,"title":242},"Auction and event fundraisers have the opportunity to present as virtual events. Your charity mission is always the headliner. Pairing the fundraiser with a virtual event, gala, home party and even live concerts make these even more unique and memorable. Anca Trifan from Tree-Fan Events breaks it all down for us here. She offers her candid advice and some documents to help map a successful and stress-free virtual fundraising event. In addition to the excerpted documents, the full templates and other guidance can be found on the Tree-Fan website [Virtual Event FREE Resources & Special Live-Streaming Information for Auctria Users | Tree-Fan Events](https://treefanevents.com/virtual-event-free-resources-special-live-streaming-pricing-for-auctria-users/)\n\nAt an in-person event, you have the opportunity to impact all five senses of the participant. Lighting and decorations, foods both smell and taste, music, ambiance, table friends for live interaction. Now with the events going virtual, this is reduced to two senses- sight and sound, it is imperative that both are as close to perfect as possible. \n\nThe virtual event can be a casual social event to a professional production, there is lots of room in between. Deciding on how imaginative and complex will dictate the pieces people and the pieces you will need to build the virtual event. \n\nVirtual event capabilities are quite varied. A few questions to ask yourself and the fundraising team:\n * Will this be a social event, requiring face to face video screen availability or scaled-down with just a chat function\n * Will this be one major event or will there be pre-parties, breakout rooms, VIP invite areas\n * Where do you want to broadcast to? Private or public?\n * How much will be live, how much pre-recorded? \n * How much time will the fundraiser potion of the event consume?\n * What talent do you have onboard already or need to seek out? This is in terms of content and technology.\n\nBottom line do you want to put on a fully produced almost televised show or something more scaled back.\n\nOutlined here are the options of most frequently used pieces we have observed in successful event fundraisers:\n\n* Tools & technology\n* CALL, Camera, Audio, Lighting, and Location\n* Connections, lighting, and sound\n* Run of Show document\n* Virtual Event Script & Tech Notes document\n\n## Tools and Technology \n**Don’t let the tools and technology guide the way,** let the virtual plan unfold then choose the tech that helps you meet that goal. This decision is made a little easier once you map out the level of sophistication that you are seeking. Then start looking at platforms or professionals that help you reach that goal. Sometimes the pros will use a platform that is available to you as a beginner however in the right hands elevates the usage.\n\nFor instance, Streamyard is probably the most simple streaming/ compositing platform available. In the hands of a professional, they can really make it special by helping with branding, overlays, countdown clocks, and multiple streams from many locations or screens. \n\nWhere are your supporters going to watch the virtual presentation? Most frequently this answer is the event landing page, or Facebook, YouTube, even Twitch, or for a smaller more sociable experience Zoom. These are environments that are familiar with. Avoiding the questions “Where do I watch? How do I watch it?”, the quicker they can click to view the better! \n\nSome of the DIY Software Favorites being used for virtual events:\n\n### Streamyard\n[StreamYard](https://streamyard.com/) is a live streaming studio in your browser. Interview guests, share your screen, and much more. Stream directly to Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and other platforms. StreamYard  Best for quick and easy set-up from any desktop. Overlays, add text, pull up comments from the live feed. Video upload is limited however can share a video on a screen. Streamyard is easy to learn and easy to learn but is limited.\n### Open Broadcast Software\n[OBS](https://obsproject.com/) for short- **OBS  Free and open-source software for video recording and live streaming.** Download and start streaming quickly and easily on Windows, Mac or Linux. OBS is a software program that you download to your computer. Cool feature: much more control over adding streams and longer video. Many more options however do take time to learn. \n### Ecamm\n[Ecamm](https://www.ecamm.com/) turns your MAC into a live production studio for broadcasting to Facebook Live, YouTube, Twitch, and Periscope. Cool feature: plug in a mobile device and share your phone screen\n\n> Anca’s advice “Use a broadband connection that is hardwired when live-streaming.”\n\n## CALL\nCamera, audio, lighting, and location are the key factors to high quality, highly polished virtual event broadcast. Hardware favorites for broadcasting like a pro are a good camera with a tripod, good lighting, high-quality microphone. Poor audio quality is going to drive away viewers. If they cannot hear well that is an instant turn-off. \n\n**Camera: an HD camera is ideal.** If you don't have access to an actual HD video camera, a built-in computer/laptop camera, smartphone camera, USB camera could be used as well. If you reusing your smartphone's camera, using a tripod is recommended to keep the image stable. \nMake sure the orientation of the video is in landscape more (no vertical Instagram stories portrait mode-kind of videos please). \n\n>Anca’s advice “Also, stay away from Snapchat-like filters and the zoom function on your phone. Position yourself relevant to the camera position without using the digital zoom function which reduces the quality of your video's resolution.” \n\n**Audio: When it comes to audio, poor audio is not acceptable.** People tolerate a lower resolution video of you than a high-quality HD video with intelligible sound. If you don't have a USB podcast microphone you can easily connect to your laptop, consider buying a lavalier microphone that connects either to your laptop or to your smartphone device. The goal is to pick up the presenter’s voice clearly, without all the background noise that is usually present when not having a close-up microphone. \n\n>Anca’s advice “In any TV production, audio always takes priority and virtual events are no different.”\n\n**Lighting: the very best lighting is natural lighting.** We know this is not possible at all times, especially with virtual events replacing evening functions. Lighting should be evaluated in advance of rehearsals. Examine how the subject matter or speakers are illuminated during the SAME time of day that the event is taking place. Adjust with any light source you have handy like household lamps and overhead lights. Alter the brightness, height, angle, and distance from the speaker. After you do get the lighting exactly how you want to take notes and pictures of the set-up so you can re-create the lighting when needed.\n\n>Anca’s advice “Ring-shaped lights have become wildly popular, test these too though. If too close they create a ring reflection in the speaker’s eye that can be distracting.”\n\nLocation: be aware of the background. Simple backgrounds are best. If it's cluttered, consider moving your setup to a more minimalist location or if that’s an option, invest in a photography green screen backdrop. \n\n>Anca’s advice “Clothing choices should be intentional but most importantly, to make you feel confident in your skin.”  \n\n## Professional Virtual Event Producer\nThe professionals may use the same programs however with their experience can provide a much more polished production. They do so with graphics, overlays, b-roll, and content management. The Virtual Event Producer should be brought in early to work on any of the creative assets and map out the entire planning and implementation of the virtual event. The event producer should use a few outlines to ensure no details are missed. This starts with the Virtual Events Details document.\n\n## Virtual Event Details\nThis keeps everyone on the same page. This outline that you may want to use when seeking information and pricing from a Virtual Event Producer. Continue to update and use this document to stay on track for both time and budget. Here is an example of the details you should be collecting and provided to the virtual event team. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/3f51cf67de149d65e55add1197e6549d6c925fd4-800x600.png)\n\n## Run of Show\nThe run of show will be minute-by-minute documentation outlining times, who is speaking, and what they are covering during that time. For a virtual fundraising event that runs 45 minutes it may look something like this:\n\n* 5:30 PM:  30 Minute Pre-Cast: Instructions on how to join us live at, register as a bidder, and any image slides deck \n* 6:00 PM Go Live: Welcome by host/MC Theme: – build excitement for all those tuning in Verbal instructions on how to participate from home for bidding and giving (banner overlay) Introduce incentive to register: Each registered bidder will be entered to a win prize, etc (TBD) \n* 6:05 PM MC introduces In-studio: remarks on current climate, we’ll all gather together again soon, emphasizing the importance of community and how the community is adapting in this climate. \n* 6:08 PM Benefit Auctioneer or Host/MC transitions to recognize sponsors Pre-recorded: Messages from sponsors Benefit Auctioneer or Host/MC transitions to celebrate viewers and supporters Live Stream Chat: use platform to recognize messages as they come\n* 6:12 Promotion for online auction, announce current bids and celebrate winners \n* 6:14 (Live #1-5) Benefit Auctioneer or Host/MC introduces video –  \n* 6:35 PM Pre-recorded: Speaker video plays – (exp 2 min) \n* 6:37 PM Virtual Appeal Benefit Auctioneer facilitates with predetermined levels of giving using Auctria online platform Leaderboard to recognize gifts as they come in \n* 6:42 PM Benefit Auctioneer transitions and celebrates community Pre-recorded: Video message – (exp 2 min) Promote give now, online auction, announce current bids and celebrate winners (Live #6-10) \n* 6:45 PM Host/MC closes, roll credits/sponsor/donor list\n\n## Virtual Event Script & Tech Notes\nThe purpose of this document is to track the production tasks alongside the run of show. This includes any and all links for Livestream and outlines any supplemental production elements that need to be opened and organized prior to going live. Include link, logins, folders, content, and asset locations.\n\nInclude on the Event and Tech notes instructions for when parties need to arrive online. Ideally, that would be an hour prior to the event beginning. This gives ample opportunity to do a final rehearsal, soundcheck, connectivity check.\n\nThe event script and tech notes are best displayed on a simple table that had three headings: Time, Script and Tech Notes. The more detailed and specific the document the more reliable it will be when you need to use it as a reference. Here is an example of a few lines of what a professional would produce.\n \n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/d4e24f94084d35a66b72d7e54c90128970c3ddfb-747x636.png)\n\n## Calling in the Professional Virtual Event Producer\nThe auction team that is pivoting to virtual us using a hybrid in the future may not have the skills, time, or equipment to make the virtual event shine, as technology offers some creative solutions to virtual event challenges, and that’s ok. The benefit of hiring an event producer and production live-streaming to produce your event is the overall polished product that you can take advantage not just during the live broadcast of the event, but afterward too. Elements such as supportive graphics, overlays, picture in picture, smooth transitions between slides and videoclips, licensed music,  and other elements, not to mention the insurance of knowing that run-through rehearsals are taking places, and retakes or editing are available as well so that you can really polish your event, just like a TV show that’s broadcasted live this day really is. Before the event goes live, The VEP and the technical live streaming team will run a Cue2Cue run-through and make sure all event elements are included in the build of the live-stream.\n\nFor in-person events, event design was carefully curated from the moment that attendees walked through the doors of your venue, with help desks, volunteers to answer any question, complimentary transportation.\n\nFor virtual events, **the touchpoints of their roadmap have to be just as carefully considered,** even as now we’re not dealing with linens, centerpieces, background music, mood-changing lighting and event staff that can easily answer any question the attendee might have.\n\n The Producer will help brand and stay on message for the entirety of the event. Using overlays, bottom thirds, chyrons, and transitions your organization will be front and center during the entire event.\n\nThe virtual event will be about 45 minutes however it will leave a lasting impression. An exceptional virtual event that is recorded can continue to live on past the initial airing. With this purpose, you may want to elevate the production excellence and use the experts. Production teams are highly trained and will be much more efficient in running a virtual event. They will also coach you based on their experiences. In creating a highly polished event, the reflection back is on your charity, mission, and cause.\n\nA recent virtual event produced by Tree-Fan was for the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum. They are focused on becoming a world-class center for innovation, preservation, education, and inspiration. The virtual event was the perfect mix of innovation and history to drive support and intrigue. [Click for a replay of the virtual event.](https://youtu.be/0JQD2_OOh-Y)\n\n------------------\nSpecial thanks to Tree-Fans founder, Anca Trifan for sharing her expert advice. [Click here to get a complete package of virtual event templates](https://treefanevents.com/virtual-event-free-resources-special-live-streaming-pricing-for-auctria-users/) including: \n* Virtual Event Script & Tech Notes\n* Run of Show\n* CALL Tips\n* Virtual Event Checklist\n\n**Podcast: [Events: demystified](https://treefanevents.com/events-demystified-podcast/)** Auctria was episode #19 and there are many that are directly related to charity and fundraising events. \n\n**YouTube: [Tech Tuesday](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQetBusJOOytQeigf1bmRgwD9fPqx1pHu)** On the Tree-Fan YouTube channel you will find a Tech Tuesday playlist. Here Anca discusses and answers all your virtual event tech questions.\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":236},{"url":237},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/87ee596d98db921efa960751997b51676c1cd479-600x320.png","2020-12-22T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":240},"virtual-fundraising-event-production-101","Anca Trifan a professional Virtual Event Produces breaks it all down. She offers her candid advice and some documents to help map a successful and stress-free virtual fundraising event.","Virtual Fundraising Event Production 101",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":244,"category":245,"id":5,"image":246,"publishOn":249,"slug":250,"teaser":252,"title":253},"# Stress Less Auction Fundraising Tips\n\nTake it from auction veteran Carlo: stress less and make more money at auction!  Carlo’s philosophy is the less you stress the better the auction outcome. His tips make for happy volunteers and happy bidders.  For 9 years Carlo has volunteered his time as  a member of the Auction Committee for his children’s school in Folsom California.  The team’s goal is to raise money for the school in the most effective and stress-free fashion possible.  This all starts by working in advance and thorough preparation.  Doing as as much as possible prior to the event makes for a very smooth running event with much less effort and stress.   This bears repeating, anything that can be done prior to the auction fundraiser event means less to do and and less stress at the event.  \n\n## Streamline and Work Smarter\n\nWe are never fully optimized, we can always do better.  What worked and didn’t work at the last auction fundraiser?  How can we change the process or activity to stress less?  Any tweak from the year before to optimize work to yield less work is worth the time. \n\nEstablish a general pricing  and bidding strategy for auction.  When it comes to the final pricing and bid increments this is best handled by a single person to maintain oversight.  \n\nIn reviewing prior years auction income they discover data gems.  For instance more income does NOT come from more items.  The quality of the item and the bidder perception of what the items are worth yields the highest bids.  \n\nAdding pre-bidding to the auction has helped boost awareness and income.  With pre-bidding the highest pre-bid now becomes the starting bid.  Nice starting off the event with auction action already as a safety net.\n\nUsing a full featured and sophisticated program like Auctria saves hours of time from their first endeavor of running the auction using basic office products.  Use the system from the beginning of the fundraiser to the very end.  PRE do everything!  \n\n## Handle any Pre-Work in Advance\nAny tasks that can be handled prior to the auction shall be taken care of in advance, and as far in advance as possible.  For example this group recycles and reuses their bidder paddles.  Some are taken home or lost by bidders but that’s ok!  Immediately after the event an inventory is taken and they replace the missing bid numbers so come next year they are fully stockpiled.  \n\n![bidder paddle with name tags 300 wide.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/bidder-paddle-with-name-tags-300-wide.jpg)\n\n * pre-selling event tickets \n * pre-register the bidder \n * pre-bidding\n * pre-assign bidder number \n * pre-assign tables\n * pre-make bidder paddles\n * pre-make bidder bracelets\n * pre-train volunteers\n\nThis group goes even further in setting up the room pre-event.  At the dining table they place the bidder paddles so that check in is a breeze.  Check in is so smooth that they re-named check -in staff to Greeters because it requires no technology operations.\n\nOne of Carlo’s favorite feature is the drag & drop feature for table assignments.  Arranging the tables in advance means stop taking reservations with enough time to manage table assignments.  Work all these to do items into your timeline for less stress. \n\n## Prepare and Test Everything\nPrepare volunteers by training them on the tasks for the event.  If possible do this in advance of the event day then day of can be quickie refresher.  Test all equipment and services ahead of the event date at the exact location.  This includes: wifi, hotspot, printer & router.  Think through the need for extension cords, paper, stapler, pens- anything that you may possibly need.  Gather all the bits and pieces ahead of time- when it is calm and you can think clearly.  \n\n## Income Boosters\nCarlo’s team has tried lots of auction boosters and here 3 favorites:\n1. **Go cashless = More Spending** This can easily be done with Auctria, order drinks and s with your bidder number and record everything prior to checkout.  Link spouse on the same record for even more convenience\n2. **Raffle Tickets-** These are an impulse buy, the more times you offer raffle tickets, especially with cashless, the more participation in the raffle. \n3. **Sell Leftovers-** Well, not really leftovers, but DO over order on food to sell to-go meals for bidders to enjoy the next day.  Soup and crab are always faves at this auction, they always sell out and provide last income boost.\n\n## Next Steps \nCarlo’s Next steps:\nEven after 9 years Carlo and his team are looking to further streamline the auction fundraising.  Next year they are exploring adding an online auction component.  \n\n## Auctria Timelines & Checklists\nAs you can see, planning and preparation are vital to a successful auction.  Auctria's best practices timeline and checklist will help keep the auction on track. Download and share with your entire [auction team](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/auction_teamwork) today.\n\nAuction Planning Timeline & Checklist\n[WITH an event (gala, silent & live auction)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/AuctionweventTimeline.pdf)\n\nAuction Planning Timeline & Checklist\n[WITHOUT an event (online only)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/AuctiononlinePlanningTimeline.pdf)\n\n--------------------------------\nSpecial thanks to Carlo at SNJDS of Folsom, California for taking the time to share their fundraising story. As you can see Carlo is very methodical and it’s not surprising that his background is that of a software developer.  We hope you enjoyed reading and ask yourself, what can we do better for our next auction to be stress free?",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":247},{"url":248},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/4ad5e2891872d30c1acd292b34a3c5994cabcca0-600x320.png","2018-05-24T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":251},"stress_less","Stress less with these 4 tips","Stress Less Auction Fundraising Tips [storytelling]",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":255,"category":256,"id":5,"image":257,"publishOn":260,"slug":261,"teaser":263,"title":264},"A silent auction is a fundraising event featuring an auction with a twist where guests place bids silently, either on paper bid sheets or via mobile bidding software to win an item. As tradition, the highest bidder wins, and you raise money for your charity. Once you’ve decided on the date, time, and venue of your auction you’re ready to market it and here are some great tips: \n\n1. Email marketing \n2. Social media marketing \n3. Word of mouth marketing\n\n## 1. Email marketing \nYou may want to send out a mass email in a large campaign to a long list of invitees, via a service like MailChimp. There’s also Mail Merge which you can do yourself on most computers. Whichever you choose, it’s advisable to send out at least two campaigns - an introductory email and a final reminder.\n\n### Introductory emails\n\nThis can be sent out as soon as you’ve finalised your event details, giving your invitee list chance to save the date and make plans for attending the auction. Your aim is also to create excitement, generate awareness and start conversations, but not to be too long-winded. Ensure you give all the details of the event as well as all the background information on the charity you’re fundraising for, who will be hosting the auction itself - if it’s a guest host – and, if you have sponsors, who they are and how they are involved. Plus, if there’s a fundraising figure you’re aiming for, mention this too to get your would-be bidders motivated! \n\n“Another thing you can do is to talk about your auction items, as a teaser for your guest list,” says Dom Francis, a business blogger at Write my X and [1 Day 2 write.](https://1day2write.com/) “Talk up these items, and why they are special. Include attractive professional photos to really whet your invitees’ appetite.”\n\n### Final reminder emails\n\nContact your invitee list again a week or so before your auction to remind those who are already coming, and to give a nudge to those still undecided. Lay out all your details once again and give the start time of the event, as a countdown always generates excitement! If you have any new information, provide it. And acknowledge your sponsors yet again. \n\nA day or so before, send another email as a last-minute reminder. Keep this short and sweet, without alienating those who are already committed to coming.\n\n## 2. Social media marketing \n\nWhether it’s Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram, aim to post at least three or four times per week, per platform, about your silent auction. \n\nAlways include the basic information about your fundraiser: the charity you are fundraising for, the date, time, and location. Let people know how they can participate. Include photos of your bid items or feature them in videos or reels. Think about your captions, and make them snappy, informative, and engaging. Where you can write more, like on LinkedIn, you’ll have more space to add exciting detail about each of your items. If you’re using Facebook, create an Event page, so your followers can invite their friends.\n\nDon’t forget to use hashtags but consider quality over quantity. “Too many hashtags will make your post look overwhelming and spammy,” says Birdie Jackson, a journalist at Origin Writings and Brit Student. “Use no more than three hashtags per post, making them super relevant to your cause, and don’t forget to tag your sponsors or other supporters.”\n\n## 3. Word of mouth marketing\n\nTell everyone! Word of mouth may be a very traditional form of marketing, but it is still effective in conjunction with all the more “bells and whistles” approaches. Make sure to tell friends, family, and colleagues all about your silent auction and spread the word! You can also be mindful of creating social media posts so catchy that they will encourage your followers to talk about your event.\n\n\nOrganising your silent auction is half the task ahead of you in your fundraising endeavours, the other half is making sure the right people know about it, and attend. The above tips should make sure you have all bases covered and ensure you have a well-attended and successful silent auction.\n\n------------\nSpecial thanks to George J. Newton for the expert advice. George is a business development manager writing for [Write my research paper](https://academicbrits.com/write-my-research-paper)\nand [Dissertation writing service.](https://phdkingdom.com/dissertation-writing-service) George has been working for a non profit for 5 years before he moved to another city. He also writes articles for [Next Coursework.](https://nextcoursework.com/coursework-writer)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":258},{"url":259},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/5bbe589ca2de3cfb602c503e28db14101fbde9e0-600x320.png","2022-11-16T20:06:36.542Z",{"current":262},"effective-marketing-for-a-silent-auction-fundraiser","Are you read to market the event fundraiser, some great tips","Effective marketing for a silent auction fundraiser ",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":266,"category":267,"id":5,"image":268,"publishOn":271,"slug":272,"teaser":274,"title":275},"As a school leader, you know your institution's duty is to fund students’ learning opportunities so they can grow. However, it can be difficult to find unique, engaging fundraising opportunities that appeal to your specific school community.\n\nWhether you’re educating aspiring artists, engineers, or entrepreneurial trailblazers, you need profitable school fundraising ideas that are easy to implement and participate in. This guide will explore several fundraisers you can add to your strategy to boost revenue and fuel your educational programming.\n\n\n## 1. Auctions\nYour school is part of a broader local community. Leveraging this community can make your fundraising efforts more cost-effective and profitable—especially if you source local donations for exciting fundraising auctions.\n\nBy auctioning off items tied to your local area, your school will provide more relevant opportunities for school families and community members that encourage them to get involved. For example, you may incorporate the following items into your next auction:\n\n* **Discounts.** Partner with local businesses and establishments to auction off items like [discount cards](https://www.abcfundraising.com/discount-card-fundraiser) (physical cards that offer various discounts to local vendors) or gift certificates for specific services. These deal-related items entice winning bidders to visit and support local entities, presenting a win for your school and the community at large.\n* **Tutoring services**. Whether you have young students struggling to memorize multiplication tables or older students preparing for college, tutoring services can be an extremely valuable auction item for school families. Additionally, you can support local tutors by connecting them with winners and other interested students.\n* **Experiences**. [Tickets](https://www.auctria.com/blog/smart-ticketing-elevates-your-fundraising-events/) to local events or experiences can also encourage families to get more involved in their community. For example, the hosts of an upcoming fall festival in your town may donate four tickets to your auction to promote their event.\n\nAs you [prepare for your auction](https://www.auctria.com/blog/auction-timelines-and-checklists-and-user-training-pdfs/), consider how to streamline the experience. You may offer mobile bidding so participants can place bids from anywhere and easily keep track of each item they’re interested in.\n\n\n## 2. Product Fundraisers\nInstead of simply collecting money from school families and community members, product fundraisers involve selling products in exchange for donations. Not only does your school raise funds, but participants also receive tangible items they can use (or eat!).\n\nThis type of fundraiser allows your school to get creative, selling various enticing products like:\n\n* **Branded merchandise**. Sell t-shirts, hats, water bottles, and tote bags featuring your school’s logo to spread school spirit. Make this fundraiser even more fun by hosting a contest where students can submit their own designs, and the winning student receives a prize.\n* **Food.** Candy, [cookie dough](https://www.abcfundraising.com/cookie-dough-fundraiser), pretzels, popcorn, and many other snack ideas appeal to almost anyone—especially hungry students! Sell these snacks at school lunches and during sports games to maximize funds for your cause. Alternatively, invite students to participate in the fundraising by selling food to their families and neighbors.\n* **Seasonal items.** Help students, families, and friends prepare for different seasons with relevant items, such as wrapping paper in the winter and flowers in the spring. They’ll appreciate securing the items they need while simultaneously helping your school.\n\nTo ensure your products appeal to your target audience, survey them beforehand. [ABC Fundraising’s school fundraiser guide](https://www.abcfundraising.com/fundraising-ideas/school-fundraisers) recommends creating a parent fundraising committee to receive regular input from school families and assistance with the fundraising process.\n\nOnce you’ve chosen your product, work with a product fundraising provider to create an online store to streamline sales and increase your reach. Promote the fundraiser on [social media](https://www.auctria.com/blog/social-media-for-nonprofits-101-important-platforms-to-know/) with photos and videos that showcase your products and stir up excitement.\n\n## 3. A-Thon Events\nEncourage student participation by hosting a fun event that puts them at the center of the action. A-thon fundraisers engage students by inviting them to complete a challenge in exchange for pledged donations from friends and family.\n\nPopular a-thon fundraising ideas include:\n\n* Read-a-thons. Have students collect donations based on the total minutes, pages, chapters, or books they read. [99Pledges’ read-a-thon fundraising guide](https://99pledges.com/read-a-thon-fundraising-guide/) explains that this type of fundraiser not only generates revenue but also improves reading comprehension and builds a love of reading among students.\n* Dance-a-thons. During a dance-a-thon, donors pledge a certain amount of money for each half-hour or hour that a student dances. Then, your students will dance until they can’t anymore! For example, Pennsylvania State University hosts an annual dance-a-thon called [THON](https://thon.org/). This 46-hour student-run dance marathon has raised more than $236 million since 1977 to support children and families impacted by childhood cancer.\n* Bike-a-thons. Students who enjoy an athletic challenge might want to show off their skills in a bike-a-thon. Like a dance-a-thon, they’ll collect donations for each mile biked and challenge themselves to ride as far as possible.\n\nCreate an [event landing page](https://www.auctria.com/blog/don-t-underestimate-the-power-of-a-great-event-and-auction-website/) on your website to provide more information about the event for interested participants and donors. This page can also streamline donations by accepting donors’ payment information online for pledges and automatically charging their cards based on students’ participation.\n\n\n## 4. Competitions\nLeverage the thrill of a challenge by hosting a competition fundraiser. After all, the most effective fundraising ideas make participants eager to get involved, and there’s no better way to do that than by appealing to their competitive spirit. For example, you might host a:\n\n* **Trivia night**. Quiz participants on their favorite topics and offer a prize to the winning trivia team. You might raise money through registration fees, snacks at the event, or local [sponsorships](https://www.auctria.com/blog/boost-auction-revenue-with-workplace-giving-and-sponsorships/).\n* **Sports game**. Invite students to play a game, like soccer or basketball, or participate in a tournament. They’ll donate to play and be placed on a team, or they can make a larger donation and coordinate their own teams. You can raise additional funds by selling tickets and concessions to audience members.\n* **Talent show**. Encourage students to show off their unique talents in a show. Find volunteers to serve as your panel of judges and sell tickets to audience members. Consider [adopting volunteer management](https://blog.betterimpact.com/en/volunteer-management-software) software to inform volunteers of their roles and provide a centralized place to take notes.\n\nYou might also host competitions relevant to your fundraising goal. For example, a fundraiser to build a new playground might raise money through a scavenger hunt around the old playground where families pay to participate.\n\n-------------\n\nAny campus can host a profitable fundraiser when it chooses an idea that engages its audience. Bring variety to your campaigns and revitalize your fundraising efforts with creative ideas.\n\n--------------------\n\nSpecial thanks to Debbie Salat for the expert advice. Debbie is the director of fundraising activities and product development at ABC Fundraising(r) - Debbie joined ABC Fundraising(r) in 2010 and is responsible for launching over 6500 fundraising campaigns for schools, churches, youth sports teams and non-profit organizations all across the USA. With over 20 years of fundraising experience, Debbie knows the path to success for fundraisers which she shares with groups on a daily basis so they can achieve their fundraising goals.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":269},{"url":270},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/232a6a4eb18716f1ce9d08baa0d092bc0374d15e-600x320.jpg","2025-01-17T21:25:00.000Z",{"current":273},"4-profitable-school-fundraisers-any-campus-can-host","School fundraisers vary across campuses, and finding the right option for your school can be hard. Check out these fundraisers that any school can profit from.","4 Profitable School Fundraisers Any Campus Can Host",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":277,"category":278,"id":5,"image":279,"publishOn":282,"slug":283,"teaser":285,"title":286},"# Auction Fundraising Finances: Keep the Records Straight\n\nLet’s face it, auction fundraising is all about the money!  A basic working knowledge of a typical household budget is great but let’s broaden your financial acumen.  Once you start handling monies for an organization, more stringent procedures are in order.  Don’t worry-- you don’t need to be an accounting aficionado but you do need to have in place checks & balances to keep the budget accurate. The fundraising chairperson is responsible for establishing, reporting and managing the fundraising budget.  This happens in collaboration with the entire board to determine overall goals, then the fundraising committee can get to work.    \n\nDon’t get kept up at night worrying about finances, use bylaws and sound financial procedures to stay safe!\n\n[Bonus Printable Resource: Managing & Tracking Money Quick Tips with Money Counting Worksheet](https://auctria.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/ManagingFinancialsAndCash.pdf)\n\n![fundraising financials for auction 700.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/fundraising-financials-for-auction-700.png)\n\n## Managing Finances\nStart with a nice chat with the Treasurer.  Most likely there are already financial protocols in place for receiving and recording monetary transactions.  Understanding the processes from the start will help prevent any ‘learning on the job’ experiences.  At a minimum there should be a budget and alignment of expectations in duties and responsibilities. \n\nThe Treasurer should have in place standard forms and policies to manage the day-to-day transactions.  As the Fundraising Chair responsibilities will relate only to the fundraising budget and activities.  \n\nTo make the learning curve shorter when beginning a fundraiser, retrieve records and documents from the prior year to help make decisions that keep the good stuff going and improve upon areas of opportunities.  In addition, ask the prior year’s chairperson for their overall opinion on the fundraising event.  This gives you a good understanding of do’s and don’ts and allows you to develop a rapport with the previous chairperson.  You never know when you may need to call upon them for advice.\n \nDo keep accurate records on planning and spending for fundraising activities.  It’s ok to invest some money to make money but do so with a strategy in place.  Do the math, will X dollars yield Y% back?  What is the point of diminishing returns?  The answer may not be so clear with the first fundraiser, or the first year but record and learn from each event.  \n\n## Transactions\nUnderstand how the organization handles and records financial transactions.  There should be standard forms to transfer cash, count cash, request checks and disbursements.  Always try to have two people to double check cash and receivables.   Standardize financial transactions such as:\n\n * Receiving cash\n * Recording cash\n * Depositing cash\n * Receiving credit card payment\n * Reimbursement for expenses\n * Document preservation requirements (ie receipts, vendor agreements, emails)\n\nTracking Money \nSecurity of monies is greatly  enhanced when there is a chain of custody and consistent procedures in place.  \n**Banking-** It is best to have at least 3 officers responsible for banking, this helps with checks and balances.  The Treasurer is responsible for the overall recording and reporting of finances. \n**Incoming checks-** need  restrictive endorsement (i.e “For Deposit Only”) and should be deposited within a week with no cash back.\n**Outgoing  checks-**  must be supported by an approved invoice, receipt, or a voucher prepared by the volunteer if a receipt or invoice isn't available.  Checks should require two signatures and not be signed in advance.\n\n## Auction Fundraiser Financials\n\nStreamline all financials to the least amount of systems possible. Record everything in a timely fashion so as to not lose track of expenses. With Auctria streamline all income by utilizing credit card integration. Use Auctria for all transactions related to the auction:\n * Selling event tickets\n * Selling sponsorships\n * Selling raffles\n * Auction checkout\n\nWe are aware that some bidders and supporters will want to handle their transactions in cash or check. To keep the financials in order record those in the auction system you are using. With Auctria you can process credit cards or record payment method as ‘Other’. Other would be used for check, or cash or any alternate payment processor handled outside of Auctria.\n\n**Auctria streamlines the reporting process** with a full suite of auction reports that can be run during and after the auction fundraiser. Keep track of in progress items, donors, bidders, sales and bidding during the auction. Post auction review the financials and expenses. There are many report form templates yet each can be modified for more exact needs. \n\nCash collections deserve special treatment due. It is a best practice to keep cash under lock & key, minimize the number of people who handle cash and use a consistent money counting procedure. To help a paper trail of cash collections provide below is a Money Counting Worksheet. Each time cash is counted have two people count and document the totals. \n\nSample Money Counting Worksheet\n\n## Organization Obligations\nIt is imperative that all fundraising activities and flow of funds is recorded and transparent.  Communication is the key to any healthy relationship.  This is never more true when money and finances are involved.  Accurate accounting and reporting to the board serves as further communication and clarity.  Ongoing status checks and updates keeps everyone on the same page.  Regular reporting provides an opportunity to review and adjust plans as needed.  \n\n\n***Q.  Do you have a copy of  the bylaws?***\n\n If you do not have a copy of the by laws ask for one.  Understand the bylaws as it relates to fundraising and finances.  This will always serve as the roadmap and guidance.  Who is responsible or permitted to sign vendor agreements and contracts?\n\n***Q.    What is the fundraising teams responsibility for handling monies?***\n\nWill the fundraising team be responsible or is the treasurer going to handle this? What is the protocol for cash collection?  It is important to establish checks and balances when dealing with cash especially since there is no paper trail.  \n\n***Q.    What is expected in terms of budgeting?***\n\nConsider timeframes for fundraising and spending for the entire fiscal year.  How much money came in last year, what changes did or will the organization incur?  This can be in terms of people contributing, fundraising programs changing or overall climate and needs.  For instance: if the fundraising efforts are for a school,  are there any large donors that are outgoing or incoming from the institution?  Fundraising for a sports team or club, are there any participants moving to the next level and leaving the potential donation stream?\n\n***Q.  Personally, how are you protected should a problem occur?  Is an insurance policy in place and what and whom is covered?***   \n\nBoard members could be held personally liable for the actions of the organization.  Review your exposure to determine if  insurance policy is necessary to protect your organization’s mission and board members.\n\n**Tip: Secure and READ the organization bylaws before touching a penny.**\n\nExternal Obligations\nSharing goals and successes outside the board to the general membership and stakeholders.  They too deserve to know goals and purposes of fundraising.  Sharing success stories and coming full circle should also be part of the communication plan.  \n\nFiduciary responsibility & reporting is not just internal.  Income of any sort does need to be documented.  Every organization has external obligations, depending on the location and tax status obligations may include Federal, State, and sales tax.  Review the synopsis paragraphs below but refer to the direct links for more details and the  most up-to date information.  \n\n*NOTE: Auctria is providing links and information as a convenience, not as financial consultancy or a tax professional.  Please seek the advice of a licensed individual in your state for qualified guidance.* \n\nIRS provide an online training available at the IRS [microsite StayExempt.irs.gov](https://www.stayexempt.irs.gov/Starting-Out/Applying-for-Section-501c3-Status) for tax-exempt status.\n\n>“An organization may qualify for exemption from federal income tax if it is organized and operated exclusively for one or more of the following purposes. religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, educational, fostering national or international amateur sports competition (but only if none of its activities involve providing athletic facilities or equipment, prevention of cruelty to children or animals.”\n\n>“According to the IRS to qualify, the organization must be a corporation, community chest, fund, articles of association, or foundation. A trust is a fund or foundation and will qualify. However, an individual or a partnership won't qualify.” \n\n## Stay Current\nFinancials for auction fundraising don’t have to be complicated, just accurate. Designate a secure location to record and keep all records. A paper folder is good, an online record is better, a shared online record is the most effective for teams. Keep the records current to stay on track of your budget. Report any major variances in a timely manner. Report final records shortly after the auction closes.",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":280},{"url":281},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/0fe147517a5d7eb6794ec553a2145bb17fd13ca2-600x320.jpg","2019-07-23T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":284},"auction_financials","Don’t get kept up at night worrying about finances, use bylaws and sound financial tips to stay safe","Auction Fundraising Finances: Keep the Records Straight",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":288,"category":289,"id":5,"image":290,"publishOn":293,"slug":294,"teaser":296,"title":297},"One of the most cumbersome parts of running a silent auction for charity is the bid sheet process. Using a simple word document or spreadsheet just isn't going to cut it anymore. Bid sheets need to be clean and easy to use. The faster a bidder can place a bid the higher the bids go. The more bids, the higher the income. \n\nBuilding a silent auction bid sheet is as personal as building an ice cream sundae. So many choices for ice cream, sauces, toppings, whipped cream, and a cherry on top too. Auction fundraisers have personal preferences for bid sheets. Single, double, triple column; Bid increments bid pre-filled or blank. Will the bidder bid by name or number? Will email be required? AND bid sheets need to look professional and be consistent.\n\nYou could spend hours creating excel or word documents for each and every auction item. If you have run an auction in the past, you know that bid sheets are one of the biggest pain points. \nIf you are considering this, heed the advice of 45,000 Auctria users and don’t waste time on tedious bid sheet administration duties. Work smart with automated and formatted silent auction sheets that are designed to match and brand your auction.\n\nThis article will cover four different types of silent auction bid sheets and help you determine which is the best fit for your event.\n\n1. **Basic blank bid sheet.** Print and you are on your way.\n2. **Customized bid sheets.** Set your starting bid and print with bid increments\n3. **Bid sheets plus display pages.** Pair the bid sheet with more information and get more bids.\n4. **Mobile bidding.** Ditch the bid sheets.\n\n## Starting Bid and Bid increments\nWhen using an auction for fundraising the first question is, [what do we set the starting silent auction bid at?](https://www.auctria.com/blog/pricing-auction-items/) Second question, what do we set the bid increments at? This depends. Depends on the type of item. Starting bid and bid increments guidelines:\n\n- **Ordinary, general goods or services with a known retail value:** General rule of thumb for pricing for ordinary goods and services is START the bidding at about 40-50% of the retail, then divide the remaining value by 5 to engage a typical back and forth bidding exchange.\n\n- Example pricing for ordinary goods and services: Yummy Restaurant donates a $100 gift certificate. Starting bid should be $100/ 2= $40-$50 Increments should be $50/5 = $10\n\n- **Unique or High Value Goods & Services:** Unique goods and services or those that have a high value can be speculative. Start too high and risk no bids, start too low and close at an undervalued price. START the bidding at about 40%-60% of a realistic retail value, then divide the remaining value in bite sized chunks to quickly elevate the donation. High Value items do well at live auctions too. Live auction permits impromptu modifications. If the starting bid gets no activity the auctioneer can immediately lower the starting bid and adjust accordingly.\n\n\n- Example pricing high value: A vacation package is donated with a retail value of $3000. Starting bid should be $1200-$1800 range. Increments should be $75-$200 range\n\n- **Keepsakes & Priceless auction item pricing.** Tailor items that are one-of-a-kind [keepsakes](https://www.auctria.com/article/auction-items-keepsakes/) or local and priceless experiences. Exclusive auction items will garner interest to the overall event as well as the auction item itself. Keep in mind the past buying practices for starting bids. Do create the image of exclusivity. Create descriptions with lots of details. Include in the description how bidding on this auction item will delight the buyer. Don’t be apprehensive to start a bit higher on these too. Don’t start the bidding at last year’s final sale price either- leave room for the bidding process to start and flush out. \n\n- Example pricing for simple projects: Each class created a coveted, group art project. Starting bid should be consistent: a starting bid about $25-$30. Increments should also be consistent, $5-$10. \n\n- Example pricing more complicated projects: Class created a photo book that was created and printed costing $30. Starting bid should consider at least cost for raw materials plus 25-50% or more. Increments should be 20-30% of starting value. Starting bid should be $30-$45. Increments should be: $8-$9\n\n## 1. Blank Bid Sheets\nIf it’s blank bid sheets that you genuinely want, here are a few to choose from. Choosing a bid sheet starts with the end. The End? Yes, the end. When the bidding is complete how are you going to communicate with the winning bidder? Do you have names, emails or phone and text numbers on file? Consider it from the bidder perspective too. How much information do you want them to have to write down for each, and every bid. Consider what the penmanship may look like at the end of the auction. Will bidders' information be clear to read after the bidding concludes?\n\n**Blank bid sheets have blank bid increments** These are easy to print enmasse and the most flexible for bidders, however the auction organizer gives up control of bid increments. In each of these the bid amount is blank so the bidder will need to self select the next bid amount. \n\n**[Bid Sheet with Bidder Number (ONE wide column)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/bid+sheet+1+column+with+bidder+number.pdf)** Use this bid sheet when there is a process in place to assign and communicate a bidder number to the participants. Provides 15 bid slots.\n\n**[Bid Sheet with Bidder Name with Blank Bid amount (ONE wide column)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/bid+sheet+1+column+with+bidder+name.pdf)** Use this bid sheet when you know the audience and can recognize the names of the bidder. Because you are only asking for the name, be sure you have a way to connect with the winning bidder at the conclusion of the auction. Provides 15 bid slots.\n\n**[Bid Sheet with Bidder Name & Bidder Email (ONE wide column)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/bid+sheet+1+column+with+bidder+email.pdf)** Use this bid sheet if you want to communicate post-auction via email only. Provides 15 bid slots.\n\n**[Two Column Bid Sheet with Bidder Number](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/bid+sheet+2+column+with+bidder+number.pdf)**  Provides 30 bid slots on a single page. Fit more bids on a single page with a 2-column bid sheet. You are trading writing space for more bidding rows. \n\n**[Three column Bid Sheet with Bidder Number](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/bid+sheet+3+column+with+bidder+number.pdf)** Provides 45 bid slots on a single page. This utilizes only bid numbers and bid fields.\n\n## 2. Customized bid sheets using Auctria\nIf you want to create and modify your individual bid sheets for silent auctions, create a Lite Account and try it for as long as you want. Load a few items, then use the bid sheet portion of the program to print.\nBlank silent auction bid sheets are already formatted with many simple choices to make the bid sheet creation and printing process straightforward. Additional options are available to customize bid sheets with custom stationery adding any branding or text desired.\nSet bidding pricing, so you don’t even have to use a calculator!\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/ce19531e557f8f19a27ef1da4319545b721b88f7-373x375.jpg?w=450)\n\nPrint one at a time, a single sheet, or all at once. Print just the Live, or Silent auction bid sheets. Print blanks to have on hand for last-minute donations. [Custom bid sheets](https://guide.auctria.com/dashboard/printing/bidsheets/) have lots of options when it comes to printing, layout, style, and content. For layout print full page size 1-up, 2-up, letter size, half- letter size. Set the print order to maximize efficiency.\n\n**Item and Bid pricing Policy.** When using Auctria for bid sheets you can implement a global pricing policy. Apply [global pricing policy](https://guide.auctria.com/dashboard/items/pricing_policy/#applying-a-pricing-policy) and/or item pricing and never have to use a calculator again to determine auction item bid increments. You can apply a pricing policy to set the starting bid, minimum bid increment, and 'buy it now' price for your auction items\n\n**Pricing auction items is not a perfect science, in fact, it can be quite tricky.** Justify pricing by including numerous photos and lively descriptions. The key is finding the sweet spot that will initiate interest and bid donations to bring about the maximum potential, visibility, and success for your auction. Remember, almost all auction items are donated, so any income brought in is considered profit; fundamentally the higher the final bid, the greater the philanthropy.\n\n**Pricing process should be uncomplicated and orderly.** Auctria provides options for pricing that are simple and flexible. Choose either a pre-programmed pricing policy OR individually price each item. Using a hybrid of both methods can cut work time too. Set the standard pricing structure and then go back and tweak the non-standard items. \n\nApply global pricing policy and/or item pricing and never have to use a calculator again to determine auction item bid increments.\nGlobally set:\n* Starting Bid as a percentage of item value\n* Minimum bid increment percentage\n* Buy it Now price\n* Sales tax (if necessary)\n\nBid sheets are the traditional silent auction bidding mechanism. There is something spectacular that happens as you are collecting the paper bid sheets from the tables and bidders are hovering with pen in hand to be the very last bidder. The live energy that excites the surrounding participants to wonder what they are missing out on is fun! \n\n**People that are having fun spend money and want to be part of the collective action. Can you do better?**\n\n## 3. Bid Sheet Plus Display Pages\n\nHaving a bid sheet next to an auction item is functional. You want more bids though and means providing more information. This also means fewer questions from potential bidders while you are at the event. Consider the Display page to be the sales slick that sells the auction item to the bidder. Use this to paint the picture of how the bidder will feel when they are the winning bidder. \nExample: which description do you think will get bidders to make the next bid?\n\nExample description 1. \nDay Spa Gift Certificate $500 retail value.\n\nExample description 2. \nDay Spa, you deserve to be pampered. Walk through the door to your day of luxury. The lavender filled air takes your breath and stress away. Enjoy a personalized massage session to meet your body's needs. Follow that with a facial to leave you restored, rejuvenated and let your natural beauty shine through. \n\nInclude photos that will enhance the Display page even further. A recognizable logo helps further tell the story. In addition, the logo for the donor strengthens the commitment you made to the donor and shows appreciation for their donation to your cause.\n\nA display page is an opportunity to answer bidders' frequently asked questions. Some items may have blackout dates for use, use by dates or other specifics about usage. Use the Display pages to provide complete transparency. \n\n## 4. Ditch the Bid Sheet, Use Mobile Bidding\n\nTraditional paper and pencil bid sheets limit the bidding to those that are in the room. When utilizing mobile bidding your party goers are no longer having to ‘babysit’ their most coveted auction items. They are free to mingle, socialize, eat, drink, buy raffle tickets and shop the upcoming [live auction items.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/live-auction-success/)  [Contactless bidding](https://www.auctria.com/blog/contactless-event-fundraising/) is a very viable option. How do you do this?\n\n1. **Set up your auction items as Online.** The entire auction will have a website where bidders can view and bid.\n\n2. **Print a display page with a QR code.** Bidders simply scan the QR code and make a bid on that item.\n\nMobile bidding has a few more features that soar bids. Bidders will get outbid notifications the moment they are outbid. Then prompted to re-bid. This could never happen with a paper bid sheet. Mobile bidders can set a max bid. This allows them to indicate the max that they are willing to bid and allows the platform to raise their bid incrementally if they are outbid.\n\n## Flexible Bid Sheet Options\nGood news! When using a platform to manage the auction and bid sheets you don’t have to decide immediately what type of bid sheets you want to use. You don’t even have to decide if you are using paper or mobile bidding. With a few quick taps to make mass changes quickly change items from online to mobile THEN let the bidding begin! \n\n------------------\n\n## More Than Bid Sheets\n[Auctria](https://www.auctria.com/) is more than just pretty bid sheets and catalogs. Try out the entire Auctria program and upgrade to streamline the entire auction process from the first donation to the last receipt.\n\n## Get Organized\nBy using Auctria from day 1 of auction planning, fundraising means being organized. Being organized means time is saved. Saved time means human resources can be used to tell your story, develop relationships, market and raise more funds.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":291},{"url":292},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/242d3bc6dd60f9a5dff2fe0ec6b71f48b5cdab66-600x320.jpg","2022-03-08T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":295},"silent-auction-bid-sheets","A gallery of beautiful bid sheets for your auction","Silent Bid Sheets: Blanks & Custom Bid Sheet Solutions",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":299,"category":300,"id":5,"image":301,"publishOn":304,"slug":305,"teaser":307,"title":308},"Auctria's mission has always been to provide a world-class, yet affordable fundraising solution that is accessible to groups of all sizes. We are adding new features to help optimize and boost your fundraising efforts. \n\nTo support the continued growth of our platform and our desire to maintain a high level of support, we are realigning our plans with an expanded free tier and just two paid options. \n\nAuctria believes in fully transparent and upfront pricing with no hidden surprises.\n\nStarting August 17th the free EXPLORER plan will replace the current Lite Plan.  New EMERALD and DIAMOND plans will replace our current paid plans for new licenses. \n\n**NEW! Texting features will now be included by default on all paid plans**\n- Text-to: register, bid, donate, make payment\n- Text-to-give can be used year-round\n\n**No limit on the number of events per year** so you can use Auctria year-round for your fund-a-need donation drives, ticket sales, and other types of events.\n\n## Current Auctria Licenses\n\nFor existing users, there is **no change to your current license** or the features included for the duration of your license. Upon renewal, as a thank-you for continued patronage, we are offering a $100 discount in the first year of the new plan.\n\n## New Plans \n\nAvailable from 17-Aug-2020\n\n### Explorer\n\n- supports up to $10,000\\year in event income\n- max 250 bidders\\event\n- credit card fee 1% (+ payment processor fees)\n- no texting, no custom emails, no Excel import\n- access to support resources: user guide, videos, webinars\n\n**Explorer Plan: Free**\n\n### Emerald \n\n- supports up to $50,000\\year in total event income\n- includes texting with 1,000 messages\\year\n- max 750 bidders\\event\n- credit card fee 0.5% (+ payment processor fees)\n- email/chat support\n\n**Emerald Plan: $300\\year**\n\n### Diamond \n\n- unlimited income\n- includes texting with 3,000 messages\\year\n- max 1,000 bidders\\event\n- credit card fee 0.25% (+ payment processor fees)\n- email/chat support\n\n**Diamond Plan: $600\\year**\n\n\n## Auctria Launch & Auctria Assist\n\nAuctria Launch and Auctria Assist are new customer service options designed for those that want help setting up the logistics within the Auctria platform. These are great options to free up your time to work on other important details.  \n\n### Auctria Launch\n\nAuctria Launch provides an assisted set up for your event and ensure it runs as smoothly and successfully as possible. It takes the set-up work off your to-do list. \n\nDuring a scheduled discovery call, our specialist will ask you all the pertinent questions about your event then set it all up for you. \n\nOur dedicated team will put together the fundraising event on the Auctria platform so you get more free time.\n\nAuctria Launch includes:\n- Scheduled discovery call with our event experts and your team\n- Event setup (including tickets & sponsorships)\n- Website set-up (using your graphics & assets)\n- Item import\n- Review/training call\n- Event night phone support\n\nAuctria Launch is an add-on for $400\\event to help your fundraiser lift-off and soar.\n\n### Auctria Assist\n\nAuctria Assist lets you schedule a session with an Auctria specialist for more in-depth personalized consultation or training for you and your auction team. \n\nAuctria Assist is a scheduled session with an Auctria specialist for $100 per 45 min call.\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":302},{"url":303},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/c2182bbc79dfc223c004bd9681ace9219b841dc5-600x320.png","2020-08-12T16:00:00.000Z",{"current":306},"plan-update","Auctria's New Plans: Explorer, Emerald, Diamond","Auctria Plan Updates",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":310,"category":311,"id":5,"image":312,"publishOn":315,"slug":316,"teaser":318,"title":319},"\nThe Bangor Symphony Orchestra celebrated its 125th anniversary with the 13th Annual Symphony Soiree auction fundraiser in March 2021. Like other organizations, they made the pivot from an in-person event to online. After reviewing the post-event data they plan to keep some of the elements of the online experience going forward. Sarah McCarthy, Director of Development of the Bangor Symphony and Katie Schaffer, long-term volunteer Soiree Committee Chair, have scrutinized their auction results. When comparing it to prior years there are a few key takeaways that will allow them to work smarter and yield higher revenue at future events.\n\n1. Their Soiree audience is different from their typical Symphony concert audience,\n2. Maximize fundraising by incentivizing overbidding by providing a thank you gift and enabling Bid Extension (anti-sniping),\n3. Offer multiples after bidding concludes to increase final event income even higher,\n4. Online-auction-only eliminates the need for silent auction display tables at the in-person event, and allows for more socializing.\n\n## Know Your Audience\n\nThe Soiree Committee knew that they had many Soiree event attendees who don’t attend concerts regularly, but still have the desire to keep this important cultural piece of Bangor’s history alive and well. To maximize this knowledge, the Committee took to social media to increase the awareness of the auction. The use of an online auction format opened the door to more bidders, including those who would not normally attend the in-person Soiree event. In the two years prior to the Covid-19 pandemic they sold out the Soiree to just over 200 guests. Online bidding this year saw an all-time high of 254 bidders.\n\nThe number of auction items for this year was very similar to past events, however the winning bids were much higher and engaged a broader audience.\n\nOverbidding was a huge success. Overbidding was encouraged with the help of a generous donor. A local convenience store offered a free car wash voucher to any bidder whose final bid exceeded the retail value of an auction item. This special incentive was utilized in the past at in-person Soirees and yielded bids on approximately 25 items to go over retail value. This year, 75 auction items went over retail value. Knowing this might be a potential burden for the donor, the Bangor Symphony offered to pay for the additional vouchers. However, much to the Committee’s delight, the convenience store insisted on donating all the car wash vouchers out of kindness. The total value for the vouchers ended up over $1,200 and became the gift that kept on giving.\n\nHere are few more examples of auction items with final bids above retail value:\n* $50 gift card to a natural foods store had a final bid of $100,\n* $25 gift card to a gift shop had a final bid of $35,\n* Multiple $50 gift cards to restaurants had final bids as high as $90,\n* $50 gift card to a chocolatier had a final bid of $85, and\n* A historic cemetery tour and a walk with an alpaca went for $60 and $150 over value, respectively.\n\nBy utilizing Bid Extension (previously known as anti-sniping) the auction items that received last minute bids had the bidding time extended automatically. This gave the previous bidder more time to continue bidding. Bid extension notification is unique to online bidding because the bidders receive immediate outbid notifications. At an in-person silent auction, bidders would hover over their most wanted bid sheets while also wanting to turn their attention to the social activities. With the online auction this conflict goes away and the bids go up.\n\n\n## Be Intentional Using the Online Auction Catalog \n\nKatie and Sarah were very intentional and studied bidding activity as the online auction progressed. Katie was extremely vigilant to use photos that showcased the vibrance of the auction items. The Symphony had several items that were one-of-a-kind or artisan treasures. Below are two examples: a hand painted lamp shade and a sterling silver bracelet.\n\nThis Handcrafted Table Lamp with Painted Silk Shade had an image that, although pretty, just wasn’t attracting bids. When photographed as lit in a small vignette, bidding began. See the before and after images:\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/4b87f12c69f3d1442c50e6db9b5ac2a2736bee68-640x640.png)\n\n\n\nThis Sterling Silver Link Bracelet was originally photographed laying flat on a table. Photographing it on the morning of the last day of the auction on a model, in the sun, highlighted the features of the bracelet and more bids began coming in.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/681d5fb3ea4efb33acd56e1e82034d16b464a6d5-640x640.png)\n\n\nSpecial attention was paid to the images that highlighted the items. For images that required photos, composition and lighting were carefully considered. To encourage continued interest, the Default image was changed from time to time. Some gift cards were displayed along with beautiful images, like below.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/416468f85d27a963626a0ac1f23d1b2b88e7ffb0-339x387.png)\n\nThink of the auction catalog as a showroom and bidders as customers. As a customer, you want to see things that are attractive and organized. As an auction organizer you are in charge of merchandising. Use clear photos that show off the product or service. Also, items displayed on the same row should be curated to go together. \n\nKatie and Sarah watched bidding activity very closely. When the auction first opened, items selected for the first page highlighted the price range and variety of items in the auction. During the final week of the auction, when the “Buy It Now” feature was activated and used by bidders, items were moved off the first page to allow something else to be featured in their place.\n\n## Offering Multiples of a Popular Auction Item\n\nBids rise throughout the auction, however only the highest bid wins and is awarded the auction item. Some people who were outbid are willing to pay the winning bid amount. Also, some donors are willing to donate multiple items. How do you capitalize on that? One successful example of this was a historical tour of a local cemetery.\n\n>Bangor Historical Society Private Guided Tour of Mt. Hope Cemetery is a special place. Take a guided tour of America’s 2nd oldest garden cemetery and the final resting place of Bangor’s most prominent citizens. From lumber barons to brothel owners, Civil War heroes to notorious gangsters, learn the rich history of the Queen City while taking a leisurely stroll through the beautifully landscaped grounds of Mt. Hope. Ryan Hews who has years of volunteer experience with the Bangor Historical Society will be your tour guide.\n\nThe donor had offered one tour for six people, and there was a flurry of activity until the item was won at the close of the auction. Sarah asked the donor if he was willing to increase the number of tours and the answer was a resounding yes! Additional tours were sold, amounting to $450 more in revenue.\n\nIf donors, in particular restaurants, offer a $100 gift certificate, invite them to consider donating two $50 gift cards. In doing so, it brings more people to their business and when bidding on the item goes over value, which it probably will, it brings more revenue to your organization.\n\n## Space is Money\n\nOver the 13 years of the Bangor Symphony’s silent auction, it has grown and the organization has had to rent spaces large enough to accommodate 20 6-foot display tables, guests, a performance, and more. After using only the online auction feature this year it is apparent that bidders are quite content bidding online. Raising just as much money without the hassle of set up and breakdown has led the Committee to decide to keep the silent auction online even when it returns to hosting in-person events. Online bidding boosters such as Bid Extension (formerly known as anti-sniping) paired with Proxy bidding give bidders more tools to control their bids. The outbid notifications let bidders know immediately when they are outbid, prompting them to consider making a higher bid. In the past, with bid sheets and pen, the bidder would only know if they were outbid by coming back to look at the physical bid sheet. Online bidding is much more efficient for the bidder. Additionally, when the auction ends online there is no need for Committee members to spend time inputting final bids into Auctria. Final bid notifications go out automatically and then it’s a final wrap-up for payment collection, all handled remotely, through Auctria. \n\nFor the next Soiree, the Bangor Symphony hopes to hold the event in the smaller, on-site performance space known as the Bangor Arts Exchange, where their offices are also located. It is one of the original sites where the orchestra first performed in the 1890’s. They will get to celebrate in their own space, allowing bidders to donate and bid from inside and outside the ballroom doors.\n\n## Paradigm Shift for Next Year’s Soiree\n\nKatie and Sarah have reviewed the numbers and the results point them to an online auction to be paired with an on-location Soiree. This gives the Symphony and their event attendees the best of the best - the opportunity to socialize freely and an opportunity to bid to the top. Everyone wins! \n\n-------------------------\n\n## Bangor Symphony Orchestra\n\nA very special thank you to Katie and Sarah for sharing their experience and best practices for event fundraising.\n\n[The Bangor Symphony Orchestra](https://www.bangorsymphony.org/) was founded in 1896, making it one of the oldest continuously operating orchestras in the U.S.\n\nThe Symphony owes its start to Abbie N.Garland, a popular Bangor piano teacher and composer, who — at the age of 44 — decided her town needed a symphony orchestra.\nThe first year, she managed the organization with the help of Symphony Conductor Horace Mann Pullen. The second year, she recruited musicians and the third year, she sponsored the Symphony’s subscription sale. She also worked tirelessly to educate the public about Symphonic music and to create enthusiasm for unfamiliar pieces.\n\nThe Symphony played its first concert on November 2, 1896, in Bangor City Hall. Horace Mann Pullen conducted the 16-member orchestra in a program featuring Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony.\n\nToday, the Symphony’s 70 musicians present classical concerts and pops concerts; The Nutcracker with the Robinson Ballet; annual Young People’s Concerts, the BSO Maine High School Concerto Competition, the Maurice P. King Master class, and educational and wellness outreach programs.\n\nSince 1896, ten Music Directors have held the baton for the Bangor Symphony Orchestra — and many guest artists have brought their talents to Symphony performances.\n\nBangor Symphony Orchestra is celebrating 125 years and with continued support from the community, hopes to perform at least another 125 years. With Katie and Sarah heading up the Soiree, this important fundraising event will continue to be an integral part of the history and future of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra story.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":313},{"url":314},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/d9ca7c30e266c926f725e1e3ac817298b1cee006-600x320.jpg","2021-04-26T16:00:00.000Z",{"current":317},"bangor-symphony-orchestra-pivot-to-paradigm-shift-for-event-fundraising","After reviewing the post-event data Sarah McCarthy, Director of Development of the Bangor Symphony and Katie Schaffer, long-term volunteer Soiree Committee Chair, have scrutinized their auction results. When comparing it to prior years there are a few key takeaways that will allow them to work smarter and yield higher revenue at future events.","Bangor Symphony Orchestra, Pivot to Paradigm Shift for Event Fundraising ",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":321,"category":322,"id":5,"image":323,"publishOn":326,"slug":327,"teaser":329,"title":330},"As children, we grow up on games. If someone doesn’t give us a game, we make one up. Games teach us how to work and function in life—through them, we learn cooperation, social hierarchy, winning and losing, and more. But, more than anything, games are meant to be fun! \n\nIn fact, that’s the secret about games. We approach them primarily as fun, but, in disguise, they’re about learning, whether you’re a high school student learning how the stock market works or a nonprofit professional learning how to better [engage your donors.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/why-donor-engagement-matters-or-a-mini-guide/) \n\nHistorically, it’s taken a while for structured education to come around to using games to their full potential. Think of our stereotypical educational environment. Children seated at desks in straight lines, attentively listening to the teacher at the head of the classroom. Even today in some places, if students misbehave, they might face some sort of physical or psychological punishment. \n\nThat’s hardly a game, and it’s far from the definition of fun. To help explain just what gamification is and show off just a little of its transformative power, this article will walkthrough:\n\n* Gamification Defined\n* The Boy Scouts: A Gamification Case Study\n* Gamification at Your Organization \n\n\nThe nonprofit training community has taken advantage of gamification for years to help [professionals develop their skills.](https://www.nonprofit.courses/blog/nonprofit-professional-development) Anyone who has been to a corporate training event has probably experienced some kind of team building activity that feels a lot like a game. They’re fun, and, better yet, full of lessons about yourself and others. \n\nBut gamification, especially in today’s online, remote work environment, is a lot more than rope courses and trust falls. \n\nLet’s start with what “gamification” of learning is. \n\n## Gamification Defined\nGamification leverages our emotional and psychological need for diversionary activities and achievement and uses them to motivate learners to educate themselves or others on important topics. For nonprofits, this can be anything from teaching your staff to [educate donors about matching gifts](https://www.crowd101.com/essential-questions-about-corporate-matching-gifts/) to using Instagram for event promotion.  \n\nUsing games and gamification in training comes in a lot of forms.\n\nSome gamification takes advantage of our ability as humans to create metaphors. We engage in activities that are representations of our actual daily tasks, and we use them to draw lessons that apply directly to our situation.\n\nLet’s say you are teaching a group of people from several charities how to ask for items for their nonprofit’s upcoming [online auction.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-to-make-an-online-auction-entertaining/) Sure, you could stand up in front of everyone, classroom style, and lecture them on the various phrases they could use to make their solicitation, and then test them on possible responses. That’s great, but it really doesn’t capture the emotional experience that forms long lasting memories and makes the information useful. For that, you need learners to actually practice asking for auction items—so you make a game of it.\n\nPair people up. Give background on a fictional nonprofit. Have each pair pick a slip of paper with different roles—some for item solicitors and some for item donors. You give each one a way to play their role. Have solicitors tell either a long or short story about your nonprofit and ask for a specific item or for [sponsorship.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/auction-fundraiser-sponsorships-make-money/) For item donors, instruct them to say yes or say no and be difficult or easy to persuade by having them ask a lot of questions or sit in silence. Let them have fun and ham it up!\n\nGames like this are meant to be fun and instructional. They aren’t about winners or losers, but providing information and [resources](https://www.nonprofit.courses/blog/nonprofit-resources/) for the participants—often more than they realize. Talk about body language, speaking tone, and anticipated expectations, as well as specific results. Even if someone will be tasked with [post-auction duties](https://www.auctria.com/blog/post-auction-duties/) and will never be in charge of asking for auction items, they will be better able to support those that do.\n\n## The Boy Scouts: A Gamification Case Study\nAnother kind of gamification plays on our need for achievement, and this one doesn’t require advanced gamification software. \n\nFor more than 100 years, the Boy Scouts has been a great example of offline gamification in action. Scouting is built on a sequential series of small achievements earned by children between the ages of 10 to 18. And here’s the key: badges are organized from small, easy to earn achievements to more significant achievements which progress Scouts onto increasingly big and complex achievements. \n\nSome of the Boy Scouts achievements are earned through games. For example, working with a team of Scouts to build a rope bridge is a game that teaches teamwork in addition to engineering skills. Finding your swim buddy when the lifeguard’s whistle blows may seem like a game, but it’s a serious swim safety technique, too. \n\nOther achievements that address life skills, such as using [social media](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-to-grow-your-organization-s-social-media-following/) responsibly, learning the signs of a heart attack, planning a [product fundraiser,](https://doublethedonation.com/tips/product-fundraising-ideas/) or attending civic meetings are much more serious. \n\nAt its most granular, a small achievement is recognized through the signature in their handbook of the person who “passes” them. When these smaller achievements are grouped together, a badge is awarded that signifies that they showed competency in a specific discipline (a merit badge). When the Scout masters several specific disciplines along with other supplemental activities, such as service projects, they are rewarded with a bigger symbol to show their overall competency, known as a “rank” in the form of another cloth badge.\n\nThe real genius is that the entire system rests not on the specifics learned, but on employing gamification in getting the Scout to want to learn. Consider this: From the rank of Scout to Eagle, the total cost of the earned badges and handbook is around $100. The value of what was learned and the pride it engenders? Priceless.\n\n## Gamification at Your Organization\nHow can you apply the lessons from the Boy Scouts to your organization? No, you don’t need to manufacture more than 100 cloth badges and have each employee display them on a sash. (Although, check out the apron of your nearest Starbucks or Home Depot employee to see badges in action. They’ll sometimes display pins or badges that speak to their training achievements.) \n\nWhat you can do is create a system of achievements that lead to earning virtual “badges” that each employee can display online on their internal company or nonprofit bio. You can recognize their prowess in certain areas of importance with a small ceremony, and better yet, tie the achievements to human resources goals. \n\nResearch your options to figure out what gamification system fits with your organization’s needs. The right system will encourage your staff to drive towards completing key business and development goals, all while having fun and feeling accomplished through a simple game. \n\nOne of the best ways to start implementing gamification at your organization is to pair a game with another form of learning, such as a course from [Nonprofit.Courses’ list of free webinars.](https://www.nonprofit.courses/blog/nonprofit-webinars) This way, your efforts to help your team members learn will appeal to those who have different learning preferences and styles — some may respond better to a role-playing game, while others will gain more insight from a webinar, and everyone will be challenged with the learning style they aren’t as accustomed to. \n\n-------------------\nWill games and gamification work for you? In these times of increasingly demanding jobs and employee shortages, making learning fun and motivational can do wonders for employee retention. Besides, who wouldn’t like to come home from work and say, “I played games all day”? Only you would know the truth—you learned a lot, too!\n\n--------------------\nSpecial thanks to Matt Hugg, author and instructor in nonprofit management in the US and abroad. He is president and founder of Nonprofit.Courses (https://nonprofit.courses), an on-demand, eLearning educational resource for nonprofit leaders, staff, board members, and volunteers, with thousands of courses in nearly every aspect of nonprofit work.  \n\nHe’s the author of The Guide to Nonprofit Consulting, and Philanders Family Values, Fun Scenarios for Practical Fundraising Education for Boards, Staff and Volunteers, and a contributing author to The Healthcare Nonprofit: Keys to Effective Management.\n\nOver his 30-year career, Hugg has held positions at the Boy Scouts of America, Lebanon Valley College, the University of Cincinnati, Ursinus College, and the University of the Arts. In these positions, Matt raised thousands of gifts from individuals, foundations, corporations and government entities, and worked with hundreds of volunteers on boards and fundraising committees, in addition to his organizational leadership responsibilities.\n\nMatt teaches fundraising, philanthropy, and marketing in graduate programs at Eastern University, the University of Pennsylvania, Juniata College and Thomas Edison State University via the web, and in-person in the United States, Africa, Asia and Europe, and is a popular conference speaker. He has a BS from Juniata College and an MA in Philanthropy and Development from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. Mr. Hugg has served on the board of the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Nonprofit Career Network of Philadelphia and several nonprofits.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":324},{"url":325},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/60c171f5cbf29027a83885e51a11c8db0f672b9f-600x320.jpg","2022-03-25T16:00:00.000Z",{"current":328},"successful-staff-training-through-games-and-gamification","How successful have your previous nonprofit staff training efforts been? In this post, you’ll learn about the value of incorporating gamification into training. ","Successful Staff Training through Games and Gamification",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":332,"category":333,"id":5,"image":334,"publishOn":337,"slug":338,"teaser":340,"title":341},"There was a time when event fundraising followed a dependable script. Saturday night. Black tie. Four or five structured hours from check in to final checkout. Fall season or spring season. Repeat annually.\n\nIt worked. It was elegant. It was predictable.\n\nBut the world shifted, and fundraising shifted with it.\n\nToday’s event landscape is elastic. Dates have expanded. Timeframes have compressed. Formats have diversified. Auctions stretch beyond ballroom walls. Fundraising no longer lives in just two seasons of the year.\n\nThis is not a disruption. It is an evolution.\n\nOrganizations that understand this elasticity can strategically choose dates that avoid overlap, formats that activate new audiences, and timelines that expand participation. The modern event fundraiser is no longer confined to tradition. It is designed around mission, accessibility, and community.\n\nHere is what has evolved and why it benefits you:\n\n* The day of the week is flexible\n* The length of in person events has shifted\n* Fundraising now happens year round\n* Auctions extend far beyond event night\n* Event formats have multiplied\n* People will always gather and technology must support that experience\n\n## The Day of the Week Is Flexible\n\nFor decades, Saturday night was the assumed standard. It felt formal. It felt important. It felt safe.\n\nToday, events are thriving on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and even Wednesdays. Social behavior has changed. People are going out on different days of the week. Work schedules are more fluid. Weekends are often filled with family commitments, sports, and travel. A thoughtfully planned Thursday or Friday event can actually increase attendance because it feels manageable and intentional.\n\nYou no longer have to compete for the same crowded Saturday in October as every other organization in your city. Elasticity gives you options. Options give you an advantage.\n\n## The Length of In Person Events Has Shifted\n\nBefore 2020, a gala commonly ran four or five hours from check in to departure. Cocktail hour. Silent auction browsing. Dinner. Live auction. Paddle raise. Checkout.\n\nNow, many in person events are intentionally shorter. Two to three hours. Streamlined programming. [Clear mission moments with a paddle raise or give from the heart](https://www.auctria.com/blog/the-magic-of-a-paddle-raise-your-most-profitable-moment/). Efficient checkout.\n\nGuests appreciate events that are focused and respectful of their time. A tighter program often leads to stronger engagement and clearer storytelling. Shorter does not mean smaller impact. It often means higher energy, sharper focus, and a stronger emotional connection to your cause.\n\n\n## Fundraising Is No Longer Limited to Auction Season\n\nThere used to be clear fundraising seasons. Fall meant September through Thanksgiving. Spring meant late January through April or early May.\nThat structure has expanded tremendously.\n\nOrganizations are now hosting summer tournaments, early December galas, strategic Giving Days, online only auctions, and mid year mission moments. Fundraising all year round allows you to avoid overlapping with similar organizations, choose dates that better serve your audience, and stand apart rather than blend into a busy season.\n\nElastic timing gives you breathing room and room to grow.\n\n## Auctions Extend Beyond the Ballroom\n\nAuctions used to exist only during the few hours guests were physically present at your event. Once the doors closed, the opportunity closed with them.\n\n[Today, auctions fundraiser can run for days or even weeks](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-does-a-nonprofit-silent-auction-work-3-tips-for-success/). They can open before your in person event to build excitement and continue after it ends to capture additional momentum. They can also exist entirely online, allowing anyone with internet access to bid on items and make donations from anywhere.\n\nThis dramatically expands your audience beyond the room. Alumni who live out of town can participate. Corporate partners in other cities can engage. Supporters who cannot attend in person can still give and feel connected to your cause.\n\nInstead of limiting your revenue window to a single evening, you extend it into a strategic timeline where time becomes an asset rather than a constraint.\n\n## Event Formats Have Multiplied\n\nIt no longer has to be a black tie gala.\n\nFor many years, the formal dinner and auction model was the standard blueprint. It felt established. It felt prestigious. It felt like the expected way to raise significant funds.\n\nBut modern fundraising is no longer limited to one formula.\n\nCommunities are diverse. Donors engage differently. Lifestyles have changed. Organizations are recognizing that impact does not come from replicating tradition. It comes from designing experiences that align with their audience, their mission, and their capacity.\n\nDifferent formats activate different audiences.\n\nThat is not a stylistic preference. It is a fundraising strategy.\n\nA formal gala may attract legacy donors who value tradition and ceremony. A [golf](https://www.auctria.com/blog/golf-tournament-auction/) or pickleball [tournament fundraiser engage teams and competitive personalities](https://www.auctria.com/webinar/game-on-for-good-turn-tournaments-into-fundraising-powerhouses/). A short cocktail reception with a focused paddle raise may appeal to busy professionals who want impact without a long evening commitment. A Giving Day may energize digital supporters who prefer to give online and share socially.\n\nThe format you choose determines who shows up. It determines who feels comfortable. It determines who feels invited. It determines who feels seen.\n\nWhen you diversify your formats, you expand your reach. You create multiple entry points into your mission. You invite supporters who might never attend a ballroom dinner but would eagerly participate in a tournament, a peer driven campaign, or a mission centered gathering.\n\nDifferent formats activate different audiences.\n\n* Paddle raise only events\n* Cocktail hour with a focused mission moment\n* Golf tournaments\n* Pickleball tournaments\n* Skeet shooting tournaments\n* Bowling tournaments\n* Talent shows\n* Peer to peer voting competitions\n* Giving Days\n* Raffle driven gatherings\n\nActivated audiences give. Activated audiences return. Activated audiences advocate.\n\nElasticity in event design is not about abandoning tradition. It is about widening the circle. The more doors you open, the more community you build. Community sustains fundraising long after the event ends.\n\n## People Will Always Gather and You Will Always Need the Right Technology\n\nPeople will always gather. That is the constant in all of this change.\n\nThey may gather in ballrooms, on golf courses, in bowling alleys, at community centers, or online from their living rooms. The format may evolve. The day of the week may shift. The length of the program may compress. But the human instinct to come together for a cause remains steady.\n\nWhen people gather, certain things must happen behind the scenes to make that experience seamless.\n\n[Tickets](https://www.auctria.com/blog/selling-tickets-filling-seats/) must be sold. Guest information must be captured accurately. Seating and registration must be organized. [Sponsors](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-to-market-your-event-to-attract-sponsors-and-auction-donors/) need to be recognized meaningfully. Auctions, raffles, or gaming elements must run smoothly. Paddle raises must be facilitated clearly. Donations must be accepted securely. Payments must be processed without friction. Receipts must be delivered promptly. Checkout must feel easy.\n\nAn excellent guest experience is not optional. It is expected.\n\nToday’s supporters expect easy registration, clear communication, mobile friendly bidding, simple donation processes, and fast checkout. They expect professionalism and clarity. Most of all, they expect their generosity to be honored with a smooth and respectful experience.\n\nWhether your event lasts two hours or two weeks, whether it is formal or casual, whether it happens in person, online, or somewhere in between, the operational needs remain the same.\n\nElastic events require flexible tools.\n\nYou need technology that can manage ticketing, event websites, online auctions, raffles, paddle raises, secure payment processing, and reporting in one connected system. You need structure that supports creativity rather than limiting it. You need tools that simplify the work for your staff and volunteers while elevating the experience for your guests.\n\nFlexibility without structure creates chaos.\n\nFlexibility supported by strong technology creates confidence. Confidence creates revenue.\n\n## Your Mission Is the Moment\n\nAt the center of all this elasticity, the shifting dates, the evolving formats, the flexible timelines, and the advancing technology, there is one constant. Your mission is the moment.\n\nPeople are not gathering simply for dinner or bidding simply for items. They are not raising paddles for applause. They are giving because they want the money they spend with you to make a real difference in their communities. That is the moment that matters. Whether it happens during a paddle raise, through a winning bid, or with a quiet online donation, it is the instant when someone chooses to be part of something larger than themselves.\n\nBehind that moment is thoughtful planning, steady leadership, and a great deal of care. Events do not simply happen. They are shaped by people who believe deeply in the work and are willing to do what it takes to bring others into it. The organizer stands at the center of that effort, guiding the experience, holding the details together, and making generosity possible.\nAt the same time, you are creating space for your donors to step into something meaningful. When they give, they power your programs. They fund scholarships, support housing, provide meals, expand access to the arts, strengthen education, and improve lives. Their generosity becomes action in the community.\n\nWhen the event ends, the opportunity continues. The ballroom may empty and the auction may close, but the relationships remain. The data you collect is not merely transactional. It is relational. It tells the story of who showed up, who engaged, who gave, and who may be ready to go deeper.\nUse that insight to steward attendees into long term supporters. Invite them to become recurring donors. Encourage them to serve as ambassadors who share your story. Welcome them as volunteers who contribute time alongside treasure. Community support takes many forms, and the strongest organizations recognize that it is money and then some.\n\nWhen your technology, your strategy, and your storytelling are aligned with your mission, you create more than a successful event. You create momentum. You build a community of people who feel connected to your purpose and committed to your impact.\n\n**Dates and times may no longer define your event. Your mission always will.**",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":335},{"url":336},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/2ccc2d43de6dca79a6f2a7a78458e9cf93d14040-2121x1414.jpg","2026-02-18T20:00:48.012Z",{"current":339},"why-dates-and-times-no-longer-define-your-event-a-modern-shift-in-fundraising","From black-tie ballrooms to bold new formats, fundraising has rewritten its playbook. Today’s events are more flexible, more creative, and no longer confined to a single night or season.","Why Dates and Times No Longer Define Your Event: A Modern Shift in Fundraising",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":343,"category":344,"id":5,"image":345,"publishOn":348,"slug":349,"teaser":351,"title":352},"![Snowball_Auctria_4-Ways-to-Keep-Your-Donors-Engaged-Post-Giving-Season_Feature.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Snowball_Auctria_4-Ways-to-Keep-Your-Donors-Engaged-Post-Giving-Season_Feature.jpg)\n\nWith the help of your dedicated donors, your organization reached its year-end fundraising goals, closed out a successful year, and got to work putting together your newest fundraising strategy. You’re all set for another year of encouraging giving and pursuing your mission! \n\nHowever, after you’ve [thanked your donors](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/thank_you_everyone) for their year-end gifts, it can be challenging to re-engage them at the beginning of the new year. You’ve acknowledged them for having done their part at the end of the year, so now it’s time to remind them that your important work is far from over and you need their support to make it happen.\n\nUsing creative fundraising ideas, social media outreach, and innovative online donation tools, you’re sure to reignite their interest in your cause. We’ll show you how you can:\n\n1. Host an event to revitalize giving.\n2. Get creative with your fundraising ideas.\n3. Revamp your website and online donation tools.\n4. Learn more about your donors through prospect research.\n\nWant to kick off the new year with the perfect opportunity to get to know your donors and showcase the great work you do in your community? Host an event that will motivate your supporters to give!\n\n![Snowball_Auctria_4-Ways-to-Keep-Your-Donors-Engaged-Post-Giving-Season_Header-1.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Snowball_Auctria_4-Ways-to-Keep-Your-Donors-Engaged-Post-Giving-Season_Header-1.jpg)\n\n## 1. Host an event to revitalize giving.\nMeet your supporters in-person and reinforce your commitment to your community by hosting an event at the beginning of the year. **You can share your goals for the new year at your event, encouraging both current and new supporters to get involved and help you reach them.**\n\nFirst, choose an event your donors will love. Consider your audience: will they prefer a family-friendly event or a party-like atmosphere? Your nonprofit’s focus can also help you choose the right event, as can the time of year. The chilly weather at the beginning of the year may encourage you to choose an indoor event such as an auction or fundraising dinner. \n\nEnsure that your event runs smoothly using software that will make registration easy for your donors. Depending on the type of event you’re hosting, you may also want your event software to be able to distribute tickets to guests or help facilitate the type of fundraiser you have selected. [Check out Snowball Fundraising’s guide to nonprofit event management software](https://snowballfundraising.com/nonprofit-event-management-software/)  for more information on the features you should look for.\n\nEvent registration provides an excellent opportunity for you to learn more about your supporters, whether they’re regular donors long connected to your organization or newer supporters interested in the work you do in your community. Encourage your guests to supply additional contact information so that you can reach out to them via their preferred methods.\n\nA well-planned event that’s easy to register for and targeted toward your donors’ interests is the perfect way to start your fundraising year off strong, but only if attendance numbers are high! [Promote your auction](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/promote_promote) or other fundraising event to all of your current and potential donors to ensure that it’s a success. Your organization should:\n\n * **Share event details on social media.** It’s almost certain that many of your supporters check social media regularly, so post information and reminders about your event that they’re sure to see. Encourage them to share the event with their friends over social media as well as through email and text.\n * **Reach out to current donors.** Everyone in your donor database and on your contact lists should be aware of your event. If you’ve recorded different groups of donors’ preferred communication methods, make sure you’re using them when you reach out\n * **Extend personal invitations to key donors.** Recurring or long-term supporters of your organization, as well as individuals who have made significant gifts in the past, deserve special invitations to your event, as they’re particularly capable of helping to ensure the event’s success.\n\nEvents are a tried-and-true means of re-engaging donors by providing them with a fun, social way to interact with your nonprofit and showcasing your work in the process. Tired of hosting the same events year after year? Shake things up this year by involving your supporters in a creative fundraising idea.\n\n\n![Snowball_Auctria_4-Ways-to-Keep-Your-Donors-Engaged-Post-Giving-Season_Header-2.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Snowball_Auctria_4-Ways-to-Keep-Your-Donors-Engaged-Post-Giving-Season_Header-2.jpg)\n\n## 2. Get creative with your fundraising ideas.\nCreative fundraising ideas can get donors excited about your nonprofit and the work it does, encouraging them to donate. **They’re also a great way to share your organization’s enthusiasm about the new year with your supporters, especially when you can connect them to your most recent initiatives.** \n\nHosting an event remains a great way to form and strengthen relationships with your donors. Especially at the beginning of the year, it’s important to appeal to as many of your donors as possible so that you can engage them in your newest fundraising goals.\n\nWant your event to be family-friendly, but still need to stay out of the cold? Plenty of [fundraising ideas for kids](https://funds2orgs.com/fundraising-ideas-for-kids/) are easy to add on to a “grown-up” fundraiser so that the whole family can participate and have fun. If you’re hosting a silent auction, for instance, include a kids’ table or some kid-friendly items for younger family members and their parents to bid on. A [themed auction](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/themed_auction) or kid-friendly dinner can also motivate families to support your organization.\n\nFor organizations who feel ambitious at the beginning of the year, you can widen your appeal by combining events so that all your supporters have something fun to do. For instance, you can balance the two classic event categories of athletic outdoor fun and indoor fundraising activities by [hosting an auction and a golf tournament simultaneously.](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/golf_tournament_auction)  \n\nCombining two events may sound like a lot of work up front, but your organization is likely to benefit from increased involvement as more current and potential donors will be motivated to attend. **To boost attendance, don’t forget to encourage your donors to spread the word about your event on social media!**\n\nYou’ll renew your supporters’ interest in your organization when your event appeals to their hobbies as well as their values. Your event also illustrates your commitment to your community’s wellbeing. Before your event, take some time at the beginning of this year to make sure that your online donation tools are easy for supporters to access, navigate, and use.\n\n![Snowball_Auctria_4-Ways-to-Keep-Your-Donors-Engaged-Post-Giving-Season_Header-3.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Snowball_Auctria_4-Ways-to-Keep-Your-Donors-Engaged-Post-Giving-Season_Header-3.jpg)\n\n## 3. Revamp your website and online donation tools.\nAs increasing numbers of donors become comfortable giving online and on their smartphones, your organization will want to make sure that you’re encouraging and facilitating these giving methods this year. **A trustworthy and well-designed website and online giving page can motivate supporters to start giving or increase their donations.**\n\nReady to update your online fundraising strategy? It’s worth taking a look at both your website as a whole as well as your giving page to determine what you’re doing well and where you can improve your supporters’ experience.\nWebsite\nYour website serves as the first point of contact for your supporters as well as a reliable source of updated information. If you haven’t updated it in a while, the new year is a great time to make sure that it contains relevant information, features a modern design, and is easily navigable. [The best nonprofit websites include such aspects](https://www.morweb.org/Post/best-nonprofit-websites) as:\n\n * **Links to your social media accounts.** Encourage your website visitors to stay updated on your organization’s progress by following you on social media. They should also be motivated to share your progress updates on their own accounts to reach out to even larger networks.\n * **A page to tell your story.** To create those all-important personal connections between your organization and your supporters, ensure that your website features a page detailing your origins as well as your purpose or mission.\n * **Multimedia elements.** Pictures are a great way to communicate the importance of the work your organization does on a daily basis to your supporters. You may also want to include videos where appropriate to showcase your hardworking team in action!\n\nWhile many visitors to your website are there because they want to learn more about your organization, others are there to make their donations. Update your donation page and make sure it’s featured on your website to encourage this convenient giving method.\n\n### Online Giving Page\nMost of today’s supporters expect online giving to be available and easy to complete for the nonprofits they want to support. If you haven’t given much thought to the accessibility or design of your online giving page recently, the new year presents a great opportunity to evaluate whether it is:\n\n * **Easy to find.** Because many of your website visitors are arriving with the purpose of making a donation in mind, the link to your online giving page should be prominently displayed on your homepage.\n * **Easy to use.** Donors want to complete their online gifts quickly. Save them time by giving them the option to save their personal and payment information for future giving without having to create and remember a username and password.\n\n\t*Account Creation Tip:* When donors choose to save their information on your website, \nthey can complete all future gifts in just two taps! This method encourages more regular \ngiving by making the process much faster and easier for your supporters.\n\n * **Trustworthy in its appearance.** Customize your online giving page with your organization’s familiar color scheme, logo, and other branding elements so that it looks just like another page on your website. Donors want to be sure that they’re giving to the cause and organization that they trust and care about.\n\nWant to improve or expand upon your organization’s current online giving capabilities? re:Charity’s list of the best online donation tools provides examples of innovative solutions to facilitate online giving, including mobile giving options so that supporters can donate on the go.\n\nWhether your website’s visitors are largely new donors interested in learning more about your organization or your core base of supporters, it never hurts to get to know them better. Your organization can enter the new year with a better understanding of all your donors by conducting prospect research.\n\n![Snowball_Auctria_4-Ways-to-Keep-Your-Donors-Engaged-Post-Giving-Season_Header-4.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Snowball_Auctria_4-Ways-to-Keep-Your-Donors-Engaged-Post-Giving-Season_Header-4.jpg)\n\n## 4. Learn more about your donors through prospect research.\nProspect research is the process of gathering relevant information on your organization’s current and potential donors so that you can reach out to them more effectively and identify key donors among them. You can conduct it yourself, with the help of specialized prospect research software, or hire a consultant to guide you through the process.\n\n**Broadly divided into the two complementary categories of wealth markers and philanthropic indicators, prospect research data tells you whether your donors are likely to support your organization as well as how capable they are of doing so.** Examples of wealth markers, which measure a given donor’s capability of giving, include:\n\n * The values of their real estate and stock holdings;\n * Their career and business or corporate affiliations;\n * Their history of donating to political campaigns.\n\nWealth markers can help you determine the appropriate size gift to ask for from different donors. This information is complemented by philanthropic indicators, which can tell your organization:\n\n * Whether a given donor has supported your organization in the past; \n * Whether the donor has a history of supporting organizations with goals similar to yours;\n * Whether the donor is active as a volunteer with your organization or a similar nonprofit.\n\nPhilanthropic indicators can show your organization which donors to invite to your event or reach out to. These indicators are also relevant to additional activities important to your organization’s success, such as [recruiting volunteers.](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/recuiting_volunteers) The strongest prospects are both capable of giving and likely to do so.\n\nWhen your organization decides to conduct prospect research, the first group of individuals to learn more about should be the current supporters already in your donor database. Want to extend your reach? A [prospect generator](https://www.donorsearch.net/prospect-generator-tips/) is a software tool that can help you find new potential supporters to reach out to. You may want to invite some of these prospects to your event!\n\nBy engaging your donors in a fun activity and emphasizing their individual importance to the continuation and success of your organization, you’re sure to achieve fundraising success in the new year.\n\n\nAvoid a slump in your fundraising efforts after the excitement of the end-of-year giving season has ended by creating and refreshing your strategies of interacting with your donors. When they feel valued and see the importance of your work firsthand, they’ll want to renew their support for your organization throughout the new year.\n\n-----------------------------\n![snowball-by-Swoop-1-150wide.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/snowball-by-Swoop-1-150wide.png)\n\nSpecial thanks to  John Killoran from [Snowball Fundraising](https://snowballfundraising.com/) for expert advice on how to leverage email newsletters. \n\nAbout John:\nJohn Killoran is CEO of Snowball, an exciting new fundraising technology that makes it easy for people to donate in two clicks from text, email, web and social media sites.  John pioneered SMTP payments and has been a major innovator in the mobile payments space for the past 5 years.     When he is not running a company, he is cooking food for his family and telling his dogs to stop barking.\n\n![John-Killoran-atpay 100wide.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/John-Killoran-atpay-100wide.png)",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":346},{"url":347},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/03b9dc5d4cd8ae048bc8fab9605ff2d93c3c712c-600x320.png","2019-02-19T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":350},"keep_donors_engaged_snowball","Motivate donations after the end-of-year giving season has passed by finding new ways to interact with your donors and share the importance of your work","4 Ways to Keep Your Donors Engaged Post-Giving Season",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":354,"category":355,"id":5,"image":356,"publishOn":359,"slug":360,"teaser":5,"title":362},"### Auctria is going to ICON \nAuctria is going to the Association for Fundraising Professionals conference (AFP ICON 2024).  Will we see you there?\n\nAuctria believes charities don't have to choose between affordability and features. You CAN have both, with Auctria!\n\nCome visit Auctria to see our latest solutions for live, silent, and paper auctions, ticket and sponsorship sales, donations, custom event websites and many more!!\n\n#### Discover the power of Auctria for your chance to win big!\nAt the Auctria booth we will be running a demo event where you can use Auctria dollars for fun! Use the Auctria dollars for real chances to win real prizes!  Raffle prize |  $250 for your charity of choice & stunning jewelry set, [donated by Jewels With a Purpose](https://www.jewelswithapurpose.com/)\n\nStopy by and see Laurie, Rob & Tracy at the Auctria booth![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/266be1a070a0566deef0292a987b8d61677cfb3d-770x300.png?w=450)\n\n\n### About Auctria\n Auctria is a comprehensive easy-to-use platform designed to streamline the entire auction process from start to finish. Since 2011, Auctria has been the go-to tool for organizations looking to raise money and awareness through efficient and effective event management. With features that cater to silent, live, and online auctions, ticketing, raffles, and more, Auctria helps fundraising teams maximize their impact and achieve their goals.\n\nContact Auctria for more information: email [hello@auctria.com](mailto:hello@auctria.com)",{"id":67,"title":68},{"asset":357},{"url":358},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/4c5b9f470c05c201945dcc9d5a85308a961c1e75-825x638.png","2024-03-14T19:41:00.000Z",{"current":361},"auctria-is-going-to-afp-icon-2024","Auctria is going to AFP ICON 2024!",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":364,"category":365,"id":5,"image":366,"publishOn":369,"slug":370,"teaser":372,"title":373},"# Promoting Your Auction Is a Snap!\n\nIn today’s competitive marketing landscape, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to engage customers on a personal level. Marketers are always looking for newer, more creative ways to promote and build their brand. \n\nRecent changes to Snapchat has given innovative companies the opportunity to catch a new wave. Though Snapchat has been around for several years, it now has more active users than Twitter. This has marketers looking for creative ways to leverage this up and coming technology.  \n\n## Snapchat facts:\n* Snapchat photos are viewed up to a million times per day\n* More people view Snapchat' Videos than Facebook videos \n* 60% Of All Smartphone use the Snapchat app\n* 7 Out Of 10 Snapchatters are Millennials\n* Snapchat now has more users than Twitter\n* 60% Of all Snappers are between 18 and 34\n\n## Geo-Filters are for your fundraising event!\nGeo-filters are not a new feature for Snapchat, but the ability for companies or individuals to customize and broadcast is. The technology has developed in a way to allow geographically broadcasting of custom photo filters to an area as small as 100 square feet for a predetermined date and time. So, what are Geo-filters and how can they be used? Geo-Filters are image embellishments that can be added to pictures. App users have the option to add predesigned templates to images before they share. \n\n![Snapchat-Charity-Auction.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Snapchat-Charity-Auction.jpg)\n\n## Custom Geo-filters broadcast your event\nWhat are some of the advantages of the app technology? It allows for a personal one-to-one conversation with a user and their audience. Pictures can be shared for a one-time view or placed in a story timeline for up to 24-hours. Promotional Geo-filters must be pre-approved by Snapchat before inclusion in the app, but are usually available for use within 24 hours. Custom photo filter can be broadcasted to a specific geographical location on a predetermined date and time. There aren’t any limits to the number of Geo-filters that can be broadcast.\n\n![Snapchat_Enviro-Golf-Tour.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Snapchat_Enviro-Golf-Tour.jpg)\n\n## Fun & creative promotion\nSo, if you’re looking for a fun and creative way to promote your brand and engage guests at your next event, you might want to consider using Snapchat Geo-filters.\n\n![Snapchat_Book Fair-bookgirl.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Snapchat_Book-Fair-bookgirl.jpg)\n\n\n## [Firefly Creative Inc.](http://www.fireflyatlanta.com/snapchat-geofilters) \n\n[Firefly Creative Inc.](http://www.fireflyatlanta.com/snapchat-geofilters) - Barton Wood, President has provided this article content.  \n\nBarton has been developing Snapchat Geo-filters for his clients in various industries. “These types of filters are ideal ways to promote at special events,’s just gives,” Says Wood. The key is to design filters that are fun and engaging. This is the “IT” way to increase engagement and branding for your event or charity, especially if you are trying to reach the millennials just gives promoters another way to connect with their attendees in a uniquely different way.",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":367},{"url":368},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/f0d4bb25e48903847ae9073eafb1b8b1cb5e6269-600x320.jpg","2016-09-30T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":371},"snapchat_geofilters_wood","Snapchat photos are viewed up to a million times per day, take your auction to the Snapchat world!","Promoting Your AUCTION is a Snap!",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":375,"category":376,"id":5,"image":377,"publishOn":380,"slug":381,"teaser":383,"title":384},"Email marketing is a powerful channel for nonprofits, offering a direct, personalized line of communication with supporters that helps you build relationships, boost engagement, promote campaigns and [events](https://www.auctria.com/blog/successfully-promoting-your-event-with-email/), and drive donations. \n\nHowever, like any tool, email marketing’s effectiveness depends on how you use it. To help you embrace best practices and avoid common pitfalls, we’ve rounded up seven do’s and don’ts of email marketing campaigns for nonprofits: \n\n1. Do: Use an Email Marketing Platform \n2. Don’t: Let Data Silos Form\n3. Do: Analyze Your Audience \n4. Don’t: Only Send Donation Requests\n5. Do: Follow Email Subject Line and Body Best Practices\n6. Don’t: Forget to Examine Metrics\n7. Do: Align Your Email Approach With the Rest of Your Marketing Strategy \n\nNo matter your nonprofit’s specific goals for leveraging email, you want to ensure you’re sending messages that catch and hold your supporters’ attention. The advice in this guide will put you on the path to email marketing success. Let’s begin.\n\n\n## 1. Do: Use an Email Marketing Platform\n\nAn email marketing platform, also called email marketing software (EMS), allows nonprofits to create and track their email marketing campaigns so they can communicate with supporters at scale and improve campaign performance over time. \n\nThere are two options for taking advantage of email marketing tools:\n \nInvest in a popular EMS like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, or Hubspot, and integrate the tool with your existing technology stack. \nLeverage email marketing apps or features within your existing donor management or fundraising tools. \n\nThe second option allows you to critically examine your organization’s current technology solutions and ensure you’re taking full advantage of your tools' features. This process ultimately allows you to see a higher return on investment (ROI) for those solutions.\n\nFor example, say you [use Blackbaud Luminate Online](https://www.dnlomnimedia.com/resources/luminate-online-guide/) as your organization’s primary fundraising and marketing tool but haven’t used it for email yet. You discover that Luminate Online allows you to easily design personalized, targeted email campaigns for different audience segments and automate various types of messages. You can also capture data from your emails and A/B test your campaigns to help improve your strategy over time. \n\n\n## 2. Don’t: Let Data Silos Form \n\nIf you decide to use a third-party email marketing platform, ensure it integrates with the rest of your technology stack. Integrations are essentially bridges between platforms that let data flow smoothly between them. Without integrating your software, data silos can form.\n\nData silos occur when information collected by one system is inaccessible from other platforms, making it more difficult to gather and analyze. Data silos slow down communication, can cause information to go overlooked, and generally make your technology stack more cumbersome to use. In the context of an email campaign, supporter engagement data may get trapped in your email platform and not update supporter profiles in your CRM, limiting your ability to build relationships.\n\nTo integrate your software, partner with a [technology consultant](https://www.dnlomnimedia.com/blog/nonprofit-technology-consulting/). Consultants can help set up integrations and develop [middleware solutions](https://www.dnlomnimedia.com/blog/nonprofit-data-warehouse/)—software that acts as an intermediary between two systems—that allow for many complex platforms to sync with one another, preventing data silos and allowing you to view all of your email marketing data in one place.\n\n\n## 3. Do: Analyze Your Audience\nYour supporters are more likely to open and engage with emails that are relevant to them. When planning your email marketing campaigns, it may be tempting to create content based on your end goal, like securing donations or boosting event registrations. Instead, consider what your audience is interested in first. Then, consider how you can channel that interest to help your nonprofit’s goals.\n\nSpecifically, try analyzing your audience based on the following data points:\n\n* **Demographic data**. Divide supporters based on their age, location, education level, occupation, income level, or any other useful information. For example, you might segment your donors based on age and have different messaging for college students and older adults. Your message to the college students may promote more volunteer efforts and low-cost ways to get involved, while your messaging to older demographics with more stable incomes may focus directly on fundraising and growing support.\n\n* **Engagement history**. How do your supporters like to engage with your work? For instance, if a supporter gets onto your emailing list because they interacted with your [advocacy](https://www.dnlomnimedia.com/blog/nonprofit-advocacy/) content, send them messages about advocacy rather than defaulting to donation requests.\n\n* **Email communication preferences**. Similarly, how often do your supporters like to hear from you, and what types of email content do they best respond to? Some segments may prefer weekly updates on your work, while others prefer more targeted, one-off messages about your most important campaigns and events. \n\n* **Interests**. The more you interact with supporters, the more you learn about what parts of your cause interest them. You can collect this information in several ways, whether through one-on-one touchpoints like phone conversations or broader efforts like sending out a survey. Use this data to share blog posts, impact stories, and engagement opportunities that encourage them to build relationships with your nonprofit. Also, consider how you can weave their personal interests into your strategy for interacting with them. For instance, maybe you learn that many of your donors love [pickleball](https://www.auctria.com/blog/pickleball-payoff-fundraising-gold/). You could set up a pickleball tournament fundraiser and promote it via email by providing playing tips and selling pickleball-related merchandise branded to your organization. \n\nIf there are supporters in your database for whom you do not have email addresses, try engaging with them in other ways. To keep them involved, you can contact them through text messages, direct mail, and social media posts. You can also purchase an email append to acquire their contact information and add them to your emailing lists.\n\n## 4. Don’t: Only Send Donation Requests\nDonation requests are arguably the most important part of an email marketing campaign. After all, they’re what pushes supporters to follow through on donating. However, only sending donation requests can negatively impact your ability to build relationships with supporters, limiting their potential to become long-term donors.\n\nDiversify your strategy by sending supporters a variety of content, including:\n\n* **Monthly or weekly newsletters**: Share organizational news, program updates, and general information about your cause to keep supporters in the loop. \n* **Event invitations and reminders**: Promote upcoming events, provide information about registering and attending, and tease exciting aspects of the events, such as items that will be available at your auction or information about your keynote speaker. \n* **Volunteer requests or updates**: Send out information about your volunteer opportunities and needs and how to get involved in your program, and provide updates to current volunteers on shift changes or thank-you events. \n* **Impact stories**: Showcase how donations, volunteering, and other forms of support have made a tangible difference to those you serve by sharing impact data and stories or testimonials from your beneficiaries. \n* **Advocacy emails**: Encourage your supporters to take action on specific issues they care about related to your cause, whether that means signing a petition, attending a rally, or contacting their representatives.  \n* [Thank-you and appreciation messages](https://ecardwidget.com/donor-thank-you-email/): After events or donations, send personalized thank-you messages to remind your supporters that you appreciate their support. \n* **New merchandise alerts**: If your organization sells branded merchandise, notify supporters when new items or designs are available. \n* **Educational and news content**: Provide valuable and timely content related to your cause, such as research, blog posts, or news articles. \n* **Holiday greetings**: Send out festive messages on major holidays to keep your organization top of mind and foster goodwill among your supporters. \n\nWhen it comes to the types of emails your organization can send, the possibilities are truly endless. Consider what you know about your audience to decide what types of messages they will find valuable and worth reading. \n\n\n\n## 5. Do: Follow Email Subject Line and Body Best Practices\nEmail marketing strategies have evolved over the years, and nonprofits should stay up to date on best practices to ensure their emails are engaging, professional, and modern. By following these standards, you increase the chances supporters will view your emails as trustworthy, open them, and interact with your content.\n\nA few best practices to follow include:\n\n* **Create engaging subject lines**. Subject lines are your primary method of attracting readers to open your emails, as 64% of email recipients decide to open emails based on their subject line alone. Keep your subject lines short (approximately 40 characters) to avoid getting cut off on mobile view. Additionally, rather than bluntly stating your email’s purpose, consider how to frame it to interest your audience. This might include asking questions, emphasizing the message’s urgency, or even issuing a challenge to supporters. For example, a subject line for an email promoting an environmental group’s upcoming silent auction might be “Auction for Earth: What prizes will you win?”, “[Donor name], bidding starts in 3 days,” or “Support the planet, win prizes!”\n\n* **Use email formatting templates**. With many organizations competing for your supporters’ attention, ensure your emails stand out with professionally designed graphics and formatting. Choose an email software platform that offers customizable email design templates.\n\n* **Leverage AI when you outline and draft email body content**. Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are becoming more ubiquitous in nonprofit work, and for good reason. Specifically, generative AI tools, solutions that can create text or images based on users’ prompts, can streamline hundreds of tasks. Use AI to outline and draft email messages, personalize messages at scale, and more. A word to the wise: Always apply human oversight when working with AI. You know your organization and supporters best, so editing any AI outputs to better reflect your organization’s brand and voice will always help your emails stand out. \n\n* **Send emails when supporters are likely to check their inboxes**. Ensure your emails are at the top of your supporters’ inboxes when they are likely to open them. Research shows that the best time to send an email is between 9 AM and 11 AM, but engagement with email also peaks around 1 PM-2 PM and 5 PM-6 PM. Some email marketing platforms can even track your supporters’ locations so you can send messages at specific times based on their time zone.  \n\nTo give your emails additional flavor, incorporate multimedia elements. Photos and videos can help your organization stand out and break up text-heavy messages—just be sure you don’t include too many so your load time stays low. \n\n\n## 6. Don’t: Forget to Examine Metrics\nWhen rolling out a new email marketing strategy, keep a close eye on core metrics. This data will allow you to measure its success in real time and course-correct as needed.\n\nFor email, consider tracking these metrics: \n\n* **Click-through rate**: The percentage of individuals who click on the links included in your emails\n* **Email conversion rate**: The percentage of recipients who complete the desired action (such as donating or taking an advocacy action) after reading one of your emails\n* **Average amount raised per email campaign**: The typical amount of money your organization pulls in from each email campaign, which is especially important for fundraising-focused email campaigns\n* **Unsubscribe rate**: The percentage of email recipients who unsubscribe from your email list after receiving an email \n\nYour email marketing software and website analytics should help you track these metrics and estimate what percent of your website’s traffic comes from emails. For example, you might create a new event landing page and promote it through email, social media, and a direct mail campaign. Your analytics allow you to see what links people are clicking on that lead them to your landing page.\n\nBe conscious that there is a margin of error for supporters who search for or go to your website directly instead of clicking on a provided link. However, even with caveats, metrics allow you to get a general idea of how well your email campaign is performing, what strategies work well, and what approach you should take next time.\n\n## 7. Do: Align Your Email Approach With the Rest of Your Marketing Strategy\nEmail marketing works. In fact, [68% of nonprofits](https://www.nptechforgood.com/101-best-practices/email-marketing-statistics-for-nonprofits/) use email to promote their work, and 48% of donors say it is their preferred form of communication from the organizations they support. \n\nHowever, email is only one part of a [holistic nonprofit marketing strategy](https://www.dnlomnimedia.com/blog/nonprofit-marketing/). You likely have other channels you use to keep in touch with your supporters and encourage engagement, such as: \n\n* Your website \n* Direct mail\n* Text messaging \n* Social media \n* Google Ads\n* Word-of-mouth \n* Physical marketing materials, like flyers or posters \n\nIt’s important to use more than one marketing channel. This way, you can reach more people on their preferred channels and share your organization’s messages in new and exciting ways. \n\nThis doesn’t mean you always have to reinvent the wheel, though. For instance, say you design an email marketing campaign promoting your volunteer program. You can repurpose that content into a series of [Facebook posts](https://www.auctria.com/blog/unlock-the-power-of-facebook-for-your-nonprofit/) and incorporate it into a new blog post for your website. \n\nIn addition to repurposing content, look for ways to get your marketing channels to work together. For instance, you might encourage website visitors to follow your organization on social media or include a QR code on an event poster that leads people to your event web page. Connecting your channels can guide supporters to take the actions you want them to and encourage further engagement!\n\n\n-----------\nEmail marketing campaigns are excellent for getting the word out about your cause, connecting with supporters, and encouraging involvement. Use our list of do’s and dont’s above to design or revamp your organization’s current email strategy, and remember to continually monitor your campaigns’ performance so that you can improve your efforts over time. \n\n----------\n\nSpecial thanks to Carl Diesing for the expert advice, Carl is the Managing Director – Carl co-founded DNL OmniMedia in 2006 and has grown the team to accommodate clients with ongoing web development projects. Together DNL OmniMedia has worked with over 100 organizations to assist them with accomplishing their online goals. As Managing Director of DNL OmniMedia, Carl works with nonprofits and their technology to foster fundraising, create awareness, cure disease, and solve social issues. Carl lives in the Hudson Valley with his wife Sarah and their two children Charlie and Evelyn.\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":378},{"url":379},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/2c7246347d8ab1acbfc7495b15232bc96a3da63d-600x320.jpg","2025-02-26T18:14:00.000Z",{"current":382},"email-marketing-campaigns-for-nonprofits-dos-and-don-ts","Email campaigns get supporters’ attention, educate your audience, and earn donations. Ensure you’re making the most of this platform with these dos and don’ts.","Email Marketing Campaigns for Nonprofits: 7 Do’s and Don’ts",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":386,"category":387,"id":5,"image":388,"publishOn":391,"slug":392,"teaser":394,"title":395},"Over the last thirty years, Church of the Rock’s Pie Auction has raised millions of dollars auctioning pies. Yes, Pies, and cakes too! Keep in mind that their very first pie auction was in 1997 and raised $800. \n\nThese sweet confections are baked with love and support projects in the 10/40 Window funding medical clinics, fighting malaria, healing burns, providing oral health and so much more while sharing the love of Jesus.\n\nThe recipe is much more than eggs, butter and sugar. It’s the people and the process behind collecting, auctioning, and delivering perishable goods in a twenty-four-hour period. After running the Pie Auction for 30 years Church of the Rock has this down to a precise process. Wendy Coker, auction accounting lead shares the behind the scenes for processing over 175 pies and desserts. This starts with being organized before, during and after the fundraiser and making it fun for both the bakers and the audience. They carefully plan for the process, and train and schedule volunteers to turn all this around in a matter of hours.   Here are Wendy and the team’s tips so you too can raise money with pies. \n\n- Planning for the incoming pies\n- People & process\n- Promotion before, during, and after\n- Delivery of winning pies to winning bidders\n\n## Planning for the Incoming Pies\nWith hundreds of pies incoming the team likes to gather as much information as possible in advance. Using an online form they ask bakers to pre-register their intent to bake asking:\n- Bake name and contact information\n- Type of pie or cake\n\nThis information is imported into Auctria so on the day of the Pie Auction there is a record of the pie to build from. They will know how much room they need in the refrigerator for items that require refrigeration, they have an idea of what sold best last year and plan for which items will be auctioned off silently or online vs live from the stage.\n\n**Must have, is a Saskatoon Berry Pie.** Wendy shares the Pie Auction must always include a Canadian prairie favorite [Saskatoon Berry Pie.](https://saskatoonberryinstitute.org/saskatoons/?msclkid=5e53cd21c73b11ecbf6864455b8a0d28) This pie alone will generate thousands of dollars. Because of the popularity, it will be auctioned off live with lots of bidders' enthusiasm. \n\n**Planning also includes a well-organized floor plan.** Here is what the Church of the Rock created and implemented.\n\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/1cbdfffbc784c1425ca9af220d6dff4f470ecdf1-422x545.png)\n\n## People and process \n**Intake Stations are Staffed and Trained.** Because of the nature of baked goods, they arrive on the day the auction takes place to maintain freshness. They are auctioned off within hours so this means intake of the goodies needs to be organized and swift. Key roles are filled by staff to maintain consistency however volunteers by the dozen provide the leg work to make it all happen. They greet the baker, tag the pies, input the data and help with photos. Using the volunteers' knowledge of the audience helps maximize the auction income.\n\n**Photograph the pie.** Not all pies are on display so photos need to showcase the pastry. Just because time is limited does not mean that photos are just thrown together. We eat with our eyes so several photos of each are shot. The desserts are displayed on a decorative cake plate, with a neutral background. At a minimum, a photo is taken from the side and overhead.\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/0840c22667a7ef31844b9d2ceb0844aaf9c34281-300x400.gif)\n\n**Triage the pie.** As the pies come in they need to be triaged for holding temperature and auction type. Depending on the ingredients the deserts that require refrigeration will be marked as moved into cold storage. The pies vary from rustic and home made, to specialty. \n\nThere is a little for everyone. Here is just a sampling of the offerings:\n\nFresh Fruit Cheesecake\nTiramisu Torte\nOreo Cheesecake\nBlack Forest Torte\nCarrot Cake Torte\nFresh Fruit Cheesecake\nTriple Berry Cheesecake\nOreo Cookie Cake\nLemon Cake\nFit for a Queen - Opulent & Extravagant Carrot Layer Cake\nBlueberry Swirl Cheesecake\nSkor Cheesecake\nChocolate Cheesecake\nCaramel Pecan Cheesecake\nSaskatoon Pie\nDeep Dish Apple Cinnamon Pie (Homemade)\nDeep Dish Homemade Apple Cinnamon Crumble\nDeep Dish Homemade Strawberry Rhubarb\nHomemade Blueberry Pie\nBlueberry Pie\nCherry Pie\nDeep Dish Blueberry Pie Joyful We Adore Thee\nReally Tasty Blueberry Pie\nStrawberry Rhubarb Pie\nHomemade Cinnamon Buns with Vanilla Drizzle Icing\nNiagara Peach Pie\nSaskatoon Blueberry Pie\n\n\n\n**Triage for auction.**  In addition to temperature, the pies are cataloged for auction type - either Silent Auction where bidding is online or Live Auction in front of the sanctuary. Using past sales data and experience volunteers choose the most coveted pies to place in the live auction. This is where the Saskatoon Pie takes its righteous place. Alongside the sixty other decadent desserts.\n\nNot all the pies are auctioned at one time. There are groupings for Saturday, Saturday night and Sunday morning. Each of these times are paired with service, sermon and pies!\n\nChurch of the Rock knows that in order to make the day run smoothly everyone needs to know their job with clear instructions. Their team trains volunteers and they pair up with prior volunteers in a mentor experience. In addition they conduct a mock auction during the day of training. Printed materials are provided to act as guide and step-by-step instructions. Everything is covered from receiving → bidding → payment.\n\nWatch an example of the live pie auction here. Described as Burnt Basque Cheesecake is an alter ego to the New York-style cheesecake. A very light and a crustless cheesecake with a mixture of flavors that will surely delight your palate. From a burnt exterior that is a little caramelized to a sweet, creamy and custardy interior and with the berries adding a little tartness - this cheesecake will surely give you an explosion of combined flavors and texture.\n\nThis was a stage auction and sold for $1900. [Watch the video here.](https://youtu.be/1hdz_q7Qrc4?t=1908)\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/ac8da573f3dec070b18197b850b824de6860904d-933x512.png)\n\n\n\nPromoting the Pie Auction\nThe Pie Auction has a reputation all on its own. After 30 years this is the event so many in the congregation look forward to annually. Some groups of friends and family will pool their bidding together and bid on a pie and enjoy them as a group or at a home party after winning. \n\nThe team does purchase a few fancy cakes, and a few cupcakes and cookies to sell for those that want to make a quick purchase. They also sell slices of pie served a la mode satisfying the need for immediate sweet tooth gratification.\n\nThe desserts are scrumptious however it is the cause that triggers huge final bids and donations. Promotion starts at the conclusion of the last auction. Sharing how much was raised and how the funds are being utilized.\n\nThe Pie Auction has its own section on the church website. On the page are current events showing how the funds are being spent. On the page alongside the text are short videos as well.\n\nRecently updated are donations to Ukraine. \n\n> Thanks to your generosity during our recent Pie Auction events, we have already been able to forward $25,000 to Hungry For Life, and another $10,000 to Tearfund, both working in Ukraine!\n\n> Hungry For Life is working with several local churches to build a team in western Ukraine which is receiving and caring for thousands of refugees coming from the east and the capital city of Kyiv. They are providing the basic necessities for thousands of people by purchasing food, mattresses, bedding and hygiene products, and providing interim shelter and accommodations for fleeing refugees. Their current response phase includes warehouse distribution centres in both western and central Ukraine and a fleet of vehicles to distribute aid to both refugees in the west and affected people in the war zones areas in the east.\n\n> Tearfund is an international Christian relief and development agency based in the U.K. It currently works in around 50 countries, including Ukraine, with a primary focus on supporting those in poverty and providing disaster relief for disadvantaged communities. In Ukraine they are partnering with local churches to provide families with emergency housing and supplies such as blankets and food. \n\n**The mission is the Promotion.** This is part of the broader work that Church of the Rock is doing to support the 10/40 Window. \n\n---------------------------\n\nSpecial thanks to Wendy Croker, CPA, CGA, Church of the Rock, Accounting Manager, and Pie Accounting Auction Lead. To learn more about [Church of the Rock click here.](https://www.churchoftherock.ca/) To learn more about the [Pie Auction click here.](https://www.churchoftherock.ca/pieauction/)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":389},{"url":390},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/e30248292041859ff3ff0a939bc2ea8e39026ccb-600x320.png","2022-07-21T16:43:20.175Z",{"current":393},"people-process-pie","Over the last thirty years, Church of the Rock’s Pie Auction has raised millions of dollars auctioning pies. Yes, Pies, and cakes too!","People, Process, Pie",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":397,"category":5,"id":5,"image":398,"publishOn":401,"slug":402,"teaser":404,"title":405},"\n\nVideo marketing might seem like a big investment, but if Forbes is calling it the [“future of content”,](https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2017/02/03/video-marketing-the-future-of-content-marketing/#6513afd66b53) we should probably be paying attention. In fact, research has shown that fundraisers that included a video raised [“4 times more funds](https://go.indiegogo.com/blog/2015/10/crowdfunding-statistics-trends-infographic.html) than campaigns without one”. When you hear stats like that, it seems like including videos for your campaigns is a no brainer! Back in the day, you might have needed to rent or buy a camcorder or other equipment to make a video like this, and disseminating it to your audience would have been a challenge. Thankfully, even our cellphones can shoot decent quality video these days and sharing those videos on our websites, social media, and more make it easy to get your pitch in front of your audience. Smaller nonprofits with lower budgets can do their videos in-house, or if you’re a bigger organization with marketing funds to spare, you can allocate funds to hire a team to script and shoot a truly beautiful impact video.\n\nThere’s several different types of videos you can work into your event and fundraising to maximize your impact. Our friends at The AV Department have guides for filming [Creative Intro Videos,](https://theavdept.com/intro-videos/) [Sizzle Reels,](https://theavdept.com/sizzle-reel/) [Live Streaming,](https://theavdept.com/livestreaming-faqs/) and more. In this article, we’re going to dig into impact videos, specifically: impact videos connect donors, volunteers, and other stakeholders with the organization’s mission and impact through evocative, emotional storytelling. This is where we tug at the heartstrings! These videos allow you to showcase the best of what your organization can achieve as you call on your supporters to help you continue to make a difference. Here’s a few tips to help you maximize the impact of your video!\n\n## 1. Dig Into Your Story\nPeople don’t donate out of the blue. They donate because they’ve learned about an organization that’s focused on a cause they care about and they feel that donating to the organization will make a difference. Impact videos are a great opportunity to take a person who’s interested in your cause and convert them to a supporter (as a donator, volunteer, or more). This is your chance to show them the direct impact their support makes! In order to convince them that you’re the right organization to support, you need to get really good at telling your story.\n\nWhat makes your organization tick? What’s the heart and soul of why you do this work? What’s the change you want to see in the world every time you go to work, plan an event, run a fundraiser? What are the tangible outcomes of the money you raise?\n\nIf you have video footage or stories from people your organization has helped, use them. If you have data about the work you’ve done (number of houses built, books donated, meals funded), share it. From there, you’ll need to craft a compelling narrative using the data and stories you have. \n\nOne basic framework you can use is below:\n* Present the problem with a focus on an emotional plea\n* Present your organization and its work as the solution\n* Show data or stories that demonstrate the way your organization has made a difference\n\n**It doesn’t have to be complicated - in fact, keeping things as simple and clear as possible is better.**\n\n## 2. Think About the Visuals\nWith impact videos, you have a unique opportunity to really show the humanity behind your organization and your cause. There are few things more hard-hitting than seeing actual people in the community thriving from your support and services. \n\nYou may have people your organization has helped who would be more than willing to tell their story.  If you can take on-site video from the locations where you work, that can be a great way to give viewers an immediate insight into the conditions your organization is dealing with. Either way, remember to respect everyone’s privacy and get their permission before filming or using their personal story.\n\nYou can also introduce and interview the founder or leaders of your organization, giving them a chance to explain why they do this work and what it means to them. Having your founder or founders speak about why they started your organization in the first place can be a great way to highlight the core of your organization’s mission.\n\n## 3. Choose a Call to Action\nOnce you tell your story, you want to give viewers a clear call to action. This could be a request to donate, a call for volunteers, or a direction to your website to learn more about your mission. You may have one main outcome you’d like to see from your video as well as one or two secondary outcomes; i.e. you want to call for donations and raise awareness of your mission. The CTA at the end of your video should always be the main outcome you want to achieve with the video so that supporters know exactly what action to take after watching.\n\nIf you’re having trouble identifying a CTA, make sure you’re clear on the audience for your video - and then adjust your script accordingly. If your audience is viewers who have never heard about your organization before, then a “LEARN MORE” CTA may be the most appropriate (and the rest of the video should focus on introducing them to the basics of your organization). If your audience is already familiar with your organization, then a donation or volunteer CTA will be effective.\n\nWe hope these 3 tips will help you start thinking about putting together your own impact video! If you want to watch a video that puts these tips into action, check out this fundraising video by Jesuit High School.\n\n\u003Ciframe src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/video/794450391?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write\" title=\"JHS Day of Giving 2023 Main Hero Video.mov\">\u003C/iframe>\n\nIf you’re looking for more resources on how to create a compelling impact video, check out our friends The AVDepartment. [This article](https://theavdept.com/org-video/) features several more tips for how to improve your videos! They have tons of great resources to support you throughout your video process.\n\n-----\n\nSpecial thanks to Brian Harris, Owner/Video Production Lead at The AV Department for the expert advice. \n",{"asset":399},{"url":400},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/f22ce3e8bf22868d03fc2a2d7f81eac9ee238a70-600x320.jpg","2024-07-25T19:03:57.931Z",{"current":403},"one-video-big-impact-why-you-need-an-impact-video-for-fundraising","People don’t donate out of the blue. They donate because they’ve learned about an organization ","One Video, BIG Impact: Why you need an Impact Video for Fundraising",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":407,"category":408,"id":5,"image":409,"publishOn":412,"slug":413,"teaser":415,"title":416},"4 Effective Strategies for Successful Event Management\n\n![Doubleknot_Auctria_4-Effective-Strategies-For-Successful-Event-Management_Feature.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Doubleknot_Auctria_4-Effective-Strategies-For-Successful-Event-Management_Feature.jpg)\n\nEvents are powerful resources for your organization. They can be used to raise money, steward members or donors, and encourage public engagement with your mission. With so many potential high-value outcomes, it’s important to ensure that you can manage your event as efficiently and effectively as possible. \n\n**No matter what [type of event your organization plans,](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/dk_event_ideas_entice) creating a comprehensive strategy will allow you to get the greatest outcome from the opportunity.** \n\nWhen planning an event, your organization should:\n\nEstablish and communicate your most important goals.\nCreate a concrete plan in order to meet those goals.\nDecide on a marketing strategy that appeals to your audience. \nCollect and analyze event metrics. \n\nSuccessful event management starts with a plan that focuses on the engagement of attendees. [Doubleknot’s museum event planning guide](https://blog.doubleknot.com/2018/04/03/museum-event-planning-guide/) discusses the importance of incorporating effective attendee engagement strategies from start to finish. \n\n![Doubleknot_Auctria_4-Effective-Strategies-For-Successful-Event-Management_Header-1.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Doubleknot_Auctria_4-Effective-Strategies-For-Successful-Event-Management_Header-1.jpg)\n\n## 1. Establish and communicate your most important goals.\nTo create a plan that delivers your organization’s most vital event objectives, you first need to define those goals. Why is your organization hosting an event? What are your ideal outcomes?\n\nIdentifying your desired outcomes will help your organization develop effective strategies that address your most pressing priorities. \n\n**Focus on ensuring the goals are SMART: Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.** \n\nSometimes organizations host events without clear, tangible goals guiding their efforts. The first step to reaching your goals is to define them at the start of event planning to ensure that they’re incorporated throughout every aspect of your event. \n![Doubleknot_Auctria_4-Effective-Strategies-For-Successful-Event-Management_Header-2.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Doubleknot_Auctria_4-Effective-Strategies-For-Successful-Event-Management_Header-2.jpg)\n\n## 2. Create a concrete plan to meet those goals.\nOnce your organization has defined the goals and gathered stakeholder support, you can better decide specific actions that will help you reach them. A concrete plan will keep everyone on track as you organize your event. \n\nStrategic planning throughout the event lifecycle will help you reach your goals. If your organization’s priorities include strengthening relationships in the local business community as well as raising funds, your event might include an auction of local goods and services donated by local businesses (perhaps as corporate event sponsors).  \n\n**Other factors to consider include the venue, your overall budget, and your marketing communication platforms.**\n\n### Venue\nThe venue can have a big impact on whether you reach your organization’s event goals. If your goal is to attract attention to your services for the community, it may make sense to host an event at your organization itself. \n\n**For instance, a museum calling attention to its many services and programming options would want to host at the actual museum so attendees can develop greater engagement.**\n\nIf your organization sells admission tickets, be sure to investigate whether you can sell event tickets using the same ticketing software. This creates consistency for your attendees and helps promote opportunities for online engagement and promotion. For example, a museum could [benefit from using integrated museum management software to sell tickets for the event.](https://blog.doubleknot.com/2018/06/21/integrated-museum-management-software/) \n\nHowever, if your organization does not have the capacity to host your event at headquarters, you can look into hosting your event at a local partnering organization or, depending on the season and type of the event, a public park may be an appropriate venue. In any case, be sure to determine whether existing ticketing software will meet your needs.\n\n### Budget\nWhile your event budget may be tighter than you’d prefer, there are always ways you can make the most of it. \n\nFirst, create a list of all the possible expenses for your event. Then, prioritize them in order of importance and then in order of cost. After allocating room in the budget for the top-priority must-have items, you can assign the remaining funds to the less-critical items in a way that creates “the biggest bang for the buck.” \n\nKeep an eye out for other opportunities to save money throughout the planning process. For instance, in-kind donations are a great way to encourage supporters to get involved while finding the goods and services you need to make your budget go further. \n\n![Doubleknot_Auctria_4-Effective-Strategies-For-Successful-Event-Management_Header-3.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Doubleknot_Auctria_4-Effective-Strategies-For-Successful-Event-Management_Header-3.jpg)\n\n## 3. Create a marketing strategy that appeals to your audience. \nAs event planners are aware, a major element of event planning is deciding how to market the event to your target audience of attendees.\n\n**A few important marketing issues are discussed below.**\n\n### Communication Platform\n\nMost organizations will have attendance goals for their events. **To successfully encourage  people to attend, ensure that your marketing appeals to different segments and focuses on how their attendance will help promote your shared values and mission.**\n\nIt’s important to keep in mind that the medium is as important as the actual message. Consider the information in your organization’s CRM system:\n\n * Does it track the communication preferences of your past event attendees? \n * Do your emails have a high click-through rate? \n * Do you know who attended last year and whether they’re also donors to your organization? \n * What messages and strategies have proven successful in the past? \n * How can you extend these messages and strategies to build support and excitement around your upcoming event? \n\n**It all depends on what the different segments of your audience prefer.**\n\nMany event management software solutions and CRM solutions offer built-in communications platforms. Be sure to see what types of features are included in the software you already have. Or, check out referrals like this page of [top event management solutions by Double the Donation](https://doublethedonation.com/top-event-management-software/) to see if your event will be better served by a different communications tool. \nDifferent Messages for Different Audiences\n\nWhen you’re crafting the message for your marketing materials, consider the platform you’ve chosen; for example, the content and focus of direct mail are likely to be different than the content and focus of your tweets. \n\nThink about what your supporters want to know about the event, including how their attendance will help. What will entice them to come? \n\n![Doubleknot_Auctria_4-Effective-Strategies-For-Successful-Event-Management_Header-4.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Doubleknot_Auctria_4-Effective-Strategies-For-Successful-Event-Management_Header-4.jpg)\n\n## 4. Collect and analyze event metrics.\nBefore an event, analyzing event metrics can help you ensure that your event marketing and goals are on track; afterward, event metrics can help you analyze the event’s overall success as well as your results for specific goals.\n\nEvent metrics that may be helpful to track include:\n\n * **Tickets or registrations sold.** This will help you better understand who was enticed by your event. Compare this metric to the number of attendees to see the attendance rate for your latest event.\n * **Percentage of the attendees who are members and/or donors.** When your event software integrates with your organization’s [management software,](https://blog.doubleknot.com/2018/10/11/aquarium-management-software/) it’s easy to collect metrics about your members or past supporters who attended the event.\n * **Budget data. Compare your actual expenses to your budgeted funds.** In addition to helping you create more accurate budgets in the future, highly granular data may make it possible to map the results of specific expenses (such as advertising) with your overall event goals. \n\nIdeally, you can draw conclusions from event metrics and create meaningful [segments of supporters](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/segment_engage_averill) in your CRM to ensure that even more of your audience is engaged with your cause. \n\n--------------\n\nFor most nonprofits, events are a crucial element of building community support and delivering your mission. Following the high-level event management strategies in this article will help your organization minimize costs and maximize benefits. \n\n-----------------\n\nSpecial thanks to David Ellis from DoubleKnot for sharing his expertise.  David Ellis is a passionate advocate for nonprofit organizations who has spent his career helping cultural organizations operate more efficiently and effectively. At Doubleknot, David helps cultural organizations, visitor attractions and scout councils identify innovative data-based strategies to increase efficiency and effectiveness.\n\nThroughout his career, David has worked with organizations like Adler Planetarium, Museum of Modern Art, U.S. Botanic Garden, Rothko Chapel, and many Boy Scout and Girl Scout councils. In addition to positions at Tessitura, TicketMaster and AudienceView, David served as Vice President of Ticketing and Customer Service at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center and regularly speaks at industry conferences and other events.",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":410},{"url":411},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/a9c3e5c55e1b6d262088fec4b99e99098e3b8362-600x320.png","2019-08-21T00:00:00-04:00",{"current":414},"dk_success_event_management","When planning an event, your organization should...","4 Effective Strategies for Successful Event Management",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":418,"category":419,"id":5,"image":420,"publishOn":423,"slug":424,"teaser":426,"title":427},"# Auction Fundraising Case Studies\nAuctria has the pleasure to provide the auction toolbox for over 15,000 auctions assisting groups in raising millions of dollars across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia.  We were lucky to catch-up with a handful of the auction fundraising teams and here are best practices to share.\n\n## With Conviction & Dedication \n It is with conviction and with dedication that Spokane HOPE auction team reaches its financial goals year after year. Kim proudly shares the team effort raised $170,000 profit at its 7th annual event last year and all the proceeds help 50 children annually on their hearing loss journey to reach their full potential, pursue their dreams, and thrive in school, their community, and life.\n\nEach member of the auction team is tell a personal story with conviction. Each member of the team form volunteer, recruitment, sponsorship sales, procurement team and gala team.\n\n[READ MORE](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/story_hoedown_hope)\n\n## Organized & Efficient Equals Time Well Spent\nMy name is Shannon, here is my fundraising story. I assumed the position of chair for our charity fundraiser four years ago when our auction item bid sheets were organized in a single Word document. I kid you not; 200 pages long with one item listed per page. \nIn an effort to get more organized, as the auction chair, I set a starting point with the use of Excel spreadsheets set with formulas. This was substantially better, but still time consuming and confusing to multiple administrators. I sensed this would be difficult for other team members to utilize. It was more accurate than using single pieces of paper to record bids, but it was still time consuming. We needed to streamline our operations. \n\n[READ MORE](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/story_organized_efficient)\n\n## Evolution of an Elementary School Auction\nYear 0 Offering Auction Items During Carnival\n$1200 total income, items closed at a fraction of retail values.\n\nYear 1 Stand Alone Auction Event\nYear 1 yield $9,000 Increase of 9-fold.\nThis is great but we can do better!\n\nYear 2 Stand Alone Auction Event- Working Smarter\n10% additional bidders attended. \nYear 2 yield $12,000.\nThis is great but we can do better!\n\nYear 3 Stand Alone Event with Online Auction Teaser\nYear 3 yield $15,000 30% increase income from prior year.\nThis is great but we can do better!\nSUCCESS! Number of bidders doubled.\n\nYear 4 Online Auction Only\nYear 4 yield $18,000 20% increase from the prior year and the success goes on.\n\n[READ MORE](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/StoryTellingEvolutionofanauctionfundraiser.pdf)\n\n\n\n## Data Retention & Transition is Critical\nThe cloud based or web based program has given our PTO the ability to literally store thousands of bits of information in very stable and always accessible location. Having disconnected team activity in the past was a nightmare! Some people were using Mac or Apple, and an even wider variation of Windows operating systems. This worry simply vanishes with a web based program.  For the last 4 years many volunteers have come and gone from helping with auction. By effortlessly handing over the administration access for Auctria to the next auction committee is ready to go. We are literally handing over all the past year’s data mine so there is no loss in transition. Instead of re-inventing the wheel Auctria let’s a new team pick up where the last team left off.\n\n[READ MORE](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/story_data_sharing)\n\n\n\n## Donations Make the Auction\nA Michigan school run by a parent organization in Michigan has mastered the art of auction donations. Their auction has been running for 7 years so and continues to grow each year. They do so with strategic item procurement. Consider a few factors: audience and what they like to spend money on, discover local treasures and people, create unique experiences.\n\nThe audience here is very well defined. Families with children that attend the school is the most obvious. Consider expanding the audience though. For instance we ask not only parents but grandparents, past student families and local stakeholders to donate.  “You NEVER know who owns what, has connections where, and is willing to help.”\n\n\n[READ MORE](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/story_donations)\n\n\n## Branding the Auction Fundraiser\nBranding, establish a hallmark that is recognized.  Branding is the chief goal of marketers for to define purpose, emote brand connection, establish consistency and engage stakeholder involvement.\nPurpose, brand connection to the donor & bidder, brand message, brand consistency and stakeholder engagement are the basis for brand awareness\n\n[READ MORE](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/brand_auction_story)\n\n## The Power of Audience\nWith attendance exceeding 400, SWCA has perfected the art of organizing an auction. Due to their continual success, the auction has become an A-List event in Southwest Washington.  The SWCA uses their knowledge of the audience as a starting point in organizing the annual event. Core questions include: What will the audience bid on? What theme will strike interest? What emcees will increase profitability? Know the Audience!\n\n[READ MORE](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/power_of_audience)\n\n\n## Expanded Reach\nHouston Choral Showcase has tremendous support from within. Friends and family of the choral group generously support the organization. By using a gala to garner attention AND that event being well organized they hope to expand beyond the reach of gala attendees. If they had fun at the gala, they’ll come back next year and bring their friends.\nHaving a website for the auction leads to credibility and the ease of sharing information. At the bottom of the auction catalog website there are links to the group’s website, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.\nPower User Tip: After the event, export the bidder list to your favorite email and mail programs to boost your communication reach (Houston Choral Showcase uses Mailchimp and DonorSnap). Keep your supporters updated with your ongoing activities and show them how the fundraising revenue is being used.\n\n[READ MORE](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/power_user_houston_choral)\n\n## Fundraising Formula\nCreate a formula to keep the fundraiser on track.  Name and Images are Consistent.  LBDP merges that with with their mission of giving back to the community. \nStrategic Partnering for location and donations. LBDP has figured out when to say yes and when to say no. Yes is when both parties can help each other in reaching and exceeding goals. \n\nFacebook is an important part of the LBDP formula. The ability to connect with past donors and future supporters in-between annual events is precious. Photos of how the proceeds from the past event shows transparency for how the funds were dispersed.\n\n[READ MORE](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/story_fundraisingformula_lbdp)",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":421},{"url":422},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/65fc67442f34cb2790f500cfdace3197700f5556-600x320.png","2017-11-29T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":425},"case_study_catalog","Auction fundraising secrets shared here","Auction Fundraising Case Studies & Best Practices",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":429,"category":430,"id":5,"image":431,"publishOn":434,"slug":435,"teaser":437,"title":438},"Groups have continued to fundraise through COVID-19 and regularly have met and exceeded their goals. We are seeing schools, theatres, choral groups, animal advocates, rotary, boy & girls clubs, community services that are fundraising. **People are looking to help, give them an opportunity to do so.**\n\nAuction fundraising events are a very effective and efficient option for fundraising activity. It may take a different form than what you are accustomed to, however virtual gatherings and online auctions and donations are still flowing. This is a unique opportunity to gain supporters and attention through virtual activity. Social media and website presence are even more important now. Doing a good job now will yield a growing audience for years to follow.  \n\nYou only can spend dollars that are in the bank, you can’t spend dollars that may come in the future so don’t cancel the fundraiser.\n\nJust as live events range from fancy galas to simple silent auctions, the same holds true for virtual events. Simple or complex depends upon the time, team, and resources available. Simple would be an online auction with donation buttons. The more complex would include a virtual live event to pair with the fundraiser. These pieces can be stacked together to make an even grander fundraiser. Auctria helps make the fundraising part of the process easy. It’s up to the auction team to determine how much further they want to build-up the surrounding structure. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/3ab7746346c871be48e9b3ee77a3b8ec2c6cb6af-502x293.png)\n\nEither way, you will need to draw in supporters to the fundraiser and ask them to contribute money in the way of bidding for auction items, purchases for items, or straight donation.\n\n Online auctions typically include: \n * Online auction\n * Donation buttons\n * For sale items\n\nLive Virtual Auctions typically include:\n * Planned programming-entertainment\n * Live auction\n * Paddle raise\n\n## Online Auction \nOnline auctions typically span over days or over a week’s time. The bidding process is completely online. Adding donation buttons give supporters an opportunity to donate directly to the cause. If you will be conducting a virtual live event the online auction should remain open  through live activity, and sometimes even longer. This too is variable, some groups like for the online auction to conclude at the same time as the live auction, some like to let it run a few more hours or into the next day. \n\nThere are multiple right answers when it comes to running the online auction. Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions to help you consider some possibilities.\n\nQ. How long should an online fundraiser run?\n > The goal is to get as many people to view and bid or donate. You want to be able to reach people at least with two solid messages. So if you are a school or group that meets or sends out weekly email blasts, or robocall once a week then consider using the begin and end time to encompass two occurrences.\n\nQ. Where should we start the bidding at? \n > Auction items beginning bids should be low enough to encourage the first bid with room for some back and forth bidding activity. For ordinary goods start at about 40-50% of retail price then divide the remaining value by 5 divide upon bidding increments. [More examples for auction item pricing can be found here.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/pricing-auction-items/)  \n\nQ. Bids are slowing, should we lower starting bids?\n> Most likely not, especially if they are already at a discounted level. With online auctions, there is usually a surge of bidding activity when the auction opens, then a lull till the last day and last few hours. If bids slow on items as the winning bid gets higher it may make sense to lower the bid increment. Experience has shown, the online auction will be a flurry of activity as the closing time approaches.\n\nWhen the donation request is paired with an event fundraiser the event is a reason for the supporter to tune-in. An online auction with fun auction items brings the audience to the website for a reason. Since online auctions tend to span multiple days provide a reason for donors or bidders to come back multiple times, meaning there are multiple times to ask for donations. \n\nOnline auction boosters can really propel the final bids and movies raised. \n * **Proxy bidding accelerates the bidding so more bids go higher, faster.** The greater the number of bids, the higher the auction fundraiser proceeds. In a standard auction after each bid is placed the outbid bidder does receive a notification but then NEEDS to do something to then be back on top.\n * **Anti-Sniping extends the active bidding past closing time.** Have you ever been running an auction and as the bidding is closing there is a surge in activity? The winner is the one that got that very last bid in at the instant before the auction closes. The winning bidder is super happy but how much higher could the bids have gone?\n * **Auctria’s mobile bidding application is available for Android and Apple devices.** Mobile bidding allows bidders to view the catalog from their personal device via an app optimized for the experience.\n\n## Live Virtual Events\nLive virtual events have a few components for the fundraising portion, the Livestream and the actual production. Live Virtual Auctions typically include planned programming-entertainment, live auction and a paddle raise.\n\nLive events do have an additional level of required to engage and retain an audience. Consider including previously recorded pieces as well as live speakers. Some groups even include fun facts, trivia and raffles to keep the audience tuned in. The live portion of the event is the show so be sure to practice with the people and the technology.\n\n## Virtual Event Spotlights\nThe timeline and tempo should be discussed in the early stages of planning. \n\n * [Cal Trout’s event fundraiser Trout Camp](https://www.auctria.com/blog/cal-trout-s-virtual-fundraising-event-silver-linings/) was quite serene and made for a very relaxing viewing experience\n * [Boys & Girls Club of SW Washington](https://www.auctria.com/blog/boy-and-girls-club-of-sw-washington-communicate-strategically-and-often/) was more energized with the hosts putting on a House Party that was very energized with costumed hosts. \n\nLive Event Planning\nDecisions to be made:\n * What fundraising component do you want to include? Live auction, donations?\n * Where do you want the Livestream output to broadcast to? In other words, where will your community watch the activity?\n * How produced do you want the program to be? In other words, do you want to show video or streams from multiple physical locations or programs?\n\n## Virtual Live Event Programming & Production\n\nLive auction events can be a simple zoom-like meeting where there are a few speakers and a screenshare. This lends itself to a more casual vibe where those joining can see other people in their own zoom boxes and carry on a lively conversation in the chat stream.\n\nAuctria for Fundraising\nThe fundraising portion of the event, live auction, and paddle raise can easily be handled with Auctria. Use these singularly or stacked together.   \n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/e0f89bb7e173a453f4552db1dc16d2dc252ed385-502x301.png)\n\n### Live Auction\nA live auction that would traditionally be at a gala or party can still happen! \nAuctria recently released a Live Auction Controller to be used during the live event. The Admin controls the items are open for Live Bidding. The bidder remains on the \"Live Auction\" screen while the Auction Director opens/closes the auction items. It's the same screen for Paddle Raises too.\n\nUsing Auctria’s Live Auction Controller during a live event you the administrator can control what auction items are open for live bidding. The bidder remains on one screen and the auction director opens and closes the auction items. The bidder stays on that screen for the paddle raise too. It’s a quick tap to bid, or a quick tap to donate. After the auction, a secure payment link is provided for easy collection. \n\nIn summary- the bidder watches the live event on a larger screen then uses a smaller device, phone, tablet for bidding. \n\n### Paddle Raise\nAny fundraising event that does not include a request for direct donations may be leaving money on the proverbial table. At a live event fundraiser, the paddle raise can bring in ⅓ to ½ of the needed funds. A skilled auctioneer or emcee calls from the stage the paddle raise activity to begin. [Getting results with a paddle raise is achievable](https://www.auctria.com/blog/getting-results-with-a-paddle-raise-or-donation-request/) with a sound structure and plan.\n\n### Finding Auction Items Now\n\nAuction items are still out there. You can continue requesting donations from willing businesses. Be sure to generously and openly thank those who have already committed, as well as focus on what you can legally do for them in return, such as sharing/reposting their news. \n\nAuction items are still available. Using third party sources makes the ask a little easier and can fill the catalog with attractive items. We recently conducted a roundtable with some experts, here is the [playback and resources.](http://fb-live-finding-auction-items-round-table) [DonationMatch,](https://my.donationmatch.com/landing/RF15466?referral_code=RF15466&redirect=www.donationmatch.com) [Jewels With a Purpose](https://www.jewelswithapurpose.com/) and TravelPledge, and are worth exploring to find auction items without the hassle. If you are apprehensive about asking for donated items face to face there are alternatives. \n\n## Promoting a Virtual Fundraiser\nGoing online or with the fundraiser opens up other avenues you can use to communicate with your supporters. Since there is no longer a seat limit or ticket for entry the net can be cast much wider. Take advantage of this opportunity to reach even more people. \n\n### Leverage Social Media\nEnsure your online event is shared everywhere you have an online presence: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.\n\n### Communication\nCommunicate with all stakeholders: donors, sponsors, volunteers. Communication is key.\nUse the dedicated auction website to post a video message about the status of the auction fundraiser. If you are converting to an online auction clearly state the dates and next steps.\nAsk sponsors to remain as sponsors for the online event. Offer to give them some extra attention on the online website and/or auction emails & notifications.\n\nInclude a special Sponsor Page or customize the emails with links or messages about your sponsors, Make it worth their while to continue the support. To really sweeten the deal, offer an extended appreciation at your next event or throughout the year. \n\nYou can [win the sponsorship race, here is an full webinar](https://www.auctria.com/webinar/winning-the-event-sponsorship-race-featuring-aj-steinberg-queen-bee-fundraising/) with useful tips and advice.\n\nUse video and photos throughout the entire promotion and follow-up of the fundraiser.  Your dedicated auction website can include a video. Tape a short but sincere message to be seen by all your donors, sponsors and bidders. Post it front and center on the homepage of the auction website.\n\n\n## Fundraising is Still Flourishing\n\nWe are seeing schools, theatres, choral groups, animal advocates, rotary, boy & girls clubs, community services ALL fundraising- People are looking to help- give them an opportunity to do so.\n\nLive event fundraising is a very viable and healthy way to raise much needed funds.  Using LIVE as an acronym here are some guiding principles.\n\n * **L- Lead with the mission and purpose** and you will never feel uncomfortable or awkward for asking people to join in the opportunity to help\n * **I- Invite everyone to help,** or share in any way possible to publicize the event and cause\n * **V- Virtual event is possible,** and great way to show impact to an even broader audience \n * **E- Embark on a new chapter,** let’s write the book together!\n\nFundraising can still be conducted, just do with sensitivity and focus to what the needs are to continue the mission -- be forthright about immediate funds usage & continuation of your beloved cause. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":432},{"url":433},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/90deb8126e1a437939bc0ccaf54d6ad10149b68b-600x320.png","2020-09-17T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":436},"virtual-event-fundraising-online-live-auction-and-paddle-raise","People are looking to help, give them an opportunity to do so.","Virtual Event Fundraising: Online, Live Auction & Paddle Raise",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":440,"category":441,"id":5,"image":442,"publishOn":445,"slug":446,"teaser":448,"title":449},"# The 6 best tips for your online charity auction\n\nCharity auctions are one of the most lucrative ways for a non-profit to earn revenue, boost engagement, while attracting and retaining donors and supporters. As important as these events are, they can be difficult to plan and execute. Follow these tips from Auctria to organize the most successful online charity auctions for your non-profit.\n\n## Use auction software \n\nThe first step in planning your online charity event is to buy the right auction software that can offer you:\n\n### Auction and event planning software\n\nThe auction software can be used to organize all your event details such as guest lists, auction item lists, attendee details, logistics and more. While this helps improve planning and execution of the online charity event, it also ensures your donors, bidders and guests have a seamless, more enjoyable event. The software can also track several metrics that can help you plan future events more profitably too.\n\n### Mobile bidding \n\nNon-profits can use this feature as an alternative to bidding sheets, allowing bidders and donors to place their bids using their smartphones.\n\n## Recruit an experienced team of volunteers \n\nOrganizing a successful online charity auction is not a one-person job. Having an experienced team, especially with key players who have organized online charity auctions before, can ensure your event is a resounding success. So, who are the key players you must hire?\n\n- A recruitment team\n- An auctioneer\n- An emcee\n- Auction spotters\n- Auction monitors\n\n## Keep detailed records\n\nAn online charity auction consists of hundreds of items that have to be organized and kept track of. Using detailed records of each item can help in the planning and execution of your online charity auction. Auctria recommends recording the following details of each item:\n\n- Name\n- Auction number\n- Description\n- Donor name and contact details (if applicable)\n- Market value\n- Starting bid\n\nCreate a master list with the above-mentioned details in an Excel sheet or an auction software such as that from Auctria. Our software streamlines the online auction process by helping manage donors, bidders, procurement, and the like.\n\nAt the end of your online charity auction, add relevant details such as names of highest bidders and amounts raised for each item into your master list.\n\n## Make your items the star\n\nDisplay each item prominently, giving bidders an opportunity to view all items and decide what they would like to bid on. Several non-profits keep items hidden to build up the suspense, thinking this would make these more attractive to bidders.\n\nHowever, Auctria recommends using different display styles based on the kind of auction you are organizing:\n\n### Live auctions\n\nIn this auction style, volunteers can bring items to the stage as and when the auctioneer begins auctioning them off. However, if the item is too large or unable to be brought to the stage, use a projector to display high-quality pictures and videos of the same.\n\n### [Silent auctions](https://www.auctria.com/blog/shifting-silent-and-live-auction-to-virtual-live-auction/)\n\nIn silent auctions, items of a particular category can be arranged and displayed on tables for bidders to view and choose from.\n\n### [Online auctions](https://www.auctria.com/)\n\nUse Auctria’s auction software to showcase images of the items you would like to showcase to your bidders. As an alternative, you can provide a link to your catalog as a reference.\n\n## Be strategic with the auction item order\n\nThe order in which your items are auctioned is important as it can affect the success of your online charity auction. The idea is to create suspense with the order, so bidders look forward to forthcoming items. However, it is important to give bidders enough time to bid on the items they are interested in without rushing them.\n\n## [Make bidding convenient](https://www.auctria.com/)\n\nIt is important to make bidding as convenient as possible for your bidders and donors as they are less likely to participate in future events if they do not enjoy the process. Implement mobile bidding, optimize bid sheets, and use bid paddles during the auction for the convenience of your bidders, donors, and supporters.\n\nFollow these tips from Auctria, experts in fundraising management solutions for small and medium non-profit organizations, to organize the most profitable online charity auctions for your cause!",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":443},{"url":444},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/34ced9e2cfaea4bf36cb53e3a6ffb7dab875c1b8-600x320.jpg","2021-08-17T06:00:00.000Z",{"current":447},"the-6-best-tips-for-your-online-charity-auction","Organizing an online charity auction requires the right software, experienced team, and attitude. Follow these tips from Auctria today!","The 6 best tips for your online charity auction",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":451,"category":452,"id":5,"image":453,"publishOn":456,"slug":457,"teaser":459,"title":460},"# Keepsakes as Auction Items\n\nKeepsakes as auction items can be a dynamic way to increase auction awareness and success.   Keepsakes create auction items where the bidders are emotionally & lovingly tied to the charity.  Keepsakes are highly sought after for school based events.  Keepsakes turn mundane objects into truly priceless one-of-a-kind pieces.  [Pricing Keepsake items](http://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/pricing_auction_items) is also flexible but can produce very high yields.  \n\n### Auctria maximizes and organizes the income potential of keepsakes!  Check out Auctria's [Pinterest board-Keepsakes][1] for lot of photos.  \n\n[1]: https://www.pinterest.com/charityauctiono/keepsakes-pricelss-for-auction-cao-board/\n \n![keepsakes donation seal-auctria scale 30.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/keepsakes-donation-seal-auctria-scale-30.jpg)\n\nAuctria is a powerful engine auto-creates elegant and professional looking marketing resources including: display pages, on-line and printed catalog.  Effortlessly [post photos](https://docs.auctria.com/guide/working-with-items/adding-items) of the keepsake and description.  Using the built-in display page simply print or share to market the keepsake and let the bidding begin!  \n\n\n## Here are some keepsake auction items for inspiration:\n* photo- this can be themed, large group photo or a collage of the class/group\n* photo book- book allows for more content, include a photo and a special memory for each child such as:\n* growing up-what do you want to be when you grow up\n* yummy treats- favorite recipe, include recipe handwritten by each child\n* a day in the life- favorite part of school day\n* favorite book or character in a book is the class already working on big project, document the progress and instant keepsake\nSelf-portrait collage, collect artwork and scan into any photo printing program\n* Household items, furniture, textiles that are embellished with students handprints or fingerprints.  Be sure to include each child’s name or let that goes with the item to truly make it priceless keepsake.  \n  * child's chair\n  * beach bag\n  * tray \n  * book case\n  * step stool\n  * blanket/ throw\n  * canvas print/art\n  * pillow\n  * mug \n  * water bottle\n  * playing cards\n  * puzzle\n  * ornaments\n  * computer mouse pad\n  * calendar\n  * apron",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":454},{"url":455},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/e24778129135760b3d9e948179408de54286413b-600x320.jpg","2016-01-20T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":458},"auction_items_keepsakes","Keepsakes create auction items where the bidders are emotionally vested to the charity.  Not only are keepsakes cherished moments but bring in BIG donations for little outlay.","Keepsakes as Auction Items",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":462,"category":463,"id":5,"image":464,"publishOn":183,"slug":467,"teaser":469,"title":470},"# How to make the most out of your virtual fundraising\n\nWith restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, non-profit organizations have taken to virtual fundraising events to further their cause and stay connected to donors and stakeholders. [Auctria](https://www.auctria.com/), providers of powerful fundraising software, explains how to get the most out of your virtual fundraising event. Read on to find out more.\n\n## Content is the key\n\nAs your event is completely online, you need to focus on producing the most engaging content to attract stakeholders and donors. It is recommended to conduct fun brainstorming sessions with your team to find the right digital marketing strategy that can hold the attention of your audience. First impressions are highly important and giving your fundraising event a catchy title is key. Another great tool to attract more donors is inviting an influential person from the industry to provide a keynote address that interests your donor base.\n\nIt is also critical to develop an engaging and informative presentation or video that is factual, statistical as well as heart-warming to make donors realize the importance of donating to your cause.\n\nDuring the event, you can also organize fun competitions such as quizzes to keep the atmosphere light-hearted and fun. This will ensure donors stay online and enjoy your virtual fundraising event more.\n\n## Choose an event ticketing platform\n\nUsing an effective virtual fundraising software such as Auctria to manage the registration and donation processes is critical. Auctria’s software can be used to register attendees, sell tickets and offer a secure payment portal for donations. It is highly important that your donors feel comfortable making payments for your virtual fundraising event and choosing a reputed software or platform to do so is key.\n\n## Practice your virtual fundraising event\n\nA great tip to host a successful virtual fundraising event is to practice it beforehand a few times. This is especially important if you are live streaming the event and want to avoid embarrassing hitches on D-day. Test your video streaming platform a few times in the days leading up to your event. This is also good practice if you are nervous about facing a camera as it allows you to feel more at ease. You can also check how your backdrop and other surroundings look on camera so nothing looks jarring or out of place.\n\n## Online promotions\n\nAs mentioned previously, engaging donors and stakeholders are critical when it comes to hosting a successful virtual fundraising event. If no one knows about your event, how can it be successful? Auctria recommends following a two-pronged approach to get the news out:\n\n1. Internal: Have a meeting with your staff, volunteers and stakeholders about the virtual fundraising event. This ensures every person working for your organization is on the same page and can help with reaching a broader audience.\n2. External: Once you have communicated the details and goals of the event to your team, you can begin approaching donors to invite them to participate.  \n\nOnline marketing and promotions are also an excellent avenue to raise awareness and attract a broader audience. Use your website or blog to interest potential attendees through well-formulated landing pages, upbeat posts and articles, banner ads and registration widgets. Another great method to let people know about your virtual fundraising event is using an effective email campaign. Other tools to promote your event include GoogleAds and popular social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.\n\nThus, harnessing the power of social media and online marketing campaigns can ensure the success of your virtual fundraising event. For more information on how Auctria can help, [contact us](https://www.auctria.com/contact/) today.",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":465},{"url":466},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/180dac25de9f20208158610cd40664ac33151cf6-600x320.jpg",{"current":468},"how-to-win-at-virtual-fundraising","Virtual fundraising is the hottest trend among nonprofits and learning to win at it requires some effort and knowledge. Read on to find out more from Auctria. ","How to win at virtual fundraising",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":472,"category":473,"id":5,"image":474,"publishOn":477,"slug":478,"teaser":480,"title":481},"# Successful auctions and the power of an audience\n \n[Auctria](https://www.auctria.com/) user Southwest Washington Contractors Association’s (SWCA) auction team -- composed of the SWCA staff, We Plan It (event planning company), and the SWCA Events Committee -- knows what it takes to organize a [successful auction](https://www.auctria.com/features/). With attendance exceeding 400, SWCA has perfected the art of organizing an auction. Due to their continual success, the auction has become an A-List event in Southwest Washington.\n\nThe SWCA uses their knowledge of the audience as a starting point in organizing the annual event. Core questions include:\n \n* What will the audience bid on?  \n* What theme will strike interest?  \n* What emcees will increase profitability?  \n* Know the Audience\n\n![know auction audience med.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/know-auction-audience-med.png)\n \n## Know the Audience: Donations \nDonation procurement for this audience is thoughtfully executed, with a steady emphasis on what contractors would want to bid on and win. When seeking donations, the first question is “will the audience want to spend money on this item?” Typically the answers generate items such as: tickets to basketball games, fishing trips, and various trips (including airfare) around the United States.\n \n## Know the Audience: Paddle Raise\nUtilizing a paddle raise is vital to fundraising success. The SWCA Foundation paddle raise helps raise money for scholarships and community projects. The core mission of the SWCA Foundation is to build the community and construction industry. Thus, providing students with scholarships to continue growth in the commercial construction industry is pivotal. Additionally, providing grants to improve the community includes investing in the rejuvenation of local parks and other community services, such as the YWCA SafeChoice Domestic Violence Shelter.\n \n## Know the Audience: Live Auction \nThe emcees for the live auction are prominent and active members of the Southwest Washington community. Both have had professional or personal connections with many of the auction attendees. By knowing the audience personally, it gives the live auction a touch of sincerity and helps to increase profitability of items.\n \n## Know the Audience: Silent Auction\nThe silent auction is organized with the goal of mingling while bidding. Some auctions have moved to an online or mobile service, but auction organizers knew that this would not be an appropriate tactic for this outgoing group. It all goes back to the principle of knowing the audience to reap the wanted results.\n \n\n## Reach the audience\n\n### Ongoing Promotion\nRecruiting efforts for the SWCA Holiday Party & Auction start seven months prior to the event. Knowing that the auction attendees are a generally a social group, SWCA hosts monthly Thirsty Third Thursday networking events. This is just one great opportunity to utilize systems already in place and recruit guests.\n \n### Save-the-Date\nSave the date postcards are a useful tool to promote the SWCA Holiday Auction. The postcard provides potential attendees with a preview of the theme, and helps to promote the event six months in advance. Another helpful tip includes consistent planning; The Holiday Auction is always the First Friday of December, so recurring guests know a year in advance when the auction will occur. This helps boost attendance for the SWCA’s most prominent event.\n \n## Engage the audience\n \n### Facebook Ad Campaigns\n \nSWCA used the power of Facebook Ads to reach an audience it ordinarily would not have reached. This proved to be successful, as data shows that for a two-week span, 5,010 people were reached. Approximately 300 people were actively engaged on the SWCA Facebook page during that two-week span. The ad campaign helped SWCA reach four times the audience they would not have reached without the paid campaign, at an affordable cost. In addition, SWCA utilized the Facebook video-maker to showcase auction items. Each video was only thirty seconds long, and gave busy contractors a glimpse of available auction items.\n \n## Audience Centric\n \nEach decision made in the planning of the SWCA Holiday Auction was audience centric. From the theme, to food choices, to the emcees, the question of what would appeal to the audience took full force. Here are few photos that showcase the success of the Holiday Auction:\n\n![know audience event auction picture collage.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/know-audience-event-auction-picture-collage.jpg)\n\n## Key Takeaways:\nTheme generates interest\n\nSave-the-Date post cards allow the audience to plan attendance\n\nNetworking events provide a special opportunity to recruit attendants\n\nUtilizing existing social networking to expand attendee base\n \n### The SWCA Auction results over the years have been stellar! \nSouthwest Washington Contractors Association has been able to make the following community contributions:\n\nIn 2015, SWCA members from 7 different companies partnered with the City of Vancouver Parks and Recreation department through a grant from the Community Foundation to restore Marine Park and bring its facilities up to code and make them ADA accessible. These members donated their time, labor and equipment to replace 13 picnic tables and outdated drinking fountains, as well as landscaping improvements.\nIn 2016, the SWCA Foundation provided $3,000 in grant money to the YWCA to rejuvenate the SafeChoice Domestic Violence Shelters. With this gift, the SafeChoice Domestic Violence Program can continue to offer a wide array of advocacy services, which include: safety planning, information and referrals, support groups, emergency shelter, legal advocacy and children's advocacy. These services are crucial to the YWCA in helping survivors escape abusive relationships and avoid homelessness.\n\nFor more information on how to harness the power of the audience, [contact](https://www.auctria.com/contact/) Auctria today!\n\n## Auctria’s donation request links:\n[Procurement Basics for Success](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/procurement_basics)[Writing a Procurement Request Letter](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/procurement_letter_elements)\n\n[Find Auction Donations][Do & Don't Do; Asking for Donations](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/do_dont_askingfordonations)\n\n\n## Additional HELPFUL Facebook information & links:\n\n[How to make a Facebook Video](https://www.facebook.com/help/166707406722029?helpref=uf_permalink)\nUse Facebook videow to capture the attention of FB users by attracting attention.  Use images that tell as story.  Ask friends to share and tag. Creatd Facebook videos within the FB application.  \n\n[How to make a FaceBook Ad, Getting Started](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/714656935225188/?helpref=hc_fna)\nTargeted Facebook ads are paid messages designed to reach the exact audience with FB targeted marketing,  Connect an reach current followers or find new ones\n\n__________________________________________________________________\nSpecial thanks to Auctria user Southwest Washington Contractors Association and their auction team: \nSWCA’s Andrea Smith & Darcy Altizer, Wendy Strum of We Plan It, and the SWCA Events Committee for sharing their success and insight!\n\nThe SWCA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) with the mission of enhancing Southwest Washington through grants for education and community outreach projects.\nSWCA Foundation Scholarship Program: The SWCA Foundation is proud to award scholarships to qualified applicants, including those pursuing education related to the building and construction industries.\nThe SWCA Foundation invests in future community leaders by offering financial assistance to students through funds raised by the generous donations of members.  These awards are available to association members' employees, their children, and others who are enrolling in full-time secondary education.",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":475},{"url":476},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/f842e33fd7d8aa116015297b010d08dfac1213da-600x320.png","2017-02-14T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":479},"power_of_audience","Auctria presents a case study of the SWCA Foundation and how they use the power of the audience for their successful auctions. ","Successful auctions and the power of an audience",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":483,"category":484,"id":5,"image":485,"publishOn":488,"slug":489,"teaser":491,"title":492},"# Skyrocket Auction Fundraiser Income\n\nThe crowd is gathering, bidders are bidding, raffles are pulling.  Have you maximized the fundraising potential?  Consider this professional advice to skyrocket the auction fundraising in planning, execution and post-event activities.\n\n![skyrocket auction income 500x.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/skyrocket-auction-income-500x.jpg)\n\n## Auction Fundraising Maximize During Planning\nDecisions need to be made prior to the first donation request.  Will the auction take place online or at a live event?\n\n### Online Auction Advantages\n\nGoing Online can expand the bidder pool.  Auction fundraising depends upon bids, bids depend upon bidders. The greater the number of the bidders, the more bidding will take place and the higher the bids. So, How to expand the bidder pool? Go online with the auction.  \n\n\nSimilar to traditional silent auctions there is a start time, end time, and the bidding process takes place in between but completely web based. Online auctions add a layer of flexibility for both the auction itself and the the participants.   \n\nOnline auctions extend both the time and reach for bidders. The online auction naturally lends itself to online marketing with a direct feed to bidding. The window of opportunity for bidding for an online auction tends to be much longer than an event based function. Extended bidding time boots bidding.  \n\nOnline Auction Accelerators: Proxy Bidding and Bid Extension. \nOnline auctions have the added feature of two highly favored bidding options.  Proxy bidding and bid extension not only make the auction fun last longer but increases the bottom line for final bids.  \n\n#### Bid Extension\nDuring online auctions the bidding fury takes over as the clock ticks closer to closing time.  The winner is the one that got that very last bid in at the mere moment before auction closes.  The winning bidder is super happy but how much higher could the bids have gone?  Online auction technology has removed the last-minute bidder and increased auction proceeds with bid extension feature.  \n\n[Bid Extension accelerates the bidding](https://www.auctria.com/blog/bid-extension-to-skyrocket-online-auction-fundraising-income/) so more bids can be placed, thus increasing the final bid. \n\n#### Proxy Bidding \nHave you ever run an online auction fundraiser and the bids come in s-l-o-w-l-y one by one?  Although small increments for online auctions can provide engagement and activity it may not produce the maximum potential for the highest bids.  In a standard online auction after each bid is placed the outbid bidder receives a notification but then NEEDS to bid again to back on top, and because people are busy they might forget.  Proxy bidding, or a more descriptive term is automatic bidding moves the bidding up efficiently without the bidder needing to be involved on every bid. \n\n[Proxy bidding accelerates the bidding so more bids go higher, faster.](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/proxy_bidding)\n\n\n### Live & Silent Auction Event Advantages\n\nStating the obvious, live & silent auction is much more of an in-person social event.  Many times this includes keynote speakers, entertainment and libations.  The fervor at a happy event lends nicely to encouraging greater philanthropy with a hint of peer pressure.  In addition to the standard silent auction the live auction portion of the event can really excel the income.  \n\n#### Live Auctioneer\nUsing a  live auctioneer emcee can have a multifold purpose: pre event promotion and the power of persuasion during the event.  [Success lies in the preparation.](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/live_auction_success)\n\nA professional auctioneer is not necessary but choosing an auctioneer or emcee should be done with care. Consider the complexity of the auction items. Consider using a member of the charity group, a local radio or media personality. An emcee with a strong social presence and friendly personality help the donors engage. Many times looking within your group will mine a gem of emcee that already affiliated and personally invested.\n\n#### Choosing Live Auction Items\nSelect live auction items with a variety of price points. Begin with lower value items to engage more bidders. Choose auction items that are NOT a commodity type item instead select one-of-a-kind or unique experience items that have a broad audience interest.\nBe creative!\n\n#### Pre-Market Prepare & Promote\nThe live auction is only successful when at least 2 or more bidders are actively engaged, thus the goals is to attract live auction bidders in the marketing prior to the auction event. Highlight the live auction items through the auction website, outbound emails, paper flyers and invites as well as at the actual event. Promoting and displaying live auction items in advance to elevate interest level will increase the bidding activity.\n\nPrepare the Auctioneer\nDon’t just furnish the auctioneer with a handout and hope for the best. Describe the mission of the charity and how it will helps, heals, educates, researchers, advocates the recipients. Provide clear direction on auction items including:\n * order of auction items\n * descriptions of auction items\n * necessary caveats such as usage or re-sell terms, expiration or blackout dates,\n * opening starting bid\n * instructions if an opening bid is not secured, can the bidding start lower\n * bid increments\n * instructions if bid increments can be adjusted\n * number of times to offer ‘last chance’\n\n\n\n## Adjunct Activity to Pair with Auction Fundraiser\n\nWith the spirit of giving in the air many dollars can be raised with adjunct fundraising activities surrounding the event.  Partygoers will quickly pull out the credit card for beer, wine, raffles and straight-up donations.  Don’t limit the auction to auction items only.   Many donors are attending to be social and support a cause with a straightforward donation. \n\n### Wine Pull\nOffering drink tickets or sales can boost revenue.  Making it an activity can enhance the ‘fun’ factor meaning more money is willing to be spent to support the cause.  Blind wine pulls are favorites.  There are no losers because each pull receives a bottle of wine, the lucky ones win an expensive bottle of wine.  Prepare this by choosing a variety of low, medium and a few higher priced wine bottles.  The pull is set a flat price balancing the drive for interest and risk-reward.  The partygoer purchases a wine pull, chooses a wrapped bottle to enjoy at the event.     \n\n### Raffle\nFriendly reminder, know the rules, raffles are considered a game of chance and may be regulated.  [Raffles Increase the Bottom Line.](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/raffles_success)  When selling tickets do so at single ticket rate. Encourage greater giving with ticket packages. For example $5=1 or ticket $20=5 tickets. Consider the audience's past spending habits to determine the starting price and increments for raffles. Raffles can be clever and profitable.  There are many raffle variations such as 50/50, heads-or-tail, chinese and mystery box.  Each raffle type exciting and different.\n\n### Paddle Raise\nIf the agenda does not include a Paddle Raise then you are probably leaving some funds on the table.  The paddle raise is typically initiated about ½ way into the event.  The emcee announces how what project the paddle raise will fund. Take the opportunity to really tell the story, show photos or videos to make an emotional connection with the audience.  Then announce “please raise your paddle to donate X amount.  Start with the highest figure you think you can get at least 1 paddle to raise.  Then incrementally LOWER the donation amount and hopefully RAISE more paddles.  Spotters will be needed to track the process. \n\n## Post Auction\nThank you tasks should be pre-planned before the auction even starts.   After the auction concludes and the dust settles now it the time to thank everyone involved in the auction.  This means donors, bidders, volunteers, board, chairpersons.  No matter if a person spent 5 minutes or 500 hours helping a thank you is always in order.  In the thank you note share your success, remind them to stay connected.  \n\n### Matching Gifts\nPost auction is the appropriate time to [remind bidders of matching gifts.](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/double_the_donation)  Just in case you didn’t know, matching gifts are a type of corporate giving program that essentially doubles an employee’s contribution to a qualifying nonprofit organization.  If the donation and your nonprofit are eligible for a matching gift, your organization will receive a check from your donor’s employer.  Most matching gift programs will double an employee’s charitable contribution, but some offer matches at a 3:1 ratio, tripling the original donation! The biggest reason many donors don’t submit matching gift requests is that they simply don’t know that such programs exist.  Double the Donation is the expert on this subject!\n\n### Stay Connected\nStay connected with the bidders through multiple communication channels.  Cross promote email and social networks to continue telling the story.  Be transparent about funds raised and how the funds are being spent.  Don’t just tell, show with photos and videos.  A good goal is to  to convert the short term bidder into a long terms supporter.  The combination of thanking, showing can the beginning of a continued relationship.\n\n## Organizing the Auction\n**To maximize the auction fundraiser it is imperative that the entire auction fundraising event be organized.  From the first donation request to the last receipt and all the bidding and communication in between should be planned and purposeful.**  Layout timeline, checklist and volunteer duties to coordinate all auction activities.  Do use a formulaic system to ask for donations, record donations, manage bids and close out seamlessly.  The more organized the auction the higher the satisfaction rate of the donors and bidders.  Happy bidders will come back and support the cause again and again.\n\n### Helpful Timelines and Checklists\n* [Auction Planning Timeline with an event](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/AuctionweventTimeline.pdf)\n* [Auction Planning Timeline Online Only](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/AuctiononlinePlanningTimeline.pdf)",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":486},{"url":487},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/6decf797864b94fc4fadfa657727b3f05dba869f-702x388.png","2018-02-28T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":490},"skyrocket_income","The crowd is gathering, bidders are bidding, raffles are pulling.  Have you maximized the fundraising potential?","Tips to Skyrocket Auction Fundraising Income",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":494,"category":495,"id":5,"image":496,"publishOn":499,"slug":500,"teaser":502,"title":503},"Even though nonprofit in-person events have been on the upswing over the past few years, virtual events are here to stay. In fact, research shows that [93% of event marketers](https://visme.co/blog/event-statistics/) intend to continue investing in virtual events in the future. \n\nWhether you’re [hosting an auction](https://www.auctria.com/blog/auction-types/) or a webinar, online events present unique challenges and advantages compared with their in-person counterparts. In this guide, we’ll break down these components and how to adapt your marketing strategies for a truly personal, memorable online event campaign. \n\nAs we dive into these strategies, consider your nonprofit’s current approaches to event marketing and how seamlessly you could implement each of these strategies given your tech resources and [target audience preferences.](https://fiftyandfifty.org/nonprofit-target-audience/)\n\n\n## Convert Attendees into Ambassadors\nAn effective marketing concept you can use to your advantage is social proof, the idea that your target audience is more likely to take action if someone they trust has already done so. That’s where your current supporters become major players in your success. By equipping them to represent your event as ambassadors, you can bring new attention to your nonprofit and secure more RSVPs. Here’s how to get started:\n\n1. **Personally reach out to good fits for the program.** These might be your most loyal donors or those who you know have a large personal network full of potential attendees. In your outreach, highlight what’s expected of them and how they’ll benefit your event marketing. \n\n2. **Provide them with materials.** Make it as easy as possible to become an ambassador by providing promotional materials, like [social media post](https://www.auctria.com/blog/social-media-for-nonprofits-101-important-platforms-to-know/) templates, branded merchandise, and an ultimate guide on promoting your event.\n\n3. Incentivize participation. Sweeten the pot for your ambassadors by posing an RSVP competition. Award the ambassador who recruits the most new attendees with a small prize, such as a gift card or a quarter-zip with your nonprofit’s branding.\n\nSince you’re promoting an online event, emphasize the importance of digital outreach. Provide a unique registration link for each ambassador to send to their network that automatically counts and attributes their sign-ups. Also, create an [event microsite](https://www.auctria.com/blog/don-t-underestimate-the-power-of-a-great-event-and-auction-website/) that ambassadors can send to people who want to learn more about your nonprofit.\n\n## Spread Links Across Multiple Channels\nThe beauty of online events is their shareability. Many platforms allow you to plan your online events ahead of time, meaning you can get an event link months before the big day. Spreading this link and your registration link far and wide is key for a successful event, so make use of your network of marketing channels to make it happen. For instance, you can:\n\n* **Distribute a QR code.** Millions of people (and even [Super Bowl advertisers)](https://www.sharethrough.com/blog/qr-codes-grab-attention-once-again-in-this-years-super-bowl-commercials) use QR codes to easily link to websites because they complement many content mediums. You can create custom QR codes for different marketing channels, such as print, email, and social media, to drive traffic to your event registration page. Plus, some [event management and invitation software](https://ecardwidget.com/online-invitation-software/) solutions can generate an automatic QR code for each event.\n\n* **Use interactive buttons and calls to action (CTAs).** Digital platforms have made creating engaging and effective fundraising CTAs easier than ever. Use CTA buttons native to social media platforms and email templates to make your event link stand out.\n\n* **Leverage word-of-mouth.** It might seem counterintuitive, but word-of-mouth and link-spreading complement each other well. For instance, if one of your team members speaks on a webinar, the host might ask if they have anything to promote, giving them the perfect chance to drop your registration link in the Zoom chat. \n\nBefore spreading your links, ensure your most important pages follow accessibility and user experience best practices. This could mean making your pages mobile-friendly, adding alt text to images, and creating any redirects when needed. By enacting these changes ahead of time, you can provide a seamless experience for your potential attendees and increase the likelihood they’ll sign up.\n\n## Develop a Micro-Influencer Outreach Program\nNo matter how much you use social media, chances are you know of a content creator with a sizable following. After all, there’s a niche for pretty much every community in the influencer marketing sphere, including your organization’s online event. Plus, this works for more than just Millennial and [Gen-Z audiences.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/4-nonprofit-marketing-tactics-to-inspire-gen-z-supporters/) Understand these best practices to form a productive partnership with an influencer:\n\n* **Start small.** While collaborating with influencers with millions of followers is tempting, it’s not feasible for most nonprofits. However, micro-influencers within your niche are more likely to be connected with their audience and draw more qualified leads to your event. \n\n* **Highlight how they’ll benefit.** Create a compelling pitch that centers on the influencer’s brand. If you can’t pay them their normal rate, [Double the Donation suggests](https://360matchpro.com/cause-marketing/) highlighting the cause marketing benefits of being associated with a charitable cause.\n\n* **Involve them throughout the planning process.** Remember, your influencer developed a following because of their content and personality. Create collaborative content with your influencer partner that reflects their unique content brand — it’ll come across as more genuine to their followers. \n\n* **Leverage relevant trends.** Trends keep social media users’ attention, so capitalize on the extra visibility when you can. For instance, you might post a #ThrowbackThursday with photos from last year’s online event, complete with a link to this year’s.\n\nSocial media is fickle, meaning you might have to pivot your strategy quickly. [Fifty & Fifty’s guide to nonprofit content marketing](https://fiftyandfifty.org/how-to-master-content-marketing-for-nonprofits-a-guide/) recommends staying on top of trends and being flexible so you can take advantage of unexpected opportunities. \n\n\n\n-----\nSince your nonprofit likely conducts most of its marketing online anyway, it’s natural and fitting to use digital marketing channels to get the word out about your online event. As long as you focus on making authentic connections with supporters, your RSVPs can skyrocket like never before.\n\n\n\n-----\n\nSpecial thanks to Javan Van Gronigen for the expert advice.  \n\nAs Founder and Creative Director of Fifty & Fifty, Javan is the tip of the proverbial spear. Javan started his digital design career 20 years ago as Art Director for what is now one of the world’s largest digital agencies (Mirum, a JWT Company). He then moved on to Invisible Children where he was responsible for managing the team and all digital assets through the entire historic Kony 2012 campaign. At Fifty & Fifty, Javan has participated in and led every project, including 300+ websites, campaigns, and brands.\n\n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":497},{"url":498},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/232571da196311c071a127bb84c1231a6dad03b8-920x614.jpg","2024-06-11T15:32:41.197Z",{"current":501},"winning-strategies-for-marketing-online-nonprofit-events","Connecting with potential event attendees can be difficult through a screen. Use these tactics to make your digital event outreach feel authentic and personal.","Winning Strategies for Marketing Online Nonprofit Events",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":505,"category":506,"id":5,"image":507,"publishOn":510,"slug":511,"teaser":513,"title":514},"Event fundraising in the past fit into nice little boxes, in-person events and online. Then in an effort to maintain safety the online events became live /online /virtual. Virtual events took many forms,each with its own agenda and fundraising components. Now, hybrid events are further changing the landscape and there are even more options. Options for agenda, content and fundraising. At Auctria the platform can easily support the tickets, sponsors, donations, paddle raise and auction activity. \n\n## In the Room, Out of the Room Supporters\nAs events come back on location there may still be limitations for some individuals to attend. We have learned through the COVID experience that supporters are spread further and wider than those that walk through the door the day or night of an event. No matter what percentage of supporters are in or out of the room, the bidding, donations and show will be the same set-up. So whether it's 80% in the room and 20% out of the room or the opposite there will be the need to pay attention to both audiences and meet their needs for audio, visual, bidding and donating.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/8fbcbf04a76a603d8bd760eaf33fc2f0cc5d5cec-906x265.png)\n\n\n**Dual audiences online bidding & donating.** When running a show, live auction or paddle raise, no matter the percentage in room or out of the room, use tools to make it easy to participate. \n\n * Online bidding replaces a paper and pencil silent auction\n * All participants can make bids \n * All participants are sent outbid notifications\n * Bid on a mobile-friendly event website \n * Bid using a mobile application\n * Donate online\n\nDual audiences watching the show. The stage show has always been the highlight of an event and auction fundraiser. Typically there are speakers, awards, videos and testimonials. If you want both audiences, those in the room and those out of the room, to be able to view there will need to be some additional audio video production and a live stream connection.  Video camera, microphone and personnel will be required. On the [Auctria Partners page](https://www.auctria.com/partners/) there are few providers that can help. \n\n**Dual audiences live auction.** We use the term ‘live auction’ to refer to items that are being sold by an auctioneer, one at a time with the item closing before the next item is started.. The Live Auction Controller is a tool that is unique to Auctria. This allows the administrator to open and close a live auction item for just the period of time during which an emcee or auctioneer is promoting that auction item. The at-home audience will bid just as they would for an online auction from a browser or the mobile app.\n\nThe in-the-room audience can also bid from a device; however if you want the attention to be on the stage rather than heads down on devices use a traditional paddle with numbers where the bidder will raise the paddle to make a bid. When a bidder in-the-room makes a bid an admin will make a shadow bid at the same time so the online and in-room is synchronized. A shadow bidder is simply a house-bidder to make quick work of bidding in the frenzy of activity. At the end of bidding if the winner is online nothing more needs to be done. At the end of the bidding if the winner is in the room, transfer the final bid from the shadow bidder to the real bidder. \n\nNote: In the room audience can bid on their mobile device there is adequate cell service or wifi. The risk here is that those in the room will be focused on phones rather than the stage. Competing for attention may be less than ideal. \n\n**There is a potential for 'colliding' bids:** an online bidding can be acknowledged as the high bidder just before the shadow bidder places a bid. You can either go ahead and record the shadow bid in this case (to trigger the outbid notification) and then adjust the winning bid later if needed, or reflect that back into the room for the auctioneer/auction team to manage.\n\nAlso consider, the auctioneer acknowledges a bid for $100 in the audience to bidder A, and then bidder B bids $100 online at the same 'instant'. Bidder B gets told their bid is successful by the system. Bidder A (and the auctioneer) think that their bid was successful.\n\nSolutions to ‘colliding’ bids:\n\nWhen the 'shadow' bidder tries to record bidder A's $100 bid online it will fail, so they can either:\n\n1. tell the auctioneer that online has the high bid  (Consider how this may affect the live flow and everyone is going to be stopping waiting for acknowledgment from the shadow bidder.)\n\n2. Record a bid for $110 to force the online bidder to be outbid. Less than ideal since online they now have to bid $120 when there isn't really a $110 bid and in the room, the bid is still at $100\n\n3. Do nothing... If someone else bids it isn't a problem If the bidding stops there manually, force a new bid to bidder A for $100 and tell the online bidder B 'tough luck'. But that must be done before closing the item to avoid accidentally generating a winning bid notice to bidder B\n\nIf there is a true tie then moving the bid increment to something lower will move one bidder higher, even if it’s a single dollar, or two, or three a winner will then be revealed and true. To do this consider the following: \n\n * Having good communication and back channel  between the auctioneer and the shadow bidder so they know what is happening\n * Practice adjusting the bid increment on the fly.  If the auctioneer does this from the stage  then the shadow bidder might have a hard time placing their bids\n\n**Dual audiences paddle raise.** Donation plea from the heart or a paddle raise is a large component to the fundraising event. Since this does not require bidding there is no need to synchronize exactly. Introduce the paddle raise from the stage with testimonials and impact video and messaging. Clearly state where funds are going and how the donations will help the cause. \n\nIn the room can continue as a traditional paddle raise where the emcee or auctioneer works through levels of giving. The audience raises their bid paddle to make a donation when the speaker offers an increment that they feel comfortable donating. A spotter will mark down the bidder number and record the donation.\n\nOut of the room can be handled a few different ways. Participants can click the donate button online or use text-2-give. Either way the admins in the room and the emcee can view live activity within Auctria from the Bid Monitor page.\n\nEmcee can call out donors in the room and donors online live as the donations come in. Doing so makes everyone feel acknowledged. Donations beget more donations, when names and numbers are called out it is a bit of friendly peer pressure encouraging additional donations.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/b191ee0560f16fcf6e3697306c605ad264a00d8b-681x337.png)\n\nPersonal device bidding can use either the Auctria mobile app or a general mobile browser.  The event websites are mobile friendly so supporters can easily make bids using Safari or Chrome on their device. When using this format outbid notification emails will be sent to the Bidder. For more immediate notifications the mobile app will send out bid notifications to the device directly.\n\n## Set up and Using Auctria for Hybrid Event\n\n### Item Type is Online\nFor items where you had previously used paper bid sheets at the event, we suggest continuing to use Online bidding through the website. There isn't a hybrid method to keep both online and paper bid sheets in sync to capture bids. You would want to confirm the venue's connectivity in advance.\n\n### Kiosk Mode for Recording Bids\nAuctria’s Kiosk Mode is another way to record bids in a hybrid setting. The Kiosk Mode Bidding feature allows you to set up tablets, or laptops, at your event which can be used by bidders to place bids against online items. \n\nWhen using Kiosk Mode Bidding bidders do not need to sign in to bid (or sign in to the device), instead they are able to bid by simply entering their bidder# and the amount, in the same way, they would place a bid on paper Bid Sheets. Bidders do not need to register with their email address and set up a password, in the same way, they would to bid via their own device using the mobile app or on the auction website directly.\n\nKiosk Mode uses a special form of the auction website that is activated only on devices you set up and sign into with User Accounts that have administrator credentials. \n\n## Live Auction Style\nFor the Live Items - 'hybrid' Live auctions with an auctioneer can depend on your auctioneer's preference and your community.\n\nTwo possible options for this style of event:\n\n1. Zoom meeting (or other 'interactive' event) then we'd recommend considering doing all the bidding 'live': have someone monitor the Zoom room for bids (either by having bidders speak up, or using the chat) and have them bid in person by raising a paddle. Nothing happens online until the final bid is recorded. This doesn't work for streamed events though, but it avoids the problem of 'colliding' bids since bidders are aware their bid isn't acknowledged automatically.\n\n2. For a view-only production an online only auction or using Auctria’s live auction controller to open and begin bidding. The attention on-stage and broadcast is all about the auction item. Maybe run a short video or show images about the auction item to highlight the value and create energy and attention for bidders. \n\n## Live Auction Solution, Using Auctria’s Monitor Auction\n\nWhen running a virtual or hybrid event fundraiser with a live auction Auctria’s Monitor Auction Page literally keeps everyone on the same page. To run a live auction as part of the virtual event you will use the Live Auction Controller. The same process takes place for a hybrid event. The audience in the room is focused on the stage, the audience out of the room is watching the live auction unfold on a screen. Both are watching the same content at almost the same time. There is a slight latency that is dependent upon the a/v equipment, internet connection and live stream strength. This is easily overcome with more generic language from the stage and advising both audiences that the bidding screens are the most current. With live auctions for charity the bidding does slow down at the end. A skilled emcee or benefit auctioneer can pace their patter while monitoring the paddles in the room and from the Bid Monitor page.\n\n\n### Monitor Auction\nWhen running a virtual or hybrid event fundraiser with a live auction Auctria’s Monitor Auction Page literally keeps everyone on the same page. There are four most frequently used tabs across to help facilitate live auction:\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/80239ae49f25cd021f624068cabf1c73ea732227-1080x796.png)\n\nViews\n1. Home: VIEW overall financial totals\n2. Bid Monitor: VIEW incoming bids, donations, names and amounts\n\nTools\n3. Live Auction Controller: tool to open and close live auction items\n4. Communciation: tool to send pop up notifications web or mobile notifications to your all bidders that are actively using the website or have installed the mobile app.\n\n**1. Monitor Auction Home tab**  rolls up totals with a thermometer view. This shows totals and are dynamically updated from the activity\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/a823ec5bd2502af69b70149ba8458761f5b8735e-1080x684.png)\n\n\n\n\n**2. Bid Monitor Tab** provides a view of all ongoing bids, donations, bidders and amounts can be viewed from a single page. Auction teams will set up screen focused on this page so the emcee or auctioneer can call out high bids and donations from the stage.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/8c0f26a8096cdfb7ba04ba6bbb5e71064be419b5-853x246.png)\n\n\n\n\n**3. Live Auction Controller Tab** is used to ‘make active’ live auction items. The active items will then appear on the bidders device. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/40a908c394731c22a6e102000460939c992016b1-742x395.png)\n\n**4. Send Notification Tab** is used to send out ad-hoc messages. They will appear momentarily after sending as a pop-up block on the viewers screen in a blue toned box.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/617940806bcfe5bc2786f42f64fbfd8e12b6cdc1-1261x602.png)\n\n\n\n## Live Auction Activity Considerations\nWhen having bidders bid both online and live then have a 'placeholder bidder' who is in the room and for every live bid places a bid online via the website as themselves. Don't worry about entering the correct bidder, the important point is to register the bid as quickly as possible. The risk with this style of bidding is that someone can bid online $X at the same point that someone bids $X in the room. The auctioneer will acknowledge the bid in the room, but the bidder online will also be told they are winning at that price. If there are no other bids then this is a problem. There is no way to totally avoid this, simply registering the live bids as quickly as possible is the best option available.\n\nIn either case once the final bid is known you can record that through the Bidding tab of the Bidding/Sales page on the dashboard to the correct bidder, in the case of option #2 this may involve overwriting the bid from the placeholder bidder, but the dashboard page will let you force a bid over an existing one.\n\nThere is a potential for 'colliding' bids: an online bidding can be acknowledged as the high bidder just before the shadow bidder places a bid. You can either go ahead and record the shadow bid in this case (to trigger the outbid notification) and then adjust the winning bid later if needed, or reflect that back into the room for the auctioneer/auction team to manage.\n\nAlso consider, the auctioneer acknowledges a bid for $100 in the audience to bidder A, and then bidder B bids $100 online at the same 'instant'. Bidder B gets told their bid is successful by the system. Bidder A (and the auctioneer) think that their bid was successful.\nSolutions to ‘colliding’ bids:\n\nWhen the 'shadow' bidder tries to record bidder A's $100 bid online it will fail, so they can either:\n\n* tell the auctioneer that online has the high bid  (Consider how this may affect the live flow and everyone is going to be stopping waiting for acknowledgment from the shadow bidder.)\n* Record a bid for $110 to force the online bidder to be outbid. Less than ideal since online they now have to bid $120 when there isn't really a $110 bid and in the room, the bid is still at $100\n *Do nothing ... If someone else bids it isn't a problem If the bidding stops there manually, force a new bid to bidder A for $100 and tell the online bidder B 'tough luck'. But that must be done before closing the item to avoid accidentally generating a winning bid notice to bidder B.\n\nIf there is a true tie then moving the bid increment to something lower will move one bidder higher, even if it’s a single dollar, or two, or three a winner will then be revealed and true. To do this consider the following: \n* Having good communication and back channel  between the auctioneer and the shadow bidder so they know what is happening\n* Practice adjusting the bid increment on the fly.  If the auctioneer does this from the stage  then the shadow bidder might have a hard time placing their bids\n\n## Days Not Hours\nRunning an event for days rather than a few hours gives more people a chance to participate in general. When running a longer auction gives bidders an extended opportunity to bid frequently, producing higher bids and higher total revenue.\n\nA hybrid event fundraiser is run as an online event. This means that anyone can participate and bid any time of the day or night. With this functionality and flexibility running the event fundraiser for multiple days is advised. \n\nHow long should the event run? It all depends on the audience and how frequently they are accustomed to hearing from you. We recommend that there be at least two cycles of ‘regularly scheduled’ communications. So if you are a school and send out flyers on Friday be sure the fundraiser encompasses two Fridays, if you are a community or religious group that meets on the weekend  be sure to encompass two weekends. If you already send out more regular notices then a shorter run time is fine too. Look inward and evaluate how quick to engage has your community been in the past? \n\n## Promote the Hybrid Event Fundraiser and Auction\nPromote the event in advance with notifications of the fun and activity that is going to be had. The event website can be used and modified based on the activity that is going on during the planning process. For example, early promotion may involve sponsorship sales: post only that information, when tickets open post that alongside a donation element. Then when the hybrid event is fully open for bidding shout that out  loud and clear.\n\n**Don’t send the audience to your website prematurely.** You want them to arrive there when there is some sort of call-to-action ie, donate, purchase tickets, purchase a sponsorship, purchase VIP to swag box. It is hard enough to get people to open emails and click through, so sending too early prior to all items being loaded may discourage them from visiting again\n\nEncourage bidding and proxy bidding. Send the supporters to the event website when bidding is open. With the online auction bidders can view the event, make bids and make proxy bids. Proxy bidding allows the bidder to place the maximum they are willing to pay for an auction item and then the system will automatically bid when they are our bid. This pushes bids higher faster. \n\n**Use your brand to launch the fundraiser.** Do send them from a familiar location like your trusted website or trusted email provider. When creating the event website include the organization’s logo and colors. If you are using unique images for the event such as a theme that looks different use those assets on your main website so there is familiarity for the viewer.\n\n**Influencers help spread your event details.** Use influencers to share your messaging, this is referring to individuals, sponsors, auction item donors, in-kind sponsors. Other influencers may be board members, teachers, current and past leaders. Make it easy for these people to share  your message. Provide sample messages, the appropriate sized images for sharing, tag on social media for easy re-sharing.\n\n## Pathway to Participation\nOnline, mobile, virtual, hybrid bidding, text-2 give are all pathways for participation in the event fundraiser. The easier it is to join the easier it is to give. When running a hybrid event systems matter. You want that to be streamlined so all funds and data can be accounted for and reported upon. \n\nThose in the room can bid by paddle or by device. If it’s by paddle there will need to be a spotter to record the bids and donations so the activity remains current for all parties in and out of the room. Those not in the room will bid and donate online on the event website or with the mobile application.\n\nThe ultimate goal is make it easy for anyone wanting to support your cause being able to do so. If they are in the room or out of the room donations, bids, sponsors are all willing to contribute. Make it easy!\n\nMore Learning\n* How to use Auctria for virtual event & online Fundraising  [Webinar Playback: Mock Live Auction](https://www.auctria.com/webinar/how-to-use-auctria-for-virtual-event-and-online-fundraising/) \n* The virtual part of the hybrid event. [Webinar Playback: How to Produce a Virtual Event Fundraiser](https://www.auctria.com/webinar/how-to-produce-a-virtual-event-fundraiser-with-professional-event-producer-anca-trifan/)\n* From Drab to Fab; Taking Your Virtual Fundraiser to the Next Level [Webinar Playback: Drab to Fab](https://www.auctria.com/webinar/from-drab-to-fab-taking-your-virtual-fundraiser-to-the-next-level/)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":508},{"url":509},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/dbfa231838f4ba714d952af2bc5ec6d3b3fbe7d1-600x320.jpg","2021-06-29T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":512},"next-gen-hybrid-event-fundraising-made-easy","Dual audiences online bidding & donating. When running a show, live auction or paddle raise, no matter the percentage in room or out of the room, use tools to make it easy to participate. ","Next Gen Hybrid Event Fundraising Made Easy",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":516,"category":517,"id":5,"image":518,"publishOn":521,"slug":522,"teaser":524,"title":525},"# Set Up Your San Diego Gives Fundraising Page in 3 Easy Steps with Auctria\n\nSan Diego Gives is more than just a fundraising campaign; it’s a testament to the collective spirit of San Diegans coming together to make a difference in their community. Are you planning on joining the movement this year? Welcome! Auctria is your preferred technology partner: we’re here to help you get your fundraising page set up with everything you need to shine in just 3 easy steps.\n\nSan Diego Gives provides an opportunity for everyone to give back to the nonprofits that give so much to the San Diego community. Join San Diego Gives and Auctria in becoming philanthropists in action, as we highlight the power of giving and the impact it has on San Diego. Together, let’s show the world what a philanthropist looks like!\n\n## Here’s the basics:\n**When:** Thursday, September 5th 2024\n**Where:**  San Diego\n**What:** to highlight the power of giving back to our community!\n**How:**  any charity can successfully participate in San Diego Gives with a bit of planning and promotion\n\n\nOnce you’ve decided to participate, it’s time to use to Auctria make your donation page! It only takes 3 easy steps:\n\n1. Sign up with Auctria\n2. Head to your Auction Dashboard and click --> Organization -->  “San Diego Gives”.\n3. Click “Create Event” and Auctria will create a San Diego Gives event pre-configured to accept donations along with a themed website.\n\nNow you’re ready to customize your website address and website to best showcase your organization and cause!\n\n\n**This pre-built website will help you run your San Diego Gives event smoothly, easily track donations, and share information with donors and other supporters.**\n\nOur websites also make the donation collection process seamless due to our credit card integration, so there’s no need to stress about collecting payment. You’ll be able to send a receipt to each donor after payment and you can send a thank you note after the event is complete, as well. Following up after the day is complete is a great way to update donors on the total amount raised to thank them for their contribution and helps you build a rapport with your donors so they’re more likely to continue to support your cause in the future!\n\n\u003Ciframe src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/video/955988474?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write\" title=\"SdGivesAuctriaDonationPage2024\">\u003C/iframe>\n\n## Prep for San Diego Gives doesn’t end with building your website\n\nIn fact, the work has only just begun! Leading up to your event, you should be promoting your participation in San Diego Gives on social and your main website. Send email updates regularly to help build excitement as you and your team gear up for the big day.\n\nMake sure to tell your organization’s story often to remind both new and existing supporters why they should care about the work you do. Leverage social media, email, and any other communication type to showcase the work your charity does, the impact you’ve made on the community, and the goals you have for funds raised during San Diego Gives. This is also why we recommend customizing your event website. Even just a little extra time spent customizing your event website will help communicate your cause more effectively. The more you share leading up to the event, the more excitement you’ll build for the big day!\n\nAs you encourage your existing supporters to show up on the day of San Diego Gives, be sure to do some outreach work to find new supporters. Gaining new supporters leading up to the event will help ensure that you not only meet but exceed your fundraising goals! Similar to Giving Tuesday, new supporters can be encouraged by the community aspect of the event to give for the first time (or give more than they planned to).\n\nThis outreach can also help put your charity in front of the many businesses in San Diego that choose to support and participate in San Diego Gives! Businesses in the region can become corporate sponsors or partners, working with the many organizations that participate so they can engage with a diverse audience, demonstrate corporate social responsibility, and make an impact on the community. If you’re proactive about your outreach and storytelling, you might catch the attention of one of our local businesses - which could be the beginning of a partnership that extends beyond just San Diego Gives.\n\n## Capitalize on this moment of community engagement\nBring new people to your cause - and keep them engaged so they stick around after and become long-term supporters for your organization!\n\nSan Diego Gives is a powerful moment of collective community outreach, as we work together to make San Diego the best city it can be. With a little thoughtful prep work, you can maximize the impact San Diego Gives has on your fundraising so that you can do more for the city and its residents. With Auctria’s help building your website, all the complicated details around sharing event information, collecting donations, and sending receipts is taken care of. \n\nWhether you're a small organization making a big difference or a larger institution with a wide reach, your participation is crucial in shaping the San Diego community's future. As we countdown to September 5th, remember to invest time into your social media and other communication avenues. Tell your story over and over so everyone knows why it’s important to show up on September 5th. Together, we can make a profound impact on the San Diego region!\n\n",{"id":67,"title":68},{"asset":519},{"url":520},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/44c54711a772361bdecc450ad88bfd40f751a9e8-600x320.png","2024-05-24T19:36:45.490Z",{"current":523},"set-up-your-san-diego-gives-fundraising-page-in-3-easy-steps-with-auctria","Your pre-built San Diego Gives website easily track donations and shares information with donors and other supporters.","Set Up Your San Diego Gives Fundraising Page in 3 Easy Steps with Auctria",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":527,"category":528,"id":5,"image":529,"publishOn":532,"slug":533,"teaser":535,"title":536},"If you’ve ever organized a fundraiser, you know how much work it entails. From budgeting to finding entertainment, fundraisers often require hours of planning and sizeable upfront investments. So, when the big day rolls around, you want your community to be motivated to come together to support your cause. \n\n**You’ll need to get the word out about your fundraiser, to drive event attendance and maximize your revenue, you’ll need to get the word out about your fundraiser. The most effective way to spread awareness for your event is to [build a marketing plan](https://www.auctria.com/blog/building-a-digital-plan-for-marketing-your-auction-event/) that maps out who you will market to, when you’ll push those messages, and how you will reach your audience.**\n\nThese four strategies will help shape your marketing strategy to ensure your fundraiser garners plenty of community support:\n\n1. Choose an engaging fundraising idea.\n2. Leverage digital marketing.\n3. Personalize marketing messages.\n4. Partner with institutions in your community.\n\nA robust marketing plan starts with a solid foundation. In a for-profit business, this might mean you have an exciting, unique product. For a nonprofit, this means starting with a memorable fundraising race paired with a [running shoe recycling program](https://sneakers4funds.com/recycle-running-shoes/) or a shoe drive fundraiser.\n\n## 1. Choose an engaging fundraising idea.\nChoosing a fundraiser that excites and engages your supporters is the first step to a successful marketing campaign. The fundraising idea you choose will shape everything else in your strategy. The right fundraiser will almost market itself, while a dull, unimaginative fundraiser requires more marketing leg work.\n\nOne example of an engaging (and marketable) fundraiser is the Sneakers4Good Program. [Sneakers4Funds’ guide to donating running shoes](https://sneakers4funds.com/donate-running-shoes/) breaks down the process into the following steps:\n\n- Step 1: Partner with a social enterprise facilitator like Sneakers4Funds.\n- Step 2: Set out collection materials (provided for free) around your community.\n- Step 3: Ask your community to bring their gently worn, used or new sneakers and running shoes to your collection sites.\n- Step 4: Using the prepaid bags provided by Sneakers4Funds, send in your sneakers.\n- Step 5: Receive a check every week you send in a bag.\n\nSneaker drives are one of the best (and easiest) fundraisers to kick off because they are easy to set up. These fundraisers are also easy to participate in because almost everyone has a pair of gently worn, used or new sneakers going unused in their closets. A few other ideas you could host, or even pair with this unique fundraiser include mud runs, virtual auctions, and matching gift drives.\n\n## 2. Leverage digital marketing.\nWith the prevalence of digital media and the internet in our lives, it’s important for [nonprofits to adapt to the digital age](https://www.auctria.com/blog/4-ways-nonprofits-can-adapt-to-the-digital-age/) by meeting their supporters where they are: online.\n\nDigital marketing is a highly effective way to market your fundraiser. For example, did you know that digital ads can boost your brand awareness by [80%](https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2022/04/19/digital-marketing-statistics)? Take advantage of these benefits by kicking off your digital marketing strategy on various online platforms.\n\nAccording to [Double the Donation’s list of marketing ideas for nonprofits,](https://doublethedonation.com/marketing-ideas-for-nonprofits/) nonprofit organizations should market through their websites, social media, and other general marketing channels. Here are a few tips for getting started on each of these media channels:\n\n- **Websites.** When marketing through a website, the first step is to develop a visually appealing, user-friendly website that your supporters want to visit and stay on. Your nonprofit’s website should serve as a central hub for your updates, resources, and other information, so making it as functional as possible is essential. Keep SEO best practices in mind to attract visitors to your site, when creating content for your website. It’ll ensure you gain website traffic and rank on the search engine results page.\n\n- **Social media.** Social media is all about connecting with people and building online social networks. To communicate with many people, join several different social media platforms so you can reach all of your supporters (as well as new audiences) regardless of whether they prefer Twitter or Instagram. To make your supporters’ lives easier, connect your accounts with links so followers can quickly jump from one platform to the other. \n\n- **Multi-channel marketing.** Similar to using multiple social media platforms to communicate with supporters, you should leverage several other media channels. For example, you could integrate your digital marketing efforts with traditional strategies like direct mail or phone calls. Or, you can lead those who receive direct mail or flyers from your organization to your website or social media accounts by placing QR codes on those marketing materials.\n\nThe impact of digital marketing can be immense, especially when it comes to [conveying your nonprofit’s brand](https://www.auctria.com/blog/digital-marketing-conveying-your-nonprofit-s-brand-online/) to new audiences. While some aspects of digital marketing, like social media, may require larger investments of your time to manage and maintain, these digital channels tend to be more cost-effective than something like purchasing a billboard or radio advertisement.\n\n\n## 3. Personalize marketing messages.\nThese days, traditional mass marketing methods like national television ads aren’t seen as the end-all-be-all of marketing. While these tactics are still effective and work for some industries, most marketing messages are more effective when they relate directly to your audience’s preferences. In fact, over [75%](https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/growth-marketing-and-sales/our-insights/the-value-of-getting-personalization-right-or-wrong-is-multiplying) of people cited being more likely to engage with brands from which they received personalized marketing messages.\n\nPersonalizing your marketing materials might sound daunting at first, especially if your organization has a large base of supporters. However, there are a few ways to get started that make it more manageable to add personalized elements to your messaging.\n\nConsider the following personalization strategies:\n\n- **Segment your audience.** A segment is a subgroup of people within your broader audience who share similar characteristics. You can form these segments around anything from supporter age to the average donation amount. Once you segment your audience, customize your marketing messages according to those traits. For example, a segment of older supporters may prefer receiving messages through direct mail rather than a text message.\n\n\n- **Appeal to your supporters’ reason to give.** Each of your supporters has the interests that motivate them to engage with your organization. It’s your job to discover what those interests are and how you can use them to drive involvement with your fundraiser. For instance, if you learn that your animal rescue has a segment of supporters who love cats, you can appeal to their passion for helping cats by highlighting your percentage night fundraiser at a local cat cafe in marketing messages.\n\n\n- **Customize marketing emails.** There are many ways to personalize your approach to [email marketing,](https://www.feathr.co/blog/nonprofit-email-marketing) including incorporating a supporter’s name in the subject line, highlighting their location, and referencing events they attended in the past. You might add a sentence like, “We remember seeing you at our mud run last year—come make memories this year too!” to encourage supporters to return to your fundraisers year after year. \n\nPersonalized marketing adds a more genuine touch to your promotion messages, making supporters feel your nonprofit truly values their contributions. \n\n## 4. Partner with institutions in your community.\nBuilding connections with people and organizations in your community is an invaluable resource. To help promote your next fundraiser, partner with institutions like elementary schools, libraries, or churches. These organizations and institutions typically have a built-in network of students, parents, or members who can help spread the word about your event to their friends and family, extending awareness far beyond your existing audience.\n\nIn addition to reaching new audiences, there are many benefits to partnering with another organization, such as:\n\n- Sharing marketing resources like flyers \n- Boosting your fundraising and marketing budget through sponsorships\n- Increasing the number of available volunteers\n- Building a positive reputation in your community\n\nBe sure to choose a fundraising idea your partner organization will be happy with in which to participate. For example, sneaker drive fundraisers are great for schools as many children outgrow their running shoes quickly and are likely to have a pair or two that don’t fit. This fundraiser allows parents to part with their student’s [old athletic shoes](https://sneakers4funds.com/what-to-do-with-old-running-shoes/) sustainably while helping support a good cause.\n\n-----------\nReach your community with marketing to bring them together under a common cause. Whether you’re enticing them to participate with an engaging fundraiser like a sneaker drive fundraiser or reaching out to them on social media, leveraging community support for your organization can help you secure the resources to get one step closer to achieving your mission.\n\n-----------\nSpecial thanks to [Wayne Elsey](http://wayneelsey.com/) for sharing this expert advice. Wayne is the founder and CEO of Elsey Enterprises (EE) and a member of the Forbes Business Development Council. Among his various independent brands, he is also the founder and CEO of [Sneakers4Funds,](https://sneakers4funds.com/) which is a social enterprise that helps schools, churches, nonprofits, individuals and other organizations raise funds while helping to support micro-enterprise (small business) opportunities in developing nations. \n\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":530},{"url":531},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/678af7a150cb0576266dee4701fb325cb3d9de3e-600x320.png","2022-09-29T15:49:10.924Z",{"current":534},"spread-the-word-4-marketing-tips-for-community-fundraisers","After planning the perfect fundraising event, the next step is attracting attendees. These four marketing tips can help you spread the word in your community.","Spread the Word: 4 Marketing Tips for Community Fundraisers",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":538,"category":539,"id":5,"image":540,"publishOn":543,"slug":544,"teaser":546,"title":547},"Twenty-eight years ago, [Oldsmar Cares](https://oldsmarcares.org/) didn’t begin with a gala, or even a grand plan — it began with a challenge. Oldsmar Cares was conceived by the Reverend Doctor Sharon Patch in March 1997 to help the citizens of the City of Oldsmar with food and emergency funds. Sharon and husband Jim, with her congregation of Oldsmar United Methodist Church and several members from other denominations, all came together to help make a difference to others. Sharon started a cash donation box placed out at the church entrance.  Often Sharon would ask others to go shopping and bring back a shopping basket of food as the closet was empty and people were hungry. Other times she would call someone and ask for money to help a family get back home to another state, or whatever the need may be.\n\nA few years later a Sunday School group was challenged by their teacher to not just to read the Bible, but to live it, to put its teachings into action by caring for their neighbors in real and meaningful ways.   They started the Clothes Closet in a 6’ by 10’ closet, and it quickly expanded to taking over the original sanctuary every Saturday.  \n\nThe 2008 financial crisis led to a couple large yard sales to add needed funds, and spurred the formation of the separate Oldsmar Cares nonprofit.  Soon thereafter Thanksgiving Bounty boxes were provided for Thanksgiving - starting at 30 families and serving 170 in 2025.\n\nThose humble beginnings grew into a movement of generosity that has shaped Oldsmar for decades. What started as a tiny clothes closet quickly expanded into a food pantry, then into rent and utility assistance, and today into a fully volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving families with dignity and compassion.\n\nThe Wine Walls were true features this year, beautifully displayed on the stage and drawing people in even before the event officially began. Guests were invited to step right onto the stage and study the bottles up close, reading labels, comparing selections, and flipping through the printed wine booklet that described each bottle. It created a natural gathering point where people whispered early strategies, formed favorites, and built anticipation long before bidding opened. And with two full Wine Walls this year — one dedicated to California wines and another showcasing world selections — the excitement doubled. Paired with the Bourbon Barrel and the high-value sports experiences, the evening had a lively, magnetic energy from start to finish.\n\nThe Gala evening unfolded through:\n\n* **A testimonial speaker** giving a heartfelt on the positive impact Oldsmar Cares has made for her and her family \nThe high-energy return of the California Wine Wall, a signature showpiece guests could explore up close.\n\n\n* **The debut of the World Wine Wall,** a global collection that inspired early strategy and friendly competition.\n\n\n* **The impressive Bourbon Barrel,** which sparked the night’s most intense bidding.\n\n\n* **The premium sports experiences** that saw bids soar to and past the $1,000 mark and fueled excitement throughout the room.\n\n\n## From Cash Box to Community Lifeline\nPastor Sharon Patch’s actions inspired a handful of church members to set out a simple cash donation box. That single gesture grew into a clothes closet, then a food pantry, then rent and utility assistance — 100% powered by volunteers with a heart to serve. Today, Oldsmar Cares continues to provide essential support with faith, compassion, and generosity at its core.  Oldsmar Cares is People Making a Difference.\n\n\n## The Wall of California Wines — A Fan Favorite That Fires Up the Room\n\nThe California Wine Wall once again took center stage with 16 hand-selected bottles, each boasting premium wine scores in the 90s. The display served as both an eye-catching backdrop and an interactive experience, inviting guests to browse labels, compare varietals, and plan their bidding strategies. Complete with a printed booklet of tasting notes, the winner took home a curated collection that sold for $1,000 and delivered a year’s worth of memorable pours.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/e08f4013e7e792d3d6032ea41d36feea87db8bfb-800x400.png)\n\n\n## The Wall of World Wines — A Tasting Tour Across Continents\nThanks to generous community donations, Oldsmar Cares debuted a second full Wine Wall featuring 14 exceptional bottles from Spain, Italy, France, Argentina, and Oregon. Guests enjoyed exploring the international selections, using the wine booklet to understand each region and varietal. The World Wine Wall offered a global tasting adventure and sold for $800, adding even more momentum to the night’s excitement.\n\n\n## The Bourbon Barrel — A Collector’s Dream With 15 Premium Bottles\nThe Bourbon Barrel stood as one of the gala’s most coveted items — a half whiskey barrel filled with 15 high-end bourbons from renowned distilleries. Displayed in an artisanal cabinet originally used for aging bourbon, it featured crowd favorites like Blanton’s, Weller, Stagg Jr., Colonel E.H. Taylor, and more. This impressive showcase sparked lively bidding and ultimately sold for $3,000, the highest live-auction sale of the evening.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/8a2b265aa20b01f112b80412bf51d11dcbb8048c-800x400.png)\n\n## Premium Sports Experiences — A Slam Dunk for Fundraising\nThe gala also featured premium sports packages that consistently draw strong bidding. This year’s offerings included Valspar Championship suite tickets overlooking the 18th green with food and beverage, Lightning Loge seats with all-inclusive hospitality for the Lightning vs. Oilers matchup, and Rays Dugout Club seats just rows behind home plate with exclusive club access. Each package quickly surpassed the $1,000 mark and energized the room with excitement.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/5703104ef9a0b13276e49d398df35eaceee1a00d-800x400.png)\n\n## A Night Where Generosity Thrives\nThe success of this year’s gala speaks to something larger than a single night — it reflects a community ready to build the next 25 years of impact. The Wine Walls, Bourbon Barrel, and sports packages may have created the excitement, but it’s the steady dedication of volunteers, donors, and supporters that turns that excitement into meaningful change. As Oldsmar Cares looks ahead, the momentum from this year’s event will carry forward into thousands of meals, critical assistance, and a stronger safety net for families across Oldsmar.\n\n\n## The Force Behind the Fun, Auctioneer Jenelle Taylor\nOldsmar Cares’ gala simply wouldn’t be the same without the remarkable leadership of [Jenelle Taylor, professional auctioneer and founder of Gala Gal.](https://galagal.com/) Jenelle is more than the person with the microphone — she is the engine that powers the room. Before the doors open she is planning the strategy and managing logistics. The moment the live auction begins, she sets the pace, builds the excitement, reads the crowd, and brings out the best in every bidder.\nMike credits her as essential to the event’s success, noting that they could not run the gala without her. Jenelle manages the flow, keeps the energy high, and knows exactly how to spark bidding wars that lift the room — and the fundraising totals — to new heights. Her expertise ensures that every Wine Wall, Bourbon Barrel, paddle raise, and premium experience reaches its full fundraising potential. She turns generosity into momentum and momentum into impact, making her an indispensable part of the Oldsmar Cares tradition.\n\n\n\n-----\n\nSpecial thanks to Mike McKnight,the original chairman of the gala and now sitting board member at [Oldsmar Cares.](https://oldsmarcares.org/)\n\nThe mission of Oldsmar Cares is to offer essential services—including a food pantry, clothes closet, and stop-gap assistance for rent and utilities—at no cost to individuals in the greater Oldsmar area. The organization holds various annual events, such as the Spread The Love Kids’ Christmas and an annual gala, which creatively raise both awareness and funds to help combat hunger.\n\nOldsmar Cares clearly explains the methods for providing support through either financial contributions or volunteer work.\nAny amount makes a huge impact because Oldsmar Cares is 100% volunteer run and the money you donate goes directly to those in need. \n\n$25 = One bag of groceries for a family\n$50 = Holiday dinner for a family\n$100 = Groceries for four families\n$200 = Rent or utilities assistance for one family\n​$500 = PatchWork Assistance Fund grant\n\n[Become a Volunteer. Volunteers are needed at the pantry](https://oldsmarcares.org/give-help/) to assist clients and process clothing and food donations. Tasks include greeting visitors, sorting, folding, and stocking. We also need volunteers for other areas of service. If you have a heart to serve, we will train you.\n\nAbout  GALA GAL\n\nYour event is only one night, once a year! Trust 10 years of Fundraising Consulting with [GALA GAL](https://galagal.com/why-gala-gal/) Jenelle Taylor \n\n“All of your consultation hours, in-person meetings, phone conferences and e-mails benefit from the thousands of hours spent and hundreds of organizations I’ve helped over the past 10 years. With someone else, your annual event may be handed off to an assistant who’s never been to a gala, or pushed aside by the real estate auctioneer who happens to call a few charity events in his spare time.”  When you partner with GALA GAL, you get Jenelle.\n\nA true Benefit Auction Specialist is equal parts Ambassador for your cause, Entertainer, and Sizzling Salesperson.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":541},{"url":542},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/8b030081ff83f2f843bafaada35b02cf706a9344-1920x1080.png","2025-12-11T20:52:24.208Z",{"current":545},"faith-in-action-flavor-in-motion-and-a-community-that-thrives-together","What started with a simple cash box now fuels a gala where community, flavor, and giving thrive.","Faith in Action, Flavor in Motion, and a Community That Thrives Together",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":549,"category":550,"id":5,"image":551,"publishOn":554,"slug":555,"teaser":557,"title":558},"# Top 10 tips TO DO and NOT TO DO in asking for donations\n## Do & Don’t Do\n\n### Set your procurement process up for success with a few thought provoking questions:\n * What businesses will we solicit?\n * How will we divide the task?\n * What is the process for incoming donations?\n\n\n### Procurement Team\nThis team is responsible for corresponding with donors and potential donors to secure donation items for the auction. \n Review Procurement Team duties for each [segment of the auction fundraising](http://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/overview_key_segments) process.  \n\n\n\n\n![asking for auction donations](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Screen-Shot-2016-03-18-at-2.07.02-PM.png)\n\nSample Procurement letters:\n* [Sample letter for a school](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/ProcurementLetterSAMPLESchoolposted69.pdf)\n* [Sample letter non-education related](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/SampleProcurementletterENVIROCARE.pdf)",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":552},{"url":553},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/1c072969c5d8adfe8a9c07cdd532d717a8e9e3e2-600x320.jpg","2016-01-31T06:00:00.000Z",{"current":556},"do_dont_askingfordonations","Top 10 tips TO DO and NOT TO DO in asking for donations","Do & Don't Do: Asking for Donations",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":560,"category":561,"id":5,"image":562,"publishOn":565,"slug":566,"teaser":568,"title":569},"Facebook remains a powerful platform for nonprofits and charities to connect with their audience, raise awareness, and drive donations. By understanding and leveraging Facebook's algorithm, you can significantly increase your visibility and attract potential donors.\n\nTo maximize your nonprofit's impact on Facebook, consider implementing the following strategies:\n\n1. Master the art of engagement\n2. Harness the power of visual content\n3. Maintain a Consistent posting schedule\n4. Leverage the power of Facebook Ads\n5. Collaborate with other organizations\n6. Foster community engagement\n\nLet's look at each strategy a little closer. By consistently implementing these strategies and adapting to Facebook's ever-evolving algorithm, you can unlock the full potential of this platform and achieve your nonprofit's goals.\n\nPosting consistently,  and a full Facebook feed is the VERY first step needed to gain traction and engagement,\n\n\n## 1. Master the Art of Engagement\nTo maximize the impact of your posts, focus on early engagement. By prompting immediate interaction, you can significantly boost your post's visibility in the News Feed.\n\n**Prompt Early Interaction:** Encourage your supporters, volunteers, and board members to comment on your posts within the first 15-30 minutes.\n\n**Respond Promptly:** Actively engage with all comments and replies, thanking people for their support and sharing additional information.\n\n**Tag Strategically:** Tag relevant individuals, sponsors, and businesses to expand your reach and encourage further interaction.\n\n## 2. Harness the Power of Visual Content\nVisual content is highly engaging on Facebook. By incorporating eye-catching images and videos into your posts, you can capture your audience's attention and encourage them to take action.\n\n* **Prioritize High-Quality Visuals:** Use eye-catching images and videos to grab attention and make your posts stand out.\n* **Embrace the Power of Live Video:** Host live Facebook events to connect with your audience in real-time. Share updates, interview guests, or conduct behind-the-scenes tours.\n* **Create Engaging Video Content:** Produce short, informative videos that showcase your organization's mission, event highlights, or beneficiary stories.\n\n## 3. Maintain a Consistent Posting Schedule\nConsistency is key to building a strong presence on Facebook. By regularly sharing relevant content, you can keep your audience engaged and informed.\n\n* Develop a Content Calendar: Plan your content in advance to ensure a consistent posting schedule.\n\n* Diversify Your Content: Share a mix of posts, including event updates, volunteer spotlights, donor stories, and calls to action.\n\n* Utilize Scheduling Tools: Use tools like Buffer or Hootsuite to automate your posting and save time.\n\n## 4. Leverage the Power of Facebook Ads\nFacebook Ads offer a targeted approach to reach your ideal audience. By leveraging demographic, interest, and behavioral targeting, you can effectively promote your event and drive donations.\n\n* **Target Your Audience:** Use Facebook Ads to reach a specific audience based on demographics, interests, and behaviors.\n\n* **Consider Micro-Targeting:** Target specific locations or groups to maximize your reach and impact.\n\n* **Track Your Performance:** Use Facebook Insights to monitor your ads' performance and make necessary adjustments.\n\n## 5. Collaborate with Other Organizations\nPartnering with other organizations can significantly expand your reach and increase your impact. By collaborating with like-minded nonprofits and businesses, you can share resources, cross-promote events, and create a stronger collective impact.\n\n* **Partner with Like-Minded Organizations:** Collaborate with other nonprofits or businesses to cross-promote your event and reach a wider audience.\n* **Share Resources and Support:** Share each other's posts and encourage mutual support.\n\n## 6. Foster Community Engagement\n\nBuilding a strong online community is essential for long-term success. By actively engaging with your followers, you can foster a sense of belonging and encourage ongoing support.\n\n**Respond to Comments and Messages:** Respond promptly and thoughtfully to all comments and messages.\n\n**Encourage User-Generated Content:** Encourage your followers to share their stories and experiences with your organization.\n\n**Host Q&A Sessions:** Use Facebook Live to host Q&A sessions with experts or staff members.\n\n\nBy following these strategies and continuously adapting to the evolving Facebook landscape, you can effectively leverage this powerful platform to increase awareness, generate excitement, and drive donations for your nonprofit. Remember, consistency is key. Keep experimenting, track your results, and adjust your strategy as needed to maximize your impact.\n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":563},{"url":564},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/303fa1ec4cebfffffd3240f1da4f61cd75714d10-4800x3200.jpg","2024-11-25T20:26:00.000Z",{"current":567},"unlock-the-power-of-facebook-for-your-nonprofit","Learn how to leverage Facebook's power to engage your audience and achieve your mission.","Unlock the Power of Facebook for Your Nonprofit",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":571,"category":572,"id":5,"image":573,"publishOn":576,"slug":577,"teaser":579,"title":580},"Most fundraisers have been there – you are turning the lights off after another successful gala or big event, basking in the post-event glow. You know you raised a lot of money for your organization. But, after all the hard work, a question creeps in: “Was it all worth it?”\n\nThe answer to the question depends on a lot of variables – your fundraising needs, your mission and goals, the event’s historical success. But the real question you need to ask yourself is how events fit into your overall fundraising strategy.\n\nEvents are just one of many tools in a fundraiser’s toolbox, not a complete fundraising strategy on their own. They can raise a lot of money while also inspiring your community to come together. But other tools need to fill in the fundraising gaps between events.\n\nIn this post, we will lay out the role of events in a larger fundraising strategy, how to design them for the greatest impact and how to measure success beyond the dollars raised.\n\n## Fundraiser’s toolbox\n\nThere are few more important jobs at a nonprofit than that of the chief fundraiser – no matter your title. Your hard work literally helps keep the nonprofit’s lights on. \n\nHere are some of the tools available to you for your overall fundraising strategy:\n\nHere are some of the tools available to you for your overall fundraising strategy:\n\n* **Events**: Almost every nonprofit runs at least one event a year. Maybe it is a big gala. Maybe it is a golf or volleyball tournament. Whatever the details of your event, it is a day your supporters mark in their calendars every year. Part fundraiser, part social event. Lots of fun, but also hard work for your staff.\n* **Annual appeal**: The annual appeal is the heart of the fundraising strategy. It allows you to present your case for support to your community each year. \n* **Regular or weekly giving**: Consistent donors are the lifeblood of an organization. Even small, regular donations make a ton of impact. For a church, this would be your weekly plate giving or offertory. For other nonprofits, this may be a monthly or quarterly giver. This consistent flow of support is most important.\n* **Planned giving**: Planned or legacy giving are large gifts left in a will or estate plan. A fundraising strategy without a thorough planned giving strategy is leaving money on the table. \n* **Campaigns**: This tool only comes out of the toolbox once or twice a decade. But it is an important one. Capital campaigns play a vital role in a comprehensive fundraising strategy and are often undertaken to advance strategic opportunities such as renovating or constructing facilities, strengthening an endowment, or addressing debt in support of long‑term mission effectiveness. When an organization identifies significant capital opportunities that position it for growth, sustainability, or expanded impact, it may be the right time to conduct a feasibility study and begin the [campaign planning process](https://www.fellowshipdevelopment.com/blog/what-is-a-church-capital-campaign/).\n\n## Where do events fit in the donor journey?\n\nEvery donor has a journey with your organization. First, they may periodically support your organization. Then they may move to consistent giving – whether weekly, monthly, quarterly or annually. They could lapse and stop supporting for a while. Each journey is different. How do events fit into this journey?\n\n* **Awareness and discovery**: Events are a great way for new donors to meet your organization. Whether they find out about the event through marketing or being invited by a donor, it provides an opportunity to learn about the work you do and meet members of your community. \n* **Consistent giving opportunity**: A gala or big event presents a yearly opportunity for donors to connect with your organization. These events are great conversion opportunities – excited supporters celebrating your mission together.\n* **Putting the fun in fundraising**: Let’s be honest – most annual appeals don’t exactly scream fun. Asking for a larger gift every year to help fund your mission is vitally important but can feel more like a chore to the donor. A gala or golf tournament can help a supporter connect with your organization on a different, more fun level. Lean into the fun and make your event memorable; it will inspire stronger support.\n* **In-person connection**: Personal connections and appeals will almost always yield better results than a form letter, email or online donation page. Events offer your donors a chance to interact with your team in person, connecting on a deeper level.\n* **Supplement other fundraising activities**: Events should not be your only fundraising appeal. The reasons above mention the benefits of events, but an event is also a significant expense and can increase the cost of acquiring new donors or converting donors into more consistent giving. Don’t let events dominate your fundraising plan – stay consistent with major donor stewardship, consistent communication and appeals.\n\n## Measure success beyond funds raised at the event\n\nThe primary goal of an event is to raise funds — after all, events are too expensive to put on if they don’t contribute to the bottom line. But fundraising isn’t the only way an event can be successful. Done well, events can also build relationships, raise visibility and strengthen engagement in meaningful ways.\n\n* **Financial:** In addition to the total dollars raised, make sure to analyze this data more thoroughly. What was the cost per dollar raised? Is there a way to lower that number for next year? Did you seek enough sponsorships to help offset costs? \n* **Donor pipeline**: Look at the number of new donors or new donor leads, major gift prospects identified, meetings booked, etc. The follow-up work following an event is almost as important as the event itself.\n* **Engagement**: How engaged were your event attendees? Set a goal, outside of fundraising, based on what your organization needs most – more volunteer hours, engagement on social media or email/SMS sign-ups.\n* **Learning**: As your staff talks to donors throughout the event, they should be making mental notes about what motivates your supporters to donate, to attend the event and what interests them. Events are a learning opportunity and a way to deepen your knowledge of your donor database.\n\n## Capital campaigns and events\n\nAt Fellowship Development, our specialty is running feasibility studies and customized campaign planning for Christian churches, schools and other organizations. Much like events, capital campaigns play an important role in a fundraising strategy. We advise our partners to continue their events during a capital campaign. It is another fundraising touchpoint during a large-scale fundraising effort.\n\nHere are some additional events you may run during a feasibility study or capital campaign:\n\n* **Town halls:** During the study, it is important to reach as many of your potential donors as possible. A town hall provides an opportunity to inform them about the goals of a potential campaign and allows them to share important feedback. \n* **Major donor events**: Once fundraising is underway, you should hold major donor events. For example, you could host a big gala. Or smaller, more intimate dinners with your organization’s leader and a few major donors. These events let your major donors know they are valued and appreciated. It also allows them to learn more about the campaign and to hear about the impact their gift will have.\n* **Campaign kickoff**: When the public phase of the campaign begins, make it spectacular! Have a fun event for all supporters, inviting them to participate in the campaign. You can share the good news about all the funds raised during the campaign's silent phase to boost momentum.\n* **Celebrate**: Once your campaign hits goal or reaches an important milestone like a groundbreaking for new construction, celebrate! Your community worked hard to support your campaign; let them enjoy the achievement.\n\n## Conclusion and call to action\n\nThe best events are deeply integrated into a larger fundraising plan and designed to [advance your donor development](https://www.steiergroup.com/blog/donor-development/).\n\nIf you haven’t audited your event, now would be the time. Consider the event’s intended role in your fundraising strategy, the success of your last event and how you can fine-tune your event to better support your mission going forward.\n\n----\n\nSpecial thanks Brendan Manson, President of [Fellowship Development](https://www.fellowshipdevelopment.com/). Brendan leads a faith-filled team of colleagues at Fellowship Development who are dedicated to serving Christian churches, schools and organizations. He draws upon his education and 30 years of experience in finance and business administration, theology and pastoral ministry, to help create capital campaigns that foster faith while raising funds. Brendan also provides clients the valuable perspective and experience of having led successful campaigns as a pastor as well as a campaign manager.\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":574},{"url":575},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/d598ed0326da0fbec81309cbf970679268e1cf43-1254x836.jpg","2026-04-06T20:58:00.000Z",{"current":578},"beyond-the-gala-how-events-fit-into-your-bigger-fundraising-strategy","Your gala is just the beginning. Discover how events can fuel your broader fundraising strategy—and how to measure what really matters.","Beyond the Gala: How Events Fit Into Your Bigger Fundraising Strategy",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":582,"category":583,"id":5,"image":584,"publishOn":587,"slug":588,"teaser":590,"title":591},"Fundraising professionals understand all too well the pressure that comes with planning events. Budgets are scrutinized, attendance must be strong, and revenue targets can feel increasingly ambitious. At the same time, events remain one of the most visible and engaging ways to bring supporters together to witness your organization’s impact. And, when executed thoughtfully, they can generate tremendous financial and relationship returns.\n\nAchieving strong fundraising event ROI isn't about cutting corners. It’s about making intentional investments in the guest experience, sponsorship development, [technology](https://www.auctria.com/blog/4-digital-fundraising-strategies-for-small-nonprofits/), and follow-up. With the right structure and [fundraising strategy](https://orrgroup.com/fundraising-strategies-for-nonprofits/) in place, events can deliver both immediate revenue and long-term donor value.\n\nWhether you’re hosting a gala, golf outing, virtual event, or auction, the following strategies can help elevate your monetary and awareness outcomes.\n\n## 1. Define Clear Goals and Metrics from the Start\n \nToo often, nonprofits approach events with broad goals like “raise more money than last year” or “increase attendance”. While these are positive intentions, they won’t help you meaningfully evaluate ROI or drive the decisions that will impact it. The most successful organizations begin by setting concrete, measurable objectives that encompass financial and engagement outcomes, and execute on strategy from there.\n\nConsider setting targets that go beyond total revenue, as well, such as:\n\n* Achieve a 3:1 return on event expenses\n* Secure 50 new donors from event attendees\n* Increase sponsor retention by 25%\n* Reduce cost per dollar raised by 15%\n* Schedule 20 follow-up meetings post-event to build a new major donor pipeline\n\nThese tangible goals will help you evaluate ROI more holistically and build a clearer understanding of how the event contributes to your long-term philanthropic success. By tracking these financial and non-financial KPIs, you can gain insight into your donor acquisition, community engagement, and brand visibility. \n\nAccurate measurement requires strong tracking systems. Make sure your event management platform and donor database can “talk” to each other, capturing guest data, sponsorship levels, auction participation, and follow-up notes, all in one place.\n\nBy starting with strong planning, rooted in your organization's [overall strategic plan](https://orrgroup.com/strategic-planning-for-nonprofit-organizations/), you’ll set your organization up for ROI success beyond the event itself.\n\n## 2. Integrate New Revenue Streams\n\nOne of the most effective ways to increase fundraising event ROI is to diversify income. Rather than relying solely on ticket sales or a single giving moment in the program, nonprofits can layer multiple revenue streams that deepen engagement and significantly boost total dollars raised.\n\n**Corporate Sponsorships**\n\n[Sponsorships](https://360matchpro.com/corporate-sponsorships/) remain one of the highest-ROI components of any event. When done well, not only do they bring in substantial dollars, but they also expand your network. Try building tiered sponsorship packages that clearly articulate benefits to participating businesses, like:\n\n* Logo placement on event signage, digital screens, or print-outs\n* A speaking opportunity during the program\n* VIP or reserved seating\n* Branded merchandise or activations\n* Recognition on your website and social channels\n\nSponsors will invest if they see alignment with your mission and an opportunity to boost community visibility. The stronger your benefit offerings, and the earlier you begin your outreach, the more likely you are to secure meaningful commitments.\n\n**Strategic Ticketing Models**\n\n[Thoughtful ticketing](https://www.auctria.com/blog/smart-ticketing-elevates-your-fundraising-events/) can help you capture maximum revenue. Consider organizing your tickets around:\n\n* **Early-bird pricing:** Creates urgency and accelerates initial cash flow.\n* **General admission:** The baseline offering for most attendees.\n* **VIP packages**: Premium-priced options that may include a special reception, preferred seating, or valet parking.\n* **Group discounts**: Incentivize increased attendance, appealing to corporate teams.\n\nThis tiered approach ensures accessibility for all audiences while also offering higher-value opportunities for supporters who want a more elevated experience.\n\n**Add-On Revenue Opportunities**\n\nGiving opportunities during the event are essential, and flexible options allow supporters to engage at the level they’re comfortable with. Consider including the following elements:\n\n* **Silent or live auctions**: Perfect for spotlighting unique experiences, travel packages, or community-centered gifts, with direct proceeds towards your organization.\n* **Raffles**: High-value prizes that drive strong participation and generate potential new leads. \n* **Merchandise sales**: Branded items that provide both revenue and marketing ROI.\n\n[Auctions](https://www.auctria.com/blog/why-auction-fundraiser/) in particular are a natural fit for maximizing ROI. They create palpable energy throughout the room and give attendees another reason to stay engaged.\n\n## 3. Leverage Volunteer Power to Manage Costs \n\nAn organized and motivated volunteer corps can substantially lower expenses while strengthening community engagement. Volunteers can fill crucial roles and help full-time staff focus on more strategic efforts like donor engagement and sponsor management. They can be deployed across a wide range of responsibilities at your event, including:\n\n* Registration and check-in\n* Guest greeting and hospitality\n* Auction spotters, table monitors, or stage assistants\n* Event set up and tear down\n* Raffle support or merchandise sales\n* Media support\n\nTo bring the best out of your volunteers, ensure you:\n\n1. **Establish defined role descriptions:** Volunteers should understand what their roles, expectations, and responsibilities are ahead of time.\n2. **Provide training before the event:** Whether in-person or over Zoom, an orientation will prep volunteers with key information ahead of time, ensuring a smoother day-of experience.\n3. **Show appreciation throughout:** Recognition, small gifts, and dedicated ‘thank you’ messages go a long way.\n\nAccording to [Better Impact](https://blog.betterimpact.com/en/volunteer-management), structured volunteer management will reduce staffing costs and strengthen the sense of community around your event.\n\n## 4. Use Technology Wisely to Boost Efficiency\n \nTechnology is one of the most significant drivers of ROI at fundraising events. When leveraged strategically, it frees up staff capacity, boosts attendee satisfaction, and generates cleaner, more actionable data.\n\nConsider incorporating these essential technology tools into your [next event management strategy](https://www.auctria.com/blog/dk-success-event-management/):\n\n1. An Event Management Software (EMS) is a centralized platform that encompasses your ticketing, communications, guest lists, and reporting to help reduce administrative burden by storing key information in one place. These systems streamline everything from outreach to night-of logistics, ensuring data accuracy and accessibility.\n2. Whatever EMS you choose, ensure that it has the capability to integrate with your main donor database or CRM. Clean, timely data enables personalized stewardship and helps identify attendees who may be strong prospects for future giving opportunities.\n3. If your event includes an auction element, mobile bidding significantly increases participation and encourages more competitive bidding. Guests can bid right from their phones at the table, from the bar, or even before the event starts.\n4. [AI-assisted tools](https://orrgroup.com/ai-for-nonprofits/) can support your event marketing and planning efforts. For example, you can use AI to help draft initial email text, summarize sponsor benefits, or analyze guest trends. However, it is important for your organization to uphold clear data privacy practices and to avoid sharing sensitive donor information with public AI tools. Further, ensure human oversight by having staff review and approve any AI-generated content to maintain authenticity and accuracy.\n\n## 5. Focus on Post-Event Engagement and Analysis\n \nWhile it's easy to breathe a sigh of relief as soon as the event ends, this marks the beginning of the most crucial phase to drive long-term ROI. Strong stewardship and data analysis right after the event is the stepping stone to convert one-time attendees into ongoing supporters.\n\nHere is a high-level checklist that every organization should use to keep donors engaged post-event:\n\n* **Send a thank-you note within 24 hours of the event**: Personalized notes for sponsors, major donors, volunteers, and VIPs are essential.\n* **Share an impact report**: Highlight key takeaways from the event, including funds raised, where those dollars will go, and notable event anecdotes such as honorees, speeches, or performances.\n* **Post photos and videos**: Generate excitement and increase engagement by sharing content from the event to celebrate your community and encourage attendees to share on their own.\n* **Schedule follow-up meetings**: Beyond internal team debriefs, ensure that you are also meeting with event supporters to maintain current relationships and identify new ones.\n* **Analyze event performance**: Return to your original KPIs and assess performance, such as:\n\t* Did we meet revenue goals?\n\t* What was the true cost per dollar raised?\n\t* Which revenue streams performed best, and why?\n\t* Which donor segments were the most engaged?\n\t* What can we improve for next year’s event?\n\nThis analysis will establish important feedback looks that will undoubtedly strengthen every event going forward.\n\n## Conclusion\n \nAchieving high ROI at your fundraising event is rooted in strategy, not frugality. Clear goals, diversified revenue, strong volunteer engagement, smart technology, and thoughtful follow-up all work together to drive meaningful results. When nonprofits invest intentionally in the supporter experience, events become more than one-night fundraisers; they become powerful engines for donor retention, community engagement, and long-term sustainability. \n\nFor nonprofits looking to take their event strategy to the next level, [Orr Group](https://orrgroup.com/fundraising-consultant/) suggests working with an experienced fundraising consultant who can provide the guidance, expertise, and hands-on support needed to elevate both revenue and relationships.",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":585},{"url":586},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/dd31cfccd418572c4caf454c838115c33ca81095-600x400.jpg","2025-12-03T19:00:00.000Z",{"current":589},"fundraising-events-roi","You need to spend money to make money from your fundraising event. Follow these tips to boost your return on investment and secure more funds for your cause.","Achieving ROI for Fundraising Events: 5 Tips and Tricks",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":593,"category":594,"id":5,"image":595,"publishOn":598,"slug":599,"teaser":601,"title":602},"Spokane Hearing Oral Program of Excellence (HOPE) provides early intervention auditory and language therapy to children who are deaf or hard of hearing during the early years of rapid brain development. HOPE was founded in 2004 on the premise that all children with hearing loss should have the opportunity to maximize their listening and speaking skills.\n\nTo offset the soaring tuition costs Spokane HOPE has a single large auction fundraiser each year, named Hoedown for HOPE and chaired by Kim Schafer.  Kim proudly shares the team effort raised $170,000 profit at its 7th annual event last year and all the proceeds help 50 children annually on their hearing loss journey to reach their full potential, pursue their dreams, and thrive in school, their community, and life. \n\nSpecial thanks to Kim and her banking coordinator Ashley for taking the time to share their auction story. Kim and Ashley revealed how they reach their goals in hopes that other charities are inspired to raise more money in their auction fundraisers. It is with **conviction and with dedication** that this auction team reaches its financial goals year after year.  \n\n## Volunteer Team\nThe auction takes teamwork and hours of planning to execute at this high level and make for an attractive event. The team at Hoedown for HOPE seeks volunteers that are dedicated and committed. They do so by constantly looking for helpers, being kind and welcoming, training well and appreciating a job well done. They are honored that often volunteers help for many years over and over and attribute the long-term commitment to the satisfaction volunteers get in helping and being appreciated.\n\nFor instance, Ashley volunteered to handle the banking for the auction but knows she can’t do it all alone. She has a small group of volunteers that help each year with banking and checkout. She tells us “for closeout to run smoothly for bidders and volunteers it takes dedication and commitment on her part to make their part easy.”  Ashley is dedicated to the ‘job’ by ensuring every dollar is tracked and monitored from the first ticket and sponsorship to the last receipts and statements.  Ashley is committed to carrying out the duties with a volunteer team by planning in advance and training volunteers thoroughly on the evening of the event. She has written and printed procedures with step-by-step instructions at every checkout station. Her commitment to the checkout team is to review last year's activity and improve for the following year. This has led to an expedited check IN (registering cards upon arrival) so there is a very quick check OUT (online processing) so bidders can checkout and walk out swiftly. The more efficiently they can work the higher satisfaction for volunteers and bidders.  \n\n## Procurement Team\nThe Hoedown for HOPE team has extremely committed and passionate volunteers that seek out donations. They start with being prepared with a comprehensive donation request form. The one-pager tells the story of past fundraisers and summarizes how much money was raised, where the money went and then a request for a current donation. Most donation request forms are hand delivered by a volunteer that is dedicated to help bring in donations. Many times, volunteers on the procurement team are meeting face to face with potential donors so they have a chance to share their personal story. The sincerity and devotion are the emotional push that helps donors say ‘yes’! Doing so engages the donor and many times those around listening. In soliciting for donations sharing the mission of Spokane HOPE can lead to finding more volunteers and sponsors for families in need.\n\nCommitment also means hearing ‘no’ is okay too. Many times, a ‘no’ has a reason, such as timing of the request or they cannot meet the type of request. By being flexible and committed to the overall success of the auction the procurement team can make adjustments. If it is a matter of timing they will record when they need to request a donation next time. As the following year approaches, they now know who to ask for donations and when. The commitment to working smarter each year yields a bigger and broader event. \n\nHere is the donation request information being used for 2019.\n\n\n![donation front.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/donation-front.png)\n\n![donation back.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/donation-back.png)\n\n\n\n\n## Sponsors\nThe HOPE sponsorship team is committed and dedicated too. Showing dedication to past sponsors keeps them coming back year after year. The sponsorship volunteers also believe that ‘no’ isn't always a no.  Flexibility here too goes a long way in complete dedication to doing anything that helps build the auction. Again, they start with a beautiful one-page document describing what it means to be a sponsor. The document is well balanced illustrating what the sponsor gets out of it on the business side in addition to how the sponsorship will help the deaf and hard of hearing children.  They have incorporated many HOPE children on the Sponsorship Level page, as those precious faces touch hearts deeply and bring investors onboard.  \n\nIf the potential sponsor says no, the team is committed to learn why, hoping to make their best effort to turn a no into a yes. They have found persistence has paid off and asking a few more questions to understand what the reason behind the no. For example, the procurement team was talking to a construction equipment manufacturer. This is not your typical consumer product, so a product donation is not applicable. After asking in a different way “if there is anything that you can donate that would be valuable, they would be appreciative”, sure enough the large equipment manufacturer has a stock of Yeti coolers and tumblers they use as client gifts. They donated a cooler package and it of course attracted bids and helped raise money.    \n\nHere is the sponsor request information being used for 2019.\n\n![sponsor front.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/sponsor-front.png)\n\n![sponsor back.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/sponsor-back.png)\n\n![sponsor form.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/sponsor-form.png)\n\n\n\n## Gala Team\nThe Hoedown for HOPE gala team creates a fun atmosphere that draws in over 400 guests. How do they do it? \n\nThey are committed to making the event a “don’t miss event” for the area by branding Hoedown for HOPE so it is memorable. The event attracts newcomers with an exciting line-up of activities.  It brings back the previous guests with an event that was inclusive of all levels of participation from low to high sponsors, low to high bidders, attractive raffles, auction items and experiences, and a Cowboy Draw raffle. They top it all off with good food and some boot scootin’ dancing. \n\nHere is the planned Hoedown for HOPE 2019 schedule of events: \n\n* 5:00pm Social Hour\n * Stampede (Silent Auction)\n * Cowboy Draw (Card game - win $500!)\n * Ranch Hands for HOPE (Gift Card Raffle)\n * Prize Package Ponderosa Raffle\n * Grand Prize Raffle - Win a trip to Maui!\n * Live music\n * Photo Corral, free photos of you and your posse (Sponsored by Hi-5 Orthodontics)\n * 6:05pm Blue Silent Auction Table Close\n * 6:15pm Red Silent Auction Table Close\n * 6:15pm Dinner Bell\n * 7:15pm Live Auction begins. Rose Backs, Auctioneer\n * 8:45pm Check Out Begins\n * 9:00pm Time to grab your partner and Do-si-do or line dance!\n\n## Commitment & Dedication Never Ends\nThe commitment and dedication do not end after the auction concludes. The end of the auction means the beginning of the next chapter of the story. The bidders, donors and sponsors all receive statements, receipts or thank you letters with heartfelt images and stories. Volunteer appreciation is also vital in the ongoing success of the auction fundraiser.  This comes at the price of just a few pizzas (and of course, chocolate) pre-auction. Since the majority of their on-the-floor volunteers are undergraduate and graduate Speech-Language Pathologists students, food is much appreciative by this young and energetic group. Thank you notes are mailed to the volunteers afterwards to share our heartfelt gratitude for their time and support.  Within two weeks of the Hoedown, a celebration is hosted for the Hoedown for HOPE committee to raise a toast to the success of the event and also to share feedback.  The good, bad and the ugly.  The feedback part of the gathering shows commitment to hearing and learning what went well and should be repeated and what can be improved upon.  It is a great time to inform the group of final tallies and re-dedicate for next year. \n\n------------------------------------\n\nSpecial thanks to Kim and Ashley for taking the time so share their auction story, and another thank you for sharing their auction materials. One of Kim’s favorite quotes is from Helen Keller \"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.\"  They hope this will inspire your auction team to be dedicated and committed to the cause that you cherish.\n\n\nMore about [Spokane HOPE](https://spokanehope.org/) \nIts child and family focused services include birth to three in-home language therapy and audiological management training, weekly Toddler Group that offers socialization and continued auditory and oral language development, preschool that centers around pre-academic and social skills development using intentionally designed listening and spoken language strategies, and pre-kindergarten that prepares children for mainstream kindergarten in their resident district schools ready to learn on par with their hearing peers.  “We walk arm in arm with the families through each of these development stages empowering them to immerse their children in a language rich environment and to advocate for their child’s right to be a participatory member of our hearing world.”\n\nFor more information about Spokane HOPE’s programs, please contact (509) 868-0044 or [info@spokanehope.org](mailto:info@spokanehope.org)",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":596},{"url":597},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/42f56c9285317c7e30da4dc2e1521fcdc017da11-600x320.png","2019-08-29T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":600},"story_hoedown_hope","Spokane HOPE auction team proudly shares how their auction team effort raised $170,000 profit at its 7th annual event last year, learn more","Hoedown for HOPE: With Conviction and Dedication",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":604,"category":605,"id":5,"image":606,"publishOn":609,"slug":610,"teaser":612,"title":613},"\n*August 1st, 2025 —* Auctria, the leading all-in-one fundraising event management platform, is thrilled to announce the launch of its brand-new **Auctria Admin App,** now available for both **Android and Apple** devices. This latest update brings enhanced mobile functionality to streamline **check-in and check-out PLUS in room purchases, bidding and donations** processes for fundraising events, making it faster and more efficient than ever.\n\n## Auctria Admin, is your event day mobile app: efficient, flexible, and convenient.\n\nThe Auctria Event Day Admin App gives event organizers complete control over guest check-in and check-out with just a tap on their mobile devices. The Auctria Event Day Admin App gives event organizers complete control over guest check-in and check-out with just a tap on their mobile devices. In addition, record and track the fundraising activities that are taking place.\n \nAdministrators can:\n* Quickly check guests in and out\n* Scan guest e-ticket QR code, to expedite check in \n* Tap to put a card on file*\n* Record sales in the room such as raffles, wine wall, drink tickets and admission tickets\n* Record bids from paper bid sheets, live auction and paddle raise\n* Tap to securely process payments for lightning-fast checkout\n\n\nThe Auctria Admin app turns your phone into a fast and convenient event-day dashboard, letting you work the room with ease.\n\n* for security this is tap only, not key in, for card numbers\n\n**The Event Day App  even turns your device into a tap reader,** dramatically speeding up both the check-in and check-out processes. That means happy donors, shorter lines, and more time for you to engage with the important people in the room, like sponsors and key supporters of your cause.\n\n### Simplify Your Event Night Flow\n\nNew for 2025, Auctria’s Admin App can now serve as a point-of-sale terminal to sell tickets, raffles, sponsorships, and other items available for sale to event participants directly from a mobile device.  Also capture donations and bidding, all without being tied to a desk. \n\nThis app is available on both Android and Apple, expanding on the previous Apple-only version that only supported checkout. Now, with full functionality for both platforms, Auctria ensures event organizers can streamline their fundraising events, no matter the device.\n\n\nGone are the days of needing card readers or swipers!\n\n### Effortless Setup for Auctria Account Holders\nUsing the Auctria Admin, Event Day App requires an active Auctria.com account, allowing organizers to tap into the full power of Auctria’s event management tools for seamless event execution. This ensures an intuitive and stress-free event experience, leaving more time to focus on building relationships with your donors and sponsors.\n\n### Complementary Auctria Bidding App Also Available\nFor events featuring auctions, Auctria’s Bidding App is also available to support fast, easy bidding in online auctions. While not required to use the Event Day Admin App, it enhances the auction experience, helping to drive more bids and maximize fundraising success.\nFor more information about the Auctria Event Day Admin App, the Auctria Bidding App, or to explore how Auctria can elevate your next fundraising event, visit Auctria.com.\n\n\nAbout Auctria:\nSince 2011, Auctria has been empowering nonprofits with its powerful yet easy-to-use platform that simplifies fundraising event management. From silent, live, and online auctions to ticket sales, raffles, and sponsorships, Auctria helps organizations raise more money while creating memorable experiences for supporters. This is another example of Auctria innovating!\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":67,"title":68},{"asset":607},{"url":608},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/3adae912afe70f802ee2794e2df195e59b93a75c-703x400.png","2025-08-01T14:36:00.000Z",{"current":611},"auctria-unveils-new-admin-app-for-android-and-apple","Task-focused, on-the-go check-in and checkout tool—right in your pocket.","Auctria Admin App Update: Faster, Easier Event-Day Management for Apple and Android",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":615,"category":616,"id":5,"image":617,"publishOn":620,"slug":621,"teaser":623,"title":624},"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nAuctria will be in Coral Gables, FL – August 6, 2024 –\n\n## Auctria Proudly Sponsors the Benefit Auctioneers Summit 2024\n\nThe Benefit Auctioneers Summit brings together top fundraising auction professionals to share best practices, network with industry peers, and gain valuable insights into the latest trends and technologies. Auctria is committed to supporting the auction community and empowering benefit auctioneers with the tools they need to succeed.\n\n“We are thrilled to be a Silver Sponsor of the [Benefit Auctioneers Summit](https://www.auctioneers.org/basum24)\", said Laurie Hochman, Director of Business Growth & Strategy at Auctria. “This event is a fantastic opportunity to connect with passionate professionals who are dedicated to making a difference through fundraising auctions. We look forward to sharing our expertise and learning from the experts in the field.”\n\n## Supporting Professional Auctioneers: A Commitment to Excellence\nAt Auctria, we recognize the crucial role that professional auctioneers play in the success of fundraising events. From captivating audiences as emcees to driving donations as auctioneers and leading paddle raises, these professionals bring exceptional talent, energy, and expertise to the stage. Their work not only boosts the financial outcomes of fundraising events but also enhances the overall experience for attendees, creating memorable and impactful events.\n\nAuctria is committed to supporting the professional growth and development of auctioneers. By sponsoring the Benefit Auctioneers Summit, we aim to provide these dedicated professionals with the resources and knowledge they need to excel. This summit offers a unique platform for auctioneers to learn about the latest trends, discover innovative tools, and refine their skills to better serve their clients and communities.\n\n## Why Auctria Believes in Supporting the Industry\n* **Empowering Auctioneers:** We believe that well-equipped auctioneers can significantly amplify the success of fundraising events. Our support ensures that auctioneers have access to the best practices and tools available.\n* **Enhancing Impact:** By investing in the professional development of auctioneers, we help amplify their ability to raise funds for numerous charitable causes, making a substantial impact on communities.\nFostering Innovation: The Benefit Auctioneers Summit is a breeding ground for new ideas and innovative approaches. Supporting this event aligns with Auctria's mission to continually improve and evolve the auction fundraising landscape.\n* **Strengthening Networks:** The summit provides a vital networking opportunity, allowing auctioneers to connect, share experiences, and build relationships that can lead to future collaborations and successes.\nJoin us at the Benefit Auctioneers Summit 2024 to learn from the best, connect with industry leaders, and take your benefit auction business to new heights.\n\n## About Auctria\nAuctria is a comprehensive easy-to-use platform designed to streamline the entire auction process from start to finish. Since 2011, Auctria has been the go-to tool for organizations looking to raise money and awareness through efficient and effective event management. With features that cater to silent, live, and online auctions, ticketing, raffles, and more, Auctria helps fundraising teams maximize their impact and achieve their goals.\n\nContact Auctria for more information: email [hello@auctria.com](mailto:hello@auctria.com)\n\nNAA/BAS Summit information: [Benefit Auction Summit - Coral Gables 2024](https://www.auctioneers.org/basum24)",{"id":67,"title":68},{"asset":618},{"url":619},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/f9b47d367abc9647d537b9c59160c63250cc52f2-600x320.png","2024-08-06T15:15:40.536Z",{"current":622},"auctria-to-showcase-auction-solutions-at-benefit-auctioneers-summit-2024","Auctria is a Silver Sponsor at the Benefit Auctioneers Summit.","Auctria to Showcase Auction Solutions at Benefit Auctioneers Summit 2024",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":626,"category":5,"id":5,"image":627,"publishOn":630,"slug":631,"teaser":5,"title":633},"Many nonprofit events struggle to raise meaningful money for two reasons. They feel transactional and disconnected from the mission. Or the event program itself feels like an afterthought. \n\nThe program is the delivery vehicle for the story of the event. And the story is where emotion lives. Emotion is what drives giving. If we don’t connect emotionally or build momentum before asking for support, the ask will feel uncomfortable. And the gifts reflect that. I learned this lesson the hard way.\nEarly in my career I helped host beautiful events. Elegant table settings. Gorgeous floral arrangements. Thoughtful programming. Guests told us how much they enjoyed the evening. We raised $3,500. Barely enough to cover catering.\n\nAround that time, I learned about another organization hosting a similar event that raised $130,000. Their event was simpler. The difference was structure. Their entire evening was built around an intentional emotional journey that moved guests from curiosity to connection to generosity. [That insight reshaped how I think about fundraising events](https://www.auctria.com/webinar/weaving-storytelling-through-your-fundraising-events/). \n\nA successful event is not a sequence of program elements. It is a carefully guided emotional arc. Each moment builds on the one before it, so guests understand the mission, feel connected to it, and see how their support makes a difference. When the structure works, the ask feels natural. Guests want to participate. Here is the framework I use.\n\n**What This Article Covers**\n\nThe **8-Part Emotional Arc** that guides guests from arrival to the moment of giving:\n\n* Welcome\n* Opening Spark\n* Meal and Mingling\n* CEO Vision: Now, Next, Needed\n* Keystone Video\n* Live Testimonial\n* The Ask\n* Closing Thanks\n\nEach piece serves a purpose. Move them out of order and the emotional momentum weakens. Let’s walk through the structure.\n\n## 1. Welcome\n\nThe event begins the moment someone takes the microphone. This role belongs to your MC. Their job is to welcome guests, explain how the evening will unfold, and share a short personal connection to the organization. That personal connection matters.\n\nEvery person who speaks during the program should answer one question for the audience: Why do I care about this mission? A short story works well here. Something simple and authentic.\n\nMaybe a board member shares how they first encountered the organization. Maybe a volunteer explains what kept them involved. These small moments of storytelling signal that the event is rooted in real experiences, not just fundraising mechanics. The MC returns later to close the event, so they serve as a guide through the entire evening.\n\n## 2. Opening Spark\n\nImmediately after the welcome, the room needs an emotional starting point. I call this the Opening Spark. This is a short moment that connects the audience to the mission before the meal begins. It might be a student speaking briefly, a meaningful ritual, or a quick demonstration of the organization’s work.\n\nAt one event we hosted, a graduate and a current student performed a chalice lighting ceremony together. It lasted just a few minutes, yet it centered the entire room around the purpose of the gathering. This moment does not need to be long. It needs to be sincere. Once guests have that connection, they are ready to settle into dinner.\n\n## 3. Meal and Mingling\n\nThis section is intentionally unstructured. People eat. They talk. They [reconnect with friends](https://www.auctria.com/blog/the-timeless-power-of-event-fundraisers/) at their table. \n\nBut there is still strategy here. Every table should include at least one event ambassador. Often this is the person who invited guests to attend. They know the organization and can answer questions naturally during conversation.\n\nAt each table we place story table tents featuring real student experiences connected to our mission. Each table receives a variety of stories. We might create ten different student stories and distribute them across the tables. Guests naturally start reading them while they eat. They pass them around. Someone at the table says, “Did you see this one?” and the conversation begins. That small design choice changes the tone of the room. Instead of general small talk, people start discussing the mission and the real people behind it. Board members and ambassadors at the table can easily build on those conversations. It gives them a natural way to talk about why the organization matters to them.\n\nThis part of the program lasts about ten minutes before the audience’s attention returns to the stage. \n\nIf you have any other activities planned for the event, this is the right time for [auctions](https://www.auctria.com/blog/auction-timelines-and-checklists-and-user-training-pdfs/), [games,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/proven-revenue-generators-for-an-event-fundraiser/) or [raffles](https://www.auctria.com/blog/raffles-success/).\n\n## 4. CEO Vision: Now, Next, Needed\n\nNext comes the CEO or executive director. This speech should be concise. Five minutes works well. The goal is to frame the organization’s work into three simple parts:\n\n**Now**\nWhere the organization stands today. Here’s where you can show the scale of your work and the impact it is already creating.\n\n**Next**\nThe vision of the nonprofit, specifically where the mission is headed.\n\n**Needed**\nWhat support will help move the nonprofit forward toward achieving the vision.\n\nThis is the macro view of the organization. It provides context for everything the audience will see next. Spend time coaching your CEO for this moment. The clarity of this message strengthens the entire event.\n\n## 5. Keystone Video\n\nImmediately after the CEO vision comes the keystone video. Think of this as the emotional bridge. The CEO shared the big picture. Then they introduce the video that will bring the audience into one individual story illustrating that larger mission.\n\nPeople connect most strongly with a single human experience. A focused story allows the audience to emotionally attach to the work of the organization. This video is 5-7 minutes long, creating a deep and meaningful connection. The video should build emotional momentum and draw the audience into the story.\n\n## 6. Live Testimonial\n\nAfter the video, bring a real voice onto the stage. For educational institutions, this might be a student. For other organizations, this could be a program participant, a client, or a family member. Someone whose life changed through the organization’s work.\n\nTheir role is not to deliver a polished speech. They just need to tell the truth about what this organization meant in their life. Guests have just watched a story. Now they hear another one directly from a person in the room. This combination deepens the emotional connection and prepares the audience for the next moment.\n\n## 7. The Ask\n \nBy this point in the evening, guests have experienced the mission in several ways. They heard the vision. They saw a story. They heard from someone whose life was impacted. Now the ask arrives.\n\nThis section is the most carefully scripted part of the program. [The speaker doesn’t need to be a fundraising wiz.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/the-magic-of-a-paddle-raise-your-most-profitable-moment/) They simply need confidence and the ability to explain how guests can participate. \n\nWhen the ask comes at the right point in the arc, the room feels ready. Guests understand why their support matters. Many gifts made in this moment are stronger than what people planned before they arrived.\n\n## 8. Closing Thanks\n\nThe MC returns to close the program. This moment should be brief and sincere. Thank guests for their presence, their generosity, and their partnership in the mission. Recognize board members, event ambassadors, and staff. Everyone celebrates the momentum created during the evening.\n\nA thoughtful closing leaves guests feeling appreciated and connected to the organization’s future.\n\n## The Takeaway\n\nFundraising events are not built around logistics, décor, or catering. They are built around emotion.\n\nEach piece of the program moves the audience deeper into understanding the mission and their role in supporting it. When that journey is intentional, generosity follows naturally.\n\nYour event is not just a gathering. It is a story. And when the story is structured well, the giving takes care of itself.\n\n-----\n\nSpecial thanks to Jessica Cloud, CFRE, founder of [Real Deal Fundraising](https://www.realdealfundraising.com/). Jessica is known for helping nonprofit leaders transform how they approach fundraising by addressing the mindset, behavior, and strategy behind results. Her work has led to doubling and tripling fundraising outcomes at the institutions she has served. Jessica is a sought-after speaker who equips advancement professionals with practical tools that drive immediate action. She holds a master’s degree in English Literature and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive. She shares insights on fundraising and board engagement on TikTok @realdealfundraising.  ",{"asset":628},{"url":629},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/9e9812a1226562d6283b760b95cc7e6c53547583-500x300.png","2026-03-23T17:30:00.000Z",{"current":632},"structuring-a-fundraising-event-program-with-storytelling-the-8-part-emotional-arc","Structuring a Fundraising Event Program with Storytelling: The 8-Part Emotional Arc",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":635,"category":636,"id":5,"image":637,"publishOn":640,"slug":641,"teaser":643,"title":644},"The Games Auction for Extra Life is a gaming marathon and auction. This is a unique event and auction fundraiser founded by George Jaros of GJJ Games. George is a board game designer and blogger with a passion for philanthropy. By pairing these passions, George has single handedly raised over $15,000 for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals! \n\nGJJ Games collects board game donations and auctions them off. The auction runs simultaneous to a 24-hour gaming event that is held at a local gaming store, There's Fun In Store in DeKalb, Illinois. The marathon is full of activities, incentives, raffles and of course gaming. The 2022 event can be viewed by [clicking this link.](https://charityauction.bid/2022ExtraLife-GJJGames) \n\nThe growth of the event is attributed to George’s relentless efforts to maintain relationships throughout the year. It is all visible on the auction and event website. \n\n\u003Ciframe src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/video/765789987?h=c4e5e5f100\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen>\u003C/iframe>\n\n\n\nThe auction and gaming marathon grow each year, bringing more attention and more funds raised. Here are a few key accelerators to the success:\n- Transparency in asking for auction donations\n- Transparency in where raised funds go\n- Promoting to a wide community, both locally and online\n- Donation jars for loose change\n\n## 1. Transparency in auction donations\n\nThis event is a gaming marathon and auction and many game donations are made. Some directly from the local gaming community, some directly from game designers and publishers, and still others from retail establishments. Many of the items have 100% of their final bid amount go to support Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.  Every penny of the final bid on those games goes directly to support sick kids! Some items on this site donated by the local community will have 50% or 20% donated to charity, depending on how much store credit the community member chooses to receive.  There's Fun In Store generously offers donors an opportunity to earn some store credit so they can refill some of the empty space on their game shelves with new games. \n\n\nEach auction item clearly states the give back level with an image badge to illustrate and provide additional transparency.  GJJ Games requests and receives donations in a few forms. Cash donations, raffle sales, donations of games for the auction, and donations of games for sale. \n\n- **100% to Charity,** - Everything earned will go to charity.  No store credit is given at this level.  All Sponsor donations have 100% raised go to charity, whether the items are new or used.\n- **50% to Charity,** 50% Store Credit - Local donors can split the amount raised 50/50 with the charity.  We wanted to give people the best opportunity to help the charity while still earning a bit for some new games themselves!\n- **20% to Charity,** 100% Store Credit - This is the traditional local donation model the auction has provided since 2015.  20% goes to charity and the donor earns 100% of the selling price in store credit.  But wait, that's 120% you say?  There's Fun In Store generously covers the 20% that goes to charity, using their own profit to give donors the 100% in store credit.  \n\nNext to each auction item there is an image indicating how much goes back to the charity. In addition, the 100% Charity items are tagged and can be viewed separately.\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/511308108855691b8ca1f21087c71bb0486af53d-800x202.png)\n\nEach item in the auction will be identified by one of these three logos, so you know just how much money each item is raising for charity!  GJJ Games goes on to share the financial breakdown of the expenses he incurs in running the gaming marathon in the FAQ section on the website. \n\n## 2. Transparency in Fundraising\nGJJ Games raises funds exclusively for The Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Here again it is very clear where the funds are going and breakdown of how each dollar is utilized. \n\nRight on the auction page you will see text with links that look like this.\n\n>This auction raises money for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals through a program called Extra Life.  Extra Life is gamers doing what they do best to help sick and injured children at their chosen Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.  In our case it is Anne & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.\n\n>The money raised through Extra Life will go directly to Anne & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital as ‘unrestricted funds’.  This means that the hospital decides where and how to spend the money to ensure the dollars you raise make the biggest impact in the lives of the kids they treat.  CMN hospitals treat every patient that comes through their doors, regardless of the family's ability to pay. Their mission is to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible and the funds you raise make it possible for the hospitals to do that!\n\n>So, how much of the funds raised in this auction go to support sick kids?  The answer is as much as possible!\nSince 2015 we've raised over $15000 for sick kids!\n\nSince 2015 we've raised over $15000 for sick kids!\n* 2015 - $200 (estimated)\n* 2016 - $427 ($132 in the auction)\n* 2017 - $528 ($200 in the auction)\n* 2018 - $890 ($450 in the auction)\n* 2019 - $3200 ($1172.40 in the auction)\n* 2020 - $3950 ($3392.70 in the auction)\n* 2021 - $6343 ($5108.32 in the auction)\n* 2022 - ????\n\nInfographics are another way GJJ Games tell the philanthropy story. Here are some examples. “Why do we need your Support?” and “Impact Dollar” are prominently placed on the auction website. \n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/77162a21c0206e7975f58fcd1cce042e76f5dc67-1600x1236.png)\n\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/8e911a0bc45622f41eee080c6c80622deee226af-1200x630.png)\n\n\n## 3. Promoting of the event\nThis event could not happen without the support of the gaming community. Sponsors and donors are sought and promoted on the event website. The gaming marathon event itself is promoted through word of mouth, social media and in-store promotions.\n\n- **Local Businesses** sponsor the event by providing one or more of the following:\n- **Providing donations** for our Charity Auction or Raffle, especially donations related to tabletop gaming, pop culture, or your business.\n- Support for the event attendees by providing **food, snacks, drinks,** etc.\n- **Monetary donations** of course are also encouraged.\n\n**Events & Demos** go for a full 24 hours. \n- **24 Hour Incentives** - There will be incentives for anyone who lasts a full 24 hours!\n- **The Great Meeple Race** - Will return with awesome prizes and fun events!\n- **Raffle** - We will have prizes and gift certificates to raffle off. All proceeds go to Extra Life!\nGame Demos - Come learn some awesome new games!  Events for Cartographers Heroes, Tenpenny Parks, Cape May, and more!\n- **Kickstarter & Prototype Previews** - Come take a look at some games before you can buy them!  Prototypes from GJJ Games and maybe other designers & publishers!\n- **D&D One-Shot Campaigns** - We will have one or more one-shot campaigns being run by our attendees.\n\n## 4. Donation Jars\nThroughout the year donation jars are placed near cash registers at the gaming store and a few other local retail locations. Passersby can drop loose change into the jars, and there is a sign stating that all cash is collected and donated to the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. When George first placed these loose change jars they collected about $15-$20 a month. When implementing the transparency and infographics used on the auction and event website the income from the donation jars accelerated to an average of $60 per MONTH. So the income went from about $200 a year to over $700 a year!  One small adjustment led to one big shift in donations.\n\nGeorge donates hundreds of hours of his time. In doing so he is able to secure an incredible amount of game donations. There is literally something for everyone. Board games, expansion packs, accessories, apparel, puzzles, toys, books, and ebooks are all available. His donation of time includes collecting donations, promoting and running the marathon, shipping and fulfilling the post-auction winning items, and more. \n\n-------------------\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGJJGames is George J Jaros Games.  George is a board game player and designer from DeKalb, Illinois. GJJ Games blog can be found at [http://gjjgames.blogspot.com/](http://gjjgames.blogspot.com/) \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":638},{"url":639},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/8a97ae98b2a8b47cb9c51bb14f8d4eb425e8267f-600x320.jpg","2022-10-31T17:23:44.396Z",{"current":642},"fact-transparency-equals-higher-donations-how-a-gaming-marathon-event-increases-revenue","Transparency in asking for auction donations and in where raised funds go","Fact: Transparency Equals Higher Donations, How a gaming marathon event increases revenue ",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":646,"category":647,"id":5,"image":648,"publishOn":651,"slug":652,"teaser":654,"title":655},"# 3 Objections to Consignment in Charity Auctions\n\nIf you’ve ever helped plan a benefit gala, [golf tournament](https://blog.winspireme.com/10-expert-tips-host-flawless-charity-benefit-golf-tournament) or luncheon that raised money through an auction, you already know how much effort they take to organize. \n\n[Successful benefit auctions](https://www.auctria.com/features/) - ones that reach ambitious fundraising goals - offer big-ticket items that generate high bids and interest among guests. To get the most out of your investment, most organizations set aside 30 to 45 minutes for the live auction.\n \nSo, what do you do when you’ve bundled enough donations for, say, 3 or 4 “WOW-worthy” packages, but not quite enough to fill the entire time slot?\n\nOne strategy: Round out your offerings with a few [consignment auction items.](https://blog.winspireme.com/the-5-golden-rules-of-consignment-auction-items) \n\n## **What is consignment?**\n\n*Consignment* (in a charity auction) refers to items that are free to use in your event - you only purchase an item if it sells, at the minimum price you set. You keep everything above the price of the item. If something doesn’t sell, you don't pay a dime.\n\nBesides the significant revenue bump, other benefits of offering big-ticket packages include the ability to identify high net worth donors in the crowd, save time in fulfillment, and elevate the caliber of the entire event.\n\nAs this fundraising tool becomes increasingly popular, questions and doubts can arise. If you’re thinking of any of the following when it comes to consignment…\n\n 1. High-end packages cost too much for our audience.\n 2. Consignment takes money out of the room.\n 3. We can save money by putting these items together ourselves.\n...well, you’re not alone. [Consignment travel providers](https://www.auctria.com/CAO/Content/Winspire#/) hear these objections every day. Here’s an insider take on each of these important concerns.\n\n### Objection 1: Consignment packages cost too much\n\nOften auction committee members approach consignment like this: *“We’d love to be able to auction off a trip to New York or a tropical getaway, but the price point is too high for our audience. They would never buy this kind of item.”*\n\n[![travel package examples.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/travel-package-examples.png)](https://www.auctria.com/CAO/Content/Winspire#/)\n\nIt’s smart to offer items within your donors’ spending capacity. That said, you never want to underestimate what donors would be willing to pay. **People will pay for the right item at the right time** - especially in support of a good cause.\n\nWinspire surveys show donors who buy travel packages at charity auctions span a wide range of income levels. Even if the minimum bid is higher than your past offerings, donors will be interested if and when the right experience comes along.\n\nAlternatively, to add excitement to a silent auction, you might utilize a niche of travel like consigned hotel stays only. Luxury properties in top destinations can be offered at a lower price point than full travel experiences.\n\nBest of all, [consigned hotel stays](https://www.auctria.com/CAO/Content/Winspire#/) can be offered with zero risk or upfront cost if they don’t sell.\n\n\n### Objection 2: Consignment takes money out of the room\n\nHere’s a recent email that event fundraising blog, Winspire News, received from a reader...\n\n>“We are having a discussion about the pros and cons of having consignment items in the future. Our belief is that people have only so much purchasing power, and it is preferable to reserve that capacity for items that net 100% to the cause. If we pay $3,000 for an item we sell for $4,000, it seems like we are winning, but we are losing $3,000 of giving capacity. I’m sure you are familiar with this concept and can understand, albeit not agree with it.”\n\nAt most fundraising events, this is not the case.\n\n![Winspire items in a silent auction.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Winspire-items-in-a-silent-auction.png)\n\n\nImagine if that $3,000 travel package wasn’t offered. Would the donor have gone and spent $4,000 on a fully donated item? **Not unless there was an item of equal or greater value and interest to the donor** – and even then, there's no guarantee they would have won the bidding. \n\nPeople don’t typically come in the doors with a set budget to give away. It’s all about offering the right item at the right time.\n\nWhat this means for your event: People can buy a travel package and still bid on that [gift basket](https://blog.winspireme.com/31-unique-buzzworthy-silent-auction-basket-ideas) or raise their paddle for the fund-a-need.\n\n### Objection 3: We can save money by putting these items together ourselves\n\nFinally, a common belief about consignment is that similar vacation packages can be donated, or at least purchased directly by the nonprofit at a lower rate than partnering with a travel provider.\n\nOne thing to consider: **Many bucket-list items are not donated.** Most charities are not able to procure the caliber of unique experiences that generate the highest bids - think a week at a private villa in Fiji, passes to the Kentucky Derby, or red-hot tickets to Elton John.\n\nDonations like a weeklong getaway at a board member’s condo make great revenue generators. Just keep in mind they are subject to strict blackout dates and last-minute cancellations. Luxury travelers don’t want to be told when they can and cannot travel, so packages with flexible booking periods typically offer wider appeal.\n\nAs far as purchasing and fulfilling your own packages, there’s a lot of moving parts that come with coordinating travel. The deal that’s there today may be gone tomorrow, and buying any item upfront comes with inherent financial risk…not to mention the countless hours needed to fulfill a travel package.\n\nWhen you’ve gone through all the work of putting together a [fundraising auction](https://www.auctria.com/learning), the last thing you want to do is play travel agent.\n\n![paperwork - unsplash free stock photo.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/paperwork---unsplash-free-stock-photo.png)\n\nPartnering with a travel provider ensures a positive experience for your winning bidders - and satisfied travelers are those who return to your event year after year, buying travel in support of your cause and encouraging friends to do the same.\n\nIf you’ve been skeptical of consigned auction packages in the past, perhaps you’re reconsidering the possibilities consignment can bring to a fundraising event.\n\nRather than trying to fill your entire auction with consigned packages, consider this a tool to round out your offerings and capture more travel dollars than you may have been able to get otherwise - all with no upfront cost. For more information on how to include consignment items in your fundraising and charity auctions, [contact](https://www.auctria.com/contact/) Auctria today!\n\n---------------------------\n\nAuthor Bio: Summy Lau\nThis post was created in collaboration with Summy Lau of [Winspire.](https://www.auctria.com/CAO/Content/Winspire#/) Winspire provides high quality travel packages and luxury hotel stays for charities to use in fundraising auctions and raffles, with no upfront cost. As Fundraising Editor, Summy brings extensive experience in nonprofit development, event fundraising and publishing to Winspire’s weekly event fundraising blog, [Winspire News.](http://blog.winspireme.com)\n\n\n[![Winspire-FULL-LOGO-200.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Winspire-FULL-LOGO-200.png)](https://www.auctria.com/CAO/Content/Winspire#/)",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":649},{"url":650},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/1423add629cedb821970023be54fc599a5baaac7-600x320.png","2019-03-11T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":653},"objections_consignment_winspire","Including consignment items in charity auctions has been debated for years. Read on to find out more from Auctria.","3 Objections to Consignment in Charity Auctions",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":657,"category":658,"id":5,"image":659,"publishOn":662,"slug":663,"teaser":5,"title":665},"## Are you ready to take your fundraising event to the next level? \nWhen planning, consider how best to *immerse* donors in *what* you do, *who* you impact and *how.* \n\n**Don’t just speak your why through great stories, SHOW it too! We believe the future of fundraising events is leaning fully into mission immersion and relying heavily on technology.**\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/372994a0c93ea8e32c4063fdd954814c06367743-350x500.png?)\n\n\n## Video Walls: Ideas + Benefits\nHave you attended an event where a video wall or video projection mapping was featured? If yes, you’ll know what we mean when we say, THIS is the future of events and fundraisers. \n\nImagine a wall plastered floor-to-ceiling with your org’s mission, [stories,](https://marquamagency.com/secrets-to-storytelling/) [videos,](https://marquamagency.com/video-production-best-practices/) PPT slides and images displayed. Once you imagine it, you can create it! And the possibilities are endless. You can project still pictures. You can even play videos on walls. You can include graphics, impact charts and any dynamic+dramatic imagery. Full-screen panoramas are particularly dramatic. Give a shout out to your [donors](https://marquamagency.com/targeting-donors-by-age-gen-x/) and [sponsors.](https://marquamagency.com/six-strategies-for-successful-sponsorships/) [Thank them](https://marquamagency.com/how-to-write-a-thank-you-letter-for-donations/) with a wall projection! Our partners at [Catholic Charities of Oregon](https://www.catholiccharitiesoregon.org/) projected an epic org timeline on the wall at their last event. It was a huge hit which clearly illustrated their longevity and impact. \n\n**What can you come up with?**\n\n\n\n\n\n### Super Storytelling\n[Storytelling](https://marquamagency.com/secrets-to-storytelling/) is one of the most powerful tools you have as a nonprofit leader. A well-told story about your org and the people/animals/places who are better because of it is one of the fastest ways to move people to donate. Wall projections are a powerful way to fully immerse them in your org’s unique, poignant stories. Wall projections are dramatically beautiful and hugely scaled. They’re impossible to ignore. \n\n### Education + Mission Clarity\nDo you ever feel like people don’t truly understand - or frankly, even know about - everything that goes into the work your org does? All of the moving parts. All of the people, tools and resources required to carry out your mission? What goes on behind the scenes? Do you find it difficult to explain your mission and all of its subtleties to the average supporter? Video walls and projection affords your guests a more enlightened perspective about what you’re all about. (Unlike the Wizard of Oz, you DO want your guests to pay attention to what’s going on behind the curtain!) Use video or a series of clever full wall images to walk people through the process of the work you do. SHOW them everything it takes to accomplish your mission and provide your services, from start to finish. Demonstrate the impact you’re having on the people, places and ideals you serve. When done well, they also serve as an amazing conversation starter. \n\nIs there a better way to tell your org’s ENTIRE story? To reach a roomful of supporters simultaneously? \n\n**We think not.**\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/c5e84ca2d9d9d6c4880e712a5bf5c4d9e7eb0737-800x500.png)\n\n\n\n\n### Marketing Your Brand\nBrand awareness is what you’re after, right? Your org’s logo doesn’t have to be confined to a screen anymore. Have you ever seen it projected onto a wall or floor? Pretty powerful, isn’t it? \n\nBranding is just the tip of the iceberg; photo projection offers you nearly endless possibilities in terms of fully immersing donors in your mission and the stories of those who have benefitted from your work and services. \n\n**Show, don’t just tell!^^\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/fe62d5edda66e6ee7e5b678832f20fe1d7b45124-800x500.png?)\n\n\n\n### Brand + Mission Awareness\nAssume there are people unfamiliar with your work at every event. But don’t let them leave your event unfamiliar with your work! Choose imagery that leaves no doubt in their minds what kind of work you do and how you’re making the world a better place. There’s room for visual branding before and after your event, as well - use mission imagery, metrics, and testimonials in your pre- and post-show visuals. Put them on a loop so as to be a constant reminder to your guests. \n\n**Display your mission, talk about it, emphasize how you deliver it and watch donations ignite!**\n\n### Eye-Catching Beauty \n[Avenue Portland,](https://avenueportland.com/) owned and designed by [The AV Department,](https://theavdept.com/) is a beautiful event space, and one well-equipped to handle your projection wall vision.\n\n\nDitto for [The Loft.](https://loft8thave.com/) If you’re in the Portland area, these are two fantastic options. If not, let us know. We likely know great vendors in your area too! And we love to share.\n\n## More Immersion Ideas\n\n### Mission-Related Activities\nAnother idea on immersing your donors in mission is to plan mission-related activities for the event. For example, [Hoyt Arboretum](https://www.hoytarboretum.org/?utm_source=google-gmb-maps&utm_medium=gmb-website-button&utm_campaign=locl.io&utm_content=c38e859c-b096-4ae9-b3a9-551f21ba189e) gives walking tours just prior to their fundraising event. The tours serve to educate folks on why the arboretum is such a special place and why it’s so deserving of their charitable dollars. Onsite fundraising can also work to demonstrate what we’re fighting for.\n\n### Virtual Reality \nVirtual Reality headsets are not just for games anymore! The [Freshwater Trust](https://www.thefreshwatertrust.org/) used VR brilliantly at their event: During the cocktail hour, guests had a chance to put on the headsets and walk the bank of a river bank so polluted it was heartbreaking. Filled with trash. Dark, dirty and lifeless. Untouched by TFT’s magic hand. Then donors were invited to walk the other side of the bank, after TFT invoked their restoration powers. It was clean, sparkling, teeming with thriving plants, fish and wildlife. It was an incredibly powerful display of the Trust’s impact and one that guests couldn’t stop talking about! We guarantee there were guests who weren’t planning to donate (or at least not donate as much), until this virtual reality experience.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/d3d1b14e73df268757d3f95af54b8749f52e7006-800x500.png)\n\n### Lighting + Color Theory \n[Lighting](https://marquamagency.com/light-the-way/) and color are powerful mission-immersion tools. You already know you don’t want “mood” lighting at [registration](https://marquamagency.com/how-to-rule-registration/) - you want that area lit up like Christmas! But what about color? It has a powerful impact on people’s emotions; therefore, it’s a powerful tool for you to consider! For example, red is an exciting color. Blue is known to increase communication, and purple encourages reflection. Use these colors subtly but strategically. Your AV team can help. Ask us for recommendations!\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/cb44d975843511e6d699ab8cc240039dbab68313-800x500.png)\n\n### Video \nAccording to our data, donors are 11 times more likely to retain content when it’s presented visually, as opposed to the spoken word without visuals. Furthermore, about 65% of people identify as visual learners. In today’s digital age, a powerful [video](https://marquamagency.com/video-production-best-practices/) is going to be more effective when it comes to immersing donors in your mission than words alone. \n\n**Immerse donors in YOUR mission creatively with some or all of these ideas.**\n\n-----\nSpecial thanks to Misty Marquam, Founder, Principal Benefit Auctioneer & Fundraising Consultant of Marqaum Agency. \n\nAsk Misty for referrals. Marquam Auction Agency works with some of the best in the biz!\n\nFully immersing your supporters in your mission is the trend. Are you taking advantage of your many options yet? [Chat with Misty and the team at Marquam!](https://marquamagency.com/contact-us/)\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":660},{"url":661},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/1ea5bd02c742fa8a03f2dc16d7a64962cecc9e24-600x320.png","2024-08-08T16:16:17.984Z",{"current":664},"immerse-guests-in-mission-watch-fundraising-soar","Immerse Guests in Mission + Watch Fundraising SOAR!",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":667,"category":668,"id":5,"image":669,"publishOn":672,"slug":673,"teaser":675,"title":676},"Whether you’re holding a charity gala auction or hosting a traditional school auction fundraiser, it’s a great idea to promote your event online, and on social media in particular. Both Facebook and Twitter are excellent platforms for getting people’s attention and growing your list of invitees. Here are 7 tips to help promote your event on Facebook And Twitter and create excitement.\n\n## Auction Items that Sparkle \n\nYour auction lots are your main draw, so talk about them! Feature your most special auction catalogue items on Facebook or Twitter posts by whipping up anticipation about them with some enticing copy and high-quality photographs, or even short videos. Showcase each item and really generate a buzz. \n\n## 2. Post updates \n\nAfter the initial post about your event, keep your followers updated with reminders so they don’t forget about it! Post regularly - once or twice a week should suffice - to keep interested parties updated, but not so often that they get fed up with you! “Include various hooks to keep people excited and on board,” says Stacie Jones, a business writer at [Uktopwriters](https://uktopwriters.com/review-oxessays/) and [Boomessays.](https://us.boomessays.com/writers) “These can include the latest news, links to press releases and photos of last year’s event.”\n\n\n## 3. Talk about your sponsors \n\nIf your auction prizes have been sponsored or donated by local businesses, take the opportunity to tell your sponsors’ story and why they are supporting your charity. Interview your sponsors about their involvement and post video clips of them describing the prize they have donated. You can also link to the sponsor’s own landing page.\n\n\n## 4. Get people engaging \n\nEncourage interaction by coming up with talking points in your posts. For example, if you’re auctioning off an overseas vacation, ask followers to name their dream destination and who they would take with them. Set up mini quizzes, with questions relating to your catalogue items. You could also conduct polls. If you make your Facebook post an “event” there’s the option for followers to not only tell you if they will be attending, but to invite others. And your posts can be shared on Facebook or retweeted on Twitter. \n\n## 5. Pin your post\n\nDon’t forget that you can pin your post (on Facebook, go to the arrow in the top right-hand corner of the post, click it and select ‘pin’. On Twitter, click the three dots top right and do the same). It will be the first post people will see when they come onto your page so make sure it’s your most eye-catching.\n\n## 6. Employ hashtags \n\nYou can use hashtags on Facebook, but they really come into their own on Twitter. Hashtags are searchable keywords, so think carefully about which ones you choose. You can also create your own hashtag for your auction, e.g., #promisegala23, for people to use when they share your posts and - after the event - when they share pictures and talk about how great your auction was! The hashtag can also be used in other aspects of your marketing, like flyers and wristbands, or could be printed onto t-shirts. \n\n## 7. Use your words\n\nParticularly with a Twitter post, you don’t have much space to get your message across, so be concise and create copy that is vivid, persuasive and to the point. Make sure you give all the key information, with the most important details first. “Each post is your version of an elevator pitch,” says Peter Finch, a journalist at [State of writing](https://stateofwriting.com/samples) and [Paper Fellows.](https://paperfellows.com/writers) “Be playful, creative and different, and attract the attention your auction deserves!”\n\nBoth Facebook and Twitter are brilliant platforms to promote your auction if you get to grips with their unique features and use them to your advantage. If you create engaging posts, your followers and others that see the posts will not only attend your auction with excitement and enthusiasm, but share the posts, creating additional buzz. Don’t forget to post regularly, and to use hashtags, and you’ll see your promotions fly. \n\nRebecca Leigh is a writer on marketing strategy for [UK Writings](https://ukwritings.com/proofreading-services) and [Academized.](https://academized.com/copywriting) She contributes to tech and marketing conferences, is a business consultant, and writes articles for online magazines and blogs like [OX Essays.](https://oxessays.com/writers)\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":670},{"url":671},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/8de6fa80c8c7454aadfbfabb0f7c3dffd6cb6f07-600x320.png","2022-12-23T20:50:06.279Z",{"current":674},"7-top-tips-for-promoting-your-auction-on-facebook-and-twitter","7 tips to help promote your event and create excitement.","7 Top Tips for Promoting Your Auction on Facebook and Twitter ",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":678,"category":679,"id":5,"image":680,"publishOn":683,"slug":684,"teaser":686,"title":687},"Ticketing is crucial for event success, managing attendance, maximizing revenue, and ensuring a smooth guest experience. Auctria's robust ticketing platform meets the diverse needs of any fundraising event, providing an efficient, user-friendly solution that integrates seamlessly with other essential event management tools.\n\n**The power of a smart ticketing Platform** offers a comprehensive ticketing platform that simplifies the process of selling and managing tickets for your fundraiser. Here’s how Auctria can help you streamline your ticketing process and elevate your event.\n\n## 1. Versatile Ticket Options\nWith Auctria, you can create a wide variety of ticket types to suit the needs of your event. Whether you are hosting a gala, a silent or live auction, a golf tournament, a cornhole competition, a pickleball event, or any other type of fundraiser, Auctria allows you to:\n* **Sell Individual Tickets:** Ideal for general admission.\n* **Table Sales:** Offer rates for tables, foursomes, or tournament teams.\n* **Sponsorship Tickets:** Include tickets as part of sponsorship packages to encourage higher-value contributions.\n* **Transferable Tickets:** Allow attendees to transfer tickets to others, providing flexibility and convenience.\n\n### Tournaments and Special Events\nFor tournaments like golf, cornhole, or pickleball, Auctria’s ticketing platform excels in managing various ticketing needs:\nTeam Registrations: Sell tickets for team entries such as foursomes for golf or pairs for cornhole and pickleball.\n* **Spectator Tickets:** Offer tickets for those who want to watch the tournament and enjoy the event without participating.\n* **Meal Tickets:** Sell separate tickets for meals, whether it’s a breakfast before the event, a lunch during the tournament, or a dinner afterward.\n* **After-Tournament Tickets:** Host an after-party, lunch dinner, gala, awards ceremonies. Sell tickets separately or bundle them with tournament entry tickets to maximize attendance and revenue.\n\n## Stress-Free Ticketing with QR Codes\nAuctria enhances the ticketing experience by generating QR codes for each ticket. These QR codes can be easily scanned at check-in, significantly speeding up the process and reducing long lines. Attendees simply show their QR code on their mobile device, making entry into the event quick and hassle-free. This feature ensures a smooth and efficient check-in experience, contributing to a stress-free start for both attendees and event organizers.\n\n\n## 2. Seamless Integration with Event Website\nEach event on Auctria gets its own dedicated website, where you can showcase all relevant details and facilitate ticket sales directly. This website can be customized to match your organization’s branding, using templates that are easy to set up and modify. Auctria’s Smart templates dynamically show tickets when they are available and allow you to set visibility rules for dates and times, making it easy to manage specialty tickets such as early bird or sponsorship packages.\n\n## 3. Mobile and Wallet-Friendly Tickets\nIn today’s digital age, convenience is key. Auctria’s ticketing platform ensures that your attendees can add their tickets to Apple or Google wallets, making check-ins quick and hassle-free. Additionally, mobile-friendly ticketing means attendees can purchase and present their tickets directly from their smartphones.\n\n## 4. Advanced Table and Tournament Management\nFor events that require assigned seating or team arrangements, Auctria’s platform makes it simple to manage these logistics. You can easily sell full tables or assign guests to specific tables, as well as manage team registrations for tournaments. This ensures that everything runs smoothly on the day of your event.\n\n## 5. Secure Payment Processing\nAuctria integrates with leading payment processors like Stripe and Authorize.net, ensuring that all transactions are secure and PCI compliant. This integration allows you to collect payments for tickets, donations, and auction items seamlessly, providing a unified experience for your attendees.\n\n## 6. Real-Time Reporting and Analytics\nUnderstanding your event’s performance is essential for future planning and strategy. Auctria’s robust reporting and analytics tools give you real-time insights into ticket sales, attendance, and revenue. This data helps you make informed decisions and measure the success of your fundraising efforts.\n\n## 7. Communication and Marketing\nAuctria’s ticketing platform also includes powerful communication tools that enable you to send customized emails and notifications to ticket holders. Whether it’s a reminder about the event or a thank you message post-event, staying connected with your audience has never been easier.\n\n\n## Real-World Success with Auctria’s Ticketing Platform\nMany organizations have already experienced the benefits of Auctria’s ticketing platform. Here are a few examples of how Auctria has helped streamline ticketing for various fundraising events.\n\n### ArtReach’s Charity Art Auction\nIn the spotlight article [Transforming Ordinary into Extraordinary](https://www.auctria.com/blog/transforming-ordinary-into-extraordinary-for-fundraising/) for Fundraising,\" ArtReach utilized Auctria’s ticketing platform to manage their charity art auction. The ability to sell tickets directly through their customized event website helped them maintain a professional image and simplify the ticket purchasing process for attendees. This streamlined approach not only boosted attendance but also increased overall revenue.\n\n### Habitat for Humanity’s Fundraising Gala\nAs highlighted in [\"Unlock the Giving, Unlocks the Doors,\"](https://www.auctria.com/blog/unlock-the-giving-unlocks-the-doors/) Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County leveraged Auctria’s advanced table management features for their annual gala. By offering sponsorship packages that included premium seating and additional perks, they were able to attract higher-value donors and provide a memorable experience for all attendees.\n\n### First Tee’s Community Impact Event\nThe article [\"First Tee is So Much More\"](https://www.auctria.com/blog/first-tee-is-so-much-more/) showcases how First Tee—South Dakota used Auctria to manage ticket sales for their diverse fundraising events. The mobile-friendly ticketing options allowed attendees to easily purchase and access their tickets, leading to a seamless check-in process and enhanced guest satisfaction.\n\n### Golf Tournaments and More\nAuctria’s ticketing platform is also perfect for managing tickets and registrations for tournaments, such as golf, cornhole, or pickleball. These events often require team registrations and specific logistical arrangements, which Auctria handles effortlessly. By offering online registration and payment processing, you can streamline the entire process, allowing participants to focus on the competition and fun.\n\n## Tips for Maximizing Ticket Sales\nTo make the most of Auctria’s ticketing platform, consider the following tips:\n\n### 1. Early Bird Specials\nOffering discounted rates for early ticket purchases can drive early sales and help gauge interest in your event. This strategy also creates a sense of urgency, encouraging attendees to secure their spots sooner rather than later.\n\n### 2. Bundling Options\nCreate ticket bundles that include additional perks, such as drink tickets, raffle entries, or exclusive access to certain parts of the event. Bundling not only adds value but also increases the overall revenue per attendee.\n\n### 3. Utilize Social Media\nLeverage social media platforms to promote your event and drive ticket sales. Share compelling stories, images, and videos that highlight the impact of your fundraiser and encourage followers to purchase tickets.\n\n### 4. Optimize Your Event Website\nEnsure that your event website is easy to navigate and mobile-friendly. Use clear call-to-action buttons and provide all necessary information to make the ticket purchasing process as smooth as possible.\n\n### 5. Follow-Up Communications\nKeep in touch with ticket holders leading up to the event. Send reminders, share exciting updates, and provide any necessary details to ensure they are well-prepared and excited to attend.\n\n## Make Your Fundraiser a Hit with Auctria!\nAuctria’s ticketing platform offers a comprehensive, user-friendly solution for managing ticket sales and enhancing the overall fundraising experience. By leveraging the power of Auctria, you can streamline ticketing, increase revenue, and ensure a successful event from start to finish. Whether you're hosting a gala, auction, tournament, or any other type of fundraiser, Auctria provides the tools you need to make your event a resounding success.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":681},{"url":682},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/06042b6e43f0eac85800a7ca9f3994454f1e4854-1920x1080.png","2024-07-30T15:46:44.256Z",{"current":685},"smart-ticketing-elevates-your-fundraising-events","Smart and stress free ticketing is what you want and what you will get with Auctria","Smart Ticketing Elevates Your Fundraising Events",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":689,"category":690,"id":5,"image":691,"publishOn":694,"slug":695,"teaser":697,"title":698},"# Happy New Year!  \n## Time to shake things up and get your PTA or PTO organized.\n\n## Are volunteers waning?\nYou’ve made it half way through the school year and your volunteers are waning.  The same handful of people has been carrying your organization through each event and fundraiser and Christmas break couldn’t come fast enough.  \n\n![image03.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/image03.jpg)\n\nNow that the new year has begun, your recharged group is ready to tackle the next event, but how long will that energy level remain before you are just looking to bring another school year to its close?  Does any of this sound familiar?  Even if you have a “successful” PTA/PTO, maintaining that status can be exhausting.\n\n## You’re not alone.  \nKnow that most PTA/PTOs struggle with growing and maintaining their volunteer base.  Each school year starts out strong, but halfway through the numbers drop.  Knowing this is the inevitable pattern, perhaps its time to find a way to use your time more wisely so that the volunteers you do have don’t get burnt out so quickly. Most likely, the members of your small, but committed core team are each doing several different jobs, going in 100 different directions at any given time. (And that’s not to mention all of the hats they are wearing outside of their PTA commitment).\n\n![image02.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/image02.jpg)\n\nIt’s time to shake things up and make some changes that will help set your PTA on a truly successful path.\n\n![image00.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/image00.jpg)\n\n\n### Get Organized\nYour first step is to GET ORGANIZED.  With a MyVLink website your team will have a single place to store all flyers and documents year after year, communicate with parents/volunteers, schedule volunteers, track inventory, advertise upcoming events, post volunteer opportunities, and collect volunteer hours.\n\n\n\n### Eliminate Busy Work\nNext, ELIMINATE BUSY WORK and free up some time so you can concentrate on more important tasks.  Liberate your Treasurer and do away with checks and order forms, bank deposits, and tracking down bad debt (bounced checks).  Rid your Volunteer Coordinator of signup sheets and reminder calls.  Free your Membership Coordinator of compiling member data.  Instead, make way for online shopping and volunteering (including automated reminders), electronic deposits, automated newsletters and membership submission.\n\n### Build and better website\nLastly, BUILD A BETTER WEBSITE.\nMyVLink has created a website builder so easy to maintain that anyone can do it.  Even the “technically challenged” and the “imagination benchwarmers” will feel like superstars!  And, your parents will love you for no longer needing to rely on their student to keep them in the loop or to make sure their money made it in with their order.  Parents will be able to volunteer for specific tasks from the comfort of their home or on the go with their cell-phone.\n\n![multi task woman.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/multi-task-woman.jpg)\n\n### MyVLink.org is a comprehensive website solution that can help you put the pencils down \n\nIt’s time to put your pencils down and join the online revolution.  Change can be scary, but MyVLink.org has made it as easy as possible.  Don’t delay.  Make this year’s resolution one that is simple to keep.  Sign up for the MyVLink website builder to end the crazy in your life.  Well, at least, in your PTA!\n\n![image04.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/image04.jpg)\n\n_____\nThanks to guest blogger Gretchen from [VLink](http://www.myvlink.org/) for her expert advice!\n\n[VLink](http://www.myvlink.org/) is a Website Builder is the most comprehensive online PTA/PTO website and toolbox. MyVLink is a Website Builder designed specifically with Parent/Teacher Organizations in mind.  Let MyVLink be your organization's comprehensive solution to volunteer management, communication, and on-line sales needs.",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":692},{"url":693},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/92c3ced2006e099393ecec67b1642d32b2929241-600x320.jpg","2017-01-02T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":696},"get_organized_vlink","It’s time to get organized, put your pencils down and join the online revolution.","Get Your Entire Group Organized",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":700,"category":701,"id":5,"image":702,"publishOn":705,"slug":706,"teaser":708,"title":709},"# Why Donor Engagement Matters | A Mini Guide\n\nAs a fundraising professional, you already know that your donor engagement strategies with donors are some of the most important supporters of your cause and mission. Without your donors, you wouldn’t be able to fund any projects or make any meaningful changes. **That’s why it’s important to foster your donor relationships and actively work to get to know them better.**\n\nTaking the time to better understand your donors will improve their donor engagement experience. But what exactly is [donor engagement?](https://www.auctria.com/blog/engage-12ways-wildapricot/) And why does it matter to your nonprofit?\n\nEven if you think you’ve perfected your donor engagement strategies, it’s always a good idea to occasionally review your processes and determine whether you’re maximizing all engagement opportunities. Read on to gain a foundation for donor engagement through the following commonly asked questions:\n\n 1. What is donor engagement?\n 2. How can donor engagement improve donor retention?\n 3. What are some donor engagement strategies?\n\nWith each year comes more ways to connect with your donors. It can be hard to keep up with the newest communication and engagement trends! Take a look at our guide to get a better sense of how you can improve your donor engagement strategies and [your nonprofit fundraising.](https://www.qgiv.com/blog/effective-fundraising-for-nonprofits/) Let’s get started!\n\n\n## **What is donor engagement?**\nMany nonprofits make the mistake of equating donor engagement and the [fundraising communications](https://www.fundraisingletters.org/) you send. Donor engagement encompasses much more than that!\n\nTo put it simply, “donor engagement” is every interaction, process, and action that makes up a donor’s history with your organization. For example, donor engagement includes each time a major gift is made, each instance an email was opened (or ignored!), and every time your donors interact with you or with each other. It encompasses the whole relationship between the donor and your organization.\n\n**Just like every nonprofit’s communication strategy is unique, your donors’ interactions with you and your donor engagement strategies will be unique as well.**\n\nIt’s a good idea to get a sense of where your donors are already active. Consider the various experiences and campaigns your nonprofit has hosted over the years and the different platforms you know your donors use. Get a sense of how your donors engage with your nonprofit membership program by reviewing:\n\n * **Your email marketing strategy.**  How often do people open emails or a donation form? How often do they ignore them? What kind of emails get responses? \n * **The type of [fundraising events](https://www.auctria.com/) you host.** Which event has the highest attendance rates? How are people reacting to the event once it is over?\n * **Social media platforms like Facebook.** Where are your donors most active on social media? Which platforms are better for you to invest your time in? What kind of posts get the most interactions from your supporters?\n\nDepending on your organization, you might have additional engagement metrics to review, like volunteer data, donor base or direct mail campaign results. Once you better understand what donor engagement looks like to you, develop your strategies based on those metrics. For example, you may look at your email marketing engagement metrics, notice that readership has fallen off, and choose to [segment your audiences](https://www.auctria.com/blog/segment-engage-averill/) to create more targeted content that is more compelling.\n\nDonor engagement is all about focusing on building relationships and growing the long term value of a donor. It doesn’t depend on getting gifts and donations now! Rather, it focuses on developing a positive donor relationship that will pay off in the long run. Invest in your donor relationships early and provide a stable foundation for future engagements and possibly future gifts. This will improve your **donor retention.**\n\n\n## **How can donor engagement improve donor retention?**\nHaving a donor engagement strategy is key to increasing your donor retention rates. Donor retention is when a donor who has given before, gives again.\n\nA good rule of thought is to aim for that **second donation.** According to [one study,](https://snowballfundraising.com/golden-donations/) only 19% of new donors tend to give again after their first donation. But once that donor makes a second donation, there’s a 63% chance that they’ll give again, increasing the likelihood of donor retention by three times!\n\nAccording to [Qgiv’s donor retention guide,](https://www.qgiv.com/blog/donor-retention/) your donor retention rate has a huge impact on your ability to fund your mission. Retaining donors has been proven to be much more cost-effective than acquiring new donors! Without prioritizing your donor retention rates, you won’t be able to effectively grow and raise sufficient funds, especially if you’re spending money on new donor acquisition efforts that don’t pay off in the long term.\n\nHere are some common ways to increase donor engagement efforts and improve donor retention:\n\n * **Thanking donors.** Make sure always to send your donors a thank you letter after they’ve given to your organization. It’s important that they know how much you appreciate them. This continues the positive relationship and creates a higher chance that the next time they give, it’ll be to you!\n\n * **Sharing impact stories.** Donors want to know that their efforts are making a genuine difference for your cause. No one wants to give money and not know where it’s going. Make sure to share impact stories and go in-depth on how your recent fundraising efforts have helped your mission.\n\n\n * **Include recurring gift options.** Adding the option of a recurring gift can help increase funds raised as well as make someone a more consistent giver. It encourages a donor to make a larger gift, just split up over a certain time period. Sometimes people want to give a lot but don’t have the means to do it currently. Offering recurring gifts lets people donate a little at a time.\n\n * **Offer different ways to give.** People might be more likely to donate again if there are multiple channels to do so. For example, offer text giving to your supporters so they can donate from their mobile devices while on the go! Donors’ decision to give is largely an emotional one; if it’s easy to give when inspired, they’re less likely to put off (or forget) to give.\n\nDonor engagement and donor retention are two concepts that go hand in hand for fundraising professionals. The more engagement opportunities you offer, like ongoing communications and opportunities to interact with you online, the more ways donors can continue their relationship with you. Those ongoing relationships open more opportunities to make gifts.\n\nOn top of that, showing donor appreciation and sharing impact stories can inspire first-time donors to donors to give, too. This is because they already know that you’ll be doing good work and that you value the people who support you.\n\n\n## **What are some donor engagement strategies?**\nEvery nonprofit has its own specific needs and goals, so there’s no one best donor engagement strategy to follow. It’s recommended that you take a look at where your donors are currently already active and then focus your efforts on that sector.\n\nHowever, there are a couple of moves you can make that can enhance almost any strategy and supplement your existing engagement efforts:\n\n### Prospect outreach\nProspect outreach is a strategy fundraisers use to learn more about their donors and identify those who are likely to be high impact donors. From there, nonprofit professionals can segment their email recipients and send targeted marketing content to those high impact prospects. That way, they get something more specific than just a [broad monthly newsletter.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/leveraging-email-newsletter/)\n\nMost nonprofits will invest in some sort of prospect research tool in order to do this. The prospect research tool then screens your donor database, checking for these two types of metrics:\n\n * Philanthropic indicators like charitable giving, affiliations to other nonprofits, and political giving.\n * Wealth markers like real estate ownerships, stock investments, and business affiliations.\n\nThe philanthropic indicators give us a clue into how likely a donor is to give to your organization (giving affinity) whereas the wealth markers hint to how much a donor might give (giving capacity). **Having both high giving affinity and giving capacity means that the donor is likely to become a major donor. **\n\nIf you want to learn more about how prospect research can affect your donor engagement strategies, check out [Double the Donation’s guide.](https://doublethedonation.com/prospect-research/)\n\n### Social fundraising\n\nA great way to supplement your donor engagement strategy is to host a social fundraising campaign. **For example, conducting a peer-to-peer fundraiser is one cost-effective way to empower your supporters to fundraise on your behalf.** This is an extremely engaging fundraising method and can turn your volunteers into life long supporters.\n\nHere’s how a peer-to-peer fundraiser works:\n\n 1. Recruit a group of volunteers to fundraise on your behalf.\n 2. Create individual fundraising pages for each volunteer. On these pages, volunteers can write about their connection to your nonprofit and why they want their friends and family to give. Most nonprofits depend on peer-to-peer fundraising software to create these pages: click [here](https://www.qgiv.com/blog/top-peer-to-peer-fundraising-platforms/) if you’re interested.\n 3. Create a deadline and fundraising goal so that volunteers have something to work towards.\n 4. Encourage volunteers to share their individual pages on various social media sites.\n\nThis not only raises awareness for your cause by reaching a wide audience but it also helps your supporters further connect with your cause. Through the entire campaign, they’ll learn more about your mission and become increasingly invested in reaching your fundraising goal.\n\nYou can also use gamification elements to further engage donors. This is a way to make the fundraiser a competition, and there are lots of different ways to do it. Try using badges to reward participants who reach certain fundraising milestones or add leaderboards to track the most successful fundraising teams. You can even publicly display your volunteer’s progress as further incentive!\n\n### In-person events\nConsider hosting an [in-person live event](https://www.auctria.com/features/) to supplement your various donor engagement efforts. Hosting an event is a great way of interacting with donors and supporters in person. Having face-to-face time with your donors is important!\n\nDonors prefer building relationships with people at organizations, and this is an opportunity to humanize your organization. It also gives you a way to get firsthand insight into your donors preferences, ideas, and passions—all valuable information that can help you improve communications and other engagement opportunities. .\n\nIt’s important that you [plan for an event](https://www.auctria.com/blog/dk-success-event-management/) in advance, especially if it involves ticketing and event registration. To help you organize the schedule and plan out the event, consider looking into an event management tool that will help you spread the word about your event, encourage registration, and share information with your attendees.\n\n**It’s easy to create an event to supplement any existing fundraising campaign.** A great idea is to host an event thanking the donors who contributed to your recent fundraiser. This can happen once you’ve reached a pre-set fundraising goal and can act as a token of appreciation and gratitude to your donors after the campaign. It’s also a valuable opportunity to show donors what they achieved with the money they donated to your cause.\n\nThere are a multitude of ways to sharpen and supplement your existing donor engagement efforts. Prospect outreach, phone calls, social fundraising, and hosting in-person events are just some of them!\n\n\nIt’s always a good idea to think about how you can better engage your donors. Donor engagement is more than sending out a newsletter every month; it’s getting to know your donors and determining which engagement channels would provide the most benefit for both them and your organization. Hopefully, after reading our guide on donor engagement strategies you have a better sense of how to engage donors, utilize resources, increase donor retention rates, and build relationships that will last a lifetime.\n\n------------------------------\nAbout the author: \nAbby Jarvis is a blogger, marketer, and communications coordinator for [Qgiv,](http://www.qgiv.com/) an online fundraising service provider. Qgiv offers industry-leading [online giving](https://www.qgiv.com/online-giving) and [peer to peer fundraising tools](https://www.qgiv.com/peer-to-peer-fundraising) for nonprofit, faith-based, and political organizations of all sizes. When she’s not working at Qgiv, Abby can usually be found writing for local magazines, catching up on her favorite blogs, or binge-watching sci-fi shows on Netflix.\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":703},{"url":704},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/bd0d12b58e17fbd732ae23358dd7b3dec8044631-600x320.jpg","2020-02-18T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":707},"why-donor-engagement-matters-or-a-mini-guide","Donor engagement is essential in building meaningful relationships in a non-profit environment. Read to find out more from Auctria. ","Why Donor Engagement Matters | A Mini Guide",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":711,"category":712,"id":5,"image":713,"publishOn":716,"slug":717,"teaser":719,"title":720},"Don’t Ice the Fundraiser During COVID-19 Crisis\n\nWe don’t know how long physical distancing will be recommended. We do know that most beloved causes still need funding to continue their missions during this time. Auction fundraisers are one of the best ways to continue engaging and nurturing your donors, supporters, and sponsors even while apart.\n\nDon’t cancel, don’t postpone. Here’s why.\n\nCanceling an event cancels the income. If you’ve already sold tickets or put down deposits, refunds can further hurt you financially, whereas going online can salvage money that has already changed hands. By switching to an online event, we’ve seen some organizations net more revenue than they would have in-person, largely due to lower event expenses.\n\n Be confident and show your audience that your mission is still crucial and that you have strong, adaptable leadership to achieve the goals you’ve set. Postponing an event indefinitely might create a sense of ambivalence. \n\n\n**GivingTuesday.org** was established for a single day of global giving the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Right now they have launched Giving Now to help charities address the current wave of need. Giving Now is scheduled for May 5, 2020. Not every organization has to participate; the purpose of sharing this is to show this is a big head-nod that it is more than ok to continue fundraising for your beloved cause.\n\nFundraising gurus are echoing this message:\n\n> **Pamela Grow, a fundraising consultant** frequently listed by top not-for-profit bloggers to follow and with over 20K Twitter followers tweeted, “The 2 worst kinds of fundraising you can do in COVID-19… 1. Tone Deaf: you send out that e-news appeal you scheduled in January with no changes, 2. You pause all your fundraising, assuming your donors don’t want to give right now.”\n\n> **Mark Phillips, a fundraising consultant** leading the team at Blue Frog Fundraising, tweeted “.. Look at results from the appeals currently running and I think anyone that called an appeal should get it out urgently. People are helping. People are giving. People are great.” \n\n> **Jeff Brooks, a fundraising consultant** who leads the team at FundraisingNow.com,\nfollowed up with, “...Seeing the same… getting better-than-usual results. Some dramatically better. All types of causes.”\n\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/e2e1f9f840296c604667c0e2960ba96aa9bf76de-303x375.gif)\n\n\n**Event planners echoed this message** recently in the Facebook Group Auction Team Talk. In a conversation about continuation, John Fuse from Event Full, a nonprofit event management company located in Virginia, said,\n\n> “I have been on many conference calls about that. The fact of the matter is a non-profit is a business and needs a revenue stream to provide their mission to their community. There are still supporters who believe in the work you do and [are] willing to support.”\n\n**Auction teams that did continue the course have reflected this sentiment and have shown success.**\n\nNorth Star Academy had the unlucky timing of having scheduled their Casino Royale Auction fundraiser at the exact same time that all community events were being canceled due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements being implemented. There were urgent and swift closures that required immediate action putting all the previous work at risk. The team quickly explored options to cancel, convert or postpone.\n\n**Spoiler alert: NorthStar Academy made as much as they did last year!**\n[READ the rest of the story](https://www.auctria.com/blog/shifting-silent-and-live-auction-to-virtual-live-auction/)\n\n## How to Keep the Fundraising Efforts Moving Forward\nSo now that we have shown that fundraising now is imperative, let’s review the ‘how to’ in the midst of a shelter-in-place environment. Utilizing the variety of tools that are available you can still make an impact and continue with auction fundraising activity: \n 1. Mindful messaging\n 2. Continue finding donations\n 3. Impact video\n 4. Convert in-person auction to online\n 5. Convert in-person live auction to virtual event with livestream & auction software\n 6. Event wrap up, thank you\n\n### Mindful Messaging\nSensitive messaging will set the tone for the continuation of any fundraiser activity. \n\n>Thank you for joining our online auction! This event is vital helping us fulfill the mission to ___________ fill in the blank \n\n>While we wish that we could gather with all of you in person, we know that this is the best way to safely raise money so that we can continue to ________________ fill in the blank.  \n\n>Did you know that the money raised during our auction makes up close to XX% of our funds for the year? \n\nBe honest and forthright about where funds are going, how they will be spent in the short term as well as overall campaign goals. \n\nMessaging for an auction or event fundraiser should include communications to sponsors, donors & bidders. \nHere are few starters for bidders:\n\nBidders are still willing to participate in the auction portion of the event. Give them an easy way to say yes!\n\n * Thanks for supporting the \"name of event. As you know our regular activities are being altered by COVID-19. As a precaution we are cancelling our in-person portion of the event. Good news, we are converting the auction portion to an online event.\n * Thanks for purchasing a ticket to the \"name of event\". We are offering a few options regarding refunds: full or partial refund; or, the choice we are most hoping you make is to donate the funds to the \"cause\" so we can continue to fund \"the charitable activities\".\n * Good news! The auction portion of the event will go on with no risk of community spread. \n * Online auction will take place starting \"date & time\" until \"date & time\".\n * Please help us get the word out! Our auction fundraiser has gone online! Now even more people can browse and bid on the auction items. (mention a few top hot items to gain attention\n\n#### Bidder Messaging\n**Bidders are still willing to participate in the auction portion of the event.** Give them an easy way to say yes! \n\nHere are few starters for bidders:\n\n * Thanks for supporting the \"name of event\". As you know our regular activities are being altered by COVID-19. As a precaution we are canceling our in-person portion of the event. Good news, we are converting the auction portion to an online event.\n * Thanks for purchasing a ticket to the \"name of event\". We are offering a few options regarding refunds: full or partial refund; or, the choice we are most hoping you make is to donate the funds to the \"cause\" so we can continue to fund \"the charitable activities\".\n * Good news! The auction portion of the event will go on with no risk of community spread. Use a well proven online auction platform to pivot the auction to an online event.\n * Online auction will take place starting \"date & time\" until \"date & time\".\n * Please help us get the word out! Our auction fundraiser has gone online! Now even more people can browse and bid on the auction items. (mention a few top hot items to gain attention\n\n#### Donor & Sponsor Messaging\n**Donors & sponsors gave to your fundraiser because they believe in the cause.** This did not evaporate in the wake of COVID-19. It is still important for companies to continue to show their dedication to the community.\n\nHere are a few message starters: \n * Thanks for your generous donation/sponsorship for our fundraiser \u003Cname of event>. As you know many regular activities are being altered by COVID-19.\n * Due to current conditions we are canceling our in-person portion of the event. Good news, we are converting the auction portion to an online event.\n * Your donated items will continue to help us reach our fundraising goal with an online auction fundraiser event in lieu of an in-person event.\n * Due to safety concerns around COVID-19 the \u003Cevent> will now be conducted as an online auction fundraiser. This gives us a unique opportunity to share our auction & mission to an even larger community. Please share the links, hashtags on social media.\n * We appreciate our sponsors for donating to our event fundraiser. Although we are needing to pivot to an online event.\n * Although there will be no \u003Cgala/party/cocktails> your sponsorship dollars are still vital to our cause. Please allow us to make the sponsorship count with our online auction event.\n\nConsider ways to offer different exposure to sponsors:\n * Online exposure with a sponsor catalog;\n * Include sponsors names on all correspondences including statements;\n * Exposure at a future event(s);\n * Tag on social media for continued support; and,\n * Direct email spotlighting sponsors for continued support in the time of need.\n\n### Donation Requests\nContinue requesting donations from willing businesses. If you are still in the process of collecting donations for your auction fundraiser, this can be an awkward time to ask for donations. Be sure to generously and openly thank those who have already committed, as well as focus on what you can legally do for them in return, such as sharing/reposting their news. Using online donation portals like [DonationMatch](https://my.donationmatch.com/landing/RF15466?referral_code=RF15466&redirect=www.donationmatch.com) can also help you identify more companies that are still donating--many are--and ease the stress of face-to-face requests.\n\n### Impact Video\nMany times an impact video is on the to-do list yet we never get to it. Now that we are sheltered-in-place this is a great use of the time. Hopefully with fewer ordinary distractions, the creative can take first place on the to-do list. Use a well-produced video to effectively communicate your organization’s mission and impact to make an emotional connection. During this time some people are seeking ways to help, both during the fundraiser as well as afterward in continuing the appeal on your donation pages. \n\n\n### Convert Silent Auction to Online Auction\nConverting the auction fundraiser is a very viable option to maintain income and cash flow. Most likely you already have donations accumulated already. Most likely have sponsors committed. Most likely have bidders that are wanted to attend your auction. By shifting to an online format.\n\nOnline auctions Online Auction Advantages\nGoing online can expand the bidder pool. Auction fundraising depends upon bids, bids depend upon bidders. The greater the number of bidders, the more bidding will take place, and the higher the bids. So, How to expand the bidder pool? Go online with the auction.\n\nSimilar to traditional silent auctions there is a start time, end time, and the bidding process takes place in between but completely web-based. The bidding window is much more flexible with an online event typically ranging from a few days to over a week. Online auctions add a layer of flexibility for both the auction itself and the participants. \n\nOnline auctions extend both the time and reach for bidders. The online auction naturally lends itself to online marketing with a direct feed to bidding. The window of opportunity for bidding for an online auction tends to be much longer than an event-based function. Extended bidding time boots bidding. \n\n#### Online Auction Accelerators Proxy Bidding and Anti-Sniping Bidding\nOnline auctions have the added feature of two highly favored bidding options. Proxy bidding and anti-sniping not only make the auction fun last longer but increases the bottom line for final bids.\n\n**Anti-Sniping**\nDuring online auctions the bidding fury takes over as the clock ticks closer to closing time. The winner is the one that got that very last bid in at the mere moment before the auction closes. The winning bidder is super happy but how much higher could the bids have gone? Online auctions technology has removed the sniper and increased auction proceeds with anti-sniping feature. [Anti-sniping accelerates the bidding](https://www.auctria.com/article/antisniping-details-examples/) so more bids can be placed, thus increasing the final bid.\n\n**Proxy Bidding**\nHave you ever run an online auction fundraiser and the bids come in s-l-o-w-l-y one by one? Although small increments for online auctions can provide engagement and activity it may not produce the maximum potential for the highest bids. In a standard online auction after each bid is placed the outbid bidder receives a notification but then NEEDS to bid again to back on top, and because people are busy they might forget. Proxy bidding or a more descriptive term is automatic bidding moves the bidding up efficiently without the bidder needing to be involved on every bid. [Proxy bidding accelerates the bidding so more bids go higher, faster.](https://www.auctria.com/article/proxy-bidding/)\n\n### Convert Live Auction to Virtual Auction\nVirtual live galas are quickly replacing in-person event fundraisers.  You may see these being called: virtual live gala, ungala or live online auction.  By any name the live event larger screen to be tuned in to the live stream event activity. Use a secondary device for the actual bidding and donations.\n\nVirtual Live Auction requires two parts: \n  1. Virtual live stream platform \n  2. Bidding software for real live bidding\n\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/0fce90fc26c1680dd3678230f45518441d0d7b29-539x274.png)\n\n\n### Virtual Live Stream Suggestions\nVirtual Live Stream types range in sophistication from simple to fully produced.  \n\nThis means opening the door to event more bidders potentially increasing the number of bidders and in turn increasing the final bids. The virtual live gala can range in sophistication from very simple in a single room, sitting a desktop or a full staged production. This decision will then lead you down the path of choosing a live stream mechanism. There are three major types of live stream options each with unique features:\n\n**Online meetings** all attendees gather and immediately interact. Differentiator-May not have a buffer to live feed. Minimal registration. Examples:\n * Zoom \n * Google Meet\n * Ring Central \n\n**Webinar style** has a more defined registration & tracking for better planning. Differentiator- lobby and buffer then ‘open the door’. Examples:\n * Clickmeeting\n * WebEx \n * WebinarJam\n\n **Social media style** has live alerts increasing visibility to those that use the platform, this also comes with less privacy yet more familiarity. Examples: \n * FB Live\n * YouTube Live\n * Instagram. \n\nThe questions you want to answer when deciding on what type to use is:\n * What are your needs? \n * Will this be for a single-use, multi-use.\n * What are the budget constraints\n * How many seats needed for admin, emcee, auctioneer?\n * How public do you want to broadcast?\n\n\n**Latency is a valid concern** when choosing a live stream service. We did a little bit of the homework for you here. \n\nIn summary for streaming services, \n * Zoom & Zoom Pro Webinar ~less than second\n * LiveStorm  ~2-15 seconds\n * YouTube Live ~2 seconds using ultra\n * Facebook Live ~24 seconds\n\nRead more for an [in-depth review and to see examples of each in practice.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/latency-of-streaming-services/) \n\n\n### Bidding Software\nThe power of the paddle can still be tangible in this new virtual phenomenon. Typically the live auction has a handful to a dozen items up for auction. Add a paddle raise to the virtual auction to increase participation for all the viewers to donate and support the cause. Utilizing a program that allows bidders to easily tap to bid and tap to donate vastly increases engagement. The easier you make it to donate, the easier supporters can participate. \n\n\nUse the platform that was built for bidding and streamline the virtual auction from registration through checkout with all the bidding and paddle raise in between.  \n\nThis is what the bidders will see as you take your live auction virtual on the Auctria platform. They will be viewing this from a page on YOUR dedicated website! You are controlling exactly what the bidder will see. When the viewer never needs to navigate away to make it super simple to make a bid or donation. Quick tap bid → which means quick tap fundraising! \n\n\n### Post Auction Event\nContinue the giving opportunity by posting the auction event recording to YouTube and other social channels and enable more donations. With YouTube Giving, the event lives on with the option to accept donations directly. According to YouTube’s website: \n\n>YouTube Giving is designed to help strengthen the way creators and fans engage in charitable giving on YouTube. Some videos and live streams give you the option to donate to a nonprofit that the video creator is supporting. YouTube covers all transaction fees, so 100% of the money you donate goes to the eligible nonprofit. Donations to nonprofits are non-refundable\n\n[support.google.com/youtube/answer/6318560](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6318560?hl=en)\n\n### Thank Everyone\nRemember to [thank all sponsors, donors and bidders](https://www.auctria.com/blog/thank-you-everyone/) for their time and generosity. Make the thank-you sincere and timely. Thank publicly and privately. Send out the week after the event takes place. If it is a very generous donor do write a handwritten thank you. Thank sponsors and donors on social media tagging them. To extend the appreciation, thank them as the funds are spent reporting on how their contribution helped the do-good. Continue the conversation to maintain and grow the relationship for further partnering opportunities.\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":714},{"url":715},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/616ec720c3e21fc362d1182ccee477f781b5d3ef-600x320.png","2020-04-30T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":718},"don-t-ice-the-fundraiser-during-covid-19-crisis","Auction fundraisers are one of the best ways to continue engaging and nurturing your donors, supporters, and sponsors even while apart.","Don’t Ice the Fundraiser During COVID-19 Crisis",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":722,"category":723,"id":5,"image":724,"publishOn":727,"slug":728,"teaser":730,"title":731},"Branding, establish a hallmark that is recognized. Close your eyes and think about your favorite brands.  What do you see, feel, hear, taste?  How quickly did you conjure these images?  Most likely it was instantaneous and this is attributed to BRANDING! \n\n## Think of yourself a marketer.  \nBranding is the chief goal of marketers for to define purpose, emote brand connection, establish consistency and engage stakeholder involvement.\n\n\nPurpose, brand connection to the donor & bidder, brand message, brand consistency and stakeholder engagement are the basis for brand awareness\n\n![rocket branding.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/rocket-branding.png)\n\n\n## Auction fundraisers should use branding too!\n\n\nDon Estridge High Tech Middle school is a great example of how they use branding for their Auction event all year long as well as year after year.  Technology for Dragons has been the brand for over 7 years of auction.  Their logo is very recognizable to all stakeholders: students, parents, teachers, employees.  The logo and tagline have been used consistently on all communications regarding auction fundraising.  Letters, newsletter, donation request letter, website, handouts, banners, and in general communications.\n\nBranding is important for long term development of a successful brand to achieve target fundraising goals.\n\nDon Estridge Technology Middle Technology for Dragons has mastered the branding and have shared some best practices with Auctria.\n\n\n### Purpose:\nQ. What does the group do and why?\nA. We support the technology needs of the students and teachers.  We do this to insure the students have access to the current technology to advance learning.  Our mission statement has evolved, but has basically been the same since our doors opened.  It is proudly and permanently displayed in the facility and online.\n\nTheir Mission statement includes: Don Estridge High Tech Middle School is committed to providing a world-class education... that includes a rigorous, technology infused curriculum to ensure that all students become responsible and productive lifelong learners.\n\n\n### Brand Connection\nQ. What comes to mind when your brand is mentioned?  How do you connect to donor emotions?\nA. We brand our students as “Dragons”.  Technology for Dragons is the tagline used everyday on every piece of material.\n\nPublic schools are typically underfunded and behind in technology.  We use the data that show how students that immersed in technology early will be survivors and ahead of the game in life.  Now is the time to teach kids how to use and think about technology, Now it the time to fund the technology, now is the time to teach and make technology a part of the every day classroom experience!  \n\nHopefully we have done a good job all year so when the the auction opens everyone is aware and registers to bid\n\n\n### Brand & Message Consistency\nQ. How do you get your message out?\nThe logo and tagline have been used consistently on all communications regarding auction fundraising.  Letters, newsletter, donation request letter, website, handouts, banners, and in general communications.\n\n\n### Stakeholder Engagement\nQ. How do you get people to care?\nThis is an evergreen effort.  All year long we promote volunteerism opportunities, small and large.  First we show what we have done in the past, then show what still is still outstanding to accomplish the goals.  The gap hopefully provides a chance for parents, students, community partners to find any way to help.  \n\n*ALL stakeholders help brand the auction*\nTeachers help promote message in classrooms\nTeachers help by donating unique experience for auction\nParents help us secure donations\nVolunteers organize the auction activities\nAdministration uses in place robo-call and parent email- technology\nTeachers and students help promote auction items on the student morning news\nVolunteers share auction communications via the school and PTSA website\n\n\n\n## Applying Branding to Auction\nThe obvious part is telling the public the purpose of the fundraiser.  Use past success as future road map, data, anecdotes, pictures, videos to make a brand connections.  Message on a regular basis through all channels consistently.  Emails, social networks, make them all synetgistic.  Include  logo, cover photo, tagline sharing.  Engage with shares to and from the auction site directly.  \n\n\nAuction name, logo and tagline should be created to align with the group's mission.  Use the auction, name, logo and tagline in every communications.  \n\n![don estridge logo with text.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/don-estridge-logo-with-text.png)\n\n\nUse some of the insight from Don Estridge Dragons and make your next auction fundraiser a branded fundraiser.  \n\n\nSpecial thanks to Val B from Florida for kindly sharing their fundraising story. If you have a best-practice to help enlighten the Auctria family please email us at [hello@auctria.com](mailto:hello@auctria.com)",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":725},{"url":726},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/2c61ea1eec658206f302c0f94b68b21be91875bf-600x320.jpg","2016-11-14T17:00:00.000Z",{"current":729},"brand_auction_story","You are a marketer, not just a fundraiser.","Branding the Auction",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":733,"category":734,"id":5,"image":735,"publishOn":738,"slug":739,"teaser":741,"title":742},"As an association, you have a lot of information to sift through. There’s member data, event registrations, and other components that need to remain organized, especially as your association grows.\n\n**But if your association has grown significantly and you’re still using spreadsheets to keep your data organized, this is a sign you need trade association management software.**\n\nSpreadsheets must be updated manually, leaving room for human error. However, investing in association management software, or an AMS, can streamline your data management process and keep your members happy.\n\nIn this article, we’ll share 5 reasons you need trade association management software to stay on top of your member data. These elements allow you to:\n\n1. Maintain a clean membership database.\n2. Easily manage your events.\n3. Design a great website.\n4. Streamline your communication with members.\n5. Pull detailed reports.\n\nLeveraging an AMS to track and maintain all of your data will not only help you stay organized, but also keep your members and engaged and involved with your association. Let’s get started.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/9c3c88942a2dd202dd014d17544ac196082c559b-750x130.jpg)\n\n## 1. Maintain a clean membership database.\nThe reason you have a membership database is to keep your members connected and their contact information readily available. However, if your database is not clean and well-maintained, this defeats the purpose.\n\nIf your membership base is growing, spreadsheets won’t be a sufficient solution to organizing your membership data. The same applies to when your association’s offerings are expanding. As you offer more courses, events, [fundraisers,](https://www.auctria.com/features/) programming, and other opportunities, you’ll need an AMS that facilitates the administrative processes associated with each one.\n\nYour AMS should help you:\n\n- **Track parent-child relationships.** Parent-child (or company-employer) relationships should be easy to identify within your AMS. This helps organize your data in a way that is consistent with trade association-specific practices and is simpler for your team to use.\n- **Merge data and deduplicate member entries.** Accurate and up-to-date member information is essential so you can provide your members with relevant information and opportunities. An AMS with built-in deduplication and data merge tools will help keep your member data organized and accessible.\n- **Integrate with your other existing software solutions.** If you have data stored in several places without a way to integrate your AMS with your other solutions, you’ll lose track of where your data is correct and where it may be outdated. Instead, maintaining your data in a centralized database that integrates with your other software choices will keep the data clean and consistent.\n\nBy keeping your member database clean and updated, you’ll meet your members’ needs with the information they seek and demonstrate the value your database brings. Learn even more about how an AMS can help your team with [Novi AMS’s guide to trade association management software.](https://www.noviams.com/amplify/trade-association-management-software)\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/845eaa27ddaf5146f632470f06187f7a2fa1be73-750x130.jpg)\n\n## 2. Easily manage your events.\nOne of the most impactful features of an AMS is the ability to manage your events. Whether you’re running a conference or [planning an auction,](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/3_steps_run_auctionfundraiser) your AMS should help you manage your event planning process.\n\nFor example, if you’re hosting a conference, your AMS should help you track and organize several different aspects of the event. For example, it should make it easy to:\n\n- **Track attendance** for the conference using a master registration list.\n- [**Sell tickets**](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/selling_tickets_filling_seats) using complex structures and member versus non-member pricing.\n- **Solicit** suggested donations.\n- **Limit visibility** to certain groups or sell to the public at large.\n- **Compare event performance** between conferences.\n\nWhen your [association management software makes planning your event easy,](https://www.noviams.com/) you’ll be able to focus more on the event itself, ensuring that your attendees have a positive experience. Then, when your attendees have a great time at your event, you can encourage them to remain engaged with your association for the long-term.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/418361d78303bc609f2fc429115f4992029056c5-750x130.jpg)\n\n## 3. Design a great website.\nWhere is the first place potential members look when they consider joining your association? **It’s your website.** Having a professional and up-to-date website will help you keep your members in the loop in terms of industry and association-specific news.\n\nYour AMS should offer a content management system (CMS) that helps you engage with your members and keep them updated. When the CMS is part of your management software, you won’t have to worry about finding a way to make sure both solutions communicate effectively.\n\nBut it’s not enough to have a web design component to your AMS. It should also offer certain features to make it easy to maintain your website. These include:\n\n- A responsive design. When your website is responsive, it will be easy to view from any device, including tablets and mobile phones. This will improve the user experience and make it easy for members to access important links, such as the login to their member portal. Your CMS should also allow your team to edit site content from mobile devices in addition to desktop devices. This way, you can keep your content up-to-date from anywhere.\n\n\n- Easy editing capabilities. Look for a platform that offers click-to-edit capabilities, which means your staff can easily edit the front end of your website without having to access the source code. However, source code options should still be available for staff members who have some coding experience.\n\n\n- Member portals. Members who visit your website should be able to log into their portal, access communications, and update their information. This will ensure they know when to pay their dues and keep them connected to your association. Even more, it ensures your association will have the most up-to-date information saved about each member.\n\n\n- Member directories. Your CMS should offer a way to search a member directory, which members can use to reach out to fellow professionals in their fields.\n\n\n- Google Analytics tracking. Google Analytics is a great way to track your site’s performance. When your CMS has this tool embedded into your association website, you’ll be able to track where your traffic is coming from and which of your outreach efforts are driving the most traffic to your website.\n\n\n- SEO tools. If you want your association's website to rank on search engines, it’s important to keep search engine optimization (SEO) best practices in mind. This means your CMS should offer the ability to optimize your page titles, edit meta descriptions, and leverage other SEO tools to make your site rank.\n\n- [Your website](https://www.noviams.com/amplify/association-websites) should be easy to maintain and serve as a source of information for your members. By leveraging an AMS-CMS package deal, you’ll encourage members to use your site to update their information and keep everyone connected.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/4867a30659d61b146842b04664fe087f8ebcdb09-750x130.jpg)\n\n## 4. Streamline your communication with members.\nMaintaining your member data using an AMS can also help with your outreach. Your AMS can help you streamline your communication to all of your members, allowing you to personalize your outreach and send only relevant information to the appropriate members.\n\n**Look for an AMS that integrates with the communication tools you already use so it’s easy to keep your members updated.**\n\nYour AMS should offer:\n\n- **Integrations with email marketing tools.** If your AMS integrates with email tools you already use, like Constant Contact and Mailchimp, you can leverage these tools to reach out to a lot of members at once and do so efficiently. \n- Automatic updates. When members log into their member portals, they can update their contact information and it should automatically sync to your member database.\n\n- **Segmented email lists.** Use segmented email lists to direct certain communications toward different groups of members. You can segment the emails based on similar association interests, classes completed, or events attended.\n- \n- **Member group creation.** You can also create member groups within your AMS and use your email marketing platform to communicate with these groups.\n- \n- **Social media integrations.** Stay connected to your members by embedding a social feed on your website that automatically updates so your members can stay current with news in your association. Your AMS should also allow members to embed their own social media feeds into their profiles in the member directory.\n\nYour AMS can help you streamline all sorts of communications and channels to keep your members engaged with what’s happening in your association. Be sure to leverage a platform that offers integrations like the above and email marketing tools to ensure your members receive relevant communications.\n\nIf you’re looking for more information on these integrations, check out [Novi AMS’s guide to AMS integrations.](https://www.noviams.com/amplify/ams-integrations)\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/d9d0f3f153b19d711d5269b81e0c94ac9ebec912-750x130.jpg)\n\n## 5. Pull detailed reports.\n\nStaying on top of your member data means leveraging effective reports. Your AMS should offer robust reporting features that help you track your membership metrics, events, and more.\n\nFor example, with your AMS, you can:\n\n- **Format your reports** the way you need them.\n- **Use integrations with accounting software** like QuickBooks to keep your financial data organized and secure.\n- **Monitor your revenue and attendance goals** for events, such as [auctions](https://www.auctria.com) or conferences that you host.\n\nWhen you leverage AMS reporting tools, you can monitor a variety of metrics to ensure your events are performing the way you want them to, your financial data is organized, and your reports are customized the way you need them to be. Choose an AMS that provides all of these features and you’ll boost engagement with your members and instill trust in them.\n\n-------------------------------------------------\n\nYour association is growing. This means your system for tracking memberships, events, communications, and other elements should evolve, too. Find an AMS that meets your association’s needs so you can engage even further with your members, keeping your team and member base happy.\n\nIf you’re looking for some of the top AMS platforms, [check out this list.](https://recharity.ca/association-management-software/)\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":736},{"url":737},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/081b37307d0b28f2fac6632cd55c1ab804eafa7b-600x320.png","2019-12-05T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":740},"5-reasons-you-need-trade-association-management-software","If your association is growing, your system for tracking all aspects of your association needs to evolve, too. Check out the top 5 reasons you need an AMS.","5 Reasons You Need Trade Association Management Software",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":744,"category":745,"id":5,"image":746,"publishOn":749,"slug":750,"teaser":752,"title":753},"California Trout Virtual Fundraising Event: A Silver Lining\n\nMost virtual live galas try to emulate an in-person event online. [Cal Trout](https://caltrout.org/) took a different approach recognizing the need to entertain while providing a virtual fundraising experience. Leading with the mission and celebrating where the funds go resulted in an extremely successful event. Successful in terms of expanding their event audience and raising money for the Cal Trout organization. \n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/fbe562c1584f8056ee4ad90f24d5398e1d3e0a2f-885x452.png)](https://youtu.be/yP2kJcVTr7U)\n\n\n## Timeline to Launch\n30 days prior to the event- educate and inform of the 2020 virtual format\n14 days prior to the event- open online auction\nDuring the planning stages plan out and practice all pre-recorded segments\nWeek of the virtual event practice with all live participants\n\nPractice and rehearse with the platforms that will be used in the actual event with the actual parties.\n\n## Cal Trout Story\n\nSpringtime means fundraising events and gala time for many nonprofits around the country. California Trout (CalTrout), a 49-year-old $10MM organization based in San Francisco, was no different. \n\nWith the coronavirus pandemic shutting down the state in mid-March, CalTrout was faced with a tough decision. Should we cancel our event entirely, shift it to the fall, or try something we’ve never done before and hold a virtual gala? Each option came with a high level of risk. \n\nThe annual CalTrout Gala, known as Trout Camp, gathers 375 people at the Four Seasons San Francsico each May, raising nearly $1MM for the organization. Representing almost one-third of our unrestricted funds, that revenue is critical to our efforts to fund the science, planning and development phases of large restoration projects, which provides leverage to secure much larger public grants. Clearly, cancelling altogether was not an option. Postponing the event to the fall risked not only sabotaging year-end donations but also had the potential of being cancelled given the unknowns of the pandemic’s duration. \n\nTrying something we’d never done before was decidedly the safest route to go. With just seven weeks to pivot and plan the virtual gala, now dubbed Trout Camp Live, our team got to work. \n\n**The results were amazing.**\n\nOn Friday, May 1, CalTrout’s Trout Camp Live virtual auction and gala succeeded in raising $825k, not too far off our original goal of $945k in gross revenues from sponsorships, auction sales, and fund-a-need donations and well above our COVID-19 reduced goal of $650k. The real silver lining? Given the reduced expenses of a virtual event, net revenue from the 1-hour live stream was right in line with our goal of $740k.  \n\n>“We were blown away by the generosity of our CalTrout community. They stuck with us as we ventured down this new path, supporting the organization’s work and providing critical funding as we enter into our new fiscal year in July,” shared Curtis Knight, CalTrout’s Executive Director.\n\nHere, Tracey Diaz, CalTrout’s Development and Communications Director, shares top tips for creating a successful virtual event. \n\n## Cal Trout’s Tips for Hosting a Successful Virtual Event\n\n**Channel your Lorne Michaels** – With a virtual event, it’s important to keep the content engaging and interesting for the viewer. Unlike an in-person event, where you have a captive crowd, your virtual audience is just a click away from heading to the exit. You need to entertain and engage, not just fundraise. For Trout Camp Live, we created an engagement segment called ‘Guess the River;’ where a California river was shown on screen and the first viewer to text the correct name of the river into the show won a Trout Camp appreciation kit. We also created short ‘Moments of Zen’ segments featuring our fly-fishing ambassador – a favorite among CalTrout donors -- Craig Ballenger, when he would opine about rivers, fish, and life in general. \n\n**Strike a balance but keep your eye on the prize** – In determining what content to include during the live stream event, our team worked to bring the same energy of our in-person event to the virtual evening. Celebrating the CalTrout community while generating support for the organization was always at the forefront. If your live stream is just about raising money, the audience is going to lose interest. Strike a balance of celebration, entertainment, and fundraising. Trout Camp Live sprinkled in check-ins with Zoom viewing parties and solicited video clips from members of the community that were shared during the evening to provide the sense of community while also weaving in appeals and plugs for the auction and fund-a-need.\n\n>'CalTrout's Trout Camp Live virtual gala was unexpectedly entertaining, informative, and inspiring. They did a great job of bringing the celebratory energy of their annual in-person evening to the online event while not losing focus on the important fundraising goals of the evening.’ - Andrew Fahlund, Program Officer, The Water Foundation\n\n**Adapt to the new reality** – The upside of going online is bigger than you might expect. Not only does it provide the opportunity to reach a much larger audience, but the online auction platform can also be more user-friendly and result in higher yields than a traditional silent auction. However, don’t attempt to use in-person auction tactics in the live format – especially for the fund-a-need. In the virtual world, there’s no need to cycle through the ‘raise your paddle’ levels and wait for bids at each one. Likewise, drumming up bids for ‘live auction’ items one at a time isn’t necessary. Instead, focus on short, entertaining pitches for each and check back in on the bidding and donations throughout the show. \n\n**Rally your base** –While we encouraged anyone and everyone to virtually ‘attend’ Trout Camp Live by watching the free 1-hour live stream, we were sure to rally our gala base. More so than for an in-person gala, CalTrout staff and board reached out to our contacts in the weeks leading up to the event to obtain pledges toward the Future Generations fund-a-need. Having a solid foundation of pledges allowed us to control the tempo of donations and keep the momentum strong during the live stream appeal. In addition, we created thoughtful viewing kits delivering them to 50 of our top-tier gala-goers to remind and encourage them to watch and participate in the evening. \n\n**Communication is key** – The importance of frequent and widespread communication about the event across all communications channels cannot be understated. Although the event was online, we made the decision to still mail printed invitations to our original gala invite list for a more personalized touch. Frequent emails and social messages the month prior helped keep the event top of mind and allowed us to promote auction items and sponsors. \n\n**KISS** – There’s no denying that the learning curve was steep. From determining which platform to use for the live stream, to how to orchestrate multiple feeds including integrating the Zoom ‘parties’, to building out the online auction site, CalTrout staff and our video and broadcasting team at Pusher Studios dove in headfirst. With the help of a consultant from Suite Spot TV, we worked through the structure and flow of the event and how many ‘bells and whistles’ to include, reminding ourselves throughout of the old adage ‘keep it simple, stupid’ to be sure we didn’t get (further) out in front of our skis.  \n\n**Embrace the brave new world** – Admittedly, our expectations were low. We were prepared to have a few setbacks, to take a hit on revenue, and to have some (hopefully) minor glitches during the event. And that would have been okay. I believe people expected as much. So, while the risk was high in many respects, the forgiveness factor was higher. If ever there was a time to take risks, it is during this new paradigm we’re all navigating and trying to get through the best we can.\n\n>“Each year, the CalTrout gala stands out as the must attend for many of us worker-bees in the fish and water world. It is great opportunity for us all to celebrate not only CalTrout, but all of the conservation work that we all have partnered on during the year. Enter Covid, and the virtual gala. CalTrout figured it out, how to keep us connected, have some fun and raise some money. They took a big risk, this could have been a hot mess, in fact it was LIKELY to be a technological fiasco, but they pulled it off.” – Steve Johnson, Principal and Co-founder, Conservation and Natural Resources Group\n\n## The Silver Linings? \n\nCal Trout auction team reached 4X the number of supporters during the live stream event than we would have at our in-person evening, resulting in over 40 new supporters to the organization. And the views are still mounting. Unlike our in-person event, the live stream [lives on our website](https://caltrout.org/trout-camp-gala) and [YouTube channel.](https://caltrout.org/trout-camp-gala) \n\nOur online auction items sold, on average, for 131% above value. In comparison, our in-person silent auction lots typically go for 70% of value. The online auction allowed donors to leisurely and easily peruse and bid on items without having to fight crowds or take away from socializing time. \n\nBest of all, with the decreased expense having not hosted a seated dinner for 375 people, we met our net revenue goal and exceeded all expectations. \n\nDon’t get me wrong, we’re very much looking forward to holding our in-person gala at the Four Seasons next year to celebrate our 50th anniversary but there are certainly lessons and insights we’ll carry into that and all our future events. And, while it was a steep learning curve, it was exciting and fun to do something new and different. So, go ahead, dive in and have fun with it. \n\n----------------------------------------------\n[California Trout](https://caltrout.org/) works to ensure resilient wild fish thrive in healthy waters for a better California. It's their belief that abundant wild fish indicate healthy waters and that healthy waters benefit all Californians. With more than sixty large-scale, \"boots on-the-ground\" conservation projects underway, in tandem with public policy efforts in Sacramento. Six regional offices work tirelessly to advance our cause through a three-pillared approach to conservation - science, restoration, and advocacy/legislation.\n\n--------------------------\nSpecial thanks to Cal Trout auction team Tracey Diaz and Nick Vidinsky for taking the time to share their auction story.\n\n**Tracey Diaz is California Trout’s Development and Communications Director**\nTracey brings a broad range of marketing and sales experience to CalTrout along with a good old Midwestern can-do attitude. After graduating from the University of Michigan, Tracey spent 20 years in the ad and media sales world before shifting to the environmental nonprofit sector in 2007. Her love of the outdoor active lifestyle and conservation brought her to CalTrout where she leads the DevComm team in sharing the inspiring story of CalTrout with members and supporters. Tracey lives in Marin and in her ‘spare’ time enjoys woodworking, mountain biking, and reading.\n\n**Nick Vidinsky is California Trouts Associate Director of Donor Engagement**\nNick’s earliest childhood fly fishing memory involves his rod dangling precipitously from a tree branch over the McCloud River. In the decades since, he developed not only his casting skills but also a professional background in journalism, marketing strategy, and communications. Nick is thrilled to bring those worlds together at CalTrout, sharing our story and helping grow awareness of our work that is essential to the future of California. Nick lives in Marin and loves mountain biking, skiing, homebrewing, and coaching Little League.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":747},{"url":748},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/4ea186c246864b749750d55cb781471512484222-600x320.png","2020-06-03T15:30:00.000Z",{"current":751},"cal-trout-s-virtual-fundraising-event-silver-linings","The silver lining to moving a gala to a virtual event, the results were amazing. ","Cal Trout's Virtual Fundraising Event: Silver Linings",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":755,"category":756,"id":5,"image":757,"publishOn":760,"slug":761,"teaser":763,"title":764},"Your event and auction website is your first chance to get your event in front of your potential attendees - which means it’s important to put your best foot forward! Your auction website should clearly communicate the event as well as the cause or organization you’re supporting and partnered with. It’s also your first chance to get potential attendees excited about your event, eventually increasing ticket sales, bids, and overall donations. This temporary website will publish all information related to your event fundraiser, so having a well-designed website is key!\n\nHere’s a few key tips to keep in mind when building your website:\n* Make it easy to find\n* Make the most of it, including all relevant info\n* Direct people to the website when it’s most useful\n* Use it to recognize supporters, including top bidders and partners\n* Customize it to your event and needs\n\n\nLet’s dive in and get you on track to **wow your supporters** with a stellar auction website!\n\n## Make Your Website Easy to Find\n\nThere’s a few ways to make sure your website is easy for potential attendees, partners, and more to find. Your auction website should link directly from the known, established organization website. Having a separate website for the auction keeps your information more streamlined (we’ll touch more on this later), but by connecting the two websites, it lends authority to the auction website so attendees know that it’s a trusted source of information. \n\n* **Auctria provides each event with it’s very own event website.** Choose between a few fun domains and customize the last part of the URL with your own org and event name.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/a4bc9cd68f1afb05f9486c88627e6abc130813c1-688x777.png)\n\n\n* **Use a vanity URL and redirect.** You can purchase a vanity URL from any big domain registrar like Go Daddy and redirect that year after year to the annual event website. Use something fun that helps brand the event. Example, one high school uses Auction4sharks and redirects that URL to their Auctria event. The event name is easy to remember, they can print banners that last year to year and it has become a well known event at large in the community. \n\nOne single site to direct people to every year provides  consistency, consistency  is powerful in retaining repeat attendees and donations!\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/64108e182a4f8f59883f7c4c118fd535a61a655d-800x450.png)\n\n* **Use your organization email for major announcements.** When you communicate with your supporters and potential attendees, to direct them to the website, be sure to use your organization email so that your promotional materials don’t get flagged as spam. This also serves to emphasize the authority of your communications and increase trust with potential attendees and partners. Keeping that trust is even more important if you plan on soliciting donations or bids through the website - your attendees want to feel confident in your security and organization before sharing their payment information! \n\n## Make the Most of Your Website\n\n\nOnce you direct attendees to your website, make sure that it’s worth their time. That means that it should be easy to navigate, nicely designed, and all the information should be clear and easy to find. Remember how we talked about trust and authenticity being important? Making sure your auction website matches the branding of your organization, including logo, colors, and font, assures your attendees and partners that they’re in the right place! Plus, transparency around how your donations are collected and where the funds go is essential to retain trust - and it’s easy to communicate that information clearly on your website.\n\nMake sure to choose a template that allows you to customize all of the above options. It should also allow you to post:\n* Videos\n* Images\n* Impact stories\n* Infographics\n\nand any other information you think your attendees and partners should know related to the event like where the event is being held, maybe include a google map!\n\nWant an example of a well-designed website that highlights where the funds are going? Check out our case study of [The Games Auction for Extra Life website that raised money for the Children’s Hospital Network!](https://www.auctria.com/blog/fact-transparency-equals-higher-donations-how-a-gaming-marathon-event-increases-revenue/)\n\nTL;DR:\nGJJ Games has seen massive success in their fundraising as a direct result of having a clear, well-designed website from Auctria!\n\nWant to see more examples of the websites you can build with Auctria? Check out [Auctria's Current Events page for inspiration!](https://events.auctria.com)\n\n\n## Direct People to the Website ONLY When It’s Useful\n\nOur attendees' time is valuable - so it's best to respect their time by only directing them to your auction website when it’s useful. There are a few points in the lead up to your auction where it’s useful to direct people to your website, as well as during the event itself.\n\n* Once you choose a date for your event, you’ll want to start selling [sponsorships.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/auction-fundraiser-sponsorships-make-money/) Directing partners to your website during this time allows them to connect with you 24/7. Working with sponsors via your website also allows you to track inventory for sponsorships and build FOMO as sponsorships run low or run out.\n\n* As the date for your event approaches, sell tickets through your website. As with sponsorships, this allows you to easily track inventory and alert potential attendees when tickets are running low.\n\n* Once your auction arrives, direct attendees to your website when bidding opens. This provides a one stop shop for them to bid, receive alerts about the items they bid for, save their payment method for faster, easier bidding, and more.\n\n>If you’re using a more physical bidding method, you can upload the list of items on your website for attendees to peruse ahead of time.\n\nEasily add a raffle or other additional benefits! There’s a lot of ways to add extra excitement to an auction event - [raffles](https://www.auctria.com/blog/raffles-success/) are one of our favorites because of how successful they typically are.\n\n**If you only send attendees and partners to your website when there’s something for them to do, they’ll know that it’s important to follow the links when you share them!** This keeps them focused on what’s most important - whether that’s buying their ticket so they can attend or bidding on items to win!\n\n## Use Your Website to Recognize Supporters and Partners\n\nYour website is also a great way to recognize your supporters and partners! Since your list of supporters and partners may change year over year, featuring them on your website is a great way to give recognition while still making it easy to update over time. \n\nSponsors are vital to the success of your auction event - after all, your attendees need something exciting to bid on! Making sure they feel recognized and thanked for their contributions can increase their likelihood of donating again in the future. Additionally, many partners may donate both as a way to support your organization and as a way to gain positive publicity within your community; a public acknowledgement allows them to achieve both of those goals.\n\nFor more information on why you should sell sponsorships and how to use them to increase your revenue multiple times over. [Consider your sponsorship as a business proposal!](https://www.auctria.com/blog/auction-fundraiser-sponsorships-make-money/)\n\nAuctria makes it easy to provide distinct value that groups can offer sponsorships in return for financial payment. Auctria can help you streamline the sale of sponsorships. Once a sponsorship is sold, you can list sponsors on the website in the form of a Sponsorship page or a Sponsorship banner. The banner can live in the header or footer of the website for even greater visibility, helping your sponsors shine! You can even link the logo of the sponsor for greater value-add. Use our pre-built Sponsorship Element to make highlighting your sponsors easy!\n\nAs AJ Steinberg of Queen Bee Fundraising says [Yes You Can Find Sponorships, and she teaches you how](https://www.auctria.com/webinar/yes-you-can-or-find-event-sponsors/) \n>“Treat sponsors like royalty”. Make your sponsors and partners feel appreciated and acknowledged with your customized auction website!\n\n## Trackers, Leaderboards: yes you can do that\n\nWhen you’re building your auction website, we recommend customizing it to your specific event and needs. There’s a lot of different information you can share on your website - what’s most important to you, your attendees, and your organization?\n\nThere are some (heated) debates about whether or not to use a fundraising tracker, target thermometer and/or leaderboards. Some say yes, some say no - no matter your preference, if you choose to add any of these to the event website it’s easy; and you can configure what data is tracked and shared. \n\nWith Auctria, you can customize your tracker, match your colors, and keep everything branded to your organization. Auctria can help you track total income over the course of the event OR select more specific values that you’d like to target. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/f9da6cf188571e9d3c5426154345ba7e5e47c230-870x472.png)\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/258dd0ebe0911ab64869e09ac01b308042cbb3f9-763x222.png)\n\nFor instance, you could build a leaderboard. These are great if you think the competition between donors would help encourage more donations. If you’d rather keep donor names anonymous, go for a tracker with the total amount raised or just highlight the biggest total donations instead. If you’ve set a target amount to raise over the course of the event, this is a great way to highlight how close you’re getting to your goal!\n\nNo matter what your specific goals are for your event, building a customized website with Auctria makes it easy to design a branded, effective website without tearing your hair out.\n\n## Looking good, and making it easy\n\nPre-designed templates make it easy get up and running fast and look amazing. Auctria's Smart Templates update dynamically! Add tickets to your dashboard and they appear on your event website. Same for raffle tickets, auction catalog ans sponsorships\n\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/53123b52b8ce4f159ba221f400cee4673c01eff3-800x400.gif)\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/9d13b3afaefb36c0ce629b83537d92d3127f0796-1488x543.png)\n\n-------------\n\nSo here’s the bottom line:\nUse a platform that makes your event look great! The tips we’ve outlined in this article will get you well on your way to building a website that puts your best foot forward in advertising your event and communicating with attendees, partners, and more. If you want more assistance with your website, Auctria is always here to help! Plus, Auctria websites are never branded with our marks or have ads. Your organization shines and is the only brand and top of mind for your attendees.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":758},{"url":759},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/938c47c927d607c76b834c55db7e0073f28d741f-600x320.png","2024-01-19T16:41:14.526Z",{"current":762},"don-t-underestimate-the-power-of-a-great-event-and-auction-website","Make the Most of Your Website  Once you direct attendees to your website, make sure that it’s worth their time. ","Don’t Underestimate the Power of a Great Event and Auction Website",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":766,"category":5,"id":5,"image":767,"publishOn":770,"slug":771,"teaser":773,"title":774},"Social media posts scheduled. Signage created and displayed. Team meeting held. Roles assigned and carried out. Sponsors’ checks cashed. Sponsors acknowledged as contractually agreed. Team debrief completed.\n\nAnd just like that, your nonprofit’s annual fundraising event has come and gone. Now what? \n\nThe truth is, events take months of planning but only hours to execute. Sponsors show up, logos go up, names are shouted out and then, the night ends. The team debrief often closes with an unstated hope that those same sponsors will return next year. For too many organizations, that’s the next time they will think about or speak to them: when planning ramps up for next year’s event. \n\nOrganizations that grow sponsorship revenue aren’t just good at hosting events. They are intentional about what happens after the event. And for small, all-hands-on-deck teams, this doesn’t require more staff, just a few smart, repeatable habits. \n\n## Build a Simple Post-Event Sponsor Report \nMost organizations do a great job sharing photos, celebrating attendees, and thanking their team. What’s often missing is a recap from the sponsor’s perspective. Sponsor impact is typically folded into the overall event story, rather than highlighted on its own. \n\nIn reality, many events wouldn’t happen without sponsor support. Sponsors help fund the venue, food, entertainment, and experiences that make the night memorable. A short, dedicated report helps them clearly see the role they played in making it all possible. \n\nYour report can be simple. Include attendance numbers, engagement highlights, and key outcomes such as funds raised, community reached, or programs supported. Add photos where their presence is visible. It doesn’t need to be long or complicated. It just needs to answer one question with a confident yes: Did our investment matter? \n\nSponsors want to know they made the right decision—and that their support made a difference. A thoughtful report builds credibility and opens the door to early renewal conversations, as well as other ways to partner before the next annual event. \n\n## Use Post-Event Surveys to Surface Sponsor Value \nMany nonprofits already use tools like SurveyMonkey or Google Forms to gather attendee feedback about what worked well and what could be improved. One opportunity that is often missed is capturing what attendees remember about the sponsors themselves. By adding just two or three sponsor-focused questions, you can gather valuable insights. Consider asking:\n\n* Which sponsors did you notice during the event? \n* Did any sponsor booths or experiences stand out to you?\n* Which sponsors would you like to see return next year? \n\nThese simple questions turn impressions into data you can share. They give sponsors real confirmation that their presence was seen and appreciated, and they provide meaningful proof points as you begin renewal and expansion conversations. \n\n## Schedule Follow-Up Conversations Early \n\nEvents take an emotional and physical toll, especially on lean teams. One of the biggest missed opportunities is waiting too long to follow up in a meaningful way. \n\nWhile post-event thank-you emails are often scheduled for the day after, they can feel impersonal and easy to overlook. If your goal is to move from one-time sponsorships to year-round partnerships, sponsors should have a different experience than the general audience. \n\nReach out within one to two weeks, while the energy of the event is still fresh. A quick phone call with a personalized thank you and a few highlights goes a long way. Ask one forward-looking question: *“What would make this partnership even more valuable for you next year?” *\n\nTake note of their response and calendar any ideas or requests before you approach them again with a formal ask. Let them know a sponsor report is on the way, if you haven’t already sent it. Renewal and expansion conversations are much easier when they begin as reflections, not requests. \n\n## Treat Sponsors Like Partners, Not Transactions \n\nOnce you’ve taken these steps, you’re already moving from one-time sponsor to repeat supporter to true partner. \n\nTo keep the relationship growing, continue to include sponsors in your story. Highlight their company in your newsletter. Tag them in event photos on social media. Invite them to smaller gatherings, volunteer days, or program visits throughout the year. \n\nEach touchpoint creates another opportunity to build a deeper connection to your mission. When sponsors feel seen, informed, and genuinely connected to the work, they come back, and often grow with you. \n\n--------------\n\nSpecial thanks Anetra Henry for the expert advice on sponsorships. Anetra is a strategist and author of the [Sponsorship Success Guide](https://www.anetrahenry.com/) with two decades of experience in organizational research and revenue growth. As a fractional advisor, she helps leaders find the strategic signal within their data to build the foundations necessary for sustainable expansion. \n\nLooking for more help [3 Moments Fractional Leadership Delivers the Biggest ROI ](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/3-moments-fractional-leadership-delivers-biggest-roi-anetra-henry-rfnic/?trackingId=Un%2F1CPyrRKCTyAx9S3k%2FkQ%3D%3D)",{"asset":768},{"url":769},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/a339ebb1a263cdcdecaee30b8d16af08e461019c-2121x1414.jpg","2026-02-20T18:05:47.118Z",{"current":772},"how-to-turn-event-sponsors-into-year-round-revenue-partners","How to move from a one-time sponsor to repeat supporter to true partner. ","How to Turn Event Sponsors into Year-Round Revenue Partners",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":776,"category":777,"id":5,"image":778,"publishOn":781,"slug":782,"teaser":784,"title":785},"Imagine that you just received a letter in the mail. What convinces you to open the envelope? If your name and address are handwritten or you recognize the return address, that might convince you it’s something you should pay attention to. \n\nLet’s say you open the letter. What makes you read it all the way through? Maybe the sender used your name and discussed a cause that means a lot to you. These are personalization strategies that capture your attention and convince you that the letter is worth your time and energy. \n\n**When your nonprofit incorporates personalization elements into your [marketing strategy,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/demystifying-data-marketing-6-steps-to-get-started/) you’ll increase the likelihood that your supporters will read your messages and build a stronger relationship with your organization.** \n\nSegmentation is what enables your organization to personalize marketing messages to engage and build connections with your nonprofit’s supporters. In this guide, we’ll explore what segmentation is and how you can use it to connect with your nonprofit’s supporters on a deeper level. Let’s dive in. \n\n## Definition of donor segmentation\n[Bloomerang’s donor segmentation guide](https://bloomerang.co/blog/donor-segmentation/) defines the term as “the process of separating your nonprofit supporters into groups based on common qualities and characteristics they share.” Nonprofits use this strategy to save time and reduce their reliance on generic, impersonalized messages.\n\nYou can create these segments within your [nonprofit donor database](https://bloomerang.co/product/donor-database/) using the information you collect about each of your donors through your donation pages. If your CRM software is integrated with your marketing solution, you can easily take donor segments and create email lists that allow you to send specific messages that will [best engage each type of donor.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/keep-donors-engaged-snowball/) \n\nFor example, your past volunteers will want to hear about how their time spent volunteering impacted your mission at large. However, this information may not engage your low-level donors who live several states away and can’t feasibly participate in your volunteer program. \n\n## Personalized segmentation leads to better retention.\nWhen your supporters are more engaged with your nonprofit, they’re more likely to continue giving year after year. This should steadily increase your organization’s donor retention rate, the percentage of your supporters who continue to give to your nonprofit every year. \n\nThe more information you capture about your donors over the length of time they contribute to your organization, the more information you can collect about them in [your nonprofit donor database](https://bloomerang.co/blog/donor-database/) about their interests and motivations. Using this information, you can further personalize communications, continuing the cycle and further engaging them. \n\n### How important is retention? \nThe average donor retention rate for nonprofits rests around 40-45% and has remained there for several years. By increasing your own retention rate, your nonprofit gains an opportunity to save money on acquisition expenses and raise more from your existing support base. \n\nIt costs about [10 times more](https://blog.mightycause.com/donor-attrition/) to acquire new donors than it does to retain an existing one, which is why you should focus on retaining the donors you already have. Plus, when you retain supporters and continuously build a relationship with them, they’re more likely to continue giving into the future and to give in greater amounts. \n\nBloomerang’s donor retention guide highlights this example of a nonprofit that increased its retention rate by just 10% and saved $456,349. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/4b72e58f02b298c74aa25bcbf32ebf00259e07ce-625x390.png)\n\nAs you can see, retention is the key to nonprofit growth. To increase your retention rate, you need to develop more personalized relationships with donors. This starts with using data to segment your donors. \n\n## How to segment donors\nNow that the value of segmentation is clear, it’s time to move on to the natural next question: “What segments should my organization create?” All nonprofits will likely have segments that are best suited to their own audience and their own organization. However, there are some common guidelines that all nonprofits may consider adhering to. \n\nAs you create your own organization’s segments, consider the following questions: \n\n* **How long have donors been giving?** This helps measure the recency of giving. If a donor has given every year for the last four years, they can likely be counted on to give again this year. Meanwhile, if a donor gave only once and it was two years ago, you might categorize them as a lapsed contributor. \n\n* **How often do donors give?** The frequency of giving can also help create important donor segments. For instance, you might focus your communications with monthly recurring donors on engagement strategies outside of donating, such as volunteering or participating as a fundraiser in your next peer-to-peer campaign. This helps ensure you aren’t overwhelming your regular contributors with additional fundraising requests on top of their usual recurring gifts.  \n\n* **How are donors giving?** The type of donations a supporter gives is key to determining how you’ll communicate with them. One supporter may give their time to your organization through volunteering, so your communication with them might centralize around encouraging a monetary donation. Meanwhile, you may encourage those who [donate online](https://bloomerang.co/blog/online-fundraising) to attend your upcoming event to get more involved. \n\n* **How much are donors giving?** Would you talk to your major donors the same way you would a first-time contributor? Probably not. That’s why you should have a segment for your major donors, as well as your first-time donors, mid-level contributors, etc. \n\n* **Why do donors give?** Identifying the motivation behind a supporter’s donation can be a great way to keep supporters updated with the information that is most valuable to them. For example, consider a nonprofit that conducts research for breast cancer. Donors may give because they had breast cancer themselves or because they lost a loved one to the disease. By taking note of this and incorporating that into your messaging, you have a better chance of deepening their connection to your cause.\n\n* **What topics are donors most interested in?** If donors are most interested in a particular project or campaign, send them more information about it. This holds their interest and ensures you’re giving them the most relevant information. \n\nYour segments may differ from the nonprofit next door, and that’s OK! These are simply questions and guidelines that you can consider when creating your own donor segments. Think about the guidelines you’ll need to ensure the [greatest engagement](https://www.auctria.com/blog/why-donor-engagement-matters-or-a-mini-guide/) among your unique audience. \n\n### Common segments\nWhile your segments should be unique to your organization, you may still need some inspiration for the types of segments you should create. The following are some of the most common donor segments that nonprofits create: \n\n* **Monthly donors.** Your nonprofit’s [recurring donors](https://blog.donately.com/monthly-giving/) are most likely to be retained year after year because their gift is automatically withdrawn from their bank account or hits their credit card on a regular basis. Create a segment of monthly donors and try to involve them in other activities. You should also find unique ways to thank them after each recurring gift. This strengthens their relationship with your cause and prevents the “set it and forget it” mentality. \n\n* **First-time donors.** First-time donors usually have the lowest retention rate—at an average rate of around [20%.](https://bloomerang.co/donor-retention/) Meanwhile, repeat donor retention rates average around 60%. Therefore, your goal for segmenting first-time donors is to [cultivate](https://www.auctria.com/blog/donor-cultivation-6-tips-for-modernizing-your-approach/) the second or “golden” donation from supporters because it’s the fastest path to increasing your overall retention rate.\n\n* **Lapsed donors.** You shouldn’t give up on winning back your lapsed donors. At the very least, you should try reaching out once or twice to get them to give again. This isn’t the only value they could provide your nonprofit, however. These supporters can also be a valuable resource for information. Consider sending them a survey to ask why they lapsed so you can use that information to hopefully prevent other donors from lapsing in the future. \n\n* **Volunteers who never gave.** Volunteers have already shown a commitment to your cause. By encouraging them to donate if they haven’t done so before, your nonprofit can strengthen their involvement with your cause while raising additional funds. Keep in mind that volunteers may also be able to generate revenue through volunteer grants. [According to Double the Donation,](https://doublethedonation.com/tips/volunteer-grant-basics/) volunteer grant programs are a type of corporate philanthropy initiative wherein “companies provide monetary grants to organizations where employees regularly volunteer.” This makes volunteers an important source of revenue.\n\n* **Donors who shared feedback.** Donors who give feedback to your organization care about your organization’s success. Respond to their feedback and continue encouraging them to get involved. This should help you retain them over time.\n\n* **Engaged social media followers.** People who follow and engage with your organization on social media want to hear from your nonprofit. You can leverage this segment to get the word out about your various campaigns, specifically, those that take place largely on social media like Giving Tuesday or Facebook fundraising campaigns. \n\n* **Long-term donors.** Your long-term donors have given over the years and proven their loyalty to your cause. Therefore, you shouldn’t treat them like your first-time donors. Tell them about upcoming events and new opportunities to get involved. Or, review their history with your organization to show their impact over the years. \n\nDevelop the segments that will best serve your nonprofit. You know your organization better than anyone, so you know which segments will be most valuable. \n\n--------------------------\nYour nonprofit’s marketing and fundraising teams can use segmentation to more effectively reach out to and build relationships with your supporters, encouraging them to continue giving in the future. This helps your nonprofit increase your donor retention rate and raise more revenue. \n-------------------\nSpecial thanks to Jay Love for sharing the expert advice. Jay is Co-Founder and current Chief Relationship Officer at Bloomerang\n\nHe has served this sector for 33 years and is considered the most well-known senior statesman whose advice is sought constantly.\n\nPrior to Bloomerang, he was the CEO and Co-Founder of eTapestry for 11 years, which at the time was the leading SaaS technology company serving the charity sector. Jay and his team grew the company to more than 10,000 nonprofit clients, charting a decade of record growth.\n\nHe is a graduate of Butler University with a B.S. in Business Administration. Over the years, he has given more than 2,500 speeches around the world for the charity sector and is often the voice of new technology for fundraisers.\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":779},{"url":780},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/2e92c69f22c54a3ed495df00e26bae47a29e4eb6-600x320.png","2022-03-01T05:00:00.000Z",{"current":783},"what-is-donor-segmentation-and-why-is-it-important","Donor segmentation helps nonprofits like yours personalize marketing messages and better reach the target audience. Learn more about it in this guide.","What Is Donor Segmentation And Why Is It Important?",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":787,"category":788,"id":5,"image":789,"publishOn":792,"slug":793,"teaser":795,"title":796},"When you hear “it takes a village” Deb Wheeler and her team answer the call with “we are your village!” Out of Kootenai County, in northern Idaho is a special group of volunteers that help many of the local nonprofit organizations raise money. They specialize in auction and fundraising events, volunteering their time and expertise to support a wide variety of charitable organizations:\n\n- Post Falls Food Bank\n- Kootenai Humane Society\n- Private Schools\n- Chambers of Commerce\n- Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)\n- Crisis Centers\n- Senior Living Communities\n\nThese nonprofits all have one thing in common, their supporters will always gather to give and whenever they do Deb and her team will be there to help with check-in, check-out and general fundraising and event day support. \n\nDeb’s team consists of 8-10 ladies who volunteer for these nonprofit auctions.  Usually 3-5 women work each auction, depending on anticipated attendance.  Most of these women are managers of their own businesses or organizations and have a heart to give back to the community.  Deb will also help organizations with set up and reconciliation after the auction if needed.\n\nDeb and her team have this down to science. The key factors to fundraising for these groups are:\n\n- Gather to give, recognizing those who are passionate about your cause\n- Auction items that appeal to your audience\n- Be organized and prepared for any unexpected event day incident\n\nKootenai County is an area known as the Panhandle of Idaho, surrounded by scenic mountains and beautiful lakes. Event fundraisers work here because this community has a big heart and a willingness to give to those who are in need.  When creating a fundraising event there are two goals. The first is to raise awareness for the cause and the second is to raise money for the cause. When giving people a reason to gather, they give!\n\n**Donations for auction items are vital to the success of the event.** Deb says “our attendees love to bid and win.”  The more desirable the items, the more people will bid on them pushing the final bids as high as possible.  Some organizations combine an online auction with their silent auction items, the week before the actual event thereby giving even a wider audience an opportunity to play and win. \n\n## Live auction items that do well consistently include:\n\n- Private dinners and experiences\n- Dining classes and experiences\n- Sporting event packages\n- High end craft goods like decorated Christmas trees, handmade quilts, etc.\n- Day trip activities, such as a day at the lake or snow skiing\n- Vacation packages\n\n## Raffles and games at an event do really well, too. \nThe more fun the better! Raffles that sell well are:\n\n- Wine Tree\n- Beer Wagon\n- Specialty Dining\n- Specialty Desserts or Champagne\n\n## Paddle Raise\nNo event fundraiser is complete without a paddle raise. The reason people are gathering is to give. The paddle raise is moving way for the audience to give at whatever level they can afford. Prior to the paddle raise, sharing real stories from real people helps the audience understand the reason they are gathered to give. When the paddle raise begins you can feel the power; every paddle raised shows someone’s generosity.\n\nDeb explains that a great fundraising event starts weeks before the day of the event with the clerical activities of inputting donors and auction items, pricing items for lots of bids, having bidder’s information put in the system before the event and promoting the event in advance. \n\nOne of the secrets of a smooth running event is to be organized and prepared for any unexpected event day incident!  There is a lot of action during the event here is a sample time frame:\n\n- **Check-in;** Streamlining ticket sales and registration prior to guests arriving at the door makes for a quick check-in process, so that guests do not have to stand in line and can be inside the room using those bidder numbers!  Capturing a guest’s credit card at the door is a must.\n- **In-room sales;** Silent auction items, raffle tickets, golden tickets, specialty drink sales all increase the bottom line for making money. Having these available for sale and more importantly, easy to purchase with a bid number, with trained volunteers to make the giving fun.\n- **Dinner and/or speaker:** during this time the input team can record all of the raffle/game/sales into Auctria.\n- **Live auction and paddle raise;** Spotters are prepared with forms to record final bids and the winning bidder numbers on live auction items and also record bidder numbers for the paddle raise.  Those recording sheets are taken back to the input team to record into Auctria so it all goes into the bidder’s account for easy collection at check-out.\n\nHere are examples of the live bid sheet blanks and paddle raise forms that Deb created to use at every auction and event fundraiser that the team volunteers for.\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/0411cfe8174bd2484a4dce8c0cdcef1586e02cdd-300x400.png?w=450)\n\n\n## Be ready for anything\n \nThe smoothest way to handle any event, large or small, is to plan for everything, and to expect that something will come up that you did not anticipate!  This includes the physical logistics and supplies needed at the event. Besides computers for everyone and a small printer, a Go-Bag (with wheels!) is a fundamental part of the process. The bag contains everything that may be needed by the volunteers to work seamlessly. Taking a peek into the bag you will find:\n\n- Hot spot\n- Extension cords\n- Surge protectors\n- USB credit card swipes\n- Computer mice and extra batteries\n- Pens, pencils, highlighters, tape, scissors\n- Paper clips, rubber bands, binder clips\n- Small legal pads of paper and post it notes\n- Envelopes, bank bag for money\n- Copy paper, colored paper\n- Extra blank bid sheets and summary sheets\n- Extra blank live auction recording sheets and blank paddle raise sheets\n- Event timeline and notes for the check-in team\n- Of course, extra reading glasses!\n\n\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/9a1fcf9bbf87c914773091f1de1c97eab92ed533-803x203.gif)\n\nKootenai County is so very lucky to have this team of volunteers who raise their hands and say, “YES, we will help!” They love working together and are a well-oiled machine when it comes to Auction organizing, check in, data input, in room sales and check out. They have come together in partnership with the community to help these incredible nonprofit organizations who do so much to improve the lives of others.\n\n **Are there a group of volunteers in your community that may want to do the same?**\n\n-----------\nSpecial thanks to Deb Wheeler and her team for sharing their auction and event fundraising story. Congratulations on making such a positive impact and changing lives!\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/1a87ff0d4a5270e71f1480213987373c651e7ffa-600x500.png?w=450)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":790},{"url":791},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/ba7ae18c616c0b12e0a44903a84830edec7dea60-600x320.png","2022-11-21T19:56:19.496Z",{"current":794},"gather-to-give","One of the secrets of a smooth running event is to be organized and prepared for any unexpected event day incident!","Gather to Give",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":798,"category":799,"id":5,"image":800,"publishOn":803,"slug":804,"teaser":806,"title":807},"Auction success can be found in all types of philanthropy partnerships.  The volunteer event chair for the Market & Auction event for Variety in BC, Canada. They raise funds for special needs kids in British Columbia Variety provides services ranging from therapy to medication to wheelchairs and converted vans. Children's Charity operates as a bridge in circumstances when health care programs are no longer provided.  They offer measures to help families cope with the financial burdens of supporting the child in need.\n\n![paper stacks.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/paper-stacks.jpg)\n\n\n## Manual Bid Sheets--Old School Style\nMy name is Shannon B, here is my fundraising story.  I assumed the position of chair for our charity fundraiser four years ago when our auction item bid sheets were organized in a single Word document.  I kid you not; 200 pages long with one item listed per page.  That was just for starters!  Each item was generated in a separate Word document, from display sheets to receipts to certificates.  We struggled with organization, flow, and development.  \n\n## Getting More Organized\nIn an effort to get more organized, as the auction chair, I set a starting point with the use of Excel spreadsheets set with formulas. This was substantially better, but still time consuming and confusing to multiple administrators.  I sensed this would be difficult for other team members to utilize. It was more accurate than using single pieces of paper to record bids, but it was still time consuming.  We needed to streamline our operations. There was a glimpse of a clear horizon through our dusty window.  But we had more to do to create a crystal clear glass pane. We knew we could do it; we just needed more tweaking of our production.  As we explored our options, it became clear that Auctria offered what we needed. \n\n## Complete Organization \nThe volunteer Event Chair has now become even more organized using Auctria.  Tracking donors and donations on the program makes the process clear and organized; bidder registration and checkout is smooth.  Our organization would now have access to past data, therefore providing a mechanism to make informed decisions for future auction activities. This would prove to be invaluable to our future auctions.  We could make informed decisions based on facts and therefore potentially increase the auction proceeds.  I reported to my co-chair “by some miracle I found this web-based program called Auctria (formerly CAO).”  The more I explored what it could do the more excited I got, and by the time I actually met with my team to discuss Auctria, I was almost bouncing off the walls in joy!  At the next meeting with my committee, I went over the basics of the program, and every time someone brought up a concern or question I was able to answer it with \"Oh don't worry, it does that.....right here...let me show you...\"  Here’s what we learned and here’s why we were successful:\n\n## Time Saved\nA hub program for all auction activity is conducive to cross-team communication and coordination.  Using one program that handles everything from start to finish, means no balls are dropped and in-turn we can run a professional and well polished event.  Your volunteer’s time is valuable, so it's irresponsible to not use it wisely.  Being organized translates directly to time saved.\n\n## Asking for Help is OK\nA team that stands behind a product is vital to its accomplishments.  Having timely and detailed responses are necessary in a technologically driven era of web based programs. Timely responses are imperative to successful operations.  Online user guides and automatically updated auction content hold the answers to a myriad of volunteer’s questions. It provides the means to refresh the team for next year’s event.  \n\n“We estimate that over the past two years since upgrading to Auctria, we have saved hundreds of volunteer hours worked.  With Auctria we secured peace of mind for our team.  Now the entire process is priceless.”\n\n\nSpecial thanks to Shannon B from Variety in BC, Canada for kindly sharing their fundraising story.  If you have a best-practice to help enlighten the Auctria family please email us at [hello@auctria.com](mailto:hello@auctria.com)",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":801},{"url":802},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/efb74f054fd6ef88512f7139571fbec6dc28a720-600x320.jpg","2016-06-21T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":805},"story_organized_efficient","Moral of the story is...","Storytelling: Organized & Efficient Equals Time Well Spent",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":809,"category":810,"id":5,"image":811,"publishOn":814,"slug":815,"teaser":817,"title":818},"Auction fundraisers, like online, live, hybrid, virtual and silent auctions have multiple purposes: raise money for a cause and raise awareness for a cause, and increase the overall number of supporters. Auction fundraisers can turn one-time donors and bidders into long term supporter post events with a little care and encouragement.\n\nAuctions are a great way to engage and interact with the current donor and potential future donor population. The purpose of the charity auction itself is to offer goods, services and opportunities that are bid-up by donors. This auction should be looked at for both short term and long term goals.  \n\nObviously you are there to fundraise for the cause however this is the perfect venue to:\n\n- Educate donors about the mission\n- Communicate specific needs\n- Celebrate achievements\n\nAuction fundraisers tap the unique supporter that wants something in return for their donation. Since auction items are almost always donated there is no outlay of $ by the group or charity for the items that will be up for bid.\n\nAuctions are a great stage to share and care about a beloved cause. Bidders are energized by the auction offerings and share the auction news with friends and family increasing the breadth of potential bidders i.e. donors. This type of organic compassion widens the audience of the mission and vision for the charity or group.\n\nIt takes just 3 BIG Steps to run an auction fundraiser but first you must choose what type of auction; event based or online only\n\n1. Plan the auction\n2. Run the auction\n3. Close the auction and convert the bidders & donors to long term supporters\n\n\n\n\n![3bigsteps-banner 1-types.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/3bigsteps-banner-1-types.png)\n\n## **Types of auction fundraisers**\n\nAuction fundraisers fall into two categories. Event based and non-event based. Event based auction fundraiser is the prototypical silent and live auction that is encased in a party or gala. A non-event based auction fundraiser takes place online only. There are pros and cons to each but mostly it’s a matter of how much support do you have to plan and organize the event? And how much loyalty is in your supporter base to participate in the auction fundraiser.\n\n### **Event-Based Auction**\nSilent and live Auctions are in-person events. In-person auction fundraisers limit bidding to attendees only so finding a location, date, time and a price point that will encourage attendance and fill the seats is crucial.\n\nAdvantages to an event based auction: \n\n- Party atmosphere enhances bids\n- Auction and events can run concurrently so fill the event time with entertainment, keynote speaker, celebrating success showing photos and videos of how the cause had helped the recipients.\n- Event income can dramatically increase with sponsorships, sell sponsorships from a few hundred to thousands of dollars \n- Sponsorships can be used to cover entire portions of the event like valet parking, or the dessert table\n- In-person boosters like raffle, and paddle raise work well in a social setting\n\nIn person auction fundraisers provide the backdrop to personally connect with bidders and share the story and successes for the cause.\n\n\n\n### **Online Only Auction**\nOnline only auction fundraisers lessen the overall workload of running the auction fundraiser and can extend the auction fundraiser over a much longer timeframe\n\nAdvantages to consider with an online only auction fundraiser:\n\n- Less overhead to run an event, less workload because no longer have to plan an event or party \n- No barrier to entry so potentially larger bidder pool\n- Auction can run through multiple days or weeks\n\nAn online auction fundraiser is much less personal with less opportunity to share the story behind the cause.\n\nFor a fuller in-depth review on the various types of auction fundraisers, check out their [pros and cons](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/auction_type_proscons). \n\n\n![3bigsteps-banner 2-planning.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/3bigsteps-banner-2-planning.png)\n\n## **Planning the Auction Fundraiser**\nPlanning the silent and live auction fundraiser with a hosted event takes time to plan the event plus the auction. The event can range from casual carnival, to sporting events like a golf tournament or a sit-down themed gala.\n\nIn summary, on the event side save the date, plan the venue, choose the food and entertainment, decide upon using a live auctioneer, select a key-note speaker or honoree.\n\nGetting the [team started by defining roles and tasks](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/auction_teamwork) to map out an overall plan. Chairperson(s) will guide the team and strategically plan the overall auction fundraiser process. This person should be well organized with the abilities to both work and delegate simultaneously.\n\nMajor tasks planning the auction fundraiser:\n * Define goals, purpose and target audience for the auction\n * Define target donors and solicit for donations, here is sample procurement letter, be sure to send out and follow up on all donation requests in a timely manner\n * Track everything meticulously\n * Price and set bidding increments for all auction items consistently\n * Offer sponsorships\n * Offer other for-sale items like online ticket sales and raffles\n\nFor event-based auction fundraisers, additional tasks include: \n * Create all auction documents: bid sheets, display pages, gift certificates, bid catalog\n * Prepare bidder management, bidder numbering and close-out\n\n\n\n![3bigsteps-banner 5-running.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/3bigsteps-banner-5-running.png)\n\n## **Running the Auction Fundraiser**\nRunning the auction fundraiser is the point where you go from planning to public promotion for the auction event. Start with early promotions and through all channels that your audience receives your messaging. Promote with efficiency by including links and one-stop registration, entrance ticket admission, upsell raffles, VIP seats and most important pre-register bidders. By using the pre-registration process the entire bidding and closeout can run efficiently, especially when using an online auction program. \n\nMajor tasks running the event-based auction fundraiser:\n\n * Promote and sell event tickets on social media platforms\n * Promote online catalog\n * Use bid sheets and a display page are furnished to advertise each item and clearly note closing times for category or individual items\n * Bidder registration\n * Bidding process, silent and live. Allow mobile bidding on smartphones especially for silent auctions\n * Sell raffle tickets and pull raffle ticket winners\n * Conduct the live auction\n\nOnline auction fundraisers add a layer of flexibility for both the auction itself and the participants. Online auctions can run for a much longer period of time usually lasting many days. This gives many more bidders much more time to raise bids higher and higher. Online auctions fundraisers have the unique ability to manage proxy bidding and anti-sniping activity. Proxy Bidding is a feature available with an auction software program to allow a bidder to put in a max bid yet provide a bidding mechanism to keep their actual bid as low as possible yet provide a path to remain the winner. Anti-sniping prevents bid sniping by last minute bids outbidding people before they have a chance to react. The auction software program can be set-up to extend the bidding time on any item that was bid on for a defined time prior to the auction closing. In doing so the previously outbid bidder has a chance to re-bid and become the higher bidder.\n\nMajor tasks running the online-only auction fundraiser:\n * Set up website to promote the auction and accept bidder registration\n * Set-up bidding rules, proxy bidding & anti sniping\n * Promote, share links and advertise the auction fundraiser with wide messaging\n\n![3bigsteps-banner 4-closing.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/3bigsteps-banner-4-closing.png)\n\n## **Closing the Auction Fundraiser and Extending the Relationship**\nHarness the energy and excitement of the auction event by staying connected with all participants of the fundraiser. Everyone from donors to winning bidders, vendors, volunteers, guests, procurement team and sponsors. Each made the event a success so be sure to formally thank each for their contribution.  \n\nMajor tasks closing the auction:\n\n * Close silent auction items systematically or by category for a smooth check-out\n * Collections and financial reconciliations\n * Distribute the auction goods, since this is an onsite event most goods and certificates should be distributed on location\n * Thank you letters and receipts\n * Report auction activity\n\nWith an online only auction fundraiser, the close-out and collections will be very simple since bidders will have pre-registered, the distribution of the auction items will require a bit of coordination\n\n\nBidders into Donors: Bidders have spent money to help the cause, extend the relationship to help benefit the cause on an ongoing basis. Maintain connections that have been made during all auction activities. Auction fundraisers bring out the core supporters who in turn bring friends to join in the festivities. Identify the new patrons and connect with them promptly. Send an auction receipt along with a list of ways to connect and save the date for future events. Get on the radar of the new friends and make them part of the family. [Show bidders why their support](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/post_auction_duties) for the cause is important and worth future commitments in terms of time or money.\n\n![3bigsteps-banner 3-finaldecisions.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/3bigsteps-banner-3-finaldecisions.png)\n\n## **Final questions to self-assess** \nLet’s wrap up with some final thoughts so you can determine whether an auction fundraiser is right for you. Take an honest look for an answer:\n\nWill our current audience financially support an auction fundraiser?\nDo we have the people to prepare and run an auction fundraiser?\n\nIF YES, then determine the type: online or silent & live and define some goals and get started! Auction fundraising provides for social competition that can be healthy for raising money for a great cause while also increasing awareness. Make the long term goal to convert bidders to long term supporters long after the auction closes.\n\nContact [Auctria] (https://www.auctria.com/contact/) when you are planning to run an [online or silent and live auction fundraiser](https://www.auctria.com/features/) for your cause or organization.",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":812},{"url":813},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/59e9fe154bf5a908d200c29786eff80d364130f8-600x320.png","2019-06-20T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":816},"3_steps_run_auctionfundraiser","A well-run auction fundraiser can be a wonderful avenue to raise money and awareness for your cause. Read on to find out more from Auctria.","3 big steps to run an auction fundraiser",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":820,"category":821,"id":5,"image":822,"publishOn":825,"slug":826,"teaser":828,"title":829},"Fundraising auctions provide nonprofits with a [variety of benefits,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/online-auctions-extend-benefactor-reach-and-income/) from earning donations to building relationships with local businesses and sponsors. However, successful fundraising professionals know that even auctions with the best selection of available items don’t attract supporters on their own. \n\nIn recent years, online marketing has shifted from suggested outreach tactics to a necessary component of marketing [virtual fundraisers.](https://cornershopcreative.com/blog/virtual-fundraising-idea/) Fortunately, auctions have several natural benefits that your digital marketing team can leverage to create an effective online campaign. \n\nWhether your team has experience promoting auctions or you’re getting ready to launch your first online auction, these tips will help you attract as many guests to your next auction as possible:\n\n1. Market High-Value Items \n2. Create a Microsite \n3. Use Multiple Communication Channels\n4. Send Personalized Messages\n5. Partner with Sponsors \n\nMake sure to give your marketing team plenty of time to prepare the necessary marketing materials and plan their strategy. Auctions have multiple moving parts, and an effective marketing approach is often what determines whether the rest of your event team’s efforts will pay off. \n\n## 1. Market High-Value Items\nUnlike many other types of fundraisers, auctions provide donors something in return for donations in the form of bids. Guests often come to an auction expecting to pay a bit more for an item, understanding the proceeds go to a good cause. However, some attendees may be just as interested in winning a prize as they are in donating through their bids.\n\n**Your marketing team can use this interest to increase event attendance by providing previews of [high-value auction items](https://www.auctria.com/blog/auction-items-for-virtual-galas/) in your marketing materials.**\n\nOf course, not every item will generate the same level of interest. Here are a few types of items that are particularly effective for marketing campaigns:\n\n * **Unique and one-of-a-kind items.** Items that guests can’t buy at a store tend to attract more attention as your auction will be one of the only chances attendees have to purchase these items. Unique items range from signed photos and memorabilia to commissioned paintings and other artistic works. \n \n * **Experiences.** Vacations and getaways tend to do well at auctions, but smaller scale auctions can also find success with offering classes and day trips such as horseback riding or a massage. Have your procurement team reach out to your community or local businesses to find classes and local teachers who are willing to donate lessons to your auction. \n\n * **Bundled items.** Your procurement team will likely obtain many small and lower value items. Instead of marketing these individually for auctions, you can group items together into themed baskets, raising their overall appeal. Guests may see the opportunity to win multiple items as a quality deal, even if the bundle consists of smaller individual prizes. \n\nRemember that while your highest value items are the most valuable for your marketing campaign, you should still procure a range of items, so guests at all giving levels can find something to bid on. Then, decide whether to showcase a select few high-value items or make your entire catalogue available before your auction to generate excitement and increase participation. \n\n## 2. Create a Microsite \nMicrosites are small websites that contain a limited number of pages and are tightly focused around one topic. Event microsites provide a centralized location for your nonprofit to host all of your event information away from your main website, reducing the potential for cluttered web pages. \n\nAlong with helping keep your content organized, microsites provide a number of marketing benefits as well, including:\n\n * **Brand visibility.** Microsites are separate from your main website, providing an opportunity to showcase a new side of your brand. For example, for your auction microsite, you might focus on showcasing your nonprofit’s values of fun and community even more than you would in marketing materials on your main website. \n\n * **Improved SEO performance.** Microsites with valuable content provide potential supporters searching keywords related to your nonprofit an additional opportunity to find one of your websites. You can also improve your overall backlink profile by selectively linking between your microsite and your main website, though be careful not to over link just for the sake of it, which can be a red flag to search engines. \n\n * **Highly-focused tracking.** Compared to your main website, visitors to your microsite have fewer possible tasks they can complete, and all of them will be related to your microsite’s main focus. This means you can more closely monitor user behavior to determine how successful your website setup and content are. For your auction website, you might see high traffic leading towards a particular auction item from external links, which signals that the item has been especially successful at attracting visitors. \n\nIf your nonprofit needs help creating a microsite, consider reaching out to a nonprofit web consultant. These consultants offer [a variety of services](https://cornershopcreative.com/nonprofit-software-development/) to help promote your event in addition to creating microsites. \n\n## 3. Use Multiple Communication Channels\nEven the most effective marketing campaigns rarely convince a supporter to take action after seeing a single message. More often than not, strategic campaigns focus on building up brand recognition by creating multiple touchpoints across several communication channels. \n\nFor example, [Cornershop Creative’s guide to digital fundraising](https://cornershopcreative.com/blog/digital-fundraising/) recommends leveraging the following platforms for your online marketing campaigns:\n\n * **Your website.** Your website gives your nonprofit the space to explain and market your event without any external limitations. You can make your website an effective digital marketing tool by making regular updates to it even when you’re not promoting a new event. This routine activity signals to search engines that your organization is healthy and producing new, valuable content, which can cause your website to rise in search results. \n\n * **Social media.** Social media has become a new staple of nonprofit marketing due to its low investment costs and large potential audience, with Facebook alone boasting almost 3 billion active monthly users. For your auction’s marketing campaign, keep in mind the content strategies that succeed on each platform. For example, Instagram, which has a focus on photos, might be a more effective channel for sharing your auction catalogue than Twitter, which specializes in short updates. \n\n * **Email.** Email marketing is fairly standard among nonprofits, but your organization can improve your email campaigns by implementing segmentation strategies. By dividing your supporters based on their interests and past participation, you can create a more relevant communication experience for each donor. For your auctions, you might create two email streams, one for supporters who have attended similar events in the past and others who are new to auctions and might benefit from more introductory how-to information. \n\nYou can further improve your marketing by incorporating A/B testing. A/B testing helps nonprofits identify which messages are most effective by sending out two copies (an A and a B) of the same marketing materials with a single specific change. If your auction messages include sample pictures of items bidders could win, consider changing them up to test which kinds of items receive the best response rates. \n\n## Send Personalized Messages\nWhile you likely can’t write unique messages to every supporter, you can use templates and your donor software to [personalize all of your outreach.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/the-importance-of-personalization-in-fundraising-letters/) By tailoring your messages to each supporter, you not only treat them like individuals, but also encourage them to build deeper connections to your nonprofit overall. \n\nYou can get started creating personalized materials for supporters by taking the following steps:\n\n\n1. **Collect donor information.** Your CRM or donor management software should keep track of basic information about your supporters, such as their name, address, and engagement history. More advanced tools such as wealth prospecting software can help provide greater insight into your supporters’ philanthropic interests, capacity to give, and current profession.\n\n2. **Download or create messaging templates.** You can find resources online like Fundraising Letter’s templates for fundraising letters, event invitations, thank you messages, and more. Customize these templates to match your nonprofit’s brand and communication strategy by adding specific statistics, anecdotes, or impact statements. \n\n3. **Segment your supporters and adapt templates as needed.** Divide your supporters based on characteristics that are meaningful to your current marketing campaign. Then, adapt your templates to fit these unique differences. For your auction, you might divide supporters by capacity to give, creating one set of templates that promotes high-value items and another that focuses on more moderate items. Also, create places in your template that can be populated with specific information relevant to your supporters, such as their previous event attendance. \n\nConsider how you can further segment your audience to get even more specific, such as dividing supporters based on how long they’ve been with your nonprofit or if they made an additional donation at your last event. By combining segmentation and personalization strategies, your nonprofit can craft marketing materials that are highly relevant to each supporter.\n\n## 5. Partner with Sponsors\nYour nonprofit will likely need to partner with multiple local businesses in order to obtain items for your auction. Many sponsors request recognition at your auction in exchange for their donation as part of their [corporate philanthropy and responsibility](https://360matchpro.com/corporate-philanthropy/) strategy. Corporations benefit from their association with nonprofits like yours, meaning you can further leverage these relationships by asking them to assist in marketing your event. \n\nFor example, ask your sponsors to help promote your event by displaying your flyers or mentioning your auction in their internal emails to employees. This will help spread the word about your event in your community and attract the attention of your sponsors’ employees, as well. Then, at your event specifically thank your sponsors for their contributions to your auction. \n\nThanking your sponsors and encouraging them to publicly support your nonprofit will benefit both your organization and their business. Doing so also opens the donor to long-term partnerships, meaning that sponsors who had a positive experience supporting your last auction are more likely to sign on to help market your next event, as well. \n\nAdditionally, you can offer businesses that want to support your auction but don’t have any items to give the opportunity to [match donations](https://www.auctria.com/blog/summer-double-donation/) made throughout your event up to a certain threshold. Of course, no matter what contributions you receive from your sponsors, be sure to thank them for their generosity. \n\n-----------------------\n\n\nSuccessful auction marketing campaigns leverage the most exciting aspects of your event to engage supporters, while also using personal details to create messages tailored to each guest. You can further advance your online marketing strategy by launching microsites and partnering with nonprofit web consultants to build unique outreach tools and receive advice on your current digital fundraising efforts. \n\n-------------------\nSpecial thanks to Sarah Fargusson - Director of Digital Strategy at [Cornershop Creative](https://cornershopcreative.com/) for the expert advice. \n\nSelf-described as a “non-profit junkie,” Sarah has dedicated her career to serving the needs of the non-profit sector. Her project management experience spans a variety of non-profit management disciplines including strategic planning, community engagement, capacity building, fundraising and research. She has worked both in and for the non-profit sector at the Feminist Majority Foundation, the Sadie Nash Leadership Project, and the consulting firms The Lee Institute and The Curtis Group. With her ever expanding non-profit tool belt, Sarah joined Cornershop Creative to tap into her techie, creative side, while developing meaningful partnerships with her clients to help them more effectively achieve their goals.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":823},{"url":824},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/9ddc47db0b6580d7f9c86ad06dfe708817aa9eb9-600x320.jpg","2021-06-28T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":827},"online-marketing-campaigns-for-auction-fundraisers-5-tips","Digital marketing campaigns have the potential to expand your events’ audience. Learn how to market your fundraising auctions with these five tips.","Online Marketing Campaigns for Auction Fundraisers: 5 Tips",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":831,"category":832,"id":5,"image":833,"publishOn":836,"slug":837,"teaser":839,"title":840},"First Tee is so much more than golf. Auctria is so much more than auctions.  [First Tee—South Dakota](https://firstteesouthdakota.org/) shares their story for both!\n\nFirst Tee—South Dakota has run multiple fundraising events bringing in more money and donors to support their youth development program. Kelli, First Tee—South Dakota’s Operations Director, describes the growth in fundraising income is due to:\n- Variety of auction items, includes small to larger dollar items; something for everyone\n- Using graphics to attract and engage bidders\n- Diversity of fundraisers throughout the year\n\n## Item Variety increases bidders\nJust looking at the numbers you will see an obvious trend, the higher the number of auction items, the higher the number of bidders and the higher the revenue.\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/1a90e57dfa5f8cd1c95feafd4e332c5a84e3f5aa-717x205.png)\n\n**So how did they increase the items and bidders?**\n\n**Personalize the donation request letter.** Each donation request letter is personalized. Sometimes it's an intro paragraph relating back to something personal, or how the donation in the past has made a difference. Use the recipient's name in the opening salutation or first paragraph. Reference prior donations if applicable. Customize the tone. If this is a donor that has been around you and your organization and you feel a more casual wording is appropriate then modify. If not you may want to stay with something more formal.\n\nMost importantly is The Ask. When asking for a donation ask for something specific that the donor can feel comfortable with and is an easy yes. Whether it be cash donation, gift card,or goods and services, the easier the better. Remember to tell the donor in the letter how you will recognize them publicly. \n\n**Yes, First Tee—South Dakota customizes each letter for each donor!** The letter helps tell our story and what outcomes the donation will help with. Kelli tells us that that little extra attention makes the difference and almost all of their donors donate year after year. We also send a thank you letter to the donors and winning bidders at the end of the auction. \n\nSee the example below. \n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/f767ca3c8887c40323d8031be920e001d9c1dddc-800x600.png)\n\n**Recognize the donors publicly on the event website.** First Tee—South Dakota takes the time to publish each and every donor on their event website.  The donor logo is then linked to the donor website. They then tell the donor that they are listed on the donor page. Closing the circle of communication gives them another opportunity to thank the donor and let them know how appreciative they are. \n\nAdding a personal touch to the image displayed on the Thank You Donors page can make it more unique and meaningful. (This is an image only, links are not live here.)\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/4b6be466bcb052ee9906fc5650aab37584073824-1080x793.png)\n\n\n**Recognize the donors on social media.** Take the time to create graphics. Recognizing donors on social media is a great way to show your appreciation for their support of First Tee. It not only helps to strengthen your relationship with the donor but also encourages others to contribute to your cause. Creating graphics that pair the donor with First Tee adds a personal touch to the recognition, making it more meaningful for the donor.\n\n\n\u003Ciframe src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/video/819120786?h=1c7d29f21e\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen>\u003C/iframe>\n\nUsing Graphics to Attract and Engage Bidders\nFirst Tee—South Dakota uses graphics and video to engage and interact with supporters and bidders. They are very active on Twitter, give them a follow [Twitter, firstteesodak](https://twitter.com/firstteesodak). As well as [Facebook, FirstTeeSouthDakota](https://www.facebook.com/FirstTeeSouthDakota) and [Instagram, firstteesouthdakota](https://www.instagram.com/firstteesouthdakota/). By recognizing donors on social media and creating personalized graphics, you can show your appreciation for their support and encourage others to contribute to your cause. Follow them and watch as they work on the next events.\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/ab56b02b96be2ab8919da2f82e5aec908eb144fe-600x200.png)\n\n[Canva](https://www.canva.com/) makes it easy to create professional-looking graphics that are sure to impress your donors. Canva is a user-friendly online graphic design tool that allows you to create professional-looking graphics in just a few clicks. \n1. Choose a template: Canva offers a wide range of templates that are perfect for creating graphics for social media. \n2. Add the donor's name and photo: Upload a photo of the donor and add their name to the graphic. This personalizes the recognition and makes the donor feel appreciated.\n3. Include the First Tee logo: Make sure to include the First Tee logo in the graphic. This helps to reinforce the connection between the donor and the organization.\n4. Customize the design: You can customize the design by changing the colors, fonts, and layout to match your organization's branding.\n5. Share the graphic on social media: Once you've created the graphic, share it on social media to recognize the donor and show your appreciation for their support. Be sure to tag the donor in the post and thank them for their contribution.\n\nPrior to the auction, First Tee—South Dakota published a sneak peek video of what was upcoming. As you can see the colors are bright and inviting. It encourages viewers to want to learn more. \n\n\u003Ciframe src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/video/819122046?h=74173b8e02\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen>\u003C/iframe>\n\n\n## Not Just Auctions\n\nFirst Tee—South Dakota doesn’t have just one fundraising event, they have many throughout the year. This gives their supporters the opportunity to contribute at different times of the year, and to different types of fundraisers. \n\n- **Memorial Auction and Golf Tournament.**  Gavin Van Zee Memorial Auction and Golf Tournament was a tribute to Gavin Van Zee was a fun loving, 8 year old with an old soul. He loved the game of golf and had a smile that lit up the room. Gavin was involved in a tragic accident that took his life much too soon. As a tribute to Gavin, the memorial golf tournament and online auction proceeds will go towards scholarship opportunities at First Tee so Gavin's spirit can live on through the game of golf. \n\n- **Austad’s Invitational.** An incredibly fun annual 18-Hole Golf Tournament. \n\n- **Women’s Tournament.** Focusing on women, this auction paired with a women’s golf tournament. A wonderful selection of items to appeal to those at the tournament.\n\n- **100 Holes Golf Marathon.** Just like it sounds this is 100 holes of golf for a cause.\n\n- **Giving Tuesday.** This is a global day of giving, why not provide an opportunity for First Tee—South Dakota supporters to donate. And they did! Raising money for golf in November/December is truly a gift!\n\n## Not Just Golf\nFirst Tee is not just golf. First Tee’s mission is developing experiences that are fun as they are meaningful, where kids feel excited to grow, safe to fail, and better equipped for whatever comes their way next. Through personal growth and junior golf programs, First Tee sees kids’ build self confidence, inspiring more active participation in leadership opportunities and events, community involvement, and college scholarships.   \n\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/232327dda0aa3d1ce06abcb76738e1f67721462b-500x400.png)\n\n\nEach chapter interprets this in a local fashion.  First Tee – South Dakota, is Building Game Changers by empowering kids and teens to be the best version of themselves. \n * School programs that they have been running since 2004. First Tee has been integrating the First Tee School Program into PE classes across the country. \n * Golf and leadership opportunities\n * Academic scholarships\n\n\n**Swing beyond golf and fundraising. Discover the full potential of First Tee and Auctria!**\n\n------\n\nSpecial thanks to Kelli Sinksen for sharing her expert advice. Learn more about First Tee—South Dakota on their [website, firstteesouthdakota.org](https://firstteesouthdakota.org/). \n\nFirst Tee—South Dakota offers programs which focus on developing life skills using the game of golf as its vehicle. First Tee—South Dakota has programming in Sioux Falls at Elmwood Golf Course, as its main location, with additional program locations in Aberdeen at Moccasin Creek Country Club and Lee Park Golf Course, Brookings at Edgebrook Golf Course and Brookings Country Club, Dell Rapids at Rocky Run Golf Course, Madison at Madison Country Club and Milbank at Whetstone Creek Golf Course.\n\nBy seamlessly integrating the game of golf with character-building, we create learning experiences that help kids uncover their inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience that they can carry to everything they do. \n\nOur trained coaches not only provide an introduction to junior golf and an opportunity to enhance golf skills, but they also create a safe, supportive, and empowering environment to help your child prepare for life ahead, including friendships, school, college and even their careers.\n\nThrough our program, kids will learn skills that stay with them for life: Understanding and managing emotions, Resolving conflicts, Setting up step-by-step goals, Planning for the future, Appreciating diversity, Golf fundamentals and advanced techniques.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":834},{"url":835},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/e4269e66c60da9ca6d3e605303e97d896ba872f1-600x320.png","2023-04-19T13:08:47.163Z",{"current":838},"first-tee-is-so-much-more","The higher the number of auction items, the higher the number of bidders and the higher the revenue","First Tee is So Much More",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":842,"category":843,"id":5,"image":844,"publishOn":847,"slug":848,"teaser":850,"title":851},"# MUST DO: Facebook Video for Auction Promotion\n\nFacebook videos are a MUST do to promote the auction fundraiser.  Luckily Facebook has made this super simple.  Ever notice how many videos you see on your Facebook thread?  This is not a coincidence.  FB algorithms are favoring videos and this can help gain attention for a fundraising auction.\n\n\n## Prepare for Facebook Video by Choosing Photos\nIn advance have 3-10 photos chosen that you want use,  This can be photos of last years auction event, current flyer or screenshots of the auction website.  Got more than 10 to share?  Make a second or third video.  \n\n## Timing of Posts\nSpace out the timing of your posts so as not to bombard your followers.  Vary the day of the week as well as time of day.  Facebook allows posts to be saved as Draft or Scheduled.  Take the time to create a few and schedule the posts leading up to the big auction day.\n\n## Follow Along\nHere are some simple instructions how to make a Facebook video. \n\n![Facebook Slideshow Videos (1a).png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Facebook-Slideshow-Videos--1a-.png)\n\n\n\n![Facebook Slideshow Videos (2a).png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Facebook-Slideshow-Videos--2a-.png)\n\n![Facebook Slideshow Videos (3a).png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Facebook-Slideshow-Videos--3a-.png)\n\n![Facebook Slideshow Videos (4a).png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Facebook-Slideshow-Videos--4a-.png)\n\n![Facebook Slideshow Videos (5a).png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Facebook-Slideshow-Videos--5a-.png)\n\n![Facebook Slideshow Videos (6a).jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Facebook-Slideshow-Videos--6a-.jpg)\n\n## More Auction Promotion Tips\nPromoting the auctions is snap using [Snapchat](http://www.auctria.com/Web/News/snapchat_geofilters_wood) Geofilters\n\nThink of yourself as [marketer](http://www.auctria.com/Web/News/brand_auction_story), not just a fundraiser\n\nEarly [promotion](http://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/promote_promote) of the auction increase helps with procurement and attendance",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":845},{"url":846},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/71ee652816847fd652b33892930a698607420747-600x320.png","2017-04-05T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":849},"fb_video_instructions","Facebook algorithms like Facebook videos, make one new to promote the big auction day","MUST DO: Facebook Video for Auction Promotion",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":853,"category":854,"id":5,"image":855,"publishOn":858,"slug":859,"teaser":861,"title":862},"Your nonprofit’s website is one of the most important outreach tools you have at your disposal. It serves as a hub of information where supporters can learn about your mission, get involved, and contribute to your cause. Because of this, your website also heavily influences the rest of your organisation's [digital marketing strategy,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/4-ways-nonprofits-can-adapt-to-the-digital-age/) since all of the other materials you create will be more effective if they tie back to your website.\n\nBalancing quality content and stylistic features when designing your website will help visitors to it have the best possible experience and get the most out of it. In this article, we’ll discuss five great ways to maximize your website’s potential:\n\n1. Keep your nonprofit’s mission at the forefront.\n2. Understand your audience.\n3. Maintain consistent visual branding.\n4. Integrate storytelling into your web design.\n5. Promote your website through your nonprofit’s other marketing channels.\n\n[According to Loop, the best nonprofit websites](https://weareloop.com/best-nonprofit-websites/) contain content that’s both engaging and informative for supporters, in addition to being easy to navigate and visually appealing. While it’s possible for nonprofits to come up with a great website design in-house, many don’t have the time or resources to take their sites to the next level. Instead, consider partnering with a creative agency that will work with you on website design and answer questions during the process.\n\n\n## 1. Keep your nonprofit’s mission at the forefront\nYour website can be useful in furthering your nonprofit’s initiatives and bringing in donations, but this will only happen if supporters understand your nonprofit’s mission. Even if their first encounter with your nonprofit comes through another communication channel, like your social media profiles or word of mouth, they’ll likely visit your website for more information before they decide whether to get involved.\n\nIn your [nonprofit website builder,](https://weareloop.com/top-nonprofit-website-builders/) create an “about” page detailing your mission and vision to ensure it’s transparent and easy to find. But the “About” page is not the only place on your nonprofit’s website to focus on your mission—you can (and should) integrate it into every page of your website. To get started, try the following strategies:\n\n- **Add images and videos that highlight the impact of your mission.** Photos of volunteers enjoying their work or showing your impact on the people you serve (make sure you ask for their permission first) can help potential supporters to visualise your nonprofit’s work and show interesting ways to get involved.\n- **Write website copy that is easy to read on a screen.** People process text that they read on their computers and mobile devices differently than when they read in print, so they may have trouble wading through large blocks of writing on your website to pull out notable details. Break up the text on your site using short paragraphs and bullet points, and put the most important information above the fold (at the top of a page) so it’s easy to spot.\n- **Personalise your donation pages and thank-yous.** Besides making your online donation process more streamlined for supporters to use, personalised donation content on your website will allow you to restate your mission by letting donors know how their gifts will make a difference.\n\nKeeping your nonprofit’s mission at the forefront of your entire website will ensure that supporters know exactly what you do, in addition to making a stronger argument for why they should donate, volunteer, or otherwise engage with your organisation.\n\n## 2. Understand your audience\nIn addition to highlighting your mission, understanding your audience can make your website design much more effective. Once you know exactly who your nonprofit is targeting, you can shape your site to meet their needs.\n\nTo begin researching your nonprofit’s audience, follow these three steps:\n\n- **Determine what demographics your organisation attracts.** Some common demographic factors to consider include age, gender, location, education level, wealth, and family status.\n\n- **Analyse your supporters’ past engagement.** Considerations here include the type of involvement each supporter has had with your organisation (donating, volunteering, attending events, etc.), how recently and frequently they’ve engaged, their lifetime value to your organisation, the amount of time they’ve devoted to your nonprofit, and their motivation for involvement.\n\n- **Segment your supporters.** Consider your demographic and engagement data together to create supporter segments, or groups that share similar characteristics across relevant areas. Some examples may include major donors (who are likely wealthy and have a long history with your nonprofit) or volunteers recruited through social media (who are probably young and may have room to grow their engagement over time).\n\nYour website’s homepage and about page will likely need to target your audience broadly. But you can design other pages of your website, like your donation page, lists of volunteer opportunities, or educational resources, to appeal to certain segments of your audience, [cultivating engagement](https://www.auctria.com/blog/donor-cultivation-6-tips-for-modernizing-your-approach/) further over time.\n\n## 3. Maintain consistent visual branding\nBranding matters for nonprofits because even though your organisation isn’t selling a product or service like most traditional brands, you’re still selling something—your impact. Your nonprofit brand should reflect your mission. Using it consistently across your website and other marketing materials helps supporters to recognize them immediately.\n\nAdding your [nonprofit’s branding into your web design](https://recharity.ca/nonprofit-graphic-design-questions/) will also help you to stand out from similar organisations that potential supporters may come across online. This is especially true of visual branding aspects. When you design your nonprofit’s website include, focus on these visual elements:\n\n- **Fonts.** Use the same fonts across all pages of your website. To add visual variety, try choosing two brand typefaces: one for headings and one for body text. But know that using more than three fonts may give your site a cluttered look.\n- **Colours.** Most brands pick a few main colours, although there’s no limit to how many you can use as long as they’re consistent. Keep in mind that colour psychology heavily influences branding—for example, red is often associated with passion and strength, while blue is associated with trust and professionalism. So, pick colours that represent what you want your audience to think about your organisation.\n- **Logo.** Design a noticeable logo using your brand fonts and colours. To make it memorable for your audience, put it in the same spot on each page of your website.\n- **Images and videos.** Any photos or graphics you use on your website will be most effective if they appeal to your audience and are relevant to your organisation’s mission. For example, instead of using generic stock images, take your own photos of your projects and programs so that your audience can see exactly what they’ll be supporting when they engage with your nonprofit.\n\nA [best practice in web design](https://weareloop.com/nonprofit-website-best-practices/) to ensure consistency is to create a living brand guide detailing what each of these elements are and how your nonprofit uses them. This guide will serve as a reference point for everyone inside and outside of your organisation who may work on your website, and you’ll be able to update it over time.\n\n## 4. Integrate storytelling into your web design\nWhile visual branding piques supporters’ interest when they visit your nonprofit’s website, [engaging donors online](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-to-engage-online-donors-digital-marketing-101/) becomes even more effective when you use your site to tell stories. Storytelling creates a more memorable experience for supporters, since people are much more likely to remember stories than facts alone. Also, stories engage their emotions to create a deeper connection with your mission.\n\n[Getting Attention’s guide](https://gettingattention.org/nonprofit-storytelling) to nonprofit storytelling suggests these tips as a starting point for your stories:\n\n- **Choose a compelling main character.** In the past, many nonprofits tended to make a donor the main character of their story, but this strategy is outdated. Instead, featuring someone who your nonprofit’s services have impacted is more likely to inspire action from your audience as they’ll be able to associate your mission with a face and name. For example, an animal shelter might tell a story about a dog who their volunteers cared for and matched with an adoptive family.\n- **Write a beginning, middle, and end.** You may be tempted to jump straight to the end of your story to explain the resolution and ask your audience to take action. But the beginning and middle of your story are essential to establish your characters, explain the problem you want to highlight, and show how your nonprofit has worked to solve it.\n- **Support stories with images and data.** Adding photos or graphics allows website visitors to engage with your story visually in addition to reading it. Also, including concrete statistics will demonstrate your nonprofit’s impact in a real way that supporters are more likely to remember if they encounter them in the context of a story.\n- **Include a call to action.** Consider exactly what you want your readers to do after they read your story—donate to a specific campaign, sign up for a particular volunteer opportunity, attend an upcoming event, etc.—and conclude your story with that ask.\n\nStorytelling can be a valuable tool for your nonprofit to build relationships with your supporters, spread awareness of your mission, and inspire engagement. Since your organisation's website provides lots of space to incorporate text, visuals, links, and calls to action, it’s one of the best communication channels that you can leverage to tell stories.\n\n## 5. Promote your website through your nonprofit’s other marketing channels\nWhen designed well, your nonprofit’s website becomes the main information hub for your organisation. But you can also communicate that information to your supporters through marketing channels more suited to outreach.\n\nAnother feature of your nonprofit’s website that makes it so useful is that you can easily integrate it into all your marketing materials, including:\n\n- **Email outreach.** Include links to relevant sections of your website as you mention them in your emails. For example, if you send an email about an upcoming event at your organisation, add a link to the online registration form as a call to action at the end of your message.\n- **Social media.** Since social media is best for communicating concise ideas, you could introduce an initiative or campaign in a tweet or post caption and add a link to your website where supporters can go for more information.\n- **Direct mail.** Just because direct mail is a print communication channel doesn’t mean it can’t tie back to your website! At the end of your message, include an easy-to-type URL or QR code so that supporters can visit related pages on your website, like your donation page.\n\nEssentially, you’ll want to use other marketing channels to make supporters aware of your nonprofit’s work, then direct them to your website to learn more and take action.\n---------------\nYour nonprofit’s website is one of the most valuable tools that you can leverage to connect with all your supporters in a variety of ways. Following these five tips will help your organisation make the most of every opportunity that your website has to offer. Also, remember that if you need help implementing any of these strategies or have any questions, you can always partner with a creative design agency for all your website-related needs.\n\n------------\n\nSpecial thanks to Ryan Felix, co-founder of Loop for this expert advice. Ryan brings Design for Social Good who brings a strong intuition and insight to create bold, creative & impactful websites. Ryan has led design studios in Toronto and New York using his knowledge of Human Centred Design to increase meaningful conversions and design enjoyable web experiences.\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":856},{"url":857},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/49c90bea1bd64eb4bab4cb39780e5b22b39e70f1-600x320.jpg","2022-08-30T15:18:08.774Z",{"current":860},"nonprofit-websites-5-ways-to-make-the-most-of-yours","Your nonprofit’s website is an important outreach tool where supporters learn about your mission and take action. Make the most of your site using these 5 tips.","Nonprofit Websites: 5 Ways to Make the Most of Yours",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":864,"category":865,"id":5,"image":866,"publishOn":869,"slug":870,"teaser":872,"title":873},"When it comes to selling out your event, there’s one tool you can’t afford to overlook: email. As an event organizer, you know the importance of getting the word out and driving ticket sales, and [email marketing offers one of the most powerful ways to engage potential attendees](https://www.thestorytellingnonprofit.com/blog/email-marketing-strategy-for-non-profits/) and keep them coming back for more information. Combining the power of email marketing plus Auctria’s tools can set you up for a great event! Here’s how you can leverage email to maximize ticket sales for your next event.\n\n## 1. Create a Strategic Timeline For Promoting Your Event\n\nOne email isn't enough to sell out your event. Research shows that it often takes multiple touchpoints to get people to take action. According to the [Marketing Rule of 7](https://www.marketingillumination.com/blogs/marketing-rule-of-7s), potential customers typically need to be exposed to your marketing messages at least seven times before they take action and make a purchase decision. That’s why it’s important to structure your email campaign over an extended period of time. \n\nHere are the types of emails that you may want to include:\n* **Announcement Email**: Kick things off with an email that introduces your event, including key details like the date, time, location, and the event’s value.\n* **Program and Speaker Highlights:** Follow up with emails that feature details about the event program, speakers, or special activities. Build anticipation by showing why people should attend.\n* **Early Bird or Special Offers:** Send time-sensitive emails with discounts, exclusive access, or other incentives to encourage early ticket purchases.\n* **Deadline Reminders:**  As the event date nears, send reminder emails about ticket availability, price increases, or approaching deadlines.\n\nA well-timed, multi-step email campaign will help keep your audience engaged and remind them to buy tickets before it’s too late.\n\n## 2. Build Urgency to Drive Action\n\nCreating a sense of urgency is one of the most effective ways to motivate people to act quickly. People are more likely to buy tickets if they feel they’re about to miss out on a great deal or opportunity.\n\nConsider these urgency tactics:\n* **Early Bird Pricing:** Offer discounts for those who purchase tickets early. This gives people a reason to commit right away.\n* **Exclusive Bonuses:** Incentivize early buyers with exclusive perks, like access to a VIP area or a chance to win a special prize such as a spa day or private dinner with a speaker or maybe getting a free raffle ticket to enter a draw.\n* **Countdowns:** Use countdown timers in your emails to show how much time is left to purchase tickets at a special price.\n\nUrgency makes your event feel like a must-attend, pushing potential attendees to buy tickets sooner rather than later.\n\n## 3. Diversify Your Email Content\n\nRepetitive emails that offer the same message can quickly lose their effectiveness. To keep your audience engaged, vary the content and angle of your emails as well as your “hook”.\n\nHere are a few ideas to keep your emails fresh:\n* **Feature Event Highlights**: Instead of just sending out a generic reminder, focus on different aspects of the event in each email—whether it’s the program, the speakers, or the networking opportunities.\n* **Tell a Story:** [Share a personal story or testimonial from past attendees](https://www.thestorytellingnonprofit.com/blog/how-to-tell-non-profit-stories-with-emotions-and-details/). Highlight how attending your event helped someone achieve their goals or have an unforgettable experience.\n* **Focus on Benefits:** Always frame the event in terms of what attendees will gain from attending. Show how they’ll walk away with new knowledge, connections, or experiences.\n\nBy mixing up your content, you’ll keep your emails interesting and relevant, ensuring your audience doesn’t tune out.\n\n## 4. Segment Your Email List\nNot everyone on your email list will be interested in your event, and continuing to send emails to the wrong people can result in frustration and unsubscribes. [Effective segmentation is key](https://www.thestorytellingnonprofit.com/blog/using-a-personalized-segmented-approach-to-storytelling-to-raise-more-money/).\n\nHere’s how to make sure you're targeting the right people:\n* **Segment by Interests and Past Behavior:** If you're promoting a high-end gala, target your emails to those who have previously shown interest in similar events or made larger donations.\n* **Monitor Engagement:** Keep track of who’s opening your emails and clicking through. If someone hasn’t engaged with your last few event-related emails, it might be time to stop sending them more promotional messages.\n* **Focus on Warm Leads:** Pay attention to those who have clicked on your event emails but haven’t yet purchased a ticket. Tailor your follow-up emails to address any hesitations or provide additional information that might push them over the edge.\n\nEmail marketing is a powerful tool for promoting events, but it’s crucial to approach it strategically. By creating a clear timeline for your campaign, adding urgency, diversifying your email content, and properly segmenting your audience, you can maximize engagement and boost ticket sales. \n\nBy being strategic about who you’re emailing and when you can avoid overwhelming your audience with irrelevant messages and focus your efforts on those most likely to attend.\n\n-----------\n\nSpecial thanks to Vanessa Lockshin for the expert advice.  [Vanessa](https://www.thestorytellingnonprofit.com/my-story/) is a consultant, author,  award-winning entrepreneur and trainer specializing in nonprofit storytelling, fundraising, and communications. She is the author and creator of training programs that empower nonprofit professionals to drive impact.",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":867},{"url":868},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/3a7e573a68c4d8a133f19c23218fab6874528a9b-600x320.jpg","2025-03-05T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":871},"successfully-promoting-your-event-with-email","Want to sell out your event? Don’t overlook email marketing—it’s a powerful tool to engage attendees and boost ticket sales. Here’s how to make it work for you!","Successfully Promoting Your Event with Email",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":875,"category":876,"id":5,"image":877,"publishOn":880,"slug":881,"teaser":883,"title":884},"# Pros and Cons of Auction Fundraisers: Live, Silent and Online\n\nThe overall routine is similar: donations are requested, donor and donor information is recorded, then promote the auction to bidders and let the fun begin. At this point you may not know if you want to run [live, silent, online](https://www.auctria.com/article/auction-types/) or a combination of a few.  \n\n![pros cons 600x500.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/pros-cons-600x500.jpg)\n\nEach auction type has benefits and disadvantages. Consider this:\n  \n## **SILENT auctions** \n\nAre conducted at a location, each attendee is assigned a bidder number to retains anonymity.\n\nEach auction item has a bid sheet placed in front of the goods and/or a display page. Donors bid silently on bid sheets until a set time. When time is called the bid sheets are collected and the highest bidder is the winner. Here are a few more tips to simplify a [silent auction.](https://www.wildapricot.com/articles/silent-auctions-simplified)\n\n### PROS of a silent auction:\n\n- Social competition can be healthy for raising bids\n- Anonymity for bidders\n- Auction activity can occur while other presentations are ongoing\n- Actual goods can be on display\n- Many times at an event alcohol is available, donors tend to be more generous in a spirited atmosphere\n- Last minute bidding frenzy can increase final bids\n\n### CONS of a silent auction:\n\n- Limits bidding to attendees only\n- Auction items need to appeal to the audience that does attend\n- Attending the silent auction event usually incurs a couvert charge, attendees may use their philanthropy budget on attending the event rather bidding on auction items\n- Location, date and time may encumber a high attendance rate\n- During the silent auction filling the time between open and close entertainment must be provided to keep donors on location and bidding\n\n## **LIVE auctions** \n\nAre conducted by an emcee or auctioneer at an event. \n \nLive auctions tend to be pragmatic and useful for larger ticket items. Multiple bidders will need to have interest in the auction item to encourage the back and forth bidding activity. Live auctions do well when kept to no more than one hour.\n\n### PROS of a live auction:\n\n- Using a talented emcee can increase bidder activity\n- Social competition can be healthy for securing bids\n- Bidders may like the spotlight and prefer live action\n- Bidders tend get caught up in the moment and many times at an event alcohol is available, donors tend to be more generous in a spirited atmosphere\n- Flexibility is inherent with a live bidding, if an starting bid seems too high the live auction can create the urgency to bid\n- Emcee can help sell the item with a more detailed description or modify the starting bid gain interest to initiate activity\n\n### CONS of a live auction:\n\n- Items at live auction are higher start prices so may exclude some bidders based upon person budget constraints\n- Only bidders in attendance can bid\n\n## **ONLINE**\n\nauctions can reach a much broader audience.\n\nOnline auctions add a layer of flexibility for both the auction itself and the participants. Similar to traditional silent auctions there is a start time, end time, and the bidding process takes place in between but completely web based.\n\n### PROS of an online auction:\n\n- Increase the number of bidders simply by sharing the auction website\n- Online allows donors to bid from the comfort of their own location\n- Bidders can live and be anywhere there is internet access\n- Auction website can offer detailed descriptions of auction items and many photos\n- Bidding and rebidding can be instantaneous\n- Proxy bidding is easily be managed\n- Buy-it-now can be added to the auction\n- Auction can be open for any timeframe\n- Extend the auction time from a few hours to days if need be\n- No need for the additional workload or making and marketing an actual event.\n- No need to sell tickets for an event that may compete with the pocketbook of bidding on auction items \n\n### CONS of an online auction:\n\n- Social backdrop to the event goes away\n- Donations need to be delivered or shipped after the event has concluded\n- Lessens a personal connection to the event\n\n## **WHY use Auctria?** \n\nWITH Auctria silent auction administration is streamlined. Conduct the silent auction, create display pages, bid sheets, record final bids, collect payment and provide receipts simply and easily from Auctria.\n\nWITH Auctria Live auction simple. Set up the live for success by promoting the live auction items ahead of time online and at the event. Provide the auctioneer with display page descriptions and instructions for starting bids and increments. A spotter can record the final bid and collect payments immediately using the Auctria program. \n\nWITH Auctria online bidding is always current and instantaneous. The bid is recorded and the most recent high bidder is notified with an outbid notice. This encourages the next level of bidding to take place.\n\nAuctria streamlines the [entire auction fundraiser process,](http://www.auctria.com/CAO/Content/Features) is ALWAYS current, and provides an exclusive website for the auction.  [Demo Auctria for Free](https://www.auctria.com/Demo) for as long as you want. No hard-core sales pressure.",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":878},{"url":879},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/c98e450fc346aa9646f09dea7c0bc1149e023f29-600x320.jpg","2016-02-25T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":882},"auction_type_proscons","Auctria explains the pros and cons of live, silent and online auction fundraisers.","Pros and Cons of Auction Fundraisers",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":886,"category":887,"id":5,"image":888,"publishOn":891,"slug":892,"teaser":894,"title":895},"# Auctria: The Streamlined & Organized Auction Engine\n\n## Take your auction to new heights.  \nAuctria is an easy to use, but powerful web application for [running silent, live or online](https://docs.auctria.com/v3/auction-types) fundraising auctions.\n\nAuctria is THE auction engine that transforms an ordinary auction into a power auction. \n\n### Auctria Organizes\nAuctria is the complete organized solution to full integration from start to finish.  Track the entire procurement process from donor, to items, to auction offering.  Record  the entire bid process from bidder registration to bidding to close out.  All the tools to run the auction streamlined and organized.\n\n![toobox 500x337.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/toobox-500x337.jpg)\n\n#### All printed materials can be managed and printed in an organized fashion:\n*  [website](https://docs.auctria.com/v3/website)\n*  bid sheets\n*  display pages\n*  gift certificates\n*  [basket items](https://docs.auctria.com/v3/items/manage-baskets-and-packages) can easily organized and tracked\n\n#### Other fun features that you may not realize you want but may need later to maintain the auction effortlessly: \n*  import and export excel data you can do \n*  sales tax can easily easily be organized and tracked\n*  [kiosk mode](https://docs.auctria.com/v3/online-auctions/kiosk-mode-bidding) is the click of a button and creates a slide-show of the auction catalog \n\n![auction fundraiser Auctria features 4 bid paddles.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/auction-fundraiser-Auctria-features-4-bid-paddles.jpg)\n\n\n### SHARE THE WORK\n*  Auctria is accessible from any internet connection with multiple users\n*  Auction teams change yet Auctria does not therefore historical data is  available \n*  teaming is breeze because data input is always live and secure \n*  maintain current and accurate databases that are built by your team with your data\n*  streamline procurement and marketing by utilizing past donor and bidder data\n\n### TRACK THE DETAILS\n*  Auctria allows the team to [load data seamlessly](https://docs.auctria.com/v3/items) in one centralized location\n*  Auctria becomes the home base to maintain all data\n*  Auctria is the work engine to help the group works smart\n*  register bidders, record bids, purchases, donations in a fully integrated smooth application\n*  save time using the built in templates for custom reports, print-outs, \n*  save time using the built in templates or create group specific stationery for letters\n*  customizing [reports](https://docs.auctria.com/v3/reports) and print-outs can be done in just a few steps\n\n### DASHBOARD REPORT\n*  Auctria summarizes the live and current data in an easy to read dashboard report to readily monitor critical details\n*  Auctria dashboard keeps a live count-down clock running  \n*  live data allows the user to review: \n*  items donated numerically and by retail value\n*  donor donations\n*  in-progress bids and sales\n*  closed bids and sales\n*  bidders registered in quantity and dollar collections\n\n### CREDIT CARD\nAuctria makes collecting funds neat & simple.  [Process credit cards safely](https://docs.auctria.com/v3/credit-cards) with easy setup and support for card readers\nBidders load credit card information once then can make purchases tickets, donations and make bids \n\n### END OF AUCTION CLOSE OUT\nAuctria handles the details.  If you choose, one button closes the entire auction and auto collects from bidders the final winning bids.  Auction close-out simultaneously  emails out winning bidder notifications and collects the funds when the auction closes with a fully integrated credit card function\n*  Easily follow-up with bidder receipts using the standard format or customize ahead for the charity \n*  Easily create and print or distribute donor thank you letters\n*  Easily create and print or distribute bidder notices\n*  Easily view and run reports immediately after the auction closes \n\n\n### FORMS & CONSISTENCY\nAuctria elegantly maintains consistency throughout the event.  'Brand’ the auction website and all communications with the group's logo and marketing message.   \n*  Auctria has done all the work formatting bids sheets, bid book, display pages & gift certificates\n*  Auctria is flexible and allows for customized stationery to maintain the look and details the fundraiser requires\n\n### EASY TO LEARN, EASY TO USE\nAuctria is the supreme program for ease of use for both the fundraising team as well as the bidder and donor.  The entire infrastructure was built to run all types of auctions with ease of a professional looking and working event\n*  Auctria has consistent format throughout the platform so adding a donor, bidder or auction item is organized seamlessly\n*  Customization can be done easily by the user to give the auction the identity and personality of the charity\n\n### Auctria is straightforward and makes for a [smooth event, here are some case studies for inspiration](https://docs.auctria.com/v3/case-studies)",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":889},{"url":890},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/c83903167fc19bf102240ac75827fd247c786d92-600x320.jpg","2016-02-20T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":893},"auctria_streamline_auctionengine","Auctria has all the tools in one place to streamline and integrates the entire auction process from start to finish.","Auctria: The Streamlined Power Auction Engine & Tools",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":897,"category":898,"id":5,"image":899,"publishOn":902,"slug":903,"teaser":905,"title":906},"After months of planning and preparation, your nonprofit’s latest charity gala is a resounding success. Your volunteers confidently filled their roles, attendees raved about your auction items, and you raised essential funds to advance your mission. But don’t let the momentum stop there!\n\nBefore you begin sketching plans for your next fundraising event, take the time to follow up with your auction guests. Doing so allows you to build stronger, lasting relationships with them and secure more revenue for your cause.\n\nIn this guide, we’ll discuss three essential post-auction strategies for your nonprofit:\n\n1. Thank Attendees Post-Auction.\n2. Promote Matching Gifts.\n3. Share Post-Auction Involvement Opportunities.\n\nBy continuing to interact with attendees after your auction, you’ll be able to deepen their engagement over time and cultivate a loyal community of supporters for your nonprofit.\n\n## 1. Thank Attendees Post-Auction.\nWhile a charity auction is a finite event, your nonprofit’s relationships with attendees should be ongoing. After all, your long-term success depends on retaining their support year after year. Inspire auction guests to continue showing up for your events by thanking them promptly and thoughtfully.\n\nDepending on your nonprofit and your specific audience’s interests, you can express appreciation in various ways, such as:\n\n* Sending personalized emails or text messages.\n* Creating [thank-you eCards.](https://ecardwidget.com/charity-ecards/)\n* Posting a shoutout on social media.\n* Producing an appreciation video.\n\nRemember to keep attendees updated about your event’s impact, so they can better understand how their participation made a difference in your community. For example, an animal welfare nonprofit might share that, thanks to the funds raised during their auction, they could afford necessary vaccinations for all of the animals currently at their facility. To enhance this message, they could include photos of a few specific cats or dogs that benefitted.\n\nAn additional way to thank auction participants is by sending out a post-event survey to collect their feedback. Doing so demonstrates that your nonprofit is committed to providing the best experience possible for its supporters. Be sure to act on any commonly mentioned areas for improvement and communicate these changes to increase transparency and trust.\n\n## 2. Promote Matching Gifts.\nConsidering all the resources you’ve invested into planning and executing your auction, wouldn’t it be great if you could double the amount of donations made at your event? With matching gifts, you can!\n\nMatching gifts are a type of corporate giving program in which companies match the donations their employees make to nonprofits, typically at a 1:1 ratio. All donors have to do is check whether they’re eligible and submit a request to their employer.\n\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/b2f2991d0e04b8f40a2e7fefefba4a32ff1e3fc7-1604x960.png)\n\nEven though the process is simple, more than $4 - $7 billion in available matching gift funding goes unclaimed each year, according to [360MatchPro’s fundraising statistics.](https://360matchpro.com/fundraising-statistics/) This is often due to donors not knowing that their employers offer these programs.\n\nTo tap into the full potential of matching gifts after your auction, use a variety of communication channels to promote these opportunities to attendees. Let’s explore a few channels:\n\n### Website\nYour [nonprofit’s website](https://www.auctria.com/blog/nonprofit-websites-5-ways-to-make-the-most-of-yours/) is a primary resource for supporters to learn more about your cause, ways to get involved, and how you improve the lives of those you serve. Create a section that explains matching gifts and how they work. Then, make it easy for donors to secure matching gifts for your nonprofit by leveraging a matching gift database.\n\nFor instance, [Double the Donation’s matching gift database](https://doublethedonation.com/matching-gift-database/) contains up-to-date guidelines and instructions on nearly 24,500 companies with matching gift programs. By embedding a company name search tool directly onto your website, you can allow each auction attendee to check their eligibility and find their employer’s instructions simply by inputting their company name.\n\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/2afc4126691254f0e034f08cf64f0ad5dfec5e39-500x500.png)\n\n\n\n### Email\nFollowing your charity auction, send out emails tailored to each attendee. Include their preferred name and details about their specific gift to demonstrate that your nonprofit values them as an individual, rather than as a source of funding. Be genuine, but avoid asking for a second donation.\n\nInstead, briefly promote matching gifts in your email and direct them to your website to learn more. If your nonprofit sends out a regular email newsletter, devote a specific section to increasing awareness of these opportunities.\n\n### Social Media\nIn today’s society, social media has become a popular way for people to stay connected and share information. After your auction, use these platforms to stay in touch with attendees and spread the word about matching gifts. Since social media enables two-way communication with your nonprofit’s supporters, you can respond to comments and answer specific questions about matching gifts.\n\nMake your social media posts stand out by incorporating eye-catching images, or even consider creating a matching gift video that walks donors through the process.\n\n### Direct Mail\nDepending on attendees’ communication preferences, direct mail can be an effective channel for reminding them that they might be able to double the impact of their donations to your nonprofit.\n\nSend out postcards and letters that point to different matching gift resources for supporters. For instance, you could include a QR code that takes them to matching gift information on your website. Or, add a phone number or email address that they can use to contact your team for additional questions.\n\n## 3. Share Post-Auction Involvement Opportunities.\nBeyond matching gifts, there are numerous ways your nonprofit can continue engaging attendees post-auction. In your follow-up communications, encourage them to check out other opportunities to support your cause, such as:\n\n* Volunteering with your nonprofit.\n* Donating items for next year’s auction.\n* Attending another event.\n* Becoming a peer-to-peer fundraiser.\n* Joining your monthly giving program.\n\nUse these involvement opportunities to strengthen relationships with your supporters. Eventually, you may even be able to identify potential major donors among your auction attendees. Keep track of how your supporters continue engaging with your nonprofit, alongside data such as their giving history and wealth indicators, to start cultivating these important relationships.\n\n------------------\n\nPlanning and hosting a charity auction is an intensive process. Make the most of your efforts by building on all the support you’ve earned at the event. As you implement these post-auction strategies, remember to measure progress and evaluate metrics such as the total number of matched gifts you receive. Over time, you’ll be able to secure more revenue and [retain donors](https://doublethedonation.com/donor-retention/) for the long term so that each year’s auction is more successful than the last.\n\n---------------\n\nSpecial thanks to Adam Weinger for the expert advice. Adam is the President of Double the Donation, the leading provider of tools to nonprofits to help them raise more money from corporate matching gift and volunteer grant programs.\n\nDouble the Donation's robust solution, 360MatchPro, provides nonprofits with automated tools to identify match-eligible donors, drive matches to completion, and gain actionable insights. 360MatchPro integrates directly into donation forms, CRMs, social fundraising software, and other nonprofit technology solutions to capture employment information and follow up appropriately with donors about matching gifts.\n\n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":900},{"url":901},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/df64712269f75630f999cce76d5caefd2b3d1556-1200x640.jpg","2024-01-18T17:09:32.987Z",{"current":904},"post-auction-strategies","Keep the momentum going after a successful auction. Explore three post-auction strategies to secure long-term support for your nonprofit in this guide.","3 Powerful Post-Auction Strategies for Long-Term Support",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":908,"category":909,"id":5,"image":910,"publishOn":913,"slug":914,"teaser":916,"title":917},"# #1 Way to Engage Donors and Inspire Bigger Giving\n\nIf you want money coming in consistently throughout the year, you need a big, loyal donor base of people who love your mission and want to see you win.\n \nOnce you build that donor base, your job is to engage and inspire them.  Inspiration is about connecting with them on an emotional level.  In practical terms, it’s about staying in touch with them and sharing about the good work your organization is doing.\n \nThe absolute easiest way to do that is to tell a heart-grabbing story.\n\n![engage donor sandy2.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/engage-donor-sandy2.jpg)\n\n## Why stories\n \nA heart-grabbing story is the easiest way to illustrate what your programs accomplish and help the donor feel something (compassion, anger, hope, etc.).\nThe right story will grab the donor by the heart strings and fill them with concern and optimism: concern for the life being changed and optimism that change is possible.\n \n## Here are some other reasons why you need good stories:\nStraight facts and details are boring.  You ever tried to read a financial statement? Does it make you want to give? Thought not.\n\nStories engage people emotionally. A good story hits us right where we feel life most: our heart. Since giving is an emotional act, it makes sense to connect emotionally before asking.\nWe’re conditioned for stories. Since we were small, we’ve loved stories, whether they were read to us or shown in a movie. Heck, think about how hard it is to get tickets the first weekend of a great movie. Everyone loves a good story.\n \nHere’s the truth: Your mission statement alone will NEVER inspire someone to make a game-changing gift to your nonprofit.  It takes a story to do that.\n \n \n## What makes a story heart-grabbing?\n \nBoring stories don’t move people to give. Neither do stories that ramble and don’t really have a point.  So, your stories need to be concise and easy to read (no jargon).  \n\n### The best story model to use is the “Before and After.”\n \nIt’s pretty simple really: Start the story by telling what life was like before the person/animal came to your nonprofit, and then tell about what their life is like now.\n\n#### For example,\n\n![engage donors sandy.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/engage-donors-sandy.jpg)\n\nRenee was scared. A thunderstorm was about to roll through town. She sighed and loaded up her kids in the car to drive to Wal Mart.  There wasn’t anything she needed to buy – she just needed a safe place to stay until the storm blew over. \n \nYou see, her small trailer didn’t feel safe. Every time the thunder boomed, her windows rattled. The sheets of rain seeped in around the leaky roof, and Renee was scared that the next gust of wind might blow the place down around her. It was like this every time a storm blew in.\n \nShe needed a better place to live, but didn’t know how to make it happen on her meager income. Then she heard about Habitat for Humanity.\n \nShe immediately signed up and began working toward her own home. She learned how to budget money for home repairs and spent hours putting in “sweat equity.” After many months of waiting and working, the big day finally came, and she couldn’t believe it as she stood on the porch and looked inside. Tears shone in her eyes as they handed her the keys to her new home - safe and solid, able to withstand any storm.\n \nNotice how you feel after reading that story. Do you like the happy ending or the face that she had to work to reach her goals? Is there something else that draws you in?\n \nNote that there’s not much said about the organization or their program. There’s nothing about how many people are served or the staff’s credentials.\nYou may want to give people more information, but they don’t need it. People want to know about the lives being changed, not how you do it. Focus on impact and outcomes, not programs and process.\n\n## Story collection tips\n \nCollecting good stories can take some time. I suggest you set aside a few days to find some good ones, then write them up and put them in a story library so you have them later when you need them. (I used to do this once or twice a year and I always had plenty of good stories.)\n \n## #Here are a few tips for collecting stories:\n\n- **Ask your coworkers** what they’ve seen lately that broke their heart. Don’t ask for a story – they don’t think about it the same way you do and won’t give you what you’re looking for. Also, be prepared to write it up yourself. They won’t have time and won’t understand how to put a story into the format you need. I used to go have lunch with the program staff and ask them to update me on the latest thing happening. That was usually enough to get them started talking.\n- **Have a story** contest and see which staff person or volunteer can give you the best story. Give prizes to the winners (Starbucks card, etc.). Again, be prepared to write these up yourself or edit anything you’re given in writing.\n- **Spend time on the front lines** of your organization and get the stories for yourself. Talk to people using your nonprofit’s services and ask them to share with you. Not everyone will be willing, but you’ll find a few who are. - -- **Be respectful and gentle as you ask questions** – some people may have some strong emotions about using your nonprofit’s services, and like a physician, you should do no harm in this process.\n \nOnce you share a story, listen for feedback. Notice if someone mentions the story when you bump into them in the community, or if a donor emails you. I’ve seen donors tuck a note in an envelope with their check with a comment about a story.\n \nWhen you start getting feedback like that and you see donations go up, you know you’re doing it right, and that you’ve engaged and inspired your donors.\n\n___\n## [Get Fully Funded](http://getfullyfunded.com/sandy/), our guest blogger\nThis blog content was kindly provided by Sandy Rees.  Sandy Rees, is CFRE (Certified Fundraising Executive) certification and the Founder and Chief Encouragement Officer at [Get Fully Funded](http://getfullyfunded.com/sandy/) that means she is a coach and consultant to nonprofits.\nSandy and her team and love showing organizations the path to long-term sustainability.",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":911},{"url":912},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/87695ca9ba5b545b1158f49ff22a4007841c8d27-600x320.jpg","2016-06-27T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":915},"engage_donors_sandy","Sandy Rees, fundraising-consultant-extraordinaire shares donor engagement tips","#1 Way to Engage Donors and Inspire Bigger Giving",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":919,"category":920,"id":5,"image":921,"publishOn":924,"slug":925,"teaser":927,"title":928},"When COVID-19 threatened the annual June gala for Boys & Girls Club of Southwest Washington Judith McMorine, the Director of Resource & Development said “no problem, we will go virtual.” The annual June gala is the major fundraiser for the year so postponing or canceling is not an option. Support this year is more important than ever as they continue to do whatever it takes to serve the youth that need them the most. During the Covid-19 response with Club, sites are physically closed yet Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington staff teams are working to help members access to food, resources, activity kits, virtual programming and connecting families to services. \n\nJudith emphasizes it took a strong team and Events Committee made up of members of the Board of Directors and other community volunteers.  She goes on note that “We are so fortunate to have a very  supportive and generous community that really cares about our youth.” In the past, the annual gala for Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington was an invitation-only event. The gala was always sold out to maximum capacity each year. The love and devotion from the supporters is the result of creating relationships with a most generous community. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/4cb707cabf99444bb90bb1afb1da7a7c102259eb-600x600.png)\n\n## Virtual “House Party” \nShifting the gala event to a virtual event was a must.  The Event Committee decided on a fun and engaging theme of “House Party 2020” using traditional and non traditional means of connecting with supporters.\n  \nAlthough the event this year shifted to a virtual event the same nurturing and communication strategy was employed. It was important to make sure the invitee still felt appreciated and special leading all the way up to the event. They continued to mail out hard copy formal invitations just like when the event was an in-person gala. \n\nEven before the decision to go virtual was made, the organizing committee had engaged We Plan It event planning expert Wendy Daniels-Sturm to help with planning and operations. \n\nVIP admission to the Virtual House Party included:\n * Pre-party package complete with a goody bag, a timeline of activities, instructions on how to view the event, instructions on how to participate \n * At-home delivery the day of the Virtual House party of cuisine and beverage\n\n## Vital Communications\nAnyone who plans an event understands the importance that clear communication plays. Donors and sponsors continue to donate because they are very aware of how Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington impacts the livelihood of a child, their families, and the community at large. Communications that relaying the impact of their donations means that when it comes time to ask again, donors know where the money was spent in the past and can be sure the funds will be used just as wisely going forward.\n\nIn terms of communicating the Virtual House Party activities the same thought and considerations were made:\n * **Use regular communication channels.**The invitees to the annual gala expect a ‘save-the-date’ notification and a printed invitation. This year they provided the same level of correspondence.\n * **Personal phone calls** are made to ensure receipt of invitations and to encourage attendance. This year they continued this practice.\n * **Printed and distributed a full program of events,** instructions on how to join the gala, and instructions on how to donate.\n * **Multiple donation pathways during the event:** live auction, paddle raise, text-to-bid\nAnticipating a small number of participants may want to use a more traditional donation they also included a return envelope for ease in sending in checks. \n\nThe Event Planning Committee ran through every possible what-if scenario and filled each with a solution. They did multiple dry-run and rehearsals. Sending out a program in advance showing the ease of use. They removed any potential barrier to donate and repeated the information over and over and over again. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/73dfe90117c8a397e78267bea3371a65e9ea42b4-600x450.jpg)\n\n## Fun & Open Event\nEvery year the Boy & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington gala is a fun event.  Going virtual this year the capacity was no longer limited. The community at large was able to attend and participate. \n\n**The pre-party took place using Zoom** and it was a thrill. Due to shelter-in-place orders because of COVID-19 this was the first time many people connected with their friends and acquaintances.  \n\n**Opening remarks were presented by the Executive Director Francisco Bueno.**  Francisco shared why supporting Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington is important to the success of the child and the immediate community. They are helping more families with more services during this time of need and more than ever need financial support.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/1b01fa141f6122a2a9433ce23d27a2f71bc87e00-600x450.jpg)\n\n## Fun is always part of the gala. \nTheir host and emcees have been pillars to this event providing energy and entertainment. This year was no different. The virtual event “House Party 2020” was simultaneously live streamed and broadcast locally. The live show included video testimonials, a virtual auction and call for community support. \n\n[View the replay on their YouTube channel. ](https://youtu.be/hxEBWUEoovA)\n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/5b8487f5c8056bfe8967cddc8ad244f019410e73-328x328.png)](https://youtu.be/hxEBWUEoovA)\n\n\n## Wrap up\nEven when it’s over, it’s still not over. Thanking everyone for their support and reporting back on the outcome is a critical task to continue to steward the community. Although the “House Party 2020” event has concluded there is an opportunity to continue the relationship with donors, bidders & sponsors. A thank you email, letter and online posting closes the circle but opens the line for future communications. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/56f80e0a813a0c9d35e287ae24ba83d95ad54b88-688x600.jpg)\n\n--------------------\n[Boys & Girls Club of SW Washington](https://mybgc.org/about-us/)\nIncorporated in April 1999 with the first Club site on the grounds of Hazel Dell Elementary School. Expanding through the years now eight clubs serve more than 3,500 youth each year.\n\nThe need for affordable after-school programming continued and our proven brand of youth development was being embraced by our community as our membership continues to grow. In partnership with Vancouver Public Schools and many other local organizations, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington continues  to support the students and families in an even broader capacity. \n\n[WE Plan It](http://www.weplanit.com/) is lead by Wendy Daniels-Sturm Wendy is extremely passionate and caring about the events she designs. She puts her heart into every event she creates, which is a quality that makes her very unique. Positively impacting the lives of those around her and giving to others are keys to her success. \n\nWE Plan It creates extraordinary events by combining their passion for refinement with their promise to make each of their events a unique and diverse experience. “Refinement” is WE Plan It’s signature mark; specializing in exceptionally innovative, sophisticated and timeless events, corporate galas and fundraisers.\n\n[Follow in Instagram @weplanit](https://www.instagram.com/)\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":922},{"url":923},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/88ac79f1f720cf1103ee693aae65b3f023535fc7-600x320.png","2020-06-26T16:00:00.000Z",{"current":926},"boy-and-girls-club-of-sw-washington-communicate-strategically-and-often","Even before the decision to go virtual was made, the organizing committee had engaged ","Boy & Girls Club of SW Washington: Communicate Strategically & Often",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":930,"category":931,"id":5,"image":932,"publishOn":935,"slug":936,"teaser":938,"title":939},"The Lift 4 Autism auction fundraising team is small but mighty! Authors Ginger Scott and Kennedy Ryan, along with LIFT manager Melissa Panio-Petersen, have perfected message amplification and that is key to their success. [Lift 4 Autism Authors in Action](http://lift4autism.com/) is an annual online signed romance book auction. In April 2020, the founders thought it was going to be a down year in terms of fundraising due to COVID-19. \n\nBelieving that when you lead with the mission you can never go wrong, the auction team powered on through the nationwide and worldwide epidemic while many are under a shelter-in-place order. Under such unusual circumstances, they set their goals conservatively, deciding they would be happy hitting the $20K mark. \n\nLift 4 Autism was more than pleasantly surprised by bringing in more than $53,000!\n\nApril is [National Autism Awareness Month](https://autismsociety.org/). The LIFT 4 Autism campaign started as a grassroots effort to bring awareness and understanding to those with Autism.  \n\nAutism awareness goals are: \n\n> “Designed to build a better awareness of the signs, symptoms, and realities of autism, #CelebrateDifferences focuses on providing information and resources for  communities to be more aware of autism, promote acceptance, and be more inclusive in everyday life.”  \n\nThe Lift 4 Autism team has been personally affected by Autism, as many have been. They wanted to get behind the cause to help spread the advocacy message. What started the first year as a very successful advocacy project was boosted the following year to a fundraiser. All proceeds raised went to Autism programs. \n\n## Donors Bring the Magic and Lend Voices for Success\nDonors for the auction are the authors and they bring magic. The premise for donations is so simple and brilliant: Authors donate signed copies of their books! The genre of these authors is Romance Fiction and their supporters are avid readers and avid followers. The real fundraising magic happens when the participating authors use the power of their voice to carry the message to their very loyal readers.  \n\nThe online auction features signed paperbacks, hardcovers, full series sets, out-of-print covers, foreign editions, personal one-on-one Skype calls with favorite authors and more. Everything is donated by authors, publishers, bloggers, and readers.\n\nSimple logistics make the auction donations easy. Authors submit descriptions for auction items along with an image. After the auction closes and the bidder has paid, the donating author signs and mails out the books to the winner. Ginger shares that the best part of using Auctria for their team is that they can set up the banking so that funds flow directly to Kulture City. They can reconcile and close the books within a week of the fundraiser closing.\n\n## Donors Voices Carry\nGinger describes the romance author community: \n> “as a beautifully loud group with a very receptive audience.” \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/f7226e21061f08ac8dd7568c5b0ff9150085f4f8-764x628.jpg)\n\nThe authors/donors use their social media platforms collectively to boost the auction visibility and advocacy messages. The authors are extremely involved in sharing Lift 4 Autism messages and auction fundraiser details. Their fans are avid followers, and it’s rare to get to interact with an author so a signed copy of a book is a treasure to be had. Lift 4 Autism has a detailed marketing plan to guide the fundraising event. \n\n**Utilizing a common hashtag** unites the Lift 4 Autism auction from many sources. Each year they simply change the date, so this year it was #lift2020 and #lift4autism2020. The following years will be a swap out of the numbers to the current year. Hashtags let users apply dynamic, user-generated tagging that helps other users easily find messages with a specific theme or content. So when all the authors tag with #lift2020 the social media surfer can quick-click the hashtag and see all the messages that were tagged the same even though it’s from different sources. \n\n**Leading up to the auction** the preview for the auction is available as well as swag consisting of t-shirts and other apparel. Each year the images are refreshed encouraging annual purchases. This makes it easy for the authors to share a consistent message by providing images, sample messaging and links to the dedicated auction website. Each author that participates brings a massive social media audience to the table, and while many overlap, the constant roll of messaging reaches into the hundreds of thousands in impressions.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/c165500c8bb50654bc680d08077d9b95a34569b8-2940x1860.jpg)\n\n\n**Auction opens and the bidding begins.** The authors had previously signed up to share their auction item at a minimum on a preferred day. This ensures a steady stream of news and new potential bidders. \n\nAutism touches so many. One in 40 people are diagnosed with autism, and this prevalence is felt by a large majority in society, and people want to help. Autism is a widely varied presentation and different for each person. Getting this awareness out shares the message that those living with Autism can grow and become integral members of society when given the right tools. Because Lift 4 Autism has chosen a distinct organization that helps make this happen, the donations are helping with immediate needs.\n\nThe final big post wraps up the event with data and statistics. By utilizing the Auctria platform, funds go directly to their charitable partner, Kulture City, without delay. With transparent reporting, so donors and bidders know that their dollars are helping a good cause quickly. This year’s funds are already being spent to help families on the Autism spectrum during the COVID-19 Pandemic. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/6795f3c889d36adca4894d86da98695e6b77a405-750x500.jpg)\n\n\n## Choosing the Autism Organization\nThere are many valuable Autism programs to choose from to partner with. Lift 4 Autism knows their prospective donors are all over the US and wanted to make sure they were sure that the funds raised matched similar geography. So in looking for an Autism charity that was national in scope and provided a tangible good or service to Autistic individuals were the two big checkboxes.  Kulture City is both national and provides tools to individuals to help with to lessen sensory overload. \n\nLift 4 Autism started the first year in an advocacy role sharing knowledge during Autism Awareness month in April. Seeing the engagement they decided to add a fundraising component the following year by leveraging the romance author community. Tapping into the community was natural because they already support each other on a wider scope. \n\nNext was choosing which autism charity to support. Since the donors were national in scope they wanted to choose a charity that was also national in their support for people living Autism. Kulture City checked all the boxes and is the recipient of all Lift 4 Autism proceeds. The benefits go directly to Kulture City and in the past have been earmarked to support its lifeBOKS and tablet program. This year’s funds went to aid families during the COVID-19 Pandemic.\n\n## The History of Lift 4 Autism, Authors in Action for Autism\nBackground: Ginger and Kennedy are romance authors and attribute auction success to the entire romance author community. They really do lift each other up and come together for a great cause. Lift 4 Autism started as an advocacy campaign, and after realizing the power of their voices, the authors chose to add in a fundraising campaign. \n\n**Ginger shared that the auction team learns, and improves year after year.**\n\n * Year 1, Autism advocacy messaging campaign\n * Year 2, the first year of the fundraising campaign, did not know what to expect and brought in $10K\n * Year 3, second-year set goals to double last hoping for $20K, brought in $25K\n * Year 4, the third-year set goal of $30Km brought in $37K\n * Year 5, 2020, the COVID-19 year with the auction running in May during a nationwide and worldwide epidemic. Under such unusual circumstances set goals conservatively at the $20K mark. More than pleasantly surprised by bringing in more than $50K.\n\nLift 4 Autism attributes their success to the romance literature community, the authors, the readers, the bloggers. Readers crossover from one author to the next devouring entire series of literature. Authors realize the audience flows back and forth so they do not view the other authors as the competition but as one large friendly crowd. They look forward to continuing to grow the event and help raise more awareness and more funds for Autism.\n\n\n----------------------\n\nLift 4 Autism Online Auction is an annual event taking place in April & May. LIFT is a charitable initiative rallying the romance reading community around Autism. All proceeds directly benefit Kulture City, including its lifeBOKS and tablet program. \n\n## Lift Founders Kennedy Ryan and Ginger Scott are bestselling romance authors. \n\n### Kennedy Ryan\n**A RITA® Award Winner and USA Today Bestseller, Kennedy Ryan writes for women from all walks of life, empowering them and placing them firmly at the center of each story and in charge of their own destinies.** Her heroes respect, cherish and lose their minds for the women who capture their hearts.\n\nKennedy and her writings have been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Glamour and many others. She has always leveraged her journalism background to write for charity and non-profit organizations, but has a special passion for raising Autism awareness.The co-founder of LIFT 4 Autism, an annual charitable book auction, she has appeared on Headline News, Montel Williams, NPR and other media outlets as an advocate for ASD families. She is a wife to her lifetime lover and mother to an extraordinary son. \n\n\nBook Group: [facebook.com/groups/681604768593989/]\nTwitter: [@Kennedyrwrites](https://twitter.com/kennedyrites)\nInstagram: [@kennedyryan1](https://www.instagram.com/kennedyryan1)\n\n\n### Ginger Scott\n**Ginger Scott is an Amazon-bestselling and Goodreads Choice and Rita Award**-nominated author from Peoria, Arizona. She is the author of several young and new adult romances, including recent bestsellers The Hard Count, A Boy Like You, A Girl Like Me, Cry Baby, This Is Falling and Wild Reckless.\n\nA sucker for a good romance, Ginger's other passion is sports, and she often blends the two in her stories. She has been writing and editing for newspapers, magazines and blogs for a hella long time. She has told the stories of Olympians, politicians, actors, scientists, cowboys, criminals and towns. For more on her and her work, visit her website [here](http://www.littlemisswrite.com.)\n\nWhen she's not writing, the odds are high that she's somewhere near a baseball diamond, either watching her son field pop flies like Bryce Harper or cheering on her favorite baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ginger lives in Arizona and is married to her college sweetheart whom she met at ASU (fork 'em, Devils).\n\nFacebook: [https://www.facebook.com/GingerScottAuthor/](https://www.facebook.com/GingerScottAuthor/)\nTwitter: [@TheGingerScott](https://twitter.com/TheGingerScott)\nInstagram: [@authorgingerscott](https://www.instagram.com/authorgingerscott/)\n[Website](http://www.littlemisswrite.com/)\n[Ginger's Amazon page](https://www.amazon.com/Ginger-Scott/e/B00CMN0076)\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":933},{"url":934},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/3e127a999a84d5a64c1d4069c24dc3ef33b433df-600x320.png","2020-05-18T16:00:00.000Z",{"current":937},"lift4autism-authors-in-action-voices-carry","The authors/donors use their social media platforms collectively to boost the auction visibility and advocacy messages.","Lift 4 Autism Authors in Action- Voices Carry",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":941,"category":942,"id":5,"image":943,"publishOn":946,"slug":947,"teaser":949,"title":950},"A sweet treat AND raising money for a good cause? That sounds like a winning combination to us! Event organizers and attendees agree: Dessert Dash auctions are fun, competitive, and great at raising money for your organization.\n\nIn this article, we’ll cover:\n* What a Dessert Dash is and how you can use it to raise money\n* How to plan your Dessert Dash event\n* How to take your Dessert Dash to the next level\n* How Auctria can help your Dessert Dash be a success!\n\nWhat is a Dessert Dash?\nIf you’ve never competed in a Dessert Dash before, you’re missing out! Each table of guests will receive a bid sheet with their table number on it. Each person at the table will add a bid and then there should be a spot for the total amount at the bottom.\n\nWhen your guests first sit at their tables, let them know that the bid sheet is for bidding on a dessert from the display table! The table with the highest total bid will go first. Give them time to discuss amongst themselves to make a plan for which desserts they’ll try to grab, who their dasher will be, and how much they’d each like to bid.\n\nOnce all the bids are totaled and given to the auctioneer, they’ll announce the table with the highest bid. That table’s dasher will sprint to the dessert table to claim their prize! When they’re part of the way there, the auctioneer will announce the 2nd place table, and so on. This creates a really fun, competitive environment as everyone races to grab the dessert their table wants most!\n\n\n\n>“...some of our events, we are making between 5,000 all the way up to $25,000 for Dessert Dash.” - Gazala Uradnik of GFS Events\n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/78bb2ebdf3f87b40d9d73090d3c8e7d0b9458241-800x400.png?w=450)](https://vimeo.com/1071516121?fl=pl&fe=cm#t=44m47s)\n\n\n\nOne of the best parts about a Dessert Dash is that it’s easy to add on to another event. If you’re having a celebratory year-end gala, this is a great way to end the night. If you’ve hosted a more traditional auction, this can be a fun way for everyone to win one last treat! The collaborative nature also encourages guests to get to know each other, which may encourage them to show up to more of your events to see each other. In general, it flows particularly well at events with seated dinners: this gives attendees time to discuss while they eat and then they can enjoy their desserts at the end. However, it can be worked into many different events, you might just need to get creative with the timeline to ensure everyone is ready to dash for their dessert!\n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/78bb2ebdf3f87b40d9d73090d3c8e7d0b9458241-800x400.png?w=450)](https://www.auctria.com/video/?id=1071516121&t=2687)\n\n\n## What to Consider When Planning an Event Fundraiser\nNo matter what kind of event you’re planning, there are some general tips to keep in mind:\n\n* Start sooner rather than later! There’s lots of great tools out there to help you plan a successful event (like Auctria!) and it’s always better to start early so you can handle any unexpected complications and properly generate excitement for your event.\n* As the date for your event approaches, sell sponsorships & tickets through your website. This allows you to easily track inventory and alert potential attendees when tickets are running low.\n* Clear communication is key! Don’t make it difficult for attendees to find where to buy tickets, or event details. Make sure they know how to bid as soon as they arrive at your event. Have lots of volunteers floating around who have been trained to answer common questions so that they can help attendees throughout the event.\n\nThe more people, or the better yet the tight people that attend the event fundraiser the better results you will have AT THE fundraiser.\n\n## What to Consider When Planning a Dessert Dash\n\nHowever, there are a few considerations you might want to take into account when planning a Dessert Dash, specifically.\n* As with any event where food is present, you’ll want to make sure each item is clearly labelled with the appropriate allergens. Remember, there are 9 major allergens: milk, eggs, peanuts, soy, wheat (gluten), tree nuts, shellfish, fish, and sesame. While shellfish and fish may be uncommon at a Dessert Dash, the others are quite common!\n* Along with clearly labelling allergens, you might want to consider providing dessert options that accommodate specific needs, like being vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, etc.\n* You’ll want to display those desserts to get your attendee’s mouths watering! \n* Make sure they’re displayed prominently in your event space so everyone can look at the desserts and decide what they may want to bid on later.\n* Have an engaging auctioneer and emcee! For a Dessert Dash, a good auctioneer can add excitement and up the competitive spirit with a little play-by-play commentary.\n* Since guests will literally be dashing to the table to choose their dessert, keep that in mind when choosing your event space. A theater space won’t work for this activity, a large, open room where tables can be properly spaced out is key.\n* Tables will be bidding as a group, so they’ll need to be able to split their desserts! It’s best to either have staff on hand to divide the dessert (and potentially serve it, if it’s to be eaten at the event) or the dessert should be easy to divide (and the tables should be provided a container to take it home in).\n\n## Take the Dessert Dash to the Next Level\nMaybe you already do Dessert Dashes and want a way to spice it up—it’s important to keep things fresh for your attendees! There’s a few ways you can keep a Dessert Dash fresh and fun, or tailor it to your specific audience:\n* It’s always recommended to contact local bakeries for your desserts to build community ties, but you might be able to tie your organization’s mission into the sourcing. For instance, if your organization supports children or students, perhaps you could partner with local Home Ec classes or after-school clubs to provide the desserts.\n* Shake up the prizes! Swap desserts for wine and beer baskets, gift baskets from local businesses, etc.\n* Don’t have a dessert for everyone. Sneaky, we know, however if you let people know up front that only the top 5 bidding tables will get desserts or something similar, it might drive higher bids. \n\n>“This is really, really great for ‘how do we raise an extra $5,000? sometimes even more.” - Auctioneer Seth Weiner\n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/28e7e27ec499f939c9713f4b8804fd5d33763f82-800x400.png?w=450)](https://vimeo.com/1119578131?fl=pl&fe=cm#t=24m22s)\n\n## How Auctria Can Help!\nAuctria has many tools to help you run your event smoothly. Use Auctria to create an event website with a custom URL using your own org and event name and then add the details about your Dessert Dash. This is a great place to showcase the names of the bakers who provided your desserts!\n\nWant to ditch the paper bids? Set it up as a donation item on the website and place QR codes on the tables! Plus, the Tables feature that pairs with your ticket sales tracker can automatically generate your Dessert Dash tables from the dashboard. Auctria makes it easy to print paper bid sheets, create online bids, record and accept donations, and provide accurate bid totals. No fuss or stress required!\n\nCheck out [Auctria's Features](https://www.auctria.com/features) page to see all the customizations you can make to help your event be a success.\n\n[Check out this Oktoberfest Auctria](https://www.auctria.com/blog/bingo-boost-at-the-boys-and-girls-club-of-walker-county/)client that went with a dessert  approach, to great success.  Bingo featured numerous thrilling games and raffles, including Dessert Bingo. The Dessert auction was a sweet success. The club created a fun bidding war where sugar cravings battled it out for the sweetest victory!\n\n## Ready to Plan Your Dessert Dash?\nWe hope that this helps you and your team get started when considering how to add a little competitive fun to your next fundraising event! After all, nothing gets donations flowing like a little competitive spirit to get people amped up, and it’s all the sweeter for the dessert they’ll get to enjoy after.\nWant to see how other organizations are using Auctria to power their fundraisers? [See what others are doing on the Auctria Public Auction and Fundraising Events page!](https://events.auctria.com/) This page features live updates with currently active events so you can see exactly how other nonprofits are running their events.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":944},{"url":945},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/16ef9bbd7127904a49cd54e254ed8441b72367af-600x320.jpg","2025-12-24T15:53:40.616Z",{"current":948},"dessert-dash-a-delicious-way-to-raise-money-that-everyone-will-love","A sweet revenue booster! Turn dessert into a friendly competition as tables bid, and donate","Dessert Dash: A Delicious Way to Raise Money That Everyone Will Love",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":952,"category":953,"id":5,"image":954,"publishOn":957,"slug":958,"teaser":960,"title":961},"# #GivingTuesday & Auctria, a perfect match\n\n## [Giving Tuesday](https://www.givingtuesday.org/) has become a movement that celebrates and supports giving and philanthropy.\n\n**When:** 1st Tuesday after Thanksgiving (in the US), December 2nd, 2025\n**Where:** global\n**What:** one common purpose, to celebrate and encourage giving\n**How:**  any charity can capitalize on Giving Tuesday with a bit of planning and promotion\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/39f58c8b5978f0bddd757c9dce8cce28d425ad7c-491x213.gif)\n\n## As a current Auctria customer your charity can efficiently capitalize on this day of giving.  \n\nGet set-up now, and be ready for GivingTuesday spotlight to brighten your charity.  Your own past supporters are the most likely to give future donations.  \n\nYour charity will need a website presence.  \n*Auctria allows the user to create a website for each event.  Make a new one now for Giving Tuesday.*\n\nYour charity will need the ability to collect funds.  \n*Auctria credit card integration makes the collection process seamless.*\n\nYour charity will need provide a receipt to supporters.  \n*Auctria can be used to send an email for online donations, and you can follow up with your own 'thank you' note.*\n\n## Auto-create your GivingTuesday event with Auctria\n\n[Sign in to your existing account and follow these instructions](https://guide.auctria.com/redirect?id=EventSetup_GivingTuesday)\n\n\u003Ciframe src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/video/869187005?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" title=\"Giving Tuesday 2023\">\u003C/iframe>\n\n\u003Cbr/>\n\n## Promote #GivingTuesday and your beloved cause\n #GIVINGTUESDAY Marketing & Social\n - Re-Engage donors through email \n - Re-Engage donors through Facebook \n - Re-Engage donors through Twitter\n\nPromote, post, share, tweet, email on all your favorite communication channels ensuring that cause is the one to be celebrated with generosity on #GivingTuesday.\n\n## Sample social media posts to get you started:\n> CHARITY is part of Giving Tuesday.  Donations will help CHARITY [define mission].  Give from your heart!\n> GivingTuesday is soon.  It’s a day for everyone, everywhere to GIVE.  Will you please give to CHARITY NAME\n> Countdown to Giving Tuesday 24 hours.  Thank you in advance for the donation to CHARITY.\n> Better together, CHARITY and GivingTuesday.  Donate today!\n\n## Website Out of the Box \n Creating a Giving Tuesday website with Auctria is easy and ready to go out-of-the-box. If you wish to nothing that's ok. The website is ready to go. Should you want to spend a few minutes more branding the page do so with our website editor tools. Here are few examples of organizations that did so. For the most part, they changed just a few images and branded with their colors. \n\n\u003Ciframe src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/video/757610612?h=270cbff1c1\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen>\u003C/iframe>\n \n----\n## Resources\n\n[For more information about Giving Tuesday check out GivingTuesday.org](https://www.givingtuesday.org/)\n\n[Pinterest: Auctria #GivingTuesday Board](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/givingtuesday-with-auctria/)\n\n[2024 Webinar replay \"Giving Tuesday Strategy: The Essential Steps for a Winning Campaign\"](https://www.auctria.com/webinar/giving-tuesday-strategy-the-essential-steps-for-a-winning-campaign/)\n",{"id":67,"title":68},{"asset":955},{"url":956},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/368c45c25c9576c361a017c951f2b561564b5bd9-1875x1000.jpg","2025-10-20T13:52:33.989Z",{"current":959},"givingtuesday-and-auctria-a-perfect-match","Giving Tuesday is December 2nd, 2025. GT has become a movement that celebrates and supports giving and philanthropy.  Take advantage with Auctria","GivingTuesday & Auctria, a perfect match",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":963,"category":964,"id":5,"image":965,"publishOn":968,"slug":969,"teaser":971,"title":972},"Customer-centric companies are [60% more profitable](https://www.forbes.com/sites/blakemorgan/2019/09/24/50-stats-that-prove-the-value-of-customer-experience/?sh=1104d2914ef2) than businesses that aren’t, and [68% of users will abandon a brand](https://uxcam.com/blog/understanding-user-centered-design/) if they think it doesn’t care for them. That’s why user-centric marketing is essential across every sector.\n\nAs a nonprofit marketing professional, it's crucial to show supporters that you care about them as people and want to create positive online experiences for them. One of the most effective ways to do so is to create donor-centric [web content.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/nonprofit-websites-5-ways-to-make-the-most-of-yours/)\n\nLet’s review four tips for crafting donor-centric web content that builds strong supporter relationships: \n\n1. Create and leverage user personas.\n2. Show donors’ impact.\n3. Incorporate user-generated content.\n4. Let data guide your strategy. \n\nAccording to [Kanopi’s roundup of top nonprofit websites,](https://kanopi.com/blog/best-nonprofit-websites/) “successful nonprofit marketing teams ask questions and explore how their donors behave on a regular basis to identify changing trends.” These tips will help ensure your website’s content is tailored to your unique audience and their preferences. \n\n## 1. Create and leverage user personas. \nA user persona is a fictional character that represents a segment of your nonprofit’s target web audience. You can develop personas by identifying common traits across your donor base and grouping individuals based on these characteristics. \n\nFor example, perhaps you’re creating donor personas for your healthcare nonprofit’s website. You may create personas for donors who are former patients, major donors, corporate partners, donors who also volunteer, and prospective donors. \n\nGive each persona a unique name, defining characteristics, information about what they’re looking for from your website, accessibility needs, and details about the type of messaging that would be helpful to them. \n\nUse this template to add detail to each persona:\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/77eec0a2679cac38e91d04a7d1b8fb4667da6579-670x525.jpg)\n\nYou’ll probably end up with more than one overarching audience group—typically, developing three to five unique personas helps account for the unique segments within your community. \n\nPersonas can help you create better donor-centric web content in the following ways:\n\n* **Write tailored web content** that’s relevant to each persona’s interests, needs, and goals. \n* **Improve your SEO strategy** by creating content that’s more helpful for specific audiences. \n* **Choose compelling images** that appeal to each persona. \n* **Use storytelling strategies** that resonate with your target audience based on the types of content they’ve previously expressed interest in. \n\nContinually update your personas as needed to ensure that your content stays relevant to your audience’s needs and motivations. To account for potential audience shifts, review your personas at least twice a year. \n\n## 2. Show donors’ impact.\nTypically, donors all have one question in common: what did their contributions actually do? Whether they contributed to your giving day campaign or supported a peer-to-peer fundraising event, donors want to know how your nonprofit used their gifts to further your mission. \n\nUse your website to showcase donors’ continued positive impact on your cause. Demonstrate their impact in multiple ways, such as through: \n\n\n* **Infographics.** Create graphs or charts that spotlight the impact of donors’ contributions to certain campaigns. For example, let donors know that their $80,000 in contributions to your giving day campaign allowed your nonprofit to renovate your animal shelter, growing capacity from 100 to 250 animals. \n* [**Videos.**](https://www.auctria.com/blog/nonprofit-videos-a-guide-to-inspiring-your-supporters/) Create an explainer video to demonstrate how donations helped push a recent campaign to success or share a timeline of how donors’ support has helped your nonprofit grow exponentially over the past five years. \n* **Community member testimonials.** Use videos or blog interviews to spotlight community members’ stories and messages of gratitude for donors. \n\nFind ways to personalize your impact-centered web content. For example, [eCardWidget](https://ecardwidget.com/donor-recognition/) recommends creating a virtual donor wall with recognition tiers for different giving levels. Make sure to ask donors’ permission before recognizing them publicly on your website. \n\n## 3. Incorporate user-generated content.\nDonors will feel more engaged with your content when they have the opportunity to be featured in it. This is where user-generated content comes into play. User-generated content includes any content (images, written text, videos, etc.) created by your audience members, such as:\n\n* Social media posts\n* Images and videos\n* Audio clips\n* Donor testimonials\n* [Event recaps](https://www.auctria.com/blog/designing-an-event-landing-page-5-strategies-for-nonprofits/)\n* Artwork that’s relevant to your mission\n\nShare this user-generated content on your website’s homepage and blog. For example, you can share a live social media feed on your homepage or include user-submitted images in a blog post recapping a recent event. \n\n## 4. Let data guide your strategy. \nWe don’t recommend going with your gut or hunches when it comes to developing user-centric web content. Making subjective choices can lead to a misalignment between what your team thinks your audience wants and what they actually want. Instead, you should rely mostly on cold, hard facts. \n\nA data-driven approach gives your team clear metrics to work toward and can improve your marketing content’s return on investment. Use the following resources to gather data about your website audience:\n\n* Google Analytics\n* Visitor behavior tools like [HotJar](https://www.hotjar.com/)\n* Audience feedback surveys\n\nLeverage these resources to [gather data](https://npoinfo.com/nonprofit-data-collection/) such as traffic sources, website bounce rates and average time on page, visitor satisfaction, visitor demographics, and other user-experience data. Use this information to further refine your personas, determine what types of content are most engaging for your audience, and make it easier for visitors to find your website. \n\nNote how your metrics are performing before and after making content updates. This way, you can see which updates were most impactful for driving higher visitor engagement. \n\n------------\n\nConsider [working with a nonprofit web design professional](https://kanopi.com/non-profit/) to help further refine your audience personas and content strategy. These experts can help enhance your content strategy based on current best practices and your organization’s unique data insights. \n\nWith these tips, you should be able to create engaging, donor-centric content that drives traffic and increases support for your [fundraising efforts.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-to-improve-your-fundraising-strategy-a-mini-guide/)\n----------\n\nSpecial thanks to Anne Stefanyk for the expert advice. As Founder and CEO of Kanopi Studios, Anne helps create clarity around project needs, and turns client conversations into actionable outcomes. She enjoys helping clients identify their problems, and then empowering the Kanopi team to execute great solutions.\n\nAnne is an advocate for open source and co-organizes the Bay Area Drupal Camp. When she’s not contributing to the community or running her thoughtful web agency, she enjoys yoga, meditation, treehouses, dharma, cycling, paddle boarding, kayaking, and hanging with her nephew.\n\n[Twitter](https://twitter.com/Anne_Kanopi)\n[Drupal](https://www.drupal.org/u/annabella)\n[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/annestefanyk/)\n \n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":966},{"url":967},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/b8218ce7ba27e23111436e1637f56bc788ddd1d2-600x320.jpg","2023-08-29T18:09:04.571Z",{"current":970},"4-tips-to-write-donor-centric-web-content-for-your-nonprofit","Your donors are central to your fundraising success, so they should also be centered in your web content. Use these tips to write donor-centric web content. ","4 Tips to Write Donor-Centric Web Content for Your Nonprofit",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":974,"category":975,"id":5,"image":976,"publishOn":979,"slug":980,"teaser":982,"title":983},"# Virtual fundraising for non-profits: A Guide\n\nWith the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, non-profits across the globe have adopted the virtual fundraising model to drive their missions forward. Virtual fundraising can be highly beneficial to non-profits as an engagement tool that allows for the generation of revenue even during uncertain times. Auctria, providers of online fundraising tools for non-profits and businesses, explains why and how your non-profit can leverage the power of virtual fundraisers.\n\n## What is virtual fundraising?\n\nIn [virtual fundraising](https://www.auctria.com/blog/galas-at-home/), a non-profit can organize and conduct events or campaigns on a completely online platform. This allows for donors and supporters from across the globe to participate and engage.\n\n## What are the benefits of virtual fundraising? \n\nThe biggest advantage of a virtual fundraiser is that donor engagement is not restricted by location or region. Amidst social distancing guidelines, non-profits can widen their audience and enjoy the engagement of donors from any part of the world. This, coupled with the reach of social media and other sharing methods, can encourage people who otherwise would not have been part of the event, if held physically. [Other benefits of virtual fundraising include](https://www.auctria.com/features/):\n\n### Analytics \n\nVirtual fundraising offers the ability to collect data and analytics. Through this, non-profits can retrieve important insights such as the most active donors, the campaigns that are working and those that are not, as well as location data of donors and supporters. This is valuable in developing future strategies and fundraising campaigns.\n\n### Giving tools\n\nUsing virtual fundraisers, non-profits can offer their donors with multiple donation options such as PayPal, bank transfer, credit card and more. And all this, from the comfort of their homes.\n\n## How can a non-profit get started with virtual fundraising?\n\nAuctria provides the following tips to embark on your virtual fundraising journey:\n\n### Event idea\n\nThe reason behind your cause or event can help you develop the most enticing way to market and fundraise it. For example, if you are fundraising for a sportsperson or team, the event can be a virtual walk-a-thon or a virtual 5K.\n\n### Software\n\nOnce you have decided to organize a virtual fundraiser, do some research on the kind of software that will be the most beneficial. Remember, it must be user-friendly for all the people attending as well as for you and your team to manage. Thus, Auctria’s easy to use, powerful tool can help you run a virtual fundraiser of any size.\n\n### Goals \n\nUse data analytics from previous online campaigns to set goals in terms of donors, money raise, attendance etc.  \n\n## Resources for virtual fundraising\n\nNow that you understand the benefits of a virtual fundraiser, we are sure you are curious to organize your own. Auctria has collated the following additional resources for you to make that transition:\n\n1. [Online Fundraising: 9 Innovative Ideas (with examples)](https://blog.donately.com/online-fundraising/)\n2. [18 Online Donation Tools to Help You Raise More in 2021](https://blog.donately.com/online-donation-tools/)\n3. [25+ Virtual Fundraising Ideas to Spark Your Creativity](https://cornershopcreative.com/blog/virtual-fundraising-idea/)\n4. [Digital Fundraising: Tips, Trends, & Campaigns to Learn From](https://cornershopcreative.com/blog/digital-fundraising/)\n\nFor more information on how we can help you organize your virtual fundraiser, [contact Auctria today!](https://www.auctria.com/contact/)",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":977},{"url":978},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/79ff1921f37a15454551b54a3c4b0551c3872b44-600x320.jpg","2021-09-15T16:00:00.000Z",{"current":981},"virtual-fundraising-for-non-profits-a-guide","With social distancing and limitations of physical meetings, non-profits are adopting virtual fundraisers for greater engagement. Auctria explains.","Virtual Fundraising for Non-profits: A Guide",{"attachments":5,"authors":985,"body":1013,"category":1014,"id":5,"image":1015,"publishOn":1018,"slug":1019,"teaser":5,"title":1021},[986],{"bio":987,"email":5,"facebook":5,"image":1007,"instagram":5,"linkedin":5,"name":1011,"twitter":5,"web":1012},[988,999],{"_key":989,"_type":990,"children":991,"markDefs":997,"style":998},"d679e31cf4b8","block",[992],{"_key":993,"_type":994,"marks":995,"text":996},"7129ad47acdc","span",[],"Fundraising Coach",[],"normal",{"_key":1000,"_type":990,"children":1001,"markDefs":1006,"style":998},"29a3593cf4f5",[1002],{"_key":1003,"_type":994,"marks":1004,"text":1005},"74b59c9f848c0",[],"Philanthropy, not fundraising. Passionate, not forgettable. A journey, not a destination. Claire will be your guide, so you can be your donor’s.After working briefly as an attorney, and then in legal publishing, I decided a better way (for me) to help people was through philanthropy. After a 30-year career as a frontline leader helping raise millions of dollars Claire is now a sought out thought leader and fundraising coach.",[],{"asset":1008},{"_id":1009,"url":1010},"image-2ebe66a1088bb6fdf4b03a75db9304e7aa1f2cbd-180x181-png","https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/2ebe66a1088bb6fdf4b03a75db9304e7aa1f2cbd-180x181.png","Claire Axelrad","https://clairification.com/","**Smart organizations ask this question.**\nHow do we get our board members to share about the auction, buy a table of tickets, help find sponsorships?\n\nClaire Axelrad's super helpful, expert and easy to implement advice is here. \n\n> If your board is small, simply go around the table and have each board member tell their own story. If your board is larger, pair folks up and have them tell their story to each other.  You can actually pair folks up two to three times, in different couplings, so folks get to \n1. hear more than one story and \n2. tell their own story more than once.  \n\n\n[The post Top Strategy to Get 100% of Nonprofit Board to Give Passionately](https://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=sI0Qan&m=j_PiG_eMQ8p5fsi&b=PJgffTa6k6wkE5B2gzflog) appeared first on [Clairification.](https://clairification.com/)\n\n## Top Strategy to Get 100% of Nonprofit Board to Give Passionately\n\nIf you have board members who aren’t giving a monetary gift…\n\nIf you have board members who are just seeing what they can “get away with” …\n\nIf you have board members who could definitely make a larger gift…\n\nIf you’ve got board members telling you their service is their gift…\n\n## You’ve got a problem.\n\nWhy?\n\nBecause If your organization relies on fundraising to survive and thrive, all board members must lead the way by making a meaningful monetary gift. For *them.*\n\n* The point is not the dollar amount.\n* The point is the passion and the leadership.\n\nYou see, humans are a “monkey see, monkey do” species. We look to others to see what they’re doing. It’s a way to minimize risk, and is the principle behind Yelp and word of mouth.  Robert Cialdini famously termed it the persuasion principle of “[social proof](https://clairification.com/2013/06/17/5-secrets-of-psychologists-how-to-get-donors-to-say-yes/),” and it acts as a decision-making shortcut.\n\n## Because… Where Leaders Lead (or Don’t), Others Follow.\n\nGet your board members to lead by example, or else.\n\nIf you cannot, and board are not passionate about your mission, why on earth should anyone else really care?\n\nIf you can do this, you’re in an excellent position to do everything else you must do to succeed with fundraising.\n\nSo take some time to connect/reconnect board members to the reasons they became involved with your cause.\n\nGet 100% of board members to give at a passionate level. \n\n## Begin By Getting Board in Touch with Their Passion\n\nThis is a fundamental pre-condition to getting your board to give and get.\n\nAlas, you may discover some board members who really aren’t that excited by your mission. Perhaps they joined the board as a favor to a friend. Or maybe some years back when they wanted to boost their resume.  Or maybe they’ve been on the board too long and are just spent.  If this is the case, you’ll know it’s time to circle them off the board and find a better role for them.  [Board slots are simply too valuable to waste](https://bloomerang.co/blog/5-strategies-to-set-nonprofit-boards-up-for-fundraising-success/) on folks who aren’t all in.\n\n> TIP: I recommend scheduling some time at your next board meeting to have board members share their passion with each other.  Out loud. With the full group, or one to one. If your board is small, simply go around the table and have each board member tell their own story. If your board is larger, pair folks up and have them tell their story to each other.  You can actually pair folks up two to three times, in different couplings, so folks get to (1) hear more than one story and (2) tell their own story more than once. The combination of hearing and telling solidifies their values and renews their commitment – making them ready to act on their passion!\n\n\n## Passion is a Strong, Barely Controllable Emotion\n\nDon’t make the mistake of equating passionate giving with major giving.\n\nNot everyone on your board will be capable of giving at your major gift level.  However, they can and should make a gift that is passionate for them. A stretch gift. An emotional gift.\n\nToo often boards give up on the notion of 100% giving because they think they have “community boards” as opposed to “fundraising boards.”\n\n> **TIP**: Whatever you call your board, all boards should be “giving boards.” Everyone can afford something. The something they give to your cause, if they sit on your board, should be among the highest philanthropic gifts they make anywhere. Only if they do this can they effectively reach out to others, asking them to join them in their passion.\n\n## Organize a Board Giving Campaign\n\nIf you want folks to act passionately, you must ask them passionately.\n\nYou can’t just mention to folks they should give, and then sit by the phone or mailbox wishing and hoping. If you do this, trust me, you’ll have board members who think they can “get away with” not giving at all or simply making a token gift.  (Note: Board members who do this generally don’t think they’re being ungenerous; they justify their actions by telling themselves their volunteer service is their gift – and, really, it’s so much more valuable than money.)\n\nTo get more board members to give passionately you’ve got to shine a light on the subject.\n\nYou’ve got to make it feel essential to their board service. Not just in the sense of “important,” but also as being a true reflection of their being. Their essence. When board members give passionately, they’re screaming to themselves and others: “I am a *name of your organization* evangelist!”\n\n\n> TIP: Just like you do with any other fundraising campaign, formalize your board giving campaign using a written plan with goals, objectives and strategies.\n> \n> * Encourage 100% board participation.\n> * Set an overall goal for board giving.\n> * Suggest expected and appropriate contribution levels for each member.\n> * Meet personally with each board member to elicit their most passionate gift.\n> * Set a deadline for receiving board giving commitments.\n\n\n## Recruit a Board Giving Advocate & Champion\n\nIt’s not always easy as a staff member to persuade the board to do anything.\n\nBecause folks naturally look to, and are guided by, their peers.\n\nBut don’t give up!\n\nEven though it’s difficult, it’s your job to guide your board to assume their natural leadership role. You see, most board members have no real idea what their role is.  It’s not something we’re born knowing, and it’s not something (sadly) most board members are taught.\n\nSo begin not only by getting board members in touch with their passions (a key portion of donor engagement), but by getting one or two leaders (e.g., the president and/or development committee chair) to help you persuade the entire group to get on board with what I call the “passion triad.”\n\n1.  connect with your passion;\n2.  act on your passion, and\n3.  ask others to join you in your passion.\n\n\n## Use the Science of Persuasion\n\nRemind board leaders there’s a [science to persuasion](https://clairification.com/2012/03/06/psychology-of-giving-influence-your-affluence-by-using-the-science-of-persuasion/) and the best board giving campaigns use many of the key principles of persuasion in Influence, by Robert Cialdini. These include ‘liking,’ ‘authority,’ ‘social proof’ and “commitment and consistency.’\n\n\n> **TIP**: Board members will give to other board members they like, especially if they are perceived as authorities.  They will give to their peers in order to be perceived as fitting in. And once they’ve committed, they will be more likely to follow through. Get key advocates on board with the notion all board members should make a considered gift that demonstrates:\n> \n> 1. Passion for your cause, and\n> 2. Commitment to their role as a board leader.\n\n\n## Coach Leaders to Spotlight Board Giving on the Board Agenda\n\nIf part, or all, of your work would cease to exist absent philanthropy, then philanthropy must be on your agenda.\n\nAt every meeting.\n\nIf this is not currently your practice, coach your board president and/or other key advocate to talk about the reason why the board needs to become actively invested in fundraising – giving and getting – at an upcoming board meeting.\n\n> **TIP**: Endeavor to hold this meeting prior to the meeting where you kick off your campaign. Also talk about the proposed financial goal and timeline, and have your board vote on this to establish their buy-in to both the campaign and the goal (you may want to do this first in an executive committee session to get your key leaders invested). Encourage your board president and executive director to schedule a time for the board to collectively engage in fundraising training (I actually prefer to reframe these sessions as “Inspiring Philanthropy” workshops that help folks become more comfortable with their leadership role in facilitating philanthropy to assure adequate financing to move the mission forward. Generally, the key here is to share [lots and lots of inspiring stories](https://clairification.com/2018/06/20/use-stories-knock-nonprofit-marketing-fundraising-siloes/)).\n\n\n## Make Personal Asks of All Board Members\n\nBefore you can expect folks to give, and ask others to join them in their giving, you have to show them how it’s done.\n\nRole modeling is key.\n\nOnly after board members have made a commitment about which they feel proud will they be able to effectively ask others for generous support.\n\n> **TIP:** Have the board president ask other officers and the development committee chair to help make personal, face-to-face asks of all board members. Have the executive director or another officer make the personal ask of the board president. Remember your principles of influence: people will respond most favorably to those they like, perceive as authorities or consider as peers. It’s worth taking the time to show your board members how much you value their commitment. They deserve more than a group ask at a meeting, an email appeal or even just a letter.  Talk to each one of them!\n\n## Create Board Giving Momentum\n\nHold board members’ feet to the fire.\n\nYou’re going for two things:\n\n1. Get board members who have assigned calls to make their asks of other board members.\n2. Get board members who haven’t yet pledged to make their personal commitment.\n\nFor board solicitors, don’t accept an unconcerned “*I’ll certainly get to my calls by the end of the month*.” You need them to make their calls *now,* because board members who haven’t yet committed can’t effectively solicit other donors for gifts.  And you’re going to want them to help with donor meetings, calls or, and the very least, written personal notes on appeal letters.\n\nFor board solicitees, coach your askers not to accept a dismissive “I’ll definitely give before the end of the year.” Make sure your answer is not simply “okay,” but *“Great! I’ll give you a call next week when you’ve had time to consider your pledge. As you know, we’re going for 100% commitment so we can report this back to our funders and other donors. Others in the community look to see what the board is doing to make their own giving decisions. So your commitment has a ripple effect! When’s the best day/time for me to call?”*\n\nBuilding momentum is especially important during your year-end giving campaign, because this is make or break time. Be sure to schedule campaign reporting and follow-up on every single board meeting agenda. Don’t give names, assign blame or try to shame folks. This negative re-enforcement doesn’t work well. Keep things upbeat and positive, giving the message you assume those who’ve not yet committed have just been too busy.\n\n> TIPS:\n> \n> * Create a deadline for board commitments (this is super important if you want your board members to go on and ask other donors for their commitments).\n> * Send emailed progress reports during the heated part of the campaign.\n> * Announce the results of the board campaign (#s of gifts; % participation and $$ raised to-date), and encourage those who’ve not yet committed to do so.\n> * Have board leaders make follow-up calls to any slow pokes.\n\n## Achieve 100% Passionate Board Giving\n\nBe sure to include this in your written board member job description.\n\nIf you have a minimum gift expectation, include that as well. If you don’t, still provide some guidance about the level of expected philanthropy. For example:\n\n* “Make ours your top philanthropic priority.”\n* “Make us one of your top three philanthropic priorities.”\n* “Give at one of our leadership giving levels.”\n\nThe real bottom line here is to make a shift from pussyfooting around the subject of fundraising to embracing it warmly.\n\nThe first attitude comes from a place of fear and loathing — and our deep cultural antipathy towards the subject of money.  [It’s not about money](https://clairification.com/2012/11/11/the-secret-of-donor-centered-fundraising-no-money-involved/). It’s about what’s in your board members’ hearts.\n\nCome from a place of love, remembering the word *philanthropy* translates to “love of humankind.”\n\n\n\n-----\n\n\n\nThe post [Top Strategy to Get 100% of Nonprofit Board to Give Passionately](https://clairification.com/2024/12/02/top-strategy-to-get-100-of-nonprofit-board-to-give-passionately/) appeared first on [Clairification](https://clairification.com/).",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1016},{"url":1017},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/520e187d3557b94b6244ec57e12b273a9bdd3519-960x540.png","2024-12-05T22:19:00.000Z",{"current":1020},"top-strategy-to-get-100-of-nonprofit-board-to-give-passionately","Top Strategy to Get 100% of Nonprofit Board to Give Passionately",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1023,"category":5,"id":5,"image":1024,"publishOn":1027,"slug":1028,"teaser":1030,"title":1031},"Fundraisers bring in precious revenue essential to every elementary school’s programming. With these crucial funds, you can fulfill your school’s mission of delivering stellar educational experiences and key opportunities to students. You need a thoughtful, comprehensive fundraising strategy to ensure you receive the support your school needs.\n\nFrom engaging donors to streamlining event planning to attracting greater funding, the right techniques can put your goals well within your reach. In this elementary school fundraising crash course, we’ll go over some of the best methods to completely revitalize your fundraising. Whether you’re [hosting a live auction](https://www.auctria.com/blog/from-paddles-to-profits-a-guide-to-hosting-a-stellar-live-auction-event/) or launching a campaign kickoff, these tips will help you pull in the funds you need to help your students thrive.\n\n## 1. Leverage Your Online Platforms\nYour school website and social media accounts are some of the greatest fundraising tools at your disposal. From taking advantage of free advertising to engaging online donors, here are just a few ways you should use your online platforms to take your fundraising to the next level:\n\n### Promotion and Marketing\nYour website is usually the first place students, parents, and community members will go for information on your programming and events. Therefore, take the time to promote your fundraising initiatives across the major areas of your website. For example, you might include information about upcoming fundraisers at the beginning of blog posts or put event information at the top of your homepage as a temporary “spotlight” feature.\n\n\nFurthermore, your [social media channels](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-to-harness-social-media-for-school-fundraising-success/) are an entirely free marketing tool! They allow you to creatively connect with your audience, announce upcoming events with fun graphics or taglines, and diversify your online marketing efforts.\n\n\n### Q&A Portals and Information Resources\nParents or other community members often need further clarification on your fundraising events, especially if they’re new to your school. Include a frequently asked question widget and other resources for each event on your website. Make these tools easy to see and simple to navigate so that any user can quickly find the answers they need.\n\nAnd, don’t forget to answer questions posed in both your website’s Q&A portal and the comments on your social media posts. That way, you’ll ensure event attendees have all the information they need to have a great experience at your elementary school’s fundraiser!\n\n### Engagement and Event Management.\nYour online software solutions can be used for more than just [event planning.](https://funds2orgs.com/fundraising-event-planning/) They’re also valuable tools to manage fundraising events and engage your attendees. Not only can you broadcast recordings of live events on your site and social media to reach a larger audience, but you can also create a portal to host virtual and hybrid event fundraisers!\n\nWith the right event management software, you can seamlessly integrate your event strategies into your website, allowing you to launch and manage all kinds of events right on your platform.\n\n\n## 2. Reach Out to the Local Community\nYour community can help you through every step of the fundraising process and maximize your operations in ways you might not have imagined. Consider these community outreach strategies when planning your next fundraiser:\n\n\n### Recruit Volunteers\nAdministrators, faculty and staff, and parents usually carry out your elementary school’s fundraising. However, you might be surprised how many community volunteers would jump at the chance to support their local school systems and provide a leg up at fundraising events.\n\nTo [recruit volunteers](https://gettingattention.org/volunteer-recruitment/) from the local community, send promotional materials about opportunities to students and parents. If enough student volunteers get involved, teachers might even be encouraged to throw mini-celebrations or game days. You may also provide merchandise to volunteers as a reward, such as a T-shirt branded to your school.\n\nTake your efforts a step further by reaching out to local ministries, recreation agencies, and other volunteer hot spots to maximize support and bring the community together under your cause.\n\n### Perform Prospect Research\n[According to Double the Donation’s guide,](https://doublethedonation.com/prospect-research-guide/) prospect screening is the process of running a wealth background check that allows you to identify your donors’ giving potential. In particular, you’ll look at:\n\n* Past giving\n* Wealth markers\n* Business affiliations\n* Philanthropic tendencies\n\nPerforming wealth screenings on parents, guardians, and key community stakeholders will allow you to make more informed projections for how your fundraising efforts might perform. It’ll also help you determine to whom you should most heavily promote these events and what types of messages your most generous donors would be most receptive to.\n\n\n\n### Partner with Local Organizations\nGathering funding and increasing the reach of your school event is a big challenge to face alone. That’s why partnering with other organizations in your community is a good idea!\n\nScout local nonprofits and community organizations in your area that might be a good fit for a joint fundraising project. You can also begin with other schools in your district and state. These partnerships allow you to tap into the other organization’s audience to increase event attendance.\n\nAdditionally, partner with businesses by soliciting sponsorships from them. Look for corporations that operate in the education industry, share your target audience, have a history of corporate giving, or combine these characteristics. These partnerships can considerably boost your event budget and help you meet your revenue goals, making your event [one of your most profitable fundraisers yet.](https://funds2orgs.com/most-profitable-fundraisers/)\n\n## 3. Pick the Right Fundraising Event\nYour event requires more than an engaging marketing campaign and a fleet of excited volunteers. To ensure success, you must select a fundraising idea that is simple and easy for your young students to participate in, yet engaging enough for adults and older participants to enjoy.\n\nHere are a few creative elementary school fundraising ideas to get you started in your brainstorming efforts:\n\n* **Shoe drive fundraisers.** This idea is an easy and cost-effective way to engage donors and gather funds for your elementary school by encouraging locals to donate their gently worn, new and used shoes to your drive. Participants will be glad to be rid of their unwanted possessions and pleased to learn they don’t need to spend a cent to support your school. They just need to drop off their items at a designated collection point, and your fundraising coordinator handles the rest.\n\n* **Auctions and raffles.** Auctions are considered one of the most lucrative fundraising events, with a high earning potential if the right auction items are provided. For this event, we heavily recommend that you segment, study, and even poll your school and local area for products that attendees might like. You could assemble gift baskets with a mix of items for parents and children to engage both audiences. Once items get donated by your sponsors or community partners, these events become relatively easy to carry out, especially if you use dedicated [auction software](https://www.auctria.com/next-step) to streamline the process.\n\n* **Walk-a-thons.** While 5Ks may be an extremely popular fundraising initiative for high schools and company programs, they might not be as well-suited for elementary school students. A great alternative is a school walk-a-thon. These fundraisers can happen at any time of year, with dozens of different themes and possible locations to choose from, and participants will feel encouraged to participate as much as possible to maximize the pledges they’ve received for each mile they complete. These events are also a great source of additional revenue and promotion through t-shirt and merchandise sales\n\n\nFor even more great fundraising ideas, their cost, and their earning potential, [Funds2Orgs’s](https://funds2orgs.com/fundraising-event-ideas/) list is a great place to start researching event programming ideas that will generate the support your school needs for this year and beyond.\n\n\n## 4. Thank Donors After the Fundraiser\nYour work isn’t over after your event’s conclusion—you still need to complete your donor stewardship efforts. For fundraising events, that generally means sending thank-you messages to all those who attended and supported your school.\n\nBegin by sending email messages to your donors. [Thank them](https://www.auctria.com/blog/thanking-your-donors-3-post-event-best-practices/) for their contributions and personalize the message by including the exact amount they donated. Emphasize how their gift will help your school, and include photos of your students so that they understand the impact they’re making.\n\nAside from donors, you should also follow up with messages to sponsors, volunteers, and other attendees. Show your appreciation for their efforts and strengthen your relationship by inviting them to other events or to connect with your school in another way. For example, you may invite sponsors to an upcoming VIP gala and auction event. And, you might send a list of future volunteer opportunities to volunteers and attendees to generate interest in getting or staying involved.\n\n\n\n-----\nParents, teachers, and administrators can feel pressure to provide worthwhile, [personalized,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-ai-can-help-you-personalize-your-fundraising-work/) and engaging school programming, especially when young children are involved. Without the proper funding, school systems can’t provide the rich, fun, and valuable opportunities and services parents want for their children.\n\nHowever, there’s no need to struggle anymore. With these techniques, you’ll be able to navigate fundraising challenges smoothly and emerge with a stronger and more successful strategy than ever before.\n\n\n\n-----\n\nSpecial thanks to Wayne Elsey for sharing his expert advice. Wayne is the founder and CEO of [Elsey Enterprises (EE)](https://elseyenterprises.com/) and a member of the Forbes Business Development Council. Among his various independent brands, he is also the founder and CEO of [Funds2Orgs,](https://funds2orgs.com/) which is a social enterprise that helps schools, churches, nonprofits, individuals, and other organizations raise funds while helping to support micro-enterprise (small business) opportunities in developing nations.\n\n\n\n\n",{"asset":1025},{"url":1026},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/7380e103aa72eb37e496c3d9401e51eca42df128-600x320.jpg","2024-06-11T16:21:14.524Z",{"current":1029},"4-best-practices-for-elementary-school-fundraisers","Your elementary school needs funds to provide a stellar educational experience to students. Use these techniques to make fundraising more effective than ever.","4 Best Practices for Elementary School Fundraisers",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1033,"category":1034,"id":5,"image":1035,"publishOn":1038,"slug":1039,"teaser":1041,"title":1042},"Cash donations are the most direct way to fund-a-need or provide unrestricted cash to support your cause. Asking for donations may feel cold and transactional. This need not be so when you lead with your mission. Leading with your mission with purpose and including facts and figures makes the ask even easier. Pair the ask with ease of giving to get to your goal as fast as possible. \n \nIn conjunction with an event fundraiser donation requests can be handled with an online donation form or in the live setting as a paddle raise or on it's own. Live settings may be in-person or during a live stream event activity. In all these situations make the ability to donate as easy as possible. Quick tap or click to donate followed by a secure payment operation. \n\n## Paint the Picture\nPaint the picture of how the donation will be spent with images and videos. Spend time to make the images impactful. Use the images and videos in emails, website, mailings, and messages. Make versions that are shareable in the social media streams where your audience connects with you. Consistent messaging across all communication channels is imperative to ‘stay on brand’. Think like a marketer, include the logo, core mission, and tagline for unity in the branding activities. \n\nUse video to share the story. An impact video created for an annual fundraiser is essential to give a tour and multiple voices to mission. Use video to show how past funds were used and how future funds will continue to make a difference. Consider using a variety of speakers that benefited from the resources. If that is too personal, a brief synopsis from a leader in the organization can also carry the same emotional imagery.\n\n## By the Numbers\nSupporters are giving money to you for the cause so you can combine the funds to make a bigger difference than they could individually. Prepare data objectively and present it in a format that can be understood and readily consumed in seconds. Graphics and numbers that are specific to the current activity make the supporter understand that their money will be spent wisely and within a reasonable timeframe. \n\nInfographics are the best of both worlds in terms of message and image. What dollars are being spent and how will that help the cause.  \n\nTwo experts share their advice on how to run a fund-a-need. Here is what works:\n * “The best fundraising events motivate and engage attendees, and help donors internalize the mission of the organization so that they will be compelled to donate.” [Gazala Uradnik, GFS Events](https://gfsevents.org/)\n * “Calculate your core number to make fundraising easier” [Sandy Rees, Get Fully Funded](https://getfullyfunded.com/)\n\n\n## Know Your Equivalency\n\nEvery fundraising group using GFS Events is encouraged to include a fund-a-need to their activity. Gazala encourages each organization to understand their numbers and ask to give in terms of an equivalency. \n\n**The most important part of the ask is the Why.** Using your equivalency number directly in the donation area brings meaning to the dollars. This means converting the donation into something tangible for the community that is being served by the organization. Attach the dollars to an image of helping. Example- you are in the education field how does the donation provide enrichment directly to the student.  \n\nOne example that works well is “a week of giving”, leading up to a big event, donation buttons on a website or a paddle raise to provide the opportunity to give. During the week new content is shared daily to encourage supporters to check back in for new messages. Pair the new content with a thought leader or influencer message or video. Ask the influencer to share on their social media or email list to encourage a wider audience to tune in. \n\nIn this image, you will see the final day of the ‘week of giving’ for Seattle Music Partners (SMP)  virtual event fundraiser that GFS Events produced. Throughout the week a new view was posted and the videos were shared daily. Each person’s video had a unique interview or musical performance. These videos encourage an immediate call-to-action. The SMP audience did turn in daily to see and hear the new video pieces. \n\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/481745233103dbe9906e4e1ec6363b318c89c677-500x489.jpg)\n\n\nBy describing exactly how funds will be used the donor knows exactly how the donation will be spent. The more details makes for a more informed donor. An informed donor can feel proud of their donation and easily share and encourage others to participate.\n\n​Seattle Music Partners cultivates a diverse and vibrant music-making community by providing youth with low-cost music instruction and one-on-one mentoring to eliminate racial and economic barriers to quality music education. Each contribution level is equivalent to music services:\n * $5000 gives 25 student musicians the opportunity to have a month of instruction\n * $2500 gives 5 students mentorship with a tutor\n * $1000 allows the hiring for a professional lead ensemble\n * $500 gives the student musician access to perform in a concert\n * $250 provides neck straps or violin bows\n\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/206563dc68c643559e7fd53e83b566595c3d7539-500x689.png)\n\n## Know Your Core Number\nSandy Rees of Get Fully funded says “the days of asking people to give simply because you’re a nonprofit are long gone. They care about the difference you’re making in the world. They care about the lives you’re changing (or saving). So, ask them to give an amount that means something.  That something can be summed in a core number.\n\nUnits of service can be tricky and you may have to try a couple of times to drill down to the smallest unit. Basically, it’s the smallest piece of the good work your nonprofit does.\nFor example, an animal shelter may think its unit of service is taking care of one dog. They take care of a dog, feed it, shelter it, and find it a home. That’s what they do, right?\n\nBut let’s dig deeper.\n\n> If that shelter spent $500,000 last year running their facility (that’s their total cost) and they cared for 3500 dogs during that year, that means if each dog is a unit of service, each unit costs them $142.86. $500,000/3500 dogs = $142.86\n\nSome might give at this level, but it won’t be an overwhelming response. \n\nLet’s look again and see if there’s a smaller unit of service.\n>Let’s say that the shelter knows (because they’ve measured it) that the average dog stays 3 weeks (21 days). \n>Let’s divide it out and see what the cost for 1 day of care for 1 dog is. $142.86/21 days = $6.80/day is a much easier donation for more people to make. Getting to a smaller unit of service could bring in a larger quantity of donations and increase your donor pool for future giving opportunities. \n\nOnce you have your Core Number, you can use it to inspire more single gifts or even monthly gifts, like the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri did:\n\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/c452643dfb7ab3fcde0ab7be255f08a0ea81c853-500x238.png)\n\nFor more examples on how to calculate your core number, click this link to the full article [Calculate your Core Number to Make Fundraising Easier.](https://getfullyfunded.com/calculate-one-number-make-fundraising-easier/) Below the article are comments from real organizations that share their real core numbers. \n\n## Know Your Fundraising Options\nSo now you know how to pull the facts and figures together, next decide upon the method for the ask. If the event fundraiser or auction does not include a donation button or paddle raise you are probably leaving money on the table. With multiple people bidding on an auction item there can be only one winner. The others were willing to spend money and donate however by not winning there is no obvious reason unless you ask. If you ask and they don’t donate that’s ok. If you do ask and they do donate that’s even better. You have to ask! \n\n### Simple Donation Buttons\nUsing donation buttons on your dedicated event website is different from a year-round donate button that may reside permanently on your website. The fresh event website mentally tells the supporter this is a new ask that will be funding a new round of needs. \n\nUsing the above specifics regarding knowing your numbers and defining the ask include donation levels that reflect an equivalency or your core number.\n\n### Paddle Raise at Live Event\n\nAt a live event fundraiser, the paddle raise can bring in ⅓ to ½ of the needed funds. A skilled auctioneer or emcee calls from the stage the paddle raise activity to begin. This stage in a virtual event is still relevant and requires an entertainer to keep the audience engaged. \n\nThe paddle raise starts with the highest increment by which you know you can get at least one paddle to raise indicating the donor will give. Paddle raise usually begins with the announcement of a large donation. Although the donation is announced at the event these large generous donations have been in process for quite some time. The board or development team is always in the background developing partnerships for giving. The event fundraiser is the perfect time to spotlight the donor and give proper recognition. \n\nThe remaining paddle raise is followed by lowering the donation level and calling out the paddle number or donor name that wants to contribute. Sometimes these are still quite large in the beginning and are also pre-committed. As the bids cease the emcee announces the next lower dollar amount for donation.\n\n\n### Paddle Raise Planning & Implementation\n\nEvery appeal has three key elements and using this formula works. Kelly Russell, a professional Benefit Auctioneer from Artisan Auctions sums it up like this “People give to people”.\n\nKelly’s 3 steps to implement a successful paddle raise looks like this: \n\n* The Story\n* The Ask\n* The Collection\n\nThey give most when it comes from a place of emotion, and the quickest way to create connection is through story. Kelly was joined by Samantha Swaim of Swaim Strategies to talk through Paddle Raise Strategy. Every [good Special Appeal](https://www.artisanauctions.com/post/special-appeal-structure-with-swaim-strategies) starts with someone sharing a story of how an organization impacted their lives. See this [story in a video](https://youtu.be/6J5R4Z13UXc) which demonstrates how the organization was the CHANGE AGENT for this one person. And you DO want to make sure your story features one person. \n\n\n### Celebrate Goals\nAfter the fundraiser concludes that is just the end of one chapter. The story continues with how the money raised is helping those efforts it is intended for. \n\nA great example of a success story has been shared by Fighting for Blindness. Their marquee fundraiser is Scramble for Sight golf tournament and auction. It is a one-day event starting with golfer registration, exciting tournament activities on the course then coming together for an open air dinner, silent & live auction. In 20 years the event has raised over two million dollars and even more exciting the millions have been used to fund research, treatments and cures for blindness. \n\nThat funding has been a driving force behind the progress toward cures, including the identification of more than 270 genes linked to retinal disease, and the launch of 40 clinical trials for potential treatments. On an annual basis, the Foundation Fighting Blindness and the Foundation’s Clinical Research Institute fund more than 90 research grants.\n\n[Fighting Blindness website](https://www.fightingblindness.org/about/about-us) is very clear with a transparent breakdown of what percent of funding goes to research as well as financial statements for transparency.\n\n\nAlthough the actual operations and usage of funds may be out of scope for the auction team be sure that bidders and donors are in the communication channel to receive updates. Reinforce the thanks for giving with ongoing status updates. Thanking now allows you ask again later! \n\n--------------\nSpecial thanks for sharing expert advice and images:\nGazala Uradnik, [GFS Events](https://gfsevents.org/)\nSandy Rees, [Get Fully Funded](https://getfullyfunded.com/)\nKelly Rusell, [Artisan Auctions](https://www.artisanauctions.com/)\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1036},{"url":1037},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/b7173ea22c6954657e42e243f1d00b98d0e21582-600x320.png","2020-12-17T17:00:00.000Z",{"current":1040},"getting-results-with-a-paddle-raise-or-donation-request","Lead with your mission and asking for donations will never feel feel cold and transactional. ","Getting Results With a Paddle Raise or Donation Request ",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1044,"category":1045,"id":5,"image":1046,"publishOn":1049,"slug":1050,"teaser":1052,"title":1053},"Giving Tuesday is a huge opportunity. \nYet, for many small nonprofits, it can also be a source of stress. \nYou want to make the most of this global day of generosity, but without a plan, it’s easy to end up feeling scattered and unsure if your efforts will pay off.\n\nIf you’re looking for a clear, step-by-step way to get organized and raise more, this [Giving Tuesday](https://getfullyfunded.com/giving-tuesday/) guide walks you through how to plan a simple yet powerful campaign that actually delivers results.\n\nThe good news? \n\nA few simple shifts can turn a chaotic campaign into a confident, well-organized effort that actually raises money.\n\nHere are the most common Giving Tuesday mistakes small nonprofits make, and how to avoid them so you can have your best campaign yet.\n\n## 1. Waiting until the last minute to plan your Giving Tuesday campaign\n\n**Mistake: Launching your campaign with little preparation.**\nWhen you’re juggling programs, emails, and everything else, Giving Tuesday can sneak up fast. Before you know it, you’re throwing together a few social posts and hoping for the best.\n\n**Solution:** Start planning now. A successful Giving Tuesday campaign doesn’t just happen, it’s built. Give yourself at least 4–6 weeks to prepare. Map out your goal, craft your story, [design your graphics,](https://www.canva.com/collections/donate-in-designs/) plan your communication schedule in advance.\n\nA little prep goes a long way, and tools like a [digital fundraising](https://www.auctria.com/blog/4-digital-fundraising-strategies-for-small-nonprofits/) setup can make executing your plan much smoother.\n\n## 2. Vague fundraising goals\n**Mistake: Saying things like “Help us raise money.”**\nThat’s not inspiring — it’s confusing. Donors want to know what their gift will do and why it matters.\n\n**Solution:** Be specific and outcome-driven. Instead of “Help us raise money,” try “Help us raise $3,000 to fill 100 backpacks with school supplies for local kids.”\n\nSpecific goals help your donors picture the impact and motivate them to give. Every Ask needs a goal, an impact, and a deadline. A strong [fundraising strategy](https://getfullyfunded.com/how-to-create-your-nonprofit-fundraising-plan/) ensures every message ties back to your goal.\n\n\n## 3. Overloading donors with information\n**Mistake: Sharing too many statistics or multiple stories.**\nWhen you try to say everything, your donor remembers nothing.\n\n**Solution:** Focus on one simple, emotional story. Pick one story that captures your mission’s heart and shows your donor exactly how their gift changes a life.\n\nKeep it simple, heartfelt, and clear. That’s what inspires generosity.\nThe right [fundraising tools](https://www.auctria.com/articles/tools-for-nonprofit-fundraising-success/) can help you tell that story visually, track engagement, and make giving easy. \n\n## 4. Neglecting your team as ambassadors\n**Mistake: Relying only on social media posts or email blasts.**\nIf you’re the only one sharing your campaign, your reach will always be limited.\n\nSolution: Mobilize your people! Your [Board,](https://getfullyfunded.com/how-to-turn-your-board-into-a-fundraising-board/) staff, and volunteers are some of your best fundraising assets. Encourage them to share your campaign with their own friends and family, using their authentic voice.\n\nWhen people share why they care, it amplifies your message and builds trust faster than any ad ever could.\n\n\n## 5. Poor giving experience\n**Mistake: A donation page that’s confusing, clunky, or not mobile-friendly.**\nIf your donor has to hunt for the “Donate” button or type through a maze of fields, you’ll lose them.\n\nSolution: Test, test, test. Go through your own [donation process](https://www.auctria.com/articles/how-to-optimize-your-donation-page/) — on your phone, on a tablet, and on a laptop. How easy is it? How fast?\n\nA smooth digital fundraising setup ensures donors can give quickly and confidently. Keep it clean, clear, and quick. \n\n\n## 6. No follow-up after the campaign\n**Mistake: Sending a single “thanks” email and moving on.**\n\nThat’s a missed opportunity to build lasting relationships.\n\nSolution: Celebrate and steward. Send heartfelt thank-you messages. Post campaign results. Share the joy of what your donors made possible.\n\nFollow-up is where loyal donors are made. If you need some ideas, check out these donor stewardship strategies to keep supporters coming back long after Giving Tuesday.\n\n## 7. Ignoring social engagement\n**Mistake: Posting and disappearing.**\nIf you’re only talking at your audience, you’re missing the real power of Giving Tuesday — connection.\n\nSolution: Make it a two-way conversation.  Reply to comments. Like donor posts. Celebrate milestones live. The more engaged you are, the more excitement builds. Remember - it’s social media, not digital media.\n\nHow to Avoid Giving Tuesday Mistakes (and Raise More)\nAvoiding these Giving Tuesday mistakes can help your campaign run smoother, feel less stressful, and raise more money.\n\nWhen you plan ahead, set clear goals, and engage authentically, you’ll not only have a successful Giving Tuesday — you’ll also set yourself up for stronger donor relationships all year long.\n\nAnd if you’d like extra help creating your Giving Tuesday campaign (without spending weeks figuring it out), check out The Giving Tuesday Prep Sprint: Build Your Campaign in Just 3 Hours from Get Fully Funded.\n\nIt’s a free mini-course packed with strategies to take the stress out of Giving Tuesday so you can focus on what really matters: changing lives.\nBecause when you raise more money, you can change more lives.\n\n\n-------------------\n\nSpecial thanks to Sandy Rees for the expert advice on solutions to common Giving Tuesday mistakes.\n\nSandy is the Founder and Chief Encouragement Officer at Get Fully Funded where she shows nonprofit leaders how to fully fund their big vision, so they can spend their time changing lives instead of worrying about money.  As the founder and host of Fundraising TV, she shows her students how to find ideal donors, connect through authentic messaging, and build relationships that stand the test of time, so that fundraising becomes easy and predictable. \n\nFind out more at [www.GetFullyFunded.com.](http://www.getfullyfunded.com/)\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1047},{"url":1048},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/80ddb041c883e324bdbc54edfb4d63db487d2d49-612x394.png","2025-10-10T17:20:21.040Z",{"current":1051},"7-common-giving-tuesday-mistakes-small-nonprofits-make-and-how-to-avoid-them","Avoid the most common Giving Tuesday mistakes that hold small nonprofits back. Learn how to plan, engage, and raise more this Giving Tuesday.","7 Common Giving Tuesday Mistakes Small Nonprofits Make (and How to Avoid Them)",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1055,"category":1056,"id":5,"image":1057,"publishOn":1060,"slug":1061,"teaser":1063,"title":1064},"So you’re planning an event for your organization. That’s great! Where are you going to hold it? If that question makes you anxious, you aren’t alone—choosing the right venue for your event is a big decision with lots to consider. And using the right space for your event can be make or break for the enjoyment of your guests. No one likes feeling like a sardine in a too-crowded foyer.. Nor do they like feeling like the room is weirdly empty because the space was too big for your turnout.\n\nYour event is a key time to connect with donors, volunteers, and community partners. When your event goes smoothly, it can increase donations and loyalty, ensuring supporters return for future events. Choosing the right event venue is the first step toward hosting a successful, fun event that maximizes donations and engagement for your organization.\n\n## Define Your Needs for a Venue\nStep 1 is to consider the details of your event: how many people do you expect to attend? Are you going to bring in any live entertainment like a band? What activities are you planning on? Is there enough parking? Do you plan on serving any food or drinks? [Are you doing an auction? If so, what kind?](https://www.auctria.com/blog/auction-types/) If you’re doing an online auction, you’ll want to make sure they have wi-fi for your guests.\n\nYou don’t have to have every single detail confirmed at this point, but it’s important to start by defining the broad parameters of your event so that you don’t waste your time researching venues that definitely won’t work. Which brings us to step 2.\n\n## Do Your Research!\nResearch, research, research—and take good notes. Once you know the big picture details like the type of event and goal attendance size, you can start researching specific venues in your area. Make sure to take good notes as you research so that you can compare various venues and their pros and cons. If the venue choice is up to a committee, good notes will also help you clearly communicate your research to any additional stakeholders.\n\n## Follow a Checklist from an Expert\nWorried you might be missing something? We’ve got you covered! Jenelle Taylor, founder of Gala Gal in Tampa, FL, has been mentoring and training other auctioneers since 2004. Gala Gal is here to provide peace of mind with her thousands of consulting hours invested in hundreds of galas and charity events since 2002. Jenelle has graciously provided her 70-point checklist for choosing a venue.\n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/bed689fa449d216d22a48aa21a033b7a88a94b0a-342x465.png)](https://www.auctria.com/freebies/70-item-venue-checklist-for-galas-and-special-events/)\n\n## Finalize Your Venue Plans\nFinally, once you’ve chosen the right venue, make sure you’ve locked down any additional related details. Typically, choosing a venue comes with some amount of compromise: perhaps you get the right size venue, but you have to provide your own sound equipment. This is where taking plenty of detailed notes during your research process is key! Make sure you review any notes about restrictions or complications for the venue and form contingency plans in advance.\n\nWe hope these tips help you the next time you’re choosing a venue for your organization’s event, and that this checklist takes some of the anxiety out of your planning process. Find more than 150 additional “Best Practices” explanations on her blog at [GalaGal.com.](http://GalaGal.com) Want to learn more tips on how to run a successful fundraising event? Check out [Auctria's event and auction educational webinars (they’re always free to attend!).](https://www.auctria.com/webinars)",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1058},{"url":1059},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/857e4898f2c50fbf207b72a2624e38830b10276e-500x265.png","2025-11-12T22:00:00.000Z",{"current":1062},"you-ve-got-an-event-so-what-about-the-venue","Where are you going to hold it? If that question makes you anxious, you aren’t alone","You’ve Got an Event! So, What About the Venue?",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1066,"category":1067,"id":5,"image":1068,"publishOn":1071,"slug":1072,"teaser":1074,"title":1075},"[Boys & Girls Club of Manhattan](https://www.bgclubmanhattan.com/) will reveal their secrets to hosting an unforgettable party that not only raises substantial funds but also supports a meaningful cause. This year it was a Kentucky Derby themed Casino Night, where they crushed the fundraising goal. \n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/e9700fb34a34f7f8c41e9ac29040a1ff238e18f7-500x500.jpg)\n\nThey do the typical party with a silent auction. They also do the extraordinary with their very own horse race! Yes, you read that right! This event helps support over 1,300 youth who attend their Clubs annually. To raise awareness and raise money Development Director Melissa and Public Relations and Event Coordinator, Bethany shared their hot tips and some images.\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/8a473c05683c9bfae1fea500a7be5e54324e48c7-800x300.png)\n\nOver the years, the Boys & Girls Club has organized numerous 50/50 games, and the outcome has been nothing short of heartwarming. Time and time again, they have witnessed the incredible generosity of our winners, who have selflessly chosen to donate back their winnings to the Club. This act of kindness further amplifies the impact of our event, allowing us to serve even more children and provide them with the resources and opportunities they deserve.\n\nTogether, they gallop towards a brighter future, one race at a time! Casino night is an unforgettable event filled with excitement, camaraderie, and the knowledge that the donations, bidding and purchases make a tangible difference in the lives of the children served by the Boys & Girls Club of Manhattan.\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/bac2e47de453107ab5afb51ccaec708644e85d8f-800x300.png)\n\n\n## Horse Race\nBy using fun and interactive games they pumped up the energy and the giving in the room. The horse race was a central activity and fundraiser throughout the evening. The main attraction at the Casino Night was their version of a horse race. Each entry was $100 and only 100 tickets/ horses were available for sale. Using an online character race timer, Stopwatch. Using stopwatch they load the ticket purchasers in the system and run the race. But they didn’t just run the race, Melissa and Bethany describe how they hype up the race and sell \n\n* Name the game\n* Gamify the game\n\nBy participating in this event, you not only embrace the spirit of competition but also embody the generosity that defines our community. The pot is split 50/50 between the winner and the Boys & Girls Club, ensuring that both the victorious participant and the Club benefit equally from this exhilarating endeavor. It's a true win-win situation!\n\n\n\nTo create a fear of missing out only 100 horses are available for sale. Once they are sold there is no more opportunity to participate… or is there? Read on! Each horse entry is $50 and the pot is split 50/50 between the winner and the Boys & Girls Club of Manhattan. In many 50/50 games that they have run the winner has been generous and donated back their winnings. \n\n## Name the game: Ride of Great Futures\nThe horse race directly funds the scholarship fund that goes to the graduating seniors at the Boys & Girls Club. To drive home this message they named the horse race Ride of the Great Futures. The purchaser knows exactly how those dollars will be utilized by the club. Throughout the horse ticket sale process using RIde for the Futures continues to brand the horse race and imprint in the donors mind how their support is incredibly valuable immediately to graduating seniors. \n\nBy naming the game is a great way to brand the message and describe the fundraising with a single title and image. Quickly reducing the time it takes to explain where the funds are going, supporters immediately know. This concise approach not only saves time in conveying the cause but also ensures that supporters grasp the mission swiftly. By accelerating comprehension, the likelihood of receiving positive responses, sales and donations increases significantly. The sooner they understand the more likely they are to say yes!\n\n## Gamify the Game\nThe horse race is a marquee event that happens throughout the entire night. It consists of 5 run-in heats. Each time the first 4 races are run the winner advances to the final heat. There is lots of hooting and hollering and cheering! \n\n**One more auction item for the final heat.** The final heat gets even more fun and more lucrative. Cleverly they auction off one more horse that will run in the final heat. So the horses in the final heat have a 1 in 6 chance of winning.  With the pot accumulating to an impressive sum of nearly $10,000, the bidding for this special 1 in 6 chance horse reaches unprecedented heights. Participants eagerly engage in a live auction, driven by the desire to secure this valuable asset. \n\nThis year the number 6 horse was auctioned off LIVE for $800. Since the pot is almost $10K the 1 in 6 chance horse goes for a much richer value! \n\n## What does the horse race look like?\n\nBelow is an example video of a sample horse race. Using Stopwatch Race’s free race you are limited in the number of horses. For a small price you can increase the number of horses and remove ads. They chose to use [Stopwatch’s Kentucky Derby racing horses](https://www.online-stopwatch.com/at-the-races/) in their virtual race. The virtual races unfold on a massive screen in the grand Bill Snyder Family Stadium ballroom filling the room with excitement.\n\n\n\u003Ciframe src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/video/835498327?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479\" width=\"630\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; gyroscope; accelerometer\" allowfullscreen title=\"Boys & Girls Club of Manhattan KS\">\u003C/iframe>\n\n24 Years and Counting\nThey are proud to have celebrated the 24th Annual Casino Night. They have not skipped a year since 1999! Each year the event gets larger in donations and overall participation. With new board members comes new supporters. With new auction items come new bidders. With new ways to give come more donations.\n\n\n--------------\n\nSpecial thanks to Melissa and Bethany from   The Boys & Girls Club of Manhattan for sharing their fundraising story. You can follow them on Facebook, [@bgclubmanhattan](https://www.facebook.com/bgclubmanhattan)\n\nTheir mission states “Our mission is to inspire and enable all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens.” They have been doing this for over thirty years! The kids coming in for services are now second generation and now incredible advocates and ambassadors for the programs. Casino night funds this mission!\n\n\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":1069},{"url":1070},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/04423cf0aa03f927549ed042d98d4b09566f5806-600x320.png","2023-06-06T15:48:44.845Z",{"current":1073},"and-they-re-off-gamify-the-game","Name the game. Gamify the game.","And They're Off: Gamify The Game",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1077,"category":1078,"id":5,"image":1079,"publishOn":1082,"slug":1083,"teaser":1085,"title":1086},"If you’re one of the [roughly 4.8 billion social media users](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/social-media-statistics/480507/) worldwide, you know how easily these platforms can become ingrained into your daily routine. That’s why many nonprofits — [87% across the globe,](https://www.nptechforgood.com/2022/02/01/data-14-must-know-stats-about-how-nonprofits-use-social-media/) to be exact — turn to social networks to spread awareness of their mission and boost funding.  \n\nAs a nonprofit fundraising professional, you may be looking ahead to the critical year-end fundraising season and considering how you can make the most of social media this year. Campaigns like [GivingTuesday](https://www.auctria.com/blog/givingtuesday-and-auctria-a-perfect-match/) in particular thrive on social media, making it essential to have a clear strategy in place for connecting with supporters on social platforms. \n\nThis guide can serve as a critical resource for understanding the ins and outs of each social media platform and how they can serve your nonprofit’s mission. We’ll cover the following sites: \n\n- Facebook\n- Instagram\n- X (formerly known as Twitter) \n- TikTok\n- LinkedIn\n- YouTube\n\nSocial media marketing can be a great way to supplement your [nonprofit’s online fundraising strategy,](https://bloomerang.co/blog/online-fundraising/) but you need a thoughtful strategy to ensure you’re making the best use of your time and resources. If you’ve found that one platform simply doesn’t work for your nonprofit, refocus your attention on the sites that actually drive the greatest engagement and results. With that in mind, let’s get started. \n\n\n## Facebook\n### Facebook statistics for nonprofits\n* [99% of nonprofits](https://www.statista.com/statistics/1371096/social-media-usage-nonprofit-organizations-platform-us/#:~:text=In%202022%2C%2099%20percent%20of,nonprofits%20having%20used%20the%20platform.) use Facebook. \n* There are about [3 billion monthly active users](https://www.statista.com/statistics/264810/number-of-monthly-active-facebook-users-worldwide/) on Facebook, making it the most popular social network. \n* Facebook tends to be the most effective social media platform for inspiring donations — of the donors who were inspired to give via social media, [56%](https://360matchpro.com/fundraising-statistics/) said they were most influenced by Facebook posts.\n\n### Facebook for nonprofits overview\nAs the most popular social media platform worldwide, Facebook is an essential website for any nonprofit looking to expand its reach and [raise more through online fundraising.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-to-improve-your-fundraising-strategy-a-mini-guide/)\n\nNonprofit professionals can create a page for their organization by visiting [Meta for Business](https://www.facebook.com/business) and choosing the nonprofit classification. \n\nMeta, the company that owns both Facebook and Instagram, offers [plenty of resources and best practices](https://www.facebook.com/gpa/best-practices/nonprofits) for nonprofits looking to increase their fundraising efforts on the platform. This includes creative best practices, software updates, tips for managing Facebook ads, and more. \n\n### Most important fundraising opportunities on Facebook\n\n* [**Facebook Fundraisers:**](https://www.facebook.com/fundraisers/) These are fundraising campaigns that can be created either by your individual supporters or your organization itself. Supporters can choose to raise funds on behalf of your organization at any time, or on special occasions like their birthdays. This form of [peer-to-peer fundraising](https://kindful.com/blog/best-peer-to-peer-fundraising-platforms/) is an effective, organic way to introduce your organization to a new audience and increase fundraising revenue. \n\n* **Facebook events:** Facebook events are a useful tool for notifying your supporters about upcoming opportunities to get involved, whether those are volunteer activities, fundraising events, or awareness campaigns. \n* **Posts:** Regularly posting on Facebook keeps your mission and fundraising opportunities top of mind for supporters. Share information about your mission, promote your [online giving form,](https://bloomerang.co/blog/donation-page/) showcase photos and videos from events, and interact with supporters to foster stronger connections. \n\nKeep in mind that Facebook Fundraisers do present some challenges for nonprofit professionals. For example, Facebook doesn’t send contact information for donors, making it challenging to thank and retain new supporters. Facebook donations are also almost always anonymous, meaning data about these gifts won’t be reflected in your CRM. \n\nConsider these challenges along with the benefits of Facebook Fundraising to determine whether your nonprofit wants to actively promote this fundraising option. \n\n## Instagram\n### Instagram statistics for nonprofits\n* [95% of nonprofits](https://www.statista.com/statistics/1371096/social-media-usage-nonprofit-organizations-platform-us/#:~:text=In%202022%2C%2099%20percent%20of,nonprofits%20having%20used%20the%20platform.) use Instagram. \n* There are over [2.35 monthly active Instagram users. ](https://www.demandsage.com/instagram-statistics/)\n* Instagram audiences for nonprofits [grew at the fastest rate](https://mrbenchmarks.com/#social-media) in 2022 out of the three most popular platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter). Nonprofits saw 10% more Instagram followers in 2022 than in 2021, and Facebook fans increased by 4%. Twitter audience sizes remained steady for the year. \n\n\n### Instagram for nonprofits overview\nInstagram is another social media platform within the Meta umbrella. The platform tends to appeal to younger audiences, with about [60% of users falling between the ages of 18 and 34.](https://www.smperth.com/resources/instagram/instagram-statistics/) Regularly posting on Instagram can help you connect with this active and passionate group. \n\nInstagram is a visual platform, with photos and videos (called Reels) making up the majority of content. Nonprofits use Instagram for a variety of purposes, from [marketing upcoming events](https://www.auctria.com/blog/building-a-digital-plan-for-marketing-your-auction-event/) to engaging with supporters via direct messages or comments. \n\n### Most important fundraising opportunities on Instagram\n* [**Instagram fundraisers:**](https://help.instagram.com/758461854832783) Nonprofits can create fundraisers that are linked in their bios for 30 days. \n* **Stories:** Instagram Stories are temporary posts that are available for just 24 hours. Using Stories, you can share background information about your nonprofit, provide a behind-the-scenes tour of your facilities, interview constituents, or provide a day in the life of a staff member or volunteer. \n* **Donation stickers:** Organizations can add donation stickers to their Instagram Stories that supporters can tap to immediately donate. \n\nKeep in mind that Instagram’s fundraising tools present similar challenges as Facebook’s. Accessing donor data can be difficult or impossible, and there is a payment processing fee of 1.99% + $0.49 per donation. If your organization is highly focused on donor retention, Instagram and Facebook might not be the best fundraising channels to support your goals at this time. \n\nKeep in mind that Instagram’s fundraising tools present similar challenges as Facebook’s. Accessing donor data can be difficult or impossible, and there is a [payment processing fee of 1.99% + $0.49](https://help.instagram.com/289608171972263) per donation. If your organization is highly focused on donor retention, Instagram and Facebook might not be the best fundraising channels to support your goals at this time. \n\n## X (formerly known as Twitter) \n### X statistics for nonprofits\n* [95% of nonprofits](https://www.statista.com/statistics/1371096/social-media-usage-nonprofit-organizations-platform-us/#:~:text=In%202022%2C%2099%20percent%20of,nonprofits%20having%20used%20the%20platform.) use X. \n* There are around [528.3 million monthly active X users. ](https://www.demandsage.com/twitter-statistics/)\n* [82% of nonprofits](https://assets-global.website-files.com/5d6eb414117b673d211598f2/5de82e1550d3804ce13ddc75_2019-Tech-Report-English.pdf) in the United States and Canada that use X regularly include hashtags in their posts. \n\n### X for nonprofits overview\nX (formerly Twitter) is a platform best known for short-form written posts. Despite recent turbulence involving changes to the platform and user experience, the number of users has been [steadily increasing for the past nine years.](https://www.statista.com/forecasts/1146722/twitter-users-in-the-world) Plus, [30% of consumers](https://www.demandsage.com/twitter-statistics/#:~:text=30%25%20of%20consumers%20want%20to%20see%20brands%20using%20Twitter%20more) want to see brands using X more. \n\nX remains a widely used platform for many nonprofits, with specific features that are well-suited to support fundraising initiatives. \n\n\n### Most important fundraising opportunities on X\n* **Hashtags:** Hashtags are a central element of the X experience, allowing users to browse posts that are all related to a certain topic. By including hashtags related to your mission within your post, your nonprofit can raise awareness of its fundraising efforts and connect with supporters browsing the hashtags. For example, here’s a recent post from the American Red Cross that uses #HispanicHeritageMonth:\n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/44fe87f962cc10fdc3d0e767f392bd8811aa9f04-569x750.png)](https://x.com/RedCross/status/1707515705661284811?s=20)\n\n\n* **Links:** You can include links to your website directly in your X posts. Share links to your online donation page, volunteer registration form, and other essential landing pages that help drive engagement. \n\n\n## TikTok\n### TikTok statistics for nonprofits\n* [30% of nonprofits](https://www.statista.com/statistics/1371096/social-media-usage-nonprofit-organizations-platform-us/#:~:text=In%202022%2C%2099%20percent%20of,nonprofits%20having%20used%20the%20platform.) use TikTok.\n* There are [1 billion monthly](https://backlinko.com/tiktok-users) active users on TikTok. \n* The average TikTok user in the U.S. reported spending 53.8 minutes per day on the app. This is the longest time spent on any social media platform. \n\n### TikTok for nonprofits overview\nTikTok is a fully [video-focused](https://www.auctria.com/blog/nonprofit-videos-a-guide-to-inspiring-your-supporters/) platform. Its “For You” page features content specifically tailored to each individual user based on their previous interactions. \n\nThe [TikTok for Good](https://www.tiktok.com/forgood?lang=en) platform is dedicated to spotlighting ways that individuals and organizations have used the platform to further their charitable causes. Previous campaigns have focused on education, animal welfare, and climate change awareness. \n\nPlenty of nonprofits have found success promoting their missions on TikTok, including the [Malala Fund,](https://www.tiktok.com/@malalafund) [Girls Who Code,](https://www.tiktok.com/@girlswhocode) [No Kid Hungry,](https://www.tiktok.com/@nokidhungry) and many more. For instance, here’s a recent video from Girls Who Code discussing the success of a new program:\n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/525949596fb63dc89c9cd4d2763d108bf658862a-949x689.png)](https://www.tiktok.com/@girlswhocode/video/7259492740679945515)\n\n### Most important fundraising opportunities on TikTok\n* **Promoted hashtags:** Get involved in fundraising on TikTok by posting videos with a promoted hashtag. Potentially, millions of people can view your videos that include hashtags and get to know your nonprofit better. \n* **Influencer marketing:** Influencers are social media users with many followers, typically thousands or millions. Partnering with influencers on TikTok allows you to introduce your mission to a wider audience of potential new supporters who may not have heard of you. Influencers can promote your nonprofit by sharing information or links to your online donation page. \n\n\n## LinkedIn\nLinkedIn statistics for nonprofits \n* [82% of nonprofits](https://www.statista.com/statistics/1371096/social-media-usage-nonprofit-organizations-platform-us/#:~:text=In%202022%2C%2099%20percent%20of,nonprofits%20having%20used%20the%20platform.) use LinkedIn.\n* LinkedIn has over [900 million](https://www.statista.com/statistics/1371096/social-media-usage-nonprofit-organizations-platform-us/#:~:text=In%202022%2C%2099%20percent%20of,nonprofits%20having%20used%20the%20platform.) active monthly users. \n* LinkedIn facilitated [$215 million](https://www.statista.com/statistics/1371096/social-media-usage-nonprofit-organizations-platform-us/#:~:text=In%202022%2C%2099%20percent%20of,nonprofits%20having%20used%20the%20platform.) in product discounts to 3,500+ nonprofits in the fiscal year 2022. \n\n### LinkedIn for nonprofits overview\nLinkedIn is a professional networking platform focused on business and employee-related content. Using LinkedIn, you can keep your finger on the pulse of what matters most to today’s employees and job seekers, especially those looking for roles in the nonprofit sector. \n\nLinkedIn offers multiple free or discounted resources to help nonprofits leverage the platform as a hiring, fundraising, and donor stewardship tool. \n\n### Most important fundraising opportunities on LinkedIn\n* **Prospect research:** LinkedIn can support your nonprofit’s prospect research by supplying information about prospective donors’ job statuses and whether they’re business leaders or owners. You can sync the information you find on LinkedIn [with your donor management software](https://kindful.com/nonprofit-glossary/donor-management-software/) to develop a fuller picture of your prospects’ lives, interests, and motivations. \n* **Hiring:** Find new talent for your fundraising or development team with LinkedIn Jobs. LinkedIn also offers a nonprofit discount for their LinkedIn Talent Solutions products, which can help you build your brand as an employer and access better data insights to make strategic hiring decisions. \n* **Employee development:** Help your nonprofit’s employees maintain professional development skills with LinkedIn Learning Solutions. Access high-quality, on-demand courses and personalized recommendations depending on each individual’s goals. \n\n## YouTube\n### YouTube statistics for nonprofits\n* [74% of nonprofits](https://www.statista.com/statistics/1371096/social-media-usage-nonprofit-organizations-platform-us/#:~:text=In%202022%2C%2099%20percent%20of,nonprofits%20having%20used%20the%20platform.) use YouTube. \n* YouTube has over [2.7 billion](https://www.demandsage.com/youtube-stats/) active users. \n* In 2022, YouTube users spent an average of [46 minutes](https://www.oberlo.com/statistics/average-time-spent-on-youtube) on the platform each day. \n\n### YouTube for nonprofits overview\nYouTube is a video-sharing site where any person or organization can upload videos for free. Videos feature comment sections for viewers to share their thoughts, as well as the ability to like or share the content. \n\nNonprofits can join the [YouTube Social Impact program](https://socialimpact.youtube.com/) to access lessons and best practices for making the most of their YouTube content. \n\n### Most important fundraising opportunities on YouTube\n\n\n* [**YouTube Giving:**](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9457362?) YouTube Giving fundraisers allow creators to develop content in support of charitable causes. They can add donate buttons to their videos or livestreams. The program has some requirements: your channel must have at least 10k subscribers, be part of the YouTube Partner Program, and cannot be designated as made for kids. \n* **Mission awareness:** You can use your YouTube channel to foster an awareness campaign for your mission. For example, this World Wildlife Fund video uses compelling imagery and messaging to spread its message of improving animal and environmental welfare:\n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/c8efa4411e10f0db145bf4e6feb2fc260a36a322-880x767.png)](https://youtu.be/3d6Mntz-wwA?si=WoSOc6uShWeBMgJI)\n\n## Wrapping up\nNo matter what social platforms you use, your social media strategy doesn’t exist in a vacuum — it’s an essential element of your larger online fundraising approach.\n\nTherefore, [Bloomerang recommends leveraging virtual fundraising platforms](https://bloomerang.co/blog/virtual-fundraising-platforms/) that integrate with a variety of additional software tools and digital platforms. If you’re looking for a new online fundraising platform for your nonprofit, search for one that integrates with your most used social media platforms. This will allow you to manage social media campaigns from a bird’s-eye view and add data gathered from social media directly into your donor database. \n\nWith your larger online fundraising strategy and these tips and insights in mind, you can ensure you’re reaching your audience effectively on their favorite social media platforms. \n\n-------------------------\n\nSpecial thanks to Joshua Meyer for the expert advice. Joshua brings more than 20 years of fundraising, volunteer management, and marketing experience to his current role as the VP of Demand Generation for Bloomerang. As a member of the Bloomerang marketing team, Josh manages the organization’s growth marketing efforts. Through his previous roles at the Human Rights Campaign and OneCause, he has a passion for helping to create positive change and helping nonprofits engage new donors and achieve their fundraising goals.\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1080},{"url":1081},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/620e9826b72450a88841d8a3bf5a474eff30e5bc-1200x640.png","2024-01-04T21:04:45.376Z",{"current":1084},"social-media-for-nonprofits-101-important-platforms-to-know","Social media marketing can be a great way to supplement your nonprofit’s online fundraising strategy, but you need a thoughtful strategy","Social Media for Nonprofits 101: Important Platforms to Know",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1088,"category":1089,"id":5,"image":1090,"publishOn":1093,"slug":1094,"teaser":1096,"title":1097},"\nFeeling a little green at the thought of managing your ticket sales for your next event? General ticketing websites won’t meet your unique needs for a fundraising event.\n\nNever fear! Auctria can help you manage admission tickets for your gala or event fundraiser. Let’s run down the perks of using a specialized ticketing platform that integrates to your website, streamlining the process and making you look good to your donors - that way the only green you’ll be seeing is the green of ticket sales and donations. \n\n**If you sell tickets on Auctria, your guests are automatically pre-registered for the event fundraiser and auction. No need to do two separate sign-ups. Streamline the process to make a great experience for the guests and make you look good.**\n\n\nYou’ll be able to run a smooth guest experience, make check-in and check-out easy, and even handle transferring tickets without a fuss. Auctria can help with  your ticketing needs for you!\n\n## Why use a specialized ticketing platform?\n\nUsing a specialized ticketing platform that’s customized for non-profit organizations and their events comes with a host of benefits! You deserve a platform that’s built to benefit you and your unique needs as you interface with donors and organize your event. With a specialized platform like ours, you can choose between ticket types, including selling tickets by individual or by table for larger groups. You can even build custom combos like Early Bird deals, coupon codes, or last-minute discounts to encourage hesitant guests to attend! Use your ticketing platform to sell and track your sponsorships as well, streamlining yet another part of your event planning.\n\nA ticketing platform that is built for non profits for event fundraising will:\n1. Sell tickets on a specialized event website\n2. Tickets are the first impression, wow them\n3. Sponsorship, VIP & Full TableTicket Sales\n4. Streamline data collection for all downstream activity and fundraising \n5. Have a guest portal to move manage tickets \n\n\nOur powerful, streamlined system makes it easy for you to customize your ticket options to your needs so that you don’t waste precious hours fighting with clunky, outdated platforms that aren’t designed to benefit your NPO events. Plus, guests will receive relevant and important emails and text notifications with their tickets included, even allowing them to add their tickets to their Apple or Google Wallets on their phones!\n\n## 1. Sell tickets on a specialized event website.\n\nWe’ve already explored why [having a strong event website is important.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/don-t-underestimate-the-power-of-a-great-event-and-auction-website/) Once you’ve invested all that time in your event website, you should make the most of it! Adding your ticketing platform to your website brings maximum impact! By selling tickets on your event website, you’ll be funneling your potential attendees, donors, and sponsors to the same place you already want their attention to be. Your donors attention is limited: streamline the information sharing and ticket purchasing process to keep them focused on your organization, mission, and event.\n\n\n\n\n**When you push people to a single website, they’ll stay focused on the actual goals of the event: raising awareness and funds for your organization.** \n\nThis also creates an opportunity for you to emphasize the impact of your organization and the ways you use funds to create positive change! The more your potential attendees understand the impact of the event, the more likely they are to buy a ticket (or potentially even upgrade to a VIP package or invite additional friends and family to attend). Plus, you can add photos of previous year’s events to show off how much fun attendees have as an extra way to encourage them to buy a ticket!\n\n**An event website that showcases tickets & the event.** When selling tickets is much more than just a transaction. You are selling tickets to an event that is fundraising for your amazing cause. At the point of sale, make an impact! This is a perfect opportunity to show off where the funds will be going and how the ticket sale will make a difference in the community. \n\nA ticket sales page deserves a beautiful website that:\n* Shows your why\n* Sells tickets\n* Sells sponsorships\n* Recognizes sponsors\n\nThe event website tells the story of your organization, and why you are running a fundraising  event. \n\n## 2. Tickets are the first impression, wow them\n\nYou have one chance to make a first impression. Wow your ticket buyers with an amazing fit impression. Look good now and later. Using a great ticket platform for the sale is just the first part. One that streamlines everything that happens AFTER the purchase is just crucial as the initial sale. Thinking a few steps ahead will make for a smooth participants to retrieve their information at a later date. Keep track of the details. As for you as the event producer, you’ll be able to continue to communicate with the guest before and during the event with critical and timely news such as: maps, location, parking, \n\n## 3. Sponsorships, VIP & Full Table Ticket Sales\n\nMuch of your event revenue comes from sponsorships. Sponsorships of varying levels may include tickets or even a whole table. Selling full tables is a major income booster, the sooner sponsorships are sold the more money in cash flow to help cover pre-event expenses. [Sponsorship levels](https://www.auctria.com/blog/auction-fundraiser-sponsorships-make-money/) vary in name and increase in value for a return on investment. \n\nConsider selling VIP tickets. These could be tickets at a special table, tickets that come paired with an upgraded wine or dessert, or tickets that allow the VIPs to meet special guests that could be attending your event. Donors love being treated as special, so giving them a VIP experience for a higher ticket price is a great way to add value to their attendance. Being able to customize and sell upgraded VIP tickets can increase your profit margins and help your guests feel extra-special when they give additional support to your event.\n\n## 4. Streamline data collection, check-in, check-out, and bidding.\n\nYou want to give your guests the best experience possible. Streamlining their experience is one of the best ways to impress them with your event organization skills! This is why we emphasize building a strong event website: it’s the easiest place to direct your guests so that everything they need is in one place, including their ticket information. You don’t have to just sell tickets on your event website; you can track ticketing data and handle your attendees check-in, check-out, and bidding on the site as well!\n\nYou can track ticket inventory to easily determine when you’re nearing capacity for your event and give a final push for ticket sales when inventory is low. Scarcity messaging can be very effective in giving potential attendees a final reminder to buy their ticket, so track your sales and post on your social media and website when you’re close to selling out. Having ticket data at your fingertips will also be helpful for future years; knowing how many tickets you sell each year will help you plan future events, choose venue sizes, and more.\n\nIf you use an outside ticket platform, your attendees will have to handle their registration and check-in separately. With Auctria, you can consolidate all their info in one place, making things easier for you AND for them! Plus, you won’t have to share any data with outside companies, keeping all the data and information about your attendees on your own site for better privacy and security. This also allows you to collect any custom data you may need from your guests; i.e. dietary restrictions or meal choices if you’re serving food.\n\nIf you’re holding an auction, we ensure that ticket holders are automatically registered for the auction, making it even easier for them to bid on the items they want in order to maximize participation. Then, make payment and check-out easy by keeping everything in one spot, ensuring all the funds you raise are collected swiftly at the end of the event.\n\n\n\n## 5. Guest Ticket Portal\nEvent fundraisers want and need to sell sponsorships, tables & VIP tables. When doing so these participants  may be buying tickets on behalf of themselves, a business sponsor or a table captain. That information may not be available at the time the sponsorship is purchased and that’s OK! With a ticket portal tickets can be managed, and assign the tickets to another person at a later date and time. With a portal participants can update meal choices and update their profile to add a credit card for future purchases and donations.\n\n\n## Be Aware of Free Ticketing Platforms\nFree is never free. Those that market free, are they turning around and asking your donors for tips or money to cover their fees? And at what percentage? You never know how much your donors are paying to free ticketing platforms. Taking money from your donors to put in their pockets. \n\n## Tickets for all your events\nYou’re not just trying to throw a gala or party - you’re trying to drive change in your community through support for your organization and its mission. \n\nIt's not JUST for galas or auctions. Use tickets for ANY ticketed event.\n\n\n## Ready to start selling tickets to your next event?\n\nAuctria’s ticket features empower event organizers to effortlessly manage ticket sales, optimize guest attendance and participation, and enhance the event experience. With this powerful tool, you can elevate your event and make organizing and managing everything a piece of cake! If you want to learn more about what Auctria can do for you, check out our Case Studies or attend a Webinar Demo to take the next step towards better NPO event management today.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1091},{"url":1092},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/06ede5e1e698411cddd7e8cc607df5ea472cf5fd-600x320.png","2024-02-28T16:32:44.245Z",{"current":1095},"streamline-your-npo-event-management-with-auctria-s-ticketing-platform","Streamline event ticket making a great experience for the guests (and less work for you!)","Streamline Your NPO Event Management with Auctria’s Ticketing Platform",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1099,"category":1100,"id":5,"image":1101,"publishOn":1104,"slug":1105,"teaser":1107,"title":1108},"When planning their annual gala, [Hope Chinese Charter School (HCCS)](https://hopeccs.org/) asks a simple question: ***Are we filling the room with partygoers or with givers?***\n\nAs paddles rise during the appeal and parents watch their children on the big screen, the answer quickly becomes clear.\n\nFor the team at Hope Chinese Charter School, that question shapes every decision about their most important fundraising event of the year. The Chinese immersion charter school serves about 300 families from kindergarten through eighth grade, and like many charter schools, public funding does not fully cover the cost of delivering the educational experience they want for their students. The Gala helps bridge that gap, bringing together parents, supporters, and community members to ensure students continue to benefit from strong programs and opportunities.\n\nBut the school also faces a unique fundraising challenge. Families are typically connected to the school for only nine years, and as students graduate many of the school’s most generous supporters move on as well. This means Hope Chinese Charter School must continually cultivate new donors while strengthening a culture of giving among current families.\nRather than chasing a full room, the team focuses on building an event designed to inspire generosity. Their strategy centers on a few key ideas:\n\n* Preparing families ahead of time so they arrive ready to give, not just attend\n* Designing the room so new families can see generosity happening around them\n* Focusing on the moments that raise the most money during the evening\n* Studying participation patterns to see which tables and moments drive the most giving\n\n\nWith this approach, the Gala becomes more than a community celebration. It becomes a powerful engine for supporting every student at Hope \nChinese Charter School.\n\n## Prepare the Audience to Be Givers\n\nHope Chinese Charter School is clear about the purpose of the Gala. While it is a joyful evening for the community, it is first and foremost a fundraiser. The goal is not simply to fill the room, but to bring together a group of people who understand the mission and are ready to support it.\n\nInstead of chasing the largest possible audience, the team aims for about 180 engaged attendees who are prepared to participate in the giving moments of the evening. Families are introduced to the purpose of the Gala well before the event so that when guests walk through the doors, they already understand how important their generosity is to the school.\n\nParent volunteers are trained to help support the event and guide guests through the evening, ensuring that everyone understands how the fundraising moments work and feels comfortable participating. ][Patrick Siver, BAS of gEvents LLC](https://geventsllc.com/)plays an important role in preparing both the team and the room each year. As the professional benefit auctioneer, he works with staff and parent volunteers ahead of the event so they understand how the evening flows and how to support the fundraising moments. By the time the Gala begins, volunteers and guests alike understand the purpose of the night: this is a fundraiser, and everyone in the room has a role in helping support the school.\n\n## Design the Room So Generosity Is Visible\nThe layout of the room is intentional and designed to reinforce the culture of giving.\n\nNew families, particularly kindergarten parents, are often seated in the center of the room. From that vantage point they can see generosity happening all around them. Watching other families raise paddles, participate in auctions, and contribute to the appeal helps establish expectations and introduces new parents to the philanthropic spirit that supports the school.\n\nThroughout the evening, screens display B roll footage of students learning, playing, and working together in classrooms. Parents frequently spot their own children, which deepens the emotional connection between the school’s mission and the act of giving.\n\n\n\n## Focus on the Moments That Raise the Most\nThe live auction delivers some of the evening’s most memorable moments. One of the most sought after items is a premium parking space at the school. **Last year that single item sold for $21,000 and it sold twice.**\n\nThe appeal is another powerful moment of the evening. The appeal video runs about four minutes, longer than the typical recommendation, because it allows families to see the full range of activities happening in the school and often spot their own children on screen.\n\nThe dessert dash is another tradition that consistently generates excitement and strong participation.\n\nOver the years, the team also experimented with a variety of cocktail hour activities such as wine walls and other games. While these added energy to the event, they did not significantly increase revenue. Instead, the school chose to focus on the moments that truly drive giving.\n\nThese elements were utilized pre-covid because the philosophy was to have levels of participation to match everyone in attendance including a silent auction. Post pandemic, the silent auction has been replaced with a much larger and profitable online auction. By reducing the number of revenue generators in the room, it has increased participation in the live auction and focus on the paddle raise.\n\nThe event also includes a Last Hero Standing moment that encourages friendly competition among donors and adds another exciting opportunity for supporters to step forward.\n\nTo expand participation even further, the school extends its online auction until noon the following day. This allows supporters who prefer bidding from home, or who simply enjoy the online auction experience, to still take part in the fundraising effort. With a Saturday evening event, we close the online on Sunday to remove distractions at the event as well as increase the diversity of the bidders otherwise not available on Saturday evening. This has resulted in over half the packages being purchased by participants that did not attend the in person gala.\n\n\n## Let the Data Show What Works\nJade studies the results of the event carefully each year, using the data to guide future decisions.\n\nOne pattern she watches closely is what she calls high activity tables. These are tables where guests consistently participate in bidding, giving, and fundraising moments throughout the evening. Understanding what makes these tables successful helps inform seating strategies and outreach for future events.\n\nThe team also looks closely at how each seat contributes to the success of the Gala. Even decisions about teacher tickets are evaluated through this lens. While parents enjoy interacting with teachers during the event, the school works to balance complimentary seats and sponsored tables so that each place in the room supports the overall fundraising goal.\n\n## Build a Community That Gives\nWhile the Gala raises critical funds each year, Hope Chinese Charter School is also focused on building something longer lasting. Because families eventually move on as their children graduate, the school hopes to inspire donors to remain connected to the mission even after their direct involvement with the school ends.\n\nBy focusing on engagement rather than simply filling seats, the Gala strengthens relationships and invites the community to take part in the school’s future.\n\nAt the heart of the evening is a message that captures the spirit of the event and the community behind it.\n\n**Every bid helps every student.**\n\n\n----------------\n**Special thanks to Jade Henness for sharing the fundraising story and her expert advice.** \n\n\n[About Hope Chinese Charter School:](https://hopeccs.org/about/who-we-are/)\n\nOur Mission. Educating for Global Fluency by developing Chinese & English dual-language skills, nurturing cultural adaptability and inspiring excellence in our students for a positive impact in our world.\n\nThe first public Chinese immersion school in the Beaverton School District.\nThe vision for HOPE was initiated by parents who saw their children blossom in Saturday Chinese classes and wanted more. In 2010, those parents partnered with local educators and community leaders organizations and together, they successfully opened HOPE in the Fall of 2012 with 70 students in Kinder & 1st grade.Today, HOPE is a K-8 program that has served over 800 students and counting. With a reputation for high academic performance in Math and English Language Arts and Chinese proficiency, HOPE has been named the [#1 Best Charter Elementary School for eight years running](https://hopeccs.org/2025/best-school-in-oregon/) on [niche.com](https://www.niche.com/k12/hope-chinese-charter-school-beaverton-or/#rankings) year after year.\n\n**Special thanks to Partrick Siver. Patrick is the founder of gEvents, LLC.** for the expert advice to Hope Chinese Charter School and sharing that advice here.\n\nHe has a passion for creating unique, unforgettable experiences, Patrick works tirelessly to bring his clients' visions to life. His dedication, expertise, and attention to detail make him a sought-after partner for any event, big or small. \n\nThe gEvents difference: gEvents believes that planning is the key to successfully executing a fundraising auction or golf tournament. gEvents will work with you from designing your fundraising event to executing on gameday to achieve YOUR goals.\n\n[Follow gEvents on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/auctioneerpatrick)\n[gEvents on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/193966324008720)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":1102},{"url":1103},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/08296fc419a8d685bbd3f077c1636efdbe7990e8-750x450.png","2026-03-09T18:28:26.199Z",{"current":1106},"partygoers-or-givers-how-hope-chinese-charter-school-designs-its-gala-for-real-impact","What happens when a school stops chasing partygoers and starts focusing on givers?","Partygoers or Givers? How Hope Chinese Charter School Designs Its Gala for Real Impact",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1110,"category":1111,"id":5,"image":1112,"publishOn":1115,"slug":1116,"teaser":1118,"title":1119},"2020 brings a fresh new look to both Auctria and YOUR auction website. To match the new website a new editor tool has been built to ease in utilization.  Bonus- the new editor tool has also been rolled out to edit emails. This will core editor will unify the tools across the Auctria platform. Please take a few minutes to review: \n\n * Short video demonstration & brief synopsis of the enhancements\n * Auctria user guide links \n * Auctria.com website updates\n * Full webinar will be forthcoming, keep an eye on your emails for dates\n\n![](https://vimeo.com/382496871)\n\n\n## Your NEW Auction Website\nAny NEW auctions created after 7/1/2020 will be utilizing the Auctria 2020 website templates and editor.\n\nFor existing events you can opt into the new website features via the Website page off the dashboard.\n\nThe NEW auction website will transform your auction pages with dazzling images, ability to use video and rich content.  \n\n * Modern look and function with dynamic view\n * Updated themes\n * Video & video backgrounds\n * Parallax scrolling\n * Donation buttons\n * Shopping cart functionality \n * Items cards\n * About us cards\n * Google analytics \n\n\n\n## Core Editor for Website & Emails\nThe core editor for the new website has also been deployed for use with the email editor.  The new email editor is intended to be intuitive and straightforward in three steps: drag, drop & edit. These building blocks make it possible to build sophisticated looking emails that will display well on all modern screens, tablets, mobile devices & email clients.\n\nEach section of website or email is made up of the following pieces:\n * A series of sections\n * Each section has one or more rows\n * Each row has one or more columns\n * Each column contains a series of content elements (text, images, button) that will be stacked vertically.\n\n\n## New Website Examples\nHere are few auctions that utilized the 2020 auction website format. \n[White Christmas](https://event.auctria.com/fefd4960-9f99-49c3-aee4-9667d0a5ffeb/14169bf3f52211e9ba42c969112f30a1)\n[Scramble for Sight](https://event.auctria.com/36bb86f8-62f2-4b89-830a-f7c3933147b4)\n[Drew & Ellie](https://event.auctria.com/7fadf99a-b1ec-4c78-ba16-ba80a6a9048c)\n\n## Auctria Main Website\n\nThe main Auctria website has been updated to make it easy to find and use all the Auctria resources. How-to-run an auction articles or read real life case studies to get some ideas and inspiration for your next fundraising event. Our previous webinars are also posted for playback at your convenience. \n\n\n\n## More Auctria 2020 Details\nThe Auctria team will be conducting webinars to provide a live discussion of the 2020 updates. Please keep an eye on your admin email account and follow us on Facebook & Twitter for registration.\n\nUser Guide Links\n[Link to user guide website editor pages](https://guide.auctria.com/dashboard/website/)\n[Link to user guide email editor pages](https://guide.auctria.com/dashboard/communication/email_2020/editing_emails/)\n\n",{"id":67,"title":68},{"asset":1113},{"url":1114},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/cb065686343458a5fb6f8398f1833e8e3b71db09-600x320.png","2020-01-03T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":1117},"auctria-2020-your-new-event-fundraising-auction-website-and-editor","Auctria has enhanced your auction & event fundraising website for 2020. New look and editing tool.","Auctria 2020: Your NEW Event Fundraising Auction Website & Editor",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1121,"category":1122,"id":5,"image":1123,"publishOn":1126,"slug":1127,"teaser":1129,"title":1130},"# Live Auction Success\n\nLive auctions are an entertaining and interactive way to increase donor participation and increase overall donations.  The energy created by the live auction can carry the philanthropy to great heights.\n\nLive Auction success is reliant upon bidders bidding against each other pushing up the final sale price.  \n\n![auction bubble live517.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/auction-bubble-live517.jpg)\n\n## Pre-Market Live Auction Items\nThe live auction is only successful when at least 2 or more bidders are actively engaged.  Attract live auction bidders in the marketing of the auction event. Highlight the live auction items through the auction website, outbound emails, paper flyers and invites as well as at the actual event. [Promote live auction items](http://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/promote_promote) in advance to elevate interest level.  \n\n\n## Choosing a Live Auctioneer\nA professional auctioneer is not necessary but choosing an auctioneer or emcee should be done with care.  Consider the complexity of the auction items.  Consider using a member of the charity group, a local radio or media personality.  An emcee with a strong social presence and friendly personality help the donors engage.  Many times looking within your group will  mine a gem of emcee that already affiliated and personally invested.  A professional auctioneer can bring fresh ideas and energy to the event.  When searching for a professional, [Stephen Kilbreath from Auctions & Events](https://yourbenefitauction.com/?s=ask+auctioneer) here are the 10 must-ask-questions to determine a good match.\n\n10 Questions you should ask your auctioneer\n 1. How experienced are you in non-profit or school fund-raising auctions?\n 2. How many fund-raising auctions do you conduct each year?\n 3. What percentage of your business is fund-raising auctions?\n 4. How would you describe your bid-calling technique?\n 5. What was one of the toughest situations you have encountered as an auctioneer – and how was it resolved?\n 6. How do you interact with the crowd?\n 7. What is your Raise The Paddle / Fund-An-Item / Special Appeal strategy?\n 8. Other than night-of auctioneering, what other services do you provide?\n 9. Tell us why your style would be a good fit for our organization.\n 10. Do you have the BAS (Benefit Auctioneer Specialist) professional designation?\n\n> **Bonus Tip for interviewing a live auctioneer: You may also want to give them some information about a situation that occurred at your event and see how the potential auctioneer would have handled it differently.**\n\n\n\n\n## Prepare the Auctioneer\nDon’t just furnish the auctioneer with a handout and hope for the best.  Describe the mission of the charity and how it will helps, heals, educates, researchers, advocates the recipients. Provide clear direction on auction items including:\n * order of auction items\n * descriptions of auction items\n * necessary caveats such as usage or re-sell terms, expiration or blackout dates, \n * opening starting bid\n * instructions if an opening bid is not secured, can the bidding start lower\n * bid increments\n * instructions if bid increments can be adjusted\n * number of times to offer ‘last chance’\n\n### Spotter Duties\nA spotter is the operations behind the live auction.  As soon as the auctioneer calls “sold to the highest bidder and bidder #” the spotter will record this information.  The spotter should be prepared to touch base with the bidder providing instructions for payment and collection of auction items.  Spotter provided final bid information to the auction administrator for final bid recording and collections.\n \n\n## Choose Interesting Live Auction Goods & Services\nSelect live auction items with a variety of price points.  Begin with lower value items to engage more bidders.  Choose auction items that are NOT a commodity type item instead select one-of-a-kind or unique experience items that have a broad audience interest.  \n\n Be creative!\n\n\n## Number of Live Auction Items & Pacing\nDetermine in advance with the auctioneer the pace of the patter considering the environment to match the tone of the live auction.  If the Live auction is taking place leisurely over part of a meal or dessert in a social setting the pace may be slower and take 5-6 minutes per item.  If the the Live auction is going to be fast paced with large increment a quick patter from the auctioneer then 2-5 minutes per item would be adequate. Allot 45-60 minutes worth of live auction goods, approximately 10 live auction items will suffice. \n\nLive auction should be fun, hype the live auction throughout the entire leading up the live auction finale, don't use high pressure sales tactics.  \n\n\n## Increase Audience Participation\n * display and describe the live auction items in the lead-up time ot the event at the event display items with complete details\n * include live auction items within the bid catalog\n * indicate starting bid amounts\n\n\n## Bidding & Pricing\nThe FUN part of the live auction is the back and forth of the bidders.  Opening  bid should be the lowest value that the charity is willing to accept.  Unique goods and services or those that have a high value can be speculative.  Start too high get and risk no bids, start too low and close at an undervalued price.  \n\n[PRICING example:](http://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/pricing_auction_items) \n * retail value of $3000 of vacation package is donated with a \n * start the bidding at about 40%-60% of a realistic retail value\n * divide the remaining value in bite sized chunks to quickly elevate the bidding  \n\nStarting bid should be $1200-$1800 range\nIncrements should be $75-$200 range\n\n\n\n## Live Auction Flexibility  \nLive auction permits impromptu modifications.  If the starting bid gets no activity the auctioneer can immediately lower the starting bid and adjust accordingly.\n\n\n## Raise The Paddle, (Cash Call) and For Sale Items\nAs an adjunct to the traditional Live auction [Raise the Paddle](https://docs.auctria.com/v3/case-studies) in multiple forms may be an optional add on to the event.\nRaise the Paddle can also be used for a Special-Purchase where multiple sales of the same item can take place.  A school for instance can ‘sell’ no uniform day for $50 and ALL the bidders that raise their paddle ‘win’.  \n\n*Auctria* program can manage the FOR SALE items.  Simply load and sell before and during the event.\nSometimes called Paddle Call, Fund-a-Need for large priced item or need \nintroduce a specific need to fund, include a speaker that can tell the story and pull the heart-strings and how funding will help. \n\nStart at a high dollar value (depending on the audience this can be $1000 or $100 if a paddle, one  or two paddles will raise (RECORD the bid).  Auctioneer the lowers the amount incrementally and each time more paddles go up, (record the bid). The goal is to continually lower the bid almost every paddles is raised and everyone has had a chance to donate at a level they feel comfortable with.  \n\n\n## The Shy Bidder\nIn lieu of physically raising the paddle the For Sale item can be purchased directly with a auction representative.  \nOffering donation cards is an alternative for the shy bidder to participate in the raise the paddle without intimidation.\n\n## Dessert Dash\nDessert dash is just like it sounds but it is preceeded with a fundraising element. Beautiful desserts are on display but in order to get the on you want the table will have to bid to get to be the first, second, third etc to dash to choose their preferred item. \n\nSteps to run dessert dash:\n1. Number desserts should be the number of tables plus two\n2. Hype with display or moving presentation\n3. Bid sheet on table for each person to add a bid to the table total\n4. Highest table get to their choose dessert first\n\nTips:\nEncourage non-round numbers to break ties, include wine & cheese as a dessert option\n\n[Kilbreath Auctions has some great videos and advice on how to run a successful dessert dash.](https://kilbreathauctions.com/?s=dessert+dash)\n\n\n## Auctria streamlines the Live auction work\nAfter each live auction item closes record the winning bidder number and the continue the closeout process.  Auctria is fully integrated with credit card processing so batch closeout is swift and efficient.\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1124},{"url":1125},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/833b44b6b5e9178a6cbdea6f1dbee43ba6af3e31-600x320.jpg","2016-01-10T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":1128},"live_auction_success","Going-once, going-twice!  Live auction tips for auctioneer, pricing and the shy bidder","Live Auction Success",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1132,"category":1133,"id":5,"image":1134,"publishOn":1137,"slug":1138,"teaser":1140,"title":1141},"Charity auctions provide a fun and interactive way to fundraise\n\nPhilanthropy is easy when goods, services and experiences are attractive and easy to bid on.   Three types of auctions prevail; silent, live and online.  When used stand-alone or in combination being organized is the key to success.  The bidding process itself lends energy and entertainment for the event whether online, silent or live.  \n\nAuctria makes silent, live and online auctions powerful.  Features galore organize the entire auction process from the first day of procurement to the last bidder receipt and everything in between.  \n\n\n\n\n## Three types of fundraising auctions are Silent, Live & Online.  \n\n### SILENT auction is conducted at a location and bidding is silent.\nEach attendee is assigned a bidder number, uses that record a bid on bid sheet and therefore retains anonymity.  Each auction item has a bid sheet placed in front of the goods and/or a display page.  Donors bid silently on bid sheets until a set time.  When time is called the bid sheets are collected and the highest bidder is the winner.  \n\n### LIVE auction is conducted by an emcee or auctioneer at an event.  \nLive auction tends to be pragmatic useful for larger ticket items.  Multiple bidders will need have interest in the auction item to encourage the back and forth bidding activity.  Live auctions do well when kept to no more than one hour.\n\n### ONLINE auctions can reach a much broader audience.  \nOnline auctions add a layer of flexibility for both the auction itself and the the participants.  Similar to traditional silent auctions there is a start time, end time, and the bidding process takes place in between but completely web based.\n\n### MULTIPLE AUCTIONS TYPES CAN BE COMBINED  \nUsing multiple auction types can also lead to success.  \nAn ONLINE auction can be an appetizer to an upcoming event.  An event based auction can include both SILENT and LIVE.  No matter what combination or hybrid of auctions are used Auctria makes fundraising easy!\n\nThere are pros and cons to each.  [Read more!](http://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/auction_type_proscons)",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1135},{"url":1136},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/961cd2c17c32bef044bbed0c2c884fc2b1c85b9d-600x320.jpg","2023-08-02T14:56:32.968Z",{"current":1139},"auction-types","Should we run a Live, Silent or Online auction; how about a combination?","Types of Auction Fundraisers: Silent, Live, Online",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1143,"category":1144,"id":5,"image":1145,"publishOn":1148,"slug":1149,"teaser":1151,"title":1152},"# 4 Reasons Online Donations Make Filing Your Taxes Easier\n\nThere are a lot of reasons to love online donations. Online donations help you reach your supporters where they are; they help bring in more contributions; and they help reach a younger, more tech-savvy audience to enhance the sustainability of your organization. \n\n**One of the additional benefits that people tend to forget about (or never consider) is how online donations make filing [nonprofit tax forms](https://www.auctria.com/blog/990n-vs-990ez-or-a-compact-yet-complete-guide/) easier.**\n\nWhen you direct donors to your website to give to your organization, you’re automating the giving process as well as centralizing a location where those donations are recorded. Effective online donation tools make it easy to track smaller, more frequent donations and accurately pull donation data for later use. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/69c4d9c50d879ff689febe43154e7869da45fe74-750x360.jpg)\n\nHere are the four primary reasons your online donation tool will help make your tax season easier. With an online donation tool, you can:\n\n1. Quickly pull the reports you need. \n2. Track gift dates more effectively.\n3. Provide donors with tax receipts. \n4. Use your 990 to improve fundraising. \n\nNonprofit tax forms are all about your Form 990. Whether your organization files a 990-N, 990-EZ, or the standard 990 (you can learn more about each [here](https://file990.org/blog/2019/01/23/heres-everything-need-know-irs-990ez-form/), you can make it easier to file from year to year by accepting online donations.\n\nWant to dive a little deeper into these concepts and reasonings? Let’s get started. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/9e3dbba5cc842771cad0a7a32c543a0a6f0712e6-750x150.jpg)\n\n## 1. You can quickly pull the reports you need. \nOnline donation tools, no matter how complicated or simplistic, include some basic elements. These elements include the: \n\n**Online donation page.** The best online donation pages are customizable so that you can brand them to your organization, include suggested giving amounts, and embed the form on your site. The more streamlined the donation page, the better it is. \n\n**Payment processor.** Depending on the online donation tool you use, it may have its own payment processor or it may use a third-party processor. Either way, this part of the process is how the money gets from the donor into your nonprofit’s bank account.\n\n**Data reports.** After a period of time using the online donation platform, your nonprofit can pull information about those donations you’ve been collecting. Your online donation platform should provide reporting tools that allow you to download the data about who gave, how much they contributed, and when they gave to your nonprofit. \n\nA similar process can be said for other online fundraising technology like your event registration software and [online auction solutions.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/auction-financials/) \n\n**But how can this help with your tax forms?**\n\nFor new and smaller nonprofit organizations, you may collect the large majority of your donations through an online platform. In this case, it should be fairly easy to transfer the reports pulled from your online donation platform to your [990 postcard.](https://file990.org/blog/2019/01/14/can-nonprofit-file-990-postcard/) \n\nFor mid-sized and larger nonprofits, your online donations likely make up some, but not all of the contributions to your nonprofit. In this case, you’ll likely want to upload the data from your online donation form to your CRM or finance software. From there, you can report on all of your fundraising data on a single platform. \n\nWhile this adds an extra step to the process, uploading data and viewing all of your fundraising information together is always a good idea in order to better understand your fundraising strategy as a whole. \n\n**Pro tip:** Look for software solutions that integrate with one another. This way, instead of manually uploading fundraising data between solutions, you can streamline the process. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/82721f9bc3e7346cb80423eba2a2a902cf2e7ce2-750x150.jpg)\n\n\n## 2. Track gift dates more effectively.\nHave you ever received a donation in person, but not had the chance to record it until the next day? Or even the day after? Then, when you do record the donation, it takes lots of shuffling through paperwork and reaching back in your memory to remember exactly when that donation was made. \n\nNow, imagine this happens at the very end or at the very beginning of your fiscal year. This could cause many issues when you’re reporting on your fundraising revenue. \n\n**Online donation platforms have a built-in timestamp that prevents these types of situations from occurring.**\n\nInstead of shuffling through papers to find when a donation was made, you can simply check the records that are automatically recorded with the software records. \n\nPlus, it’s easier to sort through these records when necessary if something were to happen in the future. For instance, you could even pull donation information from several years back with records from appropriate time frames and can be searched easily for the relevant data. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/af2e786f33326c3e9d19ccebc7d3e511c934728a-750x150.jpg)\n\n\n## 3. Provide donors with tax receipts. \nIt is required within the tax code that nonprofits provide a tax receipt to donors who have contributed over a certain amount to the organization. Not only is this a legal obligation for nonprofits, but it also helps your supporters with their own tax forms!\n\n**Supporters will record their donations on their tax forms in order to receive a deduction.**\n\nTechnically, tax receipts are only necessary when: \n\n * Single donations contributed are greater than $250\n * A donor received something in return for their contribution greater than $75\n * The donor specifically requested a receipt\n\nWhile it may not always be required to provide a receipt to donors, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t send them one. Acknowledgments and confirmation emails help show your donors you care and [improve supporter engagement.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/why-donor-engagement-matters-or-a-mini-guide/) \n\n**While many of your online donations will equal less than $250, sending out receipts in the form of thank-yous and confirmations to all of your donors will ensure you don’t miss one of these required receipts.** \n\nSo what should be included in your donation receipt? For starters, you’ll need to include: \n\n * Donor’s name\n * Organization name\n * Federal tax ID number\n * 501(c)(3) registration statement\n * Date of the contribution\n * Donation amount or a description of donated items\n * Statement indicated the exchange of goods or services\n * Name/signature of an authorized representative\n * A disclosure if necessary\n\nThe great thing? **Online donation software platforms frequently have built-in gift acknowledgments.**\n\nThis means you can simply automate thank-you receipts to be sent out whenever someone gives online. However, don’t forget to check the specific requirements regarding your nonprofit and state regulations about tax receipts. \n\nFor a great example to help get started drafting and personalizing your donation thank-you messages, check out the [templates from Fundraising Letters.](https://www.fundraisingletters.org/donor-thank-you-letters/) \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/b55810d4504d0af9b023226408366e1b3877e4d0-750x150.jpg)\n\n\n## 4. Use your 990 to improve fundraising. \nAs we’ve covered, donating online is important when it comes to your organization’s tax season. However, it also works in reverse: Your tax season can help [improve your online fundraising!](https://www.auctria.com/blog/skyrocket-income/) \n\nYour Form 990 is used by donors and potential supporters to evaluate your organization. Whether those supporters are looking up your Form 990 in its entirety or using a service like Guidestar, the financial information you convey in the form is public information and free to be evaluated and scrutinized. \n\nSupporters specifically look for information like your overhead costs, such as what you spent on administrative and fundraising expenses—especially in comparison to the money you raise. \n\nWhile organizations are working to change the conversation around overhead expenses, it’s still important for your organization to show interested supporters that you’re being responsible with their contributions. \n\n**[Form 990 software makes it easy to keep track](https://recharity.ca/form-990-software/) of all of your past Form 990s in order to better understand what your supporters see when they research your organization’s past tax forms.** \n\nHowever, we recommend taking this a step further. While your 990 is public information, it doesn’t provide the context and impact that help take transparency a step further with supporters. That’s why we suggest also creating an annual report to communicate financial information with your supporters. As you create this annual report, remember to: \n\n * **Keep consistent with your 990 information.** Discrepancies between the two documents can lead to more mistrust with supporters. \n * **Be as honest as possible.** Admit to any shortcomings or times during the year when things didn’t go as planned. Then, communicate a plan to remedy those shortcomings in the future.\n * **Tell donors about all that you’ve accomplished.** One of the great things about an annual report is that you can communicate the impact that your organization has had throughout the year. Tell donors and get them excited about your programming! \n\nBetween your annual report and your required Form 990, your organization can effectively tell donors about your financial information and your past year’s performance in a way that will encourage them to give more! \n\n-------------------------------------------------------\n\nAs we approach tax season, your nonprofit needs to make sure you have the tools you need to file the required forms. Online donation software is the first step to making tax season a little easier. The second step is investing in a Form 990 software solution to help your nonprofit effectively file this year. \n\nSoftware like [File 990](https://file990.org/) helps organizations like yours file their 990-N and 990-EZ forms each and every year. Let the software do the hard work for you as you simply answer easy-to-understand questions. Before you know it, your tax forms will be in and your tax season is over! \n\n--------------------------\nSpecial thanks to Matthew Tooker from File 900 for sharing his expert advice. \n\nMathew's expertise is in sales forecasting, goal setting, client growth initiatives and business development and analytics. When he is not laser focused on moving organizations forward, you can find him spending time with his wife, Lauren, and two dogs, Reagan and Teddy, running marathons and watching the Atlanta Braves and Auburn sports.\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1146},{"url":1147},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/45ed5305e078f704e636b74b6f88139dd51044f4-600x320.png","2020-04-16T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":1150},"4-reasons-online-donations-make-filing-your-taxes-easier","Online donations help you reach your supporters where they are, bring in more contributions and make filing taxes easier.","4 Reasons Online Donations Make Filing Your Taxes Easier",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1154,"category":1155,"id":5,"image":1156,"publishOn":1159,"slug":1160,"teaser":1162,"title":1163},"Pickleball, once a niche sport, has exploded onto the national scene. It’s no longer just a pastime for retirees; people of all ages are picking up paddles. This rapid growth presents a unique opportunity for charitable organizations to capitalize on the sport's popularity.  \n\n## The Rise of Pickleball\nPickleball's rapid growth can be attributed to its accessibility and social nature. The sport's rules are straightforward, making it easy for beginners to start playing quickly. Yet, it also offers plenty of challenges for more experienced players, ensuring ongoing engagement. The social aspect, especially in doubles matches, encourages teamwork and interaction, making it a perfect fit for community events.\n\nPickleball was invented in 1965 just outside of Seattle, Washington. Three dads were stuck with bored kids and, in a fit of inspiration, they created Pickleball! The game has evolved from homemade equipment and simple rules to a rapidly growing sport throughout the US and Canada.\n\n\nPickleball is easy for beginners to learn but develops into a fast-paced, competitive game perfect for friendly tournament play.\n\n\nPickleball is typically played as a doubles game but can be played as singles matches. Play is generally similar to tennis or badminton, with a few specific exceptions:\n\n* Points are scored only by the serving team.\n* Games are normally played to 11 points, win by 2.\n* Tournament games may be to 15 or 21, win by 2.\n* The ball must bounce once before each return, extending volleys.\n\n\nPickleball courts are the same size as doubles badminton courts and the same court is used for both singles and doubles play. You don’t even have to build specific courts for your tournament! Just convert existing tennis or badminton courts and you’re good to go.\n\n\nCheck out the full official rules from the [USA Pickleball Rule Book here!](https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/official-rules/)\n\n## Why Pickleball for Charity Fundraising?\n* **Inclusive:** Pickleball appeals to people of all ages and skill levels. Families, friends, and community members can participate, making it a perfect fit for a charity event.\n* **Social:** The sport's doubles format encourages teamwork and social interaction, fostering a sense of community.\n* **Engaging:** Both participants and spectators can enjoy the fast-paced, entertaining nature of pickleball matches.\n\nThe numbers tell a compelling story. Pickleball participation has skyrocketed by an average of [223.5% over the last three years, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA).](https://sfia.org/resources/sfias-topline-participation-report-shows-strong-positive-trends-across-multiple-sports-and-fitness-categories-2/#:~:text=For%20the%20third%20year%20in,incredible%20223.5%25%20in%20three%20years.) The sport now boasts an estimated 48.3 million players in the United States, surpassing traditional sports like golf and tennis in terms of participation. With this surge in popularity comes a corresponding demand for playing facilities. There are currently over 13,000 pickleball courts across the country, a number that is rapidly increasing to keep up with the growing demand.  \n\nThese staggering statistics underscore pickleball's potential as a powerful fundraising tool. By hosting a pickleball charity event, you can tap into a vast and enthusiastic community while making a positive impact on your cause.\nLet’s dive deeper into how to transform this pickleball frenzy into fundraising gold.\n\n## Creating a Winning Fundraising Strategy\nTo maximize your event's impact. \nConsider the following strategies:\nTarget Your Audience: Identify your target demographic and tailor your event accordingly. Are you aiming for families, seniors, or competitive players?\n\nLeverage Social Media. \nUtilize platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to create excitement and build anticipation for your event.\nPartner with Local Businesses: Collaborate with local businesses to offer sponsorship opportunities and promote the event to their customers.\n\nOffer Unique Experiences. \nConsider adding elements like pickleball clinics, paddle demos, or live music to enhance the event experience.\n\nMaximize Fundraising Opportunities. \nIncorporate silent auctions, raffles, and merchandise sales to boost your fundraising efforts.\n\nBy combining the popularity of pickleball with effective fundraising strategies, you can create an unforgettable event that generates significant support for your cause.\n\n## Organizing Your Pickleball Charity Fundraiser\n\n### 1. Planning the Event\nStart by determining the format of your pickleball event. Pickleball is versatile, accommodating both singles and doubles matches. You can organize separate brackets for different age groups or skill levels to maximize participation. Additionally, consider setting up different skill levels: novice, intermediate, and advanced. This allows players to compete in a comfortable and enjoyable environment, enhancing the overall experience.\n\n### 2. Maximizing Fun and Fundraising Opportunities\n\nTicketing is just the beginning. Incorporate additional fundraising activities to boost donations:\n\n**Ticket Sales:** Auctria makes it easy to sell tickets for your event. Create different ticket types such as player registration fees, spectator tickets, and VIP passes. Use tiered pricing to cater to various budgets and levels of support. For example, offer premium tickets for advanced-level matches or VIP seating for major supporters.\n\n**Event Website:** Each event gets its own customizable website. Use this platform to share event details, sell tickets, collect donations, and map the event location. Embed images and videos to tell your charity’s story and inspire visitors to support your cause.\n\n**Raffles:** Sell raffle tickets for a chance to win prizes donated by local businesses. Use Auctria's platform to manage raffle sales and randomly select winners.\n\n**Auction with mobile bidding:** Pair this with an online auction featuring unique items or experiences. Auctria can streamline the [mobile bidding process,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/mobilebidding-strategy/) so guests can bid from the bleachers between matches. Mobile bidding makes it easy for participants to place and \n\n**Donations:** Encourage additional giving by integrating donation options into your event website. Highlight specific needs and goals to motivate donors to make a [meaningful donation.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/getting-results-with-a-paddle-raise-or-donation-request/)\n\n### 3. Engaging the Community\nEngage your community by promoting your event through various channels:\n\n**Social Media:** Leverage social media platforms to create buzz around your event. Share updates, highlight sponsors, and showcase participant stories to build excitement.\n\n**Local Partnerships for Sponsorships:** Partner with local businesses and organizations to broaden your reach and secure [sponsorships.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/auction-fundraiser-sponsorships-make-money/) Offer promotional opportunities in exchange for their support.\n\n**Volunteers:** Recruit volunteers to help with event logistics, from setting up courts to managing registrations. Involving the community enhances the event's impact and spreads awareness. [Set your volunteers up for success](https://www.auctria.com/blog/do-dont-volunteers/) with a few opening questions as to how they can and want to help. \n\n### 4. Post-Pickleball Tournament Event Follow-Up\n\nAfter the event:\n\n**Send Thank-Yous:** Show appreciation to participants, donors, and volunteers with personalized thank-you emails. Recognizing their contributions fosters goodwill and encourages future support.\n\n**Share Results:** Publish event highlights, fundraising totals, and impact stories on your event website and social media channels. Transparency builds trust and demonstrates the difference their support makes.\n\n**Collect Feedback:** Gather feedback from attendees to learn what worked well and identify areas for improvement. Use these insights to enhance future events.\n\n## Pickleball Event a Success is in Your Court\nPickleball’s inclusive, social, and engaging nature makes it an ideal choice for charity fundraising events. By leveraging Auctria’s comprehensive platform, you can streamline the planning, execution, and follow-up processes, ensuring a successful and enjoyable event. Engage your community, raise awareness for your cause, and maximize donations—all while having fun on the pickleball court. Whether you're organizing singles, doubles, or both, Auctria empowers you to make a significant impact with your fundraiser.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1157},{"url":1158},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/927b450151f15c3c4134191b586514c01190fcb6-6240x4160.jpg","2024-07-30T20:21:55.465Z",{"current":1161},"pickleball-payoff-fundraising-gold","Pickleball fever turns into fundraising gold","Pickleball Payoff: Fundraising Gold",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1165,"category":1166,"id":5,"image":1167,"publishOn":1170,"slug":1171,"teaser":1173,"title":1174},"# Top 10 tips TO DO and NOT TO DO in asking for recruiting volunteers \n## Do & Don’t Do\n\n### Set your volunteers up for success with a few opening questions:\n * What do you like to do?\n * What skill do you want use?\n * What time commitments are comfortable?\n * Use a form to self identify volunteer parameters\n\n[SAMPLE volunteer information form](https://auctria.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/FindAndRetainVolunteers.pdf)\n\n### Have Clear Expectations\n * [Define Roles](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/auction_teamwork)\n * [Retain volunteers](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/recuiting_volunteers) by being respectful to their time and commitment\n * [Thank volunteers](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/thank_you_everyone) in person and by [written letter](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cms-assets.auctria.com/uploads/Thank+You+Letter%2C+VOLUNTEER.pdf)\n\n\n\n![recruiting volunteers for auction](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Screen-Shot-2016-03-18-at-2.04.22-PM.png)",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1168},{"url":1169},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/e56609ac3b339719d396ef109233d146725f1277-600x320.png","2016-02-11T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":1172},"do_dont_volunteers","Top 10 tips TO DO and NOT TO DO in asking for recruiting volunteers","Do & Don't Do: Recruiting Volunteers",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1176,"category":1177,"id":5,"image":1178,"publishOn":1181,"slug":1182,"teaser":1184,"title":1185},"A new year is a fresh start. People often use this time to make their new year’s resolutions and decide how they should improve themselves. You can do the same for your school’s fundraising strategy. This is the perfect time to determine if there are any opportunities for fundraising campaign improvements or new [marketing strategies](https://www.auctria.com/blog/spread-the-word-4-marketing-tips-for-community-fundraisers/) to implement.\n\nEnsuring that your fundraising initiatives are engaging for your audience can help attract new potential donors, resulting in greater support for your school. In this article, we’ll review these four tips for revamping your fundraising strategy for 2023:\n\n1. Review and optimize your fundraising tools.\n2. Leverage new marketing strategies.\n3. Refresh your fundraising campaign ideas.\n4. Gather feedback from your school community.\n\nBefore you [brainstorm new school fundraising ideas,](https://99pledges.com/school-fundraising-ideas/) be thoughtful and thorough as you review your current strategies. When it comes to ensuring that your fundraising campaigns go smoothly, planning is as important as execution. To set your fundraisers up for success, your first step should be evaluating the tools and platforms you will be using.\n\n## 1. Review and optimize your fundraising tools.\nWhen assessing your fundraising tools, your priorities should be determining whether you have access to effective tools and whether you’re using those tools to their fullest potential. For example, the following types of fundraising tools can help your school carry out its fundraising strategies:\n\n* **An online fundraising platform.** An online fundraising platform allows schools to create online donation pages, track donor information, and evaluate progress made toward their fundraising goals. Your online fundraising platform should also allow you to easily share your fundraisers through email, social media, and other digital platforms. \n\n* **An email marketing platform.** Using an email marketing system like MailChimp, your school can design branded email messages and segment your contact lists to send relevant information to different supporter groups. For example, you can send information about your upcoming walk-a-thon to parents, and information about event sponsorships to your corporate partners. \n\n* **A social media scheduling tool.** A social media scheduling tool (like Hootsuite or Buffer) allows you to schedule social media posts in advance. For instance, you might schedule reminders about your fundraising event’s date or the deadline to submit donations to your online campaign.\n\nAssess whether these tools are effective for your organization, and review how you’re using them. Ensure you’re taking advantage of all of the features and support available through each platform to make your fundraiser a success. For example, before switching to a new email marketing platform, you might first conduct a database audit and clean-up to ensure your contact list is up to date. \n\nAlso, take the time to determine if your school needs to invest in any new software platforms to streamline your fundraising this year. Search for a solution that makes managing and participating in your fundraisers intuitive and convenient. \n\n\n## 2. Leverage new marketing strategies.\nTake the time to determine whether your marketing strategy is outdated. For instance, if your marketing efforts take place mostly via direct mail, you may be missing out on a valuable opportunity to connect with supporters online. \n\nFortunately, in today’s technological age, there are lots of effective new ways to promote your fundraisers online. Here are some strategies you can use for improved outreach:\n\n* **Make sure [your website](https://www.auctria.com/blog/nonprofit-websites-5-ways-to-make-the-most-of-yours/) showcases your fundraising opportunities.** More people will see your events if you promote them on your website, which will result in higher attendance and more donations. Include your fundraising events on your school’s calendar and incorporate links to your school’s online giving form on your website home page and fundraising information pages.\n\n* Use social media platforms that are popular among your audience.** Facebook is a popular platform that parents are likely to use, and you can take advantage of that by posting informational content about how to get involved or hosting [Facebook challenges](https://www.goodunited.io/blog/challenges-on-facebook) for parents to participate in. For students, you can post fun images on Instagram to grab their attention and remind them when your event is getting closer.\n\n* **Create [great video content](https://tectonic.video/best-nonprofit-videos) to promote your fundraising events.** Capture video content at your fundraising events and use that content in future promotional efforts. Make sure that your videos are polished and fun to watch. Your videos should showcase the students themselves, since they’re the ones receiving the benefits of donor support. However, be sure to review student release forms to ensure that students’ parents have given permission for them to be videotaped.\n\n\nThe benefit of online marketing is that your organization can reach a greater number of potential donors. While most of your donors may be local, don’t forget about your school’s alumni, who may be all over the world. Reconnect with them periodically, update them on any new changes or developments, and show them how they can support their former school through giving opportunities.\n\n## 3. Refresh your fundraising campaign ideas.\nIt can be tempting to use the same fundraising plan year after year. But it’s important to assess your fundraising campaign ideas to see what worked, what didn’t, and what you can improve in the new year. Trying out new fundraising ideas can help you understand which types of experiences donors are most interested in.\n\nHere are some ways you can refresh your fundraising campaign ideas:\n\n* **Mix up your fundraising event types.** Feel free to change up your fundraising activities to keep donors interested. For example, in addition to your annual trivia night, try a sports tournament, [auction,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/a-guide-to-preparing-for-auction-and-event-fundraisers/) or [fun run.](https://99pledges.com/fun-run-fundraiser-guide/)\n\n* **Ensure your fundraisers have engaging themes.** Some popular examples are a carnival or 80s night. You can even hold a holiday-themed event to spread cheer while raising funds. Make sure your decorations and music are theme-appropriate, and consider having snacks and beverages that match your theme.\n\n* **Consider hosting [hybrid fundraising events.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-to-host-a-hybrid-fundraising-event/)** These events allow supporters to tune in from home or in person based on their preferences. Some events that work well as hybrid experiences include auctions, talent shows, or walk-a-thons.\n\nAside from helping you get more information, refreshing your school’s fundraising campaign ideas can also be exciting for donors. Fresh new events and themes are a great way to pique their interest and encourage them to give.\n\n## 4. Gather feedback from your school community. \nPlanning fundraisers is no easy task, and it can be easy to get overwhelmed when finalizing all the small details. But it’s important to keep the big picture in mind — at the end of the day, your fundraisers should be fun for your school community. \n\nThat’s why you should ask for feedback from school community members. They will be more engaged in your fundraisers if they have a say in the planning process.\n\nSend out a survey to parents, teachers, and other staff with questions such as:\n\n* What fundraising events have you really enjoyed in the past?\n* What types of fundraising events are you most likely to attend?\n* How likely are you to recommend our events to a family member/friend/colleague?\n* How could we make our fundraising opportunities more convenient for getting involved?\n* Where do you usually hear about our events? (Social media, email, phone calls, flyers, etc.)\n\n[MemberClicks recommends sending out questionnaires after an event](https://memberclicks.com/blog/post-event-survey-questions/) to get immediate feedback on your fundraising events and how you can improve them. Review the questionnaires to see what your community’s greatest concerns are, and make sure to address them ahead of your next event!\n\n--------------------\n\n\nWith these tips and tricks, you’re well on your way to planning a year of successful fundraising events. Don’t be afraid to change things up and learn from the successes and mistakes of the past. Keep in mind that what’s important is raising money so that your students can have better opportunities in the future!\n\n\n------------\n\nSpecial thanks to Brad Dowhaniuk for the expert advice. Brad is the co-founder of 99Pledges, which provides schools and teams with an easy-to-use, web-based fundraising solution to manage and drive success in Fun Runs, jog-a-thons, baseball hit-a-thons, and much more. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1179},{"url":1180},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/93492518506b8eb16056b9d3f24130337dbf35d1-1200x640.jpg","2023-02-14T15:49:46.087Z",{"current":1183},"4-tips-for-revamping-your-school-fundraising-for-2023","Does your school’s fundraising strategy need refreshing? Try these four tips to revamp your fundraising campaigns and generate greater support in 2023.","4 Tips for Revamping Your School Fundraising for 2023",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1187,"category":1188,"id":5,"image":1189,"publishOn":1192,"slug":1193,"teaser":1195,"title":1196},"Mobile bidding is here, it’s here! The mobile app for Auctria is here for all your mobile bidding needs.  Summer 2020 Auctria refreshed the mobile app to perfectly along with your Auctria fundraising website. \n\nAuctria has a mobile app for both iOS and Android devices. The mobile app is intended for bidding for online auctions, virtual live auction and in-person events. Bidders will receive notifications on their device when they are outbid or win an item. \n\nDownloading the app is optional, bidders can still use your event website on a desktop, laptop or browser such as Chrome, Safari or Bing. \n\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/585ffd2faa41eddaa748f4251192d3a210f5ce93-659x1363.gif)\nLeave the paper behind! \n\n## Mobile Application Features\n * View auction catalog\n * Place bids\n * Place proxy bids\n * Receive notifications\n * Participate in Virtual Live bidding\n\n\n**When clicking from your mobile device** this  [AUCTRIA MOBILE LINK](http://onelink.to/njm7x8) will open the appropriate mobile app store. \n\n\n### Android\nThe Auctria mobile bidding app is available on the [Google Play Store](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.auctria.bidder)\n\n[![android mobile app information500.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/android-mobile-app-information500.jpg)](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.auctria.bidder)\n\n### Apple iOS\nThe Auctria mobile bidding app is available in [Apple iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/auctria-mobile-bidding/id1388761108)\n\n\n[![apple mobile app information500.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/apple-mobile-app-information500.jpg)](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/auctria-mobile-bidding/id1388761108)\n\n\n### Universal Link for Auctria's Mobile App\nShare with [universal link.](http://onelink.to/njm7x8) This will automatically take the user to the appropriate app store or catalog.  \n\n[![mobile app scan information500.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/mobile-app-scan-information500.jpg)](http://onelink.to/njm7x8)\n\n\n## Additional Resources\n\nHere are some additional downloadable resources for sharing on flyers, auction catalog, social media or emails.\n\n* [Auctria Mobile App Link (PDF)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/AuctriaMobileLink.pdf)\n* [QR Code only (jpeg)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/MobileQRCode.jpg)",{"id":67,"title":68},{"asset":1190},{"url":1191},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/8a97f1ad05819f9a88f4254f5add9e99ce8a9b83-600x320.png","2020-08-04T16:00:00.000Z",{"current":1194},"auctria_mobile_app","Mobile bidding app now is perfectly aligned to your auction and event website.","Auctria Mobile Bidding Application for Apple and Android",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1198,"category":1199,"id":5,"image":1200,"publishOn":1203,"slug":1204,"teaser":1206,"title":1207},"Imagine that your nonprofit receives a large influx of new supporters as a result of a crisis in your community. These new supporters are excited to help in any way they can, and they may get involved with many of your fundraisers and volunteer opportunities. However, as time passes, their engagement starts to fade until they rarely interact with your organization. \n\nWhile frustrating, stagnant engagement from supporters is common for nonprofits. There are many reasons your organization might struggle to [engage donors and volunteers.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-to-engage-online-donors-digital-marketing-101/) For example, maybe your nonprofit isn’t using effective communication strategies to connect with and engage its supporters. \n\nHigh engagement among your supporters will result in your organization retaining your volunteers, members, and donors for the long haul. This will help you grow your fundraising and programming over time. Using the right marketing strategies will be key to making this engagement possible. By creating consistent, personalized communications that reach the right audience, you can maintain high levels of awareness and motivate supporters to continue getting involved.\n\nIn this article, we’ll cover these four strategies to give you the tools you need to effectively reach and engage your supporters:\n\n- Create a digital marketing strategy.\n- Leverage email marketing.\n- Produce customized media.\n- Personalize your efforts.\n\nRemember that keeping your supporters engaged should be an ongoing process for your organization. You’ll need to send supporters regular communications and leverage innovative and personalized marketing strategies that make them feel like an integral part of the organization. One of the best ways to get started is with a strong digital marketing strategy.\n\n## Create a digital marketing strategy\n\nThe internet is so intertwined with your supporters’ daily lives that a digital marketing strategy is a must-have for a successful marketing campaign. A compelling digital marketing strategy can boost brand awareness, event attendance, and donations during fundraisers. Not only that, but effective marketing also boosts engagement from your supporters by directing them to new ways of getting involved.\n\nThese [digital marketing tips](https://www.feathr.co/blog/digital-marketing-for-nonprofits) for nonprofits can help your organization better engage supporters:\n\n- **Clearly define goals.** Before getting started, decide what you want to accomplish with your digital marketing strategy and how you will define success at the end of the campaign. At this stage, consider pinpointing the data points you want to see growth in. For example, if your goal is to grow your volunteer program, reference specific, measurable metrics like volunteer attendance.\n\n- **Break your audience into segments.** More than likely, your audience consists of people from a wide variety of demographics and backgrounds, all united under a common cause. Segmenting your supporters into smaller groups based on common characteristics can help you target marketing messages more effectively, leading to more engagement with your nonprofit. Consider segmenting your audience based on information like their engagement history or motivations for participating. \n\n- **Design digital ads.** Let’s say a supporter browses your website but clicks away before donating or signing up to volunteer at your next event. Your nonprofit can create digital ads that will retarget the supporters that slip through the cracks of your website. These ads will appear on other websites they visit going forward, guiding them back to your website (and to more opportunities to engage with your organization!).\n\nDigital media is a fast-paced environment full of content meant to catch a viewer’s attention for a split second. Build a successful [digital marketing strategy](https://www.auctria.com/blog/digital-marketing-conveying-your-nonprofit-s-brand-online/) that will do more by pulling in your audience, capturing their full attention, and directing them toward opportunities to engage with your nonprofit.\n\n## Leverage email marketing\n\nEmail marketing is a popular and effective strategy because it can easily be personalized and it leverages a popular media channel that people check often. For nonprofits, this is an extremely effective tool for engaging supporters. As Feathr’s guide to nonprofit email marketing cites, nonprofit organizations enjoy some of the highest email open and click-through rates of any sector. \n\n\nTake advantage of the unique position your nonprofit has when it comes to email marketing. These best practices can help you create impactful emails to drive more supporter engagement:\n\n- **Create branded emails.** Be sure to add branded elements to any emails you - send out so supporters can quickly recognize your organization. Include visual elements like your logo, brand colors, and the fonts you typically use because your audience will process images much faster than plain text. Branding emails can also make them appear more legitimate and trustworthy so your audience is more likely to engage with the emails you send.\n\n- **Use A/B testing.** To run an A/B test, craft two emails that use slightly different messaging strategies. Be sure to only change one element of the email such as the image or call to action. Then, send the first email to half of your supporters and the second email to the remaining half. Compare metrics like click-through and conversion rates to see which one was more engaging and improve your overall key performance indicators (KPIs).\n\n- **Optimize emails for mobile devices.** People tend to check emails on their smartphones rather than on a desktop. However, emails are often designed for desktop viewing. While these desktop emails might look great in mockups, they might not be very effective for mobile users. Prioritize making the emails you send accessible and functional on mobile devices to better meet your supporters where they are. \n\n- **Feature calls to action.** A call to action helps encourage your audience to take your campaign’s desired action that will support your overarching goals. Clear calls to action reinforce the purpose of your email by clearly defining how viewers can get involved. Make it easy for your audience to take the next step by providing links that lead them to your donation page or volunteer sign-up sheet.\n\nWhether you’re using email marketing to [promote your next online auction](https://www.auctria.com/blog/promote-online-auctions-on-social-media/) fundraiser or to boost volunteer recruitment numbers, be sure you incorporate specific campaigns like this into a larger email marketing strategy. Communicating regularly with your supporters can help you develop a deeper relationship with them.\n\n## Produce customized media\nIf your nonprofit aims to have robust digital and email marketing strategies, you’ll need to create customized media. While you can accomplish many of your marketing objectives with branded graphics and social media posts, why not take it a step further and produce your own high-quality media?\n\nNonprofits are in a unique position when it comes to content creation because they usually market to a smaller, more niche audience than a business would. For example, [Longhopes Donkey Shelter,](https://longhopes.org/) an organization that rescues and rehabilitates unwanted donkeys, has a very unique and niche cause. This means organizations like Longhopes could play a major role in meeting the demand for high-quality, educational content about their cause.\n\nCreating your own media can seem intimidating, but modern technology makes it easy to create high-quality content with a little planning and practice. Let’s dig into a few ways you can get started:\n\n- **Create videos.** Videos are an engaging way to spread educational content and make emotional appeals to your audience. As [Tectonic Video’s guide to nonprofit video creation](https://tectonic.video/best-nonprofit-videos) explains, there are many different types of videos nonprofits can create to support their mission such as explainer, campaign, and testimonial videos. While these videos can have very different purposes ranging from educating to entertaining, they can all help your nonprofit work toward similar goals like attracting attention and encouraging supporters to participate.\n\n- **Write blog posts.** If your organization doesn’t have a blog or resources section on its website, begin writing high-quality, educational blog posts. Blog posts motivate supporters to learn more about your organization, spend more time on your website, and move closer to donating or volunteering. Additionally, if you leverage SEO best practices, you can reach more audiences by boosting your website’s ranking on search engine results pages.\n\n- **Start a podcast.** While launching a nonprofit podcast isn’t easy and will require significant planning and research, it can be an inexpensive way to create high-quality educational content. This long-form content gives your organization a way to thoughtfully dive into interesting topics related to your mission, highlight opportunities to get involved, and host interviews with the organization’s leaders. Plus, there are plenty of nonprofit podcasts you can draw inspiration from because the industry is growing so quickly.\n\nNot only does creating your own media give your supporters access to high-quality, educational content, but it also gives your organization the freedom to tailor it to your mission. That way, you can educate supporters about the most important parts of your cause and promote the most valuable ways for your supporters to get involved.\n\n## Personalize your efforts\nHaving great [marketing ideas](https://www.feathr.co/blog/marketing-ideas-for-nonprofits) is one of the keys to capturing supporters’ attention and motivating them to engage with your organization. One of the most effective strategies for creating engaging marketing materials is to personalize them to your audience.\n\n**Personalized marketing that hinges on your audience’s unique interests is far more effective than mass communications with a vague,** generalized message. For example, if you run an animal rescue organization, you might have a portion of your audience that loves spending time with dogs in particular. For this segment, you should focus on marketing that prompts them to volunteer as a dog-walker.\n\n\nNot only are these communications more effective than impersonal marketing methods, but consumers also tend to prefer them because they are relevant to their preferences and experiences. By appealing to your supporters’ personal motivations for giving in your marketing communications, you can employ messaging that tugs at their heartstrings and drive more engagement.\n\n----------------\n\nMarketing can motivate your supporters to regularly engage with your nonprofit, prompting them to [turn their passion for your cause into action.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/5-ways-to-turn-advocacy-into-action/) With these strategies, your nonprofit can grow and maintain high levels of engagement for years to come, building deep relationships with your core supporter base.\n\n---------\nSpecial thanks to Aidan Augustin for the expert advice. \n\nAidan Augustin is the co-founder and president of [Feathr,](https://www.feathr.co/) an industry-leading tech company building marketing tools specifically tailored to the needs of associations and event organizers. Feathr has helped over 800 associations and 5,000 conferences, trade shows, and virtual events grow attendance, member engagement, and digital sponsorship revenue. Based out of their Gainesville, FL headquarters, Aidan leads the sales and marketing functions of Feathr and spearheads industry engagement. He is an actively involved member of both ASAE and IAEE and a regular speaker on the topics of digital marketing and event/association technology.\n\n\n\nAidan Augustin is the co-founder and president of [Feathr,](https://www.feathr.co/) an industry-leading software company making digital marketing more accessible to nonprofits and event organizers. Feathr has helped over 800 nonprofits and thousands of events know, grow, and engage their audiences. When he's not steering the ship at Feathr, he's playing strategy games, singing karaoke, or reading books about people who changed the world.\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1201},{"url":1202},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/bb34796154ee1620013ce2b1f5ed873bc4dc3cc5-600x320.jpg","2022-09-13T19:36:56.162Z",{"current":1205},"4-key-strategies-for-nonprofits-to-keep-supporters-engaged"," Are you looking for new ways to boost your supporter engagement? Consider using these four strategies to encourage more involvement from your donors.","4 key strategies for nonprofits to keep supporters engaged",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1209,"category":5,"id":5,"image":1210,"publishOn":1213,"slug":1214,"teaser":1216,"title":1217},"Auctria is thrilled to share a collection of podcasts we we've been invited to over the years. We are grateful for these opportunities to engage with fellow experts in the fundraising industry to exchange experiences, insights and ideas. Check out the links below for a mix of information and inspiration: \n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/6f49162b51a39152b6f5ecb34f114355c10a76b3-1050x350.png)](https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/amodernnonprofitpodtccfo/episodes/Episode-92-Nonprofit-Success-Strategies-for-Auctions-e2n0em1)\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center\">\n\u003Ca href=\"https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/amodernnonprofitpodtccfo/episodes/Episode-92-Nonprofit-Success-Strategies-for-Auctions-e2n0em1\">\u003Cstrong>LISTEN\u003C/strong>\u003C/a>\n\u003C/div>\n\nIn this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Laurie Hochman from Auctria discusses the ongoing success of auctions in fundraising. She emphasizes that while fundraising outcomes vary by audience, auctions remain a valuable tool, with some events raising hundreds of thousands or even millions. Success often depends on audience engagement and repeated participation over time, this highlights the importance of long-term cultivation and relationship-building in fundraising efforts.\n\n\u003C/br>\n\n-----\n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/677d23909d3d77b4834e624825ee600b8499bec1-1050x350.png)](https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-tq4w2-160eca9?utm_campaign=admin_episode&utm_medium=dlink&utm_source=episode_share)\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center\">\n\u003Ca href=\"https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-tq4w2-160eca9?utm_campaign=admin_episode&utm_medium=dlink&utm_source=episode_share\">\u003Cstrong>LISTEN\u003C/strong>\u003C/a>\n\u003C/div>\n\nEach week, 'People in Fundraising' host Tim Wilson engages with philanthropy leaders across areas such as frontline development, prospect management & research, donor relations & stewardship, donor/alumni engagement, and more.  Laurie Hochman joins \"People in Fundraising\" from Florida to enthusiastically discuss her career history prior to and since joining the nonprofit world. \n\u003C/br>\n\n-----\n\n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/af0c7b7988c52a3b14ff0f017183017d008a23ae-1050x350.png)](https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/heynonprofits/episodes/Everlasting-Impact-of-Fundraising-Software-e2fgt5r)\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center\">\n\u003Ca href=\"https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/heynonprofits/episodes/Everlasting-Impact-of-Fundraising-Software-e2fgt5r\">\u003Cstrong>LISTEN\u003C/strong>\u003C/a>\n\u003C/div>\n\nIn this episode Trevor Nelson (HGA Fundraising) dives deep into the world of fundraising with a special guest, Laurie Hochman, from Auctria. We uncover how little details can significantly impact donor engagement and support. Laurie shares valuable insights on why paying attention to every aspect of your event is key to creating lasting impressions and fostering long-term donor relationships. Laurie also provides expert insights into how good software can elevate your fundraiser not just for the event itself but for years to come.\n\n\u003C/br>\n\n-----\n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/8cd6da95b5d8b063bf37ecee7e6115f75e095007-1050x350.png)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G684FEZfgVs)\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center\">\n\u003Ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G684FEZfgVs\">\u003Cstrong>LISTEN\u003C/strong>\u003C/a>\n\u003C/div>\n\nLife Events Staffing presented series of talks with partners, covering the services that can help to streamline event management and enhance fundraising efforts for corporate and charity events.\n\n\u003C/br>\n\n-----\n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/2ce79d37096a7a70cffdbd83ec568b4edcb40b3c-1050x350.png)](https://nonprofitsnapcast.org/2022/04/21/talking-auctria-with-laurie-hochman/)\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center\">\n\u003Ca href=\"https://nonprofitsnapcast.org/2022/04/21/talking-auctria-with-laurie-hochman/\">\u003Cstrong>LISTEN\u003C/strong>\u003C/a>\n\u003C/div>\n\nLaurie Hochman visits the SnapCast to talk about her work, and what Auctria does for nonprofits.  Auctria was founded in 2011.  When this episode was recorded, Auctria celebrated 10 year anniversary, powering over 40,000 events in that time, providing tools to raise over $400 million.  We talk about how Auctria works, and how the relationship between Auctria and their clients gets built.\n\n\u003C/br>\n\n-----\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/3e949b1860ee0dbc7429457ffcc921290e3d182b-1050x350.png)](https://treefanevents.com/podcast/19-a-helpful-fundraising-tool-for-your-upcoming-virtual-event-auctria/)\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center\">\n\u003Ca href=\"https://treefanevents.com/podcast/19-a-helpful-fundraising-tool-for-your-upcoming-virtual-event-auctria/\">\u003Cstrong>LISTEN\u003C/strong>\u003C/a>\n\u003C/div>\n\nAs a seasoned event professional and podcast host,  Anca Platon Trifan, CMP, DES champions women behind-the-scenes in AV, event production, and technology, advocating for mental and physical fitness as well as diversity in AV. This episode was dedicated to Auctria and its impact on fundraising during the pandemic, highlighting how its ability to facilitate virtual fundraising helped organizations continue their efforts.\n\n\u003C/br>\n\n-----\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/903f95e14221daf8fb867aea345b1026b3f02963-1050x350.png)](https://www.eventswithbenefits.com/episodes/13)\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center\">\n\u003Ca href=\"https://www.eventswithbenefits.com/episodes/13\">\u003Cstrong>LISTEN\u003C/strong>\u003C/a>\n\u003C/div>\n\nEvents with Benefits Podcast is hosted by three longtime event fundraising professionals: Danny Hooper, benefit auctioneer at [Danny Hooper Productions](http://dannyhooper.com/); Ian Lauth, VP of Marketing at [Winspire](https://www.winspireme.com/); and Renee Zau, Co-founder & CEO of [DonationMatch](https://www.donationmatch.com/). Auctria's very own Laurie Hochman shares multidimensional approach to boosting auction revenue, including overview of auction technology, tips to sell more tickets and registrations, and more. \n\n\u003C/br>\n\n-----\n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/ca741420f1349610257022346ec682056ff19815-1050x350.png)](https://soundcloud.com/fundraising-fundamentals/tips-for-taking-your-fundraising-auction-digital)\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center\">\n\u003Ca href=\"https://soundcloud.com/fundraising-fundamentals/tips-for-taking-your-fundraising-auction-digital\">\u003Cstrong>LISTEN\u003C/strong>\u003C/a>\n\u003C/div>\n\nIn this episode of Fundraising Fundamentals, two experts Laurie Hochman (Auctria) and Gina Shugar (Calusa Elementary PTA) explain how to use data and audience engagement to move a benefit sale online.\n\n\u003C/br>\n\n",{"asset":1211},{"url":1212},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/9fb2233adb6ec9dc8c2fd3ef8c2a04410f36fc08-5760x3840.jpg","2024-12-20T20:23:00.000Z",{"current":1215},"fundraising-podcast-collection","Collection of fundraising podcasts featuring Auctria","Fundraising Podcast Collection",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1219,"category":1220,"id":5,"image":1221,"publishOn":1224,"slug":1225,"teaser":1227,"title":1228},"# How To Promote A Virtual Auction\n\n[Online auctions](https://www.auctria.com/) are a great way to raise funds for a good cause. However, they can take a lot of time and effort to organize. Without effective marketing, all these efforts will come to nothing. Taking the trouble to promote a virtual auction is, therefore, just as important as organizing the auction itself. There are many ways to promote your online non-profit auction, but we will take a look at the three most important and effective.\n\n## Optimize Social Media\n \nYour social media platforms are the most direct, immediate, and wide-ranging methods of promotion at your disposal. Reach out to supporters, donors, influencers, and brand ambassadors, allowing your communications and hashtags to spread as far and wide as they can. You should also identify top fundraisers and tag them in your posts. Come up with a catchy hashtag for your auction and encourage its use among all your followers. \n\nRemember to keep up your communications with all of your supporters and check your streams and newsfeeds regularly. Choose your social media networks carefully. Some platforms will be more appropriate than others. The audience you reach on LinkedIn will not be the same as that which you might target on Twitter, for example. With a complete understanding of your target audience, you can select the appropriate social media platforms and ensure that your communications are being seen by the right people. \n\n## Use Digital Storytelling\n\nDigital storytelling is perhaps the most powerful tool for nonprofits. It involves the use of visual media to tell a compelling story about your cause and the events you use to support it - such as your upcoming auction. You should approach this story with much the same care as would be taken by a screenwriter or advertising creative. Think about your cause and its values, and then encapsulate them in a story that is engaging and moving. Develop a story arc, write a script that traces that arc, and then use visual media to realize that script. Make creative use of visual media - work with professionals if you can - and produce a high-quality video that will showcase your story effectively and impressively. A well-told digital story is sure to win potential buyers and donors over to your cause.\n\n## Share the Impact of the Auction\n\nAnother way to use visual messaging is to connect your event with the beneficiaries of your cause. Let buyers and potential buyers get a direct understanding of where the proceeds of your auctions go. These impact videos will drive online engagement and boost interest as they make the rounds on your social media networks. Select some of your top ambassadors and influencers and conduct interviews with them. You can then encourage them to share these videos on their networks, ensuring even wider exposure. \n\nThere are two ways to approach the use of impact videos: you can demonstrate the future benefits of an upcoming auction, or you can report back on a previous auction, making it clear that the upcoming event will have similar results. Either way, your choice of subject matter and interviewees is the most important factor. As with your visual storytelling, the right people telling the right stories will draw buyers to your auction.\n\nAuctria provides efficient and affordable tools to help nonprofits and other organizations run successful nonprofit auctions. For more information on how to promote a [virtual auction](https://www.auctria.com/virtual-live-auction/), [contact Auctria](https://www.auctria.com/contact/) today!",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1222},{"url":1223},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/9c7907abcfaaf4145a58b9022bd2c4f960502fbe-600x320.jpg","2022-02-01T22:00:00.000Z",{"current":1226},"how-to-promote-a-virtual-auction","If you want to run a virtual auction, you need to know a few key things. Learn more about it here.","How to promote a virtual auction",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1230,"category":1231,"id":5,"image":1232,"publishOn":1235,"slug":1236,"teaser":1238,"title":1239},"\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/197b43b183b59a158aae872efd627a17cce226e9-750x360.jpg)\n\nAs we wrap up 2019, your nonprofit is likely kicking your fundraising strategy into high gear. After all, there are so many year-end activities that can help boost your fundraising campaigns, like [Giving Tuesday](https://www.auctria.com/article/gt-overview-2019/) and holiday giving.\n\nHowever, there’s one thing you’re probably not thinking about just yet: tax forms.\n\nAs we enter 2020, tax season is quickly sneaking up on all of us. While 501(c)(3) organizations don’t pay taxes, that doesn’t mean you get off scot-free. You’ll still need to file your appropriate Form 990 annually.\n\nGenerally, larger organizations are used to this information and are set in their ways about completing it. However, small to mid-sized nonprofits tend to have a bit more trouble. These are the nonprofits completing the 990-N and 990EZ forms. We’re going to answer some of the common questions that nonprofits have about these forms, including:\n\n1. What are the differences between the forms?\n2. How do I know which form to file?\n3. What are the penalties for not filing the forms?\n4. What do the 990-N and 990EZ have in common?\n5. How do I file this form for my nonprofit?\n\nReady to learn more about your nonprofit’s needs for the upcoming tax season? Let’s dive in!\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/2bf775448effd0786baf56211db2e6142064e63a-750x150.jpg)\n\n## 1. What Is The Difference Between 990-N and 990EZ forms?\n\nThe IRS form 990-N is for very small organizations. It’s the easiest form to complete as an eight-question form. Meanwhile, the form 990EZ is slightly longer. It’s four pages rather than eight questions.\n\n**However, this doesn’t mean the 990-N is any less important than the 990EZ!**\n\nBoth forms are incredibly important for qualifying nonprofits to file. They’ll also ask for some of the same questions, including:\n\n- Your nonprofit’s EIN\n- The tax year\n- Your gross receipts\n- Your nonprofit’s legal name\n- Contact information\n\n**The 990EZ is just a bit more extensive than the 990-N. **You’ll need access to information such as:\n\n * Net asset changes\n * Balance sheets\n * Service accomplishments\n * Lists of key stakeholders and employees\n * Grant information from the previous tax year\n\nHowever, the primary difference between the forms is the eligibility of nonprofits to file, which we’ll cover more in the next section.\n\nIf your nonprofit is nervous about collecting all of the data for the 990EZ, [File 990 offers a complete guide that you can reference](https://file990.org/blog/2019/01/23/heres-everything-need-know-irs-990ez-form/). The more prepared you feel, the easier tax season will be.\n\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/5694e2aff1703b9b170c294876c6e2fa764247c9-750x150.jpg)\n\n## 2. Who files each form?\n\nWhy would you do more work while filing tax forms than absolutely necessary? Knowing the nonprofit eligibility parameters for each form can save you a lot of time filing.\n\nIf you file the 990-N when you’re supposed to file the 990EZ, you’ll need to file again. Or, if you file the 990EZ when you could’ve done a  990-N filing, you’re doing more work than is necessary.\n\nHere’s the difference:\n\nNonprofits can [file the 990-N if…](https://file990.org/blog/2019/01/14/can-nonprofit-file-990-postcard/) \n\n * Gross receipts are less than $50,000\n\nNonprofits can file the 990EZ if…\n\n- Gross receipts are less than $200,000\n- Gross receipts are more than $50,000\n- Total assets are equivalent to less than $500,000\n\nJust knowing which form your nonprofit should file this year is a great first step. Try to file early (far before the deadline) to allow yourself some flexibility to gather the data and documents you need to file the form you qualify for.\n\nPrepare for your tax season by starting early and doing the right research so that you know which form your nonprofit needs.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/522faee2baa764557019c922f8b515c3f232f9c3-750x150.jpg)\n\n## 3. What are my penalties for not filing?\n\nYou may be thinking, “Sure, I know which form to file now, but what if I forget about it?”\nOur advice is: **Don’t forget.**\n\nForm 990s are your nonprofit’s platform to communicate with the government that you deserve to remain tax-exempt in the future years. But they don’t like losing the potential money that taxes bring. So, it’s important to remember to remind them year after year why you’re not filing taxes.\n\nPlus, there are some hard penalties for forgetting to file your nonprofit’s 990.\n\n**If you forget to file the 990-N…**\n\nYour nonprofit will receive a notice that you’ve failed to file your forms. While this may not seem like much, it’s not something to be ignored!\n\nIf you forget to file your 990-N for three consecutive years, your nonprofit will automatically lose its tax-exempt status. Harsh, right? No one wants to reapply for that again.\n\nWe recommend making a habit of completing your 990-N each and every year. This will help you stay on track and make sure you keep this important, money-saving status.\n\n**If you forget to file the 990EZ…**\n\nYour nonprofit will be imposed a penalty of $20 for each day you’re late. The maximum late penalty is $10,000 or 5% of your gross receipts, whichever comes first.\n\nImagine how much more [fundraising](https://doublethedonation.com/tips/fundraising-ideas/) you’ll need to do to make up for that penalty expense!\n\nPlus, if you forget to file for three consecutive years, you’ll lose your tax-exempt status (same as with the 990-N).\n\nSo keep the deadline in mind for your tax forms! The deadline is the **15th day of the 5th month after the last month that concludes your fiscal year. If you’re on the calendar fiscal year, this means your 990 is due on May 15th.**\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/2b5559d9cfed8d29ed1772d8351a5b9cacd01b7e-750x150.jpg)\n\n## 4. What do these forms have in common?\n\nWe’ve touched a lot on the differences between these forms, but they really have a lot in common as well. The primary commonality: Any Form 990 informs overhead calculations.\n\nThe Forms 990-N or 990EZ (as well as the full form) are public knowledge. Many corporations or major donors will use these documents to calculate nonprofit overhead for different organizations.\n\n**Your nonprofit’s overhead can be calculated by combining the management and general costs recorded on your 990 with fundraising expenses also recorded.** \n\nAccording to [Double the Donation’s annual fund guide,](https://doublethedonation.com/tips/annual-fund/) much of these overhead costs are spent from the annual fund and used to cover everyday expenses like facility bills, rent, [marketing,](https://www.auctria.com/article/salaslabs-marketing-nonprofit/) and employee salaries. \n\nWhen thinking about your nonprofit’s overhead, you should consider:\n\nSome overhead expenses are required to keep your nonprofit running. More is required to help it grow.\n\nNonprofit donors prefer their donations to go directly to your mission rather than overhead expenses.\n\nIt’s important to strike a balance between cutting overhead to not waste money, and spending enough to grow your nonprofit.\n\nIn order to best communicate this, don’t rely entirely on your nonprofit to communicate your expenses. Your annual report communicates more specific uses for your expenses and displays the impact, an element your 990 is missing.\n\nThe annual report, when used correctly, will be a better indication of your nonprofit’s overhead expenses than your 990 because you can provide an explanation for the investment and show impact. This can help improve transparency and [convert more prospects to annual donors.](https://www.auctria.com/article/attendee-to-annual-fund-donors/)\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/1f8ecf04bf5ce62523dd83eee2be1e804a028da3-750x150.jpg)\n\n## 5. How should my nonprofit file the form I need?\n\nNow you know which 990 to file, why your nonprofit needs to file it, and what it’s used for by donors and prospects. But how do you actually get started filing your form?\n\nThere are three ways nonprofits like yours may file tax forms each year:\n\n * **You can file the form in-house.** Generally, nonprofits with their own accounting departments will opt for this method. However, simply printing the form and filling it out is not recommended for smaller organizations without a complete accounting team.\n * **You can hire an accountant.** Hiring an accountant is a great way to make sure your form is accurate. However, it can also make you feel detached from the overhead expenses, and the price of the accountant can add up quickly.\n * **You can use e-filing software.** The best way for small nonprofits to file their taxes is with an e-filer. A good solution will automatically pull data from the IRS database and ask easy questions to fill out only the relevant parts of the 990 form. If you’re looking for a great solution, [start here.](https://file990.org/) \n\nUsing the proper tools to file your tax forms, whether that be for a 990-N or 990EZ, will help your organization save time and energy. Then, you can focus on what really matters: your mission.\n\n---------------------------------------------------------------\n\nAs your nonprofit wraps up 2019, don’t forget to be thankful that you don’t need to pay taxes on any of the [donations you’re getting](https://www.auctria.com/article/keep-donors-engaged-snowball/) from giving day campaigns and general generosity of spirit. Instead, all you need to do is fill out a little form. \n\nDon’t leave your 990 (990n vs. 990ez) until the last minute. With the research from this article, you’ll be ready to start the year off right and put tax season behind you early on. Good luck!",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1233},{"url":1234},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/6167981643a8042abdb3ea5bdfd266bd03019282-600x320.png","2022-03-15T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":1237},"990n-vs-990ez-or-a-compact-yet-complete-guide","Small to mid-sized nonprofits don’t always get the needed tax information. All your 990-N & 990EZ questions answered.","990N vs. 990EZ | A Compact (Yet Complete!) Guide",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1241,"category":1242,"id":5,"image":1243,"publishOn":1246,"slug":1247,"teaser":5,"title":1249},"Running a successful live auction involves careful planning, engaging the audience, and creating an atmosphere that encourages bidding. Let’s dig into how your nonprofit can nail it.\n\n## What are the benefits of live auctions?\nAuctions are a great way to inject a bit more excitement and competition into your event. And live auctions, specifically, are essential. \n\nMainly, live auctions create:\n\n**Engagement and excitement:** Live auctions create a dynamic and engaging atmosphere. The excitement of live bidding, the interaction between the auctioneer and participants, and the competitive nature of the process contribute to a lively and memorable experience.\n\n**Real-time decision-making:** Live auctions allow participants to make quick, in-the-moment decisions. The sense of urgency and competition can lead to higher bids as participants are emotionally invested in securing the items they desire.\n\n**Fostering a sense of community:** The communal aspect of live auctions brings people together. Participants share the experience of bidding, celebrating wins, and supporting a common cause. This sense of community can strengthen connections among attendees.\n\n**Immediate results:** Unlike silent auctions, where winners are determined after a set period, live auctions provide immediate results. Bidders know instantly whether they've won an item, fostering a sense of gratification and accomplishment.\n\n**Entertainment value:** A [skilled benefit auctioneer](https://www.auctria.com/partners/?category=auctioneer) can turn the event into a form of entertainment. A charismatic auctioneer can captivate the audience, injecting humor, energy, and personality into the proceedings, making the auction more enjoyable for participants.\n\n**Higher perceived value:** The competitive nature of live bidding often leads to items selling for higher prices than their intrinsic value. Bidders may be motivated to outbid others, contributing to increased revenue for the organization hosting the auction.\n\n## How to run a successful auction in three stages\n\n1. Pre-Event planning\n2. Day-of-event execution\n3. Post Event\n\n### 1. Pre-event planning, \n\nDefine auction goal: \n* **Overall fundraising target:** Determine the total amount of funds the organization aims to raise through the auction, considering the budget for programs, projects, or specific initiatives.\n\n\n* **Attendance goals:** Set goals for the number of attendees at the auction. Larger attendance can lead to increased participation and higher bids.\n\n\n* **Participation levels:** Set targets for the percentage of attendees actively participating in the auction, whether through bidding, purchasing items, or making donations.\n\n\n#### Secure sponsors \nReach out to potential sponsors outlining the different sponsorship tiers, benefits, and impact of their contributions.\n\nSponsors might be volunteers, board members, or past supporters, or even local businesses with whom you do or do not have a connection.\n\n#### Select compelling items\nWhen deciding which items to list in your auction, consider sending out a brief pre-event survey to gauge interest in specific items. Or, consider allowing for “bidder’s choice” — or the bidding method in which the highest bidder gets to choose one item or multiple items from one group of assets. \n\nTo help, take a look at [Auctria’s list of no-risk auction partners.](https://www.auctria.com/partners/?category=auction-items-no-risk-consignment-items)\n\n#### Secure an experienced auctioneer and prep them\n\nInvest in an experienced and charismatic auctioneer who can energize the crowd, build excitement, and encourage bidding. A skilled auctioneer can make a significant difference in the success of the event.\n\nWhen choosing your auctioneer, be sure to select someone who specializes in nonprofit auctions so they can help your event bring in as much revenue as possible. A [full list of specialized nonprofit auctioneers](https://www.auctria.com/partners/?category=auctioneer) can be found here.\nOnce you’ve found an auctioneer for your live auction, be sure to prepare them by describing the mission of the charity and how it will helps, heals, educates, researchers, advocates for the recipients. Provide clear direction on auction items including:\n\nOnce you’ve found an auctioneer for your live auction, be sure to prepare them by describing the mission of the charity and how it will helps, heals, educates, researchers, advocates for the recipients. Provide clear direction on auction items including:\n* order of auction items\n* descriptions of auction items\n* necessary caveats such as usage or re-sell terms, expiration or blackout dates,\nopening starting bid\n* instructions if an opening bid is not secured, can the bidding start lower\nbid increments\n* instructions if bid increments can be adjusted\nnumber of times to offer ‘last chance’\n\n#### Create a bidder registration and bidding process\nImplement a bidder registration process to streamline participation. Provide bidders with numbered paddles and/or [bid sheets.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/silent-auction-bid-sheets/)\n\n#### Promote the live auction\nThe live auction is only successful when at least 2 or more bidders are actively engaged. Attract live auction bidders in the marketing of the auction event. Highlight the live auction items through the auction website, outbound emails, paper flyers and invites as well as at the actual event. Promote live auction items in advance to elevate interest level.\n\n### Day-of-event execution\n\n**Designate a prime auction spot.** Designate a central and visible area for the live auction within the event venue. Ensure that all attendees can easily see and hear the auctioneer.\nEncourage audience engagement\n\nCreate an engaging atmosphere by encouraging audience participation. Use entertaining elements, such as live music, videos, or testimonials, to captivate the audience.\n\nPlus, be sure to display and describe the live auction items in the lead-up time to the event at the event display items with complete details, include live auction items within the bid catalog, and indicate starting bid amounts. \n\nAnd, consider voiceover previews, pre-auction spotlighting, an auctioneer meet and greet, or even giving staff or commitment members neon “ask me about” name tags to make things a bit more lively. \n\nAccording to Gala Gal, Jenelle Taylor, in her [webinar with Auctria,](https://www.auctria.com/webinar/got-a-live-auction-at-your-gala-what-you-re-not-doing-is-hurting-you-featuring-gala-gal-jenelle/) \n\n>“ask me about” name tags are a great way to generate excitement and free buzz around auction items. To do this, staff wear bright “ask me about [auction item]” tags and strike up conversations with potential bidders before the auction. These potential bidders then organically talk to peers about the item and offerings. \n\n>“That person that’s now knowledgable about that item is marketing it for you. They’re telling their peers about this auction item and getting them excited about it. That is priceless.” — Jenelle Taylor\n\n**Highlight each item effectively** Have the auctioneer highlight each item effectively. Share compelling stories, unique features, and the impact of the funds raised. \n\n**Encourage competitive bidding** Encourage competitive bidding by tapping into the emotions of bidders. Emphasize the impact of the items and the contributions and how winning bidders can help make a real difference. When possible, use specifics, too, naming exactly what programs or specific benefits a contribution will have (i.e. “This money will pay for 6 scholarships.”) \n\n**Acknowledge bidders and winners** Acknowledge and thank bidders promptly. Ensure that each winning bidder receives recognition, whether through applause or a moment in the spotlight.\n\n#### Use fun, competitive techniques like:\n\n* Golden Ticket Raffle: Sell a limited number of \"golden tickets\" for a set price.\nHold a drawing, and the winner gets to choose a high-value item or experience from a selection.\n\n* Mystery Boxes: Place various items or experiences in sealed boxes.\nParticipants bid on the mystery box without knowing its contents. It adds an element of surprise.\n\n* Dessert Dash: Have desserts or other treats on display. Participants bid on the dessert they want, and the highest bidders get to choose and enjoy their treat.\n\n**No live Auction is complete without a fund a need, or raise the paddle** \n\n* Fund-a-Need: Directly appeal to donors to contribute to a specific cause or project. Highlight a particular need or initiative and ask for donations at various levels.\n\n### Post-event\n\n#### Manage payment and item pickup\nStreamline the payment process for winning bids. Clearly communicate payment options, and organize a smooth process for item pickup or delivery.\n\n#### Express gratitude\nExpress gratitude to both winning bidders and sponsors who contributed to the success of the live auction. Send personalized thank-you messages.\n\n#### Report on funds raised\nShare the final results of the live auction, including the total funds raised and any specific achievements or milestones reached. Celebrate the success with your community.\n\n-----------------------\nRun a successful live auction event with Auctria\nWith auction event software like [Auctria,](https://www.auctria.com/next-step) nonprofits can save their teams time and stress, and make more impact in the process. \n\nOur team of trusted professionals helps handle all the details of running an auction so you can focus on what’s most important—like making the world a better place.\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1244},{"url":1245},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/18a320382c9d1f6783179f3e123d5484db96fcd8-600x320.png","2023-12-08T19:52:48.750Z",{"current":1248},"from-paddles-to-profits-a-guide-to-hosting-a-stellar-live-auction-event","From Paddles to Profits: A Guide to Hosting a Stellar Live Auction Event",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1251,"category":1252,"id":5,"image":1253,"publishOn":1256,"slug":1257,"teaser":1259,"title":1260},"As the fall season approaches, so do some of the most highly anticipated galas and fundraising events of the year.\n\nThe Auctria Team spoke with a few organizations and an event planner to bring you tips and tricks to prepare for your next fundraiser.\n\nWe hope you are looking forward to the event season as much as we are!\n\nTake advantage of Auctria's new features to help make this your best event yet!\n\n* QR Codes in [E-Tickets] (https://guide.auctria.com/redirect?id=PreviewETicket) & [Check-In](https://guide.auctria.com/auctria_admin_app/auctria_admin_how_to/scan_qrcode_via_paired_phone/)\n\n* [Items for Scheduled Events Calendar](https://guide.auctria.com/redirect?id=AddScheduledEvent)\n\n* [CC Readers and Swipers](https://guide.auctria.com/redirect?id=CreditCardReadersAndSwipers)\n\n#### FUNdraising for Community\nIn-person events always provide the opportunity for excitement and community. At their recent Spring Benefit, Almost Home, Inc learned just how engaging Games and Paddle Raises can be. Using technology to save time on administrative tasks, they could focus their energy on the event itself. [This article](https://www.auctria.com/blog/fundraising-for-community/) will give you a behind-the-scenes look at how Almost Home Inc. put together their most successful event to date and strengthened their donor relationships.\n\n#### Quilting for Community\nWhat could be better than raising money to support not only your membership but your community? Blue Valley Quilters Guild does exactly that with the funds they raise. Ibby Rollert and Lynn Droege shared [how they used Auctria to help them fulfill their mission](https://www.auctria.com/blog/quilting-for-community/). Running an online auction sounds easy, but what are all the things that made it a success?\n\n* Branded, easy to navigate website\n* An auction catalog that shows off the items\n* Maximum Bidding\n* Easily used/customizable donation opportunities\n\n\nStarting to plan your event? Working on your website? About to go live? Auctria [provides free resources](https://guide.auctria.com/references/) to help your event succeed! \n\n\nHear from the Experts:\n📋 \"Build a solid plan before the event season…Start by looking at previous years' data and creating a solid revenue plan for the event.\"\n*Julianne Read, Director of Fundraising and Events of Kilbreath Events\nTuesday Tips with Kilbreath Events*\n\n🔎 \"You must know your audience to have a truly successful event. Know your guests; have conversations with your top donors to know what auction items they are interested in bidding on.\"\n*Angela Rundles, Founder of Rundles & Associates\nTuesday Tips with Rundles & Associates*\n\n###### Ask Auctria!\n###### Q: Can a QR Code be used for checkin?\n**A: Yes**, you can scan QR Codes from the Participant check-in page.  See our [User Guide article](https://guide.auctria.com/redirect?id=HowTo_ScanAQRCodeViaPairedPhone) for more information. ",{"id":67,"title":68},{"asset":1254},{"url":1255},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/f7fb771af01162cfae6472f6a4c3716c3c243bf0-600x320.png","2023-09-08T21:10:00.000Z",{"current":1258},"auctria-updates-september-2023","As the fall season approaches, so do some of the most highly anticipated galas and fundraising events of the year.","Auctria Updates September 2023",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1262,"category":1263,"id":5,"image":1264,"publishOn":1267,"slug":1268,"teaser":1270,"title":1271},"Imagine this: Your [school’s PTA](https://99pledges.com/pta-fundraising-ideas/) has spent hours planning for your upcoming auction. They’ve worked with businesses to secure the [auction](https://www.auctria.com/blog/auction-types/) items and chosen software to help them run the event. But when it comes to promoting the auction, the team isn’t sure what to try beyond DIY flyers and posters.\n\nInstead of feeling limited to traditional marketing methods, your school can take advantage of the power of social media to reach more supporters. These platforms were designed to keep people connected and help them form new relationships, making it the perfect place to connect them with your school’s campaigns.\n\nIn this guide, we’ll explore why your school should promote its next campaign via social media and the steps you can take to get started. Let’s begin!\n\n## What are the benefits of using social media?\nIt’s easy to think of social media as just another trendy way to market your fundraisers, but these platforms are here to stay. Plus, there are many benefits associated with using social media that can have an impact on your school’s fundraising success.\n\nWhen you harness social media to promote your school fundraisers, you can see benefits such as:\n\n* **Increased reach.** Through social media, you can expand beyond your local area and gain the support of those who live far away or may not have otherwise interacted with your school. Growing your base of supporters not only boosts your revenue but can also prevent problems like donor fatigue.\n\n\n* **Saved resources.** Compared to traditional marketing platforms, social media tends to be more cost-effective. You’ll need time and creativity to make engaging posts that capture your audience’s attention and spread your message. While you may need graphic design or video editing tools for some social media platforms, keep in mind that your school could be eligible to access these resources for free or at a discounted rate.\n\n\n* **[Younger audience engagement.](https://99pledges.com/fundraising-ideas-for-kids/)** It can be challenging to engage tweens and teens in your fundraisers, especially if you are communicating via channels they view as outdated. Instead, try aligning with their communication preferences by creating a presence on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Even better, create content that aligns with popular trends for each platform, like short-form videos.\n\nWhile your school may tend to use the same fundraising and communication tactics each time you need to raise money, social media will help you put a fresh spin on your next campaign. And, [revamping your fundraisers](https://www.auctria.com/blog/4-tips-for-revamping-your-school-fundraising-for-2023/) can motivate parents, students, and members of the community to get involved and support your school.\n\n## What are some social media marketing best practices?\nLike other marketing platforms, there are some rules and strategies that social media marketing campaigns should follow for the best results. Here are some things you can do to amplify your social media campaign and make the most of each platform:\n\n### Use more than one platform.\n\nMany people have accounts on more than one social media platform, giving your school the opportunity to reach them in multiple ways. The more often potential supporters see messages from your school across various platforms, the more likely they are to remember your campaign and make a donation.\n\nWhen selecting which platforms to focus on, you should:\n\n**Study your audience.** Choose the platforms that your audience already uses to ensure that they see and interact with your messages. To understand which platforms they prefer, you can reference their engagement with past marketing campaigns or even send out surveys to previous donors asking how they found out about your campaign.\n\n\n**Take advantage of platforms with fundraising features.** [Platforms like Facebook often have features](https://gettingattention.org/facebook-challenges/) such as donate buttons to facilitate fundraising. Because these features will streamline the donation process and give supporters a more positive experience, this should be a factor you consider when choosing the platforms you’ll use.\n\n\n**Create a “common thread” between platforms.** Each platform should link back to your school’s website where supporters can learn more about the fundraiser and donate.[Morweb’s guide to school websites](https://morweb.org/post/school-website-builders) recommends optimizing your website for mobile devices, prioritizing accessibility, and embedding multimedia elements for best results.\n\n\n**Choose quality over quantity.** It can be easy to get swept up by the sheer number of social media platforms out there. Instead of feeling overwhelmed or pressured to join all of them, select two to three core platforms to prioritize. Then, hone your content’s quality so it’s the best it can be.\n\n\nWith the right blend of social media platforms, your school can not only connect with its most loyal base of existing supporters but also reach those who may be interested but have never supported you before.\n\n### 2. Align with the platform.\n\n\nEach platform has its own unique trends that you’ll need to follow in order to land in front of the right audience. Additionally, different platforms require different formatting for you to optimally convey your message.\n\nFor example, let’s say you select a superhero-themed walk-a-thon from [99Pledges’ school fundraising ideas list.](https://99pledges.com/school-fundraising-ideas/) You choose to promote the fundraiser on your school’s Twitter, Instagram, [Facebook,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/7-top-tips-for-promoting-your-auction-on-facebook-and-twitter/) and TikTok accounts. Here’s how you might post about the fundraiser on each platform:\n\n* **Twitter:** Post short, text-focused announcements and updates about the walk-a-thon. While you can include images and videos, people will likely check Twitter for things like tracking fundraising progress.\n* **Instagram:** This platform is focused on images more than text. Detail your fundraiser via digestible graphics, highlight behind-the-scenes photos of your team setting up for the walk, and post aesthetically pleasing updates to your stories.\n* **Facebook:** Facebook allows you to promote your walk-a-thon in a variety of ways. You can reuse graphics from Instagram as well as set up a donate button, create a fundraising page that shows the campaign’s progress, and make an event supporters can show interest in.\n* **TikTok:** This platform is all about video content. Take some time to scroll and find trending sounds or filters that are appropriate for your campaign, and find a way to weave details about your walk-a-thon into the trend. You can also cross-post these videos to other platforms, such as Instagram Reels.\n\nThese rules aren’t hard and fast, meaning that there is some wiggle room as to how you approach each one. For example, you might post videos on your Instagram and Facebook pages and create a slideshow of still images for TikTok. Try experimenting with different strategies until you find what resonates with your audience.\n\n### 3. Keep communications consistent.\n\nWhen posting across many different platforms, it’s crucial that your campaign feels cohesive—otherwise, your audience may be confused about the source of your messages and the campaign itself.\n\nTo keep your audience well-informed, these factors should remain consistent across all social media posts:\n\n* **Branding:** Use the same colors, fonts, logos, and imagery in all graphics so supporters instantly recognize your brand. \n* **Tone:** Select a tone for the campaign, such as serious or friendly, to infuse into each message.\n* **Central message or theme:** Your marketing campaign should have a primary theme that guides each message you create. Each post should represent or expand on this theme in some way. \n\n\nYour posts should also be published on a regular schedule to keep the fundraiser on supporters’ minds. Consider investing in a social media scheduling tool to make managing these posts easier.\n\n---------------\n\nSocial media can be used to promote almost any of your [school fundraisers,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/4-profitable-school-fundraisers-any-campus-can-host/) from auctions to walk-a-thons to product sales. With a robust, well-planned social media strategy, you’ll establish multiple touchpoints with existing supporters, reach more people who have a connection to your school, and seamlessly convert curious supporters into loyal donors.\n\n----------------------\nSpecial thanks to Brad Dowhaniuk for the expert advice. Brad is the co-founder of 99Pledges, which provides schools and teams with an easy-to-use, web-based fundraising solution to manage and drive success in Fun Runs, jog-a-thons, baseball hit-a-thons, and much more. \n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1265},{"url":1266},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/249be375ab86e889393d0761d6f7222ce44d3313-540x320.jpg","2023-12-08T15:56:14.486Z",{"current":1269},"how-to-harness-social-media-for-school-fundraising-success","Everyone knows that social media is a powerful marketing tool. Learn how your school can leverage this communication platform to reach more supporters.","How to Harness Social Media for School Fundraising Success",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1273,"category":1274,"id":5,"image":1275,"publishOn":1278,"slug":1279,"teaser":1281,"title":1282},"No arithmetic needed: the world of nonprofit fundraising has always been a veritable equation of heart, effort, and passion. Master the math of fundraising and you’ll discover that the numbers can add up to a whole lot more than just simple sums. One of the most exciting ways to boost your fundraising is by **selling multiples**—selling one item to multiple interested bidders in a live or silent auction. For this guide, we're going to explore selling multiples of a risk-free, premier **consignment travel package** as they are designed for exactly that. Imagine a world where your donors can escape the grind and enjoy a well-deserved getaway while contributing to your cause. Now that would mean a world of difference.\n\nLet’s unpack how to leverage these enticing travel experiences for maximum impact in order to ensure that your fundraising equation will be greater than the sum of its parts.\n\n## 1. Increase the Power of Multiples\nWhen forward-thinking fundraisers decide to multiply their efforts, it’s not just about selling one travel package. Selling multiples of a consignment travel package can exponentially increase your revenue if you choose the right package for your donor base. Why settle for just one happy donor when you can have any number of supporters enjoying that same dream vacation? Picture it: a room filled with enthusiastic bidders, each one wanting a piece of paradise and your organization ready and able to provide.\n\nBefore the event, you'll want to divide and conquer. A little calculus of collaboration between your team can pave the way to multiplying interest and it all starts with setting your equation and adding to the hype.\n\n#### 01. Set Your Equation\nCreating an irresistible consignment travel package starts with the right equation:\n\nDestination: Choose a fabulous, unique location that has global appeal for a general donor base or has niche appeal for your specific supporters. Like Pi, the possibilities are endless when it comes to AP's world-class experiences. \n\nDuration: Determine the length of the trip; 3 to 7 nights is ideal. Not too long, not too short—think of the Goldilocks principle.\n\nDetails: Involve additional perks like meals, excursions, or first-class air travel if at all possible. The more you offer, the bigger the draw!\n\n#### 02. Add to the Hype...Minus One Thing\nLike any good product, your consignment travel package needs to generate buzz leading up to the event. One way to do this is through promotional math—drum up excitement on social media plus newsletters by showcasing exclusive sneak peeks. Auction Packages provides Promotional Materials for exactly this reason! Promotional Materials are a full suite of professional media marketing for every package you reserve including 4K video, printable posters, social media, and more.\n\nHowever, it's important to note that while promoting your packages, we strongly advise that **you do not advertise that you will be selling multiples**. If donors know there are two available, there is no incentive for them to be the top bidder and their second place bid might be significantly lower. Additionally, we do not advise opening your auction with an item you intend to sell multiple times as you will lose the trust of the audience and subsequent items will be met with lower bids overall by bidders hoping to have their lower price win or be matched.\n\n## 2. Let Your Auctioneer Be the Difference\n\nSelling multiples during a live auction requires an auctioneer well-versed in reading the room, engaging in energy, and thinking on their feet.\n\nTime for a textbook example of how an experienced auctioneer equals the total package for your event.\n\nProblem: Greg is auctioning off a Mexico Caribbean Resort Collection travel package at his live auction. The bidding reaches $3,000 and it's come down to two bidders battling it out. Bidder A is willing to go to $3,500 but Bidder B indicates they’re about to drop out. Greg realizes that his organization is about to lose out on the $3,000 donation that Bidder B was willing to pay for the trip. What should Greg do?\n\nSolution: Greg can authorize the auctioneer to sell the travel package multiple times! Rather than having a single winner and netting just one $3,500 bid, the nonprofit can have two winners and rake in either $6,500 or $6,000 depending on the auctioneer's preferred strategy for selling multiples.\n\nBut what are these preferred strategies? Generally, there are two approaches that professional auctioneers find success with:\n\n#### 01. Meeting the Second Bidder's Price\nDuring the auction, the auctioneer will encourage increased bidding for consignment travel packages and will announce the winning bid. Following this, they may present an opportunity to lower the price to match what the second-highest bidder was willing to pay, but only if the second bidder agrees to buy the package as well.\n\n#### 02. Matching the Top Bidder's Best\nIf the energy of the room is right, the auctioneer may attempt to persuade the second highest bidder to match the top bid. With the cheers of the crowd behind them, the second-highest bidder may feel more moved to agree—especially if the auctioneer points out that it will double the donation to their organization.\n\n## 3. Nail Silent Auction Addition\nIf you're holding a silent auction, there's a way to sell multiples that you're likely already using: The Buy-it-Now option on your silent auction bid sheets. The Buy-it-Now allows multiple donors to bid on the same item, which is perfect when you're offering consignment travel packages.\n\nAsk your Auction Packages Fundraising Specialist to suggest a Buy-it-Now price for any package you intend to sell multiples of and they can help you account for the bid differentiation between live auction atmospheres and silent auction strategies.\n\n## 4. The Formula for a Fantastic Follow-up\nAs your event unfolds, be sure to keep track of all attendees who show interest in the highlighted trips and motivate your auction monitors to do the same. After the event concludes, follow up with those guests to extend the opportunity to purchase the trip at the final bid amount. It's possible that some bidders who withdrew during the competitive bidding may reconsider or seize a second chance to acquire the trip if it is presented to them once more.\n\n## The Bottom Line\nBy now, you’re well aware that the potential benefits of selling multiple consignment travel packages at nonprofit fundraisers are vast and varied. The strategy of creating a buzz, engaging your bidders, presenting persuasive pricing, and intertwining fun and impact can yield exponential results. So go ahead—multiply your efforts, incorporate all the adjectives and puns you can muster, and watch your revenue reach new heights.\n\nA well-planned fundraiser is more than just a numbers game but hopefully, this guide on selling multiples will add up to something more for you and your cause.\n\n\nSpecial thanks to Auction Packages for the expert advice in this article. \n\nAuction Packages are a leading provider of consignment packages to charities for their auctions. Their packages are risk free with a simple process and comprehensive service.",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1276},{"url":1277},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/5d6ad956cfac4e8287bff52810ca3d79d90e156f-2240x1260.webp","2025-03-03T21:00:00.000Z",{"current":1280},"multiplying-success-how-to-sell-multiples-in-nonprofit-fundraising","One of the most exciting ways to boost your fundraising is by selling multiples — selling one item to multiple interested bidders in a live or silent auction. For this guide, we're going to explore selling multiples of a risk-free items. ","Multiplying Success: How to Sell Multiples in Nonprofit Fundraising",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1284,"category":1285,"id":5,"image":1286,"publishOn":1289,"slug":1290,"teaser":1292,"title":1293},"Auction fundraising events are supposed to be fun and social events. COVID-19 is casting a dark shadow on large gatherings but the fundraiser can still go on, though it may take a different form. Whether you are converting your auction fundraiser to an online auction or needing to refund registrants Auctria is by your side to help navigate the change. \n\n_We recognize what a difficult time this is for our Auctria community.  We are available to come alongside you to help transition your event to the Online platform._\n\n## Convert In-Person to Online Fundraiser\nWe know it has taken many hours of dedicated effort to put together an in-person fundraising event. Don’t let it go to waste! Convert, don’t cancel. Think outside the box, or rather inside the box this time. \n\n**Advantages of going online:**\nThere are many considerations when considering how to run your fundraiser.  But if the in-person event option is not possible for now, then an online auction has many benefits:\n * It opens the bidder pool to a much wider audience. \n * Bidding can happen over a longer period, allowing bidders to engage when they have opportunity\n * Online bidding specific features like proxy bidding and anti-sniping make it easier to maximize the funds raised for your cause\n * Bidders receive active notifications of being outbid so can ensure items don’t get away on them\n * You can promote specific items during the event to drive involvement\n * You can solicit donations online for specific projects with up to date information on how you are tracking to your goals.\n\n### Converting to an Online Fundraiser\nThere are just a few adjustments that need to be made to convert a silent or live auction in Auctria into an online offering.  \n\nThe mechanics of running an online auction fundraiser are in many ways easier than an in-person event since the system does most of the work for you:\n * Bidders can register online themselves\n * Bidders record their own bids and donations\n * Auctria will close items at the end of the event and notify winning bidders.\n * Bidders can pay online\n\nSome areas that may need to be handled differently. For example, the logistics of distributing items: are they available for pick-up or will be mailed.\n\nAdditional online features within Auctria can boost the income: proxy bidding, anti-sniping & mobile should be employed. \n\n#### Proxy Bidding\n**Proxy bidding accelerates** the bidding so more bids go higher, faster. The greater the number of bids, the higher the auction fundraiser proceeds.  In a standard auction after each bid is placed the outbid bidder does receive a notification but then NEEDS to do something to then be back on top. \n\n**Why offer proxy bidding?**\nProxy bidding allows bidders to set the highest price they are willing to pay for an auction item without having to “baby-sit” their bidding. When offering proxy bidding auction fundraising administrators have found that auction items do go for higher prices.\n\n#### Anti-Sniping\n**Anti-Sniping extends the active bidding** past closing time. Have you ever been running an auction and as the bidding is closing there is a surge in activity? The winner is the one that got that very last bid in at the instant before the auction closes. The winning bidder is super happy but how much higher could the bids have gone? \n\n**Why offer anti-sniping?**\nPrevent bid sniping by last-minute bids outbidding people before they have a chance to react. Any bid placed within the trigger window will cause the closing time to be extended by the amount of the extension period. This helps bids reach their full potential. \n\n#### Mobile Bidding\nAuctria’s mobile bidding application is available for Android and Apple devices. \n\nMobile bidding allows bidders to view the catalog from their personal device via an app optimized for the experience. \n\nIt makes it really easy to view the auction catalog by category, and place bids.  The quicker a bidder can find the items they want to bid on the faster the auction income can rise. \n\nMobile bidders receive instant outbid notifications with a quick click to re-bid option.  The quicker a bidder realizes they have been outbid the sooner they can rebid. Faster bidding means fundraising soars.\n\n\n### Promoting an Online Event\nGoing online opens up other avenues you can use to communicate with your supporters.\n\n#### Add Video\nYour dedicated auction website can include a video. Tape a short but sincere message to be seen by all your donors, sponsors and bidders. Post it front and center on the homepage of the auction website.\n\n#### Leverage Social Media\nEnsure your online event is shared everywhere you have an online presence: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.\n\n### Communication\n**Communicate with all stakeholders:** donors, sponsors, volunteers. Communication is key.\n\nUse the dedicated auction website to post a video message about the status of the auction fundraiser. If you are converting to an online auction clearly state the dates and next steps. \n\n\n**Ask sponsors to remain as sponsors** for the online event. Offer to give them some extra attention on the online website and/or auction emails & notifications. \n\nInclude a special Sponsor Page or customize the emails with links or messages about your sponsors, Make it worth their while to continue the support. To really sweeten the deal offer an extended appreciation at your next event or throughout the year. Here is an entire webinar devoted to helping you [win the sponsorship race.](https://www.auctria.com/webinar/winning-the-event-sponsorship-race-featuring-aj-steinberg-queen-bee-fundraising/) \n\n### Ticket Refunds\nFirst, try to encourage participants to donate the ticket proceeds. Or, offer the opportunity to roll the ticket over to a future event if practical.\n\n**Some refunds may be inevitable.** Don’t worry, it’s not difficult with Auctria to do either a partial or full refund. \n\nRegarding fees: we will always fully refund our credit card fee when a refund is issued via Auctria.  We can’t detect if the refund is issued directly from the payment processor’s dashboard. \n\n_Please contact your payment processor directly to discuss the fee returns on their part._\n\nIt is our goal to make getting through the COVID-19 with your fundraiser intact! Let us help you continue YOUR  good work!\n\n### Next Steps\nWe have a collection of resources, how-to guides and videos available at [guide.auctria.com/COVID-19/](https://guide.auctria.com/COVID-19/) that will help guide you through the process.\n\n[\u003Cimg src=\"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/c6336964d2fb6ac1bed333169c4abe002cf8a608-364x77.png\" />](https://guide.auctria.com/COVID-19/)\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1287},{"url":1288},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/1a43033a27e1063fccebee532368676c8c5e559a-600x320.png","2020-03-12T21:12:32.910Z",{"current":1291},"your-auction-fundraiser-in-the-shadow-of-covid-19","We recognize what a difficult time this is for our Auctria community.  We are available to come alongside you to help transition your event to the Online platform.  ","Your Auction Fundraiser in the Shadow of COVID-19",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1295,"category":1296,"id":5,"image":1297,"publishOn":1300,"slug":1301,"teaser":1303,"title":1304},"Contactless fundraising only means touchless, it doesn’t dampen the fun though! When utilizing Auctria contactless features let the bidder, donor, supporter make meaningful donations with ease and peace of mind with health, welfare, and safety as the first priority. \n\n## Soliciting and Submitting Donations\nSeeking auction item donations typically involves knocking on doors, handing out letters, and ramping up the texts and phone calls to those in the network of the charity at large as well as individuals. Most times it takes a few visits to connect with the decision-maker. \n\nUse a pre-built element form and let donors provide information for a donation directly on the website. The administrator will get an email notification when the form has been completed. You will need to review the auction item and complete the details such as images, starting bid then approve the item. You can add your solicitation letter to your website as well using our PDF Document Uploader. \n\nSolicit for auction items directly from your event website. Local service providers use this to make a donation and follow up with an e gift-certificate. And even if it’s a product a donor can complete the form to notify the auction team that a donation is waiting for pick-up. This works really well for schools where teachers and staff donate their time for parties or activities. Pair this with the donation request letter on the page for a complete self-serve procurement.\n\n## Soliciting and Purchasing Sponsorships\n\nGo contactless for processing sponsorships directly from your event fundraiser website. Market for sponsorships on the event website and provide for the purchase in the same location. Sponsors can make a purchase 24/7 when it is convenient for them. When they purchase the sponsorship and you have a sponsor catalog or row on the website that will dynamically be updated as well. \n\nIf you already accept sponsors outside of Auctria -  still consider advertising the sponsorship opportunities on your Auctria website.  It adds ‘authority’ and purpose to the event. If you already accept sponsors but are offline still consider utilizing Auctria. Advertising the sponsorship opportunities on the website adds ‘authority’ and purpose to the event. Track the sales on Auctria and then you can show when sponsorships are selling out. Nothing motivates people to make a purchase like seeing another sponsor there. Create FOMO, Fear of Missing Out, it’s true sponsors-beget-sponsors. Make your next event a sold-out one for sponsorships. \n\nMany sponsors include admission tickets, if that is your case you will want to make the Sponsorship a ticket, instead of a for-sale item. \n\n\n## Bidding on Auction Items\nOnline auctions are the simplest way to go contactless. If you are at a venue the online auction can run as it would if were only online but with a few or all the items on display. Instead of having a silent auction bid sheet next to the item print just the Display Page with a QR code. The bidder can either search for the item in the catalog or scan the QR code and land directly on the exact item bidding page. The faster bidders can make a bid the better. The more bids that come in the higher they soar. \n\n## Bidder Access \nContactless check-in and bidding with pre-registration and access codes. At an in-person event, the check-in table tends to be an area of high contact. \n\nEliminate check-in altogether. When setting up the event, allow for supporters to add a credit card to their bidder record. The Bidder Registration/Purchase Receipt email is sent as part of the Bidder Registration/Checkout and provides a link to confirm their email address. Once that is complete there is no need on the Auctria side to interact with the bidder for bidding or checkout purposes. \n\nIf an attendee shows up at the door and cannot find their registration email that’s ok. As an admin you can resend the access code via text and email. \n\n## Text 2 Register, Donate, Bid, Buy, Pay\nTexting can be used for bidder registration, receiving outbid notices, donations, payments, purchase for-sale items, and also as a final payment. \n\nDuring the event, fundraiser texting is a superhighway to get in the action fast! \n\nTexting set-up features & options:\n* Allow bidders to register by text message\n* Allow bidder to receive outbid notifications\n* Supporters can make purchases via text for any for-sale items\n\n## Mobile Application\nAuctria’s mobile app is another way for bidders to remain contactless. The mobile app is available for Apple and Android devices. Using the mobile app provides for fast bidding. Phone pop-ups for outbid notifications are quite effective in getting people to rebid. \n\n## Payments and Collections\nThe end of the event fundraiser is another part that can go (almost) contactless. If the bidding was completely online or mobile the final bids are automatically recorded at the time specified in the online bidding period. The bidder will automatically receive a final bid notification. If enabled for credit cards there will be a payment link. The bidder can click the link and settle up their account.\n\nThe only thing left to do is give the bidder their won items. \n\nBidder payment links can be triggered from the administrator via email or text as well. Again, each will contain a payment link. Bidders can use the card on file or add their contact details and credit card information if it is not on file.\n\n## Contactless Means Safety\nWhen you are planning to use these contactless features, share this information. Pair this with your other safety parameters to encourage participants to attend. \n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1298},{"url":1299},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/96993718a6fef90990389cd176d4391cc2b0b8e0-600x320.jpg","2021-10-12T16:00:00.000Z",{"current":1302},"contactless-event-fundraising","Supporters can make meaningful donations with ease and peace of mind with health, welfare, and safety as the first priority. ","Contactless Event Fundraising",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1306,"category":1307,"id":5,"image":1308,"publishOn":1311,"slug":1312,"teaser":1314,"title":1315},"What could be better than raising money to support not only your membership, but your community? Blue Valley Quilters Guild does exactly that with the funds they raise. Ibby Rollert, Executive Director, and Lynn Droege, Community Outreach Committee Head shared how they used Auctria to help them fulfill their mission. Running an online auction sounds easy, but what are all the things that made it a success?\n\n- Branded, easy to navigate website\n- An auction catalog that shows off the items\n- Maximum Bidding\n- Easily used/customizable donation opportunities\n\n## Brand Your Website \nRaise money and awareness on your event website! Blue Valley Quilters Guild’s “Quilted Auction” used their organization’s branding throughout their website to let their bidders know they were on the right website. They used Theme Color options to easily integrate their colors and ensure consistency throughout their event website. Beyond the colors it was easy to add their logo and make sure to stay true to who Blue Valley Quilters Guild is. \n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/7cad59ae7418b78fc4b1abcdd18344ef5944e2fc-1300x890.png)\n\n## Showcase Your Items with an Auction Catalog\nFor their first online only event, Blue Valley Quilters decided to have an online auction and a raffle. They used high-resolution vibrant images and detailed descriptions along with a ‘quick bid’ button to attract bidders and make it easy to bid on the items they wanted. These high quality, hand-made quilts brought in more than 180 bidders, driving the competition to win one of these unique pieces.\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/6468327826587281712153a329c1d38df32b8c9a-375x500.jpg)\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/ed8b66e68ddc61d07cf15e789dbb32e21caa419b-382x500.jpg)\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/cc37f0fb0fccf1aecbfe054370a3315189709b7b-500x234.jpg)\n\n## Know Your Audience\nKnowing who was participating in their event was a key factor in the success of their event. While the quilts were a focus, their auction included so much more! They had toys for children which gave parents and grandparents something else to bid on. They also had items that appealed to their base audience like a portable quilting table which kept everyone engaged. Having items that appeal to a diverse range of people allowed them to draw in more people and raise more than if they had kept it as a quilt only auction.\n\n## Make Bidding Easy!\nTurning on Maximum bidding allowed their bidders to set a maximum they were willing to bid up to on an item. Then, they could sit back and let the platform place proxy bids on their behalf. This took the pressure off the bidders to monitor the auction 24/7; for the organization, it also helped drive bids up faster.\n\n## No Pressure Donations!\nThey were able to raise 6.5% of their total event income by using passive donation requests. They had donation elements on their homepage, a donate page, and as a part of checkout. Using the donation elements allowed Blue Valley Quilters Guild to ask for donations in a way that did not pressure their bidders and allowed people to donate what they could. \n\n## Planning Ahead\nBlue Valley Quilters Guild’s next event will be an opportunity drawing, in the spring. This gives people time to take a breath after the holiday season and get excited about a new event. Next fall, they will have another online auction. Timing their events appropriately allows their bidders not to be distracted with the end of summer and back-to-school activities and to focus on the fall auction. With the expansive Auctria offerings, who knows what will come next! The only thing we can guarantee is that with their continued successes they will be supporting groups like [Habitat for Humanity,](https://habitatkc.org/) and a [Veteran’s Tiny Home Community](https://www.veteranscommunityproject.org/) as well as supporting their membership with workshops and other educational opportunities!\n\n-------------\n\nSpecial thanks to Ibby Rollert and Lynn Droege at Blue Valley Quilters Guild for sharing their auction and event fundraising story. \n\nSince their inception in 1981, after the reorganization of an existing guild, they have grown from 21 founding members to over 260 members today making them one of the largest quilters guilds in the Kansas City area. Together they have supported numerous other groups either directly, with products they have made, or financially by donating the funds they have raised by either auctioning or selling their products. To learn more visit [www.bvqg.org/](https://www.bvqg.org/)\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":1309},{"url":1310},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/6fb7c0ede9b006c11e3145f8ce25eaba098374c9-600x320.png","2023-08-08T15:59:09.043Z",{"current":1313},"quilting-for-community","Blue Valley Quilters Guild’s “Quilted Auction” used their organization’s branding throughout their website to let their bidders know they were on the right website.","Quilting for Community",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1317,"category":1318,"id":5,"image":1319,"publishOn":1322,"slug":1323,"teaser":1325,"title":1326},"# SEO: The Auctioneer’s Most Valuable Online Marketing Tool\n\nPromoting an online auction involves all the tools and tactics that digital marketers use for all of their internet marketing: social media, email marketing, website management, blogs and content management, and of course search engine optimization (SEO). If you are promoting an online auction, you need to ensure that your marketing materials are optimized to rank as high as possible on search pages. \n\n## How Does SEO Drive Results For Auctioneers?\n\nThe internet is ridiculously huge - there are millions of active web pages and billions of inactive ones. Only a small fraction of those pages are visible to Google, and only a small number of those appear on the first page of search results. How do you get your pages into those top results? SEO is a marketing strategy that aims to make your website and pages rank as high as possible in search engine results pages (SERPs). When auctioneers opt to use SEO tactics, they will push their websites up in the rankings, sending more traffic to their sites, and thus, more bidders. Tactics used in SEO strategies include internal linking, content creation and optimization, keyword research, page speed optimization, and more. The higher your SERP rankings, the more exposure and website visits you are likely to get from qualified bidders. \n\n## SEO Generates Quality Traffic and Builds Trust\n\nSEO works for auctions for much the same reasons as it does for other forms of online sales. It builds a steady, sustainable flow of quality traffic to your website, including qualified bidders. Your goal is to attract as many of these as possible. With good SEO, your online visibility grows, enabling more bidders to find you more easily. It may take a bit of time for your website to move up the rankings, but once they get there, it is relatively easy to keep them there with a focused strategy. \n\nSEO can also help you increase your social media following, and newsletter subscribers, meaning that it increases the efficacy of your marketing tactics across the board. An increase in followers and bidders makes your business appear much more legitimate on the web, and builds trust for new visitors.\n\n## Content Writing & Blog Management\n\nPerhaps the most important part of effective SEO is the creation and management of good content across all your web pages, including well-written and informative blogs. Aside from offering readers valuable information, your blogs and other content should contain relatively high densities of keywords to ensure that they rank in Google searches for those keywords. All content strategies, therefore, begin with keyword research, making SEO the foundation of online marketing content writing.\n\n[Auctria](https://www.auctria.com/) provides efficient and affordable tools to help nonprofits and other organizations [run successful nonprofit auctions](https://www.auctria.com/mega-auction-guide/). For more information on how to run a nonprofit fundraising event, including how to use SEO and other tactics to market your online auction, [contact Auctria today](https://www.auctria.com/contact/)!",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1320},{"url":1321},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/bc245344d66169f47c0488c80f69203c7a25bcf3-600x320.jpg","2022-04-03T22:00:00.000Z",{"current":1324},"seo-the-online-auctioneers-most-valuable-tool","SEO is a highly effective marketing tool that auctioneers can use to increase their online visibility and generate more sales leads. Learn more here.","SEO: The Online Auctioneer’s Most Valuable Tool",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1328,"category":1329,"id":5,"image":1330,"publishOn":1333,"slug":1334,"teaser":1336,"title":1337},"As a leader of a small nonprofit, you might think the odds are stacked against you when it comes to finding donors. After all, outreach and fundraising take time and resources. In many cases, your size is actually your superpower. It allows you to authentically showcase your cause and connect on a more individual level with supporters in ways larger organizations can’t.\n\nThat kind of personal connection is your edge. When paired with the right digital strategies and technology, it becomes a powerful fundraising force. All you need is a focused approach that plays to your strengths and meets supporters where they are. Whether that means optimizing your website or hosting an online [fundraising auction](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-does-a-nonprofit-silent-auction-work-3-tips-for-success/) that sparks generosity, the result will be a sustainable pipeline of donors built on trust and engagement.\n\nLet’s explore four [digital fundraising strategies](https://cornershopcreative.com/blog/digital-fundraising/) that small nonprofits can use to turn everyday interactions into lasting support. We’ll start with the foundation of it all: your website.\n\n## Optimize Your Website for Donations\n\nImagine 89% of your website visitors clicking away before donating. The [average donation page completion rate](https://mrbenchmarks.com/) hovers around just 11%, meaning that only 11 out of every 100 visitors wind up donating. **Here’s the upside: even small improvements to your website can unlock big results without straining your time or budget.**\n\nYour website is your digital front door, so it’s up to your nonprofit to make it easy for supporters to walk through and give:\n\n* **Make donating effortless**. Streamline your donation process so supporters can give in just a few clicks. Remove unnecessary fields and distractions, such as pop-ups or excessive images, on your donation page. Your fundraising tools should allow you to create custom fields that simplify giving while still capturing essential donor information.\n* **Design with accessibility in mind**. Every donor should have a smooth experience. Ensure your site is readable, mobile-friendly, and usable with assistive technology. \n* **Use bold, specific calls to action (CTAs).** Instead of “Submit” or “Support Us,” try language like “Give $25 to Feed a Family.”\n* **Place donation buttons where people will see them.** Include clear donation buttons on your homepage, navigation menu, and high-traffic pages (like event pages or program/service pages). \n\n[Cornershop Creative’s nonprofit content management system (CMS) guide](https://cornershopcreative.com/blog/nonprofit-cms/) explains that your entire team should be able to edit your site, tech-savvy or not. Check that your CMS offers templates, empowering you to create professional and consistently designed pages. This way, website visitors will feel confident they’re still interacting with your organization when they’re moved by your homepage or inspired by a story on your blog and land on a donation form that looks similar.\n\nYour CMS should also comply with security regulations, such as PCI compliance standards and HTTPS encryption, to protect sensitive donor information and earn supporter trust.\n\n## Encourage Recurring Giving\nMonthly giving comprises [31% of all online revenue](https://mrbenchmarks.com/) for nonprofits, and it’s no surprise why! When donors sign up to give on a regular basis (such as every month), they demonstrate that they believe in your mission. \n\nLuckily for your team, these donors also require less active solicitation. In many cases, all you have to do is ask for these gifts! By featuring recurring giving in your outreach, you can turn one-time donors into long-term champions. \n\nHere are some easy ways to create an engaging [monthly giving program:](https://www.meyerpartners.com/fundraising-blog/monthly-giving)\n\n* **Feature recurring giving across your website**. Include a clear “Make this a monthly gift” checkbox on your donation form and individual fundraising campaign forms. Highlight monthly giving on your “Ways to Give” page, post impact stories about recurring donors on your blog, or even create a dedicated page about your program.\n* **Make it easy for donors to manage their gifts.** Use a donation platform that allows users to pause, adjust, or cancel their gifts with minimal hassle. Transparency builds trust. Additionally, a self-service portal means your development team won’t have to make constant updates for donors.\n* **Thank your monthly donors.** This might mean a simple thank-you email, routine updates on a specific program they support, or even a mention on your [donor wall](https://www.omnially.com/blog/donor-wall-guide). When someone signs up for your program, ask them how they’d like to be appreciated and stay connected, so you can thank them in a way that resonates.\n\nRecurring gifts add up over time! In fact, [CharityEngine’s roundup of recurring giving statistics](https://blog.charityengine.net/recurring-giving-statistics) suggests that the average monthly gift totals $173 more than the average one-time gift. Prioritizing your recurring giving strategy will do more than increase revenue. It’ll build a base of supporters who provide you with reliable income and step up to the plate every single month.\n\n## Host Online Fundraising Auctions\n\nOnline auctions are a smart way to bring donors together, especially for small nonprofits looking to maximize impact with minimal overhead. They provide an exciting, interactive experience that generates buzz around your mission.\n\nHere’s how to host a digital auction that gets donors talking:\n\n* **Choose attractive items.** Make sure you have a mix of [enticing auction items](https://www.auctria.com/blog/the-hottest-auction-trends-for-2025-2026-from-spa-days-to-safari/) to make your auction a can’t-miss event. Curate donated goods, services, and experiences that fit a range of budgets.\n* **Use the right auction platform.** Power your event with a user-friendly auction platform that offers secure payment processing, mobile bidding tools, and integrated marketing capabilities.\n* **Promote your auction proactively.** [Market the event](https://www.auctria.com/blog/winning-strategies-for-marketing-online-nonprofit-events/) through email, social media, and your website. Be sure to highlight key items to spark excitement.\n* **Engage donors throughout the event**. Consider hosting a live stream where you share updates on high bids and encourage attendees to keep participating.\n\nDigital auctions are an immersive way to unite supporters, raise meaningful funds, and spread awareness of your mission. Share fundraising totals and highlights after your event to leave participants inspired and eager to join again in the future.\n\n## Sell Digital Greeting Cards\n\nDigital greeting cards (or eCards) are a simple, impactful, and affordable way to raise funds. They give donors something in return for their generosity and offer your nonprofit a flexible source of funding that can support your work where it’s needed most.\n\nWhether it’s for birthdays, holidays, memorial gifts, or a cause awareness day, eCards let supporters share your cause with others in exchange for a donation. For example, a food bank might offer eCards for World Hunger Day, a mental health organization could create cards for Mental Health Awareness Month, and an animal rescue might design cards for National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day. **These timely, cause-driven cards give supporters an easy way to honor the day and introduce your mission to friends and family.**\n\nIf this sounds like a good fit, here’s how this [digital fundraising strategy works](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-to-improve-your-fundraising-strategy-a-mini-guide/):\n\n\n* **Design your cards.** Depending on your eCard platform, you might upload your own designs or use built-in tools to create your cards. Keep your cause front and center through imagery, colors, or simply by adding your logo in the corner.\n* **Publish the cards.** Most platforms allow you to embed the card gallery directly on your nonprofit website or host it on a custom landing page. Make the link easy to find by placing it in your main menu, homepage banner, or seasonal landing pages.\n* **Sell your eCards or encourage custom donations.** You might set a fixed donation amount per card (e.g., $5 or $10), or you can let donors choose their own amount. Either way, make sure your platform offers secure payment processing with trusted tools like PayPal or Stripe.\n* **Supporters buy your eCards.** Once they choose a card, donors can add a personalized message and schedule their card to be delivered. The result is a meaningful gift for the recipient and a new potential supporter introduced to your mission.\n\nDigital cards turn everyday moments into opportunities for giving. They’re a creative, low-lift way to raise funds, raise awareness, and let your supporters feel more connected to your cause—all while spreading some joy!\n\n## Final Thoughts\n\nSmall nonprofits like yours are challenged to do more with less. Luckily, you have something powerful on your side: your authenticity and heart. When those values come through online, they inspire people to give. \n\nDigital fundraising doesn’t have to be complex or all-consuming. It’s about choosing what fits your capacity and using it to make your mission shine. By blending immersive experiences, like auctions, with other online strategies, you’ll connect with donors in creative ways. With creativity, focus, and some strong fundraising ideas, you can build real momentum online and grow support for your work.\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1331},{"url":1332},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/82c79e65f4507aa35935d702be630ade1a374784-600x320.jpg","2025-10-03T17:00:27.036Z",{"current":1335},"4-digital-fundraising-strategies-for-small-nonprofits"," Running a small nonprofit has its challenges, but online fundraising doesn’t have to be one of them. Try these practical digital fundraising strategies.","4 Digital Fundraising Strategies for Small Nonprofits",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1339,"category":1340,"id":5,"image":1341,"publishOn":1344,"slug":1345,"teaser":1347,"title":1348},"When developing a [donor engagement strategy](https://www.auctria.com/blog/4-key-strategies-for-nonprofits-to-keep-supporters-engaged/) for your nonprofit, personalization should be top of mind. Supporters will only want to stay involved with your organization long-term if they get the sense that you appreciate and value them. However, it’s easy for nonprofits to fall into the trap of bombarding their donors with one generic fundraising ask after another, making them feel more like ATMs with legs than members of your organization’s community.\n\nPersonalizing your fundraising efforts for each supporter takes more time, energy, and thought, but the benefits of stronger donor relationships and higher retention rates make it worthwhile. Plus, there are a variety of tools available that can streamline this process—particularly those powered by artificial intelligence (AI).\n\nIn this guide, we’ll provide an overview of the role AI plays in [nonprofit fundraising](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-to-improve-your-fundraising-strategy-a-mini-guide/) and discuss how to leverage AI tools specifically for personalization. Let’s get started!\n\n## A Quick Overview of AI Fundraising\n\nAccording to DonorSearch's guide to AI for nonprofits, AI is “the ability of a machine (like a computer) to ‘think' like a human and perform tasks like recognizing patterns, processing information, drawing conclusions, and making recommendations.” AI fundraising, therefore, refers to the specific ways in which nonprofits leverage tools with these abilities to engage donors and bring in revenue to fund their missions.\n\nLeveraging AI can improve your fundraising work in several ways, including:\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/55673b1edc2e1be87de7ff524560c3e256e7ea46-625x375.jpg)\n* **Saving time and money** by streamlining various everyday processes.\n* **Automating mundane** tasks so you can focus on more important work.\n* **Measuring your organization’s impact** to inform upcoming goals and strategies.\n* **Providing accurate and actionable insights** into your campaign progress.\n* **Leveling up your marketing efforts** with high-quality, tailored promotional materials.\n* **Tapping into exciting new donation methods** such as personalized giving pages and dynamic email solicitations.\n* **Personalizing the supporter experience** by helping you learn about your supporters and incorporate their values and interests into your relationship-building efforts.\n\nThere are two main types of AI solutions your nonprofit might use: generative and predictive. **Generative AI tools** develop written or visual content based on users’ prompts. ChatGPT is probably the best known generative AI tool, although there are many others, such as DALL-E (which generates images) and Synthesia (which is useful for video production). \n\nMeanwhile, **predictive AI tools** process and analyze data to generate projections and suggestions for future action. Examples of these tools include Tableau (which organizes numerical data into visualized formats) and DonorSearch Ai (which analyzes donor data to make recommendations about which current and prospective supporters to prioritize in your outreach).\n\n## 3 Ways to Personalize Your Fundraising with AI\n\nNow that you know what AI tools are and how your nonprofit can benefit from using them, let’s dive into three ways you can leverage AI for fundraising personalization.\n\n### 1. Conduct Prospect Research\n\n[Prospect research is the process](https://www.donorsearch.net/prospect-research-ultimate-guide/) of using data to identify potential high-impact donors for your organization. By using [wealth and philanthropic screening technique](https://www.donorsearch.net/wealth-and-philanthropic-screening/)s to conduct mass research or evaluate batches of prospects, you can discover which donors have both the capacity to contribute a significant gift to your organization and an affinity for your mission that would make them willing to do so.\n\nTo gain a holistic understanding of your prospects, your nonprofit’s team will likely leverage several tools, such as:\n\n\n* Your organization’s constituent relationship management (CRM) system\n* SEC investment records\n* FEC political contribution information\n* Third-party prospect research databases\n\nOnce you’ve found preliminary information through these resources, an AI solution can further enrich your understanding of your prospects through a process known as predictive modeling. This involves using machine learning to sift through your data and prioritize your highest-value prospects so you know who to start building a relationship with and eventually request a donation from based on the prospect’s unique interests and financial situation.\n\n### 2. Segment Your Supporters\n\nPredictive AI tools can also help you access insights into your entire supporter base by aiding in the process of [donor segmentation](https://www.auctria.com/blog/what-is-donor-segmentation-and-why-is-it-important/). Segmentation involves grouping your supporters based on shared characteristics with the goal of more targeted outreach that leads to longer-term donor relationships.\n\nWith the help of your AI solution’s analytics capabilities, [NXUnite’s donor retention guide](https://nxunite.com/donor-retention/) recommends segmenting your supporters based on the following characteristics:\n\n* **Giving history**, such as their average gift amount and frequency of giving.\n* **Other forms of past engagement** like volunteering or attending events.\n* **Interests and values** related to your mission and fundraising activities.\n* **Communication preferences,** including both the communication method and timing of messages.\n\nWhen you know this information about your supporters, you can reach out to each segment separately with requests they’ll be receptive to. Also, just like with prospect research, your AI tool can help you decide which segments to prioritize for each of your campaigns.\n\n### 3. Create Targeted Communications\n\nOnce you’ve used predictive AI solutions to figure out who your top prospects and supporters are, leverage generative AI tools to tailor your communications to each group. AI can help with brainstorming and developing the reusable elements of your communications, allowing you to focus on improving the personalized aspects of each message.\n\nFor example, you can use generative AI tools to come up with:\n\n* **Email subject lines.** To find the best subject lines for an [email marketing campaign](https://www.auctria.com/blog/email-marketing-campaigns-for-nonprofits-dos-and-don-ts/), A/B testing can help you see which of two subject lines prompts the most people to open the message. An AI tool can not only generate a variety of options for you to test but also use language that appeals to a particular donor segment. You can also set up an automated system that inserts the donor’s name into the subject line to make them even more likely to read the email.\n* **Text message series.** For donors who prefer to communicate via text message, AI can give you ideas for follow-up cadences, message content, and places to incorporate the supporter’s name and engagement history into the message. Many SMS providers limit texts to 160 characters, so double-check that the responses your AI tool generates are within that limit.\n* **Direct mail copy.** Generative AI can even create entire [fundraising letter templates](https://www.fundraisingletters.org/the-basics/) tailored to each of your nonprofit’s campaigns. You can then modify these templates to align with your organization’s preferred tone of voice and include space to write in the donor’s name and other personal information. The backbone of the copy will be ready to go, so all you need to do is add a personal touch to each letter.\n\nAdditionally, consider adding an AI chatbot to [your nonprofit’s website](https://www.auctria.com/blog/nonprofit-websites-5-ways-to-make-the-most-of-yours/). Websites are inherently mass marketing tools, so you can’t really personalize the content for each visitor. However, a chatbot can at least help personalize the user experience by answering specific questions and directing visitors to the pages they want to see.\n\nBefore incorporating AI solutions into your fundraising efforts, your nonprofit needs to commit to [using AI responsibly](https://www.donorsearch.net/resources/responsible-ai/). Especially when leveraging AI for personalization, you’ll work with a lot of potentially sensitive information about current and prospective donors. But by pledging to abide by data ethics and privacy standards and being transparent about your AI use, you can make the most of these tools while protecting your organization’s reputation.\n\n-------------------------------\n\n\nSpecial thanks to Sarah Tedesco for the expert advice.  Sarah Tedesco is the Executive Vice President of [DonorSearch](https://www.donorsearch.net/), a prospect research and [wealth screening company](https://www.donorsearch.net/wealth-screening/) that focuses on proven philanthropy. \n\nSarah is responsible for managing the production and customer support department concerning client contract fulfillment, increasing retention rate and customer satisfaction. She collaborates with other team members on a variety of issues including sales, marketing and product development ideas.\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1342},{"url":1343},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/fc5353274a6ae374600e424633d7396897788b43-600x320.jpg","2024-03-08T18:31:33.215Z",{"current":1346},"how-ai-can-help-you-personalize-your-fundraising-work","AI tools can benefit your nonprofit’s strategy in multiple ways, including donor engagement. Explore three ways to personalize your fundraising with AI.","How AI Can Help You Personalize Your Fundraising Work",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1350,"category":1351,"id":5,"image":1352,"publishOn":1355,"slug":1356,"teaser":1358,"title":1359},"# Keeping the Auction Fundraiser Local\n\nThe Flamingo Fling is the signature fundraiser for the Chapin Woman’s Club located in Chapin South Carolina. The rural town has many unmet needs with pockets of poverty around the area however the Chapin Woman’s club is determined to fill the gap.  With the local enthusiasm of the Chapin Woman’s Club and the generosity of local lakeside residents many local grants and needs have been fulfilled for 45 years.  The Flamingo Fling auction team is a dedicated group that fundraises each year to help make grant wishes come true. Their Flamingo Fling auction team leaders, Kay, Katie and Suzanne took some time to share their auction process and achievements.\n\n## Local Venue\n\nThe Flamingo Fling is a party with a purpose. The event sells out every year and is capped off just over 200 seats based on the venue.  Not only do they sell out they have a waiting list to fill any cancellations.  When asked why not move the event to a larger venue, the answer from the auction committee in unison declares “No way! We are a local group and we will support our local venues and vendors in every way.” This is their message that is loud and clear in every facet of their philanthropy efforts.\n\n## Local Sponsors\n\nWith over 40 sponsorships The Flamingo Fling invites local businesses to support the local cause. Because the Fling attracts locals this is a perfect match for advertising for local business. There are four levels of sponsorships: Gold, Silver, Bronze and Friend of The Fling.  Sponsorship pricing ranges from $2500 to $150 giving all the local businesses an opportunity to support the Chapin Woman’s Club at a price point for any budget.  This wide selection of support levels is a proven method as shown by the diverse list of sponsors: car dealership, wine store, energy & utilities, medical & dental offices, general building contractors, roofers, automotive services and golf cart services. Once again the Chapin Woman’s club attributes their sponsorship success to being true to the local community.  Sponsors know that by donating to The Flamingo Fling their association with the event is translated into continued goodwill.\n\n## Local Auction Items\n\nWhat types of items do well at The Flamingo Fling? The team shared that the vast majority of the auction items are donated by local shops, artisans, and service providers.   Let this sampling of auction items inspire you to look, think and ask local:\n * Original artwork by local artisans\n * Fishing trip in local waters\n * South Carolina flag that was flown over the State House\n * Handcrafted Hanging Iron and Glass Bird Feeder/Bath\n * Locally donated or crafted apparel, purses, tote bags, shawl\n * Hand made beautifully decorated flamingo woman boots\n * Handmade bags\n * Local authored and signed books\n * Trolly tour\n * Metal work home decor, Clemson\n\n\nThe Flamingo Fling doesn’t let the sports fan feel unappreciated either. Sticking with the local theme they seek out donations from the local universities.  Here is a sampling:\n * University of South Carolina, Gamecocks Coach autographed football\n * University of South Carolina, Gamecocks Coach autographed basketball\n * Clemson commemorative football autographed by Head Coach, Dabo Swinney\n * Clemson autographed helmet autographed by Head Coach, Dabo Swinney\n\nGift baskets are composed with local or handmade ingredients:\n * Soaps\n * Cigars\n * Liquor\n * Wine\n * Decorative dining, plates, wine glasses\n * Picnic basket items\n\n![auction item collage.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/auction-item-collage.png)\n\n\n## Local Grant Awards\n\nSo where does the money go that was donated through The Flamingo Flingt? Well, it stays local of course! The Chapin Woman’s Club opens their grant application window and any person or group that meets their criteria may apply.  They support: Arts, Conservation, Education, Home Life (tutoring, self-education, lifelong learning, supporting libraries in lifelong learning, ESOL), International Outreach, Public Issues (citizenship and/or safety), and/or Special Projects. In the past few years they have been able to say yes to over two-thirds of the applicants.  Specifically they have funded:\nwounded warrior fishing derby day for over 200 participants\n * Supplies for women’s shelter\n * Public library American Girl doll inventory for borrowing\n * Local food pantry\n * Local habitat\n * Academic scholarship\n\n![grant award 1.PNG](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/grant-award-1.PNG)\n\n![grant award 2.PNG](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/grant-award-2.PNG)\n\n\n## Power User Tips\nThe Chapin Woman’s club is dedicated in their mission philanthropic support their local community and find the greatest enjoyment comes when awarding the grant applicants with their checks.  Each and every grant approved is done so with very serious consideration to how it will improve the Chapin community.\n\nThe Chapin Woman's Flamingo Fling auction team shares that with Auctria they are able to spend more time focusing on the people rather than the process. \nHere are their power user tips for using Auctria:\n\n * **Web site** our members loved being able to direct interested parties to a website for tickets rather than having to sell them \n * **Online ticket sales**  we had greater control over sales for our venue with limited seating.  We knew exactly when to announce we were sold out \n * **Donated item inventory** this year we created training materials and cheat sheets so that the effort could be shared by more members. Our goal is to teach at least half of our members to use some aspect of the system so knowledge does not reside within only one person. \n * **Text bidding** this was a huge success. We trained all members during one of our meetings and designated some as “text bidding coaches” who were available to ticket holders during the night of the event. We believe text bidding helped increase the amount paid for all items. \n * **Automated checkout with registered credit cards** it was like magic to see the dollars rolling in during checkout. Our guests loved the easier checkout and item claim process that resulted. I loved the easier aspect and not having to update every item with a winning bid prior to checkout. \n * **Program production**  this process was much easier as a result of using the download functionality. \n\n\n--------------------------------------------------------------------\nA special thank you to Katie, Kay and Suzanne for sharing their auction story.\n\nThe Chapin Woman's Club is organized for the purpose of bringing together and equipping women to promote civic progress in the town, state, and nation; with specific emphasis on the needs of our community. The Chapin Woman's Club is affiliated with the General Federation of Women's Club (GFWC). The GFWC is a unifying force, bringing together local women's clubs, with members dedicated to strengthening their communities and enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. With 100,000 members in affiliated clubs in every state and more than a dozen countries, GFWC members are community leaders who work locally to create global change by supporting the arts, preserving natural resources, advancing education, promoting healthy lifestyles, encouraging civic involvement, and working toward world peace and understanding.\n\n![chapin club photo.jpeg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/chapin-club-photo.jpeg)\n\nLearn more about [Chapin Woman’s Club.](http://www.chapinwomansclub.com/aboutus.html)\nLearn more about  [General Federation of Women's Club (GFWC).](http://www.gfwc.org/)",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":1353},{"url":1354},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/d35e3598c72b001a5f19b57275f80da9df9c1fcc-600x320.png","2019-05-21T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":1357},"story_local_auction_chapin","Chapin Woman's is a local group dedicated to the local community and therefore we will keep all auction activities local in every way","Keeping the Auction Fundraiser Local in Every Way",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1361,"category":1362,"id":5,"image":1363,"publishOn":1366,"slug":1367,"teaser":1369,"title":1370},"Sponsorships for Auction – It's Where the Money Is\n\nThere's no question that guests attending your events come for the fun.  Whether it's formal galas, golf tournaments, or dance competitions, some invitees won't attend if there isn't an auction.  People like to “win” and there is no better way to provide your guests that special feeling than with an auction.  The fun, [like a  great theme,](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/themed_auction)  is what gets people in the door, but sponsorships are where the the bulk of the money is made.\n\n![sponsorship for auction.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/sponsorship-for-auction.jpg)\n\n## Auction Items vs Sponsorships\nWhile we each think that our auction event is the most important thing around, businesses receive tens of dozens of donation requests a year, and go on to donate dozens of items.  [Finding auction items](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/procurement_suggestions) can be a breeze with these links and advice.  Ordinary donations make up the bulk of the auction action, Sponsors can help increase revenue multiple times over- here is how.\n\nSponsorships give you the opportunity to make your partner feel extra special.  You want your donors to remember your organization so their participation for the next year is nearly automatic.  What incentives do you have for sponsors? Event tickets, special recognition, and thank you gifts are a great starting point for making your sponsors want to continue to work with your organization.\n\n![goals.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/goals.jpg)\n\n## Sponsorship Goals\nWhen it comes to sponsorships, you should have goals on both micro and macro scales.  \n * The macro goal of the total sponsorship donations collected is to, at a minimum, cover the cost of your event.  If your event costs your $20,000, there's your macro total sponsorship goal.\n * The micro goal is to have the individual item sponsor cover the cost of what they are sponsoring.  If your valet service costs your $2,000, that's the minimum that you should set as your valet sponsorship goal.\n\n[Build long-term relationships with the sponsors.](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/attendee_to_annual_fund_donors)   You will want to set an expectation that a certain percentage of your sponsors will repeat annually.  100% is great but probably not necessarily realistic.  After the event [thank everyone](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/thank_you_everyone) properly.  The stronger the relationship, the more likely you'll be able to convince your sponsor to move up a level the following year. \n\n![where to start.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/where-to-start.jpg)\n\n## Where to Start\nAlways start with who you know.  If you are a school, reach out to the parents of the students.  If they are not in a position to sponsor, perhaps their employer is or they're friends with local business owners.  Next, see who might have a aligned interests with your organization.  For example, the ambulette company's business grows with the local hospital's success so they should be towards the top of the hospital's list of probable sponsors.  \n\nTarget your message to the businesses you're approaching:\nAlways always always ask the vendors your organization uses to become sponsors.  If they appreciate your business, donating to your event is the least they can do. Questions to think about:\n * **Having a valet at your event?**  Car dealerships love to sponsor them.  If there's room, allow them to display a couple of their flagship vehicles.\n * **Are you a school?** Ask the local children's toys and clothing stores to sponsor a “priceless” opportunity like a 30 second “all you can grab shopping spree”.\n * **Red carpet sponsorship?** Local newspapers and magazines are the perfect fit.  They really want their readers to know that they are an active part of the community.\n\n![aim high.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/aim-high.jpg)\n\n## Aim High \nWhile we all know that even a few hundred dollars can make a huge impact on a charitable organization, to many large organizations, it isn't even a rounding error.  Whether it's $300 or $30,000 always ask for your top level sponsorship from these organizations.  The worst they can say is “no” but they'll most likely just pick a lower level sponsorship.\n\n## Sponsorship Quick Tips:\nNothing ventured, nothing gained- If you ask for a donation and are told “no”, you've lost nothing but the time it took to ask.  You'll be told “yes” more than you'd expect.  Even if it's a little “yes”, a bunch of little “yeses” turn into a significant impact on your organization.\n * Be nimble and flexible.  While all of your sponsorships at a certain dollar level might be taken, create a new one on the spot that would best fit a potential new partner.  \n * “No” doesn't mean “never”; it means, “not right now.”  You never know if you are reaching out during a slow month or the person you asked is having a bad day.  \n * Give business time to think about the opportunity. Continue to share about your program outcomes for when future sponsorship opportunities arise. It gives potential sponsors the chance to find you when they have the time and are in the right mindset. \n\n## The end is just the beginning\n\nGreat stewardship turns a one time sponsor into a long term partner. And long term partners are where sustainable fundraising truly begins.\n\n* Send a personalized thank you within 48 hours. Reference exactly what they sponsored and the impact it made. Specific gratitude is memorable gratitude.\n\n* Share results, not just totals. Let sponsors know how much was raised, what it will fund, and include a photo or short story from the event.\n\n* Publicly recognize them again after the event through social media, your website, or a follow up email to attendees. Continued visibility reinforces value.\n\n* Schedule a short post event check in. Ask what worked well for them and plant the seed for next year’s partnership.\n\n* Keep them in the loop year round. Send mission updates so they see the difference their support makes beyond event night.\n\n## Yes, you can do this\nIn the end, a successful auction may create the excitement, but strong sponsorships create the stability. When you approach sponsorships with intention, clear goals, thoughtful benefits, and genuine relationship building, you move beyond one night support and into year after year partnership. Be bold in your ask, creative in your offerings, and consistent in your gratitude. When sponsors feel valued and connected to your mission, they do not just fund an event, they invest in your impact. And that is how you turn fun into funding and moments into momentum.\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1364},{"url":1365},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/43cf854176f3937da1c18b414e507e454b964b89-600x320.png","2026-02-24T14:32:22.100Z",{"current":1368},"aim-high-for-event-sponsorships","If you don't seek sponsorships when running the auction fundraiser you may be missing out","Aim High for Event Sponsorships",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1372,"category":1373,"id":5,"image":1374,"publishOn":803,"slug":1377,"teaser":1379,"title":1380},"A Michigan school run by a parent organization in Michigan has mastered the art of auction donations.   Their auction has been running for 7 years so and continues to grow each year.  They do so with strategic item procurement.  Consider a few factors: audience and what they like to spend money on, discover local treasures and people, create unique experiences.  \n\n## Audience\nThe audience here is very well defined.  Families with children that attend the school is the most obvious.  Consider expanding the audience though.  For instance we ask not only parents but grandparents, past student families and local stakeholders to donate.  \n\n“You NEVER know who owns what, has connections where, and is willing to help.”\n\n## Examples:\nfriends of the school own a boat and offer a boat & dine progressive dinner on the lake experience\ntalk to local fire and police stations; often they can offer unique experiences such as lunch with the chief, private tour\nGo local with goods and services. Local or regional activities tend to be generous such as Pirate Ship Tourism boat ride, Car Museum admission, hot air balloon ride from a Re/Max office, art pieces, restaurant gift certificates\nTIP: Package donations to make a more elaborate item.  They took the fire station donation and with permission from the fire department added in a birthday party donation and now you really have a special event \n\n\n\n## Local Treasures & People\nLocal treasures and people are one request away.  In our area there is a lot of Michigan (as in the state) spirit.  Our families are proud and love to own a piece of Michigan.  We routinely find treasures that are local and desirable ranging from sports team memorabilia to artisan pieces.\n\n‘Luckily a former parent is a local weatherman.  \nHe still lets us us auction off and a visit to the station with a behind the scenes tour.”  \n\n### Examples:\nNFL Green Bay experience\nautographed picture of Detroit Red Wings player\nautographed picture of  Detroit Tigers player\ncommunity farm\ntickets to symphony, children's museum, car museum, adventure park\nArt, jewelry, craft beers, make your own gin\nAuto services, gym and yoga certificates\nSpecialty foods such as local beef, desserts, gardening \n\n\n## Unique Items and Experiences\nThe environment is ripe to create priceless items that are emotionally vested to the bidders.  Whether it’s a group art project, an exclusive opportunity or the value of time there is no ceiling to bids.  Priceless really means bids go up-and-up and up.\n\n“When students get to spend time with a teacher or principal it makes them feel special.”\n\n### Examples:\nTime with with a teacher- geocaching, before school breakfast, jam session, pizza making, wildflower garden walk\nGroup art projects pit bidder against bidder for the same one-of-a-kind parcel\nReserved parking spot is always well sought after\n\n![auction items local.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/auction-items-local.png)\n\n\n## Organizing the Items Throughout the Entire Event\nAs auction items are received tracking and managing is the next step.  Record all donor information for thank you notes  and potential future donations.  Loading the information once and then it is tracked seamless throughout the system makes the auction team’s job efficient.  We can focus on the event sponsors, marketing, and raffle.\n\nReporting capabilities for overall and drill down are vital to being organized.  Enter, change, amend, to track, everything- starting bid, purchase price, winner and all the communications in between.  \n\n\n\nSpecial thanks to co-chairs Sarah A. and Lindsey S. from for kindly sharing their fundraising story.  If you have a best-practice to help enlighten the Auctria family please email us at [hello@auctria.com](mailto:hello@auctria.com)",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":1375},{"url":1376},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/1229cbf01129b7cf542938a0249f140d076f3f7d-600x320.jpg",{"current":1378},"story-donations","Moral of the story is...Donations make the auction income soar","Storytelling: Donations Make the Auction",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1382,"category":1383,"id":5,"image":1384,"publishOn":1387,"slug":1388,"teaser":1390,"title":1391},"# 12 Practical Ways To Engage and Retain Donors in Today’s World\n\n\nWhich is more valuable to your organization?\n\nA) One new donor or member?\n\nB) One retained donor or member?\n\nThe answer is definitely B.\n\nAccording to Amy Gallo of the Harvard Business Review, “acquiring a new customer is anywhere from five to 25 times more expensive than retaining an existing one.”\n\nThat’s because it costs more to find and convince a new member to join than to keep your current members engaged.\n\nOf course, keeping members engaged can be difficult at times, so here are 12 ways to keep donor and member engagement going.\n\n## 1) Discover why they joined to support the cause and do more of it\n\nThe top [two reasons people](http://www.marketinggeneral.com/2016/06/22/2016-membership-marketing-benchmarking-report/) join an organization are because they want to:\n * Network with others in their field\n * Access specialized and/or current information\n\nWhile perhaps 2/3rds of your members joined for these two reasons, what about the rest? You could be losing people if you’re not delivering the value they expected when they joined.\n\nImagine you’re a fishing club and someone joined because they love to fish, but all your events are about how to craft lures? This person may become disappointed and end up lapsing.\n\nThe sad thing is that 90% of the organizations I talk to do not track the reasons why members joined. Knowing this information and delivering on it is one of the most influential ways to engage your members and keep them from lapsing.\n\nThere are two ways to collect this information from your members:\n 1. Ask them in your new member application form.\n 2. Survey all current members (often member expectations change from year to year)\nTo collect this information in your new membership application form, simple add a field called, “Why did you join?” and include a checklist of your benefits with an additional open ended option.\nIf you use online application forms, this information will go right into your database and allow you to quickly see the reasons why people are attracted to your organization.\n\nThen, focus on the benefits your new members want.\n\nBut, don’t forget about your current members. The benefits they seek may have changed since they joined. Once a year, survey your current members to make sure you always know what they want. Use any of the free online survey platforms like SurveyMonkey, or Google Forms.\n\nHere are some sample questions you can use for your current members:\n1. What are 3 things that our organization should continue doing\n2. What are 3 thing that our organization should stop doing?\n3. Which benefits do you take the most advantage of? (check all that apply)\n4. Would you recommend our organization to a friend? (1- no, 10- definitely)\n5. Why did you give that rating in question 4?\nCollecting this information from new and current members will ensure you’re on the right track to engaging and retaining your members the best you can.\n\n\n\n## 2) Refresh your members’ memories of the benefits you offer\n\nWhat I’ve seen happen in some organizations is that they don’t put enough importance into onboarding and many members aren’t even aware of their total benefits.\nI’m part of a writing association that didn’t send me any onboarding materials. As a result, I only accessed the benefits I could find on their website.\n\nIt was only after speaking with one of their admins that I discovered they had a mentorship program and a series of writing workshops. I’d been a member for nearly a year and never accessed any of these benefits!\n\nHow many of your members might be in the same situation, and may lapse because they don’t feel they’re getting their money’s worth?\n\nA simple email, or mention in your newsletter with a list of all benefits can easily take care of this.\n\nBut, as a proactive measure, make sure you’ve got a scalable and consistent onboarding process for all new members so they're aware of all your benefits right away.\n\nThe easiest way to do this is to send your onboarding materials in your new member confirmation email, which leads me to my next point...\n\n## 3) Scale your onboarding in a consistent way\n\n“A robust, vibrant welcome stream is one of the strongest investments an organization can make in keeping its members,” says Lowell Aplebaum, the Senior Director of Membership for The Society for Neuroscience.\nIt’s essential to onboard your members as a proactive measure to retain them. At first they don’t know anything about your organization or how to access its benefits, so you’ll need to hold their hands through their first few encounters.\n\nThe most popular method of onboarding is through email communication. That’s because it’s easy to personalize emails and scale them to every single member in a consistent way.\n\nThe best email to deliver your onboarding materials in is your new member confirmation email. We at Wild Apricot find this email has the highest open rate of any email we send - 56%. That’s over 200% higher than our industry average.\n\nAnd, if you’re looking for a way to automate your confirmation emails, you can use software like [Membership Management Software](https://www.wildapricot.com/) to take care of all of this for you.\n\n## 4) Identify who isn’t engaging and send them a “win-back” email\n\nIf you can’t identify which of your members aren’t engaged, you can’t do anything to win them back before they end up lapsing.\nYour member database should be organized in a way that allows you to easily identify who these people are.\n\nOnce you identify these people, send them a “win-back” email - a special offer designed to re-engage someone with your organization.\n\nTake this example of Starbucks’ “win-back” email:\n\n![starbucks.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/starbucks.png)\n\nThese emails work. And organizations that are successful at member retention have a plan in place to send these emails out to unengaged members on a regular basis.\n\nThe value you offer can be a discount like Starbucks is doing, an invitation to a special event, or simply a request to chat on the phone.\n\nTo identify unengaged members, simply filter your database for “Triggers” which may indicate they are unengaged.\n\nHere are some examples of Triggers you can look for:\n * Any member who hasn’t attended the last 3 events\n * Any member who hasn’t updated their profile in the last year\n * Any member who hasn’t read any of your emails in the last 3 months\nIf you’re using Wild Apricot, you can easily set up Triggers in the advanced search function of your contact database to identify unengaged members and email them. This is something we also cover in our free webinar, [3 Easy Ways to Retain More Members Using Software](https://trial.wildapricot.com/retain-more-members).\n\n## 5) Conduct exit interviews with lapsed members\n\nHave you ever moved on from a job and had to do an exit interview with Human Resources?\nThe reason is to collect information on how the company can improve its management to reduce turnover.\n\nIn the same way, an “exit interview” for every lapsing member can give you a lot of insight on some well needed changes that your organization may need to make.\n\nSharlyn Lauby of HRBartender suggests to  “...include in the process a solid plan to review and act on those results.  With solid information, you can incorporate positive change and, hopefully, reduce the need for exit interviews.”\n\nEvery time a member lapses, ask them to take fifteen minutes to speak with you on the phone about their experience with your organization. Then, make a plan to change how your organization operates if necessary to prevent more members from lapsing in the same way.\n\n## 6) Pick up the phone and start creating personal connections\n\nNothing engages a member more than a personal connection. It’s a smart strategy that a lot of membership organizations have also used to grow. In fact, Sarah Rintamaki, the Founder and Executive Director of Connecting for Kids used personal connections to help grow her organization over 300% in just the first year.\n“Personal contacts are invaluable. Nobody joins our organization without getting a personal phone call from me,” says Sarah, “and I don’t think that will ever change. Whether it’s business, or nonprofit, or whatever, everything truly is a personal relationship. Whether its a donor, or a family, or a professional, they need to have a conversation with somebody.”\n\nSarah’s organization has well over 1,000 members now and each one of them received a personal phone call from her. This may sound daunting, but it’s worked.\n\nIf it works for new members, try it with unengaged members too. I bet they’d love a phone call, or at the least a personalized email. It may be the thing that keeps members engaged so that they don't lapse.\n\nGive it a try. Make a commitment to reach out to one unengaged or even lost member every single week. Put it in your calendar right now. Friday afternoon at 3pm, schedule your first call.\n\n \n\n## 7) Begin facilitating online participation\n\nEvents are one of the best ways to engage your members. But, events aren’t for everyone.\nSome of your members have never come to an event and you’ve never spoken personally with them. You’re not even sure if they’re reading your emails (unless you’re using Wild Apricot *wink*). To you, they’re just a name in your database.\n\nSo how are you supposed to engage these people?\n\nThe first place to start with these members is online. Back in 2012, we wrote a comprehensive guide on how to increase membership engagement online and a lot of what we said still rings true:\n * Engage members through your website by committing to creating fresh content\n * Enable two-way communication and alert members of your content in online communities (blog, forum, social media)\n * Use Social Media as a tool to talk with your members and share your latest work and benefits\nEven if these people don’t come out to your events, you’re still creating a way for them to participate in the community of your organization.\nPlus, encouraging online participation will increase engagement with all your members, so really it’s a win-win scenario.\n\n \n\n## 8) Ask lapsers to rejoin with an appreciation letter\n\nPatty Foley, the past membership chair of Friends of Lucy Robbins Welles Library created a mail campaign to lapsing members that gained her organization a retention rate of over 90%.\nEvery September, she identified a list of members that had lapsed.  She then sent these people an envelop in the mail, which included:\nTheir renewal statement\nA letter explaining how their contributions made an impact on the organization with a request to renew their membership\nA return envelope to make it easier for these people to send in their dues.\nFrom those that still didn’t renew, she sent them another letter to arrive on the first of December.\n“The letter is key,” says Patty. “We enjoyed at the peak a 90+% renewal.”\n\nAs Patty’s story shows, sometimes an extra nudge with a letter in the mail is all that’s needed to win back a member.\n\n \n\n## 9) Diversify your events\n\nI’m part of a writing association with many senior member, some of them are in their 80’s.\nThe first event I attended was a workshop on transferring the copyrights of your work to a successor in your will.\n\nI’m 28. And a will is the last thing on my mind. I don’t even have any copyrights yet to transfer!\n\nI’m looking to network with new writers and learn about how to get my first agent. But those types of events wouldn’t attract an older crowd.\n\nSo who should my writing association create events for? The older generation, or the younger one? How about both?\n\nIf your organization has a diverse membership, you’ll need to hold diverse events. Doing this will help increase engagement with your members and prevent some from lapsing.\n\nYou can easily find out what types of events your members want simply by asking them. Just like in tip number one, email your members with a survey using any of the free online platforms like [SurveyMonkey](https://www.surveymonkey.com/), or [Google Forms](https://www.google.ca/forms/about/).\n\n \n\n## 10) Trash your paper renewal forms and automate renewals online\n\nNo one likes completing paperwork and payments by check is drastically decreasing.\nPeople like simple processes and automated online renewals are the simplest. That’s why recurring online payments have risen in the last few years.\n\nMembers simply enter their payment information once and never have to worry about it again. And neither do you.\n\nNot only will automating renewals save you a ton of administrative work, but you’ll also experience increased cash flow from your on-time payments and the percent of members you retain will go up.\n\n \n\n## 11) Send automated reminders\n\nOne of the top five reasons why people don’t renew their memberships is because they forgot.\nHow ridiculous is that? All that hard work you put into obtaining and engaging a member and they don’t renew, because they forgot?\n\nReminders are mandatory for every member who doesn’t have automated renewals set up.\n\nBut, figuring out whose dues are coming up and sending each of these people a reminder can be a lot of manual work.\n\nWith a Membership Management Software like Wild Apricot, you can easily set up 3 personalized email reminders to be sent out automatically before each member’s dues are due, regardless of when they’re due (I bet you never read a sentence with so many dues in it).\n\n \n\n## 12) Realize it's okay\n\nThere can be a million different reasons why someone doesn’t renew and sometimes there’s just nothing you can do about it. In fact, you can’t do anything about three of the top five reasons why people don’t renew (bolded below):\n * **Left the field, industry, profession**\n * **Employer stopped paying dues**\n * Lack of engagement\n * **Can’t justify cost**\n * Forgot\n(well, maybe you can change the cost)\nAnd there are many other reasons you can't do anything about: they left the city, they don’t have the time anymore, their interests change.\n\nWhatever the reason, just realizing that it’s okay is all that’s needed.\n\nMake sure that every person leaves your organization with a good impression. You never know who they may recommend your organization to, or if they may become a member again in the future.\n\nOne simple thing you can do every time you part with a member is to send them a thank you letter personally signed by you for being part of your organization.\n\nDoing this may not have any immediate impact on your membership or donorship, but it can help in the long run.\n\n----------------------------------------------------\n\n![Wa_logo150wide.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Wa_logo150wide.png)\n\n[This post on how to engage and retain members first appeared on the Wild Apricot blog](https://www.wildapricot.com/blogs/newsblog/2016/10/17/engage-and-retain-members)\n\nSpecial thanks to Terry Ibele for providing 12 practical ideas to engage and retain donors and membership to your cause.  Terry Ibele is the head of SEO at Wild Apricot, a leading provider of Membership Management Software. When he’s not writing blogs or articles, filming videos, or launching email campaigns, Terry can be found animating, and working on his art. \n\nIf you're looking for more tips like this from Wild Apricot check out their [complete listing of webinars, courses & articles.](https://www.wildapricot.com/academy)\n\n![Terry Ibele Headshot 150.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Terry-Ibele-Headshot-150.png)",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1385},{"url":1386},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/2bb3ccee201e52805bee2db6849d716b3145a5a2-600x320.png","2018-06-19T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":1389},"engage_12ways_wildapricot","After auction continue to stay engaged, bidders can become supporters and members","12 Practical Ways To Engage and Retain Donors and Members",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1393,"category":1394,"id":5,"image":1395,"publishOn":1398,"slug":1399,"teaser":1401,"title":1402},"There's no question that guests attending your events come for the fun. Whether it's formal galas, golf tournaments, or dance competitions, some invitees won't attend if there isn't an auction. People like to “win” and there is no better way to provide your guests with that special feeling than with an auction. The fun, like a great theme, is what gets people in the door, but sponsorships should always be considered as another potential revenue stream.\n\n## Auction Items vs Sponsorships\nWhile we each think that our auction event is the most important thing around, businesses receive tens or dozens of donation requests a year and go on to donate dozens of items. Ordinary donations make up the bulk of the auction action, Sponsors can help increase revenue multiple times over- here is how. \n\n## Sponsor Dollars are Marketing Dollars\nFrom the sponsor’s perspective first, they believe in your cause. Second, they want to use their marketing dollars used wisely to access or gain exposure to your audience. By sponsoring a fundraising event the charitable contribution looks good for the business, however, it has to fill a business need as well. Sponsors give a sense of trustworthiness that flows both ways from the charity to the business. \n\nWhen asking a business to sponsor an event it is typical to want to find their charitable arm, however, if none exists, or is out of money the advertising & marketing department is where you want to go next. The advertising & marketing department has a budget allowance for advertising. \n\nConsider your sponsorship as a business proposal. By advertising with your organization, they will reach their target market. Back this up with data: how many people will see the ad,  demographic information, the volume of views. The proposal should include the total number of views or touches. Calculate this in total across all communication channels. How many emails will you send out, how many are on the email list, social media blasts with tags, robocalls, or text messages? These are all tangible and relevant to the potential sponsor. \n\n\n**Offer multiple sponsorship levels.** One size does not fit all. Low, medium and high price points provide various entry points for varying budgets. With each higher price point be sure to offer a greater level of exposure. A graduated offering enables businesses to spend within their budget. When creating the sponsorship levels consider the implementation and how you will document and share that the commitment has been filled. \n\nSponsorships are interesting in that once there are a few others that will follow. Establish the visual space for how sponsors will be honored. When sponsorships are handled with care they will build from year to year compounding the revenue. Treat the sponsors as a partnership. Keeping the communication channel open leads to a more natural long term and repeat commitment.\n### Shining Example: Sponsors Beget Sponsors\n> “A marquee sponsor can provide so much more than just funding. A local or national recognized name brings an additional level of goodwill.” Paul, Foundation for Fighting Blindness\n\nIt’s not just about getting the sponsor to write a check, it’s about creating a true partnership where sponsors feel as if they are getting something out of the investment. Tell the sponsor about the potential audience and how the sponsor will be recognized. Sponsors that feel they are well treated will be repeat sponsors and tell others! It’s okay to ask the elite sponsors for help in networking with other potential sponsors. When one business sees another in the spotlight, helping a great cause year after year begets attention and additional sponsors.\n\n[Read the entire spotlight article: Nurture Fundraising Activity Year Round](https://www.auctria.com/blog/nurture-fundraising-activity-year-round/)\n\n## Follow Through Required\n>“Treat sponsors like royalty” AJ, Queen Bee Fundraising\n\nTrack and follow-through during and after the entire fundraising process. In the implementation process track all the benefits offered and circle back with the sponsor to show the fulfillment of the obligation. Leading up the event confirm logos, links, images, assets, or content. Use a reliable team member to double-check and proofread everything. Avoid discovering a typo or error after publication. Publication refers to paper catalogs, sponsor books, as well as online website presence, and social media posts.\n\nIt will be incumbent on you to prove and confirm the ‘worth’ of the investment. If the value has been met or even better, exceeded, then asking the business to sponsor the next event just got a whole lot easier. Even more so you may be able to upsell lower-level sponsorships to higher levels in the future.\n\nDuring the event give proper honor to the sponsors and thank them for their generosity. Remember, the businesses invested in part for exposure to the audience so it is your duty to bring attention to their contribution.  \n\nAfter the event concludes, now is your time to shine. Share with the sponsor how much was raised, and even more importantly how the funds will be used to make a difference. Continue the conversation both ways. Report additional progress in usage, and share with event-goers the sponsors that helped make it happen. Make it a goal to convert sponsors into long-term relationships. Relationships that you can depend on for support and income year over year. When bidders, volunteers, casual participants see the genuineness this can \n\n[For further viewing webinar playback available: Winning the Event Sponsorship Race, featuring AJ Steinberg, Queen Bee Fundraising.](https://www.auctria.com/webinar/winning-the-event-sponsorship-race-featuring-aj-steinberg-queen-bee-fundraising/) \n\nIn this webinar we shared: \n* Where sponsor dollars come from\n* How to think like a marketing guru\n* Creating an irresistible sponsor deck\n* Prospecting and outreach\n* Treating sponsors like royalty\n* Keeping the sponsor love flowing\n\n\n## Where to Start in Finding Sponsorships\n\nAlways start with who you know. If you are a school, reach out to the parents of the students. If they are not in a position to sponsor, perhaps their employer is or they're friends with local business owners. Next, see who might have aligned interests with your organization. For example, the ambulette company's business grows with the local hospital's success so they should be towards the top of the hospital's list of probable sponsors.\n\nTarget your message to the businesses you're approaching:\nAlways always always ask the vendors your organization uses to become sponsors. If they appreciate your business, donating to your event is the least they can do. Questions to think about:\n* Having a valet at your event? Car dealerships love to sponsor them. If there's room, allow them to display a couple of their flagship vehicles.\n* Are you a school? Ask the local children's toys and clothing stores to sponsor a “priceless” opportunity like a 30 second “all you can grab shopping spree”.\n* Red carpet sponsorship? Local newspapers and magazines are the perfect fit. They really want their readers to know that they are an active part of the community.\n\nGetting the word out beyond your own network can be challenging. [MBOpp.com](https://www.mbopp.com/) is a solution. MBOpp was created because there isn't enough time to reach every single potential sponsor; and do you even know who the potential sponsors are? MBOpp gives you the chance to have interested sponsors come to you. \n\n## Aim High\nWhile we all know that even a few hundred dollars can make a huge impact on a charitable organization, to many large organizations, it isn't even a rounding error. Whether it's $300 or $30,000, always ask for your top-level sponsorship from these organizations. The worst they can say is “no” but they'll most likely just pick a lower level sponsorship.\n\nIf when asking for a donation and are told “no”, you've lost nothing but the time it took to ask. You'll be told “yes” more than you'd expect. Even if it's a little “yes”, a bunch of little “yeses” turn into a significant impact on your organization.\n\n### Shining Example: Spotlight Hoedown for Hope\n\n> “Showing dedication to past sponsors keeps them coming back year after year.”- Kim, Spokane HOPE\n\nThe HOPE auction team shared their sponsor success story. The sponsorship volunteers also believe that ‘no’ isn't always a no. Flexibility here too goes a long way in complete dedication to doing anything that helps build the auction. Again, they start with a beautiful one-page document describing what it means to be a sponsor. The document is well balanced illustrating what the sponsor gets out of it on the business side in addition to how the sponsorship will help the deaf and hard of hearing children. They have incorporated many HOPE children on the Sponsorship Level page, as those precious faces touch hearts deeply and bring investors on board.\n\nIf the potential sponsor says no, the team is committed to learning why, hoping to make their best effort to turn a no into a yes. They have found persistence has paid off and asking a few more questions to understand the reason behind the no. For example, the procurement team was talking to a construction equipment manufacturer. This is not your typical consumer product, so a product donation is not applicable. After asking in a different way “if there is anything that you can donate that would be valuable, they would be appreciative”, sure enough, the large equipment manufacturer has a stock of Yeti coolers and tumblers they use as client gifts. They donated a cooler package and it of course attracted bids and helped raise money.\n\n\n![](https://d3gg61piazwy59.cloudfront.net/images/sponsor-front.png)\n\n![](https://d3gg61piazwy59.cloudfront.net/images/sponsor-back.png)\n\n![](https://d3gg61piazwy59.cloudfront.net/images/sponsor-form.png)\n\n[Read the entire spotlight article Hoedown for HOPE: With Conviction and Dedication](https://www.auctria.com/blog/story-hoedown-hope/)\n\n## Recognize Sponsors and Make it Shareable\nRecognize the sponsors in public, in ways that reach their target audience as well as yours. Use logos when possible. Use live links when possible. On paper recognize the sponsors in a catalog or sponsor book either printed or as an e-book format. Think about other pieces of collateral or correspondence to thank key sponsors: flyers, invitations, or statements. \n\nMake it easy for Sponsors to share. Recognize the sponsors on social media by tagging them as well as your event. Do this multiple times throughout the fundraising process. When you tag them it shows up in their notifications and is then much easier for the Sponsor to re-share, re-post and respond to. If you really want to make the sponsor feel special, create graphics that highlight the single sponsor, they are much more likely to share the information further and wider. \n\n## Using Auctria to Enhance Sponsorships\nAuctria makes it easy to provide distinct value that groups can offer sponsorships in return for financial payment. \n\n**Before the event launches use Auctria to sell sponsorships.** This streamlines the sale and gives the sponsor a good idea of how the event website will be established. Set these up as For Sale items and sponsors can purchase directly on the website. This makes for ease in tracking and collections. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/c5f4f0072660ceaf27453bc2fb5b6353259c32d7-827x634.png)\n\nSponsors can be listed on your auction event website in the form of a Sponsorship page or a Sponsorship banner. The banner can be affixed to the header or footer of the website for even greater visibility. The logo of the Sponsor can be linked to their website for even greater value-add.\n\nOn the event website Sponsor can be recognized on a Sponsorship page or a Sponsorship row. For event greater visibility and honor a Sponsorship row can be placed on the Header or Footer. This is typically used for Title sponsors for broader marketing prominence. This is easy to construct with Auctria's pre-built Sponsorhsip Element. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/45d50185afac3516592bff90165213769f740c37-864x486.png)\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/5eaecf1a8d9ef2e4dc2a25f44e1be23452a3a92e-960x540.png)\n\n\n\n\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/8b3fdac8f96b667dc00e490ac55019ec2735cd8f-745x690.png)\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/85acd559cbdc9cd954e52f7b25b0a3865e35c2b4-594x748.png)\n\nAdd a sponsorship to your website in less than 30 seconds.\n\n![](https://guide.auctria.com/assets/img/AddSponsorPage.23fba083.gif )\n\n## Next Steps\nEvaluate what your event fundraiser can offer to potential sponsors. Keep in mind that this is a two-pronged opportunity: 1. To support a great cause, 2. Market to current or new customers. Then create a few levels of sponsorship with marketing materials to match. Make it easy for sponsors to say yes and pay. As you sign on new sponsors add them to the website, include on flyers & letters. Do acknowledge and tag on social media so it’s easy for the sponsor to repost, retweet, and reshare. Immediate and ongoing recognition will demonstrate commitment and appreciation.  Use images and video and direct links to the event fundraiser to help show as well as tell the story. \n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1396},{"url":1397},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/611270236913b5910a7713d8888483ff9726ee90-600x320.png","2020-12-17T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":1400},"auction-fundraiser-sponsorships-make-money","Sponsorships should always be considered as another potential revenue stream","Auction Fundraiser Sponsorships Make Money",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1404,"category":1405,"id":5,"image":1406,"publishOn":1409,"slug":1410,"teaser":1412,"title":1413},"Fundraisers are an effective way to generate positive social impact. They allow organizations to raise awareness for their cause and donate resources to beneficiaries. Fundraisers also have a positive outlook, as the Giving USA Foundation states that in 2021, Americans continued to [give more generously](https://associationsnow.com/2022/06/reports-reveal-giving-trends-that-can-improve-remaining-2022-fundraising-efforts/) to charity events, with this trend likely to carry over in the final half of 2022.\n\nThese positive benefits, however, do not erase the fact that those behind the scenes are likely to suffer a great deal of stress. In addition to all the meticulous planning and limitation in resources, social workers can also be weighed down by the pressure and significance of the causes they’re working towards. To maximize preparation and stay on top, here are some things to remember when preparing for auctions and event fundraisers.\n\n## Mentally preparing for the stresses of fundraising\n\nFundraisers can bring about many work-related pressures for those working behind the scenes. Those who [have social work experience](https://online.maryville.edu/online-bachelors-degrees/social-work/careers/) on community projects will understand the commonly encountered difficulties, such as limited financial and human resources, long working hours, and even operating in sensitive locations. This is why those creating the event need to prioritize self-care and mental preparation before and during the preparation period. This involves staying focused on your goals and beliefs, being proactive about rest, nurturing healthy relationships beyond work, and setting proper boundaries for your job. This lets you sustain better mental health and work quality.\n\n## Conceptualization and goal-setting\n\nYour goals will shape your plans. Before anything, you’ll need to ask questions like, how will this help your beneficiaries? Is this event in line with your vision and mission? Will this event positively contribute to your cause?\n\nReflecting on these can help you decide on quantifiable targets like what your monetary goals are, how many guests you want to come, the number of donors, and the total donation size you want to achieve. You can also look into more modern success metrics like [social media engagement,](https://www.donorsearch.net/resources/2022-fundraising-trends-its-time-to-catch-up/) which can significantly raise awareness for your advocacies.\n\n## Deciding on the type of event\n\nWhether you’ll decide on an auction, or any other event type, for your fundraiser is dependent on your goals. Some questions you can consider are who your target demographic is, and how your donors prefer to be involved. [Auction and event fundraisers](https://www.auctria.com/blog/auction-type-proscons/) come in many sizes and shapes, from online auctions to full in-person galas with hybrids falling in between. \n\nGalas and auctions can be more formal and may suit some donors’ preferences. But you can also get creative with other events like concerts, art exhibits, talent contests, and fun runs. Consider that each of these formats has varying returns on investment (ROI), depending on organization size. As an example, fun runs are easy to plan and have a high ROI for any organization size. Event types also vary in terms of how you foster interactions among donors. For instance, concerts and art exhibits can showcase guests’ talents, while talent contests can stoke friendly competition.\n\n## Planning out logistics and assignments\n\nPlanning the logistics involves hashing out the details of your social work event, assigning tasks, and determining how to acquire your resources. Set a date and time when people are most likely to attend. For instance, you can plan an auction near the holidays when people are more inclined to be charitable.\n\nOther factors you’ll want to consider and [assign point persons](https://www.auctria.com/blog/auction-teamwork/) for include:\n\n- Venue\n- Catering\n- Solicitations\n- Volunteer systems\n- Sign up processes\n- Item procurement and check-out system (for auction fundraisers)\n- Seat charts\n- Marketing and publicity strategies\n\nPlan out the tasks that need to be done, who’s in charge, and when you’ll need them to be done. With all of these details needing to be attended to, you'll need to stay organized with clear communication and make provisions for errors or delays.\n\n\nFundraisers necessitate meticulous planning and may cause a great deal of stress. However, this doesn’t eclipse the value of this work. By engaging with the community, focusing on your goals, and paying attention to detail, you can execute a fundraising event that can lead to an immense positive social impact.\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1407},{"url":1408},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/573ac431580f809b8484eaf52539ed8d84d7bbf7-600x320.png","2022-11-16T14:38:47.279Z",{"current":1411},"a-guide-to-preparing-for-auction-and-event-fundraisers","Event fundraisers are an effective way to generate positive social impact.","A Guide to Preparing for Auction and Event Fundraisers",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1415,"category":1416,"id":5,"image":1417,"publishOn":1420,"slug":1421,"teaser":1423,"title":1424},"# Auction Fundraiser with a Golf Tournament is Like Pairing Peanut Butter with Jelly\nGolfing and fundraising are perfect partners.  The audience is ideal, the setting is fitting and the logistics are optimal.  Golfers inherently have some pocket money to spend, especially for a great cause.  In a relaxed and comfortable setting, amongst friends and peers golfers easily become donors.  With a tournament there are synergies in communications and logistics that go well together.  Pre-marketing for the tournament and pre-market for the auction fundraiser, tournament check-in can be combined with auction check-in, post tournament festivities give the tournament a final purpose. \n\nBroad tips and specific how-to instructions will take the next auction fundraiser and golf tournament to greater heights.  Make more money for your cause by pairing the two.  \n\nThree key components for planning for a golf tournament: \n * [Planning the work and timeline](#planninggolftournament)\n * [Recruiting golfers](#recruitinggolfers) \n * [Selling sponsorships](#sellingsponsorships)    \n\n\n\n\n\u003Ca name=\"SellingSponsors\" style=\"display: block; position: relative; top: -120px; visibility: hidden;\">\u003C/a>\n\n\n\n![golfers topics.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/golfers-topics.jpg)\n\n\u003Ca name=\"planninggolftournament\" style=\"display: block; position: relative; top: -120px; visibility: hidden;\">Golf Tournament Planning and Timeline\u003C/a>\n\n## Golf Tournament Planning and Timeline\n\n\nHow long does it take to produce a successful golf tournament? Ideally 6 months start to finish. Why so much time? Remember that you are working with volunteers. [Volunteers](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/recuiting_volunteers) need time. They can not give you full time. They might be able to give you only 1 to 2 hours per week. Give them time to do their job. Be organized, here is a [sample golf tournament planner and timeline.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/Golf+Commitee+and+Timelines.pdf)  \n\nThere are many things that need to be done for your golf tournament. If you miss any of these items your event will not be as successful. Develop a plan and work your plan. Make sure that you make a list of everything that needs to be done and put a date on it. When it should be started and when it should be completed. Make sure that you assign someone to each task. \n\nMost things can be accomplished within a 6 month time frame, but there are a few things that you want to consider doing a year in advance. \n\n### In Advance\nGolf Course – If you have a specific golf course and a specific date, consider booking it a year in advance. By having the golf course reserved in the advance you can promote your event all year round and golfers will save the date.\n\nSponsors – When asking companies for major funds, you must remember that they budget in some cases a year in advance. We have heard the comment that it is not in the budget. The problem is that we talk to sponsors to late in the process. Get to them early and you will have better success in selling.\n\nMedia Coverage – Many media outlets have their pet projects that they love to promote. They love to promote good causes that help the community. They discuss these projects sometimes a year in advance. Get to the media early and they may choose your event to [promote.](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/promote_promote)\n\n### Top Priorities\nI do not want to minimize the importance of logistic because everything is important. The 2 most important priorities for any golf tournament are Sponsors and Golfers. Sponsors are your profit and golfers are why we do this. There are 2 areas that need to be working throughout the process. Keep this in mind when developing your plan.  Start with choosing a Committee Chair  through final thank you this sample timeline and action item will keep the tournament planning on track.  \n\n\n### Important Deadlines\nThere are several important deadlines that you must not let slip by. They can be costly.\n\nGolf Course Deposit – This one is important because the golf course is not officially reserved until you give them a deposit. You could loose the date.\n\nMerchandise Order – When ordering merchandise with a logo, you must give them a least 30 days to finish the piece on time. They can do it in 14 days but allow some time for mistakes. \n\n\u003Ca name=\"recruitinggolfers\" style=\"display: block; position: relative; top: -120px; visibility: hidden;\">recruitinggolfers\u003C/a>\n\n## Recruiting & Managing Golfers\n\n![phil success.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/phil-success.png)\n\n\n### Reasons Golfers Participate:\n1. **Friends** asks them\n2. **Clients** invite them\n3. **Contacts for business** are involved\n4. **Unique tournament** appeals to their desire for something special\n5. **Value** they want more for their money.\n6. **Sense of urgency** they do not want to miss out on an event.\n7. **The cause** is one in which they believe.\n8. **Recognition** they want exposure for themselves and their company.\n\n### How Do You Recruit Golfers?\n1. Friends asking Friends, is the number one way to recruit golfers.\n2. Businesses asking their vendors.\n3. Direct Mail, to qualified list.\n4. Advertise, to target markets.\n5. Editorial Coverage, in targeted publications.\n6. Media Coverage, TV & Radio.\n7. Brochure gets attention and generates interest.\n8. Returning Golfers, if they had a good time the year before they will want to participate again.\n*Don’t take it for granted that golfers will sign up.* Your golfer Recruiting Committee must continue to ask golfers and assist them with getting signed up.\n\n**Secret Weapon – 9-9-4 Rule. 9 people on your committee to recruit 4 people each to bring in a foursome. Give them 4 to 6 months to accomplish their goals.**\n\n### Golfers Skill Level & Pairings\nIf you have a tournament with some great prizes that golfers really want, you must insure that golfers don’t stack the deck by bringing a team of “ringers”. Here is a scale to help divide up the teams to keep them equitable and fair for all involved:\n \nA Player – Scores in the 70’s or Top 25% of the field.\nB Player – Scores in the 80’s or 2nd 25% of the field.\nC Player – Scores in the 90’s or 3rd 25% of the field.\nD Player – Scores in the 100’s or last 25% of the field.\n\nThis scale can be adjusted, depending on your playing field. Divide all your golfers into 4 groups. Have A, B, C & D player together.\n\nGolfers Pairings\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\nWhen teaming up players, two things to keep in mind. If you have great prizes, make sure that the teams are even. Have A, B, C & D player together. Second, match up people that you think will have fun together or do business together. \n\n### Golfers Registration Form\nThe [golfer’s registration form](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/Golfers+Questionnaire.pdf) is an excellent tool for keeping track of registered golfers. It can be part of the brochure, although if you are trying to save money, print a separate form on your computer or typewriter. Listed below are the key ingredients for a golfer registration:\n\nRegistration Form Contents: \n\nTournament Information needs to include: Name of the Tournament, Date & Time of Tournament, Location of Golf Course, Information about the Tournament, Information about the Organization, Green Fees. In addition: \n* Address, Phone & Fax of Organization\n* How to Register, How to Pay\n* Player Information\n* What do the player’s get for playing? Contests, Schedule of events\n* Place for Name, address, phone and email address for golfers\n* Place for Golfers Handicap & Shirt Size\n\n\u003Ca name=\"sellingsponsorships\" style=\"display: block; position: relative; top: -120px; visibility: hidden;\">sellingsponsorships\u003C/a>\n\n## Selling Sponsors\t\t\t\t\t\nSelling sponsors is the key to a profitable event. The sponsor dollars will be the tournament profit. Sponsors do not usually get a tremendous amount of exposure, so the real benefit to them is building relationships and participating in a worthy cause. The list below shows reasons why businesses sponsor events:\n * They Believe in Your Cause – Business must agree with what your organization is doing and support it.\n * They are Part of Your Industry – If a company does business in your field, they will want to see the industry do well. \n * To Entertain Clients – If they can use it as a tool to bring out clients and entertain.\n * To Reach New Clients – If they believe that their potential clients are playing in your event.   \n * Specific Exposure – If they can reach people in their industry.\n * Public Relations – If they believe that it will get their company name in the paper or the news.\n\n\n### How to Sell Sponsors\n1. Develop a Sponsor Committee – Businesses will sponsor if asked by someone they know and or respect. Develop a committee with relationships.\n2. [Develop Sponsor Package and Benefits](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/Golf+Sponsor+Package+%26+Letter.pdf) – Provide as many benefits as possible.\nCreate a List of Potential Sponsors – Get the committee together and brainstorm on businesses that will benefit by being involved. \n3. Send out a Letter with Benefits to Potential Prospects – Have the letter come from the person who has the contact at that business or use a well-known name, like the Honorary Chairman.\n4. Follow up with Phone Calls in a timely manner – Phones are the most important part of the process. They will not respond to mail only.\n5. Find his or her Hot Button – Every person has a hot button. Exposure, money, community. Find out what it is and use it.\n6. Mutual Relationship – It is hard to high-level decision-makers, if you do not have a common relationship, find one.\n7. Explain Benefits – Do not assume that they know the benefits, take the time to discuss the benefits.\nSell larger sponsors face to face – Don’t try to sell a large package over the phone. Get a meeting and allow them to get to know you.\n\n### Sample Sponsor Packages:\nTitle Sponsor, Presenting Sponsor, Major Sponsor, Contributing Sponsor, Hole Sponsor, Contest Sponsor, Meal Sponsor, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Copper, Eagle, Birdie, Par, Bogie.\n\n1. Title Sponsor Package\nCompany Name in Title of Event for example, “Company Charity Challenge”. \nCompany Logo in all Promotional Material.\nCompany Information to all Participants.\nCompany Banner at the Event.\nFoursomes in Tournament.\nCompany Sign on all Golf Holes.\nCompany Sign on all Golf Carts.\nCompany Executive as MC of Awards Presentation.\nCompany Name in Newsletter.\nDisplay Table at the Event.\nFirst Right of Refusal for Next Year’s Event.\nInvestment $10,000.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n2. Presenting Sponsor Package\nCompany Name in Title of the Event.\n“Charity Golf Tournament, Presented by Company”\nCompany Name in all Promotional Material.\nCompany Information to all Participants.\nCompany Banner at the Event.\n1 Foursome in the Tournament.\nCompany Name in Newsletter.\nCompany Mention during Awards Ceremony.\nDisplay Table at the Event.\nInvestment $5000.\n\n3. Major Sponsor Package\nCompany Name in all Promotional Materials.\nCompany Information to all Participants.\nTwo Playing Spots in the Tournament.\nCompany Sign on 1 Golf Hole.\nCompany Mention during Awards Ceremony.\nDisplay Table at the Event.\nInvestment $3000\n\n\n4. Contributing Sponsor Package\nCompany Information to all Participants.\n1 Playing Spot in Tournament.\nCompany Mention during Awards Ceremony.\nCompany Sign on Golf Hole.\nInvestment $1000.\n\n5. Hole Sponsor Package\nCompany Sign on Golf Hole.\nCompany Mention during Awards Ceremony.\nInvestment $500.\n\f\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n6. Contest Sponsor Package\nCompany Sign on Contest Hole.\nCompany Hand Out on Contest Hole.\nCompany Mention during Awards Ceremony.\nInvestment $1000.\n\n7. Meal Sponsor Package\nCompany Banner on Site.\nCompany Information to all Participants.\nCompany Commercial during Meal.\nInvestment $2500.\n\nWhen developing your sponsor packages, list all of the benefits you can offer them and divide them up into value. Give them more value than the cost. Exposure leads to happy sponsors. Company’s love to see their name in lights.\n\nThe most effective way to sell many sponsors and golfers at the same time is to work with a large business or supermarket that has many vendor relationships.  If a business takes on the tournament as their own, they will not only sell many sponsor packages, but they will also line up golfers through their client base.  \n\n### Tournament Fact Sheet\t\t\t\t\t\nWhen creating your sponsor packages, make sure to include a Tournament Fact Sheet. This will give a potential sponsor all of the important information about the event and the organization. The fact sheet should be included with all sponsor package proposals. Include all key information in the fact sheet.\n\nSummary of supplemental golf tournament documents:\n* [Golf Tournament Planner with Timeline](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/Golf+Commitee+and+Timelines.pdf)\n* [Golfers Questionnaire](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/Golfers+Questionnaire.pdf)\n* [Golf Tournament Sponsor Sample Packages & Sponsor Letter](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/Golf+Sponsor+Package+%26+Letter.pdf)\n* [All 3 Above Golf Documents](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/Golf+Tournament+Complete+.pdf)\n\n\n------------\nSpecial thank you to Phil Immordino for providing expert content and supplemental timelines, forms and sample letters to help guide an fundraiser golf tournament.  \n\n[![gtaalogo 150.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/gtaalogo-150.png)](http://www.gtaaweb.org/)\n\nPhil has been involved in the golf industry of over 25 years.  He is the President of : \n[Golf Tournament Association of America](http://www.gtaaweb.org/) and \n[Golf Tournament Association of Canada](http://www.gtaaweb.org/)and \n[Night Golf Tournament Association](http://www.ngtaa.org/)   \n\nCurrently Phil travels the country giving seminars on, “Increasing Tournament Business”, “How to Produce a Successful Golf Tournament” and “Recruiting and Motivating Volunteers”. Consulting with golf courses, manufactures, Suppliers, Distributors, Golf Tournament Directors, Golf Instructors and Golf Course Designs, assisting them in increasing their business.",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1418},{"url":1419},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/54387504cac7453d28f0575a335d9646a8bbfaa4-600x320.png","2017-10-18T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":1422},"golf_tournament_auction","Take the next auction fundraiser and golf tournament to greater heights.  Make more money for your cause by pairing the two.","Pairing Auction Fundraiser with a Golf Tournament",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1426,"category":1427,"id":5,"image":1428,"publishOn":1431,"slug":1432,"teaser":1434,"title":1435},"After the event fundraiser concludes give your supporters an opportunity and easy way to continue donating without using their checkbook or credit card. Shopping is a year round activity, let your charity be the recipient while your supporters are making ordinary purchases.\n\n## Is passive fundraising right for my organization?\n\nWhether we’ve registered it or not, we’ve all been exposed to passive fundraising. Sometimes referred to as “set it and forget it” programs for gift card, grocery, and/or catalog purchases, these programs have likely crossed the path of many a parent or nonprofit donor.\n\nWhat do they mean? How do they work? And, is passive fundraising a right fit for your organization?\n\nThat all depends on how you manage your program.\n\nCertainly the “set it and forget it” model is a fantasy that’s too good to be true. If someone promises you it’s that easy, it would behoove you to walk away and look for another partner.\n\nThere are a multitude of shopping programs available. Generally they work something like this: your donor/supporter signs up for the program and has to click certain links to get a portion of the money they spent designated back to your cause. These programs are critically important right now because they provide a way for people to give back to the causes they care about most without having to make a donation out of their pockets. They are already shopping online and won’t have to pay extra for the items they purchase to benefit the organization they’ve chosen.\n\n## Motivated to Give\nEven now donors are still motivated to find ways to give. The [Nonprofit Leadership Center](https://nlctb.org/news/2020-donor-and-nonprofit-giving-trends/?gclid=CjwKCAiAt9z-BRBCEiwA_bWv-BXeOKZPRGOlm7pKWkJzD_QuPQHFPsQ_qRLDCCbXWouhlNxc1RV7WxoCZtcQAvD_BwE) states that, “Even amid a public health pandemic, recession, civil unrest and a divisive political climate, a recent study by [Fidelity Charitable](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/insights/how-covid-19-is-shifting-donor-giving.html) found that 43% of donors plan to continue supporting their usual charities.”\nWhen selecting your shopping program be sure to keep in mind that you will have to market it to your constituents. You may do this by including it in your newsletters or by making it a stand alone feature on your website, via emails, and social media campaigns. Keep in mind that marketing best practices say you may need to make between five to seven touchpoints with the shopping program in order for your donor to act. Other great ways to get this information in front of your donors is to promote it at events (virtual or in-person) and to use it as a follow-up communication.\n \n## Shopping and Contributing to Your Cause Year Round\nIf we take a look at all of the potential opportunities for holiday shopping we can see that it isn’t limited to just the winter season:\n * January: New Year's Eve & resolutions\n * February: Valentine's Day & Presidents’ Day\n * March: St. Patrick’s Day\n * April: Easter\n * May: Mother's Day & Memorial Day\n * June: Father's Day\n * July: 4th of July\n * August: Back to School\n * September: Labor Day\n * October: Halloween\n * November: Thanksgiving\n * December: You know the drill here\n\nThese holidays provide an excellent opportunity to capitalize on an online shopping program that will benefit your nonprofit, school, team, club, or faith-based organization every month of the year.  \n\n## Ordinary Household Shopping Contributing to Your Cause\nOutside of the holidays, how many times do you buy gifts for birthdays, graduations, baby showers, weddings, anniversaries, and everything in between? How much are you spending on average?\n\nBeyond those purchases, how often do you shop online for household items, sports equipment, clothing, pet supplies, grocery delivery, books, hobbies, toys, and entertainment? What does your monthly budget look like for those items?\n\nWhat if every time you bought cat toys and dog treats a portion of your purchases benefited the ASPCA? What if every time you purchased window cleaner and paper towels it gave back to a food pantry? What if every time you bought a pair of sneakers it helped cure breast cancer?\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/5060a8c6eb15c32548ed6d58c47844d4988af417-431x369.png)\n\n\n## Gift Cards: and you can double dip\nForget about outdated gift card programs. There is a new way to fundraise with gift cards that is hassle free, and you can double dip.\n\nIf you’ve been in the fundraising industry for any amount of time, (and especially in the education sector) you’ve likely run into Scrip programs for gift cards. A simple internet search will lead you to the myriad of complaints that customers have dealt with in the past when it comes to dependability within these programs.\n\nThe issues are incredibly frustrating because gift cards seem like a real no-brainer for the fundraising industry. Donors are shopping 24/7/365 for friends, family, and colleagues--even more so due to store closures or limited capacity of occupants during the pandemic. Largely due to that fact, and the nature of increasing online shopping, gift card sales are soaring worldwide and are predicted to break $400 billion dollars in 2021 according to Statista.\n\n## ShopRaise\n[ShopRaise](https://shopraise.com/) offers a new way for your nonprofit, school, team, club, or organization to capitalize on this growing trend.\n\nWhen you incorporate a shopping program into your fundraising mix, you create the opportunity for your donors to give generously without spending an extra dime out of their pockets.\n\n### Curious to know how ShopRaise works?\n\nIntegrate ShopRaise into your donation platform including your website and social media. You can contact your donors to let them know that when they are conducting their everyday shopping, they have the ability to give back to your cause without paying anything extra. The ShopRaise program is free to you and free to them.\n\nThe double dip comes in when shoppers purchase an online gift card (with simple and easy delivery to their inbox) and can then use them to shop at our 1,000 participating stores–which will donate a portion of every purchase back to your cause. That’s multiple donations to your organization without your donor having to spend anything extra from their pockets!\n\nIt’s a fast, simple, and easy way for you to generate bread and butter donations to keep your nonprofit steady and earning. We’ve got to get creative and find new and meaningful ways for donors to give meaningfully to the causes they care about most.\n\nAs everyone gets through the rest of the holiday rush, now is a great time to capitalize on gift card sales and add ShopRaise to your fundraising suite.\n\nShopRaise provides you a free and easy way to earn unrestricted funds for your organization every time your supporters shop. We also create customized marketing campaigns for you to take care of the heavy lifting. With as little as one hour per week you could be well on your way to earning every time your donors purchase online--all without them having to spend anything extra. What could be easier than that?\n\n---------------------\nSpecial thanks to [ShopRaise](https://shopraise.com/) for sharing the facts about passive shopping fundraising. \n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1429},{"url":1430},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/f42ad5c98433fab330034d7724573a0da0e668a0-600x320.jpg","2021-05-20T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":1433},"is-passive-fundraising-right-for-my-organization","Your event and auction donors to continue to support your cause year-round with ShopRaise.  Turns everyday shopping into support for your cause. ","Is passive fundraising right for my organization?",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1437,"category":5,"id":5,"image":1438,"publishOn":1441,"slug":1442,"teaser":1444,"title":1445},"Digital innovation is increasingly influencing the ways in which nonprofits [secure donations](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-to-create-effective-auction-donation-request-letters/), connect with donors, and operate efficiently. In a crowded market of fundraising tools with varying capabilities, it can be difficult to discern which tools will be most beneficial in helping your nonprofit meet (and even exceed) its goals.\n\nThe good news is that the right technology can transform your entire fundraising strategy, from learning about donors to planning the campaign to officially securing donations. Here are the essential tools every nonprofit should consider integrating into its tech stack.\n\n## 1. Donor Research Platforms\n \n[Donor research platforms](https://www.insightfulphilanthropy.com/blog/prospect-research-tools) help nonprofits identify high-value prospects based on their giving capacity, interests, and recent activities. With these fundraising tools, your team can bypass the process of manually gathering donor information and, instead, have data automatically delivered to your inbox. \n\nThere are several different types of platforms that facilitate donor research.\n\n* Donor News Alert Services. Donor news alerts are tools that search news outlets and information sources, identify relevant donor intelligence, and automatically deliver it to nonprofits on an intuitive platform. This tool helps nonprofits stay updated on factors that influence a donor’s decision to give, such as:\n\n* SEC filings. Financial reports detailing stock sales, business acquisitions, and similar events can reveal opportunities to solicit major gifts or [secure a sponsorship for a fundraising event](https://www.auctria.com/blog/auction-fundraiser-sponsorships-make-money/).\n\n* Philanthropic activity. Data about recent donations to other causes gives your nonprofit a better sense of prospects’ giving interests, so you can align your fundraising appeals with their values.\n* [ Obituaries](https://www.insightfulphilanthropy.com/blog/obituary-data). Notifications about the passing of a supporter’s loved one allow fundraisers to express their condolences and approach legacy giving conversations with appropriate timing and sensitivity.\n\nWith donor research tools, your fundraising team can do more than secure gifts. The data gleaned from this research can also help you learn more about your supporter base and identify timely touchpoints for donor engagement. This way, you can develop deep, genuine donor relationships that last long-term.\n\n### Wealth Screening Tools\n[Wealth screening tools](https://npoinfo.com/wealth-screening/) analyze publicly available data to understand a prospective supporter’s financial giving capacity. Using this information, your nonprofit can identify major donors, learn about their philanthropic interests, and create ideal fundraising asks accordingly. Useful wealth data might include:\n\n* Net worth\n* Real estate holdings\n* Stock transactions\n* Philanthropic history \n\nIdeal wealth screening tools consistently fetch new information, so your nonprofit always has updated data to pitch opportunities with. For example, the tool should be able to update your team if your existing donor, James, obtains new wealth. Then, you can change your normal communications with him to develop an ask for a major gift.\n\n### Matching Gifts Database\n\nA matching gifts database helps fundraising teams identify existing or potential supporters who are eligible to request a donation match from their employer. This solution can even automate the process when donors submit their employment information to the nonprofit, notifying donors of their eligibility and submitting a match request on their behalf. According to [Double the Donation’s statistics](https://doublethedonation.com/matching-gift-statistics/), using such a tool increases matching gift revenue for nonprofits by 20% to 60% annually.\n\n## 2. Artificial Intelligence (AI)\n\nAI is rapidly rising in popularity, not just in the world of fundraising, but in every aspect of daily life. It’s a versatile tool that can be used in many aspects of your fundraising efforts, including:\n\n* Donor communications\n* Marketing content creation\n* Performance tracking and report generation\n* Personalizing ask amounts\n\nWhile AI can streamline a wide variety of tasks, it’s important to note that this technology isn’t a great fit for every fundraising team. Nonprofits should especially be careful when relying on a tool that uses AI to segment donors, generate communications, or support other fundraising tasks that require a human touch. Many traditional fundraising tools can automate fundraising processes without using AI, offering the same level of efficiency without sacrificing authenticity.\n\n## 3. Event Management Software\nWhether you're hosting an auction, gala, or peer-to-peer campaign, event software helps you manage a fundraising event from start to finish. Some solutions encompass various event features, while others are tailored to manage just one type of event.\n\nThese tools typically facilitate:\n\n* [Ticketing](https://www.auctria.com/blog/smart-ticketing-elevates-your-fundraising-events/) and guest check-in\n* Creating and customizing event websites\n* Marketing and communications\n* Table assignments and seating charts\n* Volunteer scheduling and responsibilities\n* Event-specific functions, like mobile bidding for a silent auction\n\nOften, event management platforms summarize key fundraising tasks into an intuitive interface. This makes it easier for your nonprofit to run through its checklist of to-do items while planning, executing, and following up on events. Additionally, these tools streamline collaboration so that your fundraising, marketing, and volunteer teams can easily work together on different aspects of the event.\n\n## 4. Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) System\n\nA constituent relationship management (CRM) system serves as the central hub for tracking interactions and managing donor data.\n\nMust-have CRM capabilities include:\n\n* Contact and gift history tracking\n* Email marketing and automation\n* Donor segmentation\n* Integration with donation forms and payment processors\n\nThis organized repository of everything you know about your donors enables meaningful engagement and campaign personalization that boosts fundraising success. For example, you might learn that most donors prefer participating [in silent auction](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-does-a-nonprofit-silent-auction-work-3-tips-for-success/) fundraisers rather than live auctions and adjust your event planning accordingly.\n\n## 5. Online Giving Tools\n\nOnline donation platforms offer user-friendly interfaces for submitting and processing donations. This could range from the simple donation form on your nonprofit’s website to the elaborate peer-to-peer fundraising pages that supporters can customize and share. \n\nDepending on the type of campaign you want to host, there are several types of online giving tools your nonprofit might use:\n\n* Text-to-give software. Text fundraising, or text-to-give, software enables supporters to give by texting a keyword to a short number. \n* Crowdfunding software. Crowdfunding platforms host time-sensitive fundraising campaigns in which community members donate small amounts to reach a fundraising goal.\n* Online store. E-commerce software allows supporters to purchase merchandise (usually branded to your nonprofit), with the proceeds supporting your cause.\n\nKeep in mind that some platforms are “all-in-one,” meaning they encompass all of these features instead of focusing on just one capability. Investing in an all-in-one platform instead of implementing a handful of fundraising tools may save your organization some money, but it can also be overwhelming to teams that don’t want that many features. Weigh these options before deciding what non-negotiable features you’re looking for in a platform.\n\n## 6. Data Analytics and Reporting Platforms\n\nAnalytics tools summarize data surrounding donor behavior, campaign performance, and overall fundraising ROI to help nonprofits monitor their effectiveness. These fundraising tools are essential for navigating change. As donors’ expectations shift, [data analytics](https://www.deepwhydesign.com/articles/nonprofit-data-analytics) helps fundraising teams stay agile and improve outcomes.\n\n[Insightful Philanthropy’s donor cultivation guide](https://www.insightfulphilanthropy.com/blog/donor-cultivation) explains it well: Donor preferences will naturally evolve over time, and fundraising teams must track supporters’ responses to determine which strategies are most effective. Analytics tools offer the insights needed to identify shortcomings and pivot when needed.\n\nKey use cases include:\n\n* Campaign performance tracking, which analyzes donation totals and behaviors to inform future fundraising strategies\n* Donor segmentation analysis, which helps nonprofits determine which donor segments respond to different appeals\n* Board and stakeholder reporting, which enables nonprofits to export polished reports and visualizations that communicate impact\n* Predictive analytics, which makes predictions about future donor behaviors to inform proactive decisions and strategy adjustments\n\nWith robust analytics platforms in place, your fundraising team can act with confidence.\n\n## Final Thoughts on Tech-Driven Fundraising\nThe most successful nonprofit fundraising programs don’t rely on just one of these tools, but build a comprehensive ecosystem of strategic technology. By incorporating these systems into your workflow, you’ll be equipped to meet donors where they are and turn insights into impact.\n",{"asset":1439},{"url":1440},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/c07aef2b45bf915eaef86b39b0533619d2361f17-1000x533.jpg","2025-07-07T18:00:00.000Z",{"current":1443},"tech-driven-fundraising-tools-your-nonprofit-needs","Digital innovation is increasingly influencing the ways in which nonprofits secure donations, connect with donors, and operate efficiently. In a crowded market of fundraising tools with varying capabilities, it can be difficult to discern which tools will be most beneficial in helping your nonprofit meet (and even exceed) its goals.","Tech-Driven Fundraising: 5+ Tools Your Nonprofit Needs",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1447,"category":1448,"id":5,"image":1449,"publishOn":1452,"slug":1453,"teaser":1455,"title":1456},"# Events with Benefits Podcast Featuring Auctria\n\n![Events-with-Benefits-Cover-Art-800.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Events-with-Benefits-Cover-Art-800.png)\nAuctria was proud to share some auction fresh tips and takes on the Events with Benefits April 10th podcast.  \n\n[Listen to Auctria's interview on the Events With Benefits Podcast!](http://www.eventswithbenefits.com/13)\n\nThis weekly series is designed to provide nonprofit staff, volunteers, event planners, PTOs and more with cutting-edge insights and proven best practices to improve fundraising results.\nEach episode features a special guest from all sectors and backgrounds of the nonprofit industry, including charity auctioneers, legal advisors, development directors and more. \n\n------\nThe series is hosted by three longtime event fundraising professionals: Danny Hooper, benefit auctioneer at [Danny Hooper Productions](http://dannyhooper.com/); Ian Lauth, VP of Marketing at Winspire; and Renee Zau, Co-founder & CEO of [DonationMatch.](https://my.donationmatch.com/landing/RF15466?referral_code=RF15466&redirect=www.donationmatch.com)",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1450},{"url":1451},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/cb2ffb4a12a4641b9de7cb83e417abdd1b83468a-600x320.png","2017-04-10T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":1454},"events_benefits_podcast_april","Get smarter just by listening","Event With Benefits Podcast Featuring Auctria",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1458,"category":1459,"id":5,"image":1460,"publishOn":1463,"slug":1464,"teaser":1466,"title":1467},"If you’re planning a charity auction this year or next year, you need to offer exclusive, valuable, unique, and curated experiences that bidders can’t get at any other auction. Whether you're reorganizing an [online auction ,](https://www.bluetreemarketing.com/blog/how-to-create-an-online-auction-fundraiser) [silent auction ,](https://www.bluetreemarketing.com/blog/how-to-run-a-silent-auction-online-8-pro-tips) or [live gala ,](https://www.bluetreemarketing.com/blog/planning-a-corporate-gala-creating-an-event-that-leaves-a-lasting-impression) the right auction items will help generate excitement and increase bids, ultimately increasing revenue for your nonprofit. \n\nHere are auction item trends for 2025 and 2026.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/898e10f93034afbffe7824ff2979b3f1d62358a1-1367x592.png)\n\n## Bucket-List Travel Experiences\nTravel is back in full force, but people want more than just a hotel room. They're craving, curated, once-in-a-lifetime adventures. Top auction travel packages include:\n* [African safaris](https://www.bluetreemarketing.com/africanadventure)\n* Culinary trips through [Italy](https://www.bluetreemarketing.com/cortona6nights) or [France](https://www.bluetreemarketing.com/nicefrance)\n* Exotic escapes to Bali or St. Thomas\n* Sporting events like [NASCAR ,](https://www.bluetreemarketing.com/ultimatenascarfanexperience) [NHL ,](https://www.bluetreemarketing.com/nhlwinterclassic) Indy 500 , and [NBA All-Star Slam](https://www.bluetreemarketing.com/nbaallstargame)\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/e3f1164327ed27f01440901268cb4198832dbdaa-1348x579.png)\n\n## Socially Impactful & Sustainable Items\nBidders are increasingly values-driven and are looking for sustainable, ethical, or socially-\nfocused auction items. Examples of these auction items are:\n* Custom jewelry from fair-trade or upcycled materials.\n* Artisan gift boxes that support global communities.\n* Sustainable luxury goods like pre-owned fashion from high-end brands such as Chanel, Gucci, etc.\n\nThe preference for sustainable items reflects a broader cultural shift toward ethical consumption. Auction houses are tapping into this movement by curating collections geared explicitly toward environmentally conscious bidders.\n\n## Celebrity & VIP Access\nExclusive meet-and-greets or VIP tickets are always a hit. New twists on these top bidding\npackages could include:\n* Zoom cooking classes or cocktail hours with celebrity chefs or popular local chefs\n* [Music awards package](https://www.bluetreemarketing.com/countrymusicawards)\n* [NYC Thanksgiving Day experience](https://www.bluetreemarketing.com/nycthanksgivingday)\n* Cameo-style custom videos\n\n## Local VIP Experiences\nHyper-local, hyper-unique packages perform well for community-based events. Some of ideas\nfor local auction packages include:\n* “Mayor for a Day”\n* Behind-the-scenes tours of local landmarks\n* Farm-to-table experience at a local vineyard or sustainable farm\n* Membership to a local golf course\n* Helicopter tour over the city\n\n## Spa Packages\n* Full-day pass to a luxury spa\n* Spa treatment + yoga or meditation class\n* Mani and pedi, hairstyle, and facial\n* At-home massage or facial party for up to 4 guests\n\n## Educational Auction Items\n* Private mixology class\n* Art, photography, or dance lessons an expert\n* Sommelier-led wine tastings\n* Cheese making class\n\n## Hosting A Successful Auction\nA winning auction has something for everyone. Combining big-ticket items with smaller ticket items is a great way to make the event a fun experience for all attendees. When your auction reflects current trends and donor interests you’ll likely spark (fun!) bidding wars, which will make\nfor a memorable experience. \n\n-----\nSpecial thanks to [Brian Rechtman. Founder and CEO at Bluetree Marketing.](https://www.bluetreemarketing.com/) Brian says \" Let us take the stress off your plate. Our expert team can help you secure amazing, high-value packages that drive bids and boost your fundraiser’s success. Let’s work together on curating great experiences for your attendees!\"",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1461},{"url":1462},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/e74d5dc9ed8cb57ae801352c68a8186cc2639b25-1500x1000.jpg","2025-07-31T13:32:20.149Z",{"current":1465},"the-hottest-auction-trends-for-2025-2026-from-spa-days-to-safari","What bidders want next year—curated, exclusive, unforgettable.","The Hottest Auction Trends for 2025–2026: From Spa Days to Safari",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1469,"category":1470,"id":5,"image":1471,"publishOn":1474,"slug":1475,"teaser":1477,"title":1478},"# Thank-You, Thank-Everyone\n\n##  Thank Everyone means: Donors, Bidders & Volunteers\nSincere thank you letters to each and every donor and bidder are a necessity.   Professionally acknowledge the philanthropy in a timely fashion.  The donor may require a follow up for their records for future requests AND it’s the right thing to do.  The organization or individual was kind enough to spend time helping the fundraising auction so please properly thank them. \n\n![thank you letter overview 500x500.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thank-you-letter-overview-500x500.jpg)\n\n### Content:\n * short and sweet\n * how the donation will help the recipients in conjunction with the goals and mission of the fundraiser:\n *    provide food/ shelter/ services for community\n *    fund the programs/ arts/ sciences/ sports\n *    increase outreach\n *    purchase computers/ technology\n *    fund/ feed/ help children  \n *    help research to eradicate disease\n *    provide opportunities to people/ animals \n *    save/ feed/ nurture animals\n\n### Get Creative, Go Viral:\nIf pictures tell a 1000 words imagine what a video can do to tell the story.  Visuals instantaneously connect the donation contributions to the cause.  Create a video, post to YouTube and link; or share privately in email and social streams.  Present a visual story showing all the great ways the contributions have helped the the mission.  Recognize top donors and groups.  \n\n*ALWAYS include contact-us* information in any communications.\n\n### Timing:\n *  send out as soon as possible after the auction closes (at most within 2 weeks of the fundraising auction closing)\n * most thank-you letters can be printed prior to the event closing, then simply mail out after, this helps with the after event fatigue\n\n### Future Programming: \n * use the thank you letter to provide show how to to help in the future\n * save-the-date of next event(s)\n * provide information for volunteer opportunities\n\nContact Information:\nprovide current contact information on how to connect with the fundraising group should the need arise\n\n### Double the Donation:\nDouble the donation with Corporate Matching.  Small and large corporations have programs that will match an employee's non profit personal donation, many times these are overlooked or forgotten about.  A timely and simple reminder on the Thank You letter should be a prompt to the donor to consider inquiring with their employer or HR department to determine matching gift eligibility.  Always include a receipt that can be shared with the employer to facilitate the process. \n [Double the Donation](https://doublethedonation.com/) can help streamline these efforts.\n\n## Auctria organizes and automates the thank you letter process \nAuctria program can help facilitate the thank you letter process.  Customizing Appearance\nIt is a common requirement to want to add your own logo, contact or non-profit status information to a form.  Auctria supports this using Stationery Files\n\n### Bidder Statements\nAuctria will create PDF files of the bidder statements. This page generates a single PDF file with a page for each bidder with activity. Statement for individual bidders can be downloaded from the bidder details pages.  [Customize statements](https://docs.auctria.com/v3/printing/stationery) with stationery.\n\n### Donor Statements\nAuctria will create PDF files of the donor receipts. This page generates a single PDF file with a page for each donor.  Receipts for individual donors can be downloaded from the donor details pages.\n\n[Thank you letter: bidder](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cms-assets.auctria.com/uploads/Thank+You+Letter+Bidder.pdf)\n\n[Thank you letter: volunteer](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cms-assets.auctria.com/uploads/Thank+You+Letter%2C+VOLUNTEER.pdf)\n\n[Thank you letter: donor](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cms-assets.auctria.com/uploads/ThankYouLetter+Donor+of+AuctionGoodsServicesSample.pdf)",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1472},{"url":1473},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/6dbe8fa650222a61341e7998c105a3b020e3e86d-4061x2161.jpg","2016-01-01T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":1476},"thank_you_everyone","If you thank them, they will come back!  Thank Donors, Thank Bidders, Thank Volunteers today and tomorrow","Thank You, Thank Everyone",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1480,"category":1481,"id":5,"image":1482,"publishOn":304,"slug":1485,"teaser":1487,"title":1488},"Auctria has always been hyper-focused on making event fundraising easy. An extension of this philosophy can be seen in our new plans with increased features to optimize the event fundraiser and carry through the donation tools for year-round use.\n\nRecent new features to optimize your fundraising efforts include:\n\n- Fully Updated Auctria Mobile Application\n- Online Bidding Enhancements\n- Improved Supporter Recognition\n- Virtual Live Productions\n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/fb14c8ee0df1e99393960573e09e7ebc2b59a711-500x278.png)](https://vimeo.com/447524832)\n\n\n\n\nOutlined below are more details of the features and some examples of how to use these in your fundraiser. \n\n## Auctria Mobile Application\n\nThe Auctria mobile bidding application has been upgraded. Available now for both Apple iOS and Android, the app is an exact match to your auction website online and also includes QR code features for in-person events. \n\nFor convenience, bidders can download the mobile app for even faster bidding, notifications, and checkout. The mobile app is not required for bidders, but is another option to interact with your event. \n\n## Online Bidding Enhancements\n\nEach Auctria event includes a dedicated website with many elements that can be used out-of-the-box and styled to match your brand with images and videos.  New website elements have been added to further bring your mission's message to life.\n\n**Video and resource links can be attached to a single item.** You can add multiple links here and they will show up on the item details page on the website (and now in the mobile app!). It is especially helpful if you are doing team/competition/peer fundraising. Add a quick motivational video to enhance the excitement and encourage a personal connection. \n\nAttach a video link to an auction item for a special impact. Auctioning off a unique experience, keepsake or priceless item? If a picture is a thousand words video can tell an even stronger story to garner more bidders that should translate to higher bids.\n\n**Bid History** The full bidding history can now be shown with an item, so people can see how many times the item has been bid on.  Bidding history will be anonymous by default. \n\n## Supporter Recognition\n\n**Acknowledge Bidders** You can now acknowledge bidders that have donated in a donor catalog element.\n\n**Donation History** Donation history can now be displayed publicly with a donation item to acknowledge those that give.  \n\nA **Leaderboard** is now available for the website to showcase bids and donations in real-time. Donations beget donations, a little extra peer pressure is always helpful!\n\n**Mailing list opt-in** Set up your registration form to include a notification box to join your mailing list or newsletter.  By obtaining permission to join your mailing list you can now increase your message reach. Fresh and new supporters are more apt to volunteer and share your mission message. \n\n## Virtual Live Productions\n\nVirtual events bring a meaningful event to supporters while adhering to safety guidelines. Auctria's fundraising features can be paired alongside your live stream for a virtual live fundraiser.  \n\n**Live Auction Controller** allows you to conduct a live auction and paddle raise right on the bidder's phone while they are watching a live event.  \n\n**Video Production Pages** can be built with the event website using features designed for use with compositing software. When producing the live stream the event director may choose to use these pages to incorporate a leaderboard, or fundraising thermometer directly in the stream. \n\n**Video Pop-up panel** is a nice pairing with the virtual event enhancement. Use the pop-up for the live stream to make it easy for supporters to find everything on one page. The video-pop is most practical for viewers on a large screen like a desktop or laptop. \n\n## Auctria Experience\n\nBased upon the Spring and Summer events that did go on, we at Auctria expect the Fall and Winter fundraising season to surpass expectations. Your cause will need funding to continue the humanitarian work. An online auction, event fundraiser, or virtual live auction gives you the vehicle to advance those efforts. Give supporters, sponsors donors, and bidders an opportunity to give. \n\n**You are never alone!** Auctria regularly conducts webinars, roundtables, and demonstrations. Please join us for an upcoming event or view the playbacks. \n\n- Webinars are focused on a single subject or Auctria usage\n- Roundtables are conducted as FB Live sessions with industry experts fielding questions live from the audience\n- Demonstrations of the Auctria platform have open question and answer sessions with a support specialist\n- Join our Facebook group Auction Team Talk to join the conversation with other auction teams and industry experts\n\n## Expanded Customer Service Options\n\nFor those that want expanded customer service options, we are launching this month Auctria Launch and Auctria Assist. \n\n- **Auctria Launch** provides an assisted set up for your event and ensure it runs as smoothly and successfully as possible.  \n- **Auctria Assist** lets you schedule a session with an Auctria specialist for more in-depth personalized consultation or training for you and your auction team. \n",{"id":67,"title":68},{"asset":1483},{"url":1484},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/755865ca43ab9c8fc0818c6e5337ff0754c82659-600x320.png",{"current":1486},"auctria-summer-update-2020","New features & services added: mobile app updated, online bidding enhancements, improved supporter recognition & virtual live productions","Auctria Summer Update 2020",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1490,"category":1491,"id":5,"image":1492,"publishOn":1495,"slug":1496,"teaser":1498,"title":1499},"Jarod Breshears from Skeeterbuggins Productions, a professional media, video producer is certain virtual Events and the upcoming hybrid events are making event fundraising even better! So why would some groups cancel? Don't they still need funding? Jarod shares this story.\n\nSo I was out today on a personal matter.  I came home to the news that our local festival, The Apple Blossom Festival, was cancelling their annual auction.  This auction fell victim to the pandemic.  It was already rescheduled once during the pandemic and now fell to the ranks of being cancelled, like so many events out there.\n\nI asked myself this question... did they consider going virtual with their auction?  \n\nSome backstory here... I actually reached out to the festival twice... Once in August and again last month to see if they would consider going virtual and if they thought about it at all, I would love to have a conversation with them about it.  I figured it was worth a shot, especially to be involved in my community.\n\nThe responses I got to the feelers were the typical, we will put it under advisement category of replies.  I didn't think much about it as when you work in any sort of sales capacity in running a business, you get those responses all the time, comes with the territory.\n\nWhat shocked me is I didn't even get a phone call or an email before the cancellation come out.  Do they know in the short time we have been doing these events for our partners that they have been huge successes?  Each group has either met or exceeded their fundraising goals!\n\nDid they know we have connections to a network of specialists who can help them make their event a huge success?  Auctioneers, online platforms, event planners who could make their virtual event seamless! \n\nNext, I wonder... did I fail in marketing myself?  Is there something I am lacking in this process that didn't allow for the organization to consider us for this.  I will never know the answer to that question sadly. \n\nBut maybe the reason had nothing to do with me at all.  I have had so many discussions with groups during this pandemic.  Non-Profits.  Theater Groups.  Musicians. Politicians.  Businesses.  What comes up often as a deterrent is the fear of going virtual.  The lack of contact with each other.  Will this actually succeed?\n\nThe Universal answer I tell clients is this... It's better to do and attempt something, then to do nothing at all.  Your afraid of going virtual because of technology?  Let us take care of the tech to make the event go well and look great!  What about our audience?  The audience is knowledgeable enough by now to know what they need to do with internet streaming and video, and if they aren't, they have resources with family and friends who can help them.\n\nThe lack of contact with others?  Well, you can always do a happy hour mingle virtually... I know... I know... not ideal, but what else do we have to work with during this?  Heck, you could hold a small COVID safe party in your home.  We provide our events great tools, such as the ability to beam in parties live into the broadcast via phone or webcam or we can utilize social media platforms to allow the audience to interact via a hashtag for the event.  People love to see themselves being highlighted during an event.  This is actually a trick I learned from doing commencement ceremonies at the University level in production.\n\nWill this actually succeed?  I have yet to have an event that didn't reach their goals during this pandemic.  Why?  Because people who come to the event are their to support the organization.   But... what about those who support our organization because they want to be seen?  Well, we have the tools to help with that as well to give the donor the recognition they want and deserve!\n\nI think the biggest consideration with going virtual that needs to be addressed is the cost... I have done a lot of auctions while the only parties that are service providers being hired are the production (Skeeterbuggins) and an emcee/auctioneer.  That's it!  Wait... what about catering?  What about venue?  What about this?  What about that?  Guess what... you don't have those costs with going virtual!\n\nI see so many groups get hung up on creating an experience for people at home.  You know... the best events I have done so far, the focus always resides on the event and the presentation.  Not whether or not people are enjoying salmon while they watch the program.  You can save money by going virtual without sacrificing your reach.  You can keep your same audience as well as expand to unreached audiences by including the virtual component.  \n\n------------------\nSpecial thanks to Jarod Breshars, Founder of [Skeeterbuggins Productions](https://www.skeeterbuggins.com/) for sharing his expert advice. ",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1493},{"url":1494},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/2b8c23cafb871a8b95a56bdcb72c05d8e070a6a6-600x320.jpg","2021-07-26T16:00:00.000Z",{"current":1497},"did-they-consider-virtual","You can keep your same audience as well as expand to unreached audiences by including the virtual component.  ","Did They Consider Virtual?",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1501,"category":1502,"id":5,"image":1503,"publishOn":1506,"slug":1507,"teaser":1509,"title":1510},"As Giving Tuesday unfolded, the [City Choir of Washington](https://www.thecitychoirofwashington.org/), a distinctive member volunteer organization, conducted a symphony of generosity, seeking to inspire community support and shared harmony.\n\nWhat started as a one-day campaign evolved into a harmonious year-end initiative, weaving together self-funding, multi-generational vibrancy, and an unwavering commitment to community engagement. Their Giving Tuesday turned year end donation campaign was a success! Emily Hantman, the City Choir’s vice president and leader of their online fundraising brainstormed with Erin Freeman, the group’s Artistic Director shared their story here. \n\nBy engaging the community The City Choir of Washington strategically kicked off its giving campaign by generating anticipation a few days before the big day. On Giving Tuesday, at 6 am, the first email hit inboxes and social media platforms. Every two hours or so social media posts were updated and the giving continued. \n\n## Matching the Beat with a Donation Match(s)\n\nThanks to a generous private donor there was a donation match of $5000. The $5k goal was hit by mid day! The private donor generously offered an additional round of funds to finish off the day. Donation matches are a great incentive for supporters to make an even bigger difference. This only amplifies the impact of their collective contribution.\n\n## Donation Opportunities that are a Visual Symphony\n\n\nThe choir adopted a unique approach to donation levels, creating an innovative and visually appealing structure that mirrored the artistry of their performances. To enhance the experience of giving, the City Choir incorporated visuals that mirrored the donation amounts. The heart of the campaign lay in the creatively crafted donation amounts for all levels of giving, which were suggested by the group’s artistic director, conductor [Erin Freeman.](https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-freeman-2729531b)\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/96021fae84969e1276b933168f2bee131c712aba-1106x459.png)\n\n* **$28: A Note for Music Lovers**A donation for each occurrence of the words 'music,' 'song,' or 'singing' in the program, reflecting the lyrical essence of the choir's performances.\n* **$55: Bass II Harmony**Covering the cost of Robert A. Harris’s music scores for the City Choir’s Bass II section, nurturing the foundation of their vocal ensemble.\n* **$120: A Shakespearean Serenade** Funding the projection of Shakespeare's words in Vaughan William’s Serenade to Music, showcasing the choir's commitment to diverse artistic expressions.\n* **$220: Orchestral Measures** Supporting 10 measures of the orchestra in Elgar’s The Music Makers, contributing to the richness of the choir's musical tapestry.\n* **$312: Pianist's Precision** Tuning a piano played by their very own pianist, ensuring the instrument resonates in perfect harmony with the choir.\n* **$569: A Minute of Musical Brilliance**Covering the cost of one minute of music during the concert, allowing supporters to directly influence the choir's performance duration.\n\nThe donation levels were carefully calculated to provide meaningful information for multiple levels of giving opportunities. Calculating real expenses for real impact.\n\n## Social Media Messaging\nCarrying the messaging to social media proved effective. City Choir of Washington is active on social media year-round. So followers turn to their page for events regularly so this was a perfect communication channel to ask for donations. \n\nFollow [City Choir on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063581079950) for more great posts\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/a4f58c7b95fc2ad56ea360d4a4d144eb68c69e10-800x300.png)\n\nBecause they are a choir it is only fitting that they recorded and shared a choral. thanksgiving message. This too was shared on their website and social media.\n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/fcdfa5b4133995a24d24e02d1ab642eb9f98f11e-1264x707.png)](https://youtu.be/g0z3-Exe3lI?si=J5d5rTCBxoC-YFN3)\n\n\n## Giving Tuesday becomes a year end campaign\n\nThe campaign, which initially spanned just a few days leading up to and including Giving Tuesday. Riding on that success the choir decided to convert the GT donation page into a general end of year campaign page. This took little effort since the majority of the work was already completed. \nTogether, they composed a melody of giving that reverberated far beyond the confines of a single day, creating a lasting impact on the cultural symphony of their community.\nSpecial thanks to Emily Tsai, the City Choir’s vice president and leader of their online fundraising,  for sharing the expert advice.\n\nThe City Choir of Washington is a member-driven choral community that is as committed to the music it performs as to the city it serves. It presents thoughtfully curated musical events throughout the Washington, DC metro area to uplift and inspire audiences and singers alike.\n\nTheir vision seeks to serve as a model organization where artistic excellence, strong community, and positive culture mutually reinforce each other. To this end, City Choir will develop techniques and pursue opportunities that enrich our performances, performers, and contributions to the community, while strengthening our core organization.\n\n\n--------------\nSpecial thanks to Emily Hantman and Erin Freeman for sharing their fundraising advice. [Follow the City Choir on Facebook. ](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063581079950)\n\nConnect with Erin:\n[LinkedIn,](https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-freeman-2729531b/)\n[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/erinfreeman1/)\n[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ErinFreemanConductor)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":1504},{"url":1505},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/127cea2df4f7c9f7c95163b100c73c8997ffe345-600x320.png","2023-12-08T17:04:46.474Z",{"current":1508},"symphony-of-generosity-the-city-choir-of-washington-s-giving-tuesday-to-year-end-campaign","Lessons for Harmony of Giving","Symphony of Generosity: The City Choir of Washington's Giving Tuesday to Year-End Campaign: Lessons for Harmony of Giving",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1512,"category":1513,"id":5,"image":1514,"publishOn":1517,"slug":1518,"teaser":1520,"title":1521},"If you’re in charge of planning fundraising events at your nonprofit, you’ve probably hosted (or at least considered hosting) an auction. Auctions stand out among fundraising events for their [flexibility in format](https://www.auctria.com/blog/auction-types/) and compatibility with many other types of events, from galas to golf tournaments.\n\nBut with this flexibility comes a challenge: figuring out how to record all of the funds associated with your auction. At an auction, supporters can contribute in multiple ways—the same individual can buy a ticket, win auction items, and make a donation. Add in sponsorships, in-kind donations, and the upfront costs of [event planning](https://www.auctria.com/blog/a-guide-to-preparing-for-auction-and-event-fundraisers/), and your financial data can get complicated quickly.\n\nHowever, tracking all of your funding is essential for keeping your [nonprofit accounting](https://www.jitasagroup.com/nonprofit-solutions/nonprofit-bookkeeping-accounting-services/) system organized and accurately reporting your revenue and expenses at the end of the fiscal year. To help you record your auction funds, this guide will walk through three best practices to implement at your organization. Let’s dive in!\n\n\n## 1. Correctly Track In-Kind Donation Totals\n\nTo procure appealing auction items with minimal upfront costs, many nonprofits solicit in-kind donations. For these non-cash gifts, you still need to record their monetary value to [comply with nonprofit fundraising](https://www.auctria.com/blog/5-things-to-know-about-compliance-for-nonprofit-auctions/) and accounting guidelines. \n\nIn-kind contributions also require a different recordkeeping process from financial gifts. Here are some tips to accurately record in-kind donations you collect in advance of your auction:\n\n* **Know each item’s fair market value (FMV)**. For some goods, you can simply look up the item’s retail price to discover its FMV. However, one-of-a-kind goods and experiences are often more complicated to value. For these prizes, research comparable items online or ask the provider to estimate the FMV.\n* **Record each in-kind donation as a debit and a credit.** Note the FMV in both columns of your nonprofit’s transaction records to indicate that in-kind gifts result in a net zero gain in cash for your organization. This also ensures you record the debit of acquiring an asset and the credit of receiving donation revenue equivalent to the item.\n* **Adjust your record of each item after the event.** Once an item sells at auction, update your transaction record. Credit the asset acquisition side of the transaction and debit the donation revenue side to show that the item is no longer in your organization’s possession. Even if an item is quickly added and removed due to a fast sale, all associated transactions should still be recorded. \n* **Total all of your in-kind donation values**. Nonprofits that receive $25,000 or more in in-kind donations during a single fiscal year are required to file Form 990M with the IRS. Keep careful records of your donated auction items’ total value, along with any other in-kind contributions you receive throughout the year, so you know which forms to complete during tax season.\n\nThe best way to ensure your in-kind donations are tracked correctly is to [work with a nonprofit accountant](https://www.jitasagroup.com/jitasa_nonprofit_blog/nonprofit-accountant/). These professionals can help you navigate the double-entry system and ensure you have a record of every transaction involved in the item procurement process. They can also fill out Form 990M for you to reduce your team’s stress come tax season.\n\n##### Understanding Fair Market Value and Taxes\n\nFair market value (FMV) of auction items describes the price an item would sell for on the open market.\n\nFor tax purposes, the FMV is used to calculate the tax-deductible portion of a winning bid. If a bidder pays more than the FMV, only the amount paid over the FMV is considered tax-deductible. This means that if an item’s FMV is $1,000 and a donor places a winning bid of $3,000, they can claim they made a $2,000 donation on their taxes.\n\nMany [charity auction sites and auction software platforms ](https://www.auctria.com/features/)will provide tools for you to record details about each item, including their FMVs. This allows you to maintain better records and help price your items starting bids, as most nonprofits use FMV to determine bidding increments. \n\n\n## 2. Categorize Event Revenue and Expenses\nIn addition to tracking in-kind donations, you also need to organize the rest of your auction revenue and expenses so that you can report them accurately in your year-end financial statements.\n\nTo gain a better understanding of your event revenue, it’s effective to categorize it by source, such as:\n\n* Ticket sales\n* Auction item purchases\n* Additional individual donations\n* Contributions from financial sponsors\n\nAccording to [Jitasa](https://www.jitasagroup.com/jitasa_nonprofit_blog/statement-of-functional-expenses/), there are two primary ways your nonprofit can organize its expenses. Natural expense categories break down costs based on the nature of the transaction, while functional expense categories arrange them according to how your organization used the money.\n\nFor an auction, nearly all of your expenses will fall into the functional category of fundraising costs (as opposed to administrative or program expenses). However, your natural expenses may include a variety of payments, such as:\n\n* Venue rental, decorations, and equipment\n* Catering and entertainment for event attendees\n* [Marketing content creation](https://www.auctria.com/blog/effective-marketing-for-a-silent-auction-fundraiser/)\n* Fundraising software fees\n* Purchases of any auction items that weren’t donated\n\nWhen filing your annual tax returns, you’ll report your auction expenses based on their function. However, it’s also helpful to keep an internal record of your natural expenses. This way, when you plan future auctions, you can reference your past spending and look for ways to reduce upfront costs.\n\n\n## 3. Issue Donation Acknowledgments\nIn addition to updating your accounting system, another important [post-auction responsibility](https://www.auctria.com/blog/post-auction-duties/) is recognizing the supporters who contributed to your event. Your auction donation acknowledgments serve two purposes:\n\n* Thanking each supporter for their unique contributions. As[ eCardWidget’s guide to donor retention](https://ecardwidget.com/donor-retention/) explains, prompt and personalized thank-you messages are essential for retaining donors over time. Mentioning the different ways a participant contributed to your event—buying a ticket, purchasing auction items, making additional donations, etc.—shows that you value their individual contributions.\n* Providing documentation for tax deductions. If a supporter pays more than the FMV for an auction item, the excess amount is considered a tax-deductible charitable contribution. Additional monetary gifts made during your auction are also tax deductible, as are in-kind donations of auction items. Your nonprofit needs to issue each donor a written acknowledgment for contributions of $250 or more so they can claim them as tax deductions. However, it’s best practice to provide donation receipts for all gifts, regardless of monetary value.\n\nIn your donor database, make note of how each event participant contributed to your auction and whether you sent them a donation acknowledgment to ensure no supporters are missed.\n\n\n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/86043da47c7bef200f45437242b3b68fdd73a88d-1275x1650.png)](https://auctria.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/JitasaFMV.pdf)\n\n\n\n\n-------------------\n\nProperly accounting auction funds is essential not only for ensuring compliance with nonprofit regulations, but also for improving your donor retention and event planning strategies going forward. Use the tips in this guide to get started, and don’t hesitate to reach out to a nonprofit financial expert, if you need additional help with any aspect of recording or reporting your auction revenue and expenses.\n\n-----------\n\nSpecial thanks to Jon Osterburg for the expert advice. Jon has spent the last nine years helping more than 100 nonprofits around the world with their finances as a leader at [Jitasa](https://www.jitasagroup.com/), an accounting firm that offers bookkeeping and accounting services to not for profit organizations.\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1515},{"url":1516},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/bbaf481693d7e52e297f723f337118c5a4d8d98f-1200x640.png","2024-12-13T00:34:38.501Z",{"current":1519},"recording-nonprofit-auction-funds-3-best-practices","Auctions are popular nonprofit fundraising events, but tracking their financial data can be tricky. Discover three best practices for recording auction funds.","Recording Nonprofit Auction Funds: 3 Best Practices",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1523,"category":1524,"id":5,"image":1525,"publishOn":1528,"slug":1529,"teaser":1531,"title":1532},"\nYour event fundraiser was a huge success—money raised, awareness increased, and your mission spotlighted! But the power of a great fundraiser doesn’t stop at the end of the night. Auctria makes it easy to turn that event energy into lasting donor relationships with seamless integration into Little Green Light (LGL), helping you raise money and awareness, while keeping supporters engaged for the long haul.\n\n## Raising Money and Raising Awareness: The Dual Power of Events\nA well-executed event fundraiser does two critical things for your organization: it raises essential funds and raises awareness for your cause. Every bid, paddle raise, ticket purchase, and donation supports your mission financially, while the event itself educates attendees about your impact. With Auctria, you’ve already achieved this through mobile bidding, live auction excitement, and online engagement. But what happens next is key.\n\nAfter the event, it’s crucial to turn this success into lasting relationships. You want to guide your donors from a single gift to a lifetime of support. Here’s where Auctria’s special LGL reports come into play.\n\n## Capture Event Success with Auctria’s LGL Reports\n### 1. Transaction Export\nKnow Every Move Your Donors Made The Transaction Export gives you a deep dive into every bid, sale, and donation. Knowing which items your donors were most passionate about helps you tailor future communications. This report allows you to:\n* Personalize your thank-yous based on what supporters bought or bid on.\n* Identify high-value donors to engage with more targeted outreach.\nUse item interests to shape future events or campaigns.\n\n### 2. Account Export\nFocus on Donor Totals for Long-Term Strategy. Account Export provides a high-level summary of your donors’ total contributions. This helps you instantly see who your key contributors are and who might need more attention. \n\nWith this info in LGL, you can:\n* Segment your donors by total giving and engagement.\n* Create more effective, tailored communication plans.\n* Steward donor relationships by knowing where they are in their giving journey.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/97e6c2333af7e9e7b1621d30540bd139c924b2ed-1118x503.png)\n\n## Steward Donors with LGL: Take the Giving Journey to the Next Level\nIntegrating your event data into Little Green Light helps you transform one-time participants into long-term supporters. \n\n**Flex Importer tool is now live.** The first step is to activate the Auctria \"integration\" in Integration Settings. Checking the box on that page exposes the Auctria Transactions template in our Flex Importer tool. Then, when you have an Auctria Transactions export, then import  through the Flex Importer and select the Auctria Transactions template from the templates dropdown list. **DONE!**\n\nA CRM like LGL helps you steward donors through every stage of the giving journey:\n\n* **Start with Gratitude:** Use the rich data from Auctria to send heartfelt, personalized thank-you messages that speak to your donors' specific contributions. Recognizing their support right away makes them feel appreciated.\n\n* **Engage with Storytelling:**  event raised awareness, but now it’s time to deepen that connection. Use LGL to send follow-up emails, newsletters, and updates that tell the story of how their contribution is making a real difference.\n\n* **Nurture Relationships:** With LGL’s powerful contact management, you can keep donors in the loop with timely updates and invitations to future events. Keep communication flowing and make it easy for them to feel like part of your mission.\n\n* **Encourage Future Giving:** Use the data from Auctria to plan your next ask. Whether it’s for a new campaign, another event, or a year-end appeal, LGL helps you make your request based on past giving patterns, ensuring it resonates with your donors.\n\n## Why It Matters\nYour event was about more than just raising money in the moment—it was about bringing people closer to your cause. By using Auctria’s seamless integration with Little Green Light, you’re not just collecting data, you’re collecting insights that fuel donor stewardship. This is the key to guiding your supporters on a meaningful, ongoing journey with your organization.\n\nWhen your donors feel connected to your mission, they’re more likely to stick around, contribute again, and become lifelong champions for your cause. **By raising both money and awareness, and then using the power of a CRM like LGL, you’re setting your organization up for long-term success.**\n\nAuctria + Little Green Light: Working in harmony to amplify your impact, strengthen donor bonds, and fuel lasting support for your cause. ",{"id":67,"title":68},{"asset":1526},{"url":1527},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/7e1a80bc0151c9dd6169282303dd36620501b1f9-800x451.png","2024-12-26T17:08:59.852Z",{"current":1530},"using-auctria-new-reports-and-little-green-light-s-flex-tool-steward-donors-for-long-term","Turn event success into lasting support","Using Auctria (NEW reports) & Little Green Light's Flex Tool: Steward Donors for Long-Term Success ",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1534,"category":1535,"id":5,"image":1536,"publishOn":1539,"slug":1540,"teaser":1542,"title":1543},"Auctria was invited Tree-Fan's Podcast. [Listen back to the entire conversation here.](https://treefanevents.com/podcasts/)\n\nAlso available on these podcast services:\n\n- Apple Podcasts\n- Google Podcasts\n- Spotify\n- Stitcher\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1537},{"url":1538},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/eee73400b57244265c502bd7f0065cdc1d4988b4-600x320.png","2020-08-10T16:00:00.000Z",{"current":1541},"tree-fan-podcast-or-with-auctria","Auctria was in invited guest to Tree-Fan's podcast in August. Links to listen","Tree-Fan Podcast | with Auctria",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1545,"category":1546,"id":5,"image":1547,"publishOn":1550,"slug":1551,"teaser":1553,"title":1554},"# How To Make An Online Auction Entertaining\n\n[Online auctions](https://www.auctria.com/) are a vital fundraising tool - an easy way to attract donations to your cause while also providing things of value to your supporters. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced more fundraising auctions into the digital realm, presenting challenges to organizers who want to keep donors interested. However, virtual auctions aren’t always the most exciting events, are they? They can be relatively dry, uninspiring and functional. Since it is becoming more and more challenging to hold people’s attention in the online space, it is essential to make your [virtual auction](https://www.auctria.com/virtual-live-auction/) as engaging as possible. Here are a few tried and tested tips that will help you make an online auction entertaining.\n\n## Communicate\n\nCommunication is key to almost every successful endeavor, online auctions included. As you set up your auction, or make the challenging move of taking a real-world auction into the virtual space, you need to make a point of communicating clearly and regularly with your donor network. Tell them what you are doing and why, how they can continue to participate, and how it will be fun for them to do so. The shift to a virtual platform must be presented as a positive, progressive shift, not a second-choice alternative made in response to worries and restrictions. Tell your donors how the virtual auction can be even more enjoyable than a real-world one. Be sure to keep them posted as the auction develops.\n\n## Promote Everything\n\nAs you get the auction up and running, you must ensure that your donors are up to date with every bit of development. Every bit of news must be announced via email or social media, with an invitation a call to action so that donors can take a look or take the next step. Whenever new items are posted, when biddings open or close, or when someone makes a new bid that is just begging to be topped by another bidder, post the news, mail it, promote it.\n\n## Get creative\n\nWhy not think out of the box and turn your auction into an experience for your donors? You could combine the virtual and the real world by, say, sending gift bags to your donors prior to the event, just as you might hand out gift bags as guests arrive at a physical auction. Try creating a private Facebook page where attendees can connect with each other and your staff. You could also send out text and email messages before the event to encourage participation - then continue sending messages throughout the event itself. Get together with your team and brainstorm more ways to encourage and reward participation. There are many ways to turn an online auction into an enjoyable event for all involved.\n\nAuctria provides efficient and affordable tools to help nonprofits and other organizations run successful nonprofit auctions. For more information on how to make an online auction entertaining, as well as other expert virtual auction tips, [contact Auctria](https://www.auctria.com/contact/) today!",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1548},{"url":1549},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/4ac2d50b5ad593cbef634c85c030558dce497b72-600x320.png","2022-02-03T17:00:00.000Z",{"current":1552},"how-to-make-an-online-auction-entertaining","Online auctions are not always an exciting way to buy or sell goods - but they can be. Learn how to make online auctions more entertaining here.","How To Make An Online Auction Entertaining",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1556,"category":1557,"id":5,"image":1558,"publishOn":1561,"slug":1562,"teaser":1564,"title":1565},"## Auctria’s Winter 2025 Release:\n\n[**November 2025**] — Auctria, the trusted leader in fundraising event and auction software, continues to deliver value and efficiency to nonprofit organizations with its Winter 2025 release. The latest features highlight Auctria’s commitment to empowering nonprofits with tools that make events easier to manage and more impactful.\n\nThe focus of this release is on *Focused Modes*, innovative dashboard views that streamline day-of-event activities and post-event reporting, helping nonprofits stay organized and maximize their impact at every stage.\n\n### Focused Modes: Tailored Tools for Your Key Moments\n\nThe Winter 2025 update introduces **Day-Of** and **Post-Event Dashboards**, each carefully designed to simplify event workflows.\n\n**Day-Of Dashboard**\nThis new view prioritizes the most-used tools for event-day activities, such as check-ins, paddle raises, and donation tracking. With everything readily accessible, your team can focus on delivering a seamless experience for attendees and donors.\n\n**Post-Event Dashboard**\nAfter the event, the Post-Event Dashboard provides a clear financial summary with drill-down capabilities, making reconciliation and reporting easier than ever. From income summaries to donation details, this view ensures that no data is overlooked.\n\n### Key Enhancements for Efficiency and Control\n \nAuctria continues to innovate with additional updates that make managing events more efficient:\n\n* **Paddle Raise Enhancements:** Dedicated tools for tracking and reporting donations, with real-time updates for greater visibility.\n* **Dessert Dash Automation:**  Simplify setup and activity recording for this popular fundraising activity.\n* **Streamlined Check-In:** Condensed views and faster edits reduce bottlenecks and improve attendee management.\n* **Unified Settings Page:**  A single, searchable location for all event settings ensures quick access to key configurations.\n* **Focus Mode:**  Hide page banners and sidebars to maximize space for the tasks that matter most.\n\n### Why Auctria Stands Out in the Nonprofit Tech Stack\n\nAuctria’s approach to feature development is rooted in collaboration with its users, ensuring every improvement reflects the real needs of nonprofit organizations. By prioritizing tools that save time and reduce complexity, Auctria continues to strengthen its position as an invaluable part of any nonprofit’s technology stack.\n\n“At Auctria, we believe that innovation isn’t just about adding features—it’s about delivering meaningful improvements that help organizations achieve their mission more effectively,” said [Spokesperson Name], Director of Business Growth and Strategy. “The Winter 2025 release exemplifies this commitment, giving nonprofits tools that make fundraising events smoother, more efficient, and ultimately more successful.”\n\n\n### Available Now: Your Feedback Matters\n\nThe Winter 2025 features are available now in preview mode, allowing users to explore and provide feedback before the full rollout. Simply click the “Winter 2025 Preview Release” banner in your Auctria dashboard to test these tools with live event data. You can switch back to the current version anytime.\n\n### About Auctria\n\nAuctria is a full-featured auction and fundraising event platform, trusted by nonprofits, schools, and community organizations since 2011. With over $1 billion raised by its users, Auctria continues to lead the way in making fundraising simple, efficient, and impactful.\n\nFor more information, visit [Auctria.com](https://www.auctria.com).\n",{"id":67,"title":68},{"asset":1559},{"url":1560},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/0418540c0ad7b1c6f001101112428490cdcb38ff-600x320.jpg","2024-11-20T17:00:00.000Z",{"current":1563},"auctrias-winter-2025-release","This release is on Focused Modes - innovative dashboard views that streamline day-of-event activities and post-event reporting, helping nonprofits stay organized and maximize impact.","Auctria's Winter 2025 Release: Focused Modes & Enhancements",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1567,"category":5,"id":5,"image":1568,"publishOn":1571,"slug":1572,"teaser":1574,"title":1575},"Running a live auction can be a daunting task, but with a certified benefit auctioneer, the stress melts away, and fundraising becomes a breeze.\n\nWhen it comes to fundraising events, a live auction can be the highlight that drives the most excitement and the biggest contributions. But the key to a successful auction isn’t just in the items you offer; it’s in how you present them and the unique experiences you create. That’s where a certified benefit auctioneer come in. By reducing stress and providing high-value auction lots, event staffing, and vendor partnerships, [FSA Auctions](https://freddiesilveria.com/) ensures that your event runs smoothly and exceeds its fundraising goals. \n\nReady to elevate your auction game? \n\nHere are ten innovative ideas guaranteed to spark big bids and make your event unforgettable.\n\n\n## #1 Golden State Warriors Game Suite? \n**Think Bigger!** Imagine receiving a suite to a Golden State Warriors game. Awesome, right? Now, picture this: you've built a relationship with the donor and pitched a wild idea far in advance. How about 20 kids playing a pickup game with Stephen Curry in your backyard for the afternoon? Throw in a margarita machine for the adults and a catered BBQ for 50 guests. That's beyond priceless! Market it well ahead of time, and it could be your highest-grossing auction lot ever!\n\n## #2 Vegas Weekend with a Racing Experience? \n**Let’s Amp It Up!** Secured a weekend in Vegas with a sports car racing experience? Fun, but let's brainstorm with the board and key supporters. What if we offer a private jet for 12 guests to fly to Vegas, stay the weekend, race, and then fly back home in style? Now that’s an adrenaline rush! We sold this package for a whopping $27,000!\n\n## #3 Date Nights for a Year? \n**Let’s Go All Out!** Date nights for a year are always a hit. But what if we up the ante to “TLC for Your Car, House, and Spouse for a Year”? We secure unlimited car washes, home/office cleaning services, and date nights for a year. Valued at $4,000, we sold this package for $10,000!\n\n\n## #4 Foursome at a Private Golf Course? \n**Add a Twist!** A foursome at a private golf course is cool. Now, what if we include our emcee, a local celebrity and golf enthusiast? The original value was $500, but with the emcee joining, we sold it for $2,500!\n\n## #5 Private Island Experience? \n**A Dream Come True!** Five days and four nights on your own private island for 10 guests, complete with a private chef, wait staff, and massages included. This insane package was sold for $100,000 by FSA Auctions!\n\n## #6 VIP High School Graduation Seats? \n**Yes, Please!** Front row seats to a high school graduation with VIP service. FSA Auctions sold this twice for $8,500 each!\n\n\u003Ciframe src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/video/963572452?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479\" width=\"630\" height=\"354\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write\" title=\"Bishop O'Dowd HS Crab Feed & Auction '22 FSA Auctions\">\u003C/iframe>\n\n## #7 Authentic Spanish Paella Party? \n**Ole!** After some brainstorming, someone remembered a well-known donor who made amazing Paella. We asked her to host a Paella party in the winning bidder’s home with Spanish wine pairings. This delightful experience sold four times for $2,500 each!\n\n## #8 Out-of-the-Shoe Box Thinking? \n**A Foot Forward!** We discovered an alum who owned a popular shoe store in LA, frequented by athletes. We packaged two nights at a hotel with airfare, a $500 shoe store credit, and a tour on entrepreneurship with the owner. With effective marketing, we sold this twice for $7,500 each!\n\n## #9 Whiskey Tasting? \n**Spur-of-the-Moment Success!** Faced with a shortage of auction items, FSA Auctions struck up a conversation with a well-known guest. On the spot, we sold a whiskey tasting in this person’s home for $2,750!\n\n## #10 Food Trucks? \n**A Crowd Pleaser!** Food trucks are a massive hit! FSA Auctions sold a food truck for 100 guests for four hours, twice, at $6,000 each!\n\n## #11 Beneficiary’s Painting? \n**Heartwarming Success!** \nA painting by one of our beneficiaries was our first auction lot. The young girl, who faced health challenges, shared her story, and in minutes, we sold the painting for over $12,000!\n\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/3dacbe7c4b4ce5273443d7abc109ef8d54550049-631x833.png?w=450)\nLet these examples spark your creativity! The combination of unique, high-value auction lots, professional auctioneering, and comprehensive support services ensures that your event will not only meet but exceed its fundraising goals. \n\nLeveraging the expertise of a professional auctioneer and the services of [FSA Auctions](https://freddiesilveria.com/) can elevate your event to new heights.\n\n-----\nSpecial thanks to Freddie Silveria for the expert advice on live auction fundraising. Freddie is FSA Auctions, owner Freddie Silveria has helped nonprofits, schools and charity organizations across the country fundraise over $50 million dollars at their fundraising galas and events.\n\n\nThe FSA Advantage: Reducing Stress and Maximizing Success\nHiring a certified benefit auctioneer from FSA Auctions significantly reduces the stress of running a live auction. Our professional auctioneers bring expertise, charisma, and efficiency, ensuring your event runs smoothly and exceeds fundraising goals.\n\nBut that's not all. FSA provides auction lot trips and experiences, making it easy for you to offer unique and high-value items. We also offer event staffing, resources, and connections to trusted vendor partners, so every aspect of your event is covered.\n\n FSA Auctions has partnered on over 400 events for partners like: American Cancer Society, American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Club, Court Appointed Special Advocates, De La Salle High School Concord, Food Banks, Girls Scouts, Habitat for Humanity, Make-A-Wish, Ronald McDonald House Charities, SPCA’s, United Way and more. Freddie Silveria is the only auctioneer in the state of California to earn the most prestigious 3 year Certified Auctioneers Institute (CAI) designation from the National Auction Association (NAA) at Indiana University. Freddie is also 1 of 14 CA auctioneers to earn the Benefit Auction Specialist (BAS) designation. He is an Association of Fundraising Professionals board member, rotarian and graduate from the World Wide College of Auctioneering in Iowa. He was recently named Sacramento’s 40 under 40. \n \n [Follow Freddie on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/fsaauctions/)\n \n [Follow Freddie on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0etCIycOMw8GpkvLackpLxOcce2l32Ig)\n \n [Follow Freddie on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/FSAauctions)\n \n ",{"asset":1569},{"url":1570},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/54365f2063539d77324606d05eaf90e14df27be2-600x320.jpg","2024-06-20T18:26:15.080Z",{"current":1573},"live-auction-fundraising-frenzy-11-innovative-ideas-for-big-bids","10 ideas +inspiration list!","Live Auction Fundraising Frenzy: 11 Innovative Ideas for Big Bids",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1577,"category":1578,"id":5,"image":1579,"publishOn":1582,"slug":1583,"teaser":1585,"title":1586},"[Nonprofit videos](https://tectonic.video/best-nonprofit-videos) have the unique ability to capture the hearts and minds of your supporters. Through the combination of images, dialogue, and on-screen text, you can bring your mission to life and encourage people to act. It’s no surprise, then, that [57% of people](https://www.qgiv.com/blog/fundraising-statistics/) who watch nonprofit videos go on to make a donation. \n\nIf nonprofit videos aren’t already part of your organization’s outreach strategy, then you’re missing out on a valuable opportunity to further your mission and communicate your [nonprofit’s brand promise.](https://www.barlele.com/nonprofit-brand-promise/) Follow these five best practices to create compelling video content that [engages supporters](https://www.auctria.com/blog/4-key-strategies-for-nonprofits-to-keep-supporters-engaged/) and inspires meaningful results. \n\n## 1. Use video to achieve your larger goals \nThe first step of creating a nonprofit video is to plan how it will align with your organization’s larger goals, such as raising awareness for your nonprofit’s mission, promoting an upcoming [charity auction,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/the-6-best-tips-for-your-online-charity-auction/) or explaining a pressing issue. Narrow down the focus of each video so that viewers understand its purpose and feel drawn to take the appropriate next steps to support your cause.  \n\nReach your goals with these fundamental nonprofit videos:\n\n* **Organizational videos:** An organizational video provides an overview of your nonprofit’s mission and helps to raise brand awareness. \n\n* **Fundraising videos:** Fundraising videos encourage current and prospective donors to give to a specific campaign. When done correctly, they build your case for support and allow you to drive donations. \n\n* **Testimonial videos:** Testimonial videos give supporters or constituents an opportunity to affirm your nonprofit’s impact in their own words. These films evoke an emotional response in viewers and deepen their connection to your cause. \n\n* **Explainer videos:** Explainer videos take viewers on a deep dive into the specifics of your work and shine a light on complex issues, helping to position your nonprofit as an expert in the field. \n\n\nKeep in mind that your nonprofit isn’t tied to just one type of nonprofit video. Rather, you should produce a diverse range of content to keep viewers engaged and reach your goals at a given time. For instance, you could create an organizational video to introduce new donors to your cause. Then, roll out a series of fundraising videos throughout the year to solicit their support.\n\n## 2. Film for a target audience \nFor the most effective nonprofit videos, identify your intended audience and  tailor your content to appeal to them. Ensure your videos are relevant by collecting donor data like: \n\n* **Donor demographics:** Demographic information such as the general age range of your audience can help you make informed decisions about their preferred video content. For instance, if you have a large number of Millennial donors, you can make a case for creating explainer videos, as 70% of these supporters watch video content to learn how to do something new or explore a topic they’re interested in.\n\n* **Engagement history:** Consider how supporters have interacted with your nonprofit in the past. How recent, frequent, and large were their gifts? If you just received a significant number of major gifts, send those donors a testimonial video that demonstrates the impact of their generosity.\n\nIn addition to sifting through your donor database, you might send out a survey to better understand the preferences and interests of your supporters. Ask questions like, “What kind of video content would you want to see from our organization?” Then, script and film your videos according to their feedback. This shows supporters that you value their input, helping you earn their support. \n\n## 3. Keep the basics of storytelling in mind \nTurning your nonprofit video into a compelling story can leave a lasting impact on viewers and encourage them to get more involved. As you prepare to film, keep the following [storytelling principles](https://tectonic.video/nonprofit-video-storytelling) in mind:\n\n* **Find a compelling main character.** Nonprofit videos need a compelling character to inspire viewers and motivate them to [act on behalf of your cause.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/5-ways-to-turn-advocacy-into-action/) Your main character could be an active donor, board member, or constituent who benefits from your services. For example, if you’re filming an explainer video to raise awareness about childhood cancer, you could interview a patient who benefitted from the lifesaving treatments that you helped discover.\n\n* **Set the scene.** Decide where your video will take place. For the greatest impact, add movement and visual interest by taking viewers behind-the-scenes of your operations or walking them through the communities that you serve. \n\n* **Problem solve.** Introduce a challenge that your character faces, such as having unequal access to healthcare. Then, show how your organization is working to solve that problem with the help of its supporters. For example, you could say, “With support from generous viewers like you, children like Ben can receive the treatment they deserve.”\n\nTo help your story remain focused and clear, compile your ideas into a detailed script and refer back to it throughout the filming process. \n\n\n4. Prioritize visuals over on-screen text \nRather than overwhelming your audience with on-screen text, use compelling visuals\nand narration to draw viewers into your video. To start, pay attention to lighting. The position, brightness, and color of lights dictate the mood of the scene. If you’re filming your own nonprofit video, consider purchasing a basic light kit to ensure you get the right lighting. \n\nThen, pay attention to angles, framing, and camera movement. Abide by the rule of thirds to center the focus on your subject and add depth wherever possible. Having a background, middle ground, and foreground in each scene helps to create an awe-inspiring experience for your audience. \n\nFinally, as your nonprofit video draws to a close, include a call-to-action button, link, or voiceover that encourages viewers to support your cause. For instance, you could add a donate button to your final scene and have the narrator give a straightforward direction like “donate to help end food insecurity today.” According to [fundraising statistics from 360 MatchPro,](https://360matchpro.com/fundraising-statistics/) simply calling attention to a donate button in this way can result in a 190% increase in donations. \n\n## 5. Market your video across channels\nAccording to [Tectonic Video’s guide to video marketing,](https://tectonic.video/video-marketing-for-nonprofits) adopting a multichannel approach to promoting your nonprofit video allows you to reach more people and make more of an impact. Multichannel video marketing leverages several communication channels, including:\n\n\n* **Youtube:** YouTube is the most popular platform for nonprofit video promotion and consumption. Post content to the site and share the link across your other marketing channels.\n \n* **Social media:** Use social media to share your nonprofit videos with large audiences. Just remember to tailor your content to each social media channel. For instance, videos going on Instagram should be sliced to 1 minute or less, as short-form content performs better on that platform.\n\n* **Email:** Email is an inexpensive and easy way to engage supporters with your video content. Encourage people to open the email and click through to your video with an eye-catching subject line like “Watch this special video message from our team.”\n\n* **Website:** People spend about [1.4 times more](https://wistia.com/learn/marketing/video-time-on-page) time on web pages with video content, so embed videos across your nonprofit website to get users invested in your cause. \n\nWith multiple touchpoints, you can reach your target audience on their preferred platforms and grab the attention of as many supporters as possible. In turn, you’ll see higher traffic and an even higher ROI.\n------------------\n\nNowadays anyone can take out their phone and press record. However, if you want your nonprofit video content to provide a positive return on investment, consider partnering with an [experienced nonprofit video production company.](https://tectonic.video/nonprofit-video-production-company) Their team of expert video storytellers will handle everything from filming to distribution to ensure that your content inspires meaningful action.\n\n\nSpecial thanks to Doug Scott, Founder & CEO of [Tectonic Video](https://tectonic.video/) for the expert advice. Doug has more than 20 years of nonprofit communications experience as a filmmaker, communications director, chief marketing officer and leader of two creative agencies for nonprofits. Doug is a global citizen having traveled to more than 50 countries. He earned his B.A. in Strategic Communications from DePaul University, and he's a frequent guest lecturer at Stanford University on topics related to nonprofit storytelling and storytelling ethics.\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1580},{"url":1581},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/f47e07b67d2e588bc9bf3c4f84c960a3e53db7a3-600x325.jpg","2022-12-16T19:13:56.202Z",{"current":1584},"nonprofit-videos-a-guide-to-inspiring-your-supporters","Nonprofit videos capture viewers’ hearts and minds. Follow this guide to learn how to create content that engages supporters and drives meaningful results.  ","Nonprofit Videos: A Guide to Inspiring Your Supporters ",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1588,"category":1589,"id":5,"image":1590,"publishOn":1593,"slug":1594,"teaser":1596,"title":1597},"Getting strong support for your fundraising event takes more than a date on the calendar, it takes strategic marketing that makes sponsors, auction donors, and attendees feel like they can’t miss being part of what’s happening. The most successful event marketing doesn’t just promote your mission, it clearly communicates **who your audience is, why they matter, and why your event is a valuable engagement opportunity for everyone.**\n\n## 1. Recognize and Market the Unique Value of Your Audience\n\n\nEvery event has a built-in audience advantage. The key is recognizing it and making it explicit in your marketing.\nFor example:\n* A school fundraiser brings together parents and guardians of children in specific age ranges, making it highly attractive to child-focused brands, camps, enrichment programs, and services.\n* A long-running gala or tournament carries proven success, loyal attendees, and built-in influencer-like credibility.\n\nLook at your past events and ask:\n* Who consistently attends?\n* What do they have in common (age, lifestyle, values, spending habits)?\n* What have sponsors or donors benefited from before, visibility, sales leads, brand goodwill, or repeat engagement?\n* When you clearly articulate why your audience is valuable, sponsors and auction donors stop seeing your event as a favor, and start seeing it as a strategic opportunity.\n\n[Finding auction items starts with a target list of business and services are known for their generosity](https://www.auctria.com/blog/finding-auction-item-donations/)\n\n\n## 2. Understand What Sponsors and Auction Donors Care About\nNot all sponsors are looking for the same outcome, and your marketing should reflect that.\n\nSome sponsors want:\n* Brand exposure and name recognition\n* Direct engagement with a specific audience\n* Lead generation or customer acquisition\n\nOther, especially banks, insurance providers, utilities, and large regional or national employers, are often motivated primarily by community goodwill. For these organizations, visibility matters less than being seen as a trusted, positive contributor to the communities they serve.\nYour messaging should make room for both:\nHighlight audience fit and reach for marketing-driven sponsors.\nEmphasize community impact, local presence, and mission alignment for goodwill-driven partners.\nWhen sponsors see that your event aligns with their goals, whether commercial or community-focused, they’re far more likely to say yes.\n\n## 3. Frame Sponsors and Donors as Heroes of the Event\nEffective event marketing positions sponsors and auction donors as essential partners in the experience, not just names on a sign. Highlight how their participation makes key moments possible, from headline auction items, VIP experiences, to projects and programs funded by the event—by offering exclusive sponsorship opportunities tied to these features that make their impact tangible. \n\nLanguage like *“Made possible by…” or “Thanks to our community partners…” reinforces their importance and elevates their role.\n\n## 4. Highlight Sponsors Everywhere You Promote the Event\nYour marketing should actively promote your sponsors, not just acknowledge them. Feature logos, spotlight stories, and shout-outs across email campaigns, social media, event pages, and printed materials. This visibility delivers real value and signals to others that respected brands are already involved, naturally creating FOMO.\n\n## 5. Showcase Auction Packages Early to Build Excitement\nAuction donors give your event its “wow” factor, so treat donated packages as featured content. Share sneak peeks of standout items, exclusive experiences, or high-value packages with visuals and short descriptions. This not only drives attendance and bidding but also shows potential donors the kind of exposure and excitement their contribution could receive.\n\n## 6. Use FOMO to Encourage Participation\nCreate urgency by emphasizing limited opportunities: exclusive sponsorship levels, one-of-a-kind auction items, VIP experiences, or early-access perks. Messaging like “Only a few opportunities remain” or “This package will be available only at our event” taps into the fear of missing out and prompts quicker decisions.\n\n## 7. Leverage Social Proof and Momentum\nIt’s never too early to share updates as sponsors sign on and new auction packages are confirmed. Public recognition builds momentum and reassures prospective partners that your event is active, successful, and worth joining. When people see peers, recognizable brands, and even competitors already involved, they’re far more likely to step in rather than be left out.\n\n## 8. Make It Easy to Say Yes\nStrong marketing falls apart if participation is complicated. Ensure sponsor sign-ups, auction donation submissions, and ticket purchases are fast and simple. If possible, designate specific volunteers to pick up packages as needed. The easier it is to act, the less likely potential supporters are to delay, and miss out.\n\n## 9. Keep the Story Going After the Commitment\nAfter someone sponsors, donates, or registers, continue engaging them. Share updates, promote their involvement, and highlight what’s still coming. This reinforces their decision and signals ongoing excitement to others who haven’t yet joined. \n\nA post-event, results-focused recap shows sponsors and donors the tangible impact of their support while naturally teeing up continued engagement in the future.\n\n------------\n\nSpecial thanks to Renee Zau, Co-founder of [DonationMatch](https://www.donationmatch.com)\n\nDonationMatch is an online resource to make finding auction donations fast and easy. Create a verified profile to request product donations from multiple companies in one place. **Less chasing. More fundraising.** \n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1591},{"url":1592},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/b86214ab43e8dba3d2f1b3c9b667744938f633b6-1254x836.jpg","2026-01-07T18:51:54.449Z",{"current":1595},"how-to-market-your-event-to-attract-sponsors-and-auction-donors","Sponsors don’t say yes to dates, they say yes to opportunity. Here’s how to market yours.","How to Market Your Event to Attract Sponsors & Auction Donors",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1599,"category":1600,"id":5,"image":1601,"publishOn":1604,"slug":1605,"teaser":1607,"title":1608},"# Key Segments to Auction Fundraising: \n\n![3 steps to auction pre, auction, post487x.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/3-steps-to-auction-pre,-auction,-post487x.jpg)\n\nSegment 1: Pre-Auction phase consists of procurement, event planning and marketing. This is the time to plan the course of action. \n\nSegment 2: Auction event phase consists of the auction event(s) online, silent or live, close out and collections. \n\nSegment 3: Post Auction is a time for final reviews, thank you letters, retrospective review and outline for future auction success.\n\n## Getting the Team Started\nRoles and tasks to help your team get started, organized by segment.   \n\n\n## Segment 1: Pre-Auction phase: Roles and Duties\n\n#### **Chairperson(s)**\nGuide the team and strategically plan the overall auction process.  This person should be well organized with the abilities to both work and delegate at simultaneously.\n\n#### **Auction Team initial duties:**\n* define goals and purpose\n* determine the form the auction take, exclusively online or will be on location with an event, live and/or silent\n* define target bidding audience for the auction\n* refine the auction target donors\n* map out the entire auction process with timelines then fill in the details\n\n#### **Event Coordinator & Operations (if applicable) for silent and/or live**\nThis team puts it all together at the event working across all teams to present a unified event.  Once the details of the event are established work the math backwards to define the event ticket pricing.  Keep in mind when signing contracts that final headcounts are most likely required that RSVP and ticket sales timelines are adjusted accordingly.  \n* choose date\n* choose venue\n* choose theme\n* choose food\n* choose entertainment/ music/ DJ\n* will there be a key note speaker or presentations?\n* choose emcee and/or live auctioneer\n* depending on venue decide its all inclusive or will you need to hire independently\n* consider tables, chairs, linens, tableware, servingware, drinks bar, bartender and service personnel include in the planning  additional tables for silent auction\n* wifi access\n* space planning: consider quantity and size of auction items, emcee/ presentation area entertainment area\n* check-in & check out\n* day of event set-up  \n\n#### **Procurement  Team**\nThis team is responsible for corresponding with donors and potential donors to secure donation items for the auction.\n* create [procurement letter](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/procurement_letter_elements) \n* send out or deliver procurement letters with plenty of lead time\n* secure [donations](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/procurement_basics)\n* create timelines for procurement; larger corporate donations may take longer lead time vs local retail shops have local decision makers thus quicker turnaround\n* as donation are received track and price items\n* create all auction documents: [bid sheets,](https://docs.auctria.com/v3/printing/bid-sheets) display pages, gift certificates, bid catalog\n* follow-up on donation requests in a timely manner, send out thank you\nletters \n\n\n#### **Auction Data Integrity Team**\nThis team may be a simple extension of the Procurement Team.  Responsibilities include:\n* donor tracking\n* donation item tracking\n* consistent auction pricing for starting bid, bidding increments, & buy-it-now\n* ticket sales\n* [bidder](https://docs.auctria.com/v3/bidders) management and number assignments\n* if necessary [customize stationery](https://docs.auctria.com/v3/printing/stationery) for post sales receipts to donors and bidder\n\n## Segment 2: Auction phase: Roles & Duties \n\n#### **Marketing Team**\nWhen the auction is ready to go public the team figuratively flips the switch from procurement to promotion & selling  \n* event tickets\n* marketing online, silent and live auction\n* selling raffles if applicable\n* promote online catalog\n* [raffles](https://docs.auctria.com/v3/items/run-a-raffle)\n* bidder registration\n* bidder pre-event registration\n* online auction\n* market using social media services\n\n##### **Auction Team**\n* bid sheets and a display page are furnished to advertise each item\n* clearly mark closing times for category or individual items\n* emcee announces last chance to bid on silent categories\n* close each category in a pre-determined fashion\n* record highest bidder information\n* sell raffle tickets and pull raffle ticket winners\n* conduct the live auction\n\n#### **Event non-auction Team**\n* manage catering and overall timeline of the event\n* party set-up & break-down\n* pay all vendors and gratuities\n* celebrate the volunteers, donors and bidders\n\n\n## Segment 3: Post Auction: Roles & Duties \n\n#### Close-Out duties\nThis team can be the same as the data integrity team.  Close out the auction and manage collections swiftly.  \n* online auction can be auto-closed and billed\n* close silent auction items systematically or by category for a smooth check-out\n* collections and financial reconciliations\n* distribute the auction goods\n* if there is an onsite event most goods and certificates should be distributed on location\n* thank you letters and receipts to donors\n* final receipts to bidders\n* final notes and critique should be completed shortly after the event to record best practices for subsequent events\n\n\n## Sounds simple, right?  It truly is with [Auctria](https://docs.auctria.com/guide) by your side.\n\n### Auctria Features streamline it all\n [Teamwork](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/auction_teamwork) and communication making for a smooth auction.\n\n#### **Segment 1: Pre-Auction phase** Auctria Features\n * create the shell of the auction online and promote the event with pre-sales and event details\n * web based functionality means as data is input always live and current\nsplitting the workload is a cinch\n * pre-auction procurement teams can track donors and potential donors and record progress\nas donations come simply +add-item to the donor because the basics are already in place.  \n * pricing strategies can be pre-set across the entire auction or singularly defined.  \n\n#### **Segment 2: Auction:** Auctria Features\n * print bid-sheets and display pages directly from Auctria\n * closeout efficient for online, silent and live\n * integrates [credit card processing](https://docs.auctria.com/v3/credit-cards) for auto collections\n\n#### **Segment 3: Post Auction:** Auctria Features\nPost auction is streamlined as well because the data is already in the system.  Simply print donor receipts and mail a thank you.  Charities that thank the donors and bidder have a better chance that the donor and bidder support the charity in future endeavors.",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1602},{"url":1603},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/418c5c66f047a07d51861862a032e21d82ab29e1-600x320.jpg","2016-02-12T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":1606},"overview_key_segments","Auction segments 1-2-3","Fundraising Auction: Key Segments",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1610,"category":1611,"id":5,"image":1612,"publishOn":1615,"slug":1616,"teaser":1618,"title":1619},"\nHosting an afterschool program for students is a great way to keep kids engaged while parents are busy with work. This not only allows students to develop skills and participate in activities that are unavailable in their school curriculum but also provides a safe place for them to hang out without their parent or guardian worrying.\n\nDepending on your organization, you’ll have a unique range of activities taking place at various facilities and locations throughout town. However, it can be a hassle planning these activities while also [engaging and retaining](https://www.auctria.com/blog/engage-12ways-wildapricot/) your program attendees, especially if you aren’t organized from the get-go.\n\n**Whether your afterschool program hosts a competitive robotics program, a developmental soccer skills workshop, or an educational art class, it’s recommended to invest in [capable recreation management software.](https://www.communitypass.net/recreation/)** This way, not only can you offer online program registration and organize your activities and its facilities, but you can more effectively communicate with parents using accurate data based on efficient processes. \n\nRead on and consider the following ways you can take action and engage parents in your afterschool program:\n\n  1. Offer online registration and payment\n  2. Send targeted messages\n  3. Prioritize children’s safety \n  4. Host an event for parents\n\nThough it’s important to brainstorm unique and creative ways to make your programming attractive to kids, you have to also meet the needs of the parents. This means making the registration process as easy as possible for busy parents while also ensuring that your program is reliable and safe. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/9155fd39cb90d430f68023da9b9aa3f9ea58beaf-840x200.jpg)\n\n## 1. Offer online registration and payment\nYour registration is one of the initial faces of your program that parents see, so it’s important to make a good impression. Set up online registration with your recreation management software so the parents in your community can avoid the hassle of unnecessary phone calls or long lines.\n\nConsider these top features to meet parents’ needs and get registration up and running:\n\n * **Online catalog.** Easily let parents navigate a list of the classes and activities that your afterschool program offers. They can learn more about each option and then register all at once. This is also a great way to [organize the activities](https://www.auctria.com/blog/get-organized-vlink/) you offer and schedule out the locations.\n\n * **Waitlist management system.** It’s awesome when your program is so popular that you have to turn guests away, but it can also be complicated keeping track of who is next on the list. Make sure you can organize and manage attendees automatically with a waitlist management feature within your recreation management software.\n\n* **Discount options.** Offer alternate pricing including sibling discounts, early registration discounts, discounts for community residents, and more.\n\n * **Integrated payment processor.** Make sure your software’s payment tool is PCI-compliant! Financial information is incredibly sensitive, so assure registrants that their payment information is secure by not redirecting them to any unfamiliar third-party payment processors. Look for software with a fully integrated payment processing solution.\n\nPrioritize ease of use alongside a secure platform. This boosts your reputation as a reliable organization with a great afterschool program.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/364de0ff391042adb25217e8b2d8f6872bf9c1f2-840x200.jpg)\n\n## 2. Send targeted messages\nAs you begin the relationship with your attendee’s parents, it’s important to [develop an effective marketing strategy](https://www.auctria.com/blog/salaslabs-marketing-nonprofit/) that focuses on communication that is personal and targeted. However, that’s easier said than done especially if you deal with multiple programs and activities with their own unique schedule and guidelines.\n\nTake a look at your software and make sure you can easily **send targeted emails and/or texts** in order to focus your marketing and communications efforts. These days, people’s inboxes are flooded with daily emails from various companies and stores, most of them not even read. Avoid adding to the unread pile by ensuring that your communications are specific and catered to the recipient.\n\nHow can you effectively send targeted messages? Read on to learn how the right software’s messaging tools can be an asset in various scenarios:\n\n * Consistently update and keep parents informed with emails/texts containing your latest program news and announcements. Segment your recipients based on the program the child is signed up for so parents get messages only pertaining to them.\n\n * If there’s a time-sensitive and urgent change, react quickly by sending out alerts immediately. This way, if there’s an emergency closing, you can let parents know with a fast text so there’s no room for error.\n\n * As the program commences, certain dates in the future will hold more meaning, whether it’s the monthly payment due or an event for parents. Easily send communications on a specific day and time with scheduled messages.\n\nCommunicating with parents is a natural part of using your recreation management software, so it’s imperative that your software is reliable and effective. According to the [CommunityPass guide on recreation management software,](https://www.communitypass.net/recreation-management-software/) investing in tools like this will revolutionize your perspective on managing your program and recreation activities, so ensure you find one that truly fits your needs.\n\n[](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/192df74e018b5a3a4e16242313c4864e09ccbb5d-840x200.jpg)\n\n## 3. Prioritize children’s safety \nAs you work to increase program convenience and ease of use for parents, you also have to prioritize their children’s safety. Parents are often busy and rely on afterschool programs while they are working and they want to know that their children will be safe.\n\nWhile hosting an afterschool program is a rewarding experience, dealing with youth also comes with extra precautions. For instance, it is especially important that you are aware of where each program attendee is and what activity they’re participating in. It’s already difficult to keep track of one kid, and a whole program’s worth can be even trickier. \n\n**A secure way to effectively protect your program attendees and monitor their whereabouts is to implement a safe check-in and check-out system.** Don’t just depend on marking off attendance on a sheet of paper and let information accidentally fall through the cracks. \n\nWith a check-in and check-out app, supervisors and other staff can digitally take attendance. Additionally, they can view each child’s attendance history, their medical alerts, and a list of emergency contacts.\n\nTo supplement this system, some management software will **offer a database of authorized signatures and photos for an even safer check-out system.** Ask parents to provide a list of people who are allowed to pick up their child with photos so that you can ensure the child is leaving with someone approved.\n\nKeeping child safety in mind is important with these types of programs. If you want to increase your knowledge on this topic, CircuiTree’s article on youth protection in higher education can provide insight.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/505351f92a3efbaae4e183eb7322a84a2acb8611-840x200.jpg)\n\n## 4. Host an event for parents\nIf you want to further engage the parents of your afterschool program, invite them to an event planned just for them. Often, programs will have a party or [another type of event](https://www.auctria.com/blog/dk-event-ideas-entice/) at the end of the session so that parents can come together. It’s a fun celebration and a way for parents to take a break from their busy lives.\n\n**Additionally, you can easily convert your event to a fundraiser as well.** You can get some extra funding for your afterschool program while also engaging parents in something meaningful. Begin brainstorming with this [list](https://funds2orgs.com/unique-fundraising-ideas-guide/) of unique fundraising ideas.\n\nA great idea is to host an auction for the parents. All you need is [bid sheets](https://www.auctria.com/article/bid-sheets/) and to ask volunteers to submit auction items, ranging from physical gifts to experiences like a vacation or a fun movie night. This keeps parents engaged throughout the entire event because they don’t want to miss out. \n\n**Your recreation management software should be able to facilitate registrations for one-off events like this.** Remember to send out targeted communications to these parents that  explains the event and includes a link to register.\n\nParents will appreciate the effort you’re putting in, but you don’t have to go all out and expend a ton of resources for your event. Base your budget on the size of your projected audience and your existing tools. No matter what, the event will provide great value to the parents.\n\n-----------------------\nYou should constantly be working hard to engage parents, especially since they’re the ones who register your program attendees. Meet parents in the middle by offering them the tools to easily sign up, while also prioritizing their children’s safety. Capable recreation management software can act as a foundation for a successful afterschool program. \n\n--------------------\n\nSpecial thanks to Joseph Oriente for sharing his expert advice. Joe is the President and Founder of Capturepoint, creator of CommunityPass software. Joe established Capturepoint in 1999 and launched CommunityPass in 2003, which was initially created to provide online registration and payment for a local town sports council that was overwhelmed with an increasing number of paper registrations. Since then Joe has been responsible for expanding CommunityPass nationally to become one of America’s most well respected and complete online management solutions with registration, membership and facilities software serving the recreation and school markets.\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1613},{"url":1614},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/7dbdf5f1e43c9b9325a3d86aebc3c032638575f9-600x320.png","2020-03-24T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":1617},"4-ways-to-engage-parents-in-your-afterschool-program","Planning an afterschool program? Equip yourself with the right tools and learn how to effectively engage parents and increase program satisfaction overall.","4 Ways to Engage Parents in Your Afterschool Program",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1621,"category":1622,"id":5,"image":1623,"publishOn":1626,"slug":1627,"teaser":1629,"title":1630},"[Free Rein Foundation’s](https://freereinfoundation.org/) Cattle Baron Ball was an incredible success, exceeding all expectations by raising over $200,000 for its essential programs! The sold-out gala's success can be credited to supporters' shared vision to grow Free Rein's mission: Providing a loving sanctuary for abused and unwanted horses and harnessing their unique intuitive abilities to help youth overcome mental health challenges. \n\nTo elevate the all-volunteer organization's Cattle Baron's Ball in its 10th anniversary year, Free Rein team members pulled out all the stops to amass valuable items in the silent and live auctions and bring in robust community involvement. They heeded the expert guidance of a professional auctioneer and MC that had the crowd eating out of his hand. Guests had also been treated to delicious dining and drinks on a gorgeous Huntington Beach summer evening, setting the mood for generosity.\n\n**Key Points to Success:**\n* High-Value Auction Items\n* Professional Auctioneer\n* Community Engagement\n* Volunteer Dedication\n\n## High-Value Auction Items Drive Donations + Activities\n\nThe Cattle Baron Ball achieved great financial success largely due to the incorporation of high-value auction items. Ranging from exclusive experiences such as a thrilling helicopter ride with the local police to extravagant travel packages, these sought-after items piqued the interest of attendees, inspiring them to actively participate in competitive bidding. The irresistible appeal of these auction items not only generated a buzz of excitement but also motivated attendees to generously contribute, resulting in a significant boost to the total funds raised. \n\nTo add more excitement, Free Rein Foundation made sure to add lots of entertainment such as a live band, dancing, a fun photo booth, a Whiskey Game Room with a blackjack table for guests to try their luck between bids! Making your event fun and engaging is a great way to raise more and make your guests want to come to your next event.\n\n\n Have a look at their beautiful set-up: \n ![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/b290574624afbb7a22d913645073289b0a924abf-1277x816.png)\n \n## The Power of a Professional Auctioneer\nThe Free Rein Foundation made a smart choice by hiring a professional auctioneer, [Zachary Krone, who is the President of California Coast Auctions.](https://cacoastauctions.com/) A professional fundraising auctioneer can help ensure that the event runs smoothly and efficiently. The Free Rein Foundation’s decision to hire an auctioneer had a big impact because  Zachary Krone was good at understanding the crowd, getting people excited, and encouraging them to give generously. His friendly and fun personality created a lively atmosphere and made everyone feel inspired to donate!\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/9f6a314f516bb01c208de27570ca2d341dd0bdc0-1249x829.png)\n\n## Community Ties and Volunteer Dedication\nThe Free Rein Foundation's extensive connections within the community played a crucial role in the success of the event. Their strong relationships with local leaders, businesses, and nonprofits helped secure various donations. With the exception of two individuals, all the event staff were Free Rein volunteers, who were always willing to offer their support. As a result, there was no need to expand beyond their established circle. The dedication of these volunteers, totaling over 40, was vital in ensuring that everything ran smoothly. \n\nP. Riggs adeptly coordinated roles for everyone, including managing the check-in line, providing tech support, selling drink tickets, and serving as auction clerks and runners. Pam created a document with everyone’s roles and made sure to train them in advance. So, they knew what to do, and when and where they needed to be. \n\nAs events vary, your volunteer needs will vary. Visualize your event not only from the organizer’s perspective but from the guests’ perspective to make sure all of your bases are covered. Coordinating these details in advance helps make things at the event seamless. For example, Free Rein had volunteers for the following areas: check-in line control, check-in, tech control, ticket sales, Silent Auction, Live Auction Clerks, Live Auction Runners, Live Auction Tech Support, Fund-a-Need, checkout, and checkout runners. The hard work and commitment of the volunteers to the Free Rein Foundation’s mission were evident in every detail from greeting the guests.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/a63625ec579763b5710ef72a79ee365a4408da95-1268x802.png)\n\n## Put the Fun in Fundraising to Increase Impact!\nThe Cattle Baron Ball organized by The Free Rein Foundation is a great example of a successful fundraising event. By skillfully combining high-value auction items, having engaging games and entertainment, the expertise of a professional auctioneer, and strong community connections, the foundation was able to raise substantial funds to support its important programs. Lastly, what’s a party without closing it out with some dancing? \n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/2389cf93108837c60e6efdbc2be0ea83b75e8a78-1199x784.png)\n\n\n-----\n\nFree Rein Foundation was founded in 2014 by Dr. Carole Harris, a psychotherapist and equine therapist, who had a profound belief in the healing abilities of horses. Dr. Harris enlisted the support of her twin sister Mary Behrens, who owns and operates the Huntington Central Park Equestrian Center, and the three of us got to work rescuing horses and offering equine therapy to vulnerable groups.\n\n[Learn more about Free Rein Foundation](https://freereinfoundation.org/)\n\n[Follow Free Rein on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/freereinfoundation1/)\n\nAuctioneer, Zachary Krone, the president and founder of [California Coast Auctions]( https://cacoastauctions.com/) designed his business with one goal in mind: To unite the worlds of commerce and entertainment with your charity, school or non-profit. \n\n\n\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":1624},{"url":1625},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/a8b86ba62c8a39f6655f23b1ba60c7d9c9c724c1-500x300.png","2024-10-07T19:30:00.000Z",{"current":1628},"cattle-barons-ball","Free Rein Foundation’s Cattle Baron Ball was an incredible success, exceeding all expectations","Cattle Baron's Ball with Free Rein Foundation",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1632,"category":1633,"id":5,"image":1634,"publishOn":1637,"slug":1638,"teaser":1640,"title":1641},"Fundraising fuels your nonprofit’s work, but it can also be the most challenging aspect of running a mission-driven organization.\n\nIn any fundraising campaign, there are dozens of moving parts to track. From determining campaign goals and selecting the right fundraising tools to marketing your campaign and [engaging your supporters](https://www.auctria.com/blog/4-key-strategies-for-nonprofits-to-keep-supporters-engaged/), there’s a lot on your team’s plate. And that’s not to mention the other campaigns, regular programming, and day-to-day operations you keep running in the meantime!\n\nTo help your nonprofit streamline fundraising and improve [supporter retention](https://donorly.com/thedonorlyblog/donor-retention/), this guide will walk you through a few tips for improving your fundraising strategy.\n\n\n## Review your current approach. \n\nThere’s no need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to fundraising. In fact, there are likely many aspects of your current approach that work well. To understand which practices can stay and which should be improved, you’ll need to conduct a thorough assessment. \n\nThis is where working with [an expert like a fundraising consultant](https://donorly.com/thedonorlyblog/fundraising-consultant) comes in handy. These professionals can help you see strengths and weaknesses that you otherwise might not!\n\nWith a consultant’s help, take a look at your past campaigns and how your team approached them. Ask yourself questions like:\n\n* Which campaigns were most successful? Which were the least successful?\n* Which marketing channels successfully reached our supporter base during these campaigns?\n* Is there any feedback from supporters or team members that indicates what did and didn’t work during these campaigns?\n* What skills and expertise do our team members have that benefited past campaigns? What gaps do we need to fill for the future?\n\nAs you answer these questions, you’ll identify areas for improvement. For example, you might notice that you didn’t meet your fundraising goal during a past peer-to-peer campaign because the effort wasn’t effectively marketed to supporters who were willing to participate as volunteer fundraisers. In contrast, you might notice that many of the supporters who created and shared their own fundraising pages have since deepened their involvement with your organization.\n\nExamining both the good outcomes and challenges of past campaigns can provide insights into your strategy’s strengths and weaknesses, setting you up to make intentional, successful changes.\n\n\n## Get to know your donors. \n\nFundraising is all about connecting with the people who power your mission, whether you’re launching a text-to-give campaign during the year-end season or hosting an event to thank your major donors.\n\nOne of the best things you can do to improve your fundraising is to make a concerted effort to get to know donors (and future supporters!) better. Here are a few suggestions for doing so:\n\n* **Conduct prospect research.** All [mid-level donors](https://www.storycause.com/mid-level-donor-programs) are valuable and worth engaging, but only a select few have the potential to become major donors. With prospect research (the process of examining a supporter’s giving capacity, affinity, and propensity), you can identify which donors to cultivate with the goal of securing a major gift. \n* **Send out surveys.** If you have questions about your donors, why not ask them directly? For example, instead of wondering about their reactions to your last fundraising event, send a short survey to attendees. Even a few candid responses can provide you with the information you need to improve your next event or campaign.\n* **Use social media to interact with your community regularly**. The beauty of social media is that it gives your team opportunities to talk one-on-one with supporters. Leverage direct messaging and commenting features to chat with your supporters and get to know their needs and interests. Doing so will help you better tailor your fundraising strategy to them.\n\nGetting to know your donors can help you level up nearly every aspect of your fundraising strategy—from creating specific [donor segments](https://www.auctria.com/blog/what-is-donor-segmentation-and-why-is-it-important/) for marketing and planning relevant volunteer opportunities to thanking them in more personalized ways.\n\n## Train your team. \n\nA great fundraising strategy needs a great team to execute it. As part of your initial fundraising assessment, you should have identified any skill gaps within your team. If you did, a few ways you can train your staff include: \n\n* **Investing in training courses**. Online training courses for nonprofit professionals range from short, microlearning experiences for specific skills, to months-long programs that provide official certifications. Assess your team’s needs before enrolling them in any courses. For example, a specialized course on how to approach [corporate sponsors](https://www.auctria.com/blog/auction-fundraiser-sponsorships-make-money/) will fill a specific skill gap, whereas an intensive training course might be useful for a team member who wants to advance in their career to a leadership position. \n* **Attending conferences**. Conferences bring professionals from all over the nonprofit sector together. At these events, your team can attend workshops, make connections, and learn what trends are impacting your industry. \n* **Working with consultants**. Consultants can not only help assess your current strategies but also train your team to enact them. For example, your team might work with a [Google Ad Grants](https://gettingattention.org/google-ad-grants-training/) consultant as part of your online strategy and ask them to teach your digital marketing team how to maximize your Google for Nonprofits account.\n\nWhen your team starts a new training program, be sure to document and record as much of it as possible. This ensures that when new team members join your nonprofit, they can review your resources and get up to speed quickly. \n\n## Craft an appreciation strategy. \n\nThe key way to secure future donations is by showing appreciation for the ones you receive now. As such, don’t think of donor appreciation as a separate skill set from fundraising but rather as a vital part of the fundraising cycle.\n\nThe first step to designing an effective appreciation strategy is deciding which donors to thank and what level of recognition to provide. Most fundraising professionals will tell you the answer to the first question is “all donors,” but how to appreciate them depends on several factors. \n\nFor instance, here are a few ways you can appreciate supporters and which donors each method is appropriate for:\n\n* [Donor walls](https://www.omnially.com/blog/donor-wall-guide): These permanent monuments to your donors should recognize supporters who have made substantial contributions, such as major donors and planned donors.\n* **Phone calls**: One-on-one calls help establish a personal relationship. Nonprofits can write a script and recruit volunteers to call and thank recurring donors and mid-level donors. For major donors, the major gift officer, or another leader they’ve been interacting with, should make a personal call. \n* **Cards**: A handwritten card feels personal and should be used to recognize supporters who go out of their way to engage with your nonprofit. For example, the last step on your [silent auction’s event checklist](https://www.auctria.com/blog/auction-timelines-and-checklists-and-user-training-pdfs/) might be to send out cards to attendees. \n* **Emails**: Thank-you emails are appropriate for all donors who aren’t making specialized gifts, like major and planned donors. You might set up your online donation page to automatically send a thank-you and confirmation email. To write more effective emails, [eCardWidget’s guide to donor thank-you emails](https://ecardwidget.com/donor-thank-you-email/) recommends including each supporter’s specific gift amount, a description of their gift’s impact, and a signature from a recognizable figure at your nonprofit like your executive director. \n\nThe more donors you can retain, the more productive your fundraising strategy will be. After all, rather than attracting new donors to replace old ones, you can simply add more supporters to your growing community.\n\n## Track fundraising metrics you can act on. \n\nHosting one successful fundraising campaign is great, but making all of your campaigns successful is even better! Set yourself up for sustained success by tracking and acting on fundraising metrics.\n\nYour organization can track many fundraising metrics, focusing on digital marketing, fundraising events, and other specifics such as your board members’ performance. Here are a few popular metrics and how to calculate them:\n\n* **Fundraising Return on Investment (ROI)**: This metric tells you whether your campaign brought in money, broke even, or cost you money. Calculate it by dividing total fundraising revenue by campaign expenses.\n* **Gifts Secured**: Gifts secured tracks the number of donations you receive over a set time period.\n* **Donor Retention Rate**: Your retention rate is the percentage of donors who continue to give year-over-year. Divide the total number of donors who gave this year and last year by the number of donors who gave last year. Then, multiply that number by 100 to get a percentage.\n* **Donor Acquisition**: [Donorly’s guide to donor acquisition](https://donorly.com/thedonorlyblog/donor-acquisition) shares that there are three key performance indicators associated with acquisition: acquisition rate (total donors divided by your new donors over a given time period to discover what percentage are new supporters), cost to acquire (the number of donors acquired over a certain time period divided by the amount of money spent on acquisition efforts to discover roughly how much each donor cost to acquire), and return on investment. \n* **Average Gift Size**: Average gift size is the average donation amount your organization receives from a specific donor group or during a specific campaign. To find it, divide the total dollar amount of donations received by the number of gifts received.\n\nBy consistently tracking metrics like these, your nonprofit can eliminate the guesswork from evaluating your campaigns, enabling you to make evidence-based decisions and set goals for future improvements.\n\n\n\n----------------------------------------\nUse these tips to make informed improvements to your fundraising strategy that propel your organization’s growth. In turn, you’ll set your nonprofit up for sustained fundraising success and more opportunities to connect with your supporters and drive impact.\n\n------------\nSpecial thanks to Sandra Davis, Founder and President at Donorly for the expert advice in this article.\n\nSandra leads Donorly with over 30 years of fundraising experience and leadership. Sandra has consulted on numerous capital campaigns, applying community building techniques, prospect research, and storytelling to help organizations meet and exceed fundraising goals and expand missions. Under her leadership, Donorly has grown to support the fundraising efforts of over 100 clients, helping them raise over $500 million for their respective causes\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1635},{"url":1636},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/d90e72e7bbda98c8085a7d247e38df2929242395-600x320.jpg","2025-03-09T13:27:00.000Z",{"current":1639},"how-to-improve-your-fundraising-strategy-a-mini-guide","Fundraising makes the nonprofit world go ‘round, but is your org’s strategy up to par? In this post, you’ll learn how to improve your fundraising strategy.","How to Improve Your Fundraising Strategy: A Mini Guide",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1643,"category":1644,"id":5,"image":1645,"publishOn":1648,"slug":1649,"teaser":1651,"title":1652},"Auctions are engaging fundraisers that have the potential to earn your nonprofit a high return on your investment. However, they are also known for being complicated events to plan, due to several moving parts from procuring items to setting up a bidding system. With all the hard work required to plan an auction, your nonprofit’s digital marketing strategy should drive the attendance your event deserves. \n\nDigital marketing is multi-faceted, including factors such as [your brand,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/digital-marketing-conveying-your-nonprofit-s-brand-online/) audience engagement, and platforms of choice. As nonprofits become increasingly media-savvy, standing out from the crowd has only become more difficult. To stay competitive, nonprofit marketing professionals will need to regularly reassess their strategies, ongoing trends, and how their current goals can be achieved in a continually shifting online climate. \n\nTo help your nonprofit [develop a digital strategy](https://www.dnlomnimedia.com/blog/nonprofit-digital-strategy-steps/) for your upcoming auction, this article will explore four strategies:\n\n- Create a dedicated event page. \n- Research and leverage social media platforms. \n- Personalize direct communication. \n- Integrate your software. \n\nThese strategies focus on how your nonprofit can leverage various pre-existing digital platforms and tools to better position your organization online. Let’s get started. \n\n## Create a dedicated event page.\nTo learn more about your auction, one of the first places potential attendees will check is your website. Ensure that upon arriving at your homepage, visitors are able to quickly find details about your auction, including its date and time, location, and how to sign up.\n\nIn addition to this essential information, create a dedicated event page to improve guests’ experience by featuring other auction relevant details. This can include rules for participating in the auction (such as how to bid, if bids can be retracted, etc.), an auction catalog or previews of specific items if you don’t wish to make everything public ahead of time, and information for how to sponsor the auction for interested business partners. \n\nTo help interested parties find your event page, ensure that your website navigation is as straightforward as possible. Given the importance of your auction, you may choose to adjust your website’s navigation and calls to action in the lead-up to your auction to drive more traffic to the event page. This might include adding or changing a call-to-action to link to the event page, rather than subscribing to a newsletter or signing up to volunteer. \n\nYou can also generate more traffic to your page by leveraging [search engine optimization](https://www.auctria.com/blog/seo-the-online-auctioneers-most-valuable-tool/) best practices. You can improve the chances that your event page will appear on the first page of search results for relevant keywords by first brainstorming what keywords supporters are likely to search for, and then adding those keywords strategically to your event page. However, be sure to avoid keyword stuffing, as using keywords unnaturally can result in penalties from search engines. \n\n## Research and leverage social media platforms.\nSocial media marketing has become a core part of many nonprofit’s outreach strategies, especially for promoting events like auctions. Auctions are particularly well-suited for social media marketing strategies as nonprofits can use the incentive of winning a prize and add images of high-value items to posts to attract more attention. \n\nBefore launching your auction’s social media strategy, take the time to consider which platforms to use based on your audience. After all, if your target audience is not using the platform you choose, it doesn’t matter how theoretically effective your strategy is. \n\nTo help you assess which platforms to use, here is a breakdown of five popular platforms:\n\n\n- **Facebook.** Facebook allows for long-form posts, which give nonprofits the space to share anecdotes from beneficiaries, statistics about their initiatives, and generally emphasize why their cause matters. Facebook’s algorithm tends to prioritize posts that come from groups, so consider creating a group dedicated to your nonprofit and inviting supporters to join to receive news about your ongoing projects before your auction. \n\n- **Instagram.** Instagram focuses on photos and videos (called “Reels”), which can work well for an auction marketing campaign. Take photos of eye-catching and unique items and experiment with memorable hashtags that platform users are likely to search.\n\n- **YouTube.** Creating videos and hosting them on YouTube can benefit your nonprofit’s marketing strategy as the content you upload can be shared on both YouTube and other platforms. Produce promotional videos for your campaign, and if your nonprofit qualifies for the YouTube Nonprofit Program, you can partner with other channels to earn donations for your cause while marketing your event to a wider audience. \n\n- **Twitter.** Twitter has a short word limit and an algorithm that prioritizes posts that receive engagement. This can make it a difficult platform for nonprofits, whose marketing posts tend to rely on stories. If your nonprofit is interested in maintaining a Twitter account, strive to create posts that encourage responses by asking questions, sharing surprising statistics, or even experimenting with a more conversational, humorous brand voice. \n\n- **TikTok.** While TikTok may still feel like uncharted territory for many nonprofits, it is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore this massive platform’s potential. If your nonprofit is interested in connecting with younger supporters, consider creating a series of short, attention-grabbing videos for TikTok. \n\nRunning a social media marketing campaign can take a significant amount of your team’s time and effort. If you need additional help planning a campaign, researching platforms, or creating content, consider reaching out to a [nonprofit marketing consulting](https://www.dnlomnimedia.com/blog/nonprofit-consulting-firms/) firm for assistance.\n\n\n\n## Personalize direct communication.\nIn addition to using public platforms to track new supporters, market directly to your supporters who are subscribed to your email list. [Getting Attention’s nonprofit marketing guide](https://gettingattention.org/nonprofit-marketing-guide/) recommends using segmentation and personalization strategies to create more targeted messages, which can lead to an increased response rate.\n\nSegmentation and personalization can help nonprofits create unique messages for each supporter, ensuring the content will more closely align with each individual’s interests while also strengthening their personal connection to your nonprofit. Here’s an overview of how to leverage these two strategies:\n\n- **Segmentation.** Essentially, donor segmentation is the process of identifying shared characteristics among donors, sorting supporters who share the identified characteristics into segments or groups, and adjusting your messaging strategy to align with the interests and needs of each segment. For example, during your auction marketing you might divide donors based on location. You would then create two email templates, one for donors who live close enough to easily attend an event in-person and another for those who live in remote locations. The templates would reflect these unique differences and provide directions for how to attend the event in-person or remotely. \n\n- **Personalization.** Once an email template has been created for a segmented group, your nonprofit can further tailor the message to the donor by adding relevant personal details based on each donor. These personalization efforts often include addressing each donor by name and referencing their history with the nonprofit such as past event attendance. It also provides updates on specific initiatives they have previously supported.\n\n\nTo facilitate a highly personalized email marketing campaign on a large scale, ensure your nonprofit has the right messaging tools. Many CRMs either come with or integrate with sophisticated, scalable messaging systems. Assess your current communication software to ensure it has the features you need to reach out to your supporters effectively. \n\n\n\nIntegrate your software.\nFor modern nonprofits, planning an event can require a number of software applications including a CRM with robust donor profiles and analytics tools, extensive and customizable communication tools, and event hosting software that facilitates various event activities. \n\nTo ensure your event’s planning, marketing, and execution stay organized, integrate your software or invest in compatible add-on applications as necessary. \n\nConsider the example of Salesforce’s Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP), a commonly used solution by nonprofit organizations. Nonprofits can expand upon the solution with several integrations and native tools created specifically to work with the CRM. DNL OmniMedia’s guide to the [Salesforce NPSP walks through a few ways to expand upon the functionality of the NPSP:](https://www.dnlomnimedia.com/resources/salesforce-nonprofit-success-pack/)\n\n- **Native Salesforce apps and plugins.** There are a variety of apps and plugins built specifically for Salesforce NPSP, expanding a nonprofit’s current tools or providing new features altogether, such as the ability to register event attendees or generate event tickets. \n- **Integrations with third-party solutions.** Your nonprofit may have software applications hosted externally from your CRM, but chances are that many of these can also integrate with Salesforce NPSP, providing a smooth transfer of data. For example, if your nonprofit has a separate prospective donor database, research if you can sync it with your CRM ahead of your event to keep all of your information in one place.\n\nOf course, Salesforce’s NPSP is not the only CRM with a range of useful integrations. For instance, highly reviewed [Blackbaud integrations](https://360matchpro.com/top-blackbaud-integrations/) can assist nonprofits using any of the provider’s CRM’s to create a comprehensive digital marketing strategy. If you haven’t already, ensure that your existing marketing solutions are integrated with your CRM. If not, consider working with a consultant to connect with the solutions before hosting your auction. \n\n---------------\nAuctions can be major fundraising opportunities for your nonprofit, so ensure that you’re giving them their best chance for success by creating a thorough, modern digital marketing plan. Improve your website and software, and use these applications to reach supporters where they’re at on a more personal level. \n\n---------------\n\nSpecial thanks to Carl Diesing from DNL Omnimedia for the expert advice on building a digital plan for marketing your auction event.\n\nCarl Diesing, Managing Director - \\ Carl lives in the Hudson Valley with his wife Sarah and their two children Charlie and Evelyn.\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1646},{"url":1647},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/83f14f02e3c9effd56abe5d4966cd4fba0e48a11-600x320.jpg","2022-07-22T16:04:13.819Z",{"current":1650},"building-a-digital-plan-for-marketing-your-auction-event","Auctions are a staple in nonprofit fundraising events. Explore how to make your auction stand out while staying organized by creating a digital marketing plan.","Building a Digital Plan for Marketing Your Auction Event",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1654,"category":1655,"id":5,"image":1656,"publishOn":1659,"slug":1660,"teaser":1662,"title":1663},"\nHosting an auction event for your nonprofit is a great way to encourage donations, engage new and previous donors, and build awareness for your mission. Some organizers may shy away from adding an auction to their event because the planning seems daunting - don’t worry! We have lots of tips and tricks to make it easier for you to plan a successful auction event.\nWorried about figuring out the right timeline for your planning? Check out useful [auction and event planning timelines here!](https://www.auctria.com/blog/auction-timelines-and-checklists-and-user-training-pdfs/)\n\nOne of the first things you’ll need to do when planning an auction is to secure donated auction items. These are the items your guests will bid on to raise money for your cause! That means you need exciting items that people will be willing to spend money on - and you don’t want to purchase the items, because that lowers the total proceeds of your event.\n\nAsking businesses, retailers, and service providers to donate to your auction may seem scary, but this article will give you the knowledge you need to write effective auction donation request  letters to send to local, corporate, and individual donors.\n\n## What is an Auction Item Donation Request Letter?\nClear, effective auction item donation request letters are essential for planning a successful auction event. Auction donation request letters are sent out when you need items or services rather than direct monetary contributions, such as when you’re looking for fundraising event auction items. These letters will be your organization’s first introduction to potential partners. They will outline that you’re holding an event to raise money and awareness for your mission, that you need auction items to be donated, and what recognition and visibility donating to the event will afford donors. \n\n## Local vs. Corporate Auction Item Requests\nFundraising and procurement letters generally fall into two separate categories: individual and corporate appeals. Successfully getting a “yes” to your auction item donation request depends upon asking the right people, the right way, at the right time. \n\n\n### Local requests:\n* Should be made in person with a face-to-face approach to build rapport.\n* Should focus on retailers and vendors your organization already works with regularly.\n* Can be more informal since there is an existing relationship - but don’t be unprofessional!\n\n### Corporate requests:\n* Must be approached more formally because there is no existing relationship between the business and your organization.\n* Are made to chains as well as regional and national businesses.\n* Should clearly articulate your mission and impact to educate them on your work.\n* Should be contacted the farthest in advance, since the businesses will need to go through a more structured approval process.\n\n**Bonus tip: you should treat individual requests more like local requests.** Focus on individuals your organization already has a relationship with and meet with them personally to discuss the opportunity donating to your auction poses for them.\n\n## Here are our 4 Tips for Getting Auction Item Donations:\n1. Write an Effective Auction Item Donation Request Letter\n2. Know Who and When to Ask for Charity Auction Donations\n3. Effectively Respond When Potential Donors Say “No”\n4. Know When to Say “No, Thank you!” to a Donation\n\n\n### 1. Write an Effective Auction Donation Request Letter\nAn effective auction donation request letter should be sweet and to the point. You should:\n* Be friendly\n* Be specific\n* Include all key information\n\n**Be friendly and state your purpose:** An auction donation request letter should describe how they can “help the cause”, such as enrich the students, fight the disease, feed the hungry, save the animals. Using action terminology makes the donor feel like part of the solution by simply donating goods or services. \n\nAlways include the benefits donors will see from providing an auction item. Describe how they will be recognized, the expected number of attendees who will see their involvement, if the donation is tax deductible, etc.\n\n**Be specific:Make sure you’re clear about what donations you’re seeking, timing, and more.** What types of donations are you asking for? Request gift certificates, baskets of goods, products, special experiences, VIP access, tickets - essentially anything that has a resale value. It may be helpful to note any specific types of items you cannot accept, as well.\nWhat is the timing of the event? Including a donation cut-off date is vital to ensure donated items come in with enough lead time to be marketed to potential attendees. Calculate when you want to go public with the charity auction and work backward to find a date that gives you and the team plenty of time to get organized. \n\n**Include Key Information:Always include email, website, and preferred contact information for you and your organization.** Additionally, it’s vital to include the donor name and any other specific information related to them, the business, etc to give the letter a personal touch.\nLarger businesses especially may receive many auction item donation request letters - personalizing your letter shows that you aren’t just sending out a generic form to hundreds of businesses with no strategy. Read more about the [importance of personalizing donation request letters here!](https://www.auctria.com/blog/the-importance-of-personalization-in-fundraising-letters/)\n\nDo not:\n* Use generic greetings like “to whom it may concern.”\n* Send your letter to multiple people without finding the appropriate decision maker\n* Use the same template for every potential donor\n\nDo:\n* Address individual donors by their full names\n* Address the appropriate decision maker for businesses (i.e. the owner, manager, or director of public relations).\n* Mention any previous contacts you had at the same business so your new contact is aware of the existing relationship.\n* Comply with the requested communication request format from the business. If they only want emails, send an email. If they have an online form, use the form.\n\nWe recommend including:\n* The name of the person you’re contacting\n* The name of your nonprofit organization\n* Contact names and info for further information\n* Links to your website so they can learn more about your mission\n* Tax status, ID, and any relevant donor information\n* A call to action that asks for donations within a set timeline\n\nInterested in reading through some examples? Here to are some sample auction item donation request letter templates, including one for schools and one for general charity use.\n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/b122ae5b6471860887af373b3b38cbf56be6b6f3-822x1168.png)](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Rtg1_-socx3p8AyS7kZwfFXhq-ymMFm0AcTun-rL9H8/template/preview)\n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/e844efb0edf7335e59196550d87addb57d8f5df9-822x1168.png)](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pC2kpAqVaFf3a-lMeLOTEDUgzGJ0ltvQRmON1H1dH9o/template/preview)\n\n\n### 2. Know Who and When to Ask for Charity Auction Donations \nAsk everyone! You never know who will say yes. If they say no, ask them if they know of anyone that might donate. Ask vendors that you work with and then ask them to ask their vendors. Word of mouth can be a powerful motivator - make sure everyone you contact has your info so they can pass it on to anyone else they think might be interested.\n\nGetting that first yes makes you feel great! Use that momentum to continue asking. Tell potential donors what other donors have already committed to. \nConsider asking for donations while you are spending money at a business. It’s hard for a vendor to say no when you’re paying them for work on a different event. It is easy for a restaurant manager to say yes to a table full of diners, especially their regulars. \n\n**Fundraising for a school?**\nAsk parents, volunteers, & teachers. They may work at an office or have spouses that have unique access. Vendors that service the school should be able to provide something; just think of all the services that come in and out daily.\n\n**Fundraising for animal welfare?**\nVolunteers help from the bottom of their heart. They usually have their own animals and make purchases at animal friendly establishments. Ask the volunteers to help with donation requests.\n\n**Fundraising for arts and culture?** \nLook around and observe what businesses are nearby that benefit from your establishment. Restaurants and shops that gain foot traffic because of your organization are prime targets to ask for donations.\n\n**Fundraising for health, welfare or disease fighting?** \nDefine the audience that is participating in your charity auction event and share that information with potential donors. Supporters like to return the favor and patronize businesses that donate to a similar cause.\n\n### 3. Effectively Respond When Potential Donors Say “No”\nSometimes businesses will just say no, and that’s ok. If possible, try to find out why it’s a no (politely! don’t guilt them for not donating). Sometimes it’s a maybe, sometimes it’s a maybe later. Ask a few more questions to understand so you can make better use of everyone’s time. \n\nIs the reason because the decision maker is elsewhere? \n\nWhen and how can you reach the decision maker?\n\nIs the reason based on timing? If so, how can you plan differently for your next event?\n\nIs the reason based on the type of charity? If so, maybe you have other contacts that are better aligned that you should focus on in the future.\n\nIs the reason based on the availability of donations? Is there something else like a cash donation that can help you fundraise?\n\n\n### 4. Know When to Say “No, Thank You!” to a Donation\nDon’t clutter the auction catalog. Say no to coupons, house party requirements, or anything that you feel is more of a sales promotion than an actually valuable item to your bidders. You may bump into solicitors that contact you like timeshare sales people or MLMs.\nIt’s ok for you to say no items, businesses, and people that don’t feel aligned with your goals and mission. Remember, nonprofits are mission-driven. This means it’s important to your supporters that you work with like-minded businesses, so don’t partner with businesses that aren’t aligned with your goals - even if it means one less item on the auction list.\n\n## Bonus Tip: Is a Sponsorship a Better Fit?\nSometimes, a specific auction donation item isn’t a good fit for a potential donor. A sponsorship may be better.\n\nFor instance, consider partnering with a realtor. They can’t donate a whole home! However, they can make a monetary donation or sponsorship. Depending on how much they are willing to donate, a sponsorship may be more in line with how they want to support the cause. You can use their donation to purchase a product that will then be raffled, multiplying the effect of their donation.\n\nThey might want to make a larger donation or create a matching donation. In this case, they will match (up to a given dollar amount) the funds that you raise. This gives the donor a lot of clout and exposure to your entire audience of supporters, making it an appealing option for donors that want to be more involved! \n\nOrdinary donations make up the bulk of the auction action, [Sponsors can help increase revenue multiple times over- here is how.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/auction-fundraiser-sponsorships-make-money/)\n\n## What Comes After the Auction Donation Request Letter?\nThe work isn’t done after you send the letter and solicit your donations. Make sure to coordinate pick up of the item in a timely manner and after the event, send the donor an email with details around the success of the event, how popular their item was, any final paperwork, and a note about looking forward to working with them again for your next event!\n\nExpressing gratitude towards your donors and clearly communicating the impact they provided for your event will encourage them to participate again in the future. Read more about [thanking your donors here.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/thanking-your-donors-3-post-event-best-practices/)\n\nAuctria can make these post-letter steps even easier. Auctria streamlines the entire auction process from the first donation to the last receipt. Use our Solicit Donation element to easily set up a form on your event website. Businesses and individuals can fill out the form online and provide donation details to you, simplifying your process. Review the submission, approve the chosen donors, and send a donation receipt after you receive the item to close the communication loop.\n\nWant more tips on maximizing the effects of your auction event? Read our blog on [Post-Auction Strategies for Long-Term support here.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/post-auction-strategies/)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1657},{"url":1658},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/09b571a2cbe9cd040a220935b36663af4389d6f8-800x500.jpg","2024-07-29T16:33:50.617Z",{"current":1661},"how-to-create-effective-auction-donation-request-letters","Charity auction catalogs are filled with items that are donated - that donations starts with an ask","How to Create Effective Auction Donation Request Letters",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1665,"category":1666,"id":5,"image":1667,"publishOn":1670,"slug":1671,"teaser":1673,"title":1674},"Are you thinking about running a silent auction for your nonprofit? Silent auctions are a great way to make the event engaging for your donors while still helping your nonprofit reach its fundraising goals. Auctria has the tips you need for running a successful fundraiser!\n\n## So, What IS a Silent Auction?\n\nA silent auction is an auction, typically one for charity, in which people bid for items in writing or by electronic means rather than by calling out or raising their hands.\n\nEach attendee is assigned a bidder number before the auction begins. Each auction item has a big sheet placed in front of it and bidders will place “silent bids” by writing their bidder number and amount bid on each sheet for a set amount of time.\n\nThis keeps the atmosphere calm and social while also providing bidders anonymity regarding what they bid on during the event. When time is called, the bid sheets are collected and the highest bidder is determined as the winner.\n\n## Why Should a Nonprofit Run a Silent Auction?\n\nSilent auctions are a great way to engage your donors in a fun, interactive way without the stress and chaos of a vocal auction. **Remember: any auction is only as good as its items!** [Sourcing unique experiences, one-of-a-kind items, exciting gifts from local businesses,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/procurement-basics/) and other enticing bidding items will up the competition at your auction - which, in turn, ups the amount of money your fundraiser will make for your nonprofit.\n\nSilent auctions allow you to explain your mission and show off the impact your nonprofit has made while providing donors an opportunity to contribute to a cause they care about while socializing, having fun, and maybe winning a few exciting items at the same time.\n\nWith the right preparation, a silent auction can be a fun, engaging, and effective way for nonprofits to raise awareness, funds, and support for their mission!\n\n\nWhat Makes a Successful Silent Auction?\n\nSuccessful silent auctions require organization, planning, and solid execution. Once you’ve secured high-quality bidding items, you’ll still need to:\n* Market your event\n* Create an event and auction website\n* Create a user-friendly bidding system\n* Create your event management team\n\nThankfully, Auctria can help!\n\n\n## Market Your Event Fundraiser\nIf you’re stressed out by the idea of tackling social media and other marketing platforms to get the word out about your event, read our article on [Effective Marketing for a Silent Auction Fundraiser.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/effective-marketing-for-a-silent-auction-fundraiser/) We cover how to best utilize social media, email, and word of mouth to ensure you host a successful event.\n\n## Create a Website\nAuctria makes silent auctions powerful with our easy-to-use event and auction websites. We help you organize the entire auction process from the first day of procurement to the last bidder receipt - and everything in between. Learn more about how Auctria's tools can be used for [powerful event website to support your silent auction here.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/don-t-underestimate-the-power-of-a-great-event-and-auction-website/)\n\n## Create a Bidding System\nNo need to start from scratch. Using a platform with extensive resources on choosing a user-friendly bidding system makes it easy to create and bidders to use. You’ll want to find a system that isn’t confusing for your guests but also isn’t an overwhelming amount of work for you and your team. Check out our article on Silent Bid Sheets here to learn more about blank bid sheets, customized bid sheets, bid sheets with display pages, and mobile bidding options.\n\n## Build Your Team\nWhen it comes to building your team, make sure you choose reliable, detail-oriented team members who will help you pull off the best event day-of! You’ll want organized people who can help reduce the stress of planning and running the event. [Define the roles and responsibilities](https://www.auctria.com/blog/auction-teamwork/) Diverse skills of the volunteers only enhance the outcome of the fundraiser. Consider splitting or combining duties depending upon the number and type of volunteers that step forward.\n\nAdditionally, choosing team members who are passionate and knowledgeable about your nonprofits mission means they’ll be great resources during planning and when working with guests, potential donors, potential partners, and more.\n\nThey should know your supporters well enough to give you suggestions on how to craft an event tailored to your audience. They should also know the mission inside and out so that they can pitch it effectively to potential partners to convince them to provide bidding items, as well as being able to clearly explain the mission to any guests with questions during the event.\n\nHaving a team you can count on will help your event run smoothly, increasing guests' trust in you and your nonprofit - which will increase their willingness to bid on items and donate to your cause!\n\nHere are our Three Easy Tips for a Successful Silent Auction:\n\n1. Start Planning Early\n2. Keep Things Running Smoothly\n3. Reach Out Afterwards!\n\n## 1. Start Planning Early\nRemember how we said any auction is only as good as its items? Sourcing high-quality items for your donors to bid on can take a long time. You’ll need to have or build relationships with other local businesses, organizations, and more before you can convince them to donate items to your fundraiser. Don’t lose out on raising more money for your nonprofit because you waited til the last minute to look for items!\n\nThe logistics of the event also take a lot of time to plan. You’ll need to form your team, set a clear goal for the fundraiser, find an event space, build a website, market your event…whew! It’s a lot! But it’s all achievable if you start well in advance, giving yourself time to get the details right and deal with any unexpected delays or complications.\n\n## 2. Keep Things Running Smoothly\nOn the day of the event, your biggest priority should be ensuring every guest, donor, and partner has an amazing time. Even if they don’t donate or win a bid, you want them to walk away saying, “Wow, that was so fun! I can’t wait for the next auction”. This is a great opportunity to engage people and make them dedicated supporters of your nonprofit!\n\nIf you’ve put the proper amount of time into your planning and surrounded yourself with a capable team, you should be good to go. Take a deep breath, be attentive, and calmly handle any complications that arise day-of. No event goes perfectly - but a well-run event will keep guests from ever knowing what went wrong.\n\n## 3. Reach Out Afterwards\nSome articles recommend reaching out to winning bidders after so that you can encourage continued engagement with your nonprofit. We have to ask: why not reach out to everyone, winner or no?\n\nEvery single guest at your event is a potential life-long supporter of your nonprofit and its mission. They clearly were interested enough in your mission and event to attend - so don’t miss out on an opportunity to keep them engaged and convert them to dedicated supporters!\n\n**For winning bidders,** you’ll want to reach out to thank them for their donation and to provide tax-deductible information.\n\n**For item donors,** reach out to thank them for donating their item(s) - and perhaps even emphasize how popular their item may have been! Let them know if you’ll be planning more auctions in the future and that you look forward to working with them again.\n\n**For non-winning bidders,** thank them for bidding and encourage them to consider a separate donation to your nonprofit if they’d still like to support you.\n\n**For guests who didn’t place a bid,** reach out to thank them for attending. It may also be a good idea to send a short survey gathering data on why they didn’t bid - were the bids too expensive for their taste? Were the items not of interest? This is valuable data for future auctions!\n\n**For all of your attendees,** add them to your email list and encourage them to follow you on social media if they don’t already. This will keep them engaged with your nonprofit, let them know about future events, and increase the chances that you’ll receive further donations from them.\n\n## Examples of Successful Silent Auctions (and Why)\n\n\nWe’ve helped many organizations plan, organize, and run successful auction events. Read about all our successful events on our [Spotlight page!](https://www.auctria.com/spotlight/) Let’s take a look at a few of our favorites.\n\n### Church of the Rock’s Pie Auction\nChurch of the Rock has raised millions of dollars auctioning pies - although they started small, making just $800 in their first auction in 1997. If there’s one thing they’ve learned, it’s that being organized and having a solid plan leads to success! They have their auctions down to a precise process.\n\nOne tip you can use in your planning: start promoting the next auction as soon as the first one is complete! As soon as the auction finishes, make sure to reach out to all attendees, bidders, donors, and partners with details about how much was raised, what the most popular items were, and how the funds will be utilized.\n\nIn between the events, keep everyone updated on how the funds are being used: if you buy supplies, fund a trip, or build something, make sure to share that with everyone!\n\nMake sure details about the next auction are easy to find on your organization’s website, including details about where the funds are going and any important sign up dates for the next event.\n\nLearn more about the Pie Auction [here.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/people-process-pie/)\n\n### The Bangor Symphony Orchestra Soiree Fundraiser\n\nWhen the Bangor Symphony Orchestra moved their auction from in-person to online, they knew it was a great opportunity to compare the results to previous years.\n\nThey provided a similar number of auction items for bidding but the winning bids were much higher and engaged a broader audience. The differences included providing thank you gifts, adding Bid Extensions (to prevent sniping), and offering multiples of popular auction items.\n\nBid Extension (previously known as anti-sniping) means that auction items that receive last minute bids have the bidding time extended automatically. This gives the previous bidder more time to re-bid. Bid extension notification is unique to online bidding because the bidders receive immediate outbid notifications.\n\nAt an in-person silent auction, bidders would have to hover over their most wanted bid sheets instead of being able to enjoy the social activities, making it a less satisfying experience. With Bangor’s shift to an online auction, this conflict was removed, bids went up, and attendee satisfaction increased.\n\nBids increase over the course of the auction. However, only the highest bid wins and is awarded the auction item. Some people who were outbid might be willing to pay the winning bid amount. Additionally, some donors may be willing to donate multiple items. How do you capitalize on that? Offer multiples!\n\n\nSee what else Bangor Symphony Orchestra learned about their event in the full write-up [here.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/bangor-symphony-orchestra-pivot-to-paradigm-shift-for-event-fundraising/)\n\nWant to see how other organizations are using Auctria to power their fundraisers? Check out our [Public Auction and Fundraising Events page!](https://events.auctria.com/) This page features live updates with currently active events so you can see exactly how other nonprofits are running their events.\n\nCurious to see how Auctria can help your nonprofit successfully execute your next event? Try Auctria for free today to run an example event, explore the guest experience, and more. [Click here to learn more!](https://www.auctria.com/next-step)\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1668},{"url":1669},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/26209784e013ae61acad359092ec93bff7238d51-1920x1080.png","2024-07-30T17:49:21.582Z",{"current":1672},"how-does-a-nonprofit-silent-auction-work-3-tips-for-success","Why Should a Nonprofit Run a Silent Auction?","How Does a Nonprofit Silent Auction Work? 3 Tips for Success",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1676,"category":1677,"id":5,"image":1678,"publishOn":1681,"slug":1682,"teaser":1684,"title":1685},"Proven revenue generators to optimize revenue before, during and after the event fundraiser. If you focus solely on the day or night of the event for income then your job is incomplete. Prior to the event you are building momentum and attracting attention for participation. Post event is an opportunity to continue the relationship with sponsors, bidders & donors. You may even pick up some new volunteers along the way. \n\nDuring the event is a special time so we will share proven activities that repeatedly generate energy, engagement and most importantly, large income at the in-person event:\n * Grab bag\n * Balloon pop\n * Heads or tails\n * Signature drink\n * Wall of wine or bourbon\n * Live auction\n * Champion call or Paddle Raise\n * Last Man Standing or Run Around\n\n\n## Prior to the event\n\nThe most important time from a financial aspect should be the work you put in prior to the event happening. This is where your focus should be on cultivating sponsors to fund the event. Sponsorship dollars are critical! When looking at successful fundraising events, it is proven that the majority of your funds will be generated from your sponsorships. An organization’s development director can lead this effort, but sponsorship sales should not fall solely on the weight of your director. They should guide the process and provide assistance to others who will be selling the sponsorships, like your board and event committee, but ultimately provide the path for successful sponsorship sales. A great way to free up some time to allow you to focus on sponsorship development is by partnering with an event company to handle the event logistics. Even though there is a cost in working with event management companies you will allow yourself the ability to work with your bigger donors on sponsorships.\n\nIn addition to sponsorships, many events will sell tickets. The ticket sales are a very small portion of revenue when you look at the entire event however it is still revenue for your organization. A benefit to making your event ticketed is that guests and sponsors that have secured tickets will want to come to your event! More people at your event means more folks bidding on items, spending money on sales, and more donations. Determining the price for the ticket will depend on the style event and the cost per person you incur to hold the event. \n\n## Event Day\n\nThe day of your event has arrived and your stress level is through the roof and you are running on little sleep. If you have an event management partner it should be on them to make sure things are in order for you. That will allow you the ability to not run the event but engage with the attendees. Even a ticketed guest who is there for the first time hearing about your organization is important, as they could become your next big advocate or donor. \n\nWhat makes a successful event? As a case study, we’ll be using a gala style event that will include a cocktail hour and a seated portion of the evening. The first step to help is by pre-registering credit cards. This can be accomplished upon entry to the event or when folks are registering themselves online. The more that can be accomplished prior to the event the quicker the guests get in the door and start spending money. Registering credit cards accomplishes a couple of things, but more importantly, it helps the attendee spend money at your event without pulling out their wallet or purse to think about how much they are spending. The guest can then use their name or bidder number throughout the event for bidding, donations, and sales.\n\t\nHere are some activities to fundraise during the event in addition to a silent auction.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/fb5ae661d58b884619f4a5e8d5259a8a3764a22b-802x666.png)\n\n\n### Grab Bag\nA set price in which a guest chooses a bag in which they are not able to see the content of the bag. i.e. $20 per bag and the content could be a $25 gift card or more.\nThis is great if you have items that don’t pair well with other silent auction packages or are below a certain value. \n\n### Balloon Pop \nSimilar to the Grab Bag you assign the items a number which corresponds to a number inside each balloon. The guest will pay per balloon they pop. The noise of the popping gets other guests curious and interested.\n\n### Heads or Tails \nThroughout the evening you will sell a chance for guests to will the heads or tails prize. The purchaser will receive a necklace or blinking ring to designate they are going to be part of the game. Something similar to the blinking ring gains attention and gets people asking where and how they got that. The MC or auctioneer gets everyone focused on the stage later in the evening and uses a coin for heads and tails. You can either have guests place their hands on their head or their hips. The other way would be to face the stage for heads or face away from the stage for tails. The guests who are doing the opposite are out and the game continues until there is only one guest left. [All sorts of raffles can be prolific](https://www.auctria.com/blog/raffles-success/) fundraising tools. Be sure you are aware of the regulations to be safe!\n\n### Signature Drink\nYou can or your caterer can create a signature drink which can be tied into the event theme. To do this you can sell a cup which allows you refills of the signature drink throughout the night.\n\n### Wall of Wine or Bourbon \nAnother great activity that guests really enjoy. Place a number on every bottle of wine, bourbon or other alcohol. Have a jar of corks with the corresponding numbers. Each pull is a set price for example $40 or $50. The guest wins the bottle that is numbered the same as the cork they pulled out. You may need to be prepared to mark the bottles with the winners name and bid number for pick up at the end of the event depending on your ABC laws.\n\nAs the evening transitions to the main program and focus turns to the front of the room or stage. Oftentimes this is when the guests are seated for dinner. Several fundraising elements are very common but we will include ideas to increase that return.\n\n### Live Auction \nDepending on your event’s size and scale it may make sense to bring in a trained auctioneer. A good auctioneer should have the connection to consignment packages that will bring added value to the live auction to help increase the overall return from a live auction.  [Live auction success](https://www.auctria.com/blog/live-auction-success/) is reliant upon bidders bidding against each other pushing up the final sale price. A good auctioneer can feel the vibe of the guests and knows the ways to best draw out every dollar possible.\n\n### Champion Call or Paddle Raise\nThis has many different names but the gist is that you are asking for a straight donation. This is generally one of the larger portions of your revenue for an event. It is always more impactful when you have this part of the night after you play an impactful video or have a speaker tug on the heart strings of the guests. When you are determining the levels you plan on asking for, consider adding a level above what you're comfortable with. You will be pleasantly surprised. Also, if you have a donor that already pledged a large donation prior to the event, you can ask them to “donate” that amount during this time. That gets the ball rolling, and guests see others who support at that level and feel more willing to match what others are supporting at.\n\n### Last Man Standing or Run Around\nThis is a unique way to get the guests to reach in their pockets one last time at the end of your Champion Call. You reserve an item or package as a give away i.e. YETI cooler with something inside. The way it works is that you go back to a $50 or $100 donation level. Each time a guest raises their bid number they are making a donation. The last donation will win the cooler and its contents, in this example. Quickly you will see guests raising their bid numbers and your MC or Auctioneer is reading them as they would during the Champion Call. Guests will raise their bid numbers more than once. As it stalls out the MC or Auctioneer does the tradition “Last call Going once going twice, Fair and final warning…” Another guest or several raise their bid numbers for an additional donation at the determined dollar amount. It is up to the MC or auctioneer and their spotters to determine in what order they saw the bid numbers raised. This will continue for several more rounds before it closes and the results will surprise you. The key thing here is to post the rules on a powerpoint slide as well as announce multiple times that every time the guest raises their bid number they are making an additional donation. The key word being “Donation”.\n\t\n## Post Event\nWhen the event ends you do not need to consider the fundraising for that event over. Funds raised after the event can still be allocated to that event's fundraising efforts. You also can send out a follow up [email thanking the guests and supporters](https://www.auctria.com/blog/thank-you-everyone/) for being a part of the event. In addition you can leave them with a way to continue the support or make an additional contribution. Another quick way to gather final donations is via a text from the auction system. This can be accomplished by providing a text-to-donate option that can be sent out to all your attendees, you never know if someone was shy to raise a paddle during champion call but is happy to donate via text!\n\nWe hope all these tips help you maximize your profits during your auction, and most of them can be incorporated into virtual events. Good luck and happy fundraising!\n\n--------------------------------\nSpecial thanks to John Fuse of [Eventfull](http://eventfullrva.com/) for sharing his expert advice on how to maximize income at an event fundraiser. John is an event planner located in Virginia specializing in not-for-profit events.\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1679},{"url":1680},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/8827c0e759778e6239bf0fc7450a8fbe1aedc848-600x320.png","2021-03-08T16:00:00.000Z",{"current":1683},"proven-revenue-generators-for-an-event-fundraiser","Sharing proven activities that repeatedly generate energy, engagement and most importantly, large income at the in-person event","Proven Revenue Generators for an Event Fundraiser",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1687,"category":1688,"id":5,"image":1689,"publishOn":1431,"slug":1692,"teaser":1694,"title":1695},"After one year of live-streaming events, we’ve come a long way to support the needs of so many non-profit organizations that needed to pivot back in March of 2020 in order to keep supporting their critical mission through the means of virtual/digital fundraising.\n\nMany nonprofit organizations and schools have had all fundraising events postponed or canceled since March 2020 and so their need for financial resources is greater than ever. \nMost organizations are focused on minimizing exposure to expenses. \n\nTo say that the climate of events has been challenging is an understatement, and yet we’ve had tremendous success with virtual events and virtual fundraising. We shared three other case studios here that provide the back-up to our claims and in this post we’d like to share three more case studies in the evolution of what virtual fundraising could look like, especially for organizations that are still hesitant to spend a good amount of dollars on an in-studio production. \n\n## In-Studio Production can be Costly\n\nAsk anyone in events and they would 100% say that an in-studio production is ideal and it’s just beautiful, you, as the client, Emcee, Auctioneer, support staff, show up and hour before the event going LIVE, and everything's safe, setup and ready to go for you. You do a quick tech run-through and you’re set. No hassle, no bustle, no drama. Turn-key solution without you needing to worry about one thing because there’s a team of professionals behind the scenes turning the knobs, adjusting things, testing the technology, running the show basically so you don’t have to. \n\nNow, as you can imagine, that team of superheroes doesn’t volunteer or work for free. Expertise comes at a cost and studio time comes at a cost as well. In the age of virtual events you can put on a very sophisticated production that looks amazing on the front end, but at the end of the day, your bottom line, your net profits will tell you a different story. You didn’t come net-neutral from your amazing event, you came under. Not only did you not raise the funds you so needed to raise, but in some cases, you ended up having to pay out of pocket for that awesome production and technology that you were bragging about on social media. \n\n## Live Streaming on a Budget\n\nWe listen to our clients and we hear this one common theme more times than we would like to. And so the need to come up with a different solution, another broadcasting model, a more budget-friendly model without compromising on the quality of the live-stream has been our priority. We wanted this solution to be affordable to the smaller nonprofits that can’t afford the big name studio production, yet at a fraction of the cost of that in-studio production, they could still benefit from the experience of a highly produced virtual event, with the guarantee now that their net will be a positive one. \n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/cdf6747d3b6753e852a1d5d8fda04284a134daa4-1280x720.png)](https://vimeo.com/showcase/8469416)\n\n## Budget Friendly Live Stream Model\nAnd this is where this virtual live-streaming model comes into place. It’s a simple model. The main ingredients are: \n* an auctioneer comfortable with live-streaming from their home location, with a technically adequate home set up ready to go live (C.A.L.L.S. certified) such as [Patrick Siver, BAS](https://geventsllc.com/)\n* Live streaming virtual studio such as [StreamYard](https://streamyard.com/)\n* Easy to use cloud-based auction platform with an app option such as Auctria\n* A virtual event producer running and executing the production, such as [Tree-Fan Events](https://treefanevents.com/virtual-event-free-resources-special-live-streaming-pricing-for-auctria-users/)\n\n**These four ingredients provide the “secret sauce”** to planning and production a virtual fundraising event that now won’t break the bank while providing you with an unparalleled professional broadcasted production complete with branded graphic overlays, lower thirds, tickers, comments, chat, wheel of names giveaways, and of course content (live and pre-recorded).\n\nUsing this model, working in close collaboration with gEvents, StreamYard,  and Auctria we were able to creatively provide a cost-effective solution to our clients and the results were outstanding, with one school doubling their net from their last gathering event, another netted twice their goal and the third exceeded their overall goal. \n\nAnca Trifan\n>\"It felt great to help these nonprofit clients with these tried tools that we have successfully used for live-streaming virtual events in the past and that now we’ve applied to virtual fundraising events.\" \n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/3286ffd5ff793f39f4c1ac46ab507b869819d88a-1280x720.png)](https://treefanevents.com/hybrid-event-services/)\n\nThese three case studies are just a few to highlight how great it feels to be able to “help the helpers” by assisting these nonprofit organizations secure the revenue they desperately need to further their missions. [See the virtual showcase.](https://vimeo.com/showcase/8469416)\n\n-------------\nSpecial thanks to Tree-Fans founder, Anca Trifan for sharing her expert advice. If you’d like to learn more about the model and what that might look like for your upcoming fundraising event, [schedule a short 20 min call with us, risk-free.](https://calendly.com/treefan_events/discovery_meeting) \n\nWe won’t try to sell you, we love to share our experience and it is ultimately your decision to apply our experience and expertise to your event and help serve your organization in any way we can. \n\n\n[Click here to get a complete package of virtual event templates](https://treefanevents.com/virtual-event-free-resources-special-live-streaming-pricing-for-auctria-users/) including: \n* Virtual Event Script & Tech Notes\n* Run of Show\n* CALL Tips\n* Virtual Event Checklist\n\n**Podcast: [Events: demystifyied](https://treefanevents.com/events-demystified-podcast/)** Auctria was episode #19 and there are many that are directly related to charity and fundraising events. \n\n**YouTube: [Tech Tuesday](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQetBusJOOytQeigf1bmRgwD9fPqx1pHu)** On the Tree-Fan YouTube channel you will find a Tech Tuesday playlist. Here Anca discusses and answers all your virtual event tech questions.\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1690},{"url":1691},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/7fe13586c83618258d840f8f5ecb635f84e128a7-600x320.jpg",{"current":1693},"live-streaming-on-a-budget","These four ingredients provide the “secret sauce” to planning and production a virtual fundraising event that now won’t break the bank.","Live-Streaming On a Budget",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1697,"category":1698,"id":5,"image":1699,"publishOn":1702,"slug":1703,"teaser":1705,"title":1706},"So much of nonprofit work is focused on fundraising, and rightfully so—with fundraising dollars, your organization can run its programming, deliver its services, purchase equipment and supplies, and more. \n\nHowever, the relationship between donors and your nonprofit doesn’t solely revolve around the exchange of money. In fact, if the relationship feels transactional, your donors may feel less connected to your cause and seek out other organizations to support. \n\nThe good news is that effective fundraising and donor engagement go hand-in-hand. Think about cultivating relationships with your donors as a fundamental aspect of a [winning fundraising strategy,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-to-improve-your-fundraising-strategy-a-mini-guide/) not just a tangential component of it. \n\nTo help you improve how you’re engaging your donors in addition to asking them for donations, you’ll need the right strategies on your side. In this post, we’ll explore five of our favorites: \n\n1. Host a variety of events.\n2. Create an accessible website.\n3. Personalize communication.\n4. Encourage additional involvement. \n5. Ask for feedback. \n\nWhile these general strategies are a great place to start, you may find that your organization needs a donor engagement approach that is tailored to its unique needs. Consider [working with a nonprofit consultant,](https://donorly.com/thedonorlyblog/nonprofit-consultants) an expert in all things fundraising and donor relations that can objectively evaluate your efforts and help you implement engagement strategies that lead to strengthened donor relationships and long-term retention. \n\n## 1. Host a variety of events. \nNonprofit events require an investment of time and resources to pull off, but they’re well worth the effort. In addition to bringing in donations, they are great opportunities to encourage your supporters to become more deeply involved with your nonprofit. Plus, they’re a lot of fun! You can even plan events that take the focus off of fundraising and are instead dedicated to community building among your supporters.  \n\nTry to plan a variety of events that will appeal to different donor groups. For instance, if you have supporters all across the country, planning both in-person and [virtual events](https://www.charitybids.com/blog/virtual-charity-events) will give all of your donors an opportunity to engage with your organization. Note that some events naturally lend themselves to virtual and hybrid participation more than others. A [silent auction,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/a-guide-to-preparing-for-auction-and-event-fundraisers/) for example, can easily be hosted in an entirely virtual format, but a 5K will require a more innovative approach to move online. \n\nIn addition to virtual and in-person considerations, take the following into account as you plan your events: \n\n* **Supporters’ ability to give.** Your event fundraising strategies should take your audience’s giving capacities into consideration. If an event is targeting a very specific segment of your base, study their average gift amounts to make appropriate asks. Some events can offer giving and engagement opportunities for donors at a variety of income levels. For example, at your auction, high-value items will attract attention from major and mid-range donors whereas lower- and medium-value items can still keep your average donors engaged through the event. \n\n* **Required technology.** Whether in-person or online, events increasingly need digital support. A [dedicated “Events” website page,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/designing-an-event-landing-page-5-strategies-for-nonprofits/) registration forms, ticketing tools, and live-streaming software, and [digital donation boxes](https://www.dipjar.com/donation-box-ideas/) can all improve your donors’ event experiences.\n\n* **Activity schedule.** While your events are typically focused on fundraising, an event that is solely about donating to your nonprofit is unlikely to hold your supporters’ interest. Offer a variety of activities and engagement opportunities between speeches honoring donors and calling for donations so supporters feel like they are part of a dynamic community. For instance, you might provide a delicious meal or high-end entertainment. \n\nRemember to always follow up after your events to thank donors for attending, whether they ended up giving at your event or not. Additionally, take pictures during the event to post online and share with supporters who attended. Photos can also help market your future events by reminding donors how much fun they had the last time they attended.\n\n## 2. Create an accessible website.\nYour website is one of your most valuable donor engagement tools. Supporters [visit your website to donate,](https://donorly.com/thedonorlyblog/digital-fundraising) volunteer, and stay updated on your nonprofit’s recent activities. You can further encourage engagement by optimizing your website to meet accessibility standards and increase your potential audience.\n\n\nFollowing [accessibility guidelines](https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/) improves your website for all users. In addition to letting visitors using screen readers or other assistive technology engage with your website, many of the core accessibility principles revolve around creating a clear navigation system, easy-to-read text, and appealing visuals.\n\n[Cornershop Creative’s guide to nonprofit website design best practices](https://cornershopcreative.com/blog/nonprofit-web-design-best-practices/) outlines a few key principles for improving your website’s usability:\n\n* Add alternative text (also known as alt text) to images and transcripts for videos. \n* In addition to making links a different color, underline them so that you can help more people identify them.\n* Ensure that visitors can navigate your website using a keyboard. \n* Make text highly readable by using colors with high contrast and ensuring fonts are at least 16px. \n* Use labels and helper text outside form fields to assist visitors in filling out forms like your donation form or event registration forms. \n\n\nYour website should encourage engagement, rather than be an obstacle your supporters have to surmount to interact with your nonprofit. An improved website will also lead to visitors being more eager to engage with any content you do post on the site, which opens the door for adding evergreen content such as webinars.\n\n## 3. Personalize communication.\nIf a donor feels they have a personal connection with your nonprofit, they are more likely to stick around and participate in your nonprofit’s community. While having one-on-one conversations with every donor is nearly impossible, you can personalize your communications so each donor gets a unique experience when they interact with your nonprofit.\n\nIn addition to tracking basic personal information such as your donors’ names and contact information, use other software tools at your nonprofit’s disposal to learn more about your different supporter segments so that you can approach them appropriately.\n\nFor instance, [Donorly’s guide to prospect research](https://donorly.com/thedonorlyblog/prospect-research-guide) recommends using tools like your internal donor records, government records, and prospect generator tools to identify supporters who have the potential to become major donors. These donors will benefit from a more hands-on approach than others. This doesn’t mean your regular donors should be ignored, but rather that your nonprofit should identify opportunities to receive major gifts and look for corresponding engagement opportunities.\n\nYou can also engage donors in small ways through your communication tools. Address every supporter by name through their preferred communication channel and reference their previous engagement history to show that your nonprofit acknowledges and appreciates their past participation.\n\n\n\n\n## 4. Encourage additional involvement. \nOne of the best ways to ensure your supporters remain invested in your cause is to encourage additional involvement beyond donating. As your supporters engage with your nonprofit in multiple ways, their connection to your mission will deepen and they’ll be more likely to be lifelong supporters of your work. \n\nHere are some opportunities to plug as you interact with your donors: \n\n\n* **Following your organization** on [social media:](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-to-grow-your-organization-s-social-media-following/) This is a low-stakes way for your donors to keep up with your nonprofit’s activities and interact with your organization regularly. Ensure that your social media profiles are properly branded to your nonprofit so that your donors can easily find you, and make it worthwhile by posting interesting and engaging content. \n\n* **Volunteering:** Volunteering is an excellent opportunity for your donors to get hands-on experience with your mission. Work with your volunteer coordinator to design opportunities that will allow your donors to tap into their strengths and skill sets, and that will work with a variety of schedules. \n\n* **Participating in [advocacy work:](https://www.auctria.com/blog/5-ways-to-turn-advocacy-into-action/)** If some aspect of your nonprofit’s mission involves engaging with policymakers or educating the general public about a specific issue, you can also invite your donors to join in on these activities. Make sure to provide thorough training about how to approach advocacy work and how to talk about your mission so that donors feel equipped to help out in this way.  \n\n* **Joining your planned giving program:** Planned giving empowers donors to create a lasting legacy centered on a nonprofit cause they care about. Encourage donors to learn more about your planned giving program and to join your planned giving society so that they can interact with other people who are passionate about making an impact on your cause. \n\nEvery donor is unique and will have different preferences when it comes to getting involved with your nonprofit in other ways besides making financial contributions. As you continue to get to know your donors, guide them toward the opportunities that you know will resonate with them and bring them personal fulfillment. This will encourage them to continue their involvement for years to come. \n\n## 5. Ask for feedback. \nThe best way to know how donors feel about your nonprofit is to ask them. You don’t need to incorporate every suggestion you receive from your donors, but being asked lets them know that your nonprofit cares about their experience with your organization.\n\nSurvey the donors whose experience you want to know the most about. For example, new donors may help give insight into how they discovered your nonprofit, but they might not have formed an opinion on how they feel about their current engagement level. By contrast, donors who have been with your nonprofit for years might be less concerned about marketing materials and more interested in your event calendar.\n\nFor each major fundraising effort that you launch, take the time afterward to assess its impact on your supporters and determine how it affected engagement rates. When you [create a new fundraising plan,](https://donorly.com/thedonorlyblog/fundraising-strategy-guide) consider past donor interactivity to set an attainable goal that makes sense with your nonprofit’s large-scale growth goals.\n\n------------\n[Keeping your donors engaged](https://www.auctria.com/blog/4-key-strategies-for-nonprofits-to-keep-supporters-engaged/) is a critical part of setting your nonprofit up for sustained success. Plus, lasting nonprofit relationships are built on meaningful interactions and experiences, not just generous donations. \n\nUse these five strategies to improve your nonprofit’s approach to donor engagement. And remember, you can always leverage the expertise of a nonprofit consultant to further fine-tune your strategy.\n\n---------------\n\nSpecial thanks to Sandra Davis for the expert advice. Founder and President Sandra Davis leads Donorly with 30 years of fundraising experience and leadership. Sandra has consulted on numerous capital campaigns, led strategic planning and feasibility study efforts, and managed board development and recruitment efforts in addition to overseeing planned giving, special events, and annual giving programs. Under her leadership, Donorly has grown to support the fundraising efforts of over 75 clients to date.\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1700},{"url":1701},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/2f82a7f0cc8d886459bb1f3eb30d4f7643fd1db8-1028x580.png","2021-04-09T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":1704},"4-fundraising-strategies-for-improving-donor-engagement","Donor engagement is critical to maintaining your community of supporters. In this post, we’ll explore five strategies for better nonprofit donor engagement. ","4 Fundraising Strategies for Improving Donor Engagement",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1708,"category":1709,"id":5,"image":1710,"publishOn":1713,"slug":1714,"teaser":1716,"title":1717},"Your advocacy is a spark of passion—and it needs to be fueled for social change. Though the social sector in the US has more than 12 million employees, the executive director of nonprofit accelerator Multiplier, Laura Deaton, stated that [advocates need to act more](https://medium.com/pcubed/building-a-meta-movement-will-help-the-social-sector-flex-its-power-b06dd0c11f88) so that there will progress towards shared prosperity. Multiple social issues still persist to this day, and Deaton pointed out that it’s due to the lack of grassroots efforts.\n\nSocial progress is possible in this lifetime, and it starts with you. So if you want to turn your advocacy into action, here’s how you can get started:\n\n## Leverage Various Talents to Build Up Social Awareness\nYou can increase awareness or garner support for social issues by leveraging your talent online. By using a [more creative approach,](https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/10/how-arts-and-culture-can-serve-as-a-force-for-social-change/) you can capture the attention of various audiences and increase their awareness on social concerns.\n\nTo illustrate, the members behind NPO Artscape made creative projects to shed light on the truth and to inspire philanthropy in others. Their unique approach to social work enabled them to become an international leader in advancing public-policy initiatives and in enacting philanthropic missions. Likewise, you can use your own or your organization members’ talents to drive societal change.\n\n## Fight for Rights by Engaging in Policy Making\n\nHave you thought of a potential solution for a social issue within your community? You can step up as a citizen and drive social changes by suggesting these solutions to policymakers.\n\nCitizens can engage in policymaking by scheduling meetings or writing to local city council members, mayor, representatives, or senators. This engagement is crucial if you are a subject-matter expert or directly involved in the issue, since you can educate policymakers about the scope of your concern. Then, suggest specific action plans so that they can enact concrete solutions that can improve your local community.\n\n## Learn the Processes Needed for Social Change\n\nPolicy reform is just one of the powerful tools that social workers utilize to drive change. As lifetime advocates for progress, these professionals develop their skills to master processes and movements that lead towards community development.\n\nSimilarly, you can develop your knowledge in policy reform, program development, and human rights intervention through [educational programs in social work.](https://online.maryville.edu/blog/bsw-vs-msw/) These programs will teach you action-based solutions for social change, and even immerse you in field work to refine your capabilities in enacting social change. By investing in your upskilling, you can master tried and tested methods in social work.\n\n\n\n\n## Join a Non-Profit Organization for Your Advocacy\n\nAs experienced communities, non-profit organizations (NPO) play a huge role in driving social change. In fact, [NPO engagement was proven to be effective](https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/13/6982/htm) in increasing local network activities and strengthening initiatives in the UNGC by up to 13%. Since these organizations focus on societal issues at the grassroots level, they are effective in driving political initiatives at a larger scale.\n\nSo once you’ve developed your skills in social work, you can join a non-profit organization to devote your skills. By becoming a part of these organizations, you can establish multiple projects that can tackle social problems at their very core.\n\n## Use Online Channels for Advocacy Projects\n\nWhether you’re reaching out to your local community or to a wide audience, online platforms make it easy to build awareness. Through these platforms, you can use your knowledge and skills in social work to establish various advocacy projects.\n\nIn fact, our article on [adapting to the digital age](https://www.auctria.com/blog/4-ways-nonprofits-can-adapt-to-the-digital-age/) suggested that you can start by using blogs or social media channels to share your knowledge in social concerns, like environmentalism, and even insert photos or videos to establish the urgency of these issues. After building awareness, these platforms can be utilized for auctions and donation drives that can fund forestation projects.\n\nEvery voice counts when it comes to driving societal change. Through these different strategies, you can make a difference in your own community.\n\n------------------------\nSpecial thanks to Roseanne Jane for sharing this expert content. Roseanne Jane became a lifestyle and community outreach blogger after being inspired by her volunteer work in a local senior home. Volunteerism is tough work, but she hopes that she can ignite her readers' calling through her articles.\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1711},{"url":1712},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/7a7ca61f957ef0a851a087913bfaef171c686efe-600x320.jpg","2022-02-10T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":1715},"5-ways-to-turn-advocacy-into-action","Your advocacy is a spark of passion—and it needs to be fueled for social change.","5 Ways to Turn Advocacy Into Action",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1719,"category":1720,"id":5,"image":1721,"publishOn":1724,"slug":1725,"teaser":1727,"title":1728},"The first Giving Tuesday Association for Individual Development (AID) participated in 2015 yielded $5k. As Giving Tuesday has become much more widely recognized, so too has the success of the AID end-of-year campaign. Tying it in with Giving Tuesday helps increase awareness and reach a larger audience. The national and global push of Giving Tuesday has positively affected the AID campaign and year over year proceeds have increased. Last year, AID saw more than $70K in contributions and hope to reach a similar goal again this year. \n Doug Milewski, AID Marketing and Communications Specialist, is confident they will exceed the goal with the help of key strategies:\n* Communications\n* Matching gift\n* Goal setting\n* User-friendly digital giving platforms\n\n## Customizing messaging based on audience\n\nAsk the right people, in a way that makes it easy for them to make a donation. Donors who make a year-end gift may be different than those who attend an event or volunteer their time. [Customizing messages](https://www.auctria.com/blog/segment-engage-averill/) ensures each donor gets the right message on the right communication platform; enhancing engagement. \n\nAID uses multiple communication platforms to connect with donors. It’s important to recognize how various members of your audience contribute to your organization and utilize any and all avenues available to reach your entire donor base.\n\n**Historically, Email is the single most effective tool for fundraising.** An email conveying a clear message and a call to action gets opened, read, and links clicked. The email marketing application that AID uses allows them to set up the campaign and send out 5 email messages leading up to the day. Then on Giving Tuesday they will provide updates throughout the day tracking the goal status. You cannot over-communicate when it comes to your mission. If people unsubscribe then they probably were not going to donate anyway. That’s ok, it lets you focus on those who will. AID donors are giving money to support services to individuals with developmental, behavioral and crisis needs across Kane, Kendall, DeKalb, DuPage, Will, McHenry and suburban Cook County communities. They deserve to know and see how their donations are being utilized and making a difference. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/a51fa0c56f899d56a53c7430ca9d060727ca9195-960x540.jpg)\n\n**Social media continues to tell the story.** Facebook and Twitter give AID a beautiful running dialog with their supporters. They share stories, videos, testimonials. They thank supporters, donors, and sponsors. The AID social media channel lets donors know that their gifts are appreciated and used to support AID programs and services. \n Use hashtags that are meaningful. AID uses both #GivingTuesday and #ILGive. #ILGive is recognized by Illinois residents as their local giving hashtag. Plan the Giving Tuesday social media in advance so that all posts are timely. \n Doug updates the social media page throughout the day to show progress and encourage others to give.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/05b724c1e98bb014f18649e7b6120a261dd74916-960x540.jpg)\n\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/9283fc9a093305549924a016d1850db6b0a37cec-800x200.png)\n\nAt the end of day he posts a word collage that he created using all the kids words left by donors. A [complete social media strategy](https://www.auctria.com/blog/3-social-media-strategies-for-auction-fundraisers/) keeps them on track.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/93d0c9e24e018eb8409c7652cb273faf22e2f18f-1280x916.jpg)\n\n\n\n## Matching Gifts Double the Donations\nAID actively seeks and secures grants and matching funds for giving campaigns. For this year’s Giving Tuesday they applied for and secured matching funds from The [Coleman Foundation.](https://www.colemanfoundation.org/) For every donation of $100 or more, Coleman will match $100 (up to $12,500 total). Even more generous is that the grant will match gifts made throughout the entire month of November! \n\nLarge foundations have money they want to infuse into the community. These funds tend to be localized and aligned with the foundations core values. For instance, The Coleman Foundation is a private grantmaking entity that invests in ideas and initiatives that improve the lives of individuals in the Chicago metro area. They engage with organizations that work in their three areas of focus: entrepreneurship, cancer care and health habilitation services, and developmental disability service organizations. The Coleman Foundation funds projects that help organizations serve their communities more effectively.\n\nApplying for a matching grant program often takes time and planning and usually includes an application process. AID was kind enough to share a few slides from their grant application that are featured below in this article showing their messaging, email and social media plan. \nTake the time to find your match! Once you apply and secure funds the first time you can more easily reapply in subsequent years. Remember that grant funds or matching gift incentives usually require progress reporting and accountability.  \n \nHere is how AID brought this to life on their Giving Tuesday donation page: \nMake a larger impact this gift giving season by donating online from Nov. 1 - Nov. 30. The Coleman Foundation will match $100 of all individual online gifts of $100 or more; up to $12,500 total! The dedicated AID staff are facing this unprecedented challenge head on; ensuring clients have access to food, medicine and shelter; Your gifts matter!\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/b3fcd77d3646540598f18a0a9fae0a32db16487b-500x336.gif)\n\n\n\n## Goal Setting\nBudgeting sounds so boring, and tedious however using the data will set you up for success. Look at the previous fundraising activity. Where were the surges in giving, what messages, to whom, and when did the call to action turn into donations? What if you set the goal or thermometer on the page too low and hit the goal? Will people still give? Paint the picture to show how additional donations will continue to fund.\n\n## Easy to Give\nMaking the donation process as simple as possible is vital to a successful Giving Tuesday campaign. A single donation page that encompasses the story and a fast pathway to donate makes it easy for the donor to say yes and make a contribution. Brand the giving page with the organization and Giving Tuesday (and in this case #ILGive) to provide even more weight and fidelity to the charity or non-profit.  \nBecause the match is such a large part of the campaign be sure to recognize the matching foundation as well. Again, more credibility, more reason to give. Supporters can easily see how their dollar can double with a match.\n\n**A single landing page for giving is a best practice for any donation campaign.** Click, give, done! AID is using Auctria because it is a quick set-up and they already are using the platform for their annual Auction Gala fundraiser. Many donation platforms take 5%-6%, Facebook does not ‘charge’ for fundraising however they do take much longer to send the funds. With Auctria, the Giving Tuesday event can be created with a single click and ready to go out of the box. AID did a little more to brand their giving landing page.\n\n\n## Networking \nAlways be networking. A solid fundraising strategy enables you to capitalize on opportunities as they arise. For instance, Doug is always on the lookout for opportunities to help share the AID message. One year he secured a donation for a full-size billboard on a busy thoroughfare. Already having the Giving Days general messaging and images established, he was able to quickly mobilize and take advantage of the opportunity. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/655c88938ceddf142bf0aaa06ff968bb462474d0-960x540.jpg)\n\n------------\n\nSpecial thanks to Doug Milewski for sharing how Association for Individual Development creates and implements their Giving Tuesday campaign.\n \nCelebrating 60 years of providing customized, consumer-focused programs and services in an equitable, inclusive manner, the [Association for Individual Development (AID)](https://www.aidcares.org/) works with individuals with developmental, intellectual, physical and/or mental health challenges, those who have suffered a trauma, those experiencing immediate and/or chronic crises and those at risk to overcome personal, behavioral, societal and environmental barriers to achieve recovery, independence, self-reliance and to live the lives they choose.  Operating in Kane, Kendall, DeKalb, DuPage, Will, McHenry and suburban Cook County communities, AID is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and the American Association of Suicidology (AAS).\n\nIn FY 2021, AID served 6300 people in client-centric, community-based programs.  AID currently operates community centers in Elgin, Aurora, Batavia, Sugar Grove and Yorkville, mental health outpatient clinics throughout the Fox Valley, supports 1000 individuals living in their own apartments, and more than 220 individuals in 3 dozen group homes scattered throughout the greater Fox Valley. AID collaborates with Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers (FQHCs), managed care companies, Frequent Users (FUSE) programs, Continua of Cares and local hospital systems to decrease homelessness, increase employment and improve the mental and physical health of residents.\n\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":1722},{"url":1723},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/a4857ef62cffa45b8dfdf7f175e16285ef3d60c7-600x320.jpg","2021-11-18T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":1726},"giving-tuesday-works-spotlight-on-association-for-individual-development","Last year, AID saw more than $70K in contributions and hope to reach a similar goal again this year."," Giving Tuesday Works: Spotlight on Association for Individual Development",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1730,"category":1731,"id":5,"image":1732,"publishOn":1735,"slug":1736,"teaser":1738,"title":1739},"**A Wine Wall**, also called a **Wine Pull**, is a  fundraising activity where guests purchase a ticket to “pull” or select a mystery bottle of wine (or another themed beverage). Every ticket guarantees a bottle, but the value of that bottle varies. Some are everyday favorites, and others are premium surprises.\n\nA Wine Wall is more than a game. It’s an easy, crowd-pleasing way to bring energy into the room, spark conversation, and raise meaningful dollars for your mission. Guests get to enjoy their bottle right at their table, and you get a simple activity that supports sponsorship, engagement, and event-day revenue.  \n\nThere’s enormous room for creativity here. Start with your theme, have fun with the concept, and don’t feel bound to wine unless it makes sense for your audience.\n\n**Does It Have to Be Wine?** Not at All. A Wine Wall is simply a themed pull-and-reveal game and that means you can match it to any event style. Hosting a whisky tasting? Feature bourbon or whisky bottles. Planning a “Gin Joint” fundraiser? Build a wall of gin. Cocktail-themed gala? Use vodka bottles for a Martini Hour twist.\n\nBelow, you’ll find everything you need to build a Wine Wall that integrates into your fundraising strategy.\n\n1. Mix of Bottle Values for Surprise & Delight\n2. Setting the Ticket Prices\n3. Choose the Selection Method & Make it Pop\n\n## Mix of Bottle Values for Surprise & Delight\n\nCollect a mix of bottles at different price points to build excitement and create a memorable Wine Wall experience. You can source them from board members, sponsors, long-time supporters, wineries, local businesses, or wine merchants.  If you are buying them, make sure to purchase from a merchant that allows returns on unused bottles. \nGenerally, offering a range of wine bottle values adds an element of surprise and a true WOW factor, especially when a few premium bottles are included. \n\nFor an added personal touch, [invite board members](https://clairification.com/2024/12/02/top-strategy-to-get-100-of-nonprofit-board-to-give-passionately/) to donate their favorite bottle and attach a tag with their name and a brief note about why your mission matters to them. This simple addition helps guests feel even more connected to the cause.\n\n## Setting the Ticket Price\n\n\nWhen setting the ticket price for your Wine Wall, aim for an amount that feels inviting to guests while still supporting your fundraising goals. Start by considering the average bottle cost along with any higher-value or “premium” bottles you plan to include, as these can justify a higher price point and add extra excitement. \nKeep your overall fundraising targets in mind, as well as the most expensive bottle in your collection, and use these factors to guide your pricing. Many nonprofits land between $20 and $25 per pull, but the right number depends on your audience, the value of your wines, and the tone of your event.  A varied bottle selection also creates a low-barrier way for new supporters to contribute.\n\nIf you’re hosting a higher-end gathering, don’t hesitate to price boldly—guests appreciate the experience, enjoy the anticipation, and love the possibility of walking away with a standout bottle.\n\n[Gazala from GFS Events shares:](https://www.auctria.com/webinar/auctria-at-community-boost-2025-event-fundraisers-that-sh/)\n “The wine itself was valued at around $15–$20, but we sold the chance to buy the wine at $100—and we sold out.”\n\n## Choosing the Selection Method & Make it Pop\n\nWhen it’s time for guests to choose their bottle, the fun really comes alive, so opt for a selection method that keeps the energy high and the mystery intact. Some events invite guests to simply pick a wrapped bottle from the display, while others add a playful twist with numbered corks that match hidden bottles or a ring toss that lets guests win whichever bottle their ring lands on. No matter the approach, the magic of a Wine Wall lies in the surprise—guests won’t know what they’ve selected or how valuable it is until they open it at their table.\n\nPresentation plays a role in that excitement, so make your Wine Wall pop with a display that feels cohesive, inviting, and aligned with your event’s theme. Whether you choose colorful bags, coordinated wrapping, matching tissue paper, or a simple design that highlights your brand. The goal is to keep bottles fully concealed while building anticipation. Thoughtful presentation adds a polished wow factor and enhances the reveal, to transform that moment of discovery into a spark of joy that elevates the entire room.\n\nThis GFS Events wine wall display used glowing blinky rings to light up the boxes and add a playful sparkle:\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/fea78e8d8cd99207e99aba79535335af8637da6a-712x287.png?w=450)\n\n## Revenue Boosters:\n\n### Sponsorships:\n[Sponsorships are a natural fit](https://www.auctria.com/blog/auction-fundraiser-sponsorships-make-money/) for a Wine Wall and can elevate both the experience and your fundraising results. Sponsors can contribute through in-kind bottle donations, naming rights, or branded elements woven into the display, giving them meaningful visibility while keeping your event polished and cohesive.\n\n### Gamification: \n[Gamification continues to grow](https://www.auctria.com/webinar/bright-ideas-bigger-results-elevating-engagement-and-fundraising-at-your-next-gala/) in nonprofit fundraising because it works. In room games can be an excellent addition to any size event and offers an engaging and memorable activity for your guests, donors and creates a great opportunity for sponsorship.  Ring Toss, Premium wine off (who will win the $100 bottle) or one bag with an ‘extra prize’ increase competition and boosts participation.  \nA wine Ring Toss adds instant fun, lively engagement, and plenty of laughs.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/939ec97aaecf9228a744c67cb8277739d6596e77-513x250.png?w=450)\n\n### Check Local Regulations First\n\nBefore launching any game of chance or activity involving alcohol, confirm your local, state, or provincial guidelines. A quick review keeps your event compliant and protects your organization from unnecessary complications.\n\n\n## Make Your Wine Wall a Hit with Auctria\n\nAuctria makes it easy to manage your Wine Wall—tracking donated bottles, highlighting sponsors on your event website, and selling Wine Wall tickets in the room with the [Auctria Admin App](https://www.auctria.com/features/mobile-apps) for fast, seamless checkout. Wine Walls are exciting, flexible, and accessible, offering price points that invite broad participation and add a spark of fun to any event. With a little creativity and the right tools behind you, your Wine Wall can truly shine.  So have fun with it and watch the excitement, and revenue, flow.\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1733},{"url":1734},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/fe48520206c7e4bb249d76dea8cc01941f1a39f6-1183x887.jpg","2025-11-28T22:00:00.000Z",{"current":1737},"wine-walls-a-fun-flexible-way-to-boost-fundraising-and-delight-your-guests","A Wine Wall is more than a game. It’s an easy, crowd-pleasing way to bring energy into the room, spark conversation, and raise meaningful dollars ","Wine Walls: A Fun, Flexible Way to Boost Fundraising and Delight Your Guests",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1741,"category":1742,"id":5,"image":1743,"publishOn":1746,"slug":1747,"teaser":1749,"title":1750},"# Power User Auction Tips\n\nHouston Choral Showcase, the “fun choir,” energizes their audience with pop, jazz and Broadway.  They host their own shows and can be hired out for events as well.  They have even been onstage with Barry Manilow!  \n\nAuctria got hacked, in a good way, by Houston Choral Showcase.  Power user Belinda, Executive Director at Houston Choral Showcase was kind enough to share her top tips.  \n\n## Feedback from users is always appreciated.  \nThis has helped the product evolve with so many features and characteristics that can be customized.  Belinda says with 195 attendees at this year’s gala and hopes to grow the event, teamwork and organization are critical.  Their past auction events were planned using Excel spreadsheets that quickly became impossibly cumbersome.   \n\nThe Houston Choral Showcase 2017 gala goals were to raise money and have fun doing it. To do that, they had to streamline their planning and event procedures. Otherwise, their planning committee was getting bogged down with event and auction details, and their gala attendees were getting frustrated with confusion and delays.\n\n### Enter Auctria to save the day, to help the team:\n\n * Get automated \n * Broaden their community reach\n * Do fundraising and selling throughout the year \n\n\n![housotn choral banner 1.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/housotn-choral-banner-1.png)\n\n## Get Automated \n\nBelinda’s exact words after the gala auction fundraiser were “using Auctria was a life saver”.  In the past there were multiple spreadsheet versions of auction details.  Keeping track of the most recent versions was a serious opportunity for human error.  By automating and using a program that is web-based Houston Choral Showcase was much more organized.  Job sharing was now possible and sharing an undertaking as large as an auction fundraiser is crucial.  The entire auction process of planning, bidding and receipts was modernized and smooth.  \n\n**Power User Tip:**  Belinda tweaked the bidder statements to put the final payment due in a larger font. “During an auction rehearsal we found that we were scanning the document to find that detail and we wanted it to pop out visually.”\n\n**Auctria Tip:**  All forms and documents are already created and need no modification to run a complete auction.  However the for [bidder statements, forms & reports](https://docs.auctria.com/v3/produce-forms-and-documents) can be customized for content and appearance including font sizes and colors.  Custom [stationery](https://docs.auctria.com/v3/produce-forms-and-documents/stationery( provides even more distinctiveness to communications.  \n\n### Tables\nIn the past, planning seating assignments was a cumbersome activity involving much scribbling (and erasing) on pieces of paper. And bidder numbers were assigned when people arrived at the gala, which was time-consuming and confusing.  This year Belinda streamlined the whole process through Auctria -- no more unidentified people looking for a table, or bidders mysteriously having two numbers.  \n\n**Power User Tip:** By attaching a computer to a jumbo TV, Belinda and four other people were easily able to participate together in the process of assigning seating (while seated comfortably with a glass of wine!).  \n\n**Auctria Tip:** For in-person events, you can use Auctria to manage table assignments.  It really is a simple drag and drop.\n\n### Bidder Sheets & Numbers\nCreate bidder sheets to match display pages and keep everything straight.  The Auctria program has lots pre-set options for a quick print and go.  Administrators can choose: 2 column, 3 column, single column, space for bidder number or email, starting bid, bid increments, value and images.  The choices are designed to fit almost every scenario.  This year, Houston Choral Showcase particularly wanted a way to accurately record bids even if handwriting deteriorated through the evening. *If auction items get assigned to the wrong bidder, that’s time-consuming to fix and the people affected can get grumpy.*\n\n**Power User Tip:**  Print bidder number sticker sheets and give the entire sheet to the guest upon arrival.  No more trying to decipher handwriting at the end of the night.  \n\n![Houston Choral bid sheets and reciepts.JPG](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Houston-Choral-bid-sheets-and-reciepts.JPG)\n\n\n![houston choral banner 2.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/houston-choral-banner-2.png)\n## Expanded Reach\n\nHouston Choral Showcase has tremendous support from within.  Friends and family of the choral group generously support the organization.  By using a gala to garner attention AND that event being well organized they hope to expand beyond the reach of gala attendees.  If they had fun at the gala, they’ll come back next year and bring their friends. \n\nHaving a website for the auction leads to credibility and the ease of sharing information.  At the bottom of the auction catalog website there are links to the group’s website, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.\n\nPower User Tip: After the event, export the bidder list to your favorite email  and mail programs to boost your communication reach (Houston Choral Showcase uses [Mailchimp](https://mailchimp.com/) and DonorSnap).  Keep your supporters updated with your ongoing activities and show them how the fundraising revenue is being used.  \n\nAuctria Tip:  Bidder and Donor lists can be [imported and exported](https://docs.auctria.com/v3/import-and-export-data) in Excel format.  This is very useful in updating bidders, donors, email lists into and out of your favorite communication or donor management platforms.  \n\n![houston choral banner 3.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/houston-choral-banner-3.png)\n\n## Year-Round Use\n\nAfter the gala the next big event on the calendar for Houston Chora Showcase is the spring show “Let the Sunshine In”.  Belinda says “For technical reasons we needed to change the way we sold show tickets and Auctria has provided a storefront where we can do that without having to pay for (and learn how to use) another service.”  \n\nUsing the program for non-auction events is smart.  Familiarity with the program from both an administrator and end user can be helpful.  The administrator already knows how to prepare the website for another event, and registered bidders/purchasers can pass through a familiar system quickly..  \n\n**Power User Tip:**  Get the most value by using Auctria throughout the year.  We did so to sell show tickets without any auction event at all!\n\n**Auctria Tip:** It’s true, Auctria can be used for auction fundraising and year round events.  A license of Silver allows for 4 events, Gold 8 events and Platinum Unlimited.  \n\n_______\n\nSpecial thank you to Belinda at Houston Choral Showcase for these power tips.  Belinda is the Executive Director of this unique and fun choral group.  If you want to learn more about Houston Choral visit their [website](https://houstonchoralshowcase.org/) or follow them on [Facebook.](https://www.facebook.com/houstonchoralshowcase)\n\n![Houston Choral Showcase Auctria User.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Houston-Choral-Showcase-Auctria-User.png)",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":1744},{"url":1745},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/32f5877fa8d4324bc019d31c12f2cd2e1f70b778-600x320.png","2017-04-18T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":1748},"power_user_houston_choral","Houston Choral Showcases hit the high notes with auction tips","Power User Auction Tips",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1752,"category":1753,"id":5,"image":1754,"publishOn":1757,"slug":1758,"teaser":1760,"title":1761},"Gig Harbor Academy's recent spring fundraising event was a resounding success, filled with unique elements that made it truly inspiring! This year, they managed to raise significantly more than in previous years, with an impressive increase of nearly double in the amount raised last year. The event had an aviation-themed ambiance, complete with a stunning vintage plane backdrop and a signature cocktail, the \"Aviator, \"making it an unforgettable experience. Let’s dive into a few things that made this year so successful:\n\n- A Memorable Guest Experience\n- Enhanced Outreach\n- Diverse Auction Items\n\n## A Memorable Guest Experience\nImagine stepping into an evening brimming with celebration, camaraderie, and moments that will stay with you.  What set this event apart was their unique ‘Take Flight’ aviation theme. Live music set the tone for an exciting and memorable night as guests entered the Gig Harbor Vintage Air Museum, the grandeur of the gala enveloped them with model planes and aviation inspired decor. \n\nThe bespoke \"Aviator\" cocktail, expertly crafted for the occasion, added to the fun of the festivities, making it an unforgettable experience for all who attended. While fundraising and logistics are essential, the guest experience leaves a lasting impression, compelling them to return year after year.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/11f612e27d7b7224927e96eff568f634bedb657a-800x533.jpg)\n\n\n## Enhanced Outreach\nGig Harbor Academy experienced significant growth in its fundraising efforts this year, a testament to its diligent planning and execution. Matt Weiner, Director of Development, with Gig Harbor Academy emphasized the importance of community outreach in driving attendance. Leaning into your committee members, board members, and/or volunteers to help you with outreach can make a massive impact on your success. Once you have a team in place, communicate clear objectives (e.g. each board member invites 20 people via email, 10 via text, and post on social media) and create a template for your team to use for outreach. Creating a template for your outreach team to use makes it easy for them to share. \n\nMatt and his team reached out to over 500 businesses and organizations, which expanded their network and attracted a more diverse audience. \n\nMost of the outreach was done digitally through email blasts and personal email outreach. Matt said, \n\n>I found that digital outreach saved a considerable amount of time and often, with some sleuthing, reached the right person more directly.\n\nA small portion was done in person with personal connections or by recommendation. They utilized their internal community for donations, and those were more direct, in-person outreach as a relationship had already been established. As a result, the number of attendees increased by 30% compared to the previous year, demonstrating the effectiveness of their outreach efforts. Additionally, the seamless online bidding platform enhanced engagement, making it easier for attendees to participate in the auction.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/d065f9bc43ba28e180224d68dc313a2f92b5ba3c-800x533.jpg)\n\n## Diverse Auction Items\nWith the reach of over 500 businesses and organizations in addition to having more attendees, they were able to offer a wide range of auction items, including everything from classroom projects, to a PGA Golf experience, to an exclusive stay at a mountain retreat, in order to appeal to their audience. The varied offerings played a significant role in the success of their event, giving attendees ample opportunities to show their support.\n\nGig Harbor Academy’s ‘Take Flight’ gala was truly remarkable! Every attendee left with unforgettable memories and it was evident that meticulous planning went into the event. The aviation-theme was well executed and extensive outreach efforts yielded more attendees, donors, and diverse auction items which in turn led to increased fundraising results. \n\nGig Harbor Academy prides itself on their unique approach to learning, encouraging discovery and creativity both inside and outside the classroom. Their fundraising approach was no exception to that creative expression!\n\n\n----------------------\n\nLearn more from Gig Harbor Academy, on the [Gig Harbor website:]( https://gigharboracademy.org/)\n\nYou can also see photos from the Take Flight event on the [Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=883526177007347&set=pcb.883527760340522)\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":1755},{"url":1756},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/13f22e0195ff999bd888da5bddd2f32dcc8065d6-600x320.jpg","2024-05-16T19:12:35.378Z",{"current":1759},"take-flight-with-gig-harbor-academy","An impressive increase of nearly 30% in the amount raised","Take Flight With Gig Harbor Academy ",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1763,"category":1764,"id":5,"image":1765,"publishOn":1768,"slug":1769,"teaser":1771,"title":1772},"# Why run an auction fundraiser?  \n\nAuctions are a great way to engage and be interactive with the current donor and potential future donor population.  The purpose of the auction itself is to offer goods, services and opportunities that are bid-up by donors.  This has a 3-fold purpose: increase donations, increase donor pool, increase awareness in the cause.\n\nDonations are increased due the auction activity itself from bidders plus the donors of the goods and services for auction items.  Auctions lend to sharing and caring.  Bidders are energized by the auction offerings and share the auction news with friends and family increasing the breadth of potential bidders i.e. donors.  This type of organic compassion widens the audience of the mission and vision for the charity or group. \n\n![why auction fundraise500x.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/why-auction-fundraise500x.jpg)\n\n## Auction Value, Increase Donations:\n\nItems donated at auction cost zero in terms of financial outlay.  Companies large and small have marketing budgets and community support and philanthropy budgets to help many types of groups.  [Donations to local causes](https://www.auctria.com/blog/procurement-basics/) are a win-win.  The organization receiving the donations turn this into dollars.  Corporate goodwill is earned by businesses donating and participating in charitable giving.  \n\nBe creative and ask locally for priceless donations.  Guest of honor opportunity: seating, grand marshall of an event, front row or reserved parking to a special location or event (think graduation, theatre, gala), meet/ dine/ greet benefit  celebrities’ such as the principal at a school, fire or police chief, a researcher fighting diseases, one-of-a-kind offerings that are local and perceived unique in value.\n\n## Auction Value, Increase Donor Pool\n\nAuctions provide lots of levels of giving from very small, to very large depending on the framework of the auction.  Auction events can be  VERY *INclusive* engaging stakeholders emotionally by offering unique or one-of-a-kind items that are of emotional or sentimental value.  \n\nMany individuals only financially support when receiving something (of value) in return.  Auctions are the perfect pairing for these types of supporters.  Auctions capture a different unique and uncommon audiences.  \n\n\n## Auction Value, Increase Awareness\n\nAdd an auction to a current event to increase awareness and fundraising.  [Publicizing the auction](http://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/promote_promote) publicizes and raises awareness the cause.  \n\nLeverage the local awareness of brands for your cause.  Promote the names of local donors to garner interest and me-too momentum.  Almost all professional sports teams donate to fundraising auctions. Many restaurants (national & local) donate, goods & services that are recognizable to draw in the potential supporter building your donor base.  \n\nAuctions can be done to support a critical or acute need quickly if need be.  Creative auctions can gain news coverage and increase awareness of cause.",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1766},{"url":1767},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/cf8d1956b524a8cffc09a018a7e132a9de1908fb-600x320.jpg","2016-03-05T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":1770},"why_auction_fundraiser","Auction fundraisers tap the unique supporter that wants something in return for their donation.  Since auction items are procured there is no outlay of $ by the group or charity.","Why run an auction fundraiser",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1774,"category":1775,"id":5,"image":1776,"publishOn":1779,"slug":1780,"teaser":1782,"title":1783},"# 3 Ways to Fundraise with Matching Gifts Over the Summer.\n\nSummer may be a season when people are taking time off and not really thinking about donating to a cause. However, there’s still a chance to fundraise effectively! (With companies that match donations)\n\nBeating the summer donation slump means reconnecting with past donors and guests at your events. After all, [donor cultivation is key.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/donor-cultivation-6-tips-for-modernizing-your-approach/) But if you want to increase the chances of receiving summer donations and maximizing those amounts, you should turn to matching gift donations.\n\nMany companies match employee donations to a wide range of nonprofits to support employee charitable giving and to extend corporate philanthropy.\n\n**Charity matching donations, or matching gifts, are free money that nonprofits often miss out on.** This can be the result of limited information on donors’ employers, complex corporate giving programs, or the fact that the corporate matching process is usually unknown for employees.\n\nBut there is a way to avoid these issues, and we’ll outline them below:\n\n1. Understand the Basics\n2. Learn About Top Matching Gift Companies\n3. Use Matching Gift Software\n\nBy understanding how matching gifts work, you’ll be able to beat the summer fundraising slump and bring in more revenue for your organization. Let’s jump right into it!\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/c63ceb9b08a1ff2e4f043fc417eb74909611df28-730x120.jpg)\n\n## How does matching donations work?\n\nAccording to [Double the Donation’s guide](https://doublethedonation.com/tips/corporate-matching-gift-programs/)  to matching gifts, matching gifts are a form of philanthropy in which companies match donations their employees make to eligible nonprofits. In short, matching gifts combine the power of individuals with companies by elevating the capability of your donors’ contributions. \n\nOne donation is always welcome. Two donations for the work of acquiring one seems too good to be true. But it’s not. Matching gifts give nonprofits that exact opportunity.\n\n[All sorts of companies, big and small, match gifts.](https://doublethedonation.com/matching-grant-resources/list-matching-gifts-companies/) Most programs are not only generous about giving money, but are also willing to donate to a broad spectrum of organization types.\n\n### Nonprofit Eligibility\n\nMany companies with matching gift programs match employee donations to nearly any 501(c)(3) organization or educational institution. The remaining companies that match donations do so for specific types of organizations, such as:\n\n * Educational institutions (K-12 included)\n * Health and human services\n * Arts and cultural organizations\n * Civic and community organizations\n * Environmental organizations\n\nUnderstanding a matching gift program’s specifications around nonprofit eligibility is essential, so you understand where your organization stands with all sorts of companies!\n\n## Ratios and Amounts\n\nAlong with nonprofit eligibility, companies apply minimums and maximums to their matching gift programs. The most common minimum amount that companies will match is $25, though minimum matches range from $1 to $100. Maximums typically range from $1,000 to $15,000, but can extend beyond that.\n\nThe majority of companies match donations at a 1:1 ratio, though ratios can be set at anything from .5:1 ($0.50 match on every dollar donated) to 4:1 ($4 match on every dollar donated).\n\n## Employee Eligibility\n\nJust as nonprofits must be eligible for specific matching gift programs, employees must be, too. Many matching gift companies only match donations made by employees of a certain employment status, such as full-time or part-time. Oftentimes, retired individuals are also eligible for a matching donation, but not always. Be aware of these eligibility requirements to make sure you can secure matching gift revenue from the right opportunities.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/5441e34d830a793e35e9f9b974fd27d227ef59db-730x120.jpg)\n\n## Learn About Top Matching Gift Companies\n\nDid you know 65% of Fortune 500 companies match donations from employees to a wide variety of nonprofits?\n\nThis is a huge number! Some of the top matching gift programs include Microsoft matching gifts and General Electric (GE) matching gifts. Microsoft has the world’s most widely used matching gift program, while GE created the world’s first matching gift program in 1954.\n\nBut there are even more programs out there. Here is a list of companies that will match donations:\n\n * **IBM** matches eligible contributions up to $5,000 per institution per donor, for a total of $10,000 in gifts per donor each calendar year. Their match ratio is 1:1 for active employees and .5:1 for retirees.\n * **Gap** matches up to $10,000 per employee per year, depending on their position at the company. Most nonprofits are eligible to receive a matching donation.\n * **ExxonMobil** matches donations to educational organizations at up to a 2:1 ratio, with a maximum of $7,500.\n\n**The takeaway?** Millions of individuals work for companies that match charitable donations. And many of these companies match donations to several types of nonprofits. Educating your staff and determining if any of your donors (such as from auctions or other events) are linked to these companies can create a huge boost in revenue.\n\nIf you’re looking for an efficient way to do all of this, read on!\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/97003f32822b9bf1eb2a8151dfd20e11a5050a09-730x120.jpg)\n\n## Use Matching Gift Software\n\nMarketing matching gifts is essential. Lack of awareness and know-how are the top two reasons eligible donors don’t submit matching gift requests.\n\nOn the other hand, nonprofits that promote matching gifts to their donors are the ones that see the greatest matching gift success. Donors who know their gift will be matched are more likely to give at all, or even increase their gift amount.\n\nOne of the most effective ways to promote matching gifts to your supporters is by investing in matching gift software. Matching gift software gives your donors direct access to a database of thousands of companies and their matching gift programs. That information includes:\n\n * Minimum and maximum match amounts\n * Employee eligibility\n * Links to electronic guidelines and forms\n * Company-specific match instructions\nAnd more!\n\n**Where do you start?** Choose a [comprehensive matching gift](https://doublethedonation.com/matching-gift-database/) database that covers a majority of matching programs for donations out there and is frequently updated and maintained. The database should also be user-friendly, offering an easy-to-use search tool that you can place on your website so donors can search for their companies.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/dace77770aac267e73ee1aac5f3fb41eb28ff3b5-660x348.png)\n\nOnce you have the search tool embedded on your website, you can use it:\n\n * **On donation forms.** When individuals go to donate on your website, your donation form should display the company search tool, which encourages them to look up their matching gift eligibility right then and there! This will increase the likelihood of them submitting a match request.\n * **On a dedicated matching gift page.** Encourage your event guests and other supporters to visit your website to view specific information about matching gifts. Having a dedicated matching gift page that explains the process will make it easier for donors to submit a request to their employer.\n * **Across social media.** [Social media](https://www.auctria.com/blog/socialmedia-four-questions/) is a great place to promote matching gifts! If you’re already promoting an auction or other fundraising events on your social media pages, why not add information about matching gifts? Link to your donation form or dedicated matching gifts page to direct donors to the company search tool.\n * **In emails.** When thanking donors for their gifts or guests for attending your event, be sure to include matching gift information in your follow-up emails. If an individual donated at your event, they may be eligible to submit a match request.\nAcross your fundraising communications. Do you send out newsletters on a regular basis? How about direct mail? Include a dedicated section in your newsletter, or an insert in your direct mail materials, that features a link to your website and draws attention to matching gifts.\n\nEncouraging donors to submit their matching gift requests is the key to raising more. Through the use of matching gift software and [effective marketing,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/digital-marketing-conveying-your-nonprofit-s-brand-online/) you’ll be boosting your fundraising revenue in no time! \n\nWith the right tools in your hands, your nonprofit can raise more for your cause—even during the summer! By understanding how companies that match donations work and helping your donors determine their eligibility, you’ll double those donations in no time. Good luck!\n\n------------------------\nSpecial thanks to Adam for sharing his expert advice in this article.\n\nAdam Weinger is the President of Double the Donation, the leading provider of matching gift tools to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions. Adam created Double the Donation in order to help nonprofits increase their annual revenue through corporate matching gift and volunteer grant programs. Connect with Adam via email:adam@doublethedonation.com or on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjweinger/). \n\nAuctria provides efficient and affordable tools to help nonprofits and other organizations run successful nonprofit auctions. For more information on working with organizations that match donations, as well as other expert fundraising tips, [contact Auctria today](https://www.auctria.com/contact/)!",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1777},{"url":1778},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/b4ae60576b6727b016071d5ba8bf96ab8161cc4a-600x320.jpg","2021-06-01T20:22:00.000Z",{"current":1781},"summer_double_donation","Matching donations is a great way to boost your fundraising efforts. Learn how to work with organizations that match donations.","Fundraise with organizations that match donations",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1785,"category":1786,"id":5,"image":1787,"publishOn":1790,"slug":1791,"teaser":1793,"title":1794},"Once you’ve completed your charity auction, [whether it was silent, live, or online,](https://www.auctria.com/article/auction-types/) you may think the hard work is over. The event went off without a hitch and you raised money and awareness for your cause.\n\nBefore you move on to your next fundraising campaign or event, however, it’s important to continue building on your relationships with your event attendees and showing them how they can make their impact go even further.\n\nHere are the top 3 strategies you can use to boost your donation revenue following your auction:\n\nLeverage Matching Gifts\nFocus on Outreach\nContinue Engaging with Your Supporters\n\nContinuing to interact with your auction guests even after the fact can be incredibly beneficial for your organization. Let’s get started!\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/1396bfa7eec95a833f9fd048e7446829bc68b058-730x120.jpg)\n\n\n## 1. Leverage Matching Gifts\nAfter you’ve spent so much time planning and executing your auction, wouldn’t it be great to actually double the donations made at your event?\n\n**Whenever a charitable contribution is made at your fundraiser, you can double the impact of these donations through matching gifts.**\n\n### What are matching gifts?\n[Matching gifts are a type of corporate giving program](https://doublethedonation.com/tips/corporate-matching-gift-programs/) in which companies match donations their employees make to nonprofits.\n\nThrough matching gifts, you can essentially earn twice the amount donated with very little effort needed from your team. Companies usually match at a 1:1 ratio, but some will match at a 2:1 or even 3:1 ratio!\n\nIt seems like such a simple concept; however, many organizations overlook matching gifts. This can be due to a lack of resources, time, or staff to devote to securing matching gifts. It can also be the result of your donors’ lack of awareness that their employers even offer matching gift programs.\n\n### How can you find information about matching gift programs?\nOne of the most effective ways to promote matching gifts is through the use of a matching gift database. [A matching gift database holds information about thousands of companies’ matching gift programs,](https://doublethedonation.com/matching-gift-database/) including guidelines and specific instructions on how to submit a match request.\n\nThrough the use of a **company name search tool **placed directly on your donation page, confirmation page, or anywhere else on your website, your auction attendees can access the database to check their eligibility for a match. All they have to do is enter their company name into the search tool. If they’re eligible, the tool will immediately populate the instructions needed to make their request.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/2afc4126691254f0e034f08cf64f0ad5dfec5e39-500x500.png)\n\n## 2. Focus on Outreach\nOf course, using a matching gift database is only the first step toward securing these doubled donations. It’s also essential to market matching gifts directly to your auction attendees.\n\nBe sure to leverage a variety of communication channels to ensure you reach as many attendees and supporters as possible. Here are a few keys avenues you can take:\n\n### Email\nThe very first thing you want to do following your event is to **thank your donors.** After all, they showed up and supported your cause! Once your event has concluded, follow up with your attendees as soon as possible to thank them for supporting your organization. Personalize this communication with each guest’s preferred name, and include information about their specific donation. \n\n**Be genuine, but don’t ask for a second donation, as that can come off poorly in the eyes of your supporters.**\n\nInstead, include a link to matching gift information on your website so donors can check their eligibility for a match by their employer. If your organization has a regular email newsletter you send out, devote a specific section of it to talking about matching gifts and linking to more information, as well. \n\n### Social Media\nIf you have a large following on a particular social media site, use it to your advantage! **Promoting matching gifts to your donors on social media after an auction is a great way to engage them even after your auctioneer has put down the gavel.**\n\nYou likely used social media to promote your auction in the first place. If your donors follow you on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, you can use those platforms to keep in touch with them and nudge them toward matching gift programs.\n\n### Direct Mail\nWhile direct mail is a more traditional form of communication, it can be a great way to remind your auction attendees that they might be able to double their donations to your nonprofit. If your organization chooses to send out tangible acknowledgments to your auction attendees, you can use these pieces of direct mail to promote matching gifts to your bidders.\n\nSend out postcards and letters that offer different ways (such as via phone, email, or your website) to learn more about matching gifts. \n\nUsing different communication methods to follow up with donors after an auction and promote matching gifts to them at the same time will help you [engage with donors](https://www.auctria.com/blog/engage-donors-sandy/) and heighten your chance of receiving another gift from their employer.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/ab0857fcbecb8dcd1ed21e3b6be80e564f98d1c6-730x120.jpg)\n\n3. Continue Engaging with Your Supporters\nOf course, once you’ve held your event and followed up with your supporters, it’s still as important as ever to keep engaging with them. They support your cause for a reason, and it’s essential to cultivate your relationship with them so they continue to value your nonprofit and your mission.\n\n**Ask your supporters to become more involved with your organization. That way, when your next event comes around, they will be ready and excited to participate again! **\n\nTo take this one step further, you could:\n\n * **Encourage bidders to consider volunteering with your nonprofit.** They might even want to help you run an event later in the year. And [always remember to thank everyone,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/thank-you-everyone/) including your volunteers!\n * **Ask donors to think about donating items for next year’s auction.** Requesting auction items can be difficult, but if you can get a jumpstart on next year’s auction, you’ll be in a better position.\n * **Invite bidders to come to another event.** Auction attendees who had a good time at your event would likely enjoy going to another type of fundraising event.\n\nAs you continue building on these relationships with your supporters, you also increase your chances of forming strong relationships with potential major donors. A major donor is someone who makes a gift that significantly impacts an organization, and a major gift is the largest gift a nonprofit receives.\n\n**In order to identify potential major donors,** it’s important to leverage prospect research. According to [Double the Donation’s guide to prospect research,](https://doublethedonation.com/tips/prospect-research/) this type of research helps organizations gather data about their donors and prospects based on past giving, wealth markers, and more, so nonprofits can determine a donor’s ability and affinity to donate.\n\nImagine receiving a major gift from a donor who came to your auction event and decided to continue staying involved. Now, imagine if that major gift were matched by that donor’s employer!\n\nMajor donors are just one of the many reasons to continue engaging with your supporters. When you give them a reason to stay involved and invite them to continue engaging with your organization, you’ll cultivate the most important relationships yet. Make sure they feel appreciated and know their donations are making a difference. That’s [one of the reasons you ran an auction in the first place!](https://www.auctria.com/blog/why-auction-fundraiser/)\n\nEssentially, don’t forget about your supporters after they’ve bid on your auction items or donated during the event. Make sure you offer other ways for them to stay involved with your nonprofit long after the event has ended.\n\n-------------------------------\nPlanning and executing a charity auction can be an intense process, and working to boost your revenue and follow up with supporters shouldn’t stress out your staff unnecessarily. Follow these strategies to enhance donor engagement even after the last bid has been placed.\n\nIf you’re looking for even more information on running your next event, check out [Double the Donation’s guide to charity auctions!](https://doublethedonation.com/nonprofit-software-and-resources/charity-auctions-guide)\n\n-------------------------------\nSpecial thanks to Adam for sharing his expert advice in this article.\n\nAdam Weinger is the President of Double the Donation, the leading provider of matching gift tools to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions. Adam created Double the Donation in order to help nonprofits increase their annual revenue through corporate matching gift and volunteer grant programs. Connect with Adam via email: [adam@doublethedonation.com](mailto:adam@doublethedonation.com) or on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjweinger/). \n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1788},{"url":1789},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/2f00656c1ab89e0ecda96c00f146e834bc0ff163-600x320.jpg","2020-08-11T16:00:00.000Z",{"current":1792},"double_the_donation","Once your auction has ended, the work isn’t over! Learn how to continue engaging your event guests through matching gifts, outreach, and other strategies!","3 Strategies to Boost Revenue After Your Charity Auction",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1796,"category":1797,"id":5,"image":1798,"publishOn":1801,"slug":1802,"teaser":1804,"title":1805},"Whispering Grace Horses is a place of healing where children and veterans find healing in building relationships. In contrast, the fundraising Team for Whispering Grace does the exact opposite and shares the story of the farm in a very humble and effective fashion.\n\nWhispering Grace Horses has never done a broad public fundraiser.  When asking around the local community about how to approach the undertaking, and showing the Whispering Grace Horse Farm story, Sandy and Chris raised their hands to take the lead. Both Sandy and Chris are local influences who brought along others to form a cohesive team with unique expertise to share.  They were inspired by the farm activities and the volunteers that make the healing happen. The fundraising team knew that helping fund the farm will help heal children and veterans. They also knew that the farm story had to get out and sure enough when showing the impact,  the sponsors donated!\n\nBy pulling back the barn door and seeing the sincerity and process on how Whispering Grace Horses works, it truly melts the heart.  The auction team utilized video as internal inspiration to motivate themselves but also to spread the message to sponsors & donors before the auction. Then again to bidders during the auction fundraiser.\n\n## Tell the Story Then Ask\nUtilizing video to tell and show  Whispering Grace published a moving piece that emits a raw emotional connection of the mission and vision of this charity. This video brought the audience to complete silence and great pride to the work being accomplished. \n\nClick the image to view the video.\n\n[![play video with button x300.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/play-video-with-button-x300.jpg)](https://vimeo.com/359636402)\n\n## Gain Attention & Fill the Seats\n\nTo gain attention to the auction, the auction team strategy was to get bidders to attend and make the event special. The game plan is to make the first auction fundraiser so special that it attracts attention and is the foundation to build on for years.  \n\nAttracting attention and attendees with: \n * a unique venue, Maps Air Museum\n * fun entertainment: famous country fiddler \n * Interesting celebrity: local radio station emcee and even a puppy auction.  \n\n\n**Wild, Wild West at the MAPS Museum was fun!** The MAPS Museum is a museum of aviation historical aviation and a beautiful destination and backdrop to gain attention for the auction event. Whispering Grace auction team transformed the space into a wild west theme from invitations to decorations to entertainment.\n\n![auction display.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/auction-display.png)\n\n\n\n## Remarkable Visuals\nWhispering Grace played a video during the event that pulled on every heartstring in the building. Not only do they run the farm for children across the road is Freedom Farms at Whispering Grace. This farm is dedicated to military veterans to help them heal too.  To bring the attention and respect to the veterans at Freedom Farms they invited a color guard. The color guard with bugle perform a formal flag folding to honor those that have fallen.  \n\n![lfag folding.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/lfag-folding.png)\n\n**Fiddler, Singer**  Entertainment was provided by Chris Higbee, famous country fiddler and Vanessa Mowrer, singer and songwriter. \n\n**Photo Spot** The attire was western casual so everyone in attendance was comfortable and ready to enjoy the evening.  A branded photo vignette gave a perfect little photo spot for people to take snapshots. \n\n![photo spot.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/photo-spot.png)\n\n\n\n## Sponsors\nWhispering Grace auction team was proactive in seeking sponsors for the event. They were able to bring in about 20% of the entire fundraising before the event took place.  By offering multi tier sponsorship levels and the publicity to be associated with Whispering Grace & Freedom Farms brought in a variety of support from across the area. Proper recognition was in the form of a large banner at the event.\n\n![sponsors.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/sponsors.png)\n\n## Interesting Auction Items\nPuppy Auction The original plan was to auction off a puppy from the local humane society, when that plan fell through an auction committee member reached out to a local breeder friend. Luckily there was one puppy Golden Doodle that was available and offered to Whispering Grace for auction. **The puppy gained loads of attention and landed a final bid of six thousand dollars.**\n\n\n## Next Year\nNext year’s auction event is already booked.  The auction committee, volunteers, sponsors, donors and attendees interest level is flourishing.  Because of the buzz created before and during this year’s event locals want to make sure to get in on the next one.\n\n![display planes flags.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/display-planes-flags.png)\n\n\n\n------------------------------\n[Whispering Grace Horses,](https://whisperinggracehorses.org/) located in Massillon Ohio was founded by a retired couple Bill & Marcia Shearer, former educators with a love for horses and healing. WGH is an equine and human relationship program that focuses on educating and building partnerships between humans and rescued horses. Each session is 1 leader, 1 child, 1 horse. The child has peaceful  interaction with a gentle horse accepts the child as they are, listen without conditions. Being able to confide in a horse that has unconditional love builds relationships and helps the child and veteran heal. [Follow Whispering Grace Horses on Facebook.](https://whisperinggracehorses.org/)\n\nFreedom Farms is located in the property nearby and focuses solely on healing veterans.\nConnect with [Freedom Farms at WGH on their website.](https://whisperinggracehorses.org/freedom-farm-at-wgh)",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":1799},{"url":1800},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/0dcbf8bd9a9a80794244ef23ea0c1d07cac7877c-600x320.png","2020-06-16T13:00:00.000Z",{"current":1803},"whispering-grace-horses-open-the-barn-doors-for-auction","Pulling open the barn doors to read how this farm raised over 100K in their first auction fundraiser","Whispering Grace Horses: Open the Barn Doors for Auction",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1807,"category":1808,"id":5,"image":1809,"publishOn":1812,"slug":1813,"teaser":1815,"title":1816},"## Auction Teamwork: Blueprint for Roles and Tasks\n\nAuction teams are a great way to include all types of volunteers.  Diverse skills of the volunteers only enhance the outcome of the fundraiser.  Consider splitting or combining duties  depending upon the number and type of volunteers that step forward.\n\n## Communication is the key to successful teaming  \nAuctria coordinates the team activities and communications!   With online real time data input the team is always up-to-date and current.  Use Auctria as the homebase for the entire event, start to finish.  Auctria seamlessly allows for procurement database tracking, printing.  Run the entire auction operations from Auctria,  then closeout, collect, and thank all the donors and bidders.\n\n![auction team descriptions brief.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/auction-team-descriptions-brief.jpg)\n\n## Auction Committee\n* Establish goals\n* Map out overall process\n* Define bidding audience\n* Refine donor targets\n* [Recruit volunteers](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/recuiting_volunteers)\n\n### Event Team\n* Coordinate venue\n* Define theme\n* Enlist keynote speaker\n* Book entertainment\n* Space planning\n* Vendor selection and management\n* set-up & breakdown\n* auction presentation\n\n### Procurement Team\n* Create [donation request letter](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/procurement_letter_elements)\n* Secure donations\n* Track donations\n* Create auction documents\n* Follow-up thank you letters to donors\n\n### Auction Data Team\n* Establish [consistent pricing](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/pricing_auction_items) \n* Establish starting bids & buy-it-now pricing\n* Manager bidder assignment\n* Manage auction item details and bid sheets\n* Manage item details \n* Oversee printouts, bid sheets, catalog & display pages\n* Manage auction close-out\n\n### Marketing Team\n* Promote the event\n* Promote online, silent and live auction\n* Promote online catalog to encourage early bidder registration, and/or proxy bidding\n* Sell event tickets and raffle tickets\n* Capitalize on public relations and social media\n\n### Auction Timeline\n * Timeline and checklists help [teams stay on track](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/auction_timeline_checklist)\n* Best practice for an [auction with](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/AuctionweventTimeline.pdf) a gala event\n * Best practices for an [auction without](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/AuctiononlinePlanningTimeline.pdf) a gala or event",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1810},{"url":1811},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/a9f2aff46045d90e4241c9267b84253181c71aa6-600x320.jpg","2016-02-15T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":1814},"auction_teamwork","Auction teams with volunteers having diverse skills enhance the outcome of the fundraiser","Auction Teamwork: Roles & Tasks",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1818,"category":1819,"id":5,"image":1820,"publishOn":1823,"slug":1824,"teaser":1826,"title":1827},"If you are heading into a capital campaign, it’s a great time to think about your organization’s brand. Capital campaigns usually come at times when an organization is looking into the future and [planning the next stage of its growth.](https://capitalcampaigntoolkit.com/capital-campaigns-ultimate-guide/)\n\nWhile you are doing that planning, you’ve got a wonderful opportunity to look with clear eyes at the current state of your organization as reflected in your brand. A brand is much more than a logo or color palette. It’s a statement of who you are expressed in multiple ways and forms that can help you better [engage your community.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/4-fundraising-strategies-for-improving-donor-engagement/)\n\nThe capital campaign will provide you with an opportunity to create a new, interim brand that helps move your organization forward.\n\n## Start by evaluating your current brand.\nDoes it reflect who you are? Does it capture the spirit and culture that is true to your organization’s DNA? Is your brand aligned with your mission and values?\n\nKeep in mind that your brand is far more than a logo. It’s an entire identity that has been created, wittingly or unwittingly, through a complex set of communications including visual and verbal, and even behavioral practices both on-the-ground and [online.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/4-ways-nonprofits-can-adapt-to-the-digital-age/)\n\nWhen your brand aligns with your mission and values, people will recognize not only a color or a mark, but they will recognize the essence and character of your organization.\n\n## An Opportunity to Create a Forward-Looking Brand\nMany organizations start capital campaigns following a period of intense organizational planning. The plans [point a way forward](https://capitalcampaigntoolkit.com/capital-campaign-plan/) to what the organization wants to become. They highlight what an organization will have to do to have an even greater impact on the community they serve. The plans are often ambitious and even breathtaking. And the plans set the path\nfor a capital campaign to raise the funds necessary for the new level of operation.\n\nFor many organizations, capital campaigns occur only every 15 or 20 years and they signify a big leap forward. So, your organization’s current brand, developed during times of\nrelative stability, may not capture the spirit of the organization you are going to become.\n\n## Distinct Branding for Your Campaign\nCapital campaigns often extend 3 to 5 years. You might have two to three years of active fundraising and then another two or three years during which you collect the pledges made during the campaign.\n\nIf your capital campaign will fund a building or other capital improvements, construction is likely to take place during that extended campaign period. But once the money has been raised, collected, and spent on the necessary improvements, the campaign will be over.\n\n**That campaign period provides a remarkable opportunity to develop a new and distinct brand that captures the spirit of growth and excitement the organization is going through.**\n\nOften campaign brands are quite distinct from the organization’s regular brand. Campaign colors and logos may be used in concert with the organization’s standard branding to maintain some continuity and recognition. But the focus and energy may be quite different.\n\n### Campaign Titles and Themes\nTake, for example, the title and theme of your campaign. Most campaigns adopt specific themes that are used throughout the campaign period. Many of them point forward with names like “Building Toward a Better Future” or “Hope for Tomorrow” or “Fulfilling the Promise.”\n\nCampaigns often use a tagline to the broad theme to capture the specifics of the project. Here are some examples of campaign themes with associated taglines:\n\n* FULFILLING THE PROMISE. Great healthcare close to home\n* OUR CHILDREN, OUR FUTURE. A campaign to inspire a lifelong love of science\n* SETTING THE STAGE for GREATNESS. A new home for the performing arts\n\nThese examples, however, are just words—a good campaign brand will place that verbal expression in a graphic setting that will capture the energy and spirit of the campaign. The brand will be conveyed through every aspect of the campaign. It will permeate all of the materials, [brochures or mailers,](https://capitalcampaigntoolkit.com/capital-campaign-brochure/) press releases, slide decks, reports, campaign swag, advertising, and [other digital materials](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-to-engage-online-donors-digital-marketing-101/) or microsites created for the campaign.\n\nThe distinctive branding for the campaign will signal to the organization’s leadership, the\ndonors, and the community that the organization is taking an exciting leap forward.\n\n## What Happens to the Brand When the Campaign is Over?\nAs the campaign draws to a close the organization has a decision to make. You can either revert to the original brand, or you can use the completion of the campaign as an opportunity to re-envision or update the brand, perhaps incorporating some of the elements you used in the campaign branding with a more stable brand designed to persist over time.\n\nThe process of developing a brand provides excellent opportunities to talk to your key stakeholders about your organization like back at the start of your [campaign’s feasibility study.](https://capitalcampaigntoolkit.com/capital-campaign-feasibility-study/) And for many organizations, the conclusion of a campaign is an excellent time to do that.\n\nThrough the campaign period, you will have strengthened many old relationships and created many new ones. Once the campaign is over, you should look for opportunities to [build on those relationships](https://www.auctria.com/blog/donor-cultivation-6-tips-for-modernizing-your-approach/) rather than letting them drift off. \n\n**Developing a new, updated brand for your organization might be just the right thing to draw those donors close.**\n\n------------------------------\n\nLearn more about campaign branding and marketing by listening to [our interview with Sarah Durham,](https://capitalcampaigntoolkit.com/how-to-brand-market-your-capital-campaign/) founder of Big Duck, a leading nonprofit communications agency.\n\nAmy Eisenstein, ACFRE, and Andrea Kihlstedt are co-founders of the [Capital Campaign Toolkit,](https://capitalcampaigntoolkit.com/) a virtual support system for nonprofit leaders running successful campaigns. The Toolkit provides all the tools, templates, and guidance you need — without breaking the bank.\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1821},{"url":1822},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/f7ce8b88624dc5236190dbf4775138ae408c592e-600x320.jpg","2021-10-25T16:00:00.000Z",{"current":1825},"branding-your-capital-campaign-an-opportunity-to-look-ahead","Capital campaigns need a distinct identity and brand to connect with the community. Learn more about the importance and opportunities of campaign branding.","Branding Your Capital Campaign: An Opportunity to Look Ahead",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1829,"category":1830,"id":5,"image":1831,"publishOn":1834,"slug":1835,"teaser":1837,"title":1838},"Have you ever run an online auction fundraiser and the bids come in s-l-o-w-l-y one by one?  Although small increments for online auctions can provide engagement and activity it may not produce the maximum potential for the highest bids.  In a standard online auction after each bid is placed the outbid bidder does receive a notification but then NEEDS to do something to then be back on top.  \n\nWe at  Auctria we have resolved the answer, its Max Bidding.  We didn’t invent proxy bidding but we did perfect it as Max Bidding for online auction fundraising.  A more descriptive term for Max Bidding bidding is automatic bidding.  \n\n\n\n## Max Bidding Basics\nMax bidding accelerates the bidding so more bids go higher, faster.  The greater the number of bids, the higher the auction fundraiser proceeds.\n\n### Max Glossary\n**Max Amount:** this is the maximum you are willing to bid on an auction item, this information remains confidential\n**Max Bid:** In accordance with the bid increments, small bids are placed on your behalf up to the maximum bid amount specified\nMax Bidder: a bid that is automatically placed by the on behalf of a bidder when outbid by a previous bidder\nNotifications: Notifications are triggered if the maximum amount has been exceeded by another bidder or if the auction ends and you have the winning bid.\n\n## Why offer Max bidding?\nMax bidding allows bidders to set a the highest price they are willing to pay for an auction item without having to “baby-sit” their bidding.  When offering Max bidding auction fundraising administrators have found that auction items do go for higher prices.\n\n\n## Why would a bidder use a max bid? \nYou find an auction item you truly want to win.  The bidding starts and you have a pretty good idea that the bidding will escalate with time.  In a traditional bidding scenario you wait to get outbid, then place the next highest bid and this goes round and round till times up.  In a max bidding scenario the bidder can place a private max bid for the maximum you are willing to pay.  The system will keep the actual bid as low as possible yet provide a path to remain the winner IF the bidding stays within the max amount.  If the bids do go higher than the max amount the max bidder will need to re-bid or re-max to a higher bid. \n\n\nLet’s illustrate the rapid escalation and auto bid process:\n\n## Bidder Perspective\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/447b56b45c9efa43fe25b00c048def5ba0effd3b-640x696.png)\n\nProxy Bidder enters the highest price you're willing to pay for an item, and we do the rest. The Auctria system will then bid on your behalf – enough to keep the bidder in the lead, but only up to the maximum limit submitted.\n\n\nWhen you place a proxy bid you are reserving all the bid amounts upto (and including) the proxy amount. When someone else places a bid it will uncover your pre-existing bid and you remain the winner at that new level.\n\nIf someone outbids you, we'll let you know so you can decide if you want to increase your maximum limit. \n\n## Administrative Perspective:\nMax Bidding is a feature available for [Online Auction Items](https://docs.auctria.com/v3/online-auctions) only and allows the system to manage a bidder's bid to ensure that they remain as the high bidder for as long as possible.  It provides a bidding mechanism to keep their actual bid as low as possible yet provide a path to remain the winner.  With max bidding, if you are the highest bidder, then upon the auction's close, you become the winner.  As the winner, with max bidding, you will only pay the lowest possible winning bid, which may not actually be the maximum amount you bid for an item.\n\n![proxy bids with arrows.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/proxy-bids-with-arrows.jpg)\n\n### Set Up Max Bidding Rules\n * The \"Max Bidding\" defaults are set under Website → Online Bidding \n * 'Yes, on by default' then max bidding is available for online items and checked by default.\n * 'Yes, off by default' then max bidding is available for online items but not checked by default.\n * 'No' then max bidding is not available\n\n![enable online bidding.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/enable-online-bidding.png)\n\n![proxy bidding rules.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/proxy-bidding-rules.png)",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1832},{"url":1833},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/2d8f1f4a542c50ff25dea1fa93b92e820e0ca03d-600x320.png","2018-03-27T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":1836},"proxy_bidding","We didn’t invent max bidding but we did perfect if for online auction fundraising, use it now to make the online auction soar.","Proxy Bidding is Max Bidding- Use this to Skyrocket Online Auction Fundraising Income",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1840,"category":1841,"id":5,"image":1842,"publishOn":1845,"slug":1846,"teaser":1848,"title":1849},"In-Person Events always provide the opportunity for excitement and community.  At their recent Spring Benefit, Almost Home, Inc learned just how engaging Games and Paddle Raises can be. While planning for their event and throughout their Auction, Almost Home, Inc used technology to their advantage to create a top-notch event. This article will share all of the great details and more, including how to foster great donor relationships.\n\n\nWhen Rachel Monroe and Amanda Lucero from Almost Home, Inc started planning for their “Spring Out of Homelessness Benefit'' they wanted to make sure they experienced the full scope of Auctria’s offerings. For this event, Amanda and Rachel chose to use Auctria Launch to help with event set-up, system training, and more. Running an in-person event with several different offerings may seem like a lot of work to set up, but with the help of Auctria’s Launch team, Almost Home, Inc. was able to successfully save time setting up and executing their event with a tight turn around time.\n\n ![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/a578f32742cf177b2cf45b9c00a0b3aec3be8742-4500x884.jpg)\n\n\n## Drive Engagement Through Games & Paddle Raise\nHype up your crowd and drive donations through innovative auction games such as Heads or Tails and Last Hero Standing (Last Hero starts at the lowest donation level option and works up to find the last donor). Over 50 people participated in the Heads or Tails game, and with tickets priced at $25, this helped to increase the total amount raised for the event.  Another 50+ individuals participated in “Last Man Standing!” You can also engage large amounts of your audience by utilizing a “Paddle Raise” where donors raise their paddle when they hear the amount they would like to donate.  This is a great way to involve event attendees and raise money for a good cause. \n\nAlmost Home, Inc. saw great success with engaging games like Heads or Tails and their paddle raise. The paddle raise alone brought in 42% of the event's gross income! Having an engaging MC or auctioneer and sharing mission moments can make a huge difference in the success of your Paddle Raise. \n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/808dd6c89c237e7d10407e8bcce6836859f51e89-1273x844.jpg)\n\n## Use Technology to Your Advantage\nNonprofits tend to run lean so most of the funds can go toward the mission. That means that organizers often wear many hats to get the vital work done. With today’s technology, many solutions can be offered to help save time and energy to focus on your mission. \n\nWhile Rachel and Amanda were planning for their event, Almost Home, Inc. decided to give sponsors free tickets. To provide these tickets in the Auctria system, Almost Home, Inc used the “Coupon Codes” function. This allowed sponsors to go directly to the event website and claim their free tickets using the “Coupon Code.” This saved Almost Home, Inc. the extra work on filling in guest names. By getting the guests’ names in advance, they were able to expedite check-in because they were not stuck collecting names.\n\nThere are a lot of moving pieces during the event, and planning ahead how you are going to do each piece and who will be assigned that role will make your event run much smoother. After a successful Live Auction and Paddle Raise, Almost Home, Inc. quickly recorded their Live Auction winners and donations using Quick Bid Entry in Auctria. After the team successfully entered all of the winners in the system, they notified the winners of their win and balance due via the Bidder Statement.  Bidders were then able to pay electronically and saved the team a lot of time at checkout.\n\nWhile planning for this event, Almost Home, Inc. took advantage of Auctria’s “Make Mass Changes” setting so they did not have to manually set a starting bid and bid increment for each item. Using this setting, Almost Home, Inc. set staggered Bid Increments to keep the bidding competitive. For example, for items $250 and under, they set $10 increments. For items valued $250-500, increments were set at $15, and anything valued over $500 had increments set at $15.  With this strategy, and a successful online set-up they were able to raise the most money yet on their Online Auction. The “Spring Out Of Homelessness Benefit” Silent Auction was the most successful event Almost Home, Inc has hosted. Amanda Lucero attributes this success to their Online Auction. \n\n\n## Build Lasting  Donor Relationships\nAmanda and Rachel set up a Donor & Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast after their Spring Out of Homelessness Benefit and used the “Ticket” feature in Auctria to keep track of guests for the event.  As donors play one of the largest parts in a nonprofit’s success, it is vital to continue thanking your donors before, during, and after your events to maintain your relationship.  Creating a meaningful donor relationship strategy can look like hosting an event like an “Appreciation Breakfast” or other creative means to continue thanking your donors for all that they do for your organization. \n\nThrough Auctria, send Donor Receipts and take advantage of website elements to feature Donors and Sponsors to further acknowledge them and show just how much you appreciate their contribution to your organization.\n\nDon’t miss their next event, Concert for a Cause September 29th, with 90’s music and a 90’s themed photobooth!\n\n---------------\n\nSpecial thanks to Amanda Lucero and Rachel Moore and [Almost Home, Inc.](https://www.almosthomeonline.org/) for sharing their auction and event fundraising story. Almost Home Inc.’s mission is to promote self-sufficiency and provide assistance to those experiencing housing instability.\n\n\n\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":1843},{"url":1844},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/0e4a4becb0bcb9b95e6cd9f29bf8c1bc545fc243-600x320.jpg","2023-08-28T20:55:32.649Z",{"current":1847},"fundraising-for-community","Drive engagement through games & paddle raise","FUNdraising for Community",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1851,"category":1852,"id":5,"image":1853,"publishOn":1856,"slug":1857,"teaser":1859,"title":1860},"Congratulations!  You are Auction Chairman\n\nIt’s an honor to be chosen to Chair a fundraiser. Lead the fundraiser with the mission and you can never go wrong. Lead the team with these values and they will follow: \n 1. ability to strategize short & long term goals.\n 2. prioritize what needs to be done and by whom\n 3. communicate with your staff/volunteers regularly\n\nDecisions small and large will need to be made, but with clear planning and execution, this won’t be as difficult as it may seem.  The more organized you are, the easier it will be. \n\n## Auction Chairperson First Steps\nAs an auction chairperson taking over from a prior team, use the history to chart a fresh course. Do take the time to review the previous year(s) data to spot trends and opportunities.\n\nAs an auction chairperson who is establishing a new event or auction fundraiser, the slate may seem to be blank however what activity & outcomes have occurred in the past? \n\n**Magnify the good.** Look back at prior fundraisers and how the audience has responded. Is there a part that worked really well? Is there a part that was disappointing? Look at the communication channels, availability & ability of the team, turnaround time, commitment from the board, commitment of the community internally and at large.\n\n**Communication channels** will be key to getting out the message so evaluate past experiences. Keep the ones that work and pivot or try something new if necessary. For social media, be on the platforms that your audience is spending time. Some groups such as schools rely on printed  flyers, use those if it works. Voicemails or robocalls, emails & text are all potential channels to examine as well. \n\n**Teams vary from event to event, **what resources are available going forward will dictate how big of an event you can execute on. Perhaps it’s not a brand new event that needs to be created, many times adding on an auction or fundraiser to a currently well-attended event is a better solution.\n\n**Finding the right team means asking for the right helpers.** List all types of tasks that need to be accomplished and seek volunteers to fill those jobs. Helpers for procurement, messaging, computer work, graphics, event planning live or virtual services have specific duties, be specific when asking for volunteers. Be truthful about the time commitment as well. \n\n## Auction & Event Fundraiser Options\nChoose the auction & fundraising components that will help you reach your goals: \n * In-person event\n * Online event\n * Silent - BidSheet auction\n * Live auction\n * Paddle raise \n * Cash donations\n * Sponsorships\n\n## Transition\nSpend some quality time with the previous chairperson.  Be prepared to ask questions- but more importantly be prepared to listen.  A healthy transition creates a sound foundation to move forward.  Using past experiences can provide insight into what did and did not work and why.  Until you really know, learning firsthand from the previous chair is one of the best resources an incoming chair can utilize. \n\nA 360-degree evaluation and survey should also provide insight.  A 360-degree review involves gaining feedback from all directions surrounding fundraising.  [Survey Monkey](https://www.surveymonkey.com/) makes asking and receiving these candid responses easy and anonymous.  Feedback is a gift; use it to make educated and prudent decisions.  \n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/af15f516cf6ab3388b6cb413d6c7c5a968dde06c-657x399.png)\n\n## Leadership Tips  \n\nBring a positive attitude FIRST!\n\nWhatever attitude & culture you bring to a situation will be magnified to the fundraising team and the fundraising efforts.  Communicating clear goals, roles and tasks will ultimately provide self-motivation for team members.  Most times fundraising teams are volunteers.  There is a huge difference between expectations from a typical leader/employee relationship vs chairman/volunteer.  The volunteer is giving up his or her personal time and has every right to say no. Creating a high commitment culture again goes back to the leader.  The prime reason people will volunteer is because it feels good.  The prime reason they will re-volunteer is because they are respected and appreciated.  \n\nTrusting YOU as a leader means the team will trust themselves to follow the leader.  \n\n\n**Don’t take it personally!** As much as we hope that all decisions will be embraced, it is inevitable to bump into a few negative people or incidents along the way.  Maintain composure and take time to assess the information before answering or reacting.  It’s ok to say “thanks for the feedback, we will take it into consideration.”  Gather yourself and reply in a professional and healthy manner after the emotional wave has passed.  \n\n> True Chairperson Story: *We were running a fundraiser at a school and the room mom called the fundraising chair to share frustration about how the fundraiser was affecting ‘her’ classroom.  After letting the room mom vent and politely asking for some time to get back to her a more productive conversation took place a short time later.  Turns out the room mom’s frustration was somewhat warranted and related to communication gaps.  The chair asked her to be the “room mom lead” and join the fundraising committee.  In time the room mom lead took a very active role in fundraising and made the team even stronger.*\n\n\n## Plan and Execute\n\nAnalyze but don’t paralyze.  Evaluate fundraising activities as quantitatively as possible.  \n * Brainstorm possible options\n * How much money do you **need** to raise\n * How much money do you **want** to raise\n * How many hours will fundraising require\n * How many volunteers will fundraising require\n * Map out potential ranges of outcomes\n\nAt this point take the leap of faith and make a decision.  Informed and educated decisions will lead to the right decisions. Sometimes the answer is just a few tweaks, but other times it’s a completely new idea.  Believe in the data and research, but also believe in yourself.  \n\nLayout the fundraising plan, timeline, and checklist. Communicate with the team in a timely and organized fashion.  \nNote: The leader must have full confidence in the fundraising plans in order for the followers to have trust.  If you can wake up every morning, look in the mirror, and be proud to own the decision- then go for it!  \n\n## Communicate\nKeep all communication channels open with a steady flow of information and instruction.  \nLimit meetings to just the necessities.  Don’t make standing meeting dates “just to have” a meeting.  Come with an agenda, come prepared to inform, and come ready to discuss and make decisions.\n\n\n## Learning and Growing\n\n**Be kind to yourself in this process.** There will be a learning curve. Take time to absorb past data and form your own plan moving forward. Stay focused on how the fundraising dollars will help the cause move forward to help, heal, educate, feed, shelter, research, and enrich lives. Remember that you are not alone. There should be a board and volunteers to help and it is okay to ask for help. In addition, seek out more general support in the way of similar philanthropy groups, thought leaders in the community. With social media, it’s much easier to listen, learn, and connect with others. Build your tribe, and do your best.\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1854},{"url":1855},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/d2688726c69fa9c9ad18cd5e43c15fe8569f2fce-600x320.png","2020-07-08T16:00:00.000Z",{"current":1858},"congratulations-you-are-auction-chairman","Be kind to yourself in this process. There will be a learning curve. ","Congratulations!  You are Auction Chairman",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1862,"category":1863,"id":5,"image":1864,"publishOn":1867,"slug":1868,"teaser":1870,"title":1871},"# Themed Auction Fundraisers Make More Money \n\n\nThere are so many ordinary [fundraising](https://www.auctria.com/features/) events. How do we get people to show up? This is a common question we receive at Auctria. Auctions themes can be money magnets! ** People that are having fun spend more time and money at auction fundraisers.**\n\n![banner1.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/banner1.png)\n\n## Be Bold\n\nMake your auction stand out with a theme. Use a creative theme to make your event extraordinary. Fundraising FUN and an auction is a perfect pairing! Reach your target audience early and regularly encourage engagement and sharing. Brand all auction communications around the theme to drive drama and create a frenzy. On social networks, create logos, photos, and videos that promote the fun in the FUNdraising event.\n\n![banner 2.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/banner-2.png)\n\n## Be Strategic \n\nBe strategic and don’t go overboard. Invest just enough to raise a buzz, but not too much to cut into the total dividends. Matching the digital branding with the theme to attract attention will show commitment to the theme and forecast the future fun to be had at the event.\n\nWhat is the best way to theme an auction for the most return on the investment?\n\nWe asked Stephen Kilbreath about whether theme auctions/galas make more money?\n\nIn his experience, the answer is **YES, if the crowd participates in your theme.**\n\n>“Wearing a costume, or specialty clothing to an event is a lot of fun! When your guests get into it they will have more fun, and spend more money! Themes aren’t just for schools anymore. I have done plenty of theme/costume events for non-school auctions. Recently, an auction I organized for a school was based on the Rock N’ Roll theme, and it was AWESOME! We aren’t talking 60s or even 70s, and not current. We were talking 80s hair bands! We had so much fun, and incorporated a lot of music into the event, which got people singing and dancing, and most importantly spending money! We made 347% of live auction value.”  \n\nHere are a few images from Stephen's auctions with fun themes. For more inspiration [view the entire gallery of auction fundraising themes](https://www.facebook.com/pg/StephenKilbreathAuctions/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1199235453532391). Stephen’s Favorite Standard Themes for Auction:\n\n![stephen collage.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/stephen-collage.png)\n\n * Under The Big Top / Carnival\n * 80’s Night / 80’s Movie Night / 80’s Music Night\n * Disco Night / 70’s Night\n * Tailgate / Sports / Golf / Your Favorite Jersey\n * Rock N’ Roll\n * Monopoly\n * Havana Nights / Cuban Theme\n * Great Gatsby / Roaring 20’s / Speakeasy\n * Black & White\n * Masquerade / Mardi Gras\n * Country Night / Blue Jeans & Boots\n * Oscar Night / Red Carpet / Lights, Camera, Auction!\n * Hawaiian / Luau\n * Poker Night\n * Wine & Cheese\n\nStephen’s Extraordinary Themes for Auction:\n\n * Safari\n * It’s A Wonderful Life\n * Superhero / Heroes & Villains\n * Willy Wonka\n * Hogwarts / Narnia\n * James Bond / Casino Royale\n * Rio / Paris / Arabian Nights / Venice / Italian / India\n * Dr. Seuss\n * Wizard Of Oz\n * Around The World In 80 Days\n * Medieval Feast / Game Of Thrones\n * Under The Sea\n * Winter Wonderland\n * Broadway\n * Disney / Pirates Of The Caribbean\n * Breakfast at Tiffany’s\n * Storybook\n * NASCAR\n * Fashion Show\n\n\n\n![banner3.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/banner3.png)\n\n## Be Unique\n\nPriceless & One-of-a-Kind Auction. What in your community is special? How can you make the ordinary priceless? This can take on the entire theme of the event or a few special items. Including one-of-a-kind items for the auction makes the final bids soar. Unique auction items can be a dynamic way to increase overall charity awareness in addition to the auction.\n\nHere are some fun auction fundraisers that have been in the news:\n\n[Christmas Tree Auction Is Dazzling Event for Boys & Girls Club of Oakhurst](http://sierranewsonline.com/christmas-tree-auction-is-dazzling-event/)\n\n[Mango season's first tray sold for $22,000 at Brisbane Markets](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-06/brisbane-markets-mangoes-first-of-season-sold-george-manettas/7907714)\n\n[Decorated pumpkins auctioned from The Miracle League of Grand Island & WNY](http://ctbk.com/community-involvement/2015/pumpkin-auction)\n\n[Headed to the Scrap Heap, Fundraising Sign Auction 'just snowballed'](https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/south-otago/fundraising-sign-auction-just-snowballed)\n\n[Power or the Purse- Happiness is a New Handbag](http://www.newstribune.com/news/local/story/2018/jun/27/happiness-new-handbag/732220/)\n\nIf you are looking for a [powerful online tool](https://www.auctria.com/features/) that can help organize the most efficient and effective fundraisers, contact [Auctria](https://www.auctria.com/) today. We can also help with the most efficient and innovative auction themes!\n\n----------------------------------\n\nSpecial thanks to Stephen Kilbreath, Auctions & Events.  Stephen’s insight is based upon real life experiences as a professional auctioneer fundraiser helping groups for over 20 years meet their goals.  Stephen is fun fundraising auctioneer who comes staffed with his team of Night-Of Manager, Recorder, and Spotter. If you want to learn more visit their [website](https://yourbenefitauction.com/photos-2/) or follow him on [Facebook.](https://www.facebook.com/StephenKilbreathAuctions/)",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1865},{"url":1866},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/c14ff63e2d79ada732a7b1678da1f3247cf898d8-600x320.png","2018-04-03T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":1869},"themed_auction","Themed auctions can be an excellent avenue to push for bids, engage the audience and raise funds. Read on to find out more from Auctria.","Themed Auction Fundraisers",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1873,"category":1874,"id":5,"image":1875,"publishOn":1878,"slug":1879,"teaser":1881,"title":1882},"We recently had the privilege of speaking with Michelle Spencer, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Boys & Girls Club of Walker County (BGCWC). The club has a distinctive approach to fundraising focused on involving its community and highlighting its mission. They seized the opportunity to organize a themed and entertaining evening of Bingo (and so much more) that captivated their community. Here are some tips they gave for success:\n\n* Make it fun: they added crowd-pleasers like a Dessert Auction, Door Prizes, and Raffles!\n* Know Your Audience: their Oktoberfest-themed Bingo event had spirited music, mouth-watering food, and engaged their attendees\n* Plan ahead: Auctria + Early Planning = Event Success\n\n\n## Make it Fun\n\nThe Oktoberfest Bingo featured numerous thrilling games and raffles, including Dessert Bingo, Door Prizes, and a Football Raffle, adding to the excitement of the event.\n\n**The Dessert auction was a sweet success.** The club created a fun bidding war where sugar cravings battled it out for the sweetest victory! They decided not to provide dessert for everyone but rather provided an opportunity for attendees to bid on desserts.  The dessert auction closed in time to ensure winners could receive and enjoy their desserts prior to the event ending.\n\n**Increasing Oktoberfest Bingo ticket sales, door prizes were a hit!** The club offered 5 door prize tickets with each purchase of an Oktoberfest Bingo ticket. Offering 24 door prizes ranging from designer purses to an assortment of local eateries, their prizes were not only diverse but sought after by supporters in their community. The large number of door prizes was a testament to the donor relationships the club works hard to cultivate throughout the year.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/ad099b9af764ea3700ebdb961a81efef9539bfae-500x258.png)\n\n\n**Grid-Iron Glory!** The club ran three raffles featuring three autographed footballs from Texas A&M, SHSU, and the University of Texas! In a community passionate about football, providing an opportunity to win a football signed by the Head Coach of their cherished local college team proved to be a significant attraction!\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/77c4dee9d206065c393ab36d1109275b63c50514-500x333.jpg)\n\nThey added a competitive twist to the raffle! Each raffle ticket bought counted as one vote entry, and the school with the most votes won bragging rights for a year. Additionally, **their school flag will fly over the club until they play Grid-Iron Glory** next season as yet another incentive to buy raffle tickets! Selling tickets directly on their event website made the process seamless and easy for everyone to participate.\n\n## Know Your Audience\n\nMichelle’s years of experience running a nonprofit taught her that if your event is going to be successful, you need to tailor the event to your community if you want them to engage. In the clubs' community which has limited entertainment options there is a need for engaging and distinctive activities. \n\nThe club chose a bingo-themed fundraising event due to the community's characteristics. With its interactive and inclusive nature, bingo offered supporters a fun-filled atmosphere and addressed the need for more nearby entertainment choices. This approach sets the club apart and makes it a highly anticipated event which in turn leads to more funds raised.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/993ec5c761d19c89e29aa9b56487ee7cffdda909-500x405.png)\n\n\n## Plan Ahead, Start Early!\n\nMichelle from The Boys and Girls Club of Walker County shared their fundraising philosophy with us, which is all about early planning and set-up. They wanted to utilize Auctria's features of ticket management, selling sponsorships, and table assignments.  Having it in one place reduces unnecessary stress. Michelle stated, “This year, we started sooner; still feel like we should have started earlier than we did, but we were able to use it (Auctria) so much more.” \n\nOpting for a single platform, such as Auctria, for your event requirements contributes to a less stressful experience for both organizers and attendees.\n\nWhen selecting a venue for their Oktoberfest Bingo, they decided to host the event at their club. This not only saved them the expense of renting a venue, but it allowed the attendees to see the various ways that the club makes a positive impact every day! \n\n\nWe are incredibly grateful to Michelle for sharing The Boys and Girls Club of Walker County’s fundraising achievements with us, including the challenges they faced and we cannot wait to see what fun new ideas they come with for their upcoming 2024 Oktoberfest Bingo!\n\n\n---------------\nWe are incredibly grateful to Michelle for sharing The Boys and Girls Club of Walker County’s fundraising achievements with us, including the challenges they faced and we cannot wait to see what fun new ideas they come with for their upcoming 2024 Oktoberfest Bingo!\n\nThe Boys and Girls Club of Walker County’s mission is one we all can share: To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.\n\nYou can learn more about The Boys & Girls Club of Walker County on their [website. walkercountykids.org](https://www.walkercountykids.org/)\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/d57c8af6e251094cb17c602194c36234564b8b4a-500x500.png)\n\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/061278584ff692700478c6a0ebdf4d75af801d3f-500x281.png)\n\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":1876},{"url":1877},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/8f59b0ad65b5626add105537485e8ce954ceef95-600x320.png","2024-01-11T20:26:15.438Z",{"current":1880},"bingo-boost-at-the-boys-and-girls-club-of-walker-county","Make your event fun! Oktoberfest, bingo, dessert auctions, door prizes and raffles","Bingo Boost at the Boys & Girls Club of Walker County",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1884,"category":1885,"id":5,"image":1886,"publishOn":1889,"slug":1890,"teaser":1892,"title":1893},"# Spread the Word! Marketing Your Nonprofit’s Opportunities\n\n![Salsa-Labs_Auctria_Spread-the-Word!-Marketing-Your-Nonprofit's-Opportunities_Feature.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Salsa-Labs_Auctria_Spread-the-Word!-Marketing-Your-Nonprofit's-Opportunities_Feature.jpg)\n\nThe work you’ve done through your nonprofit, fueled by gifts from generous donors, has probably [given you years of engaging stories to share.](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/engage_donors_sandy) From the work of your volunteers to the impact it’s had, you’re probably experiencing no shortage of good news to share with the donors whose gifts have enabled it.\n\nOne of the biggest motivating factors for a donor to give is seeing the impact their donations have had. However, it can be difficult to share the good news and invite supporters to partake in future opportunities if you don’t have a solid strategy for marketing your nonprofit’s opportunities to engage with your work.\n\nCreating a marketing strategy is an easily manageable task, especially when aided by a bit of initial research, marketing software, and donors themselves. **Check out four steps for marketing your nonprofit’s engagement opportunities:**\n\n1. Leverage the data you already have.\n2. Secure new supporters with your digital forms.\n3. Utilize internet outreach tools.\n4. Invite your supporters to spread the word.\n\nFollow along for a breakdown of these four points and learn how to construct the best nonprofit marketing strategy for your future projects and campaigns.\n\n![Salsa-Labs_Auctria_Spread-the-Word!-Marketing-Your-Nonprofit's-Opportunities_Header-1.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Salsa-Labs_Auctria_Spread-the-Word!-Marketing-Your-Nonprofit's-Opportunities_Header-1.jpg)\n\n## 1. Leverage the data you already have.\nWhen beginning the process of marketing your nonprofit’s opportunities, it’s best to start with what you already have-- your list of current supporters!\n\nWhile it’s tempting to focus on attracting new supporters through your outreach, it’s just as important to reinforce the relationships you’ve already built. Poor donor retention is a particularly pervasive problem in the nonprofit sector, and reinforcing these relationships will help you combat that.\n\nBy reaching out to past donors, you can retain their attention and hopefully, their future contributions. Further, you might encourage recurring donations or even donor-led outreach.\n\nBefore you begin contacting previous donors, however, [you should segment your population to guide these efforts.](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/segment_engage_averill) This refers to the process of organizing donors into separate groups based on certain shared characteristics. **Try segmenting your donor data using the following classifications:**\n\n * **Personal information,** such as age, marital status, and location\n * **Business information,** such as workplace and other business affiliations\n * **Previous email interactions,** such as newsletter subscribers and petition signers\n * **Previous donation type,** such as major, one-time, and recurring\n\nThese are just a few possible segments, and you should organize your data in whatever manner makes the most sense for your base and for the particular project at hand.\n\nDid you discover any new insights when you segmented, or any particularly large groupings? You should use those insights to guide your marketing efforts going forward. For example, if you notice a large population within your donors is subscribing to your newsletter, you should make sure that medium is getting ample attention in your marketing push. \n\nOf course, none of this would be possible without a robust CRM system to house all of your data. Ideally, you’ve integrated your CRM with your fundraising tools and have a streamlined process of directing this data into your nonprofit’s main database. \n\nFor more information on nonprofit software solutions, check out [SalsaLabs’ listing of 8 nonprofit platforms to power your cause.](https://www.salsalabs.com/blog/nonprofit-software/)\n\n![Salsa-Labs_Auctria_Spread-the-Word!-Marketing-Your-Nonprofit's-Opportunities_Header-2.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Salsa-Labs_Auctria_Spread-the-Word!-Marketing-Your-Nonprofit's-Opportunities_Header-2.jpg)\n\n## 2. Secure new supporters with your digital forms.\nIn addition to contacting previous supporters, you should work to discover new supporters using your nonprofit’s [online donation forms](https://www.salsalabs.com/blog/online-fundraising-platforms/) and subscriber interest forms.  \n\nThese forms are the most important point of direct, digital contact with your donors, so you need to make sure they’re optimized to gather the exact information you need from them. Choosing a nonprofit marketing software solution that allows for full customization of online forms allows you to do so.\n\n**In choosing a digital marketing solution, make sure it allows the creation of online forms with the following qualities:**\n\n * **Mobile and desktop friendly,** so no donor is deterred due to technological constraints.\n * **Fully customizable fields,** allowing you to control what information is gathered. Specify the exact fields most helpful to your organization without slowing down donors with a bunch of excess fields. \n * **Seamlessly branded to your organization,** allowing donors to feel comfortable entering their information into the familiarly branded pages. \n * **Easily embeddable on your website or landing pages,** so donors aren’t redirected outside of your website to complete the process. \n\nYou can then add these newly gathered leads [to your organization’s email newsletter list,](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/leveraging_email_newsletter) along with the many other internet outreach methods explored in the next section.\n\n![Salsa-Labs_Auctria_Spread-the-Word!-Marketing-Your-Nonprofit's-Opportunities_Header-3.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Salsa-Labs_Auctria_Spread-the-Word!-Marketing-Your-Nonprofit's-Opportunities_Header-3.jpg)\n\n## 3. Utilize internet outreach tools.\nAfter you’ve secured new supporters, you should consider an outreach method using some of the most effective and low-cost nonprofit marketing tools on the market right now-- email and social media.\n\nBy leveraging both your email newsletter and social media networks, you should be able to create a strong strategy for getting the word out about your nonprofit’s engagement opportunities. Read on to learn more about using each tool.\n\n### Email\nYour organization’s email newsletter is one of its most powerful tools to get the word out about upcoming opportunities.\n\nAt this point, the addresses gathered through your online forms and the donor segments you created earlier intersect, as you’re going to want to guide donors through a series of emails based on their previous interactions with your nonprofit.\n\nAs far as best practices are concerned, guide new newsletter subscribers through a short welcome series or stream before showering them with information on upcoming opportunities to give or to attend your events. However, long-time subscribers won’t need to receive initial welcome emails. \n\nBy using a nonprofit marketing software solution that allows for email automation, you can start guiding new subscribers through this funnel immediately once their email is gathered. \n\nFinally, just as with the forms you created earlier, ensure that any email communications are formatted to be both mobile and desktop friendly. This ensures these communications can be read at any time and on any device. \n\n### Social Media\nSocial media is a significantly more complex undertaking. If misused, these networks can act as a major deterrent for donors, so [you want to make sure you’re preparing sufficiently](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/socialmedia_four_questions) before diving in.\n\n**It’s easiest to break social networking out into a few digestible steps to examine:**\n\n#### **1. Building a presence.**\nSocial media is primarily a marketing tool, and you’re tasked with building an audience for those efforts. There’s no reason for you to be posting so much content without any viewers to consume it!\n\nYou’ll want to begin by choosing platforms that are relevant to your organization’s demographics. If you choose marketing tools that offer email matching features, you’ll be able to identify which email addresses are associated with social media accounts.\n\nThen, you can focus your efforts there and create accounts for your organization on those networks, inviting supporters to follow along with the content.\n\n#### **2. Posting to your organization’s account.**\nPart of building a social media presence is posting content for your audience to engage with, and you want to make sure you’re creating content that keeps the account relevant for your followers.\n\nGenerally, social media users (especially in the nonprofit world) respond best to content that is genuine and personal. Consider focusing on sharing the impact your organization is having and avoiding heavy advertisements. \n\nYour marketing tools can help you schedule and share posts on a variety of social platforms. Above all else, however, you need to make sure your content is emotionally engaging for your followers.\n\n #### **3. Crowdfunding.**\nCrowdfunding is a fundraising technique powered by social sharing. It’s a great technique for both soliciting donations outside of your organization’s network and for spreading the word about your nonprofit and cause.\n\nThis is most often done by creating a dedicated crowdfunding page for your organization and distributing it to be widely shared. However, including a social sharing button on your online donation form that allows donors to spread the word once they give can help in the crowdfunding cause as well.\n\nIf you’re interested in leveraging crowdfunding for your organization, read more [here.](https://blog.fundly.com/crowdfunding/)\n\n![Salsa-Labs_Auctria_Spread-the-Word!-Marketing-Your-Nonprofit's-Opportunities_Header-4.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Salsa-Labs_Auctria_Spread-the-Word!-Marketing-Your-Nonprofit's-Opportunities_Header-4.jpg)\n\n## 4. Invite your supporters to spread the word.\nFinally, you can take your nonprofit’s digital marketing a step further by inviting your supporters to spread the word on your behalf. \n\nThere are a few different ways to involve your most ardent supporters in marketing on your behalf, and they each require fairly low effort to have a positive impact.\n\n### Social Sharing Buttons\nSocial sharing buttons can refer to two different actions, and you should implement both in your nonprofit’s digital marketing strategy.\n\nThe first is simply encouraging your donors to share your social media accounts, whether specific posts or the account in general. Generally, as long as you create quality content, supporters will be encouraged to share your organization’s posts.\n\nThe second involves a more intentional action on your part and the donor’s part, which is the inclusion of a social sharing button on your donation form. One of many customizations you should be able to include on your donation page, a social sharing button allows donors to tell their social networks when they’ve donated to your cause and why.\n\n### Peer-to-Peer Fundraising\nPeer-to-peer fundraising is different from crowdfunding, mentioned earlier, in that it involves donors creating their own individual donation-raising pages. Rather than sharing your organization’s designated donation page, the donor shares a donation page benefitting your nonprofit but made in their name.\n\nThen, the donor’s friends and family donate to this giving page in support of the donor, regardless of whether these loved ones are personally involved with your cause. This action both raises donations for your nonprofit as well as exposes your group to a plethora of future donors you may not have reached otherwise.\n\n**Bonus!** Many of the tips included throughout this piece referenced using marketing software in your efforts. Check out [Double the Donation’s list of the best marketing software for nonprofits](https://doublethedonation.com/tips/nonprofit-software-and-resources/nonprofit-marketing-software/) when searching for your organization’s technology solutions. \n\n\nCrafting an effective marketing strategy is essential for sharing the good work your nonprofit is doing and informing donors of ways to get involved in future fundraising opportunities.\n\nBy following these four steps, you’ll be able to successfully contact donors with future opportunities-- and invite them to spread the word themselves!\n\n-------------------------------\nSpecial thanks to Gerard Tonti, the Senior Creative Developer at Salsa Labs for the advice on marketing your non-profit's opportunities. Salsa Labs is the premier fundraising software company for growth-focused nonprofits. \n\nGerard's marketing focus on content creation, conversion optimization and modern marketing technology helps him coach nonprofit development teams on digital fundraising best practices.\n\n![salsa labs author bio gino.PNG](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/salsa-labs-author-bio-gino.PNG)",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1887},{"url":1888},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/09d7de90ecb767625934d09d6230b3b3c537d92e-600x320.png","2019-10-15T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":1891},"salaslabs_marketing_nonprofit","Spread the word! One of the biggest motivating factors for a donor to give is seeing the impact their donations have had.","Spread the Word! Marketing Your Nonprofit's Opportunities",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1895,"category":1896,"id":5,"image":1897,"publishOn":1900,"slug":1901,"teaser":1903,"title":1904},"Do you want to take your auction events to new heights? Raffles are a great add-on fundraising tool for all event types, and easy to introduce to your event!. For those who are newer to event planning, a raffle is a means of raising money by selling tickets, a ticket is subsequently drawn at random, and the person that has the winning ticket wins the raffle prize. Raffles are a great way to involve your event attendees throughout your fundraiser and help raise more funds for your cause. \nAs you plan Raffles for your future events make sure to keep the following in mind:\n1. Choose Exciting Items\n2. Auctria Raffle Features\n3. Types of Raffles\n4. Know the Regulations\n\nYou have the option to sell tickets online, in-person, or a combination of both, Auctria has the tools you need to run a successful Raffle during your event.\n\n## 1. Choose Exciting Items\n\nWhen planning out the Raffle for your event, you will have to pick out a star-stopping raffle prize.  While some organizations will pick a cash prize for their raffle, many organizations will choose to raffle off an actual auction item.  We’ll cover many of these exciting set ups further on in the article, but one of the most important planning steps is sourcing your raffle prize items and setting up your raffle.\n\n[Sponsorships](https://www.auctria.com/blog/auction-fundraiser-sponsorships-make-money/) and donations are a great way to source raffle prize items without any initial investment from your organization!  By finding a sponsor or a donor, you’ll be able to raffle off a prize that you received in order to raise more funds for your cause. Many groups choose exciting items such as exclusive experiences, celebrity meet and greets, VIP offerings, and more! Make sure to leverage your networks and see what they have to offer for your upcoming event.\n\nIf you are having a hard time finding items to raffle off, Auctria offers a list of Auction Items and [No Risk Consignment Items from partnering organizations here.](https://www.auctria.com/partners/?category=auction-items-no-risk-consignment-items)\n\n**How to determine which item to raffle versus offer at auction?**\n\nRaffles can be used to boost the income for a popular auction item that may ‘sell’ for only face value. For example: the local amusement park has donated 4 tickets for a value of $200. In the past auctions the sale maxed out at the $200 face value. Using a raffle scenario tickets can be sold at smaller increments but in an infinite quantity. At the end of the event the $200 amusement park tickets can net much more than $200 simply by offering it as a raffle prize and selling tickets at your event.\n\n## 2. Auctria Raffle Features in the Dashboard\n\nAuctria offers a specific “Raffles Dashboard” for event admins to set up raffle tickets and raffle prize items for their auctions and fundraisers.  Using the raffles dashboard allows you to keep your raffle(s) organized and award the raffle prizes in multiple ways\n\nDASH IMAGE HERE\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/1b1cef286b0a429aaa2e864ee6c43db1bf7b8c19-1390x860.png)\n\nThe first way to award the raffle prize through Auctra is to use the automatic “Award Prize” button directly on the raffle prize item, which makes the award process as simple as ever!\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/fb2c8f15d31954a4eaff3ca0876beaf959cbff62-734x340.png)\n\nIf you plan to choose the raffle prize winner outside of the Auctria system, you can export the “Export Individual Sales” report from the Raffle Dashboard page in Auctria. Once you have all of these sales available to you in the exported form, you can use these sales to “pick” a winner.  Many groups will then use something like an online  [Wheel Picker,](https://pickerwheel.com/) or another randomizer like horse racing to pick the final winner for their event. \n\nFor more event inspiration, make sure to check out [Auctria’s Event Directory!](https://events.auctria.com/)\n\n\n## 3. Types of Raffles\n\n**Traditional Raffle** \nWith a traditional raffle, you can sell tickets and choose a winner randomly at a given time to give the ticket holder the prize.  Whether you choose to sell your raffle tickets online or in-person, a traditional raffle is a great way to engage your audience and build excitement for your event while raising extra money for your cause.  \n\n**50/50 Cash Raffle** \nWith a 50/50 Cash Raffle, you will sell tickets and at a given time choose one randomly.  The winner will win 50% of the cash proceeds and the remaining 50% benefits the charity.  One of the best parts about a 50/50 Cash Raffle is that there is no upfront investment for this type of raffle - you start selling the tickets and simply share the funds raised with the raffle winner.  \n\nIn Auctria, you can both sell raffle tickets. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/b116b7be35cc2dddd74115b358b0e5cd6c91b34f-830x958.png)\n\nHot tip- use the “Value” on the Raffle Prize to share how much the 50/50 prize is up to by configuring an income tracker or thermomter to show JUST the 50/50 raffle sales.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/c6542e8f883115514adf17636dc31308c86fbe01-800x485.png)\n\n**Jumbo Raffle** \nThe “jumbo” in the “Jumbo Raffle” is referring to the size of the prize in terms of its value. In this case, there is a quantity set so the raffle tickets are not oversold.\n\nHere are two examples:\n* Win a $2000 Air B&B gift certificate, selling tickets at $50 with a max quantity of 100 tickets sold. Total revenue = $5000, minus the price of the gift card will net you a total of $3000\n* Win $500 Amazon gift card, selling $25 tickets with a maximum quantity of 100 tickets sold. Total revenue = $2500, minus the price of the gift card will net you a total of $2000\n\n**Bucket/Pick-a-Prize Raffle**\nA “Bucket Raffle” is exactly what it sounds like - it differentiates itself by using a bucket, hat, box, or even “Tricky Tray” where participants will put their raffle ticket in the container. This type of raffle is also called a “Pick-a-Prize” raffle. \n\nParticipants purchase or are given multiple tickets and they put it in the bucket, or “prize” they would most like to win. Participants may increase their chance of winning by bidding more tickets on one specific item. This type of raffle works really well when you have multiple prizes to give out, and you’re hosting an event where the prizes can be spread out and displayed. Guests should have the opportunity to look at the variety of items offered, much like they would for an in-person auction. Since tickets in the bucket only come from guests that want to win that specific item there is no issue of a winner receiving an item they do not want!\n\n\n**Golden Ticket Raffle** \nOne simple way to supercharge your fundraising is to raffle off a single, high-value item, like a vacation as a “Golden Ticket” raffle.  In this raffle strategy, you will sell high-priced raffle tickets to your bidders for their chance at your showstopping “Golden Ticket” prize.  Make sure that you pick an item that is easy to promote like a VIP experience, or a popular vacation. Many groups will use their “Golden Ticket” raffle as an opportunity for guests to choose a “Live Auction” item as their prize before the Live Auction actually starts.\n\nIn many “Golden Ticket” raffle tickets are sold as a single, “Golden Ticket,” and typically priced around $100.  In Auctria, you can display both your raffle ticket and raffle prize on the same page to drive engagement:\n\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/6020f083bb54b633f6126fb8135dfeadedad09d2-662x1024.png)\n\n**Registration Raffle** \nIf you’re looking to increase registration for your online or in-person event, a registration raffle is the perfect way to engage more bidders. With more bidders engaged in your event, you’ll see an increase in bid activity.  The key idea behind this raffle is to boost both activity and attendance for your event by providing a reward to registration. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/05f405409d79449c001817b56f46c9fa94c2775c-836x1042.png)\n\nA great way to do this is by providing anyone who registers by a specific date will be entered into a raffle - you can provide specific guidelines or rules, like only applicable for mobile bidding, or for folks who register via text, for example.\n\nThe best part of this type of raffle is you can use Auctria to tie raffle tickets to “Early Bird Tickets” and other set-up strategies, just ask an Auctria Specialist how!\n\n\n**Mystery Box** \nA mystery phenomenon is always intriguing for attendees. We have seen many events market mysteries ranging from hidden item boxes or guessing contests. After the raffle winner is chosen the mystery can be revealed to all at the event.  If you share the estimated value of the prize it can make the raffle more enticing to donors.  \n\n\n## 4. Know the Regulations\nJust a friendly reminder - raffles are considered a “game of chance” and may be regulated in your jurisdiction. Before launching your raffle, make sure that you consult the proper authorities knowledgeable in this area. \n\nBingos, raffles, and other games of chance can be a fun way for charities to connect with the community while also raising funds. Hosting a gaming event is an exciting opportunity for organizations, but sometimes the state and local government prerequisites for holding such an event get lost in the excitement.\n\nMost states allow charitable organizations to conduct a variety of gaming events as long as the organization holds the proper license. For more details on Licenses and Permits, Hosting an Event, Maintaining a License and Risks of Noncompliance visit [Harbor Compliance's Guide to Charitable Gaming Compliance.](https://www.harborcompliance.com/information/charitable-gaming-license?utm_campaign=Auctria%202021&utm_source=Auctria&utm_medium=resource_page) Included in the guide is a link for state specific information on how to obtain a charitable gaming license. For Canada, here is a complete run-down on the specific [raffle regulations in each province.](https://www.ctvnews.ca/w5/charity-lottery-regulations-by-province-1.1545502)\n\n\n## Redefining Generosity\nThe winning ticket to compassionate giving is alive in charity raffles. Whether you are hosting an online or an in-person event, adding a raffle is a great strategy to drive extra funds to your cause.  Using Auctria’s software, you can create Raffle Tickets and Raffle Prizes and use the dashboard to display and sell your tickets, award your prizes, or download your sales and use that information in a creative way.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1898},{"url":1899},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/12ac287d1bcc8716bece000913f8947bdd4ccf80-600x320.jpg","2023-12-13T18:30:31.906Z",{"current":1902},"raffles_success","The winning ticket to compassionate giving is alive in charity raffles.","Raffles to Heighten Auction Success",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1906,"category":1907,"id":5,"image":1908,"publishOn":1911,"slug":1912,"teaser":5,"title":1914},"As we approach the midpoint of the year, we want to express our gratitude to everyone who has chosen Auctria and trusted us to play a small role in their fundraising journey. It is our privilege to work with so many great organizations doing incredible work! \n\n## San Diego Gives\nWe are excited to announce Auctria was chosen as the preferred partner for San Diego Gives 2024! San Diego Gives is a special day of giving to ignite generosity, stimulate philanthropy, and foster a sustainable nonprofit sector across San Diego County.\n\n## Trendsetting at Auctria\nAt Auctria, we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of fundraising technology; we are not just on trend but setting trends in the industry. Try our latest updates in Preview to see the upgrades coming this summer!\n\n* **Financial tab to track money dynamics is a game-changer.**\nWith all of your payment processor information, profit and loss statements, cash flow statements, and payouts for Stripe customers, it'll help you better manage your fundraising events.\n\n* **Built-in website analytics, will empower you to track your website visitors,** learn how they navigate your site, and understand the success of your marketing campaigns. By using these insights, you can improve your fundraising efforts and maximize the impact of your messaging. \n\n* **Default terminology is adjustable to fit different event types.** Auctria's roots were in fundraising auctions, but we have grown to support many fundraising events, and using the terms 'auction' and 'bidder' throughout the platform can be confusing. So, we have rolled out some optional terminology changes. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/62cc2349702867eb008ddc4a3de146075e11a9ae-1000x600.gif)\n\n\n\n\n-----\nOur new release also includes AI Item Descriptions, Improved Filtering Options, and more! Discover how Auctria can help you take your fundraising events to the next level with our latest release. Learn More\n\n-----\n## Take Flight Fundraising Gala\nIf you’re looking for inspiration for your next event, look no further than Gig Harbor Academy's recent ‘Take Flight’ fundraising gala. It was a resounding success, filled with unique elements that made it truly inspiring! This year, they managed to raise significantly more than in previous years, with an impressive increase of nearly 30% in the amount raised. The event had an aviation-themed ambiance, complete with a stunning model plane backdrop and a signature cocktail, the \"Aviator\", making it an unforgettable experience. Let’s dive into a few things that made this year so successful:\n\n✈️ A Memorable Guest Experience\n\n📢 Enhanced Outreach\n\n🎀 Diverse Auction Items \n\n[Read the full article here](https://www.auctria.com/blog/take-flight-with-gig-harbor-academy/)\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/00cb2fe04832c636c6cee425064fa019747eb178-583x385.png?w=450)\n\n## New Webinars with Auctria\n\n[Event Innovation: New Ideas for Your Next Fundraising Event](https://www.auctria.com/webinar/event-innovation-new-ideas-for-your-next-fundraising-event/)\n\n[Collect, Organize, Share: Raising Awareness to Raise Money](https://www.auctria.com/webinar/collect-organize-share-stories-raising-awareness-to-raise-money/)",{"id":67,"title":68},{"asset":1909},{"url":1910},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/45b87ca377755f459642e4eac32c116898e730fe-600x320.png","2024-05-31T17:11:00.000Z",{"current":1913},"auctria-updates-may-2024","Auctria Updates May 2024",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1916,"category":1917,"id":5,"image":1918,"publishOn":1921,"slug":1922,"teaser":1924,"title":1925},"The Action Center located in Lakewood Colorado serves those facing hardship or experiencing homelessness. Their one-hour virtual fundraising event surpassed the goal of $250K without an auction but with donations only. There was a small invitation-only audience that was invited to be an in-studio audience. Getting a front row to the speakers and even dining on a meal that was prepared live as part of the event by celebrity chef David Bondarchuk. Weaving together food, fun, impact stories, and instructions how to give with a sprinkling of engagement questions provided an interest level that never dropped off.\n\n\nThe complete fundraising strategy was implemented over many weeks culminat\ning in the virtual event that was polished and ready for prime time. The back story includes:\n\n- Communication and charcuterie\n- Pre-commitments for the in-studio audience\n- Run of show that is impactful\n\n\n\nTawney, the Marketing Manager at the Action Center, Executive Director, Pam, and Director of Development, John rounded out the team with Melissa from Premiere Events by Melissa sharing their fundraising story. They were kind to also share many of their key collateral pieces in hopes that you too can be inspired. Focused on getting the message out about the Action Center’s annual fundraising event branding, images, and marketing were vital to capturing the audience and sharing meaningful dialog to encourage donations. Action Center also utilized the fundraiser to raise awareness and money for longer-term donation opportunities.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/21d7fa7fc6ed7c8ac50df38482118e9d22f3ab16-500x500.png)\n\n\n\nThe entire Virtual event is posted on YouTube and spending some time watching it back will help you understand how they crushed the fundraising goal with day-of donations totaling over $300,000. View the entire Where Action Matters 19th Annual Charity event, [click here](https://youtu.be/17V6R4mrTZE?t=32)\n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/0ae0fd9133a9cc6b9b5089f16e394c399ccbf0e7-500x300.png)](https://youtu.be/17V6R4mrTZE?t=32)\n\n\n\n## Communication & Charcuterie\nHungry people are distracted; feed them and they will focus! From the outset of the planning, the communication collateral content and timing were mapped out. Tawney shares that at the end of the event they had created and pushed out almost seventy pieces in print, email, and social media. \n\n\n\n\n\n**Six weeks out,** they started with saving the date, followed by invitations and reasons to give and join the event. Providing all the pertinent information on date, time and how to participate. Then easy to read info cards with 4 reasons to participate:\n1. You want to support your community\n2. You want to give a hand up, not a handout\n3. Your gift is tax deductible\n4. Changing lives feels good! \n\n\n## How and why to participate. Pairing the messaging \n\n**Registration is encouraged,** enticing them with food! With a donation-only event, the bottom line is getting donations and in that scenario many times it’s simply transactional and not relational. The Action Center used the event as a springboard to secure registrations and contact information so they can continue the conversation and relationship during and after the event. \n\nTo entice registration they gave out a delicious treat, a charcuterie box to the first 100 registrants. Virtual viewers were able to pick up the charcuterie boxes prior to the event and enjoy at a time that is convenient for them. \n\nNot to be left out from a tasty experience, the in-studio audience was treated to an in-studio meal demonstration and provided a small meal to follow the event.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/13dc49d9740975fe415ea2c4db572d4b14dd4fac-500x500.png)\n\n\n\n**Clearly share that the virtual event is one hour (only)** and the agenda will be filled with a variety of interesting topics. An agenda highlighting the speakers was distributed to encourage attendees to tune in. The time was filled with community advocates and partners as well as impact stories from those that benefit from services from The Action Center. Sharing the highlights in advance showed the supporters how the event program was going to unfold.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/33e52b7b842edd6c15f9b5e6356bd1940e4b39a3-500x500.png)\n\n\n**Two Days out reminder notices** encourage registration and admiring the supporters as the heroes. Additional reminder notes went out, emails and social media posts. Wall to wall the conversation offline and online is all about the Where Action Matters charitable event. Brightly colored yet still branded and thematic communications were vital. The tone was fun and celebratory with a continuation of the event branding.\n\n\n## Run of Show as a Relational Model\n\nDirector frames it up in one comment, paraphrasing, “someone cares is a powerful elixir to future success”. To share this The Action center brought in several speakers to show a 360-degree view of the impact.\n* Partnering with the local school district to get supportive care to those in need. A student and family advocate told her poverty story and you can see and hear the passion she has to make a difference. \n* A few breaks were conducted to ask the audience questions. For example, what percentage of households coming to The Action Center for support are families with children? Asked to make a guess in the chat the number was revealed to be an astonishing 55%.\n* An Impact video was pre-recorded to bring the audience face to face and into the life of Cynthia, a grandma raising her grandchildren, one of which is special needs with very little means. Her candid comments paired with the visual of her home, and neighborhood show how The Action Center is on the ground making a difference in her life, her grandchildren's lives. This is generational. \n\n\n## It’s All About the Fundraising\n\nThis is the major fundraiser of the year and a chance to focus attention on the work in the community. Promoting the how and why on a single piece of collateral ties it all together. How and where to participate and give + why how this is so important. Blending seamlessly from impact video to on-screen engagement questions, to testimonials the story unfurls and fills the air with meaning.  Transitioning to the meal being prepared where he shares his story of needing community help touches the heart of the audience. \n\n**Communicate expectations and how to give.** One-time donations are great and make up the majority of the activity during the event fundraiser. Providing two additional ways to make an impact are part of the larger development strategy. Longer-term commitments allow the Action Center to budget, and help them know what resources are available to serve the community. Knowing those funds are coming in they can plan definite and concrete.\n\n\nThe Action Center has two longer goal fundraising opportunities:\n\n1. Mountain Mover Giving Society. Defined by a mountain mover, one who achieves something that is incredibly difficult. This is a recurring gift made by credit card that provides sustainable funding\n2. Self-Sufficiency Pledge. This is a gift commitment over the next 3-5 years of $1000 per year that provides guaranteed funds.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/c412ef517271de4358c51422833df0a33556481e-500x500.png)\n\n\n\n## Circling Back\nAfter the Where Action Matters event concluded the story lives on. Collateral pieces like the ones here have QR codes to make it easy to make a donation. The virtual event playback is published on YouTube. Pieces to continue to share Cynthia's story + a quick scan to donate makes it easy for supporters to give. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/8aeb42ce8c3786ac7d2cab9eca3529f44e42fd39-500x500.png)\n\n**Each and every piece of marketing material was designed and curated with care and precision.** Yes, it takes a lot of time, however it makes a difference! \n\n\n\n\nThe Action Center: Community. Compassion. Connection\n\nSince 1968, The Action Center has been committed to expanding and refining its services to meet our participant’s ever-changing needs.  The Action Center’s goal is to provide clients with a continuum of services to meet their current needs and become self-sufficient. It is through the tireless effort of our volunteers, dedication of our professional staff, and generous donations from our amazing community that The Action Center provides hope and assistance with dignity and breaks the cycle of poverty.\n\nTo Connect with The Action Center:\nWebsite: [https://theactioncenter.org](https://theactioncenter.org)\nFacebook: [https://www.facebook.com/TheActionCenterCO/](https://www.facebook.com/TheActionCenterCO/)\nYouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/user/theactioncenterco/videos](https://www.youtube.com/user/theactioncenterco/videos)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":1919},{"url":1920},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/9704ac2f77db58226af98f1e3ac1494f0aaadcb4-600x320.jpg","2022-06-29T15:07:15.014Z",{"current":1923},"3-part-virtual-event-fundraising-plan-communication-charcuterie-and-donations","Purposeful fundraising, blending: impact video, testimonials & engagement.","3 Part Virtual Event Fundraising Plan: Communication, Charcuterie and Donations",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1927,"category":1928,"id":5,"image":1929,"publishOn":1932,"slug":1933,"teaser":1935,"title":1936},"# 5 Tips for Selling Tickets and Filling Seats\n\n\nRemember that line from the movie Field of Dreams - “If you build it, they will come.”? \n\nOh, if only it was that simple for special events!\n\nNonprofits pour enormous amounts of energy and assets into creating wonderful events, yet we sometimes still find ourselves scrambling at the last minute to sell those unsold tickets and fill those vacant seats.\nAs a nonprofit event planner with over twenty-years of experience, I can tell you that we all have felt the pain and embarrassment of empty-seat syndrome. Luckily, I have found some simple ways to avoid this event malady.\n\nTop five ways to get your guest list filled without making yourself crazy:\n\n## 1. Choose A Realistic Ticket Price \nCarefully consider what your supporters and target audience can afford. Analyze what you are offering them – if your chicken dinner costs you $35 per head, you should resist the urge to charge ten times that as a ticket price. Overcharging is a real turnoff for event goers.\n\nGeneral rule of thumb is that ticket prices should cover the hard costs of producing your event. It is a good idea to offer \n\nVIP tickets and sponsorship packages for those supporters and companies that would like to support you at a higher level. These premium priced tables should have upgraded wine and consider giving each of these special guests a lovely gift at their seat (hopefully donated by a sponsor).\n\n## 2.  Make Your Event Irresistible \nNo one is all that excited about attending the same old year after year. To sell tickets you must freshen up your event and make it enticing to those who may be bored of the same-old program.\n\nConsider adding a theme to your event and build expectations with a clever invitation. Come up with a tag line and logo that engages your supporters’ attention. This doesn’t cost extra money and does a lot to sell tickets.\n\nAn example of this is a dog rescue organization that had little luck with their traditional dinner gala, and needed something that would engage their supporters and raise much-needed funds. The answer for them was a “Dog Days of Summer” concert held on the dog rescue’s premises. They created a cute logo of a dog floating on an inner tube, and sent out casual invitations which encouraged guests to come in swim suits and frolic with the dogs. The event featured a local band, food trucks and lots of water games with the pooches. Not only did it sell out way in advance, it is now an annual event eagerly anticipated by local animal lovers.\n\n## 3.  Honor an Influencer\nWhether they are wealthy donors or strong champions of your organization’s mission, saluting a person or corporation does much to sell tickets. \n\nWhen honoring a corporation you set the stage for that company to purchase tables and ad space in your tribute program. Corporations have earmarked funds for their upper level management to attend charitable events, and honoring their business ensures they will want the tables filled when they come onstage to accept their award.\n\nSimilarly, honoring an influential individual brings their social circle into play when creating your invitation list. People are proud of their achievements and want to have friends, family and colleagues on hand to witness the tribute.\n\n## 4.  Use a Volunteer Event Committee to Plan Your Event\nUsing dedicated individuals with strong social circles to help with your event planning not only lightens your staff’s work load, but also extends the reach of your mailing list.\n\nWhen people put time and effort into a project they have “skin in the game” and are far more likely to open their address books and share contacts for your invitation list. These volunteers also encourage their friends and family to attend their event just as they have supported events of those same folks in the past. All the effort your committee has put into the planning makes them determined for the event to be a success. \n\n## 5.  Use Social Media Effectively to Build Excitement\nDon’t be afraid to delve into the world of social media when it comes to promoting your event. Facebook and Twitter will build excitement as you post updates for your auctions and stage program.\n\nMake a Facebook event page that allows you to post photos and updates as your event takes shape. Have your committee extend the page’s reach by sharing and liking your posts.  Facebook is also an excellent vehicle for sharing post-event details, photos and thank-yous.\n\nTwitter can build excitement and sell tickets as guests tweet their enthusiasm about attending the event. This platform can keep your event in the public’s eye which makes it more likely that they will purchase tickets. Like Facebook, on Twitter people not only can create posts about your event but they can also share your companies' posts about the event.\n\nOnline calendars and “What’s Happening” websites are excellent way of capturing the attention of those who are looking for something to do on the day of your event.\nIt is important to remember that the majority of the tickets are sold either immediately after receiving an event invitation, or two weeks prior to the actual event. Don’t panic if you have a sales slump between those time periods - continue to be enthusiastic and promote the heck out of your event. If folks don’t know about the event, they can’t buy tickets!\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/0d0c021893a7c6d1d8944ced63df4a37ee6cb998-5798x3460.png)\n______\n\n#### Thanks to guest blogger A.J. Steinberg for her expert advice!\n\nA.J. Steinberg, Principal at [Queen Bee Fundraising](https://www.queenbeefundraising.com/) is one of the leading experts creating outstanding successful events for nonprofit and social clients.  She has been doing so since 1999. A.J. [Queen Bee Fundraising](https://www.queenbeefundraising.com/) is a nonprofit consultant and liaison, and has become known for her success guiding volunteer committees in their production of nonprofit galas, fashion shows, concerts and street festivals..  \n\n\"Changing the world one event at a time.\"  ~A.J. Steinberg\n\n[![plap3 small.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/plap3-small.jpg)](https://www.queenbeefundraising.com/)",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1930},{"url":1931},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/e3e07a21b02c0f951303bf812fd2ece38461d6fb-600x320.jpg","2016-09-06T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":1934},"selling_tickets_filling_seats","Here are the top five ways to get your guest list filled without making yourself crazy","5 Tips for Selling Tickets and Filling Seats",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1938,"category":1939,"id":5,"image":1940,"publishOn":1943,"slug":1944,"teaser":1946,"title":1947},"\nPlanning and preparation are vital to a successful auction. An organized auction is successful auction. Auctria's best practices timeline and checklist will help keep the auction on track.  Download and share with your entire [auction team](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/auction_teamwork) today.  \n\n\n## Auction Planning Timeline & Checklist with an event\n\nThis printable gives you step by step action plans to set up, plan and run the event and auction fundraiser for an in person event.\n\n[WITH an event (gala, silent & live auction)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/AuctionweventTimeline.pdf)\n\n[![auction planner, gala, live auction, silent auction](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Screen-Shot-2016-05-18-at-1.31.12-PM.png)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/AuctionweventTimeline.pdf)\n\n\n### Auction Planning Timeline & Checklist online only\n\nThis printable gives you step by step action plans to set up, plan and run the event and auction fundraiser for an online only auction.\n\n[WITHOUT an event (online only)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/AuctiononlinePlanningTimeline.pdf)\n\n[![auction planner online only .png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/auction-planner-online-only-.png)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/AuctiononlinePlanningTimeline.pdf)\n\n## General Event Planning\nWhile we can't identify all of the details you’ll need to think about, since much of it will depend on the type of event you are holding, we can suggest some best practices that are important to follow for any event. \n\n[The Ultimate Party-Planning Checklist](https://www.greetingsisland.com/blog/the-ultimate-party-planning-checklist/)\n\nComplete Event Planning Guide has two sections:\n 1. [How to Plan an Event](https://www.wildapricot.com/articles/how-to-plan-an-event) \n 2. [The Event Checklist Used By Top Event Planners](https://www.wildapricot.com/articles/event-checklist)\n\n## Auctria Printable User Training Guides\n\nAlthough there are may ways to do things in Auctria these printable PDFs cover the most straightforward and typical Check in and Checkout experiences. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/d4048bc691dab71f3292ca06059182ec1058fe0e-800x350.png)\n\n[Printable PDF Auctria Check-in (basic)](https://auctria.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/AuctriaCheckInBasic.pdf)\n[Printable PDF Auctria Check-in (advanced)](https://auctria.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/AuctriaCheckInAdvanced.pdf)\n[Printable PDF Auctria Checkout Instructions](https://auctria.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/AuctriaCheckoutInstructions.pdf)\n\n\nIf you want hands on 1:1 training [Auctria Assist](https://www.auctria.com/auctria-assist) may be right for you. \n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1941},{"url":1942},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/50ccf94bef788f07f06297f379838a974b00eaa0-600x320.jpg","2024-02-08T21:51:25.677Z",{"current":1945},"auction-timelines-and-checklists-and-user-training-pdfs","Get your auction organized.  Here's the checklist and timeline for the team","Auction Timelines & Checklists & User Training PDFs",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1949,"category":1950,"id":5,"image":1951,"publishOn":1954,"slug":1955,"teaser":1957,"title":1958},"# How to engage online donors: Digital marketing 101\n\nDigital marketing is a powerful tool for non-profits to engage with and retain their donors, while keeping their larger community close, especially in our pandemic-stricken, socially distanced world. Virtual fundraising events such as online auctions have the power to boost engagement and revenue, while leveraging new opportunities and avenues to succeed in. But with most non-profits realizing the value of online marketing and the digital space, how do you stand out? Read on to find out more from Auctria, experts in fundraising management solutions for small and medium non-profit organizations.\n\n## Reach out across multiple channels\n\nIn order to effectively engage with donors online, non-profits must take a multi-channel approach by creating multiple touch points across various communication channels. Some of these include:\n\n### [Website](https://www.auctria.com/)\n\nAs a non-profit, your website must be a one-stop shop that engages its donors by providing information, updates and most importantly, creating a portal to accept donations.\n\n### [Email](mailto:hello@auctria.com)\n\nForm a line of direct communication with your donors through emails including newsletters, invitations, and the like. Personalize each donor email with references to events they may be interested in based on their past participation. For example, a donor who has attended a walkathon in the previous year may be interested in the next one too. Reports suggest that email communication has the highest ROI among all channels and platforms.\n\n### Social media\n\nSocial media is relatively inexpensive with a huge reach. However, it is important to invest time and effort, while customizing the right content for the right platform.\n\n### SMS \n\nWith the growth of mobile technology, non-profits can take advantage of new and innovating fundraising opportunities such as text-to-give options. According to the Pew Research Center, 81% of Americans use a smartphone, making this a lucrative marketing channel in the long run.\n\n## Personalize communication\n\nDigital marketing gives nonprofits the capability to reach huge audiences in an instant. However, it is essential to engage with donors and supporters personally. It is important that every donor and supporter is made to feel special and their contributions appreciated and valued.\nUse the information from your donor databases to personalize your emails/content to each of the donors, based on interests, location, gender etc. As mentioned previously, keep a track of the attendance of your donors to your events as this can be used as a reference for future events they may be interested in.\nThis is especially powerful in creating strong relationships and loyalty, which encourage greater engagement and donations in the long run.\n\n## Regularly post new content\n\nStaying active and posting new content on a regular basis keeps a non-profit dynamic, encouraging donors and supporters to engage too. This is also a great way in which search engines display results pertinent to your work so people searching specific keywords are driven to your content. So, what are some of the content strategies a non-profit can use?\n\n### News page \n\nAdding a new page on your website can be an easy way to stay active and post new content based on events and updates. To make things easier, embed your social media accounts into the newsfeed of your newly created news page.\n\n### [Blog entries](https://www.auctria.com/news/)\n\nUnique and valuable content through blog posts is an excellent way to be noticed by search engines. Use your expertise and knowledge to create informative pieces, enhancing your reputation and credibility in the eyes of donors and supporters.\n\n## Let supporters control their engagement\n\nProvide your donors and supporters with the option to engage with your non-profit through the communication channels they prefer. For example, you can use membership software tools that let your supporters choose their preferred communication channels. This makes them feel in control and that you respect them and their choices.\nThus, engaging with donors online can be made easier if they feel appreciated, respected, and see the value added by your non-profit. For more information on how to engage effectively, [contact Auctria today]([[https://www.auctria.com/contact/]",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1952},{"url":1953},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/bbe13f7d791233b1478ccbea6aaef2184593ba89-600x320.jpg","2021-08-10T06:00:00.000Z",{"current":1956},"how-to-engage-online-donors-digital-marketing-101","Engaging with online donors can increase revenue and boost visibility. Auctria tells you how.","How to engage online donors: Digital marketing 101",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1960,"category":1961,"id":5,"image":1962,"publishOn":1965,"slug":1966,"teaser":1968,"title":1969},"Have you ever been running an online auction and as the bidding is closing there is a surge in activity?  The winner is the one that got that very last bid in at the instant before the auction closes.  The winning bidder is super happy but how much higher could the bids have gone?\n\nWe at Auctria call these bidders ‘snipers’ and have the answer: a ‘Bid Extension' feature.   \n\nHere are a few real-life scenarios that illustrate the situation:\n\n![zamboni.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/zamboni.jpg)\n\n## Example #1: Hockey Tickets and a Zamboni Ride at an NHL game.  \n\nHad the item had a hard close and no Bid Extension the closing bid would have been $220.  Because the Bid Extension feature was selected the bidding for this item was extended for an additional 10 minutes each time a higher bid was placed within 5 minutes of the end.  The final bid was $280 yielding an additional $60.\n\nHere is the timeline and bidding that occurred:\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/69f2a81f6ac53edee7a396b33e292a4bbc8329cc-597x456.png)\n\n## Example #2: Reserved Seats at Graduation\nWithout Bid Extension, the final bid would have been $235\nFinal Bid $280  Here is what the clock looked like during the extension period.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/dca528632e630506ba08b40143acbd600160a247-512x707.png)\n\n\n## Set Up Bid Extension Rules on Auctria\n\nPrevent bid sniping by last-minute bids outbidding people before they have a chance to react.\n * \"*Bid Extension**\" defaults are set under Website → Online Bidding \n * Two new options to specify a trigger window and a Bid Extension\n * Any bid placed within the trigger window will cause the closing time to be extended by the amount of the extension period\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/0b8705abb9ddcd647cd452db8ceb4d151f7bb9d4-549x470.png)\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/534452dbe1fc754b062b8f5d30b7b389afc82415-643x398.png)",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1963},{"url":1964},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/0a2b4c8e7e5d4a1d8b88f2843304e5787c8d9298-600x320.png","2021-05-18T17:00:00.000Z",{"current":1967},"bid-extension-to-skyrocket-online-auction-fundraising-income","Prevent last minute bid sniping with bid extension features.  When configured, bids right before the close will extend the bidding time for that item.","Bid Extension to Skyrocket Online Auction Fundraising Income",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1971,"category":1972,"id":5,"image":1973,"publishOn":1976,"slug":1977,"teaser":1979,"title":1980},"Auctria’s platform is designed for event and auction fundraisers. This means all the fundraising that happens for the events can be streamlined easily. Because of the flexibility of the event website to change colors, images, video, links and pages each event is unique. Here is a collection of some of the more colorful and extraordinary events.\n\n- Tournament Registration, Ball Hockey\n- Peer-2-Peer & ambassador fundraising\n- Christmas Under the Clocktower, Voting & Donating\n\n## Tournament: Ball Hockey\n\nThe BMO Top Shelf 4 on 4 Barrhaven Ball Hockey Tournament uses Auctria to register teams for their tournament. Boys and girls recreational division is 4 on 4 ball hockey. The Nepean, Rideau and Osgoode Community Resource Centre (NROCRC) is a much needed, well-used community service organization that helps vulnerable individuals and families lead better lives.  NROCRC is non-profit charitable organization and our services and programs are free.\nNROCRC supports the largest population-over 200,000 people-and serves the largest physical territory of all of Ottawa's community resource centres.\n\n\n[Community Resource Center, Nepan, Rideau, Osgoode-(NROCR)](https://nrocrc.org/C)\n[Brad Spooner, Program Manager] (https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-spooner-8496b5a0)\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;\">\u003Ciframe src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/video/817353496?h=d8ba4a5840&badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;\" title=\"Tournament: Ball Hockey with NROCRC\">\u003C/iframe>\u003C/div>\u003Cscript src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js\">\u003C/script>\n\n\u003Ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZmfgBSgG1z4\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen>\u003C/iframe>\n\n\n## Peer-2-Peer & ambassador fundraising\nTogether with our friends and relatives, we look forward to honoring Native perseverance, resilience, and vibrancy. We gather to be inspired by the stories of our grantee partners, who have cared for our elders and youth, honored our cultures, and offered their beauty to the world during a difficult time. \n\nFind your Virtual Ambassador below and donate to their campaigns. Donating to their thermometer helps them reach their personal goal, and helps us reach our event goal overall! Help us achieve our mission to build on the Native tradition of giving in two ways: Increasing philanthropy for and among Tribal communities through grants, and empowering community leaders with the tools they need to succeed through training. \nTotal raised +$226,000\n[Potlatch.org](https://www.potlatchfund.org/)\nCreated by: [GFSEvents](https://gfsevents.org/)\n\n\u003Ciframe src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/video/817071470?h=f306a12c83\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen>\u003C/iframe>\n\n\n## Christmas Under the Clocktower\nSelect your favorite tree and vote. Each dollar donated to your favorite tree is equivalent to one vote. If you can't choose just one, you're able to vote for multiple trees!!! Your votes directly support the great work that each non-profit does in our community.\nTotal raised 2022 +$25K\nTotal raise 2021 +$36K\nMultiple charities\n[Created by EventFull RVA](https://eventfullrva.com/)\n\n\n\u003Ciframe src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/video/817055936?h=afdfde208f\" width=\"640\" height=\"564\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen\" allowfullscreen>\u003C/iframe>\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":1974},{"url":1975},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/5d4d157d91abb6d2921182c01eec20f07b15eb1d-600x320.png","2023-04-12T20:36:53.536Z",{"current":1978},"unique-event-fundraisers-birdhouses-to-bears-oh-my","Beyond Auctions: innovative events to raise more money for your organization","Unique Event Ideas that will Make a Difference! Birdhouses to Bears, oh my!",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1982,"category":1983,"id":5,"image":1984,"publishOn":1987,"slug":1988,"teaser":1990,"title":1991},"Between many schools shifting to a hybrid format and either canceling or pivoting a good chunk of school events online, this has been a hard year for many elementary school administrators and PTA organizations.\n\nUnfortunately, you can’t just put your fundraising efforts on pause until in-person activities and normal school operations return. Fundraisers bring in precious revenue essential to every elementary school’s programming. If anything, it’s now more important than ever to [engage donors,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/4-fundraising-strategies-for-improving-donor-engagement/) streamline event planning, and attract greater funding. \n\nWhile these aspirations may sound impossible, the right fundraising strategies can put these goals well within your reach! In this short school fundraising crash course, we’ll go over some of the best methods to completely revitalize your fundraising: \n\n1. Leverage Your Online Platforms \n2. Reach Out to the Local Community \n3. Pick the Right Fundraising Event\n\nThe global pandemic has already changed so much about how we live, work, and play, but your school’s fundraising initiatives don’t necessarily have to suffer from these changes. Instead, when you implement these best practices, you can pull in the funds you need to help your students thrive now and well beyond the pandemic—whether you’re hosting a [sports fundraiser](https://funds2orgs.com/sports-fundraising-ideas-guide/) for your PE program or raising money for a classroom renovation. Let’s dive in!\n\n## 1. Leverage Your Online Platforms\nYour school website and social media accounts are some of the greatest fundraising tools at your disposal. Especially with social distancing in place and people using the internet as their primary method of communication and engagement, these are two tools that you can’t ignore. \n\nFrom taking advantage of free advertising to engaging online donors, here are just a few of the major ways you should use your online platforms to take your fundraising to the next level: \n\n* **Promotion and marketing.** Your website is frequently the first place students, parents, and community members will turn to for information on your programming and events. Therefore, you should take the time to promote your fundraising initiatives across the major areas of your website. For example, you might include information about upcoming fundraisers at the beginning of blog posts or put event information at the top of your homepage as a temporary “spotlight” feature. On top of that, your social media channels are an entirely free marketing tool! They allow you to creatively connect with your audience, announce upcoming events with fun graphics or taglines, and diversify your online marketing efforts.  \n\n* Q&A portals and information resources.** No matter how straightforward a fundraising event may seem, there will always be parents or other community members who will need further clarification or come up with questions you may not have considered. Be sure to include a frequently asked question widget and other resources for each of your events right on your website. Make these tools easy to see and simple to navigate, so that any user can quickly find the answers they seek. Lastly, don’t forget to answer questions both in your website’s Q&A portal and left in the comments of your social media posts. \n\n* **Engagement and event management.** Your online tools aren’t only great for the steps leading up to your fundraising events. They can even be used as tools to help launch and manage the events themselves within their unique engagement capabilities. Not only can recordings of live events be broadcast on your site and social media, but they can even provide a portal where you can host virtual and [hybrid event fundraisers!](https://www.auctria.com/blog/next-gen-hybrid-event-fundraising-made-easy/) With the right event management software, you can seamlessly integrate your event strategies into your website, allowing you to launch and manage virtual events right from your platform easily. \n\nAs the internet becomes incredibly ingrained in our everyday lives and activities, your school fundraising efforts must keep up with the times and use these excellent online tools. \n\n## 2. Reach Out to Your Local Community\nToo many fundraising event planners forget that the local populace is more than just a cash cow to pitch and promote your events. In actuality, your community can help you through every step of the fundraising process and maximize your operations in ways that you might not have imagined. \n\nConsider these community outreach strategies when planning your next fundraiser: \n\n* **Search for volunteers.** Administrators, faculty and staff, and parents usually carry out your elementary school’s fundraising. However, you might be surprised at how many community volunteers would jump at the chance to support their local school systems and provide a leg up at fundraising events. Be sure to send promotional materials to students and parents about these volunteer opportunities, which could count towards prizes or fun projects happening in the classroom. Teachers might even be encouraged to throw mini-celebrations or game days if enough student volunteers get involved. To take things a step further, be mindful of reaching out to local ministries and other volunteer hot spots to maximize your support and bring the community together under your cause. \n\n\n* **Partner with local organizations.** Gathering funding and increasing the reach of your school event is a big challenge to face alone. That’s why it’s a good idea to partner with other organizations in your community! These partnerships could boost your budget exponentially, increase event attendance, and forge long-lasting relationships between your school and other influential organizations. Scout local businesses and nonprofits in your area that might be a good fit for a joint-fundraising project. And also, look into other schools in your school district or state. \n\n* **Perform prospect research.** [Prospect screening](https://donorly.com/thedonorlyblog/prospect-research-guide) is the process of running a kind of wealth background check that allows you to identify the giving potential of your donors.  Performing wealth screenings on parents, guardians, and key community stakeholders will allow you to make more informed projections for how your fundraising efforts might perform. It’ll also rank to whom you should most heavily promote these events and provide other essential factors in your fundraising strategies. For recommendations on prospect research technologies you might like to invest in, check out this [Double the Donation buyer’s guide to 12 top prospect research tools.](https://doublethedonation.com/tips/nonprofit-software-and-resources/prospect-research-tools/)\n\nWhile your fundraisers may often depend on collecting revenue from donations, there are so many other ways that they can help you to achieve your goals. You just have to open yourself up to all of the different possibilities. \n\n## 3. Pick the Right Fundraising Event \nEven with the most engaging marketing campaign and a whole fleet of excited volunteers, your fundraiser could flop if you fail to choose the right event. And to add even more pressure, there are several essential considerations that you’ll have to juggle when considering the best initiatives to roll out. \n\nFor one thing, you have to create an event that is both simple and easy for your young students to participate, yet engaging enough for adults and older participants to enjoy. Fun is a must. And because the pandemic has created a hybrid participation landscape, your event should also be virtual-friendly. \n\nThese can be a lot of moving parts for any administrator or PTA parent to handle, so we’ve [compiled a few unique fundraising ideas](https://funds2orgs.com/unique-fundraising-ideas-guide/) to get you started in your brainstorming efforts: \n\n* **Shoe drive fundraisers.** Our favorite unique fundraising idea is to plan a shoe drive fundraiser. It’s a particularly easy and cost-effective way to engage donors and gather funds for your annual programming. Take advantage of the Spring-cleaning frenzy created by the pandemic by encouraging locals to put up their gently worn, new and used shoes to your collection drive. Participants will not only be glad to be rid of their unwanted possessions but pleased to learn that they don’t need to spend a cent to support your organization. They just need to drop off their items at a designated collection point, and your fundraising coordinator handles the rest. The check goes right to your school, easy as that!\n\n* **Auctions and raffles.** Auctions are considered one of the most lucrative fundraising methods, with a high earning potential if the right amount of time and resources are put into choosing the right auction items. For this event, we heavily recommend that you segment, study, and even poll your school and local area for products that attendees might like. You might even put together gift baskets with a mix of items for parents and children to engage both audiences. Once items get donated by your sponsors or community partners, these events become fairly easy to carry out.  You can host both in-person and [online auctions](https://www.auctria.com/blog/the-6-best-tips-for-your-online-charity-auction/) very quickly with the right auction software. \n\n* **Walk-a-thons.** While 5Ks may be an extremely popular fundraising initiative for high schools and company programs, they might not be as well-suited for elementary school students and the parents who will be keeping track of them. A great 5K alternative is a school walk-a-thon. These fundraisers can happen at any time of year, with dozens of different themes and possible locations to choose from, and participants will feel encouraged to participate as much as possible to maximize the pledges they’ve received for each lap or mile they complete. These events are also a great source of additional revenue and promotion through t-shirt and merchandise sales. They can even be carried out digitally as walkers record and submit their progress. \n\n\nFor even more great fundraising ideas, their cost, and their earning potential,  Funds2Orgs list of 100+ school fundraising ideas is a great point of reference for your event programming strategies for this year and beyond. \n\n----------------------------\n\nThe pressure to provide worthwhile, engaging school programming can be a hypersensitive concern for parents, teachers, and administrators, especially where young children are involved. Without the proper funding, school systems can’t provide the rich, fun, and valuable opportunities and services parents want for their children. It’s what makes the prospect of failed fundraising so frightening, and it is also why the pandemic has rattled so many school fundraising organizations. \n\nHowever, there’s no need to struggle anymore. With these techniques, we hope that you’re able to navigate the challenges of this year smoothly and come out to the other end with a stronger and more successful fundraising strategy than ever before. \n\n------------------\nSpecial thanks to [Wayne Elsey](http://wayneelsey.com/) for sharing his expert advice. Wayne is the founder and CEO of Elsey Enterprises (EE) and a member of the Forbes Business Development Council. Among his various independent brands, he is also the founder and CEO of [Funds2Orgs,](https://funds2orgs.com/) which is a social enterprise that helps schools, churches, nonprofits, individuals and other organizations raise funds while helping to support micro-enterprise (small business) opportunities in developing nations. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1985},{"url":1986},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/5a0d20da5080122cd70eee614e9c5520202c1872-1265x500.jpg","2022-01-07T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":1989},"3-best-practices-for-elementary-school-fundraisers","Don’t let the past year’s fundraising challenges discourage you! Use these 3 techniques to make your elementary school’s fundraisers more successful than ever.","3 Best Practices for Elementary School Fundraisers",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":1993,"category":1994,"id":5,"image":1995,"publishOn":1998,"slug":1999,"teaser":2001,"title":2002},"A nonprofit organization relies most heavily on its supporters in order to continue pursuing its mission and outreach. As such, engaging these individuals  is truly one of the most crucial portions of fundraising letters and direct mail. \n\nThat being said, one of the easiest ways to garner supporters’ attention is by personalizing the direct mail they receive. In this article, we’ll discuss the importance of personalizing your fundraising letters to peak your donor’s attention.\nBefore we get to building your [engagement strategy,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/segment-engage-averill/) we first need to lay some groundwork about what it means to truly engage your donors. When a supporter is engaged in your nonprofit, they have an overall positive feeling toward your organization and want to see you thrive.\n\nNow that we understand how to tell if your supporters are engaged, let’s dive into how we can improve your chances for supporter engagement and interaction through your fundraising efforts. For example, personalizing your [fundraising letters](https://blog.givingmail.com/2020/09/04/fundraising-letters/) can offer the following key benefits:\n\n## 1. Get your fundraising letter read\nThe first step to engaging supporters is to get them to open your envelopes and read your fundraising letters in the first place. We already know that [direct mail is the single greatest source of donations for nonprofits,](https://blog.givingmail.com/2020/09/24/direct-mail-for-nonprofits/) but there are a few key ways in which you can optimize your marketing efforts and gain a larger conversion rate when reaching out to your supporters. \n\nThe answer? Personalization, personalization, and personalization. This can’t be stressed enough, as one of the most important ways to spark your supporters’ interest is by giving them letters they may be interested in. One way to do this is by segmenting your donor data as much as possible to specify the type of mail you are sending to each recipient. In doing this, you can target individuals based on their specific interests, rather than generalizing attention grabbers in your letters. \n\nThe next step to getting your letter read is by calling your supporters to action. In doing this, you encourage your reader to do things like spread the word about your fundraiser or participate in campaigns that directly affect your nonprofit’s mission. When your members spread awareness about your organization, not only does it give your supporters a purpose, but it also gives you free word-of-mouth marketing and allows you to maximize your invested efforts in your existing campaigns. \n\n## 2. Improve the donor experience\nAnother reason to emphasize personalization in fundraising is that it significantly improves the donor experience. If you’re looking to do so, here are two actionable steps you can take: \n * **Carefully craft your fundraising letters.** The first thing you want to improve about your donor’s experience is the fundraising letters themselves. Your fundraising letters should be welcoming and enjoyable to read. In doing this, you make the experience of reading your letter more memorable and increase the likelihood of engagement and conversion. Furthermore, you may even increase the donor’s generosity if you can connect with them on a stronger and more personal level. \n * **Invest in donor management software.** The second thing you can do to improve upon your donor’s overall experience is by utilizing a nonprofit CRM. A nonprofit CRM, or constituent relationship management system, will allow you to effectively personalize aspects of your letters. For example, when using a CRM, you can optimize things like donor profiles, communication skills, and fundraising data. Then, you can include tidbits of information about the recipient sprinkled throughout your letters: including their preferred name, engagement history, and more. This strategy allows your nonprofit to capitalize heaps of unused data which can greatly improve your donor’s experience overall. \nYour fundraising letters should be all about the donor. That means that at every step of the way, you should be sure to look at your letters from the recipients’ point of view.\n\n## 3. Increase the likelihood of conversion\nAfter your donor has opened your letter and connected with your mission, now comes the challenging part: securing a donation. With these simple steps, you can improve your supporter conversion rate immensely. \n\n**The most important part of securing the donation is the ask.** First, you must establish that you, the organization, are asking for donations to support your mission. That being said, make sure you [focus on the donor,](https://blog.givingmail.com/2020/09/28/how-to-ask-for-donations/) not the cause. Though you want to communicate the action your organization is taking, be sure to frame it as if the donor is the real hero of the story thanks to their contributions. In doing this, you make the supporter feel as if they are the ones making your organization’s goal a reality—and they are!\n\nThe next step is to make the actual giving part as easy as possible. For example, you always want to include a pre-addressed return envelope with any fundraising letters you send. However, if you know that a particular recipient prefers to make their donations online, be sure to include the URL for your handy online donation page so they can quickly and easily make their donation. \n\n## 4. Build long-term relationships\nNow that you have mastered conversion, the next step is retention. When your organization is trying to raise donations, a good rule of thumb is to shoot for the second donation. If a donor gives a second time, you have truly captured them as a repeat donor. \n\nAnother way to increase retention is by making [recurring gift opportunities easily accessible.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/why-donor-engagement-matters-or-a-mini-guide/) In doing this, you are likely increasing your chances of getting recurring donors on board, which will help increase revenue collected and donor retention. \n\nThen, it’s important to continue solidifying your repeat donor by building a long-term relationship with them. You have worked so hard to garner their attention and support, and you have now finally secured it. \n\nTowards the end of a particular campaign, make sure to thank your donors for all their gifts and support. Highlight how much it helped your organization, perhaps with a constituent story illustrating where their money went. When it’s time to ask for donations again, there are a few things you can do to maintain all that hard work you had put into the previous fundraiser: \n\n * **Re-spark your member’s interest** with a [fresh fundraising campaign.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/keep-donors-engaged-snowball/) In doing this, you get the chance to rebuild your engagement levels with supporters  and even encourage them to spread the word among their own networks. \n * **Make sure that your donation tools are up to date.** After all, the best fundraising letters won’t make much of a difference if your recipients can’t figure out how to make their donation once they’ve decided to give.\n * **Update your donor and prospect research.** Not only might their interests have shifted, but they may also have new contact information you’ll need to secure. By doing this, you ensure that you have the ability to capture their interest when fine-tuning a campaign for them, and making sure your fundraising letters end up with the intended recipients.\n\nNonprofit fundraising professionals know that securing repeat donors is more cost-effective than continuously seeking new, one-time donations. The best way to do this? Emphasize the importance of donor relationships with easy steps like these.\n________\nAll in all, personalization is an immensely important tool when utilizing fundraising letters in your marketing campaigns. When you personalize your letters effectively, you get to reap benefits such as getting your letter read, improving the donor experience, increasing conversion rates, and building long-term relationships with supporters. In doing this, you will be able to achieve a successful direct mail campaign. Good luck!\n\n--------------- \nSpecial thanks to Grant Cobb for sharing this expert advice. Grant is a fundraising specialist with over 6 years of experience in the nonprofit space. Currently the head of marketing and analytics at GivingMail, he is a huge proponent of data-driven decision making and the push to bring high-level analytics and fundraising to all.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":1996},{"url":1997},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/ab3617019a868374cd110fb83b5d75aa3fd0aa95-600x320.jpg","2021-01-28T13:00:00.000Z",{"current":2000},"the-importance-of-personalization-in-fundraising-letters","Personalizing your fundraising letters can go a long way for reaping greater benefits. Find out why personalization is so important with this handy guide.]","The Importance of Personalization in Fundraising Letters",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2004,"category":2005,"id":5,"image":2006,"publishOn":2009,"slug":2010,"teaser":2012,"title":2013},"In most places, fundraising means galas, auctions, or maybe a golf tournament. But in Alaska, when the Rotary Clubs of Anchorage South and Anchorage Hillside get serious about raising money, they call in the helicopter—and the moose.\n\nFor over three decades, Moose Marble Madness has captured the spirit of the Last Frontier with a fundraiser that’s bold, bizarre, and brilliantly effective. The premise? Take 3,000 dried, wrapped, and numbered moose droppings—yes, actual moose poop—load them into a helicopter, and drop them from 300 feet above a brewery parking lot onto a giant bullseye. Whichever moose “marble” lands closest to the center wins $5,000.\n\nEach marble is tied to a $10 raffle ticket, and only 3,000 tickets are sold. That simple formula—oddly thrilling and distinctly Alaskan—has turned Moose Marble Madness into one of the state’s most beloved fundraising traditions. It may sound wild (because it is), but the purpose behind it is serious and deeply rooted in community service.\n\nThe event is more than a quirky local attraction—it’s a powerful expression of how Rotarians serve. The Anchorage Hillside and Anchorage South Rotary Clubs, the driving forces behind Moose Marble Madness, are made up of people who care deeply about the communities where they live and work. These clubs represent a long-standing Rotary tradition of turning service into action and commitment into change. They’re not just fundraising for fun; they’re rallying resources to uplift and support their neighbors.\n\n**All proceeds go to local causes** that make a real difference in the lives of Anchorage families. Funds raised support projects like **The Children’s Lunchbox,** a vital program that addresses food insecurity, and the **3rd Grade Dictionary Project,** which puts personal dictionaries into the hands of young learners to promote literacy and education.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/884a2143d235957fd92e2b1c3ce64b4d31b6fc17-1000x350.png)\n\n## A Fundraiser Like No Other\nThe event itself is equal parts joyful chaos and purposeful giving. There’s pizza, beer, a silent online auction, a live in-person auction—and of course, the crowd-pleasing moment when the helicopter takes flight overhead and begins hovering over the parking lot’s target. Thousands of moose marbles tumble from the sky as onlookers cheer, laugh, and hope their number hits the mark. It’s messy. It’s hilarious. It’s unforgettable.\n\nThe evening is emceed by [**Dan Newman,**](https://www.alaskapremierauctions.com/) a beloved auctioneer who brings energy, humor, and heart to the proceedings. As Dan jokingly puts it, \n\n> This is the ‘crappiest fundraiser' I work, and about as Alaskan as it gets.\n\nAnd he’s not wrong. Nowhere else do helicopters, moose nuggets, and philanthropy come together in such harmony.\n\nBut beyond the spectacle, what makes Moose Marble Madness so successful is its authenticity. It’s powered by local people who care. Volunteers donate their time. Businesses contribute auction items. Neighbors show up year after year, knowing that every dollar goes right back into the community.\n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/9c004d318d082255eadf87be289b30990d5144bd-600x320.jpg)](https://youtu.be/ch5m1mwL1Yc?si=ikR0Ji0gLxYCVk1V)\n\n## Service Above Self, With a Sense of Humor\nThat’s the Rotary way—mixing dedication with creativity to solve local challenges. Moose Marble Madness might get attention for its quirky premise, but it keeps going strong because of what it represents: real action, real generosity, and real results for those who need them most.\nIt’s proof that fundraising doesn’t have to be fancy or formal. It just has to be sincere—and maybe a little fearless. When you combine laughter, service, and 3,000 pieces of airborne moose poop, you get more than a great event. You get a community united in purpose.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/b93b1d19ea94b06d1a7e40a3527652ab0a191e65-1000x350.png)\n\n## The Children’s Lunchbox: More Than a Meal\nAnchorage is a city of resilience, but like many communities, it still faces serious challenges—especially when it comes to hunger. The Children’s Lunchbox, an initiative of Bean’s Café, has grown over the years to become a cornerstone of nutritional support for vulnerable youth and families throughout the city.\n\nOriginally focused on child nutrition, The Children’s Lunchbox has expanded its mission to serve entire families. Through both ready-to-eat meals and pantry box programs, they ensure that no child or parent goes without something nourishing on the table. Each pantry box includes a breakfast, lunch, or dinner that feeds a family of four—and multiple boxes are distributed to ensure full support.\n\nMeals are delivered to a wide range of partner sites across Anchorage, including schools, transitional housing centers, and youth-focused programs. From classroom to community center, The Children’s Lunchbox reaches deep into neighborhoods with one clear goal: to provide dependable nutrition where and when it’s needed most. And through Moose Marble Madness, the Anchorage Rotary Clubs help make that possible.\n\n\n-----------\n\nSpecial thanks to [Mekenzie Pettitt, Benefit Auctions Manager, and Dan Newman, Founder/CEO and lifelong Alaskan at Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals.](https://www.alaskapremierauctions.com/) Their incredibly engaging techniques make appeals that motivate donors to give big—and give often.\n> “We help your donors feel the power and urgency of generosity. Making the ask count is a skill—and we’ve mastered it.”\n\nFollow [Alaska Premier Auctions on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/alaskapremierauctions) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/alaskapremierauctions/) to see more of their impactful event work and behind-the-scenes moments.\nA heartfelt thank-you to the dedicated team of Rotarians from Anchorage Hillside/Russian Jack and Anchorage South Rotary.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":2007},{"url":2008},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/59bbc84b54c56b96a827318778b6f7725234e60c-755x409.png","2025-08-04T18:07:59.058Z",{"current":2011},"moose-poop-from-the-sky-fundraising-the-alaska-way","When fundraising goes full frontier—moose marbles, helicopters, and heart collide in Alaska’s wildest charitable tradition","Moose Poop from the Sky: Fundraising the Alaska Way",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2015,"category":2016,"id":5,"image":2017,"publishOn":2020,"slug":2021,"teaser":2023,"title":2024},"Nonprofit events bring the community together in support of your cause. The last thing you want is for attendees to leave your event’s energetic atmosphere and never hear from your organization again.\n\n**Whether you host an annual auction or a family 5K, expressing gratitude after fundraising events is vital for continuing relationships**. Ample donor appreciation can [enhance your regular fundraising efforts](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-to-improve-your-fundraising-strategy-a-mini-guide/) and establish a consistent base of support for your work.\n\nNot to mention, the word will get around about how well your organization communicates with supporters and expresses gratitude. That means you can recruit new donors and drive even greater event attendance next time around.\n\nWhile a simple thank-you email can go a long way, you have the chance to go above and beyond with your acknowledgment efforts. This quick guide will share a few of our favorite tips that will level up your event attendee recognition. Shout your appreciation from the rooftops with these strategies:\n\n1. Be Prompt and Personal With Thank-You Messages.\n2. Share Event Highlights and Impact.\n3. Recognize Donor Contributions Publicly.\n\n\nThese strategies can revitalize your appreciation efforts and show attendees you genuinely care about their support. Of course, every organization finds success with different strategies. Test these out and pay close attention to how your supporters respond. Let’s dive into our first tactic.\n\n## 1. Be Prompt and Personal With Thank-You Messages.\nTiming is everything. Put yourself in an event attendee’s shoes for a second. Wouldn’t you be impressed if you received a thank-you message right when the event wrapped up? Better yet, wouldn’t you be even more impressed if you received a prompt thank-you message personalized with your unique contributions?\n\nIdeally, you’ll want to follow up within a day or two at most. While a quick phone call or generic email may suffice, we suggest personalizing your outreach with recipients’ names and specific contributions. \n\nWe have a great catch-all solution that makes personalized, prompt, and engaging outreach a breeze: eCards! Online greeting cards take [traditional donor thank-you letters](https://ecardwidget.com/donor-thank-you-letter/) up a notch by incorporating interactive elements and eye-catching graphics. You can deliver cards directly to their inboxes, post them on social media, or send them via text. After all, everyone loves receiving thoughtful cards.\n\nSending eCards is the perfect way to express appreciation for a handful of reasons. To name a few, you can:\n\n* **Craft heartfelt messages customized to recipients.** Easily include a donor’s name and specific details about their contributions. For example, maybe they won a specific item at your auction. Mention that, and they’ll notice the extra effort you put into your post-event outreach.\n\n* **Customize your designs to reflect the event theme or cause.** You can design one eCard or a whole collection with elements related to your event theme. Upload event-related graphics like your logo, customize the colors, and match your font to your event’s theme. For example, elegant and sophisticated fonts suit formal occasions like galas, while playful fonts work well for fun events like races.\n\n\n* **Schedule your eCards or deliver them immediately.** The choice is yours! Most eCard sites enable you to schedule your eCards to be sent, so you can send your post-event thank-yous all at once. Alternatively, send each one as soon as it’s ready to go.\n\n\nAccording to [Re:Charity’s donor gifts guide,](https://recharity.ca/donor-gifts/) you can incorporate interactive elements into your eCards like animated confetti, save on direct mail costs, and avoid wasting paper. Use your eCard site to create your designs. Then, fire them off when ready!\n\n## 2. Share Event Highlights and Impact.\nEveryone will want to know how well your fundraising event went. Did you reach your fundraising goal, or did you fall a bit short? Were you able to successfully push your mission forward? Make sure your donors know!\n\nNo matter what outlet you use to thank donors after an event, you’ll want to share highlights and communicate the impact of the event. From direct outreach to social media, you have some choices as to how you implement this strategy:\n\n* **Share event photos and videos in thank-you messages.** [Nonprofit videos](https://www.auctria.com/blog/nonprofit-videos-a-guide-to-inspiring-your-supporters/) and images can help showcase your event’s energy and serve as a visual reminder of attendees’ experiences. You may even inspire others to join in next time when they see how much fun they missed out on if you post these videos to social media.\n\n* **Provide fundraising totals.** Share how much your event raised thanks to your donors. Highlight specific outcomes achieved through your donors’ generosity and communicate that each contribution played a role in your event’s impact.\n\n* **Share testimonials.** Make your outreach extra special by having someone share a video or written testimonial about the impact of people’s support. Perhaps staff members, volunteers, or beneficiaries would be excited to say thanks personally.\n\n## 3. Recognize Donor Contributions Publicly.\nPublic recognition can go a long way in strengthening relationships. Just be sure to adhere to donors’ privacy requests, since not everyone wants public appreciation. Even if your donors prefer to keep their contributions private, you can still tap into public recognition by sharing generic appreciation that applies to your whole donor base.\n\n[Your nonprofit’s website](https://www.auctria.com/blog/nonprofit-websites-5-ways-to-make-the-most-of-yours/) and social media pages lend themselves well to public support. You may choose to call out specific donors or just share fundraising totals, pictures, and other updates publicly. You could also opt for [a virtual donor wall](https://www.omnially.com/blog/what-is-a-virtual-donor-wall) to showcase and thank your donors. \n\nWhichever route you choose, this strategy works for a few reasons. For example, you can:\n\n* **Celebrate donors’ generosity and involvement.** Positively reinforce donors’ decisions to attend your event. Public appreciation demonstrates that their contributions matter and can help retain supporters for the long term.\n\n* **Leverage the power of social proof.** By publicly recognizing your donors, your nonprofit can demonstrate that others believe in your cause, meaning they should too. This can build trust and credibility, potentially attracting new donors who are more likely to support causes that already have public backing.\n\n* **Enhance your public image.** Recognizing your donors publicly shows that your nonprofit cares about its supporters. It also communicates a commitment to transparency. In turn, you’ll strengthen your organization’s reputation.\n\nBetween [engaging current donors](https://www.auctria.com/blog/4-key-strategies-for-nonprofits-to-keep-supporters-engaged/) and encouraging others to attend next time, public recognition is a smart move. Again, just consider individuals’ preferences before testing out this post-event recognition strategy.\n\n## Final Thoughts on Thanking Donors\nDonors make your events successful, so don’t let their generosity go unrecognized! It doesn’t matter if they made a huge purchase at your auction or simply showed up in support of your cause. Everyone deserves a thank you.\n\nAcross private efforts like eCards and public recognition like social media posts, be sure you’re prompt and emphasize the impact your donors made. Above all, be genuine in your thank-you messages. People can spot authenticity from a mile away. By strengthening your post-event outreach, you’ll inspire donors to stick around and attract new attendees by the time your next event rolls around.\n\n---------------\n\n\nSpecial thanks Tim Badolato for the expert advice in this article. Tom is the CEO of [eCardWidget.com](http://ecardwidget.com/) an innovative platform for digital employee recognition, donor acknowledgment, business marketing, and nonprofit marketing. He has a passion for using technology to drive positive outcomes for mission-driven businesses and nonprofits.\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":2018},{"url":2019},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/2b72fedcbed13a352dfd1dd7dcdf364f680b9256-2400x1280.jpg","2023-10-02T16:28:49.163Z",{"current":2022},"thanking-your-donors-3-post-event-best-practices","Your donors make your nonprofit events excel. Explore proven ways you can thank donors and make them feel genuinely appreciated after your next event.","Thanking Your Donors: 3 Post-Event Best Practices",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2026,"category":2027,"id":5,"image":2028,"publishOn":2031,"slug":2032,"teaser":2034,"title":2035},"Each summer, the [Alaska Zoo](https://www.alaskazoo.org/) comes alive—not just with the calls of the wild, but with the sound of generosity in action. At the Champions of the Wild gala, supporters gathered not only to celebrate Alaska’s wildlife but to make a real difference for the animals who call this boreal haven home. Set against the scenic foothills of the Chugach Mountains, the evening wasn’t about glitz for its own sake. It was about heart, purpose, and helping a community of animals that rely on human care when nature takes a difficult turn.\n\nWhat makes this gala truly special isn’t just the dinner or dancing—it’s the opportunity it offers guests to directly support urgent, life-saving work. The funds raised go straight to work—covering emergency veterinary care, specialized diets, and safe housing for orphaned or injured animals. Whether naming a baby muskox calf or walking alongside the zoo veterinarian on rounds, guests weren’t just bidding on fun. They were stepping into the mission with:\n* a setting that can only be found in Alaska\n* VIP access to polar bears and caviar\n* exclusive experiences for dining and animal encounters\n* raffle that elevates the mission\n\n## A Boreal Forest Like No Other\n\nSince 1969, the Alaska Zoo has been dedicated to the conservation of Arctic, sub-Arctic, and like-climate species through education, research, and rescue. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit sits on 28 acres of boreal forest, where winding trails provide immersive, up-close experiences with wildlife.\n\nSpring and summer are especially critical seasons. The zoo often takes in animals needing immediate care—such as orphaned cubs or injured rescues. Fundraisers like **Champions of the Wild** help cover the surge in seasonal expenses, ensuring these animals receive everything from medical attention to specialized nutrition.\n\n## VIP Access with Polar Bears and Caviar\n\nGuests could purchase general tickets or tables, but the **VIP Champions Ticket** offered something extraordinary. Early access included a champagne-and-caviar reception at the polar bear habitat, where attendees witnessed animal enrichment activities in a private, intimate setting.\n\nFrom the very beginning, this event set the tone: elegance with purpose, and celebration tied directly to impact.\n\n## Dining, Music, and Mission-Driven Moments\nDinner was catered by **Wild Fork Catering,** paired perfectly with wines from **AK Wine Grotto,** and served alongside cocktails from **El Rodeo.** Live music by **Jared Woods** set the mood, while emcee **Heather Doncaster** guided the evening. The live auction was led by [**Dan Newman of Alaska Premier Auctions,**](https://www.alaskapremierauctions.com/) bringing high energy and heartfelt giving to the bidding floor.\n\nThroughout the evening, guests were reminded how their generosity directly supports the animals they love—offsetting the zoo’s rising operational costs and enabling year-round care for residents old and new.\n\n\n## Wildly Exclusive Auction Experiences\nWhat truly set this gala apart was the unforgettable lineup of one-of-a-kind, mission-driven auction items. These weren’t packages pulled from a prize closet—they were rare, behind-the-scenes experiences created by the zoo itself:\n\n* **Sips and Stripes** A private encounter with Amur tiger Natasha, followed by appetizers and drinks on the Tiger Bridge. This package sold twice, bringing in $11,000 total.\n* **Muskox Naming Rights**  The winning bidder earned the honor of naming a newly rescued muskox calf, along with a private encounter. This item also closed at $11,000.\n* **Zoo Vet for a Day** A two-person opportunity to join Dr. Chris Michetti and Curator Sam Lavin during their weekly animal care rounds—offering a rare look into the zoo’s veterinary work.\n* **Winter Wonderland at the Zoo**  An after-hours Zoo Lights experience for ten guests, with cocoa, cookies, and a professional holiday photo shoot in the greenhouse.\n* **Bourbon & Bears** A private encounter with all three bear species, plus a seven-bottle whiskey collection donated by Executive Director Tristan Thon.\n* **Paint and Paws** A creative, two-part workshop where guests created paw casts of real zoo animals and returned for a painting session with artist Gratia Kautek.\n\nEven the raffle aligned with the zoo’s mission—offering naming rights for the baby muskox to one lucky ticket holder.\n\nEvery bid helped fund real outcomes—from daily animal care to long-term recovery for rescued wildlife. Watch the video below for a recap of the fundraising action. \n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/7df44d21eacd858f19c4dad0f5274ac11cb0aa6c-600x320.jpg)](https://youtu.be/F3QRfrA3dEM?si=th99KwL1Xo4PAn7F)\n\n\n## Giving That Goes Beyond the Night\n\nFundraising at Champions of the Wild wasn’t just about raising dollars—it was about raising compassion, visibility, and long-term care. The funds raised help cover everything from emergency medical attention and rehabilitation to food, staffing, and enrichment.\n\nThese mission-aligned experiences gave donors a chance to participate in something deeply personal. Guests weren’t just attending an event—they were becoming a vital part of the zoo’s story.\n\nBecause generosity isn’t a transaction—it’s a relationship. And on this night, that relationship between people and wildlife grew stronger, one unforgettable moment at a time.\n\n-----\n\nSpecial thanks to Mekenzie Pettit, Benefit Auctions Manager, and Dan Newman, [Founder and lifelong Alaskan at Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals.](https://www.alaskapremierauctions.com/) Their incredibly engaging techniques make appeals that motivate donors to give big—and give often.\n\n> We help your donors feel the power and urgency of generosity. Making the ask count is a skill—and we’ve mastered it.\n\nTo see more of their impactful event work and behind-the-scenes moments: \n* follow [Alaska Premier Auctions on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/alaskapremierauctions)\n* follow [Alaska Premier Auctions on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/alaskapremierauctions/)\n\nA heartfelt thank-you to the dedicated team at the Alaska Zoo for sharing this inspiring story—and for the extraordinary care they provide to Alaska’s wildlife, every single day. Through rescue, rehabilitation, education, and enrichment, their work reminds us that conservation starts close to home.\nYou can support their mission or plan your visit by following along at:\n* [Alasaka zoo - Facebook](https://facebook.com/alaskazoo) \n* [Alaska Zoo - Instagram](https://instagram.com/alaskazoo) \n* [visiting their website at alaskazoo.org.](https://www.alaskazoo.org/)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":2029},{"url":2030},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/78e093fb481d43db1e9ee9d54d553e66e9631585-600x320.png","2025-08-04T14:49:32.091Z",{"current":2033},"champions-of-the-wild-the-alaska-zoo-gala-roars-for-a-cause","Because the animals can't ask for help","Champions of the Wild: The Alaska Zoo Gala Roars for a Cause",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2037,"category":2038,"id":5,"image":2039,"publishOn":2042,"slug":2043,"teaser":2045,"title":2046},"# 3 Fundraising Ideas and the Tools You Need to Raise Proceeds\n\nYour fundraising efforts can only be successful if they start with a great fundraising idea. You’ll need a concept that your donor base can connect with and understand.\n\n**Your event or campaign should cater to your donors’ interests.** If your donors love active events like 5K runs, marathons, or ride events, you wouldn’t want to host a gala event. Tailoring your fundraising strategy to your audience simply means you’re allowing for [more donations](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/do_dont_askingfordonations) and more success.\nWith that being said, we’ve crafted 3 amazing fundraising ideas for you to try! \n\nCheck them out:\n1. T-Shirt Fundraising \n2. Text Giving\n3. Matching Gifts\n\nIf you’re ready to learn how to rake in extra revenue with an amazing fundraising idea, let’s get started!\n\n![BF_Auctria_T-Shirt-Crowdfunding.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/BF_Auctria_T-Shirt-Crowdfunding.jpg)\n\n## Fundraising Idea #1. T-Shirt Fundraising \n\n### How this Fundraising Idea Works\nT-shirt Fundraising combines two powerful fundraising methods to create a fail-safe fundraiser. \nCrowdfunding lets you harness the power of [social sharing](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/auctria_social) and your personal network. You can ask your friends, family, and peers to donate to your cause via your online crowdfunding page where you’ll share your story through compelling copy and impactful visuals.\nT-shirt fundraising allows you to design a custom t-shirt to spread awareness for your cause while visually uniting your community.\n\n**With the social power behind crowdfunding and the common interest in merchandise sales, you have a killer fundraising idea with t-shirt fundraising.**\n\n### What You Need for this Fundraising Idea\nYou’ll need a powerful platform to handle your t-shirt fundraising . You should first assess your needs and wants before searching for a provider. You won’t want to invest in a platform that’s too large or doesn’t offer the right features for you.\n\nLuckily, most providers offer an easy start for campaigns. [**With Bonfire's t-shirt fundraising platform, you can start selling merchandise in just these few simple steps:**](https://www.bonfire.com/fundraising/)\n\n1. **Choose your products.** With Bonfire’s extensive item catalog, you can find plenty of different styles, colors, and fits. There’s something for each and every one of your donors just waiting to be customized!\n2. **Design your merchandise.** Plenty of platforms offer libraries filled with different fonts and designs. Luckily, Bonfire provides a plethora of templates and even allows you to upload your own designs to [customize your merchandise.](https://blog.bonfire.com/design-t-shirt/)\n3. **Set your prices.** Be sure to select a platform that offers a low base cost. With a low base cost, you are in total control of your earnings. Adjust your selling price to increase your profit margin.\n4. **Schedule your campaign.** Depending on your provider, your fundraiser can run on different timelines. With Bonfire, your campaign can last anywhere between 7 and 21 days. Choose what will motivate your audience the most!\n5. **Customize your page.** Draft compelling copy and add powerful videos to describe your mission and why it’s worth supporting.\n6. **Promote your campaign.** [Spread the word](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/promote_promote) about your campaign with the help of your campaign page’s built-in social sharing buttons! The more individuals who know about your fundraiser, the more products you’ll sell.\n\nThe best part? Bonfire is 100% risk-free. If your fundraising goal isn’t met, your supporters aren’t charged and neither are you. If your fundraising is successful, you’ll never be charged! Your sales will cover the base cost for producing and manufacturing your merchandise, and there will be a flat rate fee for shipping ($5 for anywhere in the U.S. and $11 for anywhere internationally).\n\nIf you decide to enable an added fundraising feature and let your supporters to make additional donations at the time of checkout, there will be an 8% fee to cover administrative expenses and credit card processing fees. Bonfire’s platform is always free to use.\n\nA reliable t-shirt fundraising platform is a great tool for this fundraising idea. Look for a platform who doesn’t print until your campaign has concluded to avoid fines and excess inventory.\n\n**Bonus!** Check out [Double the Donation’s Top Crowdfunding Websites](https://doublethedonation.com/crowdfunding-websites/) to find the perfect t-shirt crowdfunding provider for you!\n\n![BF_Auctria_Text-Giving.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/BF_Auctria_Text-Giving.jpg)\n\n## Fundraising Idea #2. Text Giving\n\n### How this Fundraising Idea Works\nText giving, also known as text-to-give, text-to-donate, and text-to-tithe, or stylized as text 2 give, is a convenient way for donors to text in their donations to their favorite organizations.\n\n**All types of charitable organizations, like nonprofit, religious, and even political organizations, use text-to-give to simplify the donation process.** This way, they can raise the money they need through yet another outlet and while text giving donations may be smaller in monetary value, text giving is incredibly popular so there are often dramatically more donations.\n\nText giving is perfect for donors on the go and it works well for events where supporters may have forgotten cash or their checkbooks! \n\n### What You Need for this Fundraising Idea\nYou’ll need to invest in text giving software in order to host a text giving campaign! The good thing about this investment is that you can use text giving as a year-round donation collection, just like your online donation form.\nThe text giving process for donors is incredibly simple. **Depending on your software provider, text-to-give can take a little as 3 steps:**\n\n1. **Text a phone number.** Donors will text your dedicated phone number with the dollar amount they’d like to give or with a shortcode identifier.\n2. **Click the link.** Donors will then receive a text back with a link to confirm their donations.\n3. **Confirm donation.** After clicking the link, donors will either send a pre-written confirmation email or fill out a mobile donation form to confirm their contribution.\n\nThe donation process is straight forward, which is why supporters love it so much! On the other hand, you’ll want to make sure the process for you is easy, too. Make sure your software is intuitive and can integrate with your CRM solution.\n\nYou’ll also want to look into your provider’s support and training. Just in case you can’t figure out a feature within the software, you’ll want to have a hotline to call for help.\nYou’ll definitely need to make sure your text-to-give platform is secure as well. All providers need to be PCI (Payment Card Industry) compliant and follow their regulations. These rules are in place to protect you and your supporters from fraudulent activity.\n\n**Bonus!** Check out [@Pay’s Text-to-Give](https://www.atpay.com/text-to-give-guide/) Guide for more information and insight on this incredible fundraising idea.\n\n![BF_Auctria_Matching-Gifts.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/BF_Auctria_Matching-Gifts.jpg)\n\n## Fundraising Idea #3. Matching Gifts\n### How this Fundraising Idea Works\nMatching gifts are a corporate giving program that allow employees to double their donations to their favorite organization.\n\nMost companies match on a 1:1 ratio, though some match at 2:1 or 3:1 ratios! **If a company matches a 1:1 ratio, for example, that means that if the employee contributes $250, the company will also give $250, making the final total $500 and doubling your donation.**\n\nThere are maximum and minimum donation amounts that companies will match. The most common minimum is $25, however, the maximums range more significantly from company to company, ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars.\n\nIt’s important to note that nonprofits will need to be eligible according to a company’s guidelines for matching gifts. Many companies won’t match donations made to religious organizations but will match a donation to a project powered by a religious organization. \n\nFor example, while a company might not match a donation to your local synagogue, they may match a donation the food bank your synagogue is running.\n\n**Matching gifts are an easy and free way to maximize your donations.**\n\n### What You Need for this Fundraising Idea\nIn order to help your donors submit their matching gift requests to their employers, you’ll need to invest in a matching gifts tool.\n\n**With access to a matching gift database, your supporters can easily research their employer’s matching gift programs, policies and all.**\n \nDifferent providers offer different tools, but [Double the Donation](https://doublethedonation.com/) offers an embeddable widget that allows your donors to type in their employer’s name and immediately access information about deadlines, forms, and more.\n\nThe process for your donors to submit a matching gift request is as follows:\n1.**Make a donation.** Donors will begin by making a contribution to you or your organization.\n2. **Submit the matching gift request.** Your supporters will then fill out and submit their matching gift requests to their employer’s human resources department.\n3. **Company begins review.** When a company receives a matching gift request, they’ll determine the nonprofit’s eligibility and verify the organization.\n4. **Nonprofit receives a check.** If the nonprofit is eligible, they’ll then receive a check matching the donation from their employee. Don’t forget to [thank your donors](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/thank_you_everyone) when you receive the matched donation.\n\nInvesting in matching gifts software boasts incredible potential as your organization can watch your donation amount double or triple with the help of this corporate giving program.\n\n-----------------------\nNow that you have our top 3 fundraising ideas and you know what tools you need to invest in to raise proceeds, there’s nothing stopping you from hosting a stellar fundraiser! All that’s left to do is settle on a fundraising idea and start raising money.\n\n-----------------------------------------\n![kp-headshot100.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/kp-headshot100.png)\n\n\nSpecial thanks to Kevin Penney, co-founder at Bonfire for 3 great ideas and expert advice!  \n\nBonfire is the online platform that is reinventing the way people create, sell and buy custom apparel. With over a decade of experience in design, technology and digital media, Kevin brings a breadth of knowledge and guidance to many of Bonfire’s strategic initiatives. He loves building things with his team, solving hard problems, and hockey – in that order.\n\n![bonfire logo150.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/bonfire-logo150.png)",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":2040},{"url":2041},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/1fdcc88509e398c1aa40c8011979687a350ae38f-600x320.png","2018-01-11T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":2044},"three_fundraising_ideas_tools","Learn how T-shirts, Texting & Matching can help raise funds","Fundraising Events: 3 Fundraising Ideas and the Tools You Need to Raise Proceeds",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2048,"category":2049,"id":5,"image":2050,"publishOn":2053,"slug":2054,"teaser":2056,"title":2057},"As event fundraisers have the option to go back to in-person events the first question the auction team needs to answer is, “is an in-person event going to net more money?”. If the answer is not so clear perhaps you may want to take a step-up approach and test before making the very large investment in venue food and efforts. Virtual hybrid may be an option. Here’s how [gEvents](https://geventsllc.com/) guided [Hope Chinese Charter School](https://hopeccs.org/) for their 2023 fundraiser.\n\nBackstory\n* March 2020 was the very last in person event before the halt due to COVID and brought in just over $100K. The net income was significantly less as it was reduced by expenses for the gala venue, decorations, food and beverage..\n* March 2021 the fundraising event fundraiser began its virtual journey, with an online auction and culminating with a livestream featuring the live auction and paddle raise. The net results improved over 2020 based on the significant reduction in expenses.\n* March 2022 the event returned to the virtual format with a  no-cost watch party organized at the last minute at a local tap house. The net results exceed $125,000.\n* March 2023 the auction team feared the audience was not quite ready to go back to an all in person fundraising event however some of the audience members did want to gather. Hence the watch party was formalized a bit with a hosted buffet while attendees enjoyed the livestream on monitors throughout the taproom. The event continued to grow with over 100 attendees in person at the taproom enjoying the fellowship and fundraising action!\n\nThere are so many other expenses that go into making an event fundraiser. Patrick Siver of gEvents llc has been the emcee and auctioneer for hundreds of events his simple observation, “fancy centerpieces have never had a direct impact on higher bids or paddles raised.”\nHybrid is a really vague term and defined by each person and group in a unique way. Silver defines hybrid as “taking the best practices of pre-covid, and combining them with the best practices we learned through covid, to create a unique event specific to the nonprofit.”\n\n## Hybrid for Hope\nWhen choosing to go in person or not, the Hope Chinese Charter School wanted to avoid the rising cost of food, venue rental, and risk of contracting with suppliers 8-12 months in advance of the event. Having successfully completed virtual events the prior two years, evolving to a combined format of virtual and in person was a natural fit. This meant setting up the auction and event fundraiser with virtual and scaled down in-person components. \n\nThe key components to the virtual hybrid event: \n* Pre-event kickoff livestream\n* Skilled professionals for the event and auction\n* Easy bidding, donating & viewing\n* Direct feed to the Taproom of the livestream\n\n## Pre Event Kickoff and Livestream\n\n**Before every fundraising event gEvents does a kick off livestream event.** The format is simple yet effective. Patrick is hosts and the executive director and or the auction chair persons join in from gEvents’ StreamYard virtual studio broadcasting to all applicable social media channels. The 30 minute kickoff takes a live tour of the auction and event website, takes you step-by-step how to register and if bidding is online, how to place a bid. Most times there is a give-away during the kickoff to encourage attendance and thank one lucky viewer with a gift.\n\nThe kickoff video serves three purposes. \n1. It reaches the majority of the nonprofits’ fans on their social media channels and directs them to the event website to take action.\n2. Pushes the live video to the top of every social media platform during the live. Those that have notifications turned on will get an alert. Those that are just casually scrolling will see it at the top of the screen.\n3. After the live concludes it will remain on the feed for the organization. This is a great way to catch the attention of supporters even after the live kickoff concludes.\n\ngEvents also embeds the livestream, and subsequent replay, front and center on the main event website. It is a welcoming visual for your supporters to learn what is expected of them and see your enthusiasm for the upcoming event fundraiser. \n\n## Skilled Professionals\n\nSkilled professionals do the job effectively and efficiently. Your nonprofit organization is good at advancing your mission, you live and breathe these activities daily. For fundraising you may have one large event a year with a few smaller events in between. If you are depending on that major event for money and engaging or expanding your donor base, then collaborating with specialists in the areas of fundraising auctioneer services and audio/visual equipment and technicians are best to be outsourced. \n\nBenefit Auction Specialists (B.A.S) are members of the National Association of Auctioneers that have completed extensive training on the principles of fundraising and event planning to enhance your gala or benefit auction event. They provide expert guidance on fundraising techniques, including run-of-show, auction methodology, storytelling, developing and implementing an effective fund-a-need campaign. Additionally, they (should) have experience using the software for the auction fundraiser to take advantage of all the features to make the most of your time with your supporters. \n\nYou probably don’t have the audio/visual equipment in house and no desire to purchase for a single use. In addition it costs time to set-up and technical skills to get the best production. It’s more than hardware. It’s the actual production, streaming, and blending of the messaging, stage, testimonials and live action to create a show that is tuned in and not turned off. This is not negotiable. Your supporters need clear audio and visuals of the show.\n\nYou want to create a seamless experience for viewers.\n\n\n## Easy Bidding, Donating & Viewing\n\nBidders and supporters need clear instructions on how to bid, donate and participate. See paragraph above regarding kick-off. Prior to the live stream it’s worth replaying an excerpt of the registration process. During the livestream use QR codes and short urls when directing viewers to bid, view, donate. \n\nLet’s break down the virtual event replay of Hope Charter’s Xi Wang Gala.\n\nThe Preshow thanks the sponsors, teases the live auction but most importantly tells viewers how to participate. \n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/e09bfb6c3d4f8b715f34ad926404cec07cd9523a-600x300.png)\n\nA warm welcome from a friendly face. Christina Lu, Xi Wang Gala Chair, sets the tone that this is a fundraising event and all proceeds directly benefit the students at Hope Chinese Charter School. [Watch her welcome at the 13:40 mark.](https://vimeo.com/807969836#t=13m40s) \n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/a3052c595c75dc0f5c236d2c5cfc4385b8ba99bd-600x300.png?w=450)]\n\nShe then ‘throws’ it to the live studio with Co-host, and Parent Corrie Tin Villatoro and auctioneer Patrick Siver.\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/92d6e70fd6ce41530f23af3f0e01fbe768aa96c2-600x300.png)\n\n\nThere was an initial check in at the Taproom and few live shots from there throughout the broadcast. The live shots were short and fast, because viewers don’t necessarily want to watch people watching a show! \n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/b409b39241043ecc162f64e271838bf636bdc593-600x300.png)\n\nAs the bidding for live auction items commenced, bidders were instructed how to live bid on the items from their mobile device. There were five live auction packages. \n1. **Mystery Bag,** described as:  We have stuffed this beautiful cream-colored Kate Spade bag with all kinds of amazing surprises and cash just waiting for you to explore. Make the winning bid and see what awesome and unique gifts are waiting for you!\n2. **Oregon Summer Beach House Retreat at Big Blue,** described as: This is the coveted HCCS Family owned Manzanita Beach house we've all loved to bid on in past Gala Auctions. Located on the Oregon coast in the town of Manzanita.\n3. **Reserved School Parking Spot,** described as: Trouble finding a parking spot during drop-off or pick-up? Worry no longer! Eliminate the hassle of finding a parking space and always know you have a spot.\n4. **Family Beach Vacation in Surf Pines,** described as: stay at a private vacation house in the gated community of Surf Pines, Oregon near Gearheart.\n5. **Night Stay in Twin Palms Estates Vacation,** Palm Springs, described as:  Stunning designer home in the Twin Palms neighborhood in South Palm Springs. In the perfect location, close to everything, you can walk to the world-renowned Palm Canyon Drive, then return to your private, resort-style oasis. \n\nGuiding viewers to the Live Auction page on the event website gEvents’ used Auctria’s Live Auction Controller to bring up each live auction item individually, focusing the attention on each item including the paddle raise with multiple donation option buttons. Bidders made bids from their device and Patrick watched Auctria’s Bid Monitor and called the auction from a teleprompter on the stage. The bidding and show were synchronized and smooth.\n\n[**Check out the bidding for the reserved parking spot. It ended up closing at $10,200. Watch the video starting at 55:26 mark.**](https://vimeo.com/807969836#t=55m26s)\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/f6f76e4d023a62139dbf101338e20007d3e6061b-600x300.png)\n\n## (Almost) Live feed to the Nebulous Taproom\n\nThis is a hybrid event, so there were about 100 viewers that took over the Taproom for a viewing party. Because it was a Taproom each patron purchased drinks on their own and a small buffet was provided for a small ticket price. The ticket was only $30 so this provided lots of room for donation and bidding. It also was low barrier to entry allowing more families to participate than the typical $100 per ticket gala. Those dollars will be used by the school instead of using the dollars to plan fancy venues and meals. Board member and school parent, Calvin Tchiang was on the stage live at the Taproom with a two-person camera crew and during the event they went live to the Tap Room showcasing the energy in the room.\n\nHere are some behind the scenes from the studio and the Taproom.\n\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/e5a568f5199bcf5e93ed2d73c4eb040af864bf9a-3296x1854.jpg)\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/dbe8bac2cb708b13b332496ff2c3410a8f462b93-4032x3024.jpg)\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/ea19a5622a30cb9aa49b041df0a370e1b979a93c-5184x2920.jpg)\n\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/d3273b559608367334559edeb7ff5e6312c269c2-5184x2920.jpg?)\n\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/56c3bc8d7780183095960c3d7685dfe6abfa94ef-3772x2122.jpg?)\n\n## What’s Next Year?\nNot sure. It seemed like there is some potential to move to a larger venue to include more live viewers and move back to a traditional staged event. What will follow will be some lessons learned. \n* Be flexible and open minded about new ideas\n* Do a livestream kick off\n* Use experts to invest in the event to get further, faster\n\n-------------------------\n\n## Watch the full HCCS Xi Wang Gala replay here:\n\n\u003Ciframe src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/video/807969836?h=0c72ec7342\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen>\u003C/iframe>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https://vimeo.com/807969836\">Hope Chinese Charter School 2023 Xi Wang Gala\u003C/a> from \u003Ca href=\"https://vimeo.com/user64245552\">Patrick Siver\u003C/a> on \u003Ca href=\"https://vimeo.com\">Vimeo\u003C/a>.\u003C/p>\n\n----------------\n[Hope Chinese Charter School’s (HCCS)](https://hopeccs.org/) goal is educating students for global fluency. HCCS is a public charter school that provides a Mandarin Chinese immersion education to elementary and middle school students. HCCS, located in the Beaverton School District, offers grades Kindergarten – 8th.\n\nPatrick Siver, BAS is the President of [gEventsllc.](https://geventsllc.com/) Event fundraising and production is taken to the next level for your golf tournaments and auctions. gEvents can help you raise more money. \n\nSpecial thanks to The [A/V Department](https://theavdept.com/) for sharing the replays and behind the scenes photos. “With every event, live stream, and video we produce, we strive to make a difference to our clients and ultimately inspire results.”\n\n\n\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":2051},{"url":2052},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/35f2997be684de5ce376809364688a5d609b9aac-600x320.png","2023-03-20T14:04:23.204Z",{"current":2055},"tune-in-to-turn-up-the-bids","Fancy centerpieces have never had a direct impact on higher bids or paddles raised.","Tune In to Turn Up the Bids",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2059,"category":2060,"id":5,"image":2061,"publishOn":2064,"slug":2065,"teaser":2067,"title":2068},"An organization’s annual fund is the money raised from their annual giving campaign. \n \nAn annual giving campaign is a group of strategies organizations put forth in order to raise their annual funds. The annual fund is usually used to help the organization cover any costs they may run into while they implement different campaigns and projects for their causes.\n \nOne great opportunity to grow your annual fund is to host your auction events and properly steward your bidders and attendees. The point is always to increase donor retention in efforts to maximize donations or bids. You’re thinking, easier said than done, right?\n \nWell, we have 5 easy strategies to help you help your attendees make the switch.\n \n   1. [Make sure your event goes off without a hitch](#hitch) \n   2.  [Remember that timing is everything](#timing)\n   3. [Create a membership program](#membership)\n   4. [Personalize your outreach](#personalize)\n   5. [Get the support of the right software](#software)\n \nRead on to learn about great stewardship and how to convert your event attendees into annual donors!\n![Header-Images.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Header-Images.jpg)\n\n\n## 1. \u003Ca name=\"hitch\">Make sure your event goes off without a hitch\u003C/a> \nAs we all know, first impressions are important. Keep this in mind when interacting with your donors at your fundraising auction because with 4 out of 10 donors only giving once, donor retention is crucial. \n \nYou need to have [great stewardship from day one](https://www.neoncrm.com/great-stewardship-from-day-one-of-your-annual-fund/) of your annual fund. Here are a few strategies to start things off on the right foot:\n\n * **Donor Recognition.** Don’t wait more than 3 days to express your gratitude because the sooner your attendees realize you appreciate their contributions, the more likely they are to donate to your organization again. Remember to keep your thank yous personal! Also, look into publicly recognizing them. The supporters who receive your shout-outs will appreciate recognition after the event, and it can encourage other donors to step up their game.\n\n * **Keep them involved.** Encourage attendees to get more involved with your organization. Invite them to your next event or ask them to volunteer. The more involved they are, the stronger your relationship will be.\n\n* **Update them.** Don’t ask your attendees for more donations right away. Instead, update them on where their last donation went, the final accomplishments of your fundraising event, and how your organization is doing in regards to your goal.\n\n**The takeaway:** Forming strong and positive relationships with your donors will result in better and more frequent donations.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![Header-Images2.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Header-Images2.jpg)\n\n\n## 2. \u003Ca name=\"timing\">Remember that timing is everything,\u003C/a>\nThe fate of your nonprofit’s annual fund rests in your timing. \n \nBut when is the best time to follow up with auction event attendees about annual fund donations? Well, it’s different for every organization and you’ll have a lot to keep in mind, so answer these questions:\n\n * **When did your organization’s event start and end?** You’ll see the most success with donations at the very beginning and very end of your campaign, so schedule outreach for both of those times.\n\n * **Are your staff and donation processing tools both adequate enough to accept the amount of donations you want?** If you’re planning to accept $20,000 in donations, you’ll need to make sure you have the right software to track donor information as well as donation information like average amount and frequency.\n\n * **What time of year is it?** Your safest bet to ask for donations is the month of December no matter who you are! The end of the year tends to be the most lucrative with 31% of annual giving taking place in December.\n\n * **What are the other [fundraisers](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/host_perfect_fundraising_event) your organization is currently working on?** You’ll need to get a feel for how many donations your other fundraisers will draw in and keep in mind that if a donor gives to one campaign, he might not give to another that’s currently in progress.\n\nYou don’t want to ask for donations right after an event. In fact, you won’t revisit asking for donations for a few months.\n \nDirectly after your event, you’ll want thank your donors for their contributions within 48 hours, but you’ll need to wait about 3 months before contacting them for donations to your annual fund.\n \nYou’ll have to engage them in between the time you thank them and the time you ask them. This way after your event thank you, your follow-up inquiry a few months later won’t be a surprise or scare donors off. \n \nBut, be wary of sending too many messages, because that’ll only get you to supporters’ spam folders. Send occasional emails and vary your outreach from email to letters to social media contact.\n \nYou may want to create an outreach calendar based around your events and December to know when’s best to reach out to donors for contributions.\n\n**The takeaway:** Asking for donations at a poor time will result in fewer donations to your campaign. Plan on engaging your supporters through email and ask them for donations approximately 3 months after your event to give them enough time between giving to your event and giving to your annual fund.\n\n\n\n\n![Header-Images3.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Header-Images3.jpg)\n\n## 3. \u003Ca name=\"membership\">Create a membership program\u003C/a>\n\nTypically, organizations use membership programs to increase engagement with and donations from former auction event attendees. \n \nThis fundraising strategy gives donors an exclusive edge to the organization’s progress. A program with a membership fee will give members perks or incentives in exchange for donations and you can entice greater participation by asking one-time event donors to join in on your membership program.\n \nWhile you’ll want to market your program to all your supporters, you can focus on the prospects who will genuinely help to reach your goals and further your cause, such as your event attendees! \n \nThere are different types of [membership programs](https://www.neoncrm.com/membership-programs/) that you can implement. For example, your different tiers of membership might include some of the following features:\n\n[There are different types of membership programs](https://doublethedonation.com/nonprofit-membership-programs/) that you can implement. For example, your different tiers of membership might include some of the following features:\n\n * **Impact on the organization.** Members will have the opportunity to put their word in on your decisions and therefore, influence your nonprofit’s work, projects, and campaigns.\n\n * **Large change.** Your members will be able to team up with your nonprofit in order to support a bigger cause, enabling them to make a large-scale difference.\n\n * **Strong community.** Members will be immersed in the community of your nonprofit, allowing for strong bonds between individuals to further your cause.\n\n * **Experience.** Your nonprofit will be able to expose members to programs they wouldn’t have otherwise been able to be part of.\n\nYou’ll need to decipher which model works best for your organization’s [efforts](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/techniques_to_pair_with_auction#) and keeps your goals in mind and which model will be appealing to your event attendees. From there, you’ll decide on a membership goal to find the appropriate amount you’ll charge for membership fees.\n \nThe takeaway: Remember to push the value of joining your membership program because you’re offering programs to help build a community. Promote what [prospects](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/power_of_audience) want: to know about your organization’s community and how they can add to it.\n\n\n\n![Header-Images4.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Header-Images4.jpg)\n\n## 4. \u003Ca name=\"personalize\">Personalize your outreach\u003C/a>\n\nRecurring donations to your annual fund depend heavily on your ability to master and personalize your outreach techniques to past auction event attendees.\n \nYou can reach these attendees through:\n * One-on-one meetings\n * Calls\n * Email/mail\n * Social media\n\nInstead of directing your attention to the monetary value of donations, keep the goal of building and strengthening donor relationships in mind. You don’t want to risk making supporters feel alienated and like ATMs. Plus, you’ll want to retain the event attendees you convert to annual fund donors.\n \nWith the help of a donor database, you can track all your donors’ data to help give you important insights into their lives, which you’ll use to personalize your outreach. If you segment event attendees’ data accordingly, you’ll be able to personalize without having to individualize.\n \nTo segment your data, you might make a list out of your event attendees with categories like:\n * Volunteers\n * One-time donors\n * Recurring donors\n * Major gift donors\n\nCreating a list will help you target every event attendee appropriately.\n\n**The takeaway:** When a donor knows and connects with your organization, a community of value is created and the donor will be more likely to give more often to your cause. \n\n\n\n\n![Header-Images5.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Header-Images5.jpg)\n\n## 5. \u003Ca name=\"software\">Get the support of the right software\u003C/a>\n\nFundraising software will help your organization easily plan and execute your campaign, [as this Neon CRM guide explains.](https://www.neoncrm.com/nonprofit-crm-software/) There are dozens of different software options for you to choose from.\n\nYour software can help with:\n\n * **Donor databases and profiles.** Your campaign is focused around your relationships with current and potential donors. Finding a software with a donor database will make getting to know donors so much easier, giving you a better view of each donor. This way you can track relevant data and leave yourself notes about each donor. A donor database will allow you to create complete profiles in order to personalize your communications and maximize donations.\n\n * **Personalized web forms.** You’ll need to be able to accept donations online for your donors’ convenience, and software can help you create the perfect online donation form! Finding a software that lets you customize your donation page and incorporate it into your current website is your best bet. Make sure your pages are mobile-friendly, too. The information from these forms can be used for your donor database and profiles!\n\n * **Outreach support.** Outreach is a huge aspect of any campaign and especially your annual giving campaign. You can take advantage of outreach made easy with your software’s communication tools. Plus, the software will report your outreach and the actions donors take in response. You’ll know who you’ve contacted, when you contacted them, and if it worked in your favor so you can focus your outreach in the right direction.\n\n * **Analytics.** Is your organization reaching its goals? Your software should have all the right tracking tools and donor data to tell you. You can look over these results and see where your strategies  are working and falling short. This way you can plan for your next campaign as well.\n\n**The takeaway:** Using fundraising software will help you take your campaign to the next level and find more success.\n\n__________\nWith your goal of converting auction event attendees into annual fund donors in mind, we’ve given you our best 5 strategies!\n\nSpecial thanks to Jeff Gordy, Co-Founder and CEO of Z2 Systems, the makers of NeonCRM for nonprofits, for these strategies!\n\nJeff has been working with his team for the last 12 years on building the optimal fundraising, CRM database, and marketing solution for nonprofits. \n\n![neon logo.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/neon-logo.png)",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":2062},{"url":2063},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/d47dd8714cc1de0869ff436a25b47e073b5ffd07-600x320.png","2017-05-31T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":2066},"attendee_to_annual_fund_donors","Learn about great stewardship and how to convert your event attendees into annual donors!","Convert Auction Attendees into Annual Fund Donors",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2070,"category":2071,"id":5,"image":2072,"publishOn":2075,"slug":2076,"teaser":2078,"title":2079},"We don’t know how long physical distancing will be recommended. We do know that most beloved causes still need funding to continue their missions during this time. Auction fundraisers are one of the best ways to continue engaging and nurturing your donors, supporters, and sponsors even while apart.\n\nDon’t cancel, don’t postpone. Here’s why not and a few solutions:\n1. Don’t cancel the income\n2. Futureproof the event fundraiser\n3. Mindful messaging keeps the mission front and center\n4. Fill the space with meaningful content\n\n## 1. Canceling an event cancels the income\n\nBe confident and show your audience that your mission is still crucial, and that you have strong, adaptable leadership to achieve the goals you’ve set. Postponing an event indefinitely might create a sense of ambivalence. \n\nFundraising gurus are echoing this message:\n\n**Mark Phillips,** a fundraising consultant leading the team at Blue Frog Fundraising, tweeted “.. Look at results from the appeals currently running and I think anyone that called an appeal should get it out urgently. People are helping. People are giving. People are great.” \n\n**Jeff Brooks,** a fundraising consultant who leads the team at FundraisingNow.com,\nfollowed up with, “...Seeing the same… getting better-than-usual results. Some dramatically better. All types of causes.”\n\nEvent planners echoed this message recently in the Facebook Group Auction Team Talk. In a conversation about continuation, **John Fuse from Event Full,** a nonprofit event management company located in Virginia, said, \n\n> Auction teams that did continue the course have reflected this sentiment and have shown success. \n\nNorth Star Academy had the unlucky timing of having scheduled their Casino Royale Auction fundraiser at the exact same time that all community events were being canceled due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements being implemented. There were urgent and swift closures that required immediate action putting all the previous work at risk. The team quickly explored options to cancel, convert or postpone.\nSpoiler alert: NorthStar Academy made as much as they did last year! \n[READ the rest of the story](https://www.auctria.com/blog/shifting-silent-and-live-auction-to-virtual-live-auction/)\n\n## 2. How to Futureproof Fundraising \nSo now that we have shown that fundraising now is imperative, let’s review the ‘how to’ in 2022. Utilizing the variety of tools that are available you can still make an impact and continue with auction fundraising activity: \n* Plan A online fundraising\n* Mindful messaging\n* Seeking donations\n* Impact video\n* Event wrap up, thank you\n\n### Plan A, Online Event Fundraising\nBecause the future of in-person gathering is unknown Plan A should be online fundraising. This will futureproof the event if there is another outbreak for concern for gathering. The benefit to starting online is minimal disruption due to public gathering rules or safety concerns. You can run an entire event fundraiser fully online with lots of fun, bells, and whistles. \n\n* **Auction can run online for days** rather than hours\n* **Add in peer-2-peer** for expanded reach\n* **Include videos** to the event website as testimonials\n* **Freshen content** throughout the life of the online event. Add new video and featured contents, for sale or auction items throughout the entire event to encourage repeat visits\n* **Include a meaningful donation request** with quick tap buttons\n\nOnline auctions and event fundraising have many advantages. Going online can expand the bidder pool. Auction fundraising depends upon bids, bids depend upon bidders. The greater the number of bidders, the more bidding will take place, and the higher the bids. So, how to expand the bidder pool? Go online with the auction. Similar to traditional silent auctions there is a start time, end time, and the bidding process takes place in between but is completely web-based. Online auctions add a layer of flexibility for both the auction itself and the participants. \n\n**Online auctions extend both the time and reach for bidders.** The online auction naturally lends itself to online marketing with a direct feed to bidding. The window of opportunity for bidding for an online auction tends to be much longer than an event-based function. Extended bidding time boots bidding.  Online auctions have the added feature of two highly favored bidding options. Proxy bidding and anti-sniping not only make the auction fun last longer but increases the bottom line for final bids. [Bid extension accelerates the bidding](https://www.auctria.com/blog/bid-extension-to-skyrocket-online-auction-fundraising-income/) so more bids can be placed, thus increasing the final bid. [Proxy bidding accelerates the bidding so more bids go higher, faster.](https://www.auctria.com/article/proxy-bidding/)\n\n### From Drab to Fab\nGoing online does not mean socializing and connections stop! Events with virtual components continue to evolve and continue to bring in record-breaking fundraising. In a recent webinar, GFS Events shared a few case studies on utilizing virtual elements such as a week of giving, video testimonials, and virtual events to attract donors.\n\nA few best practices for online fundraising that crushes goals are:\n* Brand your fundraising event & platform\n* Add unique features to your event\n* Minimize clicks to donate\n* Personalize all communication\n* Include an FAQ page\n* Make your call to action clear\n\n[Watch back the entire Drab to Fab webinar.](https://www.auctria.com/webinar/from-drab-to-fab-taking-your-virtual-fundraiser-to-the-next-level/)\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/11144e35d2c980f47655070f6723e7b21f073544-1125x605.jpg)\n\n**Virtual Live Stream types range in sophistication from simple to fully produced.**  This means opening the door to even more donors potentially increasing the number of supporters and in turn increasing the final revenue. The virtual live gala can range in sophistication from very simple in a single room, sitting on a desktop, or a full staged production. This decision will then lead you down the path of choosing a live stream mechanism. \n\nThe questions you want to answer when deciding on what type to use is:\n* What are your needs? \n* Will this be for a single-use, multi-use?\n* What are the budget constraints?\n* How many seats are needed for admin, emcee, auctioneer?\n* How public do you want to broadcast?\n\n### Plan B\nPlan B, is if options open up to add in on in-person gathering. Plan B is the party, the gala, the ball, and the banquet. There will be a time and place for this however save this in your back pocket till you are certain that it can be implemented. \n\n3. Mindful Messaging\nSensitive messaging will set the tone for the continuation of any fundraiser activity. \n\nThank you for joining our online auction! This event is vital in helping us fulfill the mission to ___________ fill in the blank \n\nWhile we wish that we could gather with all of you in person, we know that this is the best way to safely raise money so that we can continue to ________________ fill in the blank.  \n\nDid you know that the money raised during our auction makes up close to XX% of our funds for the year? \n\nBe honest and forthright about where funds are going, how they will be spent in the short term as well as overall campaign goals. \n\nMessaging for an auction or event fundraiser should include communications to sponsors, donors & bidders. \n\nBidders are still willing to participate in the auction portion of the event. Give them an easy way to say yes! Here are a few starters for bidders and donors:\n\n* Thanks for supporting the \u003Cname of event>. As you know our regular activities are being altered by the pandemic. As a precaution, we are canceling our in-person portion of the event. Good news, we are converting the auction portion to an online event.\n* Thanks for purchasing a ticket to the \u003Cname of event>. We are offering a few options regarding refunds: full or partial refund; or, the choice we are most hoping you make is to donate the funds to the \u003Ccause> so we can continue to fund \u003Cthe charitable activities>.\n* Good news! The auction portion of the event will go on with no risk of community spread. Use a well-proven online auction platform to pivot the auction to an online event.\n* Online auction will take place starting \u003Cdate & time> until \u003Cdate & time>.\nPlease help us get the word out! Our auction fundraiser has gone online! Now even more people can browse and bid on the auction items. (mention a few top hot items to gain attention\n\n**Donors & sponsors gave to your fundraiser because they believe in the cause.** This did not evaporate in the wake of the pandemic. It is still important for companies to continue to show their dedication to the community.\n\nHere are a few message starters: \n* Thanks for your generous donation/sponsorship for our fundraiser \u003Cname of event>. As the pandemic shifts, regular activities are being altered by safety and regulations.\n* Due to current conditions, we running an online/virtual event fundraiser to continue servicing… \u003Cyour cause and mission>.\n* Your donated items will continue to help us reach our fundraising goal with an online auction fundraiser event in lieu of an in-person event.\n* Due to safety concerns the \u003Cevent> will now be conducted as an online auction fundraiser. This gives us a unique opportunity to share our auction & mission to an even larger community. Please share the links, hashtags on social media.\n* We appreciate our sponsors for donating to our event fundraiser. Although we are needing to pivot to an online event.\n* Although there will be no \u003Cgala/party/cocktails> your sponsorship dollars are still vital to our cause. Please allow us to make the sponsorship count with our online auction event.\n\nConsider ways to offer different exposure to sponsors:\nOnline exposure with a sponsor catalog;\n* Include sponsors names on all correspondences including statements;\n* Exposure at a future event(s);\n* Tag on social media for continued support; and,\n* Direct email spotlighting sponsors for continued support in the time of need.\n\n## 4. Fill the Space with Meaningful Content\n**Donation requests.** Continue requesting donations from willing businesses. This can be an awkward time to ask for donations. Be sure to generously and openly thank those who have already committed, as well as focus on what you can legally do for them in return, such as sharing/reposting their news. Using online donation portals like DonationMatch can also help you identify more companies that are still donating--many are--and ease the stress of face-to-face requests. Using consignment vendors is also a great way to bring excitement to the fundraiser. The travel consignments industry has created many local experiences and extended usage windows. \n\n**Impact video.** Many times an impact video is on the to-do list yet we never get to it. Now that we are less able to get out and publicly gather this is a great use of the time. Hopefully with fewer ordinary distractions, the creative can take first place on the to-do list. Use a well-produced video to effectively communicate your organization’s mission and impact to make an emotional connection. During this time some people are seeking ways to help, both during the fundraiser as well as afterward in continuing the appeal on your donation pages. \n\n**Post event fundraising can continue.** Continue the giving opportunity by posting the auction event recording to YouTube and other social channels and enable more donations. With YouTube Giving, the event lives on with the option to accept donations directly. According to YouTube’s website: \n\n>YouTube Giving is designed to help strengthen the way creators and fans engage in charitable giving on YouTube. Some videos and live streams give you the option to donate to a nonprofit that the video creator is supporting. YouTube covers all transaction fees, so 100% of the money you donate goes to the eligible nonprofit. Donations to nonprofits are non-refundable\n\n(https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6318560)\n\n**Remember to thank all sponsors, donors, and bidders for their time and generosity.** Make the thank-you sincere and timely. Thank both publicly and privately. Send out the week after the event takes place. If it is a very generous donor do write a handwritten thank you. Thank sponsors and donors on social media tagging them. To extend the appreciation, thank them as the funds are spent reporting on how their contribution helped the do-good. Continue the conversation to maintain and grow the relationship for further partnering opportunities.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":2073},{"url":2074},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/a0de7d9bad821b67da55c6bf0c8bd65532880533-600x320.jpg","2022-01-14T17:00:00.000Z",{"current":2077},"what-to-do-in-2022-futureproof-the-event-fundraiser","Futureproof the fundraising event for 2022","What to do in 2022, Futureproof the Event Fundraiser",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2081,"category":5,"id":5,"image":2082,"publishOn":2085,"slug":2086,"teaser":2088,"title":2089},"In the fast-paced world of nonprofit fundraising, it’s tempting to focus solely on the next big gift or campaign. But the true heart of sustainable success lies in something deeper—long-term donor engagement. While securing one-time donations is important, nurturing lifelong supporters is what truly powers mission-driven work over the long haul.\n\nSo how can nonprofits turn casual contributors into loyal advocates? Here’s a breakdown of best practices and actionable strategies to help your organization foster lasting donor relationships.\n\n## 1. Understand the Importance of Donor Retention\n\nDonor retention is a critical metric that reflects the loyalty and satisfaction of your supporters. According to recent data:\n\n* **First-time donor retention rates are alarmingly low**: In 2023, only 28% of new donors made a second gift, and projections for 2024 indicated a slight decrease to 26.9% .\n* **Overall donor retention is declining**: In North America, the annual donor retention rate dropped to 46.6% in 2023, down from 57.1% globally.\n* **Increased lifetime value:** Recurring donors are 5.4 times more valuable than one-time donors.\n\nThese statistics underscore the necessity of implementing effective strategies to engage and retain donors beyond their initial contribution.\n\n## 2. Know Your Donors Like You Know Your Mission\n\nBefore you can engage donors effectively, you need to understand them. That means going beyond names and gift amounts—dive into motivations, communication preferences, and involvement history.\n\n***Best Practices:***\n\n* **Segment your donor base** by demographics, giving frequency, contribution size, interests, and engagement level and use this information to understand your donor base and uncover what drives donor bidding.\n* Use **CRM tools** to track donor interactions and personalize outreach. Donors are more likely to continue their support when they feel personally connected to the cause and see the tangible impact of their contributions.\n* Conduct periodic **surveys** or informal interviews to hear directly from your supporters in order to improve or remove any hurdles that might keep your donors from becoming more engaged.\n\n*Strategy Tip*: Create donor personas (e.g., \"The Passionate Volunteer,\" \"The Occasional Event Giver\") to guide tailored engagement tactics.\n\n## 3. Communicate with Clarity, Consistency, and Heart\n\nConsistent, mission-centered communication is key to keeping donors invested. Your goal isn’t just to ask for money—it’s to tell a story that donors feel a part of.\n\n***Best Practices:***\n\n* Develop a **year-round communication calendar** including newsletters, updates, impact stories, and behind-the-scenes looks.\n* Use **multichannel communication** (email, social, direct mail, video) to meet donors where they are.\n* Focus on **emotional storytelling**—people remember stories, not statistics.\n\n*Strategy Tip:* Share stories that show how their donation helped. \"Because of you…\" is a powerful opening line.\n\n## 4. Make Stewardship a Priority, Not an Afterthought\n\nStewardship is more than a thank-you note—it’s a relationship strategy. A well-thanked donor is far more likely to become a recurring one.\n\n***Best Practices:***\n\n* Send **timely acknowledgments** within 48 hours of an event or donation to significantly enhance donor satisfaction and retention (bonus points for handwritten notes or phone calls).\n* Offer **regular updates on the impact of donations** by sharing specific stories and outcomes of funded projects helps donors understand the difference their support makes.\n* Implement **recurring giving programs for higher retention rates** as recurring donors are retained at nearly double the rate of single-gift donors (83% vs. 45%)\n* Celebrate donor milestones (e.g., giving anniversaries, birthdays).\n\n***Strategy Tip:*** Implement a tiered stewardship plan to match different donor levels with appropriate recognition and engagement activities.\n\n## 5. Offer Meaningful Ways to Get Involved Beyond Giving\n\nSome of your best long-term donors may start as volunteers or event attendees. Engagement is a two-way street—invite them into the community, not just the campaign.\n\n***Best Practices:***\n\n* Offer opportunities for **volunteering**, peer-to-peer fundraising, or joining committees.\n* Host **exclusive donor events** to foster deeper connections.\n* Ask for feedback and involve donors in program decisions when appropriate.\n\n*Strategy Tip:* Create a donor journey map that outlines ways supporters can deepen involvement over time—like a loyalty program with purpose.\n\n\n## 6. Embrace Data (but Don’t Lose the Human Touch)\n\nData-driven strategies help you make smart decisions, but remember: donors aren’t spreadsheets. Balance automation with authenticity.\n\n*Best Practices:*\n\n* Use data to identify lapsed donors and trigger re-engagement campaigns.\n* Monitor metrics like** retention rate, average gift growth**, and **lifetime donor value**.\n* A/B test campaigns to learn what resonates—but don’t automate everything.\n\n*Strategy Tip: *Automate tasks like donation receipts or birthday messages, but personalize appeals and thank-yous whenever possible.\n\n## 7. Cultivate a Culture of Gratitude and Transparency\n\nTrust and appreciation are the cornerstones of lasting relationships. Be open, honest, and generous in how you treat your supporters.\n\n***Best Practices:***\n\n* Be transparent about finances, challenges, and outcomes—even when they’re imperfect.\n* Publicly recognize donors (with their permission) in newsletters, events, or online.\n* Show that you value the person behind the donation, not just the dollars.\n\n*Strategy Tip*: Build a culture where every staff member, from interns to executives, sees donor stewardship as part of their job.\n\n## Conclusion: Donor Engagement Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint\n\nLong-term donor engagement isn’t just about boosting retention rates—it’s about building a movement of people who believe in your mission as much as you do. By showing donors that they matter beyond their wallets, you create allies, ambassadors, and advocates for life.\n\nStart small. Be consistent. Stay human. Your cause deserves it—and so do your supporters!\n\n-----\n\nSpecial thanks to **Auction Packages** for the expert advice in this article. \n\nAuction Packages are a leading provider of consignment packages to charities for their auctions. Their packages are risk free with a simple process and comprehensive service.",{"asset":2083},{"url":2084},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/7b4b25585f54a434192171689d00414f3e646d57-2240x1260.webp","2025-07-22T14:57:57.831Z",{"current":2087},"the-shortlist-strategies-for-long-term-donor-engagement","The true heart of sustainable success lies in something deeper—long-term donor engagement. While securing one-time donations is important, nurturing lifelong supporters is what truly powers mission-driven work over the long haul.","The Shortlist Strategies for Long-Term Donor Engagement",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2091,"category":2092,"id":5,"image":2093,"publishOn":2096,"slug":2097,"teaser":2099,"title":2100},"# Host the Perfect Fundraising Event: 6 Incredible Ideas \n\nFundraising events are some of the most effective ways to raise money, spread awareness for your cause, and bring your supporters together. Plus, they’re usually pretty fun.\n\nThere are tons of great fundraising event ideas to choose from. One of the biggest challenges of hosting an event of your own is that, well, there are tons of great ideas to choose from.\n\nHow will you determine which idea will be most profitable for your organization? After all, you don’t want to risk getting stuck with [empty seats or unsold tickets](http://www.auctria.com/Web/News/selling_tickets_filling_seats) (or otherwise fall short of your fundraising goal). \n\n**Since every organization is different, the perfect fundraising event will vary, too.** That’s why we’ve broken down the top event ideas for:\n\n * Schools\n * Churches\n * Non-profits\n\nEach of these organizations tends to serve a unique community of supporters with diverse needs and expectations. \n\nThe events we suggest can be tweaked and used interchangeably, but we’ve curated the following list to best suit the constituents of each type of organization.\n\n**Let’s take a look at the best ideas for each organization.**\n\n## Top School Fundraising Ideas\n\n![Booster-Auctria-FundraisingEventIdeas-Heading 1.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Booster-Auctria-FundraisingEventIdeas-Heading-1.png)\n\nOne of the most important considerations for hosting a [school fundraising event](https://www.booster.com/blog/school-fundraising-ideas/) is inclusion. Schools often serve students of various socioeconomic backgrounds, so it’s important that everyone feels welcome in the community.\n\n**How can schools host an affordable fundraising event, while still pulling in the cash they need?**\n\n\nTry these top-tier ideas:\n\n1.  Raffles\n2.  Teachers in Jail\n\n**Let’s discuss each in more detail.**\n\n### Raffles\nA raffle is a great, exciting way to involve your student body and raise a ton of funds. Since raffle tickets are generally low cost, almost anyone can participate by purchasing as many or as few tickets as they’d like.\n\nThere are several different types of raffles that you can host, including:\n\n * **50/50 raffle.** In this raffle, the prize is half the amount of funds raised. So, if students contribute $1,000, the raffle winner will earn $500! This raffle can generate tons of excitement and engagement as students give more and more to watch the prize soar!\n\n * **Balloon raffle.** A balloon raffle is just like an ordinary raffle, with a slight twist. All of the raffle tickets are placed in balloons. When it’s time to announce the winning ticket, everyone pops the balloons for a loud, dramatic climax!\n\n * **Straw draw.** In this raffle, students pay $1 to draw a straw. Each straw will have some kind of grade-appropriate privilege attached to it, such as extra time at recess, a better parking space, or a homework pass. The most valuable prizes will be the rarest so that students keep on drawing!\n\nRaffles aren’t just affordable for students; they’re versatile. You can host them during the school day, or you can host an event after school so families can attend, too!\n\n\n**Plus, you can pair a raffle with another fundraising event or a [crowdfunding campaign](https://blog.fundly.com/crowdfunding-websites/) to maximize profits and engage your community.** For example, you can create a fundraising goal or an amount of raffle tickets that you need to sell and encourage your students to rise to the challenge. Or, you can host a raffle in conjunction with a school dance, a sports game, or a pep rally.\n\n### Teachers in Jail\n\nA teachers in jail fundraiser won’t literally put your staff behind bars, but it will create an exciting school day that’s sure to generate some cash.\n\nHere’s how it works: each classroom has a fundraising goal. If students raise the right amount of funds, the teacher is put “in jail,” and students have the entire class period to themselves. \n\n\n**This fundraiser is a win-win-win:**\n\n * Students get a break from the stress of school.\n * Teachers have an entire class period to grade papers or catch up on other work.\n * Your school raises money!\n\nEveryone is sure to get a kick out of this fundraiser, and it’s incredibly easy to execute. Simply charge [volunteers](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/do_dont_volunteers) with collecting funds from each classroom!\n\n## Top Church Fundraising Ideas\n\n![Booster-Auctria-FundraisingEventIdeas-Heading 2.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Booster-Auctria-FundraisingEventIdeas-Heading-2.png)\n\nChurches and religious organizations are in a unique position when it comes to fundraising events. For one, congregants already give to a church through consistent tithing.\n\nFor that reason, **it’s especially important that churches clarify how event funds will be used, whether they’re for the youth group, a mission trip, the music department, or a specific cause.**\n\nOur top fundraising event ideas for churches include:\n\n 1.  Themed Youth Group Party\n 2.  Noisy Sunday\n\n*Let’s take a look at each one.*\n\n### Themed Youth Group Party\nA themed party is perfect for youth groups, but it can also be applied to other groups in your church.\n\nThe concept is simple. Guests pay a small fee to enter the party. **Those who are dressed to suit the theme get a slight discount, while those in “normal” clothes have to pay full ticket price!**\n\nA themed party works well for youth groups because it’s a way for preteens, teenagers, and young adults to have fun in a controlled environment.\n\nThere are tons of themes to choose from, such as:\n\n* Ugly Christmas sweater party\n * Decades party (70s, 80s, 90s)\n * Neon party\n * Hawaiian theme or luau\n\nThe possibilities are endless. **To really engage your young congregants, encourage them to post about the party on social media and invite their friends for fun and fellowship.** \n\nLook into [Snapchat geofilters](http://www.auctria.com/Web/News/snapchat_geofilters_wood) to help your youth spread the word. Everyone will want to come to the party when they see your youth group having a blast!\n\n### Noisy Sunday\nNoisy Sunday is a simple, effective fundraiser that you can host during a normal church service.\n\nOn Noisy Sunday, everyone will fill the pews as usual. But there’s a twist. \n\n**Volunteers will run up and down the aisles shaking jars with loose change.**\n\nTo get the noise to stop, everyone needs to contribute and pay up. Once the jars are full, the sermon can continue!\n\n**Noisy Sunday is a great fundraising idea for the following reasons:** \n\n * Since it occurs on a regular Sunday, all of your usual congregants are already at the “event.”\n * Almost everyone has spare change in their pockets or purse. Even if a church member forgot to bring cash, they’ll likely have something to contribute.\n * It’s incredibly low-cost. Not only is it affordable, but it won’t take up a large investment of time or resources, either.\n * Noisy Sunday is the perfect activity to engage your youth group or Sunday school classes. What kid wouldn’t want to run around the aisles of your church making a ruckus?\n\nIf you like Noisy Sunday, you’re in luck! You can host this fundraiser as many times a year as you’d like.\n\n*Not sold on these ideas for your church? Don’t worry — [Booster has 45+ for you to try!](https://www.booster.com/blog/church-fundraising-ideas/)*\n\n\n\n## Top Nonprofit Fundraising Ideas\n\n![Booster-Auctria-FundraisingEventIdeas-Heading 3.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Booster-Auctria-FundraisingEventIdeas-Heading-3.png)\n\nNonprofits generally engage a wide variety of donors, from the average everyday person to multimillionaires. It’s important that nonprofits host fundraising events that can accommodate such a diverse range of constituents.\n\n**Whether your nonprofit favors healthcare, the environment, animal welfare, or poverty, these fundraising events can help you promote your cause and raise funds.**\n\nSpecifically, we recommend:\n\n * Walkathons and fun runs\n * Charity auctions\n\n**Ready to dive in? Let’s get started!**\n\n### Walkathons and fun runs\nA walkathon or fun run gets everyone in your community up and active. These events are incredibly popular because they’re accessible to all kinds of people, from fitness junkies on their 100th race to couch potatoes on their first.\n\nThough walkathons and fun runs may take extensive planning, nonprofits who strategize their approach can see a huge return on their investment.\n\n**For example, walkathons are especially profitable when paired with [peer-to-peer fundraising.](https://www.qgiv.com/blog/top-peer-to-peer-fundraising-platforms/)** \n\nIn peer-to-peer fundraising, fundraising teams solicit donations from their friends and family members on behalf of your organization. They can ask for donations directly, call their relatives, share donation forms on social media, or otherwise reach out to their personal networks to achieve a fundraising goal.\n\nOf course, participants can also seek cash pledges for every mile they run or pay a fee to participate. \n\n**No matter which fundraising model you choose, you should sell branded merchandise to bring in additional funds.**\n\nOne of the most effective strategies is selling custom, branded t-shirts or allowing each fundraising team to create their own t-shirts and sell them to raise money. With t-shirts, everyone can band together and run for a good cause!\n\n**Some other popular choices for walkathon merchandise include:**\n\n * Water bottles\n * Sweat bands\n * Frisbees\n\nAnything that promotes an active lifestyle is perfect for bringing in extra funds!\n\n\n### Charity Auctions\nWe’ve saved the best for last — there’s nothing quite like a charity auction to bring donors together and raise funds.\n\n*Why?*\n\nCharity auctions are fun and competitive. The added incentive of receiving an exclusive item can encourage donors to give more than they normally would.\n\n**Which is why, more than anything else, the key to a successful charity auction is procuring stand-out items.**\n\nThere are plenty of ways for nonprofits to do just that without breaking the bank.\n\nFor example, nonprofits can:\n\n * Seek in-kind donations from sponsors or donors.\n * Use consignment auction services, so that nonprofits only pay for the packages that sell.\n * Solicit smaller in-kind donations (which will be easier to procure), and package them together in themed baskets.\n\n**No matter how you go about getting items, it’s important to [brand your auction and tell a story](http://www.auctria.com/Web/News/brand_auction_story) that will compel donors to bid.**\n\n> Picture this: you’re sitting in the audience of a live auction. \n\n> The next item up for bid is a piece of custom artwork, but it’s not the auctioneer who’s presenting it; instead, it’s the artist.\n\n> She explains how this artwork represents her connection to the nonprofit and that she is actually a recipient of the organization’s aid. After an emotional, powerful speech, she opens the floor for bids. In just a few short moments, she’s raised the value of the artwork by connecting with the audience, which in turn can increase the bids that the artwork will receive.\n\n> Just like in this example, the key is to connect donors to your cause even amidst the competitive and fun spirit that auctions entail.\n\nFor more information, check out these [top auction tips!](http://www.auctria.com/Web/News/double_the_donation)\n\n*As a note to our readers, we want to clarify that while charity auctions are mentioned specifically in this post, you do not have to be a charity and have 501(c)3 status to host an auction. Anyone can host a fundraising auction and use the advice here and in our other resources to raise money.*\n\n--------------\n\nWhether your organization is a school, church, or nonprofit, there are plenty of fundraising event ideas to choose from. With this article, you should have more direction of the kinds of events that work well for different constituents.\n\nDo you have additional advice or ideas for fundraising events? Let us know in the comments!\n\n**Thanks to guest author Andrew Hurley for these creative fundraising ideas!**\n\nAndrew Hurley is the Director of Ecommerce at [Booster, Created by CustomInk.](https://www.booster.com/) Booster makes it risk-free to raise funds and awareness by giving you a platform to sell custom t-shirts and collect donations.\n\n![logo_1x-349e910cfac51b36330d42209362297b.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/logo_1x-349e910cfac51b36330d42209362297b.png)",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":2094},{"url":2095},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/663633f2e441f80bc1584ff47fef3f2cc59e01fa-600x320.jpg","2017-03-15T05:00:00.000Z",{"current":2098},"host_perfect_fundraising_event","6 Top event ideas for schools, churches, non-profits (or any group can use)","Host the Perfect Fundraising Event: 6 Incredible Ideas",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2102,"category":2103,"id":5,"image":2104,"publishOn":2107,"slug":2108,"teaser":2110,"title":2111},"![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/26335222dea749032b3d9d87a360445d50af335e-1250x500.jpg)\n\nDonor cultivation is crucial for any successful nonprofit. After all, it’s likely this process of establishing and growing relationships with your donors that results in a significant portion of your fundraising revenue.\n\nAs a nonprofit professional, you understand that retaining a donor is much more cost-efficient than acquiring a new one. Yet, many donors are known to give once and never return. So how can you retain that donor and keep them coming back time and time again? By cultivating that relationship, of course!\n\nHere at Snowball, we specialize in effective fundraising tactics for nonprofit organizations of all shapes and sizes. Plus, we understand that having the right tools is everything. That’s why we’ve created this quick guide to explain the importance of donor cultivation and some actionable ways to improve your strategy.\n\nIn the midst of a crisis, such as the global pandemic we’re currently in, you might be tempted to press pause on any relationship cultivation efforts in order to focus on other struggling operations. However, [donor engagement](https://www.auctria.com/blog/why-donor-engagement-matters-or-a-mini-guide/) is more important now than ever before! **To that extent, here are six things you can be doing right now to modernize your nonprofit’s approach to donor cultivation and see impactful results:**\n\n 1. Implementing prospect research.\n 2. Segmenting your donors.\n 3. Establishing a digital marketing strategy.\n 4. Encouraging recurring gifts.\n 5. Utilizing a nonprofit CRM.\n 6. Nurturing leads year-round.\n\nWhile these tactics might seem overwhelming at first, it’s important to remember that utilizing the right [fundraising tools](https://snowballfundraising.com/fundraising-software/) can streamline each and every process. Ready to get started? Let’s jump in.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/a31da5f547ab936fd7b42ed3dc25fe7231640a17-750x100.jpg)\n\n## 1. Implement prospect research.\nProspect research is a specific fundraising strategy that  provides valuable insights into your current and potential donors by analyzing publicly available information. For example, if you’ve decided to seek new major donors to support your organization, it’s crucial that you do some background research first. Otherwise, you risk wasting valuable time and energy on prospects who either can’t or won’t support your cause.\n\nProspect research tactics most often screen supporters to identify the following:\n\n * **Ability to give:** A donor’s ability to give is fairly self-explanatory. You’re not likely to receive a major gift from someone who is already struggling financially— especially in the current economic climate. In order to deduce this ability prior to donor outreach, many fundraisers look at financial markers such as real estate ownership, stock holdings, and business affiliations.\n\n * **Affinity to give:** On the other hand, a donor’s affinity to give can be a bit more complicated. This marker describes the likelihood of a connection between your organization and the potential donor. Do they have a history of philanthropic giving? Do they support causes similar to your own? This is a crucial element of prospect research because even if an individual has the ability to give, it won’t make a difference if they don’t feel drawn to your nonprofit.\n\nDonors with both a high ability and affinity to give are going to be your major donor prospects. For a deeper look into prospect research and distinguishing between a donor’s ability and [affinity to give, check out this handy guide from DonorSearch.](https://www.donorsearch.net/affinity-to-give/)\n\nImplementing strategic prospect research is an excellent way to tailor your donor cultivation plan to those that are most likely to make a significant contribution to your organization. This way, your efforts can be highly personalized and will be more likely to form a connection between the prospect and your organization. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/13b97b6608eef8eb1af3e3dc1735bc55cdefa7ef-750x100.jpg)\n\n## 2. Segment your donors.\nSpeaking of personalization, your efforts shouldn’t stop once you secure your first donation. Instead, it’s more important than ever to utilize available resources and create targeted cultivation approaches with each donor through segmentation.\n\nEffectively [segmenting your donor base](https://www.auctria.com/blog/segment-engage-averill/) by certain characteristics and metrics sets you up for more personal and meaningful communications with each individual. Let’s walk through a few types of donor characteristics to keep in mind as you begin the process of segmenting your audience:\n\n * **Demographics:** Collecting basic demographic information such as age, gender, race, marital status, occupation, and annual income can allow you to build a strengthened profile of each donor and better understand them as an individual. Plus, this knowledge can affect your fundraising asks. For example, you might be willing to suggest a larger donation from an individual with an income that’s significantly higher than average.\n\n * **Engagement history:** How long has this donor been contributing to your organization? What is their average gift size? Do they have a history of event attendance or a previous volunteer engagement? Answering these types of questions is a great way to get a feel for the extent of the donor’s commitment to your mission. And don’t worry, you can easily extract a lot of this information from your nonprofit CRM (which we’ll cover in more depth later!).\n\n * **Preferred method of giving:** Understanding a donor’s preferred method of giving is crucial for creating targeted fundraising asks. For example, if a donor has solely contributed through text-to-give fundraising in the past, but you send a request for a cash or check donation, that donor would be more likely to ignore your appeal altogether.\n\n * **Preferred method of communication:** Your donor’s preferred method of communication is one that will most directly impact your cultivation approach. For example, continuously calling a donor (who repeatedly does not pick up) would be a waste of time— especially if you know that their email response rate is significantly higher. In order to take any guesswork out of the process, you can even ask your donors directly to select their preferred communication method!\n\nThe more personalized your correspondence, the stronger your donor relationships will be. On the other hand, if your messaging comes across as too out-of-touch or irrelevant, the donor is more likely to unsubscribe and lower their level of engagement— which is the exact opposite of what you’re looking for.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/4dc2ee64f9276663d68176a5eeaaea72b5b79e3b-750x100.jpg)\n\n## 3. Establish a digital marketing strategy.\nA great way to practice effective donor cultivation is by using digital marketing tools to raise awareness of your organization, along with any specific campaigns. Not only does this expand your potential donor base to include those across the globe, but it also allows even the most local of donors to stay up-to-date on what you’re doing— and how they can help! Here are three main digital marketing tactics to employ:\n\n * **Social media:** While the top three social media platforms, both for marketing and personal uses, are still Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, you might not want to leave out a few of the more niche and/or growing networks. For example, [TikTok has seen huge successes](https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidebanis/2019/12/16/how-charities-are-using-tik-tok-to-raise-funds/#26390eb9143d) in the nonprofit sector for raising funds and increasing engagement.\n\n * **Email marketing:** Email marketing offers the ability to personalize your messaging (thanks to your donor segmentation tactics) and effectively relay important information. Because your message is sent directly to your donor’s inbox, email outreach is one of the best ways to ensure the individual receives and views your marketing.\n\n * **Web presence:** Your nonprofit website should be the foundation of any digital marketing tactics you employ. Namely, your social media posts should constantly link back to your website (and more specifically, your donation pages) and the same with any email outreach. That means that providing an informative, easy-to-navigate website is essential for encouraging donors to become more involved in your efforts.\n\nThese tools, along with any others not mentioned, are the best ways to reach new audiences and grow your relationships with your current network. For example, you might use paid digital advertisements to increase your reach, and follow up with more personalized outreach to build donor relations.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/1ad76a0da1eb3ad63582f2c44b0fb7f1bbc76ab3-750x100.jpg)\n\n## 4. Encourage recurring gifts.\nRecurring donations are one of the most powerful tools for any nonprofit organization. Not only do recurring gifts signify a long-term donor relationship, but they also provide steady income throughout the year. And (with the right tools) the recurring donation process can be quite simple:\n\nA donor completes an online donation form.\nThe donor fills out their payment information a single time.\nThe donor sees an option to check for a recurring donation .\nThe predetermined amount is automatically taken from the donor’s account on a regular schedule.\n\nAs a nonprofit, all you need to get started is an online donation platform that provides recurring gift functionality. Simply having an option on a donation form to “click” for a recurring donation can lead to a substantial increase in fundraising revenue. You might be surprised at how many donors take the option just because it’s there.\n\nHowever, it’s also a good idea to use your platform to promote the recurring gift option beforehand. For more information, check out [Snowball's guide to leveraging recurring donations!](https://snowballfundraising.com/recurring-donations/)\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/4716a0b2abdb89eef9782b6b19dab63362ac1d0a-750x100.jpg)\n\n\n## 5. Utilize a nonprofit CRM.\nYour nonprofit CRM, or constituent relationship management system, is another powerful tool for boosting donor cultivation. This software system collects donor data from your online donation platform that can then be used to optimize the following resources:\n\n * **Donor profiles:** Understanding who your donors are, outside of simply a wallet or an ATM, is key to establishing effective relationships and securing life-long donors. Each person who contributes to your organization is an individual with their own lives, struggles, and opportunities. Collecting and organizing information about them in an easy-to-manage way is crucial for understanding what makes them tick.\n\n * **Communication tools:** Like mentioned earlier, your donor communication goes a long way to implementing a positive donor cultivation strategy. Understanding how to best reach an individual is one of the most important aspects of a strategic communication plan. By integrating your nonprofit CRM with your marketing and communication tools, you’ll be better equipped to form strengthened relationships.\n\n * **Fundraising dashboard:** Because your CRM collects information from your donation tools, it makes sense that it would be an excellent resource for organizing and visualizing your fundraising data. This way, you and your team can have a solid understanding of the health of your organization and point out any opportunities for growth.\n\nWithout the use of an effective nonprofit CRM, you likely have a whole realm of data that will be underutilized. By implementing such a tool, you can start to see the ways that your donor information can easily go toward your cultivation strategies. For more information about choosing (and using) the right donor database, read more with this [guide.](https://bloomerang.co/blog/donor-database/)\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/c33335ff946658283e78372e7ff5cddee4ba931c-750x100.jpg)\n\n# 6. Nurture leads year-round.\nNonprofits everywhere see a huge surge in giving right around the holiday months (November-December), with significantly lower revenue throughout the remainder of the year. While this rise in fundraising revenue is great, it can become an issue when you don’t bring in enough donations on a more regular basis to sustain operations year-round. \n\nA healthy donor cultivation strategy, on the other hand, focuses on sustainable revenue by nurturing leads year-round. You can do this by implementing unique fundraising tactics such as:\n\n * **Quarterly campaigns:** Many organizations rely on a huge annual fundraiser to bring in the majority of their revenue. While this can be effective to a point, you might also consider hosting multiple, smaller campaigns throughout the year. For example, you could host an extravagant fundraising event once a season— Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall— to bring in donations, and still have time to prepare for the next.\n\n * **Optimized personal outreach:** Having a consistent schedule of marketing outreach is great for raising awareness throughout the year. However, building personal relationships often requires a more intimate component. For example, if you notice that a normally highly-engaged donor has not given to your last several campaigns, you might want to reach out and see if everything is okay!\n\n[Keeping donors engaged year-round](https://www.auctria.com/blog/keep-donors-engaged-snowball/) is an important part of maintaining a relatively steady income of charitable donations. Cultivating donor relationships is a great way to do so without sacrificing your year-end revenue.\n\n-------------------------\nAs you begin to implement these specific strategies, you’ll start to notice more meaningful relationships with your donors are sprouting. And even if they’re unable to give during this time, cultivating that growth will set up your organization for long-term success in the end. Good luck!\n\n----------------------\nSpecial thanks to John Killoran for his expert advice. John is an inventor, entrepreneur, and the Chairman of Clover Leaf Solutions, a national lab services company. He currently leads Clover Leaf’s investment in Snowball Fundraising, an online fundraising platform for nonprofit organizations. \n\nSnowball was one of John’s first public innovations; it’s a fundraising platform that offers text-to-give, online giving, events, and peer-to-peer fundraising tools for nonprofits. By making giving simple, Snowball increases the donations that these organizations can raise online. The Snowball effect is real! John founded Snowball in 2011. Now, it serves over 7,000 nonprofits and is the #1 nonprofit fundraising platform.\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":2105},{"url":2106},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/ec005d826e67608e236bd908a624d82e3999d19c-600x320.png","2020-06-11T16:00:00.000Z",{"current":2109},"donor-cultivation-6-tips-for-modernizing-your-approach","Cultivating donor relationships is an essential part of nonprofit fundraising, yet it’s often neglected. Check out these tips on how to modernize your efforts.]","Donor Cultivation: 6 Tips for Modernizing Your Approach",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2113,"category":2114,"id":5,"image":2115,"publishOn":2118,"slug":2119,"teaser":2121,"title":2122},"At every fundraising event, the excitement in the room isn’t just about the prizes, the auctioneer’s charm, or the mission—it’s also about the people who open their wallets (and hearts). Knowing who is in your audience can make the difference between good results and a record-breaking event.\n\nThat’s why we’re thrilled to feature this piece from [Misty Marquam of Marquam Events,](https://marquamagency.com/) an expert in fundraising strategy and event production. Misty breaks down the “Big Five” types of spenders you’ll likely encounter at your event, offering practical tips on how to engage each one.\n\n1. Philanthropists\n2. Competitive bidders\n3. Gamblers\n4. Shoppers\n5. Staff & Volunteers\n\nAt Auctria, we know that fundraising isn’t one-size-fits-all. When you can identify your audience types—and pair that knowledge with smart technology—you create the perfect formula for higher engagement, more bids, and greater donations.\n\n**Bidders are bidders, right? Not necessarily!**\n\n## The Big Five types of spenders at an Event fundraiser\n\nThere are not-so-subtle differences in the types of folks who are likely to pull out their wallets at your next fundraising event. You can cater to their desires directly if you learn a bit about their psychology – their preferences, likes, dislikes, what gets their motors running, what turns them away to check their phones. There are five types of folks who commonly attend and support fundraising events. Here’s what we know of their habits and how you can cater to them. \n\n### Philanthropists  \nOh, how we love having philanthropists in the room. Philanthropists often are uninterested in acquiring things, but they believe strongly in your cause or they wouldn’t be there.** You probably won’t find them posing for snapshots in the photo booth or playing Heads & Tails, but they are likely to pump up your special appeal with lead gifts and substantial donations. They’re also the folks motivated to equal other guests’ generous special appeal donations, with matches and challenges. \n\nPhilanthropists demonstrate their support of you financially and often like to fly under the radar – giving anonymously or with quiet recognition. They’re the guests you must develop and maintain close relationships with. Learn their stories and what makes them tick. Provide opportunities for them to support you in their preferred ways.\n\n### Competitive Bidders  \nThere’s lots to love about the personality type we call competitive bidders. They generally love to spend and bring the party!** Competitive bidders enjoy being the center of attention – you’re likely to find them loudly challenging other bidders, engaging in bidding wars, standing on tables in the midst of all the action. \n\nCompetitive bidders love loads of verbal recognition, being called out by name and always being in the spotlight! So get to know them, appreciate them, and acknowledge them for raising the energy in the room while raising the money. Win. Win!\n\n### Gamblers  \n**The element of chance always appeals to gamblers. Raffles, drawings, balloon pops – any game of chance is going to be a big hit with the gamblers in the room.** Target your gambling crowd by offering plenty of games of chance and/or opportunities to win something at moderate or lower price points. \n\nNeed help coming up with them? An extensive best practices library of super fun games specifically designed for the gamblers in your crowd – [read more about games here]( https://www.marquamauctionagency.com/weave-mission-moments-live-fundraising-events/)\n\n### Shoppers  \n**Shoppers are going to treat every event like it’s Black Friday.** They are born to chase the deal and love finding a steal while supporting their favorite charity. If you have a lot of shoppers in your crowd, entice them with the following: Low-dollar games that carry high stakes, silent auctions with multifarious price points, and moderate- to low-price- point raffles. Shoppers want a small buy-in with a potentially big reward. They’re not likely to give big at the appeal, so let them get involved in other ways! [Check out our tips on how to engage the shoppers in your crowd here](https://www.marquamauctionagency.com/celebrate-shoppers-crowd-silent-auction/).\n\n## Staff/Volunteers \n**Finally, let’s take a closer look at the staff and volunteers in the room (they generally participate in the same types of revenue streams).** Staff members work for the organization – while they no doubt love your mission, they are obligated to attend the event. What appeals to them? Affordable games, like Heads & Tails. Low buy-in raffles. Gift certificate walls are attractive to staff members as well. \n\nAs for our invaluable volunteers, they generally have huge hearts, but not necessarily huge spending power. They love the energy of events, getting dressed up, and supporting you with their most precious asset – their time – in lieu of large fiscal gifts. \n\nBottom line – we can’t always count on big bucks from staff or volunteers, but we can count on the immeasurable value they bring to your event in other ways. (BTW, YAY for volunteers-you make the world go ‘round! We treasure you and couldn’t do any of this without you.)\n\nMisty’s breakdown of spenders highlights something we see every day at Auctria: fundraising success comes from meeting people where they are. Whether your event is filled with philanthropists who quietly underwrite your paddle raise, competitive bidders who thrive on the spotlight, or shoppers who can’t resist a good deal, tailoring the experience keeps everyone engaged and giving.\n\n## The Auctria Advantage for Every Type of Spender\n\n**1. Philanthropists** Auctria makes it easy to spotlight your mission with branded websites, storytelling tools, and paddle raise tracking. Quiet or public, philanthropists can give generously in the way that suits them best.\n\n\n**2. Competitive Bidders** Fuel their energy with mobile bidding, instant outbid notifications, and real-time leaderboards. Auctria keeps the action fast, fun, and visible—perfect for those who love the spotlight.\n\n\n* **Gamblers From raffles to balloon pops,** Auctria handles games of chance with seamless setup and random-winner selection tools. Easy to run, exciting to play, and always compliant.\n\n\n* **Shoppers Showcase a wide range of auction items at every price** point with customizable online catalogs. Auctria makes browsing simple and checkout effortless, so shoppers can chase that deal while boosting your cause.\n\n\n* **Staff & Volunteers Staff** and volunteers may not spend the most, but they shine with heart and enthusiasm. Affordable options like wine walls, drink tickets, Heads & Tails, and low buy-in raffles keep them engaged. Beyond dollars, their passion is infectious—the energy they bring elevates the entire event.\n\nEvery type of spender plays a role in your success—and with the right mix of psychology, strategy, and technology, you can maximize their impact.\nAt Auctria, we’re honored to support nonprofits, schools, and charities of all sizes in making fundraising both fun and effective. As Misty points out, understanding your guests is key. Auctria’s mission is to give you the tools to turn that knowledge into action—and raise more for your cause.\n\n------------------------\n\nSpecial thanks to Misty Marquam, Founder, Principal Benefit Auctioneer & Fundraising Consultant of Marquam Agency.\nAsk Misty for referrals. Marquam Auction Agency works with some of the best in the biz!\nFully immersing your supporters in your mission is the trend. Are you taking advantage of your many options yet? [Chat with Misty and the team at Marquam!](https://marquamagency.com/contact-us/)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":2116},{"url":2117},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/e3d043186fcbabf3a0094d0249b7d9c96136fde8-1700x1233.png","2025-10-08T15:56:01.227Z",{"current":2120},"the-big-five-types-of-spenders-and-how-auctria-engages-them-all","From shoppers to philanthropists— learn what makes every guest give.","The Big Five Types of Spenders—and How Auctria Engages Them All",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2124,"category":2125,"id":5,"image":2126,"publishOn":2129,"slug":2130,"teaser":2132,"title":2133},"Auctions are a valuable opportunity for nonprofits to raise a lot of money while actively engaging their supporters. However, an inefficient and ineffective fundraiser will do a poor job of engaging supporters in order to raise revenue. \n\nThat’s why as you’re [planning your event,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/3-steps-run-auctionfundraiser/) you should make sure to keep donor engagement and participation at the forefront of your mind.\n\nBetween all of the moving parts of your auction planning process, there are multiple opportunities that arise to improve donor participation, each with specific strategies related in order to facilitate this improvement. These opportunities increase participation in: \n\n 1. Sponsorships and solicitations\n 2. Donor attendance\n 3. Auction activities\n 4. Additional event activities\n 5. Future events\n\nAuctions have a lot of moving parts. To get organized and keep each of these opportunities and their related strategies in mind during each stage of the planning process, you’ll need a [comprehensive nonprofit event software solution at your disposal.](https://charityengine.net/nonprofit-event-software/) \n\nWith the right tools and the right mindset, your auction will run smoothly, meeting and exceeding your fundraising expectations.\n\nReady to learn more about increasing participation at each stage of the auction planning process? Let’s dive in. \n\n\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/01386bc65b0bb6967aaf20845541016ef634f99d-800x150.jpg?fit=crop&q=85)\n\n## 1. Increase participation in sponsorships and solicitations\n1. Increase participation in sponsorships and solicitations\nWhen you think about donor participation for your auction event, you probably jump to your attendee’s participation. However, there are some donors you need to think about before you even start marketing the event: sponsors and prize contributors. \n\nDeveloping relationships with sponsors can make or break your auction event. [Auctria’s auction sponsorship guide](https://www.auctria.com/blog/sponsor-mbopp/) explains that you should have both macro and micro goals for your sponsorships: \n\n * The **macro** goal of sponsorships is to use the contributions from these contributors to cover the entire cost of your event. \n * **Micro** goals of sponsorships involve picking a single cost of the event for sponsors to cover. For example, a sponsor may cover the $2,000 it takes to book the auction venue. \n\nMicro goals make great asks for your potential sponsors. Knowing that their contribution is going to a specific aspect of the event makes the sponsorship itself much more appealing.\n\nMake sure your sponsors know that they’ll receive something in return for their contributions. Consider offering verbal mentions during the event, a spot for their logo on decorations or on t-shirts for an event giveaway, or acknowledgment on social media.\n\n**Before the event, you’re looking for more than just sponsorships, you’re looking for auction items as well. **\n\nIn order to make the most of your item solicitation asks and encourage more participation, try these strategies: \n\n\n * **Ask your sponsors. **They’re already invested in the event and might be compelled to contribute an item. Plus, it increases their visibility at the event.\n * **Consider popular items.** Knowing what types of items your audience will take interest in can guide your asks so that you get the most valuable items. \n * **Ask past supporters.** If your CRM shows that your past donors have business connections, use those relationships to make an ask. \n * **Turn rejections into asks.** If a company says no to a sponsorship, ask if they’d like to contribute to the auction instead. This is a lower-level contribution that they’ll feel more compelled to participate in. \n\nIf you’re worried about crafting the actual *ask* for sponsors and item contributors, try working off of templates like these. This will help ensure you have all of the necessary elements in the letters. Then, you can personalize them and brand them to your nonprofit. \n\nFinally, be sure to keep records of each sponsorship and solicitation ask and which ones are successful. This can help guide your asks for future events. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/8a08fb48a18f9402a2c75c0f06448a5916afe8a2-800x150.jpg?fit=crop&q=85)\n\n## 2. Increase donor attendance\nAttending events is a vital part of the donor journey. It gets your supporters actively engaged with your nonprofit rather than just from their computer screen. Therefore, it’s important that your [marketing plan](https://www.auctria.com/blog/salaslabs-marketing-nonprofit/) reflects the interests of your supporters to encourage them to take part in this journey. \n\nDuring your planning and marketing process, you should make sure to engage your supporters by: \n\n * **Personalizing outreach.** Segment your donors before you start marketing. Doubleknot’s segmentation guide defines the term segmentation to mean, “the practice of separating your overall donor population into smaller groups.” The commonality held by these smaller groups can then be used to personalize outreach for everyone on the list. For example, you might create an email template to send to past auction participants  encouraging them to come back. \n\n * **Carefully choosing auction items.** When you’re choosing auction items, make sure to think about those that will most interest your intended audience. Then, when you create marketing materials, you can feature those items based on the interests of donors. For example, if someone attended your golf tournament, you might tell them about the clubs you’re auctioning off. \n\n * **Promote early.** Start promoting your auction early! Don’t leave the marketing to the last minute. You should make sure your supporters have enough time to schedule your auction into their plans. Plus, promoting your event early helps build anticipation and excitement for it. \n\n * **Make supporters feel special.** Do you have major prospects you’re inviting to the event? Incorporate aspects that will set them apart. For instance, send individualized invitations for them to attend. Encourage them to buy a ticket for a VIP table at the auction. Take time to make conversation with them at the event about their interests. \n\n * **Don’t forget to ask about special requirements.** If you’re serving food at the event, be sure you have options for those who have dietary restrictions. Ask the question upfront if there’s any way you can better accommodate your guests. From wheelchair ramps to nonalcoholic beverages, make sure you cover your bases to make sure attendees feel comfortable. \n\n[CharityEngine’s nonprofit CRM guide](https://charityengine.net/nonprofit-crm-guide/) explains that the right CRM not only records the engagement activities your supporters are involved with but also guides them to new activities, expanding the donor journey. \n\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/e1964b23c55b31ec6579d5369b634f002bdf0f78-800x150.jpg?fit=crop&q=85)\n## 3. Increase participation in auction activities\n\nWhen it comes to the auction itself, encouraging more participation not only encourages guest engagement, but it also drives auction revenue. Consider this: when more supporters bid on the same item, they drive the price of that item higher and higher. Making it easier and more enticing to bid will help the overall success of your entire event. \n\nTo increase the participation of your guests in the auction itself, we suggest: \n\n * **Mobile bidding.** Mobile bidding allows your event attendees to bid from their seats. This makes it easy to engage in conversation, keep item tables from getting too crowded, and alerts supporters when they’re being outbid by someone else. \n * **Allow early bidding.** To generate more excitement about your auction items, open up the bidding before the auction even starts! This encourages early bidding and allows people to get a sneak peek at your top items. \n * **Acknowledge top contributors.** As people bid, acknowledge those who contribute the most. You can do this with a “top contributors” board or by announcing the top donor after the bidding ends. \n * **Set a specific closing time.** Make sure the end of the raffle doesn’t come as a surprise. Having a specific time to close the auction creates a sense of urgency in your supporters to bid on their favorite items. \n\nMake sure that the tools you use to encourage auction participation don’t hinder your nonprofit’s [financial recording process.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/auction-financials/ You’ll need to keep very detailed tabs on your finances because, after all, fundraising is all about raising money! \n\nKnowing details from the original price of different auction items to the amount you paid for them to the [payment processing fees](https://charityengine.net/blog/nonprofit-payment-processing) required for your winners will help you better predict financial outcomes.\n\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/76074802a84ba1b57e66f1a8e276df78ea7d9f9a-800x150.jpg?fit=crop&q=85)\n\n## 4. Increase participation in additional event activities\nAlthough you’re hosting an auction event, your auction doesn’t have to be the only activity available for people to participate in. You can provide plenty of other opportunities for supporters to get engaged and to contribute to your nonprofit. \n\nFor example, you might supplement your auction revenue with: \n\n * **Raffles.** Raffles are a great supplement to your auction and provide suspense and surprise as to who the winners will be. \n * **Additional [donations.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/bidder-into-donors/)** Open up the option for supporters to give as they feel compelled at the event via text, online gift, check, or cash.\n * **Branded item sales.** Sell your own items at the auction to help supporters remember the event. Make sure they’re branded to your nonprofit. \n\n\nWhile supplementing your revenue is important, remember that your event is also a great opportunity for stewardship. Make sure to include elements to the event that are not revenue-generating. For instance, you might decide to provide: \n\n * **Dinner or appetizers.** Who doesn’t like free food? Plus, this will give your supporters something to do at their tables while they engage in conversation. \n * **Reading material.** From table pamphlets to larger signs around the venue, make sure your supporters can read about your mission and your latest projects. \n * **A social media hashtag.** Encourage supporters to take pictures at the event and use your special event hashtag when they post it online. \n\nParticipation in your auction is great, but it shouldn’t be the only activity for your supporters. Make sure you provide other opportunities that will drive value for both you and your donors. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/4d193faa75b996a9ff330bf190f5a7a0fe2b3910-800x150.jpg?fit=crop&q=85)\n\n## 5. Increase donor participation in future events\nEven after the event ends, your supporters’ participation doesn’t end there! You’ve just created an unforgettable experience for those supporters, so don’t let them forget it after they leave. \n\nBe sure to continue the engagement with your supporters by: \n\n * **Sending personalized thank you cards.** Handwritten cards can go a long way for your donors. Try adding a detail that you learned about the supporter during the event to show that you paid attention while talking with them. \n * **Following up with a survey.** Ask your attendees about how the event went overall. A survey not only provides feedback for your organization, but it also encourages supporters to reflect on the time they spent at your event. \n * **Thanking your sponsors.** Don’t forget about your sponsors! Make sure to thank them for making the auction possible. Also, follow through on any marketing or promotion promises you made them in order to secure the sponsorship. \n\nBy continuing to engage your supporters after the event is over, you increase the probability that they’ll come to your next event or continue to engage with your nonprofit in other ways. \n\nBe sure to create a donor segment in your CRM for those who attended your event. Then, you can reach out to the same group next year, reminding them of the fun they had and asking them to attend again. \n\n----------------------------------------------------\n\nEngagement and participation go hand-in-hand. Your event attendees can only be engaged with your auction if they participate in the different activities you have planned out. Make sure your next auction is one to be remembered with these participation strategies! \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":2127},{"url":2128},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/dbca9443f25fbd9e5652d1f9a6a203d93558d74a-600x320.jpg","2020-03-02T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":2131},"5-ways-to-increase-donor-participation-at-your-next-auction","Increasing participation at your next auction can come in many forms. Increase participation in regards to sponsorships, donors, and future events. Read more!","5 Ways to Increase Donor Participation at Your Next Auction",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2135,"category":2136,"id":5,"image":2137,"publishOn":2140,"slug":2141,"teaser":2143,"title":2144},"Fundraising strategies evolve constantly. Platforms shift. Communication channels change. What worked five years ago may look completely different today. Nonprofits are always adjusting to new tools, new technologies, and new donor expectations. At times it can feel like the ground beneath fundraising is always moving.\n\nAnd yet, event fundraisers remain.\n\nAcross cities, towns, schools, and communities, organizations continue to gather supporters for galas, auctions, tournaments, festivals, and benefit dinners. Some events are celebrating ten twenty, fifty years. A few have been gathering supporters for more than a century.\n\n**That kind of longevity is not accidental. It is not tied to a platform or a trend. It is rooted in something far more enduring. It is human.**\n\nPeople are social beings. We gather. We celebrate. We show up for one another. From ancient harvest festivals to civic banquets, from town halls to charity balls, the instinct to come together around shared purpose has never disappeared. Event fundraisers endure because they align with how humans are wired.\n\nIf you want to understand why event fundraisers continue to thrive and how they future proof your fundraising for decades, we need to look at what is underneath the surface.\n\nWe are going to explore:\n\n* Historical Continuity: Gathering Is a Human Ritual\n* The Psychology Behind Why Events Work\n* The Event as an Emotional Container\n* The Attention Economy: Why Events Stand Apart\n* The Multiplication Effect and Ambassadorship\n* Relationships: Retention and Expansion\n* The Great Wealth Transfer: Why Events Matter More Than Ever\n* Events Evolve and Technology Must Evolve With Them\n* Your Technology Is Your Compass and You Are the Hero\n\n\nWhen you see the full picture, it becomes clear.\n\nEvent fundraisers are not going anywhere. They are foundational.\n\n## Historical Continuity: Gathering Is a Human Ritual\n\nLong before digital campaigns and online donation forms, there were gatherings. Human history is marked by ritualized moments of coming together. Tribal ceremonies marked transitions and strengthened identity. Religious festivals reinforced shared values. Harvest celebrations brought communities together to share abundance. Civic dinners and charity balls funded public works and supported neighbors in need.\n\nThese were not marketing tactics. They were rituals that allowed communities to survive and thrive.[ Filling the seats, fills the hearts and then ultimately fills the fundraising needs](https://www.auctria.com/blog/selling-tickets-filling-seats/).\n\nRitual creates meaning. It reinforces belonging. It connects generations. When people gather intentionally, [they experience continuity and shared purpose.](https://www.auctria.com/video/?id=1144667522&t=8m20s)\n\nModern event fundraisers are part of this same lineage. They are structured opportunities for a community to gather, affirm what it values, and act collectively in support of a cause. That historical continuity explains why events endure. They are not temporary strategies. They are modern expressions of ancient human behavior.\n\nGathering is timeless. So are the causes that bring us together.\n\n## The Psychology Behind Why Events Work\n\nEvent fundraisers are powerful because they satisfy core human needs. At the center of human motivation is the desire to belong. People want to feel connected and part of something larger than themselves. When supporters enter a room filled with others who care about the same mission, they experience affirmation and shared identity.\n\nShared emotional experiences deepen that connection. Emotions intensify when experienced together. Laughter spreads more easily. Applause grows stronger. Tears carry more meaning. When an audience collectively watches a mission moment video or hears a powerful testimonial, the emotional impact multiplies.\n\n[The 3 steps for a successful Paddle Raise are:](https://www.auctria.com/blog/the-magic-of-a-paddle-raise-your-most-profitable-moment/)\n\n* The Story. Psychologically, attendees give most when it comes from a place of emotion. \n* The Ask. Have a clear call to action. \n* The Collection. This is the Paddle Raise in action! \n\nThere is also a biological component to generosity. Acts of giving activate reward centers in the brain. Generosity is associated with dopamine release and emotional uplift. When giving occurs in a social setting, that positive reinforcement strengthens because it is shared.\n\nEvents do more than generate revenue. They fulfill psychological drivers that build loyalty and deepen commitment.\n\n## The Event as an Emotional Container\n\nAn event is not simply a schedule and a venue. It is an emotional container.\nFor a defined period of time, supporters are immersed in your mission. The mission moment video plays without interruption. Testimonials are heard in full. Leaders share vision. Beneficiaries share impact. Applause rises together. Paddles lift together. [Turn your fundraising events into powerful storytelling platforms.](https://www.auctria.com/webinar/weaving-storytelling-through-your-fundraising-events/)\n\nIn that space, distractions fade. Supporters are present in a way that is increasingly rare in daily life. That presence creates emotional intensity. Emotional intensity creates memory. Memory strengthens attachment.\n\nAn event concentrates belonging, purpose, and action into a shared experience. That kind of emotional immersion builds loyalty that extends far beyond the evening itself.\n\n## The Attention Economy: Why Events Stand Apart\n\nWe live in an age of constant distraction. Social feeds scroll endlessly. Emails compete for attention. Notifications interrupt focus throughout the day. Messages are skimmed and forgotten.\n\nDigital communication is essential, but it exists in an environment of divided attention.\n\nAn event offers something different. For a few hours, supporters are fully present. They are not multitasking. They are seated among others who share their commitment to the mission. They are listening, watching, and feeling in real time.\n\nDon’t just speak your why through great stories, SHOW it too! We believe [the future of fundraising events is leaning fully into mission immersion](https://www.auctria.com/blog/immerse-guests-in-mission-watch-fundraising-soar/) and relying heavily on technology.In a fragmented world, events create immersion. Immersion deepens emotional connection. Emotional connection strengthens long term giving behavior.\n\nFocused presence is rare. Events provide it.\n\n## The Multiplication Effect and Ambassadorship\n\nEvent fundraisers grow through relationships. Supporters attend with friends. Board members host tables. Volunteers invite colleagues. When someone experiences a meaningful event, they often want to share it. This creates a multiplication effect.\n\nYear one attendees become year two ambassadors. Year two ambassadors bring year three guests. Networks expand organically through trust.\nAs supporters return year after year, relationships deepen. Familiar faces become stronger advocates. Shared memories reinforce loyalty. Over time, this compounding growth builds both stability and momentum.\n\nEvents that celebrate decades do so because relationships expand and strengthen over time.\n\n## Relationships: Retention and Expansion\n\nLong term sustainability is built on retention and stewardship. Events create a shared annual milestone that supporters anticipate. They reconnect with peers. They renew commitment.\n\nWhen relationships are nurtured consistently, giving often increases. A first time attendee may purchase a ticket. A returning attendee may engage more deeply. Over years, that same individual may become a sponsor, a major donor, or a legacy supporter.\n\nRetention builds depth. Expansion builds breadth. Together, they create relationship equity that compounds year after year. Then, [after the event fundraiser is your opportunity to convert the bidders and donors into long term supporters](https://www.auctria.com/blog/bidder-into-donors/).\n\nHolding onto and stewarding relationships is growth.\n\n## The Great Wealth Transfer: Why Events Matter More Than Ever\n\nWe are living through one of the largest intergenerational wealth transfers in history. As assets shift from older generations to younger ones, philanthropic decisions will be shaped by trust, memory, and lived experience. Wealth follows relationships.\n\nEvents create cross generational engagement. Parents bring children. Mentors invite emerging professionals. Families experience mission moments together. \n\nWhen younger generations encounter your mission in a communal and emotionally resonant setting, you plant seeds. Those seeds may grow slowly, but they grow in the soil of memory and experience.Gen Z is very aware of transparency and Impact. [Younger donors seek a clear view of where their donations are going and how their contributions make a real difference.](https://www.auctria.com/webinar/attracting-a-younger-generation-to-fundraising-events/)\n\nEvents are not just revenue drivers for today. They are strategic investments in future philanthropy.\n\n## Events Evolve and Technology Must Evolve With Them\n\nEvent formats will continue to change. Some gatherings are fully in person. Others incorporate online components, mobile bidding, livestreamed elements, and digital engagement tools.\n\nThe format adapts. The instinct to gather remains constant.\n\nTo future proof your event fundraiser, [your technology must evolve alongside expectations](https://www.auctria.com/blog/tech-driven-fundraising-tools-your-nonprofit-needs/). It should expand access, simplify participation, and capture meaningful engagement data. It should support both in room experiences and digital interaction without creating friction.\n\nTechnology should enhance the gathering, not complicate it.\n\n## Your Technology Is Your Compass and You Are the Hero\n\nFuture proofing your event fundraiser requires consistency and insight. The right technology becomes your compass, guiding decisions year after year.\nWhen you remain with a platform long term, you preserve historical data. You can compare performance year over year. You can track attendance trends, sponsorship growth, donor progression, and engagement patterns. Your data becomes your North star. It informs stewardship, highlights opportunity, and guides strategy.\n\nSwitching systems repeatedly disrupts continuity. Staying with technology that grows alongside your event strengthens long term vision.\n\nAnd at the center of it all stands YOU. The development director.  The event chair. The volunteer leader. The administrator. You gather the community. You shape the experience. You steward relationships. You guide the mission forward.\n\nTechnology should empower you, simplify your work, and provide clarity so you can focus on people. Achieving strong fundraising event ROI isn't about cutting corners. [It’s about making intentional investments in the guest experience, sponsorship development, technology, and follow-up](https://www.auctria.com/blog/fundraising-events-roi/). With the right structure and fundraising strategy in place, events can deliver both immediate revenue and long-term donor value.\n\n## Give. Gather. Grow.\n\nEvents endure because they align with human nature. They fulfill psychological needs. They create emotional immersion. They multiply through relationships. They prepare your organization for generational wealth. And when supported by the right technology and leadership, they compound year after year.\n\nThat is why event fundraisers will never go out of style.\n\n**And that is why running one today is future proofing your tomorrow.**\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":2138},{"url":2139},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/bf57f1835231736bfde6f9b784272875b72e9fcb-1254x836.jpg","2026-03-02T14:09:00.000Z",{"current":2142},"the-timeless-power-of-event-fundraisers","Fundraising is constantly evolving as platforms shift, communication channels change.  Nonprofits are always adapting to new tools, technologies, and donor expectations. And yet, event fundraisers remain.","The Timeless Power of Event Fundraisers",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2146,"category":2147,"id":5,"image":2148,"publishOn":2151,"slug":2152,"teaser":2154,"title":2155},"After the auction fundraiser is over it’s time to take a deep breath and appreciate the work that was completed.  If the auction met or exceeded goals great!  If the auction fell short of goals don’t be discouraged, every dollar raised is one more than you had the day before.  Auction fundraisers may take a few years to gain momentum and grow year over year.  \n\n\n## Distribution of Auction Items & Paper Trail\nBe sure to distribute auction items in a timely manner.  Clearly communicate date, time location for item pick-up or time frame for items to be mailed out.  If you auctioned [no risk auction items](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/no_risk_auction_items) be sure to include all appropriate certificates and paperwork. Give a few options and repeat the message multiple times on multiple channels.  **Yes, even though this information may have been included on receipts it is imperative to remind bidders again- when, and where winning distributions will take place.**  \nClose out all final bids and sales.  Create a paper trail by providing receipts and statements.  Record final accounting numbers for income and expenses.  Report on goals promptly to achieve a  transparent message.\n\n\n## Report Auction Proceeds\nClearly and timely report the outcome of the auction.  Explain how and when the funds will be spent.  Better yet, show how the funds are BEING spent with photos and videos.  For long term projects provide a timeline and status updates.  Use current communication channels as an opportunity to swell the social media followers.  Show in photos and videos how the raised funds are being used.  \n\n\n\n## Thank Everyone \nSincere thank you letters to each and every donor and bidder are a necessity. Professionally acknowledge the philanthropy in a timely fashion. The donor may require a follow up for their records for future requests AND it’s the right thing to do. The organization or individual was kind enough to spend time helping the fundraising auction so please [properly thank everyone.](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/thank_you_everyone)\nPublicly thank volunteers in a high profile fashion.  Write letters to the leaders of the cause, ie. school principal, president for the charity, local community officers and thank them for their time in supporting the cause.  Volunteers that feel appreciated will return to help again and again.\nUse all active channels for thank all the efforts, this includes email, and social networks.  \n\n## Donation Matching \nDonation Matching in the United States is a favored philanthropy channel.  Many corporations match donations made by employees to a wide range of nonprofits, to support employee charitable giving, and to extend corporate philanthropy.  [Matching donations,](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/double_the_donation) or matching gifts, are free money that nonprofits often miss out on because of limited information on donors’ employers, complex corporate giving programs, and because the corporate matching process is usually unknown for employees.  \nPost-auction reach-out to bidders to encourage them to seek a donation match from their employer.  Most people just simply forget their employer offers the match so s gentle reminder can help boost the final auction income.\n\n[Read: The Ultimate Guide to Matching Gifts](https://auctria.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/The+Ultimate+Guide+to+Matching+Gifts.pdf) \n\n## Encourage Social Media Engagement\nSocial media feeds Facebook has made this super simple. Ever notice how many videos you see on your Facebook thread? This is not a coincidence. Facebook algorithms are favoring videos and this can help gain attention for a fundraising auction.  This is a great time to evaluate and elevate the social media content.  A specialist can provide a [free social media assessment](https://socialappsnow.com/sweepstake/5940618d76453/b/9994909) on all your online efforts. This assessment reviews your social sites as well as your website to see how you online efforts are working to attract new supporters from the most recent bidders. \n\n\n\n## Bidders Into Benefactors\nMaintain connections that have been made during all auction activities.  Auction fundraisers bring out the core supporters who in turn bring friends to join in the festivities.  Identify the new patrons and connect with them promptly.  Send and auction receipt along with a list of ways to connect and save the date for future events.  Get on the radar of the new friends and make them part of the family.  Show bidders why their support for the cause is important and worth future commitments in terms of time or money.  \n\nBidders are people who just participated in a transaction that happened to benefit your nonprofit. See the difference?  You CAN [convert them into donors,](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/bidder_into_donors) but it’s going to take a little work.\n\n### Bidders into Donors\nBidders have spent money to help the cause, extend the relationship to help benefit the cause on an ongoing basis.  First earn the trust of the bidder by showing how the group is a good citizen, steward of the monies donated.  Only after earning trust do you have the right to ask again.  [Bidders can become annual donors.](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/attendee_to_annual_fund_donors) \n\n### How to Get Donations on an Ongoing Basis\nFresh off auction is a perfect time to keep the donations pouring in. The most successful organizations are using new tactics to  and they've proven to be more effective than ever. In fact, overall charitable giving in the US actually increased [2.7% in the last year.](https://philanthropy.indianapolis.iu.edu/news-events/news/_news/2023/giving-usa-total-us-charitable-giving-declined-in-2022-to-49933-billion-following-two-years-of-record-generosity.html) \n\nHere are 18 tips on [how to get donations](https://www.wildapricot.com/blogs/newsblog/2016/11/14/how-to-get-donations-18-ways).  Start by grabbing the attention of today's auction supporter and convert them into long term donors.    \n\nIn this list you’ll discover how to raise money through texting campaigns, crowdfunding, and automating monthly donations. \n  \n### [5 strategies to help you help your attendees make the switch](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/attendee_to_annual_fund_donors)\n1. Make sure your event goes off without a hitch\n2. Remember that timing is everything\n3. Create a membership program\n4. Personalize your outreach\n5. Get the support of the right software\n\n### Engage Donors and Inspire Bigger Giving\nIf you want money coming in consistently throughout the year, you need a big, loyal donor base of people who love your mission and want to see you win. [Once you build that donor base,](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/engage_donors_sandy) your job is to engage and inspire them. Inspiration is about connecting with them on an emotional level. In practical terms, it’s about staying in touch with them and sharing about the good work your organization is doing.  The absolute easiest way to do that is to tell a heart-grabbing story.\n\n### Bidders into Volunteers\nBidders make great volunteers. Even before the auction ends thank the current volunteers.  If the auction has a party or gala identify and thank volunteers in a simple or special way.  List the volunteers on a poster or in the bid book, ask them to stand during part of the presentation, hand them a flower upon leaving- get creative.  Small gestures go a long way in [retaining volunteers.](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/do_dont_volunteers)  After the auction keep them posted on the success.   Be open to new ideas and [match the volunteer](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/recuiting_volunteers) with a job they feel comfortable with.  [Corporate volunteer grants](https://doublethedonation.com/matching-grant-resources/volunteer-grant-basics/?utm_source=Double+the+Donation&utm_campaign=27f467f49c-Customers_43_Top_VG_Companies_Repeat&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c319dc1290-27f467f49c-106378681&goal=0_c319dc1290-27f467f49c-106378681) are programs where companies provide monetary grants to organizations where employees volunteer regularly.  Expanding the volunteer base is good business sense.  \n\n## Get Organized & Plan the Next Fundraiser\n\nIf you are not organized take this opportunity to get organized.  If you used a program like Auctria to run the auction fundraiser use the data in a positive manner.  Upload to a favorite donor management program or email system.  Don’t have one?  Get one!  Mailchimp is a favorite for ease of use in making [professional looking emails](https://mailchimp.com/) and in uploading emails, scheduling & automating campaigns.  Another favorite tool is Vlink for schools is vlink.  [Vlink is not just a website but a tool to manage events,](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/get_organized_vlink) calendars, volunteers, and emails. \n\n## Save the Date for the Next Event\nAlways maintain a current timeline of the next events and share them.  If the auction is the marquee event and the date has already been chosen announce it at the current event. Upcoming events that are related to the cause including volunteer opportunities, upcoming publicity, news.  Don’t just share, shout it out and ask others to share!  [Promote all upcoming events](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/promote_promote) with lead time and details.  \n\nBetween Auctions: Fundraising Options\nReview and Survey.  Take a retrospective look at the data from past fundraisers. Do the same exact people participate in all the fundraisers? Most likely not, so there is an opportunity to offer a different type of fundraiser at a separate time to bring in fundraising dollars from some new individuals.\n\n\nSeven Questions to ask before choosing the next fundraiser\n1. How much money do you need to raise?\n2. Where will the money go?\n3. How many volunteers will you have to work on the fundraiser?\n4. What type of fundraiser would motivate your donor base?\n5. What type of fundraiser would you be comfortable doing?\n6. What is your fundraising budget?\n7. How much time do you have to prepare for the fundraiser?\n\n\n## Request Feedback \n Requesting feedback is another chance to show you care, another chance to reach out.  Another chance to follow-up with results from the feedback.  Request feedback from donors, bidders and volunteers.  Ask specific questions or request solutions to improve the auction fundraiser.  This can include everything from the event to the auction itself.  Good ideas from good people can come forward. \nFeedback can be hard to listen to especially after spending countless hours and making a financial investment in the event. To make this process easier week anonymous feedback and roll-up the data so it’s easier to get a fair assessment.  A favorite tool to conduct a quick and easy survey is Survey Monkey.  [Survey Monkey](https://www.surveymonkey.com/) tagline is “Ask more, know more, do more; capture real voices and opinions and make sense of the at scale.” This is the exact goal to improve the next auction for more effective fundraising.\n\nMap out the future fundraisers. Do a 360-degree evaluation before embarking on a fundraiser strategy. Do a formal survey using a free tool like Survey Monkey, or an informal survey. Either way be sure to evaluate the answers from: supporters small and large, users of the charity funds, volunteers, the board, executive board, general membership, and any employees that touch the fundraising scheme. It may be quite constructive to bettering the fundraising efforts.'",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":2149},{"url":2150},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/153d9d0793be0b6a7fbdbb0d819b6fd2b9835ba7-600x320.png","2020-10-12T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":2153},"post_auction_duties","Auction fundraisers may take a few years to gain momentum and grow year over year, here are nine TO DOs post auction","9 Post Auction Duties",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2157,"category":2158,"id":5,"image":2159,"publishOn":2162,"slug":2163,"teaser":2165,"title":2166},"# Ways To Promote Online Auctions On Social Media\n\nIf you are [running an online auction](https://www.auctria.com/mega-auction-guide/) and are hoping to get potential bidders excited beforehand, social media is the most powerful tool you have. Here are three tactics you can use to promote your online auctions on social media. Facebook and Twitter are both extremely effective tools for online auction promotions. Each platform requires a slightly different approach.  \n\n## Create a Facebook Event for Your Auction\n\nThe best way to get people to attend your online auction is to create an event on Facebook. Potential attendees will receive notifications when the events are posted and will be able to RSVP. One of the biggest benefits of this approach is that it can reach people who are not on your email or direct mail lists. You must make it a public event, of course, so that everyone can see it. \n\nUse images from past events as a way to promote the upcoming one. This will help people to know what to expect from the new event. \n\n## Invite All Your Followers, Then Encourage Interested Attendees To Do The Same.\n\nOnce you have posted the event, invite donors, volunteers, staff and other supporters. Then, when they respond to the invitation by indicating that they are going or interested, the event will show up on their timelines. For wider exposure, you can include the event link in your marketing emails. Ask all your guests and supporters to invite friends personally, as well as sharing to their entire news feed. Post regular updates on the event and your page fairly regularly - just enough to keep people interested, and not so much that they unlike or unfollow notifications from the event.\n\n## Twitter: Write Concise, Punchy Posts\n\nOn Twitter, you can’t create an event as you would on Facebook. You need to make good use of the 280 characters you are allowed for each tweet. In fact, you should keep it even shorter - somewhere between 71 and 100 characters appears to be the most effective. Write a single sentence that can promote a particular attribute of the auction, include links to your home page, auction site or catalogue. \n\n## Utilize Hashtags\n\nWhen using Twitter to promote your event, you will need to make use of concise, impactful tweets that link back to your website, online auction page, or catalogue. The most vital tool in your kit is a good hashtag. Facebook relies on personalized invitations, while Twitter reaches your target audience through the use of hashtags. People can use the Twitter search function to find tweets containing relevant keywords. Create a special hashtag for each event and include it in all your promotional material. Encourage your staff, supporters and donors to use the hashtag on any posts related to the auction, both before and during the event.\n\n[Auctria](https://www.auctria.com/) provides efficient and affordable tools to help nonprofits and other organizations run successful nonprofit auctions. For more information on how to run a nonprofit fundraising event, including how to promote online auctions on social media, [contact Auctria today](https://www.auctria.com/contact/)!",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":2160},{"url":2161},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/326f448792a125912643d1afad1ac07630a46d19-600x320.jpg","2022-04-04T13:00:00.000Z",{"current":2164},"promote-online-auctions-on-social-media","How can you promote your online auction sale on social media? We list several ways for you to do so. Please take a look.","Ways To Promote Online Auctions On Social Media",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2168,"category":2169,"id":5,"image":2170,"publishOn":2173,"slug":2174,"teaser":2176,"title":2177},"Your fraternity or sorority provides significant value to members, from social events and educational events to general resources and help throughout the year. This value comes with a cost—and it’s one that’s likely not covered by membership fees alone.\n\nThat’s where [fundraising events](https://www.auctria.com/blog/dk-success-event-management/) come into play.\n\nFundraising events are perfectly suited to fraternities and sororities as they not only raise essential funds [for chapter management,](https://blog.omegafi.com/fraternity-sorority-management-the-essential-guide) but they provide a great opportunity for members to connect with one another, alumni, and other students on campus.\n\nHowever, this is only true if you [host the right fundraising event](https://www.auctria.com/blog/dk-event-ideas-entice/)—one that not only engages guests but also has high revenue potential. To help your team begin brainstorming for the upcoming school year, this guide will discuss four top fundraising event ideas for fraternities and sororities:\n\n- Alumni Auction\n- Sports\n- Tournament\n- Battle of the Bands\n- Carnival\n\nThe start of the school year is quickly approaching, meaning that it’s time for your event planning committee to get busy with planning your fundraising events. There’s little time to waste, so let’s dive in!\n\n## Alumni Auction\nAlumni fundraising is powerful because not only do alumni already have an established connection to your organization, but they also likely have greater spending power than students on campus. One of the best fundraising ideas to make the most of this increased spending power is an alumni auction, since you can auction off top-dollar items and raise significant donations.\n\nHere’s how an auction generally works:\n\n1. Your fundraising committee goes out into your community, procuring donated items to auction off.\n2. You market the auction to alumni, who then purchase tickets to join in on the fun.\n3. At the auction, alumni place bids on items that appeal to them. At the end of the night, the highest bidders win!\n4. Alumni purchase the items they’ve won for the winning bid amount.\nThe event concludes, and your team follows up with thank-you notes to both donors and alumni attendees!\n\nThese are just the bare-bones steps to hosting an alumni auctions. There are numerous [ways to spice up the event,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-to-make-an-online-auction-entertaining/) whether you host it in-person or virtually. For example, you could include live music and serve a delicious meal at an in-person auction, or hire a fast-talking auctioneer to keep alumni engaged from home with a virtual event.\n\nAnd, while it can be more challenging to coordinate an event with alumni guests, your organization’s management software can assist in the process. OmegaFi’s guide to fraternity and sorority management software discusses essential features that could help your organization host this type of event, including event planning, mass communication, and financial tracking.\n\n## Sports Tournament\nEncourage a little friendly competition between fraternities and sororities on your campus by hosting a sports tournament fundraiser.\n\nWith a sports tournament fundraiser, each organization involved forms a team to compete. Then, all teams come together during the event to battle head-to-head! Team-specific outdoor sports work best for this fundraiser, such as volleyball, soccer, basketball, or even all-day field day events that have multiple mini competitions within them.\n\nTo host this event, you simply need to choose a day and coordinate with your university to reserve an open field on campus for that date.\n\nThere are a few different ways to raise funds through a sports tournament. \n\nFirst, you could host a peer-to-peer fundraiser alongside the event, with each team competing to raise the most peer-to-peer funds. Then, you’d award both the team that wins the tournament and the team that raises the most funds at the end of the event!\n\nSecond, you could [create t-shirts](https://www.auctria.com/blog/three-fundraising-ideas-tools/) that are branded for the event and sell them across campus. Then, students can represent their favorite team at the event while raising funds for your organization!\n\n## Battle of the Bands\nDid you know that college towns are historically creative epicenters when it comes to rising bands and solo musicians? This is especially true for college towns with a thriving fraternity and sorority presence—after all, sororities and fraternities on your campus probably hire these local bands for events on a regular basis!\n\nRecruit some of the most talented, popular local bands to compete in a battle of the bands fundraiser. To plan this event, you need to secure a venue that is amenable to loud music and appoint a few musically-savvy judges to crown the winning band at the end of the night.\n\nThe revenue from this event comes from event guests purchasing tickets to attend. You can also sell food and drinks throughout to raise additional funds or even incorporate a “Crowd Favorite” element, with guests purchasing tickets to vote for their favorite performance of the night.\n\n## Carnival\nLast but certainly not least, you can partner with your fellow fraternities and sororities to host a carnival.\n\nFor the carnival, each organization would create a unique booth. For example, all of the following booth ideas would be fairly easy to host and align well with the carnival atmosphere:\n\n- A food-based booth featuring classic carnival foods like fried oreos, elephant ears, or hot dogs.\n- An art-based booth featuring face painting or t-shirt painting.\n- Carnival game booths, such as pick a duck, balloon pop, or bobbing for apples.\n\nFor this event, you can charge a fee for admission and split the overall proceeds across organizations. Further, each booth could accept donations for participation in their booth’s activity.\n\nThe best part of this fundraising event is that it can also be a powerful [recruitment tool.](https://blog.omegafi.com/fraternity-and-sorority-recruitment) If you host it around the beginning of the school year, you could open the event up to students all across campus and connect with potential new members as a result.\n\n-------------------------\n\nIf you’ve arrived to the end of this guide and still don’t feel like you’ve found the right idea for your sorority or fraternity, don’t stress! This is just a small sample of fundraising event ideas that could work well for your organization. There are a ton of additional resources available online (like this [NXUnite guide to unique fundraising ideas](https://resources.nxunite.com/unique-fundraising-ideas-for-nonprofits/) that you can use to continue brainstorming if needed!\n\nRemember that regardless of the type of event you choose to host, [your sorority or fraternity management software](https://doublethedonation.com/top-fraternity-management-software/) will play a crucial role in the event’s success. From managing event planning tasks, to empowering outreach, to tracking all financial elements, it’s important to have your software solution solidified before you start fundraising. If your current solution isn’t up to the task, it’s worthwhile to start your event planning by searching for a tool that is!\n\n--------------------\n\nSpecial thanks to Mathew Tooker for the expert advice. Mathew Tooker is an expert in sales forecasting, analytics, goal-setting, client growth, and business development. With experience serving the Greek life community, nonprofits, and other member-based associations, Mathew is dedicated to providing tremendous value to his clients. \n\nWhen he’s not moving organizations forward, you can find him on the golf course, spending time with his two dogs, Reagan and Teddy, running marathons, and watching the Atlanta Braves. He’s also a graduate of Auburn University and a part-time MBA student at Florida State University.\n\nWith extensive experience serving the Greek life community, Mathew is dedicated to providing value to clients and fraternity and sorority members alike. Mathew's expertise is in sales forecasting, goal setting, client growth initiatives and business development and analytics. When he is not laser focused on moving organizations forward, you can find him spending time with his wife, Lauren, and two dogs, Reagan and Teddy, running marathons and watching the Atlanta Braves and Auburn sports.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":2171},{"url":2172},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/51176ba8a795a698e59293c831d6b39d40b6b3f3-600x320.png","2022-07-07T18:23:36.038Z",{"current":2175},"fraternity-and-sorority-event-fundraising-ideas-for-2022","Fundraising events are a powerful way to raise much-needed donations for your fraternity or sorority. Explore this guide for 4 engaging fundraising event ideas.","Fraternity & Sorority Event Fundraising Ideas for 2022",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2179,"category":2180,"id":5,"image":2181,"publishOn":2184,"slug":2185,"teaser":2187,"title":2188},"The world of online auctions offers an invaluable fundraising tool for organizations. However, ensuring they generate significant interest and funds can be a challenge. In an era where marketing budgets are tight, social media provides a cost-effective platform to promote auctions. This blog post details innovative tactics organizations can use to maximize their social media ROI, boost their online auction visibility, and encourage robust participation. This can serve as a reference point, offering inspiration for your continued initiatives.\n\n## Understanding Your Social Media Platforms\nEach social media platform has a unique audience demographic, and understanding this is crucial for effective promotion. Instagram and Pinterest, for instance, are ideal for visually appealing products, given their focus on images. LinkedIn can be leveraged for B2B products, while Facebook and Twitter offer a more diverse demographic. Ensure you've profiled your ideal customer and align your efforts with the platform they are most likely to use. As elaborated in a blog post on the Nixie Social platform, titled [\"Let’s Create a Successful Brand, and Strong Following in Social Media!!\"](https://nixiesocial.com/blog/lets-create-a-successful-brand-and-strong-following-in-social-media/?utm_source=guest_blogging&utm_medium=auctria&utm_campaign=innovative_social_media_strategies) this stands as the foremost aspect to contemplate.\n\n## Crafting Engaging Content\nContent remains king, even in the auction realm. Share photos and videos of the items up for auction, highlight their features, and tell a compelling story about them. Additionally, creating behind-the-scenes content such as packaging, the auction set-up, or even the product sourcing can offer an engaging narrative that attracts potential bidders. Remember, your content should not only showcase the product but also reflect your brand's personality.\n\nYour greatest asset is your mission. To maximize engagement, it’s crucial to articulate this in a compelling way. Consider creating a social media series leading up to your auction, where each post explores a different aspect of your organization or the cause you're supporting. Utilize a mix of posts, stories, reels (on Instagram), or even Twitter threads to provide an in-depth view of your work. This creates anticipation, engages your audience, and underscores the impact potential bidders can make by participating.\n\n## Utilizing Hashtags and SEO\nHashtags are incredibly effective on platforms like Instagram and Twitter. They help categorize your content, making it easier for potential bidders to find your auctions. Research popular and relevant hashtags to include in your posts. Similarly, optimizing your social media posts with SEO keywords helps increase your visibility in search results. Be mindful to strike a balance between SEO and readability, as stuffing your content with keywords can deter readers.\n\n## Volunteer Social Media Ambassadors\nRecruit enthusiastic volunteers to serve as social media ambassadors. These individuals can leverage their personal social media accounts to share and promote your online auction, amplifying your reach and lending credibility to your efforts. Ensure they're equipped with necessary information, such as key dates, the unique selling points of the auction items, and the impact of funds raised.\n\nCollaborate with local businesses to cross-promote each other. They could help promote your auction to their customers, and in return, you can highlight their support of your cause on your social media channels. This mutually beneficial partnership can extend your reach to potential supporters who are customers of these businesses.\n\nAnother idea could be to Invite a local celebrity, industry expert, or influential figure related to your cause to take over your social media account for a day. They could share about their involvement with your organization, why they believe in your cause, and promote the upcoming auction. This draws their followers to your page and generates additional interest in your auction.\n\n\n## Running Social Media Contests\nContests are a great way to generate buzz around your online auctions. You could host a photo contest where followers post images of them using your products, with the best photo earning a discount or a special offer. Such contests not only promote the auction but also engage followers, increase your social media reach, and gather user-generated content that can be repurposed in future promotions.\n\nAdditionally, you can turn the promotion of your auction into an interactive game. You could create a social media clue hunt leading up to the auction, with clues hidden in your posts. Followers who find all clues could receive early access to the auction or a special mention. This encourages users to engage deeply with your content, increasing the visibility of your posts due to the algorithms favoring high-engagement content.\n\n\n## Harnessing the Power of Live Video\nLive video is a powerful tool on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Hosting live auctions, product demonstrations, or Q&A sessions allows real-time interaction with your audience. This not only humanizes your brand but also drives urgency and engagement around the auction. Remember to promote your live sessions ahead of time to maximize viewership.\n\n# Using Social Media for Post-Auction Follow-Up\nAfter your auction, don’t forget to utilize social media to thank participants and share the impact of their contributions. Posting pictures of your successful auction, sharing testimonies from beneficiaries, and revealing the total funds raised reinforces the positive outcome of participants' involvement and maintains their connection to your cause.\n\n## Artificial Intelligence can Help\nThe advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools has become a game-changer for non-profit organizations, transforming their content creation process into a seamless and efficient endeavor. Harnessing AI capabilities, your organization can now produce content at an accelerated pace, while expending considerably less effort in the process. Utilizing free services like ChatGPT for text content suggestions and DALL-E for generating diverse images in various styles is truly remarkable. The accessibility of these AI-powered tools opens up a world of creative possibilities for users, enabling them to enhance their projects and ideas with ease.\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/934252f1967aa80d4ab9a1e5fac08cdfd6f2b78d-1920x1080.gif?w=450)\n\nThe beauty lies in the fact that you can simply ask for what you need from these services. Looking for promotional content? Describe your mission, and let it create social media content for you! If the tone isn't suitable, ask it to adjust the tone or paraphrase it accordingly. Refer to the image below for an example of the utilized prompts to write the initial content followed by changing the style.\n\n\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/589c3239bb6b2a9e45a0a26517e174947a234554-559x561.png)\n\n\nConclusion\nPromoting your online auctions on social media requires strategic planning, engaging content, and a deep understanding of your audience. While it might seem challenging at first, using these creative approaches can significantly amplify your auction's visibility and success. Remember, consistency is key – regular posting and audience interaction will foster a loyal community of potential bidders.\n\n-------------\n\n\nSpecial thanks to Ala Falaki for the expert advice. Ala is the founder of [NixieSocial.com,](https://nixiesocial.com?utm_source=guest_blogging&utm_medium=auctria&utm_campaign=innovative_social_media_strategies) an AI assistant that enables businesses to manage social media effortlessly, providing a hands-free experience. Want to learn the basics of social media? Take the [“Navigating the Social Media Maze”](https://nixiesocial.com/course/navigating-the-social-media-maze/?utm_source=guest_blogging&utm_medium=auctria&utm_campaign=innovative_social_media_strategies) course. (It’s free!)\nFollow [@NixieSocial on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/nixiesocial) for more tips.\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":2182},{"url":2183},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/5c2cf9276fca4670636012a63369400e4f1e0052-600x320.png","2023-08-07T17:39:36.626Z",{"current":2186},"innovative-social-media-strategies-for-promoting-your-organization-s-online-auction","Artificial Intelligence can help promote your fundraiser","Innovative Social Media Strategies for Promoting Your Organization's Online Auction",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2190,"category":2191,"id":5,"image":2192,"publishOn":2195,"slug":2196,"teaser":2198,"title":2199},"# How to convert a live auction fundraiser to a virtual auction fundraiser\n\nThe fundraiser can still go on! While social distancing is driving a wedge between people physically this does NOT mean the end of auction fundraising. Convert a live auction fundraiser to a virtual live auction easily.\n\nWe know it’s disappointing to have to cancel the in-person event however the event can still continue albeit in a more creative way. [Virtual live auctions](https://www.auctria.com/features/) can still be fun, can still be interactive and can still bring in the needed funds.\n\nThe importance of community and generosity has never been more than they are now. While some of your supporters may not be in a position to give at this time, there are others that can and will. They just need to be asked and given the means to do so. Suggest that if donating in a financial way is not feasible, that’s understood and helping get the word out is equally valuable.\n\nBut don’t be bashful about asking for donations at this time, just do so with kindness and empathy. Provide a clear message on how the funds raised will help in an actionable way: feeding the hungry, teaching the students, caring for the elderly, fostering the animals, researching to cure a disease, providing medical or assistive services. Describe how the funds will be used in the near term in a meaningful way.\n\nHere are the three key steps to convert your live auction to a virtual live auction:\n\n 1. Spread the word\n 2. Use a lively auctioneer and emcee\n 3. Fill the seats with a crowd of people\n\nBonus guidance on how to broadcast the virtual live auction:\n\n- Broadcast tools \n- Auction tools\n- Tips for presenters\n\n## **Spread the Word**\n \nMake the message loud, broad. In the process of planning a brick & mortar fundraiser event, typically you will send multiple messages through multiple channels multiple times. The same overall strategy still applies, however you may want to increase the volume. In the past, you may have used a pretty paper invitation and the one-to-one invitation was successful. Let’s use that still but in a broader way.\n\nMake the message clear and shareable. Give precise details about when and how the online event will occur. Include photos, videos to bring attention to the event. Open permissions on social media to make posts shareable. For more formal sharing with stakeholders provide sample text to copy & paste, provide images that are shareable. Tell the story in pictures and infographics to frame up the narrative.\n\nHere are a few ideas to motivate sharing of your virtual live auction fundraiser:\n\n- Thank each sharer with a simple gesture such as an emoji on the shared message.\n- When the sharer is appreciated and recognized it really does provide positive feedback and encouragement to share again\n- Reward the most shares with a token of appreciation and verbal adoration\n- Tagging influencers of all sizes\n- Hashtags can be very powerful\n- Emojis and special characters have evolved from fun to actual tools\n\n**Tag sponsors, donors, speakers.** We hear the term influencer used frequently and tend to think this power is only reserved for those with millions of followers. Untrue. Micro-influencers are all around and reside within your auction audience. Influences are your donors, sponsors, speakers, and bidders. Tag them in messages that are specific and meaningful. Thank a sponsor for their donation and show how their contributions will be a changemaker. In turn, they will want to share and broaden your reach. Do the same with individual auction items, tag the donor, use related hashtags to make the message loud and broad.\n\n**If you have not been using hashtags now is the time.** Here is the crash course on hashtags. Hashtags are clickable and doing so brings all the like content to the viewer’s screen. Thus it works two ways, connects all the like messages that allows the viewer to see all relevant content instantly. Use a hashtag specifically for the [event fundraiser](https://www.auctria.com/) as well as more generic hashtags. Create a hashtag for your event fundraiser and use it every time you post.\n\n**An underutilized tool to bring attention to posts and email headlines is the simple icon or emoji.** These small images or characters really bring attention to the message and make it stand out from lines and lines of text. Use the same emoji in all messaging to help brand and bring a consistent visual to the online event. An expert in the field worth following is Orbit Media’s Andy Crestodina. Andy is an industry expert on content marketing with an emphasis on social media. This article [Social Post Checklist: 9 Examples of Engaging Social Media Posts](https://www.orbitmedia.com/blog/social-media-post-examples-checklist/) has even more tips.\n\n## **Lively Auctioneer & Emcee**\n\nVirtual live events are the new live event fundraisers. Ordinarily, with an event-based fundraiser, people have paid for an admission ticket so they are motivated to show up. By shifting to an online-only event the financial motivation goes away. How can you replace that motivation with something virtual? Since we are physically distanced right now our circle of communications has narrowed greatly to close friends and family. Offering a broad online party atmosphere event is fun! It breaks up the monotony of daily activity of working & learning to bring together some friendly faces you may not have seen for a while.\n\nPlan the online event with the precision that you would for an in-person event. Create a timeline from pre-event to post-event and all the activity in between. Set the ‘stage’ with any speakers and presenters. Do a rehearsal to ensure each person knows how to use any new services and practice how to handoff and transition throughout the event.\n\nThe timing of the event will be different compared to a live event when participants would be mingling, eating, drinking & socializing. Fill the time with purposeful activity and make it lively. The use of a lively auctioneer or emcee is even more important to retain the attention of the audience. Do give this person as much background as possible. At a live event, the speaker can read the audience and take in cues before and during to make the presentations personal. Fill in this void before the event starts by sharing some community stories, successes, anecdotes and maybe even a funny fail.\n\nMusic is a great way to both fill the voids and set the tone. Start the event with some really upbeat music just like you would have done when starting a real-life event. Envision the doors opening and the electricity drawing in the crowd. Use music to transition between parts of the presentation and between auction items.\n\n**Power of the paddle is still a real thing.** The live auction awakens bidders and brings them to the edge of their seats. This time the edge of seats are physically distanced but still, there is a togetherness when a virtual live event pulls it all together. The auctioneer is the live conduit and the thrill of the get is still palpable. When the auctioneer energizes the crowd then turns on the auction, bids start flying. People can be persuaded: hosts encourage and move the bidders to raise the paddle over and over. Think, there is a reason home shopping networks have been around for years, and you have a major advantage! Your auction fundraiser isn’t just about selling it’s about caring for your beloved cause and making a difference. It’s about staying connected for a greater good, it’s about community, health, and wellness.\n\n\n## **Fill the Online Live Auction Seats with a Crowd**\n\nGive people a reason to spend time in your company. Past bidders and supporters are aware of how important the cause is and have already felt the power to participate. Remind them that the needs are still there, and share how past donations were used. Bring the emotional and heartfelt story to life to bring the audience to the virtual event. Also, make it fun and meaningful. Include music, pre-recorded entertainment and impact video. Engage viewers in the chat box by asking questions to encourage live interaction. Live entertainment, live speakers and getting to seeing favorite community leaders is a huge draw as well.\n\nWhen your plan is in place: show and tell everyone! When doing an in-person event you may have used images or videos of the venue as an enticement. Now do a short snippet of video with the keynote speaker or auctioneer in an energized almost infomercial. Make people believe this is a do-not-miss event. This event is appointment viewing and will not be available after the event. Don’t be afraid to send many reminders. A day before, the morning of, an hour before and the final minutes countdown.\n\nA little extra incentive to show up and a double extra to bring a friend can help too.\n\n- What will trigger your audience to make it a point to join?\n- Do a small raffle drawing and include anyone that is in your viewing audience\n- Provide a special promise to recognize those in a public way at a future gathering after the COVID-19 cloud is lifted\n- Make a promise that those that spent time with you at the virtual event get a little something at the future gathering\n- If you are a school, what incentive can you give the parents that is valuable to the student for today or a future tomorrow? No homework pass, lead the virtual pledge, extra playground time for elementary school, pick your lunch table for middle school, better parking for high school students\n- If you are a community group is there a future event that is coveted, tether it to the virtual live auction event\n- If you are an animal group is there a special meet & greet with the animals, caregivers, backroom tour that would be incentivizing\n- If you are a theatre or arts & culture VIP or early or extended access to a future event\n\nBrainstorm with your auction team and find one or a few activities that will prompt people to share the information AND show up to the virtual event. When you decide which priceless experience to offer, make it official & special. Advertise that you will be well documenting and providing a very valuable certificate of appreciation and participation post-event. Make it exclusive to drive attention and attendance.\n\n## **Tools for Broadcast**\n\nMake it easy to connect. TV and radio both have places in our lives. Therefore live streaming video and audio are both viable options for a live online auction event. As the COVID-19 confinement is extended more people are making online communication tools part of their day. Students are probably slightly ahead of the curve here, followed by businesses and community and social groups. Although social media has and always will be part of our lives it tends to be one person on their own device. Luckily there are lots of tools available to choose from to make the in-person live event an online live event. These tools are services that connect participants in a virtual gathering place to share time and space. You can make these as public or private as you wish to either enhance participation or make it exclusive.\n\n**Using social media for livestreams** is an option. Low to no barrier to entry, no fees for Facebook Live. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube all have livestream options. If your crowd already hangs out on these and follows you they will get a notification when the live stream begins. The familiarity of the service can serve as a backdrop to encourage participation. Friendly reminder: using social media to stream it is important to understand the privacy options. \n\nFacebook Live lets you livestream events, performances, and gatherings on Facebook. Viewers can watch from a phone, computer or connected TV. You can go live on Facebook from a profile, Page, group or event.\n\nThe privacy setting of the group determines who will be able to see your live video. Learn more about [Facebook group privacy.](https://www.facebook.com/help/286027304749263/)\n\n### **Facebook Live**\n[To go live in a Facebook group:](https://www.facebook.com/help/328627761448473?helpref=related&source_cms_id=1636872026560015)\nFrom your News Feed, click Groups in the left menu and select the group you’d like to go live in.\nClick Live Video at the top of the group.\nIn the left menu, select whether you'd like to Go Live Now or Schedule a Live Video for a future time and date.\nAdd a title and description to your post. Here you can also tag friends, check in to a location, or add a feeling or activity.\nClick Go Live in the bottom left.\n\n### Instagram Live \n[To go live on Instagram](https://help.instagram.com/292478487812558)\nYou can share a live video to connect with your followers in real time for up to one hour. Once a live video has ended, it's no longer visible in the app, unless you share a replay of it to your story.\n\n1. Tap camera icon in the top left of Feed or swipe right from anywhere in Feed.\n2. Scroll to Live at the bottom of the screen, then tap.\n3. The number of viewers appears at the top of the screen and comments appear at the bottom.\n4. You can add a comment by tapping Comment at the bottom of the screen.\n5. Tap a comment and tap Pin Comment to pin it so that viewers can see it more easily.\n6. When you're done, tap End in the top right then tap to confirm. From there, you can tap in the top left to save it to your camera roll, or share it to your story. Other Instagram Live notes: Keep in mind that when you save your live video to your camera roll, only the video is saved, and not things like comments, likes and viewers. It may take a minute for your live video to save to your phone, especially for longer videos.\n\n**More formal live stream options may be a better solution for your audience.** When researching vendors they may all seem similar till you dig into the details on both features and pricing for those features. Pricing may vary based on the number of presenters, seats at the virtual venue, length of time for the event, file storage, pre-event and meeting space.\n\nConsiderations in choosing a vendor:\n\n- Is it just a meeting or will you want to present some formal slides and video\n- Do you want a ‘lobby’ or do you want people to just enter the main meeting room\n- How many presenter seats will you require\n- How many participant seats will you require\n- If you will be presenting do you prefer to screen share or upload and present\n- Most seem to offer monthly pricing however do be specific when inquiring if you will be using the service for a one-time event\n- Demo the product as if you were using it in the event setting if possible.\n\nThe meeting, chat video communication services options are plentiful. You are looking for web conferencing software. This software enables organizations to conduct interactive conferences and meetings via the Internet. Sounds a little stiff but the industry is mostly built around business although it is rapidly adapting right now to be inclusive of all types of uses. \n\nAlso related that you may bump into while searching is: \n\n- Collaboration Software\n- Meeting Software\n- Screen Sharing Software\n- Live Streaming Software\n- Remote Work Software\n\nHere are a handful to help jumpstart your research: \n\n### **Google Products**\nGoogle is one leader offering this informational article:  [Event marketing considerations for pivoting from live to virtual gatherings.](https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/marketing-resources/experience-design/virtual-event-marketing/) They describe platform and broadcast options as well as an overview of their tools highlighting Hangouts Meet Livestream and YouTube Livestream\n\n### **Zoom**\n[Zoom](https://zoom.us/home) is a catchy name that has quickly risen to general awareness. It is a meeting service with additional add-ons for webinar type presentations. Their website states their solutions include: meetings, chat, room & workplaces, video webinars.\n\n### **GoTo Meeting**\n[Go To Meeting](https://www.goto.com/) was one of the early to market providers in the web conference space. Their website solutions include online meetings, webinars and telephone conferences. \n\n### **LiveStorm**\n[Livestorm](https://livestorm.co/) meetings, chats, and webinar services are basic. As of March 2020 during COVID-19: Livestorm helps companies continue their operations remotely for free. [Learn more on their blog.](https://livestorm.co/blog/livestorm-and-covid-19/)\n\n\n### **Ring Central**\n[Ring Central](https://www.ringcentral.com/) core product is team meetings, chats, and collaboration. You can make your video meetings highly productive by sharing content, presentations, and files in local storage or directly from Dropbox™ and Google Drive™. Add on features for webinars are available. \n\n### **ClickMeeting**\nWe here at Auctria use [ClickMeeting](https://clickmeeting.com/) for our webinars. The reason we chose this vendor is because we use the lobby to help people before the event begins & presentation format. In addition, we can play video, have multiple co-presenters and turn on and off audio and video for participants. \n\n### **Review Sites**\nWord of mouth is a great way to learn about a product. [Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/) and G2 are two review sites for Software as a Service (SaaS). They are more than just reviews though. Both are online catalogs of SaaS comparing and contrasting platforms.\n\n## **Auctria Helps Convert Live Auction to Virtual Live Auction **\n\nAuctria virtual live auctions make the fundraising part of this easy. We have created a new feature set exclusively made for online live auction and event fundraising. Power of the paddle stays with the bidder making them part of the action. Watching other bidders take action begets more bidders to participate. Live auction action can still take place even though bidders are sheltered-in-place.\n\nAuctria features for the virtual live auction are designed to be used as a bidding tool while the auctioneer, event speakers are live streaming their content. More on that below.\n\n### **Virtual Live Auction**\n\nThe Live Auction Online features are designed to give the auction control to the auction administrator. The screens that show on the bidders device are literally directed by the administration focusing the attention on the current live auction item and providing a quick tap for bidding. The auctioneer in conjunction with the administrator determines exactly when to open and close the bidding.\n\nIn practice, when the auctioneer is selling and hyping the live auction item the bidder has ONLY that auction item on their bidder screen. The activity in the live stream and on the bidding platform are aligned for less distraction and more bidding. As a bidder does place a bid they will receive immediate notification that they are the top bidder. If they are outbid an outbid notification will then appear. The bidding activity is promoted two ways: 1) by the auctioneer and in the livestream, 2) on screen notifications.\n\n### **Paddle Raise**\nKeep the paddle raise! In the past we find the paddle raise portion of the live auction can bring in an average of 30%-40% of the proceeds. With Auctria’s dedicated live auction online feature set a paddle raise can be conducted. Same process as the live auction, the administrator makes visible on the bidder screens a paddle raise page. Instead of physically raising the paddles the bidder taps on the donation amount. This information is immediately relayed to the admin screens should the live presenter want to publicly recognize the contribution. Consider using some lower denominations to encourage a larger volume of bids. Whatever your lowest amount was in the past consider adding another increment at 50-75% lower. If the donations amounts seem too high, with the financial worry that many are facing right now, they may be more apt to give a lower amount if offered. Your beloved cause will benefit from multiple lower amounts than no donation at all. Give them a reason to say yes!\n\n## Tips for the Broadcast\n\nConverting the live auction to an online auction event may put a different set of people on the stage. \n\n## Tips for technical services\n\nTest all hardware and software with the people that will be using it. Note any glitches and how you resolved the issue. Best to use a stand-alone USB microphone. Next best easiest option would be the built-in microphone on the computer although they tend to be lower quality. An alternative is earbuds with a built in. Gaming headsets with microphone attached are also readily available. Test your wifi in the same location where you will be using it during the event. If possible, attach the ethernet cable from the router or box to the computer and do not use wifi. Mute any other applications that may cause a potential distraction or interruption. Try not to be near any extraneous noise making devices ie fan, loud a/c ducts of barking dogs, & turn off your ring doorbell if broadcasting from home. \n\n## Tips for speakers\n\nPrepare the speaker with extra knowledge about the charity and auction items. Always speak clearly so the audience can hear all the details. Let the audience hear every word you are saying. Have a beverage nearby to clear your throat. Hot tip: if you are running out of breath, slow down! Practice in advance.\n\n## Tips for teams \n\nOrchestrate the overall broadcast including the open & close. Introduce all speakers and set the agenda for the audience. Only one person at a time should be talking. To prevent battling speakers mute all mics while another person is speaking. When the next speaker is invited to talk, use a keyword to indicate you are ‘handing off the mic’ to the next person. Don’t be afraid to tell a teammate that an audio adjustment is necessary. Use the private chat to any necessary internal conversations.\n\n- Be enthusiastic\n- Be energetic\n- Be in tune with the crowd\n- Have fun!\n\nDuring this time of uncertainty advertising, in general, has almost ceased. Charities and philanthropic fundraising is the one industry that has permission to continue their charge.\n\nPivoting to an online auction and event fundraiser is acceptable. Auction fundraising events are supposed to be fun and social events. [COVID-19 is casting a dark shadow on large gatherings but the fundraiser can still go on,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/your-auction-fundraiser-in-the-shadow-of-covid-19/) though it may take a different form. Canceling may cause an inaccurate picture in donors mind thinking “hmm, guess they have all the funds they need, no need to give anymore”. Unless you have every need met, no waiting list, and are fully funded with endowments for multiple upcoming years it is imperative to stay in front of the potential donors. Do as such in a delicate manner with an opportunity to hang-out with a fun and lively online auction event. \n\nBe very open with all stakeholders about the need to continue to raise funds. This includes sponsors, donors and bidders. Staying the course shows commitment to the cause and stability right now is a great sign of strength. By staying strong constituents can feel confident that funds are going to serve the needs now, in the near future as well as long term. Keep the momentum. We know it has taken many hours of dedicated effort to put together an in-person fundraising event. Don’t let it go to waste! Convert, don’t cancel.\n\nFor more information and tips to convert a live auction fundraiser to a virtual auction fundraiser, [contact](https://www.auctria.com/contact/) Auctria today! ",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":2193},{"url":2194},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/3b259b74ea73518ac0d13232cc5d399c9e5a1879-600x320.jpg","2020-04-09T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":2197},"how-to-convert-a-live-auction-fundraiser-to-a-virtual-auction-fundraiser","With the advent of the pandemic, it is important to convert your live auction fundraiser to a virtual one. Find out more from Auctria.","Convert live auctions to virtual ones",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2201,"category":2202,"id":5,"image":2203,"publishOn":2206,"slug":2207,"teaser":806,"title":2209},"Here’s the auction evolution of an elementary school in sunny Florida.  To preserve privacy let’s just call the school Sunny Elementary.  For many years, Sunny Elementary held a carnival with lots of activities, food and games.  During the carnival, Sunny Elementary would also hold a silent auction.  Sunny Elementary PTO did a great job in collecting donations for the auction, lots of pretty baskets filled with goodies, local and national chain gift certificates and sports and entertainment tickets and memorabilia.    At the end of the carnival, Sunny Elementary PTO closed the auction and awarded the goods to the most recent and highest bidders.  \n\nAfter analyzing the results, they found final bids were only at a fraction of the retail values. \n\nThey thought: “There has to be a better way.”  \n\nAuction at the carnival yielded $1,200.  This is ok but we can do better!\n\nSure enough year after year, Sunny Elementary evolved from a stand alone auction event, to a gala auction to an online auction.  \n\n![auction bulletin board.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/bulletin-board.jpg)\n\n \n### Year 1 Stand Alone Auction Event \nYear 1 yield $9,000\nIncrease of 9-fold.  \nThis is great but we can do better!\n\n\n### Year #2 Stand Alone Auction Event- Working Smarter \n10% additional bidders attended. \nYear 2 yield $12,000.  \nThis is great but we can do better!\n\n### Year #3 Stand Alone Event with Online Auction Teaser\nYear #3 yield $15,000\n30% increase income from prior year.  \nThis is great but we can do better!\n\nSUCCESS!  Number of bidders doubled.\n\n### Year #4 Online Auction Only \nYear #4 yield $18,000\n20% increase from the prior year\n\n# [Read the WHOLE story \"Evolution of an Auction\" here](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/StoryTellingEvolutionofanauctionfundraiser.pdf)\n\n\n### Moral of the story\nThe moral of the story is never stop improving.  \n\nAuctions require multiples bidder to bid up donated items.  If there are too few bidders auction items will remain at low bids.  More bidders equates to more sharing, more support, more donations and more fundraising.  \n\n### More Bidders = Higher Final Bids\n\nSuccessful auctions start before the auction does with promotion and marketing. Evaluate retrospectively and use that information to make different and hopefully better decisions, resulting in subsequent success.\n\n\n\nSpecial thanks to Andrea M & Gina S for kindly sharing their fundraising story.  If you have a best-practice to help enlighten the Auctria family please email us at [hello@auctria.com](mailto:hello@auctria.com)",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":2204},{"url":2205},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/fd778140402464208291530accf1f6d02d51fb73-600x320.jpg","2016-06-02T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":2208},"story_evolution_auction","Storytelling: Evolution of an Elementary School Auction",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2211,"category":2212,"id":5,"image":2213,"publishOn":2216,"slug":2217,"teaser":2219,"title":2220},"# ALL Philanthropic Groups LISTEN UP!!\n![FCI_Social_Icons.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/FCI_Social_Icons.png)\n\n\n ![banner social optimization.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/banner-social-optimization.jpg)\n## Social Media Optimization\nIs your organization wasting time and effort trying to get your message out through social media channels? Often the challenge is knowing which social sites are best for non-profit organizations and how often you should be pushing content. Philanthropic groups mostly use volunteers to help them publish their messaging, with very little oversight for content or strategy, and often there isn’t analytics to support a campaigns’ effectiveness.\n \n\n![banner engaging content.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/banner-engaging-content.jpg)\n\n## Engaging Content\nBack in the early 1900’s John Wanamaker – Considered to be a pioneer in marketing, once said: “Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted: The trouble is I don’t know which half”. That statement has never been truer than in today’s marketing climate. There are so many marketing channels and ways to engage with your audience. The biggest challenge is to be everywhere all the time, bringing relevant content and responding to changing market conditions. Organizations large and small are finding it difficult to manage and respond to this demand for content.\n \n\n![banner tailored social.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/banner-tailored-social.jpg)\n## Strategy for Social Media\nBarton Wood – President at Firefly Creative, Inc., and Atlanta based marketing firm, says: “We’re constantly asked by our clients, if there’s a need for a social presence if we already have a website?” The response is a resounding “YES”. Sometimes it’s hard to justify the time and effort needed to create content and respond to online posts, but more and more people are using the web to validate, rate and review organizations through social sites.\n \nFirefly recently launched its own online social marketing portal that is designed to address some of the challenges associated with pushing social content. Some of the basic features include:\n * Scheduling: Allowing you to push social content to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest simultaneously at the click of a button, or scheduled releases. You can also repeat popular posts over time to ensure maximum exposure. \n * Content Banners: Allow you to include marketing banners on linked content. This feature embeds your marketing message when viewers click a link or RSS feed that navigates then away from your social site. \n * Reputation Monitoring: Get alerts from Yelp, Facebook, Foursquare and Google Places when someone posts a comment about your organization so you can promptly respond.  \n * Deals and Sweepstakes: Boost likes and reward customers for visiting your social sites. Coupon feature also allows for printable coupons. \n * Online Donating: Allow customers to donate online and pay through your social site. \n * Email Integration: Collect subscriber information and auto populate your contact lists in Constant Contact or Mailchimp. \n * Performance Analytics: Track social follower, likes and shares. Validate your efforts with real-time printable reports.    \n \n\n![banner social assessment.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/banner-social-assessment.jpg)\n\n## Get Personal\nHow is this service different from others social management tools available online? \n * Personalized Social Media Assessment of your online presence  \n * One on One training and support\n * Dedicated social expert available to answer questions\n * 1-hour of content creation every month (Basic Package) to help design and build assets needed for your posts. (2-hours include with the Standard Package and 3-hours with the Premier Package, each month)\n * Video tutorials embedded within every feature in the system, to walk you through setup and best practices for your social postings. \n * No posting or contributor limits for your account. \n \nIn conclusion, this interface is very easy to learn and use, with feature specific supported help videos. Post and manage multiple social sites all from one login portal. Overall this is a well thought-out management tool that has the back-end support that you don’t see with most online self-serve social management tools. **So many non-profit groups are volunteer supported and a tool like this can make their social messaging time more efficient.** The easy of use a makes it easy to get up to speed quickly for new recruits in a high turnover organization with limited resources.\n\n\n\n_________\n\n### Thanks to [Firefly Creative Guy.](https://fireflyguy.com/) for elevating the social media knowledge.  \n\nFirefly Creative Inc. - Barton Wood, President has provided this article content.  \n\nHe has also generously offered all Auctria users a [free social media assessment](https://socialappsnow.com/sweepstake/5940618d76453/b/9994909) on all your online efforts. This assessment reviews your social sites as well as your website to see how you online efforts are working to attract new prospects. The more you know, the better you can prepare an online strategy to boost your social effectiveness.",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":2214},{"url":2215},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/cf83ab26389b0a903f14b68f31481e254ea6e203-600x320.jpg","2017-06-21T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":2218},"social_marketing_portal","Make social messaging time efficient","ALL Philanthropic Groups LISTEN UP!",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2222,"category":2223,"id":5,"image":2224,"publishOn":2227,"slug":2228,"teaser":2230,"title":2231},"As we head further into 2021, it’s clear that virtual and hybrid events are here to stay for the foreseeable future. This is both to promote safe practices during the pandemic and because these opportunities present a plethora of benefits. Specifically in the case of our focus for this piece— virtual auctions— virtual and hybrid events allow for expanded reach, extended bidding times, and the ability to generate excitement leading up to the event itself.\n\nBut, there’s no denying that many organizations rushed into moving their auctions to the digital sphere in 2020, and that quick transition left much to be desired in some cases. **As you prepare for a new year of virtual auctions, revisit your strategies to plan events that both raise revenue and continue growing relationships with supporters after the fact.**\n\nIn this guide, we’re going to discuss one aspect of your auction strategy— social media— and how you can use it to [better engage donors](https://www.auctria.com/blog/why-donor-engagement-matters-or-a-mini-guide/) before, during, and after your auction event. At GoodUnited, we specialize in the intersection of social media fundraising, [researching and assisting nonprofits](https://www.goodunited.io/ultimate-nonprofit-guide-to-facebook-fundraisers) with Facebook fundraising. We’ve seen firsthand how focusing on understanding, inspiring, and cultivating relationships with supporters can revolutionize a nonprofit’s efforts on social media platforms.\n\nWe’re going to walk through this methodology as it pertains to your social media strategy for your next auction fundraiser. This guide will cover the following tips:\n\n* Understand your audience to promote your auction fundraiser.\n* Inspire social supporters to engage with your auction using Facebook groups.\n* Cultivate relationships with supporters after the auction is complete.\n\nWith these tips, you’ll increase revenue for your next fundraiser and build sustaining relationships with supporters. Let’s dive in.\n\n## Understand your audience to promote your auction fundraiser.\n\nThe traditional guidance around using social media for auctions is that you should use social platforms to promote upcoming events. We’re not going to argue that you shouldn’t do that— you definitely should— but we are going to suggest that there is a more effective way to do so than the usual approach taken by organizations.\n\nThink about how you’ve used social media to promote your auctions in the past. Maybe you’ve created a PDF or image “flyer” that includes all of the pertinent information— the event date, how to register to attend, a brief overview of items available, and an overview of why a donor should support your mission through this event— and shared that on all of your social profiles. You likely included a catchy call-to-action inviting supporters to register for the event and encouraged them to ask questions if necessary.\n\nThat’s not a bad strategy! But, by focusing on understanding your social supporters, what they respond to and what they’re interested in, you can drastically improve your approach and increase engagement with your posts leading up to the auction event.\n\nTake a deep dive into the social engagement data in your [nonprofit CRM](https://bloomerang.co/blog/nonprofit-crm/) and perhaps even poll your social supporters to understand their engagement preferences. Then, use that information to make adjustments to certain aspects of your strategy, including:\n\n* **When you post:** While posting consistently is a strong digital marketing strategy, when you post can be just as important. Often, the period between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. is the most effective time to share content, but consider experimenting with this— for instance, posting similar content at two different times— to see which is the most impactful time for your social audience.\n\n* **What you post:** Beyond posting logistical information about your event, such as the date, time, and how to engage with it, we recommend posting specific information about your mission, how the auction will impact it, and the items that will be available to bid on. When doing so, use evocative images and videos and create detailed and appealing descriptions of your key auction items.\n\n* **Where you post:** Examine data in your CRM to discover which social media platforms your supporters are most active on, whether Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or a newer platform like TikTok. Focus your efforts on the networks that your supporters are most active on and tailor your posts accordingly— for example, Twitter is great for quick, pithy updates while Facebook can better host longer-form storytelling content.\n\nWhat we’ve discovered while [researching birthday fundraisers](https://www.goodunited.io/blog/facebook-birthday-fundraisers) on Facebook is that people share nonprofit information on Facebook to express their support of the mission and nonprofit itself— in fact, [84% of social media users](https://www.classy.org/blog/6-facebook-statistics-and-what-they-mean-for-nonprofits/) report highlighting causes that are meaningful to them as their main motivation to share.\n\nDraw on that motivation by creating evocative copy and visuals then posting that information when and where your audience is most likely to encounter it. By doing this, you can increase your chances of supporters spreading the word about your auction on social media.\n\n\n## Inspire social supporters to engage with your auction using Facebook groups.\nFor the remainder of this guide, we’re going to focus on one social network: Facebook. This is not only because [58% of American adults](https://www.classy.org/blog/6-facebook-statistics-and-what-they-mean-for-nonprofits/) are Facebook users (with that number jumping to 87% when you consider the 18 to 29 age range), but also because Facebook has the most expansive functionality of the major social networking platforms when it comes to fundraising, livestreaming, developing groups, and more.\n\n**Let’s focus on Facebook groups and how those can be used to inspire social supporters to engage with your auction.** To start this process, you’d make a Facebook group pertaining exclusively to your auction event. Cross promote this group, sharing news of it on Facebook, on other social media platforms, in physical outreach, and within auction information on your website to increase the likelihood that auction attendees join.\n\nThen, prior to the event, consider the following ways to use the group to inspire auction engagement:\n\n* **Share an auction catalog.** Each day, post a new item that will be included in your auction. Remember, images are worth a thousand words, so make sure to include a visual element whether a photo or video when sharing the new items. This allows supporters to peruse items and craft their strategy for obtaining winning items that catch their eye— overall, generating excitement for your event.\n\n* **Create community for attendees.** Share evocative stories about your mission and work, testimonials from constituents and volunteers, and even discussion questions. Create a group conversation that encourages attendees to connect with your nonprofit and with one another, moderating the discussions to ensure they stay on topic. This shows attendees that while your auction is a single event, the impact of the donations raised is much larger than a one-time experience. Plus, the community created through the event has the power to make an even greater difference if they band together to continue supporting the mission. \n\n* **Share educational materials about your auction.** From within the group, direct attendees to your virtual auction software solution where they can engage with the event itself. For those that haven’t attended a virtual auction before, you can share educational information about how to get involved— whether how to register, make bids, track bids, purchase for-sale items, or even make additional paddle-raise donations. If you’re working with a solution such as [Auctria,](https://www.auctria.com/features/) you’ll be able to send users to a dedicated virtual auction website where they can bid through a streamlined process and pay for won items with ease.\n\nLast but certainly not least, groups can be used as a conduit to get users to connect with your nonprofit through Facebook Messenger. With Messenger and one-on-one conversational messaging, which we’ll discuss further in the next section, users can stay in the loop with your nonprofit and continue their engagement long after your auction itself ends.\n\nMake a post within your auction group inviting users to connect with your nonprofit through Messenger, and then use the tips in the next section to grow long-lasting relationships.\n\n\n\n\n## Cultivate relationships with supporters after the auction is complete.\n\nA key [strategy to boost revenue after your charity auction](https://www.auctria.com/blog/double-the-donation/) is to continue engaging with your supporters. On social media, one of the best ways to do this is by conversing one-on-one with auction donors and attendees through Facebook Messenger.\n\nCheck out the image below, pulled from [GoodUnited’s guide to virtual fundraising,](https://www.goodunited.io/blog/virtual-fundraising) for a visual of what this could look like:\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/fef6c7feeaaa0eef4053b32256e115562a6064db-600x400.png)\n\n\nOne-on-one conversational messaging empowers you to build personal connections with each individual supporter of your nonprofit, converting them from one-time supporters to lifelong philanthropists.\n\nWhile Messenger is a great platform to express gratitude to supporters and show them that you appreciate their individual efforts, you can also use it to send a variety of communications. When sending one-on-one messages back and forth with individual supporters, you can:\n\n### Share opportunities to give more.\nAccording to the matching gift experts at [360MatchPro,](https://360matchpro.com/corporate-giving-statistics/) 93% of companies that offer matching gift programs have a minimum match requirement of less than or equal to $50. For donors who work at companies offering matching gift programs, there’s a good chance that donations made through your auction are match-eligible.\n\nWith one-on-one messaging, educate donors about matching gifts, volunteer opportunities, Facebook fundraisers, and recurring giving to provide additional opportunities to give back to your mission.\n\n### Learn more about your social supporters.\nWithin Messenger, you can share surveys and ask supporters one-off questions to obtain basic information (such as contact details) and understand each individual better. For example, you can ask:\n\n* Why did you choose to support this auction?\n* What is most compelling about our mission?\n* How would you like to engage with our nonprofit going forward?\n* What can we do to make supporting our cause a more positive experience?\n\nYou can then use this information to improve your virtual and social fundraising opportunities going forward. And, supporters will see that you value their individual opinion and be encouraged to continue engaging with you.\n\n### Stay in touch with social supporters year-round.\nBeyond communicating in the days immediately after your fundraiser ends, use Facebook Messenger to stay in touch with supporters throughout the year. For example, you can:\n\n * Send an update on how much was raised through your auction and how those funds are being used.\n * Share advocacy efforts throughout the year to spread the word.\n * Provide updates on your organization and any upcoming opportunities to give back.\n * Send a heartfelt happy birthday note and invite the user to donate their birthday to fundraise for your cause through a Facebook fundraiser.\n\nThe list goes on! The idea is that you can have a running conversation with individual supporters and continue growing those relationships throughout the year, after your auction event has ended.\n\n---------------------------\nTo wrap up, social media is a powerful tool to spread the word about your auction fundraiser. However, that’s not all!\n\nUse your social media platforms to understand, inspire, and grow relationships with supporters to truly elevate your social strategy for your next auction. With these tips, you’ll be off to a great start!\n\n--------------\nSpecial thanks to the author, Nick Black at [GoodUnited](https://www.goodunited.io/) for sharing his advice. Nick is the Founder and CEO of GoodUnited, a venture backed Software as a Service (SaaS) startup that helps nonprofits like Wounded Warrior Project, American Cancer Society, World Wildlife Fund create 1:1 relationships with their donors through the combination of data science and human judgement delivered in conversational messaging platforms. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":2225},{"url":2226},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/e4d785c0591e05cb1db9f4391d47133204e3b7d2-600x320.jpg","2021-03-29T16:00:00.000Z",{"current":2229},"3-social-media-strategies-for-auction-fundraisers","Are you looking for new, innovative ways to spread the word about your next charity auction? Consider these three social media strategies to increase awareness.","3 Social Media Strategies For Auction Fundraisers",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2233,"category":2234,"id":5,"image":2235,"publishOn":2238,"slug":2239,"teaser":5,"title":2241},"The Snapcast is a new, interview-based podcast focusing on issues in nonprofit management—from board development to fundraising, to volunteer management, and everything in between. Mickey Desai hosts this podcast to inspire you and illuminate the path to meeting your mission goals.\n\n[Auctria](https://www.auctria.com/) was featured on a recent episode sharing how and why to run an auction and event fundraiser. Dropping a few best practices along the way. \n\n[Check out the Auctria episode. Like and subscribe for more from Mickey Desai's Nonprofit Snapcast.](https://nonprofitsnapcast.org/2022/04/21/talking-auctria-with-laurie-hochman/)\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":2236},{"url":2237},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/c36afd831f1b8de8d1832c8d0d3ff6325fbb5a48-600x320.jpg","2022-04-21T16:00:00.000Z",{"current":2240},"the-non-profit-snapcast-with-auctria","The Non Profit Snapcast with Auctria",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2243,"category":2244,"id":5,"image":2245,"publishOn":2248,"slug":2249,"teaser":2251,"title":2252},"# Leveraging Email Newsletters: How to Connect with Readers\n\n![Snowball_Auctria_Leveraging-Email-Newsletters-How-to-Connect-with-Readers_Feature.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Snowball_Auctria_Leveraging-Email-Newsletters-How-to-Connect-with-Readers_Feature.jpg)\n\nOrganizations everywhere are constantly working on new projects, and yours is no different! Email newsletters are a great way to spread the news to your supporters about all the new and exciting activities happening at your organization.\n\n**Including regularly scheduled newsletters as a part of your [engagement strategy](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/engage_12ways_wildapricot) is already an important first step for your organization.** \n\nThe problem that many nonprofits run into is ensuring people actually read these vital updates. When people are tuned into regular [nonprofit email newsletters,](https://snowballfundraising.com/nonprofit-email-newsletters/) that organization often experiences a boosted digital presence, more gifts donated, and growing attendance at fundraising events. \n\nLet’s explore how you can maximize the use of your email newsletters to make this happen for *your* organization. Start with these 5 key strategies:\n\n1. [Use catchy subject lines.](#catchy) \n2. [Link to your donation platforms.](#link) \n3. [Include social media buttons.](#buttons)\n4. [Feature a calendar of upcoming events.](#calendar) \n5. [Recognize members or donors.](#recognize) \n\nLet’s dive into the first of these awesome email newsletter strategies!\n\n![Snowball_Auctria_Leveraging-Email-Newsletters-How-to-Connect-with-Readers_Header1.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Snowball_Auctria_Leveraging-Email-Newsletters-How-to-Connect-with-Readers_Header1.jpg)\n\n## 1. Use Catchy subject Lines.\u003Ca name=\"catchy\" style=\"display: block; position: relative; top: -120px; visibility: hidden;\">\u003C/a>\n\nWhen you look at your email inbox, what’s the first thing you see? The subject lines of your unopened emails. This is the first point of contact people have with your newsletter, so it is absolutely essential to put some time and effort into perfecting them. \n\nOnce your reader has opened your email newsletter, they’ll see all of your important updates, email giving opportunities, and upcoming events, but we’ll get to that in a minute. **First, focus on just getting them to open the email.**\n\n Make sure your subject line will garner the attention of your readers by ensuring it includes all the necessary features. Your team should:\n * **Make sure it is the proper length.** Guarantee readers can see all the words of your subject, so it’s not too long. Aim for about 17 to 24 characters or 3 to 5 words. \n * **Don’t use all caps.** When you use all capital letters, your email is more likely to look like spam. Plus, all caps gives off the vibe that you are yelling at your reader and no one likes being yelled at. \n * **Include a number.** Instead of writing out the number, use the numeral version to draw your reader’s eye to your content. For example, use “4” instead of writing out “four” in your subject.  \n\n![Snowball_Auctria_Leveraging-Email-Newsletters-How-to-Connect-with-Readers_Header2.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Snowball_Auctria_Leveraging-Email-Newsletters-How-to-Connect-with-Readers_Header2.jpg)\n\n## 2. Link to donation opportunities.\u003Ca name=\"link\" style=\"display: block; position: relative; top: -120px; visibility: hidden;\">\u003C/a>\n\nOnce people have clicked on your email to read the rest of your “story,” be sure they have the tools they need to react. The best reaction you could get from your readers is a donation. \n\nWhy is this considered a reaction? Well, your newsletter updates your reader about all the amazing things your organization is doing. **By sharing all this information, the hope is that your readers will be inspired them to participate. The most immediate way to participate: contributing a donation.**\n\nYour online donation opportunities are, therefore, an integral part of your email newsletter. Even if someone can’t donate right away, they might be able to make a pledge, a promise to contribute a future donation. Include all the different ways that supporters can contribute to the next part of your story such as:\n * **Email donation buttons.** Include a button right there in the email for people to click on and donate right away. This is by far the fastest and easiest way to include a donation option in an email newsletter. \n * **Online donation pages.** Include a link to your online donation page so that people can send a donation through your website. This will also give them a chance to explore your site more after the donation is complete. \n * **Mobile giving platforms.** Set up a text-to-give campaign and include the number to donate in your email newsletter. This appeals to your donors who keep their cell phone on them at all times. \n\nTo read more about the different methods of donation and platforms to provide such opportunities check out [Snowball’s guide on online donation platforms.](https://snowballfundraising.com/online-donation-platforms/)\n\n ![Snowball_Auctria_Leveraging-Email-Newsletters-How-to-Connect-with-Readers_Header3.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Snowball_Auctria_Leveraging-Email-Newsletters-How-to-Connect-with-Readers_Header3.jpg)\n\n## 3. Include social media buttons.\u003Ca name=\"buttons\" style=\"display: block; position: relative; top: -120px; visibility: hidden;\">\u003C/a>\n\nWhile your newsletter is a great way to update your readers about the big things your organization is achieving, social media is a great place for them to see the everyday actions of your organization. Use these two methods in tandem to keep the attention of your supporters. \n\nSocial media is a great way to encourage future engagement between your readers and your organization, such as peer-to-peer fundraising opportunities. **Include social media buttons on your email newsletter to make starting this engagement opportunity that much easier.**\n\nWhen you add these buttons to your email newsletter, here are a few tips to keep in mind:\n\n * **Only include buttons to active social media accounts.** Don’t lead your supporters to an account that is rarely used because it could hurt their engagement more than help it. \n\n * **Add the buttons in a place that won’t take away from the rest of your content such as the side or bottom of the email.** Try adding it right next to your text-to-give number so that all your additional resources are in the same place. \n\n * **Make sure clicking on a button will open the social media site in a new tab as to not take people away from the newsletter.** The same strategy can be taken when you link to donation pages or invitations to upcoming events to hold your reader’s attention as long as possible. \n\nMake sure to also add social media buttons to your donation pages. This gives people the chance to share the contribution they made to your organization.\n\n![Snowball_Auctria_Leveraging-Email-Newsletters-How-to-Connect-with-Readers_Header4.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Snowball_Auctria_Leveraging-Email-Newsletters-How-to-Connect-with-Readers_Header4.jpg)\n\n## 4. Feature a calendar of upcoming events.\u003Ca name=\"calendar\" style=\"display: block; position: relative; top: -120px; visibility: hidden;\">\u003C/a> \n\n\nOne of the perfect additions to your email newsletter is a calendar of the upcoming events for your organization. A calendar gives a visual representation of your organization’s next opportunities for supporters to get involved.\n\n\n**This visual representation not only cuts down on the text you need within the email, but it also makes it easy for your readers to plan out their own calendars.**\n\nA visual monthly calendar page is an easy comparison tool for your readers and their own calendars. They can transfer all the information about the [fun events](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/host_perfect_fundraising_event) you have planned from one calendar to another. It also cuts down on page flipping and month searching to make plans. \n\nYou can even make this calendar even more effective by:\n\n * **Making it interactive.** Enable features on your calendar so that people can click on the different events to get more information. It may lead them to your event Facebook page or include a fundraising thermometer for the funding status of an event. \n\n * **Color coding your activities.** Try using different colors on the calendar for the fundraising events, holidays, special office celebrations, stewardship events, etc. Don’t forget to include a special color allocated to events that still need funding (and a link to the donation page for it). \n\n * **Link back to your main calendar.** Many times organizations find it difficult to fit all the information they want to on one calendar. Linking the email calendar to the main one on your website give readers access to all your important information, plus, it drives online traffic to your nonprofit’s website.\n\nYour calendar is a perfect place to connect people to your fundraisers that are tied to events. For instance, [sell event t-shirts online](https://www.bonfire.com/sell-online/) and include a link on the calendar to the page that you are selling from.\n\n![Snowball_Auctria_Leveraging-Email-Newsletters-How-to-Connect-with-Readers_Header5.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Snowball_Auctria_Leveraging-Email-Newsletters-How-to-Connect-with-Readers_Header5.jpg)\n\n## 5. Recognize members or donors.\u003Ca name=\"recognize\" style=\"display: block; position: relative; top: -120px; visibility: hidden;\">\u003C/a> \n\nRecognizing your donors or members is another great way to encourage the continued contributions of your supporters through your regular newsletter. \n\n**Try emphasizing your recognition program in the time between two major fundraisers. This is a great way to encourage donations to your regular donation page as opposed to support for particular activities or events.** \n\nRecognizing people for their support does a few things to encourage continued engagement. For instance, recognition:\n\n* **Appeals to the competitive nature in those who want to be featured.** Donors who see others featured on your page will want to be featured themselves, encouraging their continued engagement. Include a link to your donation page to make it easy for them to fulfill this goal.\n\n * **Shows your appreciation for support.** A digital appreciation wall is a great way to show your donors you care. It celebrates the work of an individual, showing everyone that one person can make a big difference.\n\n * **Builds a legacy amongst supporters.** If a donor is featured on the virtual donor recognition wall, they are more likely to read future emails to see who else will get featured. Or, they might look to be featured again! Either way, their legacy stands as a supporter. \n\n**Feature supporters like the top donors for the month, the volunteers with the most hours, or random supporters who helped make a difference.**\n\nFor more information about how recognition walls work or how to feature them, check out [Double the Donation’s donor recognition wall guide.](https://doublethedonation.com/donor-recognition-wall-guide/)\n\n-----------------------------------------\nConnecting with your readership in a regular newsletter is a great way to encourage engagement with your organization as a whole. You can use email newsletters to see more people showing up to your events, more donations flowing through online channels, and a greater social media following.\n\nWith these 5 strategies on hand, there’s nothing stopping your team from increasing online engagement and driving giving to your cause!\n\n--------------\n![snowball-by-Swoop-1-150wide.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/snowball-by-Swoop-1-150wide.png)\n\nSpecial thanks to  John Killoran from [Snowball Fundraising](https://snowballfundraising.com/) for expert advice on how to leverage email newsletters. \n\nAbout John:\nJohn Killoran is CEO of Snowball, an exciting new fundraising technology that makes it easy for people to donate in two clicks from text, email, web and social media sites.  John pioneered SMTP payments and has been a major innovator in the mobile payments space for the past 5 years.     When he is not running a company, he is cooking food for his family and telling his dogs to stop barking.\n\n![John-Killoran-atpay 100wide.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/John-Killoran-atpay-100wide.png)",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":2246},{"url":2247},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/20cc998b4b29dffedd56c6190b629577760914c9-600x320.png","2018-09-11T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":2250},"leveraging_email_newsletter","Problem-ensuring people actually open and read emails with vital updates. Solution-Start with these 5 key strategies.","Leveraging Email Newsletters: How to Connect with Readers",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2254,"category":2255,"id":5,"image":2256,"publishOn":2259,"slug":2260,"teaser":2262,"title":2263},"There is a straight line from donation, purchase, bid, and sponsorship directly to the tee. That’s the First Tee – Jersey Shore. First Tee is a national program however each chapter must fundraise to secure and manage its own finances locally. This means that Tara Kelly wears both hats as the Executive Director and Chief Development Officer at First Tee – Jersey Shore. This also means that when funds are raised they go directly to programs and onto the greens for the First Tee – Jersey Shore programs.\n\nTheir largest fundraiser of the year is naturally a golf tournament paired with an auction and raffle. This will fund help fund approximately 800 kids for the year! Since Tara is a team of one on the fundraising side she stays hyper-focused on the tournament audience and maximizes the income. In 2022 this will be the 16th annual Classic Charity Auction.\n\n\n\n![image](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/1d1ba5a5971996bb21d079ac240de00814c58ab4-800x300.png?w=450)\n\nThree pillars that build the tournament foundation are:\n* Cater to the audience\n* Playing real golf\n* Break up the ask\n\n## Know Your Audience\nFirst Tee – Jersey Shore and Tara know exactly who will participate in their golf tournament. She is very aware of the demographics, socioeconomic status, golf tendencies as well as personal tastes in food, games, and activities. They are paying for a foursome to play a round of golf, and raise some money for a great cause. The golf is followed by clubhouse fun and food under the patio. It is after the golf takes place that they run games of chance, sell raffle tickets and socialize. \n\nUnder the patio is where amusement, auction, raffles, and games of chance take place. This group likes to compete through gameplay and movement.\n\nThrough experience year over year they have found:\n\n- **Golf auction items are bid on fiercely.** Give the people what they want, more golf! Auction off donated foursomes at local courses, golf merchandise, golf memorabilia, and golf experiences and travel.\n\n- **Sponsorships for the usual and unusual**. Tournament sponsorships are typical for the hole, tee, and putting green. First Tee knows what its audience likes, and therefore offers sponsorships for an ice cream truck and cigar station. This is another way for large donors to support First Tee for a reason. \n\n- **Stay and Play are sold out early each year.** Instead of just a few hours of golf 8 golfers per on-course Villa, private bedrooms. Arrive, include  2 foursomes of golf, and stay overnight. Chef prepared a private meal at the Villa. 2 foursomes the following day with hospitality for the day.\n\n- **Remove 50/50 raffles.** These draw attention but then give away 50% of the income. This has been eliminated from the itinerary\n\n- **Chippo Golf meets both the interests of more gameplay.** This is similar to cornhole but played with a golf club claiming the ball towards a board with holes. \n\n\n## Real Golf\nSurrounded by the blue skies and green grass lies the golf. When creating the golf tournament First Tee – Jersey Shore realizes that the golfers that turn out to their event come out to golf, real golf! This means a set tee time and no on-course games or distractions. Keeping the tournament in its pure form attracts golfers that want to golf and expect to golf without interference during play. Because the tournament is set up like this, golfers return year after year seeking the same experience. \n\nThe golf tournament has a capacity for 160 golfers, tickets open about 6 months in advance, and over 50% of the inventory is sold in the first two months. This gives First Tee cash flow to support the programs that are happening prior to the tournament. \n\nAfter the game ends most golfers will freshen up in the clubhouse and dine under the patio. This is the perfect time for First Tee to re-share its mission and impact story. They will have many of the kids and teens that are active in the program. They will pair up for Chippo games and get to meet, see and hear how their donations are making a difference. \n\n## Break up the Ask\n \nFirst Tee – Jersey Shore golf tournament has a capacity for 160 golfers, tickets open about 6 months in advance, and over 50% of the inventory is sold in the first two months. When golfers make the payment it feels almost free, or at least forgotten when they arrive at the range for the Classic Charity Auction. Upon arrival, the golfers are offered a raffle donation package. Almost 80% of the participants will buy in. Many times the foursome was purchased as a gift or sponsorship from a business partner, colleague, or friend making the golf outing really free. Those individuals tend to give, donate and buy supporting the cause as well. Since the golf is already taken care of the psychology is, well I might as well give something! \n\nBeing in New Jersey the gaming regulations are quite restrictive. Under the patio in-person the raffles, games of chance, Chippo Golf transactions take place. Again, this is way after the time most have purchased the golf fees so this is a new ‘bank’ to enjoy some amusements.\n\n## Donation to Tee\n\nSimilar to the farm-to-table, Tara likens their fundraising as sponsor/donor/bidder - to -  tee. Funds raised go directly to the kids and teen programs immediately. First Tee subsidizes the youth activity making it available to most for a small fee. For those the small fee is still too steep, there are scholarships available. Same philosophy here, donations come in and they go directly to the programs.\n\n---------------------------\n\nSpecial thanks to Tara Kelly, Executive Director of [First Tee - Jersey Shore](https://firstteejerseyshore.org/) for sharing her event fundraising experience with us. \n\nFirst Tee - Jersey Shore enables kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with life skills curriculum, we create learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience that kids carry to everything they do. To learn more visit: [https://firstteejerseyshore.org/](https://firstteejerseyshore.org/)\n\n\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":2257},{"url":2258},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/c03d18991a9916cc4b57230935936ebff33637a0-600x320.jpg","2022-04-20T14:04:00.000Z",{"current":2261},"donation-to-tee-with-first-tee-jersey-shore","Similar to the farm-to-table, First Tee - Jersey Shore likens their fundraising as sponsor/donor/bidder - to -  tee. ","Donation to Tee with First Tee-Jersey Shore",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2265,"category":2266,"id":5,"image":2267,"publishOn":2270,"slug":2271,"teaser":2273,"title":2274},"# Fundraising Events: 5 Smart Strategies to Boost Attendance\n\nAlthough fundraising goes on all year round, there’s nothing like a blowout fundraising event to get nonprofit supporters excited about your cause. Your most reliable donors enjoy coming together to learn about your recent successes, support your cause and meet other like-minded people. \n\n**But you can’t just rely on those supporters who you know will show up every time. As your nonprofit grows and takes on more ambitious projects, you need to draw more people (and larger donations) to your events every time.**\n\nWhen it’s time for your next [fundraising event,](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/host_perfect_fundraising_event) consider these five strategies to bring more supporters through the door:\n\n1. Invest in the right event management software.\n2. Brand your event.\n3. Incorporate special ticketing.\n4. Get smart with outreach.\n5. Make the most of your data.\n\nWith these techniques, you’ll not only bring more people to your event — you’ll also set yourself up for long-term fundraising success.\n\n![DK-Auctria-Fundraising Events Boost Attendance-header1.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/DK-Auctria-Fundraising-Events-Boost-Attendance-header1.jpg)\n\n## 1. Invest in the right event management software.\nNowadays, it’s nearly impossible to host a successful fundraising event, especially a large one, without a reliable event registration software solution to help you out. Most nonprofits already use some kind of event management software to manage registration, issue tickets, or create an event page, if nothing else.\n\nWhen your goal is to boost your attendance, you need features that may not be available in any generic event software package. Look for these features found in top event management software that will help you attract more attendees and donors:\n\n* **Capacity and waitlist management:** The last thing you want to do is call a registrant to tell them that you accidentally overbooked your event and they can no longer attend. Nonprofit event management software handles capacity and waitlists (including VIP overrides) so you never have to refund a ticket.\n\n* **Custom registration forms:** Fundraising events aren’t just about gathering donations once — they’re also capturing leads that you can use later on. You can create custom registration forms in top event software to gather important information for your donor database. \n\n\n* **Add-on donations and sales.** Your registrants already have their credit card out to buy their ticket, so it’s a good time to ask them for an additional donation or purchase to support the event. For example, right before checkout, ask if they’d like to purchase event memorabilia or make an extra donation to support the event.\n\n* **Attendee communications:** Avoid no-shows by sending automatic event reminders to your ticket holders, and share event updates like weather plans, items to bring, or parking information as your event approaches.\n\n* **Specialized features for specific events:** If you’re holding a special event like an auction, you’ll need specialized features. Some nonprofit event software providers package these options in their all-in-one solutions, while others sell individual point solutions for special types of events.\n\n[Implementing specialized software](http://blog.doubleknot.com/museum-software-guide/) makes it possible for your staff to minimize or eliminate time spent on tasks that software can automate. That leaves them with the time and energy to focus on the other six strategies on our list!\n\n![DK-Auctria-Fundraising Events Boost Attendance-header2.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/DK-Auctria-Fundraising-Events-Boost-Attendance-header2.jpg)\n\n## 2. Brand your event. \nTo ensure that everyone, from longtime supporters to people who’ve never heard of your organization before, knows what your event is about, you need to spend time focusing on your branding.\n[Branding your fundraising event](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/brand_auction_story) starts with deciding on a catchy name. Then, you’ll need an eye-catching event logo, tagline, and social media hashtag.\n\nThese branding materials can work their way into:\n\n* Press releases and online advertising. \n* Your donation and registration forms.\n* The event microsite.\n* Your social media (and your supporters’ social media!). \n\n**Remember, your branding should say something about your mission as a nonprofit and the specific goal of your event.**\n\n![DK-Auctria-Fundraising Events Boost Attendance-header3.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/DK-Auctria-Fundraising-Events-Boost-Attendance-header3.jpg)\n\n## 3. Incorporate special ticketing.\nEspecially if you’re planning on hosting a large or complex event, you have an opportunity to [include multiple levels of ticket packages on your event checklist](https://blog.fundly.com/fundraising-event-checklist/) — but only if the accounting matches up.\n\nYou need to balance the goal of attracting as many attendees as possible with affordable tickets against the need to bring in as much revenue as possible. Keeping ticket prices relatively low can be smart in some cases, but if you have major donors who would gladly purchase a pricier ticket in exchange for the best seats in the house, free drinks, or some other kind of VIP treatment, take advantage of that!\n\nSpecial ticketing can be particularly effective if you have a membership program. **Your members likely already get benefits like discounts or special access along with their membership card, so why not extend those benefits to increase attendance at your fundraising events?**\n\nHere are a few benefits you can offer your members that cost you little or nothing:\n\n1. Discounts on fundraising event tickets.\n2. Discounts on other goods or services, such as merchandise.\n3. Priority registration or seating at fundraising events.\n4. Special access to performers or speakers.\n5. A discount code for a friend.\n\nProviding a discount code for a member to share with a friend serves dual purposes. Members get to share the benefits of their memberships with a friend, and nonmembers get to see firsthand what the benefits of membership are like. They’re more likely to purchase a membership once they’ve experienced the special benefits that members enjoy.\n\n(Want to learn more about membership programs? [Check out this ultimate guide from Doubleknot!)](http://blog.doubleknot.com/museum-membership-ultimate-guide/)\n\n\n![DK-Auctria-Fundraising Events Boost Attendance-header4.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/DK-Auctria-Fundraising-Events-Boost-Attendance-header4.jpg)\n\n## 4. Get smart with outreach. \nYour supporters can’t show up to an event they don’t know about, so it’s important to share the news of your event as widely as possible.\n\n**Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter are some of the best tools to reach a large number of people at once — if you use them right.** Here are some common and effective ways to maximize your reach on social media:\n\n* **Create an event page or profile** that your attendees can RSVP to and share with their own social circles. (Remember to include a link to the registration page!) You can also share information after the event such as how much money was raised, who received awards and, of course, an album of photos from the event.\n\n* **Change your organization’s profile pictures and cover photos to your event’s logo** so even posts unrelated to the event will spread the word about it.\n\n* **Use the social media hashtag you chose when you branded your event** so your followers can track updates and share observations, and you can gather photos and comments about the event.\n\n* **Share multimedia content,** like [videos and sideshows,](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/fb_video_instructions) so your updates stand out on your followers’ timelines.\n\n* **Tag your sponsors** so their social media teams can easily find and share your updates with their own followers.\n\nWhile social media is a great tool to reach the largest number of people possible, your messages will likely be generic and, of course, short. These generic public messages aren’t the best way to reach out to your high-value donors, who expect a more personal touch.\n\nTo make sure major donors, members, and recurring donors attend your event, you have to show them that you need and value their personal support. That requires effort to make your invitation personal, addressing them by name and referencing the positive impact their support has had in the past.\n\n**To make your outreach more personal without spending hours researching, you need the right software.**\n\nCommunication software features can draw information such as name and engagement history from your records and automatically input those into your emails. A well-organized donor database can ensure that staff members making calls or holding meetings with important constituents have all the information they need at their fingertips.\n\nPersonalizing invitations to fundraising events won’t just draw more people to your event; it will also [set you up for future success,](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/attendee_to_annual_fund_donors) which brings us to our last point.\n\n![DK-Auctria-Fundraising Events Boost Attendance-header5.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/DK-Auctria-Fundraising-Events-Boost-Attendance-header5.jpg)\n\n## 5. Make the most of your data. \nYou can’t get better at planning events to bring in more donors if you don’t understand what has and hasn’t worked before. **Before you start planning your next event, you need to review the data from similar past events.**\n\nTake a look at:\n\n* **Attendance.** Compare how many people attended to how many invitations you sent, how many people RSVPed, and how many of your major donors and members showed up.\n* **Average gift size at similar events.** How does this metric compare to the number of people who attended?\n* **Budget.** How well did you stick to your budget? Which areas will benefit from more funding, and which can afford being cut back?\n* **Feedback.** What did your attendees have to say about your event, and how can you leverage that for the future?\n\nThese data points will guide you to the strategies that worked well last time and what you could improve, which will lead you to more successful events in the future. \n\n**Attendee feedback after an event is particularly important.** Use your communications software to encourage them to give feedback, and include a link to a short but well-designed post-event survey. Be sure to explicitly ask what you could do better or what would encourage them to attend again. \n\nDon’t forget to also ask them what they liked! Their positive comments about the event can be a big help for next year’s marketing! \n\nWhen you incorporate attendee feedback for your next event, you show donors that you value their thoughtful contributions. That kind of attentiveness will make them want to come back again next year.\n\n**If you don’t have this data, set a plan for collecting it as you brainstorm your next fundraising event ideas,** [starting with these ideas from Doubleknot.](http://blog.doubleknot.com/2017/11/27/museum-fundraising-event-ideas/) An integrated event management software solution can produce post-event reports with the quantitative data, and software can also facilitate post-event surveys to gather important attendee feedback.\n\n--------------------\n\nPlanning fundraising events involves a lot of moving parts, all of which work together to increase attendance, raise donations, and promote awareness and goodwill. Make sure your next event is a success by implementing these techniques!\n\n-------------\nSpecial thanks to Special thanks to David Mimeles from [Doubleknot](https://www.doubleknot.com/) for expert advice on how to boost attendance.  David is the Vice President of Sales & Marketing at DoubleKnot.\n\n[![doubleknot_logo_160px_transparent.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/doubleknot_logo_160px_transparent.png)](https://www.doubleknot.com/)",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":2268},{"url":2269},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/3e33b76fc11201892d4026f9f89efafb4d466b66-600x320.jpg","2018-01-29T17:00:00.000Z",{"current":2272},"dk_boost_attendance","there’s nothing like a blowout fundraising event to get nonprofit supporters excited about your cause","Fundraising Events: 5 Smart Strategies to Boost Attendance",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2276,"category":2277,"id":5,"image":2278,"publishOn":2281,"slug":2282,"teaser":2284,"title":2285},"Procurement may seem daunting but when you make a plan and break it down to small chunks it becomes fun.  Procurement is a task that can be done by any volunteer at any time. \n\n\n\n## DEFINE \nUnderstand and define the auction audience and ask for donations that strategically fit the bidding audience.  \n\n## TIMELINE\nCreate a [timeline](http://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/auction_timeline_checklist) and stick to it.  Ask for donations to be submitted with enough lead time to do all administrative activities and give the marketing team time to capitalize on the fabulous donations.  \n\n## WRITE \nCompose an effective [procurement letter](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-to-create-effective-auction-donation-request-letters/) including vital and clear and specific messaging.\n\n### Be friendly\nA letter to “help the cause” such as enrich the students, fight the disease, feed the hungry, save the animals, endow the arts.  Using action terminology makes the donor feel like part of the solution by simply donating goods or services.  \n\n### Include key information\nContact name with email is great but adding a phone number promotes a more personal touch to the request.  Tax status and ID and relevant numbers are key factors used by a donor in deciding to honor the request.   Donation cut-off date is vital to ensure donated items come in and can then be marketed.\n\n### What does a donor get out of it? \nBesides helping the cause generate funds do they get their business name in an Auction Catalog? Online or click thru? Make it worth their time and effort.  Be sure to [thank the donor](http://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/thank_you_everyone) too! \n\n### Call to action \nBe specific in the date or time frame good and services should are requested.  \n\n### Who to ask:\nQ:\tWhat is your attendance strategy? \nA: \tStart with a wish list of donations that your attendees will desire \n\nAsk ALL stakeholders.  \nThis includes past donors of goods and services, past auction bidders, business partners.  You will be surprised what donations are available though online requests if you just simply ask.  Many businesses feel that the donation is a way to helping without a huge time commitment.  It makes them feel good too.\n\nIf you have been doing auctions or similar activities in the past request donations from prior donors.  Ask all past bidders.  Once bidders have attended an event they are more likely to help again and perhaps give leads or references.  Ask businesses that you personally frequent.\n\n### WHEN to ask:\nTiming the ask can increase the rate-of return on efforts.  The sweet spot is when you are personally spending money at an establishment.  Smart businesses realize that their target market is front and center and most want to help their current customers.\n\n### Sample Procurement letters:\n* [Sample letter for a school](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/ProcurementLetterSAMPLESchoolposted69.pdf)\n* [Sample letter non-education related](https://s3.amazonaws.com/auctria/documents/SampleProcurementletterENVIROCARE.pdf)\n\n\n\n## Consigning considerations:\nMany companies offer unique goods for consignments such as sports memorabilia, experiences and events.  Consignments can be fun and flashy but do your due diligence and read the fine print.  Taking consigned goods means the charity agrees to offer at auction an  item usually with a minimum sale price.  Collections above the required minimum gets donated back to your function. If merchandise does not sell it goes back to the consignment house.  \n\nIf you do choose to accept consigned goods be sure to budget the starting value and potential profit margin to see if consigning is a true value added effort.  In addition, bidders are most likely not aware that an item is consigned, and when they win or purchase that coveted paraphernalia with a large donation, most believe that the charity gets the funds.  Be sure to budget time for receiving and potentially shipping back unsold goods.  \n\n## Thank you, BUT No thank you:\n**It is OK to say no thank you.**  Accept only donations with a true retail value and can be considered sellable.  A 2 for 1, trial coupon or buy-this-get-that are ordinary have little monetary value.  \n\nIt's okay to respectfully decline these (or perhaps take them with the notion of using as token of appreciation for volunteers).  \n\n**DON’T clutter the auction with junk.**",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":2279},{"url":2280},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/bdf6de35b9f74b3a27bac8d2fd2bc7955cbc188b-600x320.jpg","2016-02-05T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":2283},"procurement_basics","How do we start asking for auction donations?  Well, first create a great request letter.  Auctria will show you how!","Procurement Basics for Success",{"attachments":5,"authors":2287,"body":2312,"category":2313,"id":5,"image":2314,"publishOn":2317,"slug":2318,"teaser":2320,"title":2321},[2288],{"bio":2289,"email":5,"facebook":5,"image":2307,"instagram":5,"linkedin":5,"name":2311,"twitter":5,"web":5},[2290,2298],{"_key":2291,"_type":990,"children":2292,"markDefs":2297,"style":998},"4327bc2ea948",[2293],{"_key":2294,"_type":994,"marks":2295,"text":2296},"4327bc2ea9480",[],"Laurie Hochman has a passion for helping groups exceed their fundraising goals. After using Auctria for many auction fundraisers, she joined the team to help others boost their auction fundraising for many wonderful causes. Auctria has been used for auctions and events raising over one billion dollars.",[],{"_key":2299,"_type":990,"children":2300,"markDefs":2306,"style":998},"5b13ef24e874",[2301],{"_key":2302,"_type":994,"marks":2303,"text":2305},"5b13ef24e8740",[2304],"em","“The beauty in what is done with the money raised with Auctria is what motivates me every day to help auction teams succeed. Hope all your bids soar!”",[],{"asset":2308},{"_id":2309,"url":2310},"image-c2ee0d6cd13dc65d140c381893355b6c177a03a6-400x400-png","https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/c2ee0d6cd13dc65d140c381893355b6c177a03a6-400x400.png","Laurie Hochman","Ottawa, Ontario & NY, NY  – [June 20, 2025] – In celebration of Black Philanthropy Month, Auctria has partnered with Floyd Jones and the BackBlack Movement to spotlight, strengthen, and support Black-led and Black-benefitting nonprofits across North America. At the heart of this collaboration is a newly designed donation page—ready-to-use and customizable—created to help organizations raise visibility and revenue during the month of August and beyond.\nAuctria's easy-to-use platform becomes the wind beneath the wings of these incredible nonprofits, empowering them to soar in their communities by simplifying the fundraising process.\n“Black-led organizations are doing transformational work in communities across the country. They deserve tools that support their mission, their capacity, and their sustainability,” said Laurie Hochman, Director of Business Growth & Strategy at Auctria. “This partnership with Back Black is about ensuring those organizations have access to meaningful, accessible fundraising technology—when it matters most.”\n\n## The Challenge: A Deep Funding Gap\nThe need for focused support is urgent. As outlined by Floyd Jones of Back Black:\nOf all community foundation funding, only 1% is directed toward Black communities.\n\n\nRevenues of Black-led nonprofits are 24% smaller than their White-led counterparts.\n\n\nNet assets for Black-led nonprofits are 76% smaller, limiting long-term sustainability.\n\n\n**Back Black exists to reverse this reality by directing capital, enhancing capacity, and amplifying awareness for Black-led and Black-serving organizations.**\n\nThis collaboration with Auctria aligns with that mission—making it easier for nonprofits to build visibility, activate supporters, and collect critical donations during Black Philanthropy Month and throughout the year.\n“We believe that philanthropy must be equitable,” said Floyd Jones, founder of Back Black. “This partnership with Auctria puts powerful tools into the hands of organizations that are often overlooked—so they can continue their extraordinary work with the support they deserve.”\n\n## The Solution: A Powerful, Plug-and-Play Donation Page\nAuctria’s Black Philanthropy Month Donation Page is available immediately to all Auctria users. With just a few clicks, organizations can:\nLaunch a branded donation website in minutes\n\n\n* Customize the page with their own story, images, and mission\n* Collect donations seamlessly through integrated credit card processing\n* Send receipts and thank-you emails automatically\n* Promote their campaign across email, social media, and text channels\n\n\nWhether launching a new initiative, running a virtual appeal, or integrating with an existing event, the donation page provides a solid foundation to fundraise with confidence and clarity.\n\nAuctria will host a demo to walk through how to activate the page and customize it for your mission. The session will be recorded and shared for on-demand access.\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;\">\u003Ciframe src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/video/1095047415?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;\" title=\"BlackPhilanthopy Donation Page Creation with Auctria\">\u003C/iframe>\u003C/div>\u003Cscript src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js\">\u003C/script>\n\n## Bonus Opportunity - $500 purpose-driven grant \n**✅ How to Qualify**\n\nStep 1: Create your free Auctria account\nGet set up in minutes and access powerful fundraising tools designed to help your campaign shine.\n👉 Create Your Account\n\nStep 2: Launch your campaign page and rally your community\nUse Auctria’s ready-made donation page branded exclusively for Black Philanthropy Month. Customize it with your story, goals, and donation tiers.\n\nStep 3: Submit your campaign through the BackBlack Impact Grant\nOnce your campaign is live, apply for the Impact Grant to be considered for Auctria’s $500 bonus donation.\n👉 Submit Your Campaign\n\n🔒 Eligibility: You must be a verified Black-led nonprofit listed in the BackBlack Directory.\n🗓️ Deadline: August 31, 2025\n🏆 Winner Announced: Early September\n\n## Other Resources\n* [BackBlack Toolkit](https://www.floydjones.co/free-download)\n* [3-clicks |  Black Philanthropy Donation page set-up on Auctria](https://academy.auctria.com/website/customization_how_to/add_donation_page/?step=special-add-a-black-philanthropy-month-event)\n\n## About BackBlack\n[BackBlack Movement](https://backblackmovement.org/) is a giving movement founded to challenge the deep inequities in charitable funding. The initiative exists to direct capital, enhance capacity, and amplify awareness for Black-led and Black-benefitting nonprofits. As of 2025, all operations for Black Philanthropy Month have officially merged under the BackBlack umbrella, aligning two powerful forces committed to resourcing, celebrating, and amplifying Black-led change around the world. \n\n## About Auctria\nAuctria is a full-featured, easy-to-use fundraising platform supporting auctions, ticketing, raffles, donation campaigns, and virtual or hybrid events. Since 2011, Auctria has helped organizations raise over $1 billion. Committed to affordability, innovation, and access, Auctria equips nonprofits of all sizes with the tools they need to raise more funds and do more good.\n\nTo learn more about the Black Philanthropy Month donation page or to start your campaign, watch the video and slides from the [webinar](https://www.auctria.com/webinar/august-action-turn-your-community-into-a-fundraising-catalyst-for-black-philanthropy-month/), visit www.auctria.com or contact hello@auctria.com.\n",{"id":67,"title":68},{"asset":2315},{"url":2316},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/80eb003ed7804cff5a5c6786a6bda359c48ab3db-960x540.png","2025-06-20T14:46:59.611Z",{"current":2319},"fueling-impact-auctria-and-back-black-team-up-for-black-philanthropy-month","This August, Auctria is fueling impact by supporting Black-led nonprofits with tools to raise more and do more.","Fueling Impact: Auctria and Back Black Team Up for Black Philanthropy Month",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2323,"category":2324,"id":5,"image":2325,"publishOn":2328,"slug":2329,"teaser":2331,"title":2332},"Advocacy is a powerful tactic for nonprofits to engage their communities, pursue their missions, boost their visibility in the public eye, and even raise some money. Advocacy campaigns have become an incredibly effective way for many organizations to make an impact and deepen relationships with their supporters.\n\n**If you’re looking for ways to keep your donors engaged [after the busy year-end season,](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/keep_donors_engaged_snowball) advocacy might be the way to go!**\n\nPlus, don’t forget that 2020 is an election year! Referred to as the “election effect,” nonprofits and advocacy organizations regularly see huge bumps in engagement every time a new election cycle picks up. Political, environmental, and social issues are at the front of people’s minds, and they want to support the causes they care about.\n\nAdvocacy campaigns come in several different forms, ranging from complex multi-year campaigns to influence legislation to simpler petitions and pledge campaigns. If your mission lends itself well to advocacy, definitely consider your options and stay on top of current events. \n\n**You’ll just need the right tools and strategies in your back pocket to fire up at a moment’s notice. That’s where nonprofit tech comes in.**\n\nToday’s fundraising and marketing technology has made it easier than ever to build a strong infrastructure and launch an advocacy campaign quickly. Let’s walk through the tech side of advocacy campaigns, what you’ll need to get started, and how to best manage your efforts going forward. Here’s what we’ll cover:\n\n1. Use integrated advocacy tools.\n2. Continually learn from your data.\n3. Develop a multichannel approach.\n4. Give your advocates digital support.\n5. Have a data management plan in place.\n\nFollowing these best practices as you build out your advocacy toolkit can significantly boost your chances for success by better equipping both your team and your community of supporters to advocate on your behalf. Let’s get started.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/c05085ad80acefe226355e04874f964c2564f449-720x120.jpg)\n\n## 1. Use integrated advocacy tools.\nUsing integrated tools is always a smart move. You’ve probably read or heard this before, but what exactly does it mean?\n\nAn integration between two software solutions means that they’re able to easily share their data, allowing each to draw from the other’s records and metrics. What are the benefits of integrating your tools, and how can they improve your advocacy efforts?\n\n**Think of it this way:** When your advocacy software (like a petitions tool), donation page, and central donor database (or CRM) all speak the same language, you can make smarter strategy decisions and automate more of your processes. For example, with an integrated advocacy toolkit, you can:\n\n * Automatically save the contact info of new petition signers to your database of supporters and email recipients\n * Populate supporter names in your campaign emails to personalize the message\n * Easily analyze all of your campaign data, including petitions, actions, donations, and marketing engagement, in a centralized location\n\nThe main idea is that advocacy campaigns tend to be fairly complex, reaching supporters through a variety of channels and providing multiple ways to get involved. You have to ensure that none of your engagement data falls through the cracks. This way, you can develop more effective strategies down the line by shaping your campaigns to what you know your supporters will respond to. Plus, easier data access simply saves your team’s time across the board.\n\n**The most efficient way to build an integrated toolkit for most organizations is to use your CRM as the system’s central hub.** At Soapbox Engage, we create integrated apps for use within the Salesforce platform, which is completely designed around the idea of building a modular, integrated toolkit that plugs directly into your database. \n\nCheck out the [Soapbox Engage guide to Salesforce advocacy software](https://www.soapboxengage.com/blog/1795-salesforce-advocacy-software) to see this best practice in action and to get a sense of the Salesforce platform.\n\n[](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/cf3aa4468cb9346373062df7cc6436078271b987-720x120.jpg)\n\n## 2. Continually learn from your data.\nWe touched on this best practice above, but it’s worth a deeper dive. As you develop any type of campaign, you should be making data-driven strategy decisions. This is true for event planning, fundraising, marketing, advocacy campaigns, and everything in between.\n\nUse your past performance metrics to guide your next steps in smarter ways. For advocacy campaigns, ask yourself these questions as you develop your strategy:\n\n * How large is our supporter base? \n * How many people engaged with our last advocacy push?\n * How many supporters volunteered to serve as advocates?\n * How many new supporters or contacts did we reach last time?\n * Did we reach our goals in our last advocacy campaign?\n\nAdvocacy campaigns are built around lofty goals, but that doesn’t mean your organization should be working with just a starting point and an endpoint with no clear picture of how to connect the two! You’ll be much more likely to make a sustained impact when you set out clear steps and goals, and using your data is the best way to get started.\n\nFor example, even if your overarching goal is to influence legislation related to your mission, that shouldn’t be your only target; it’s a huge goal that needs to be broken down into pieces. Using data, you can instead set smaller goals like securing a certain number of petition signatures, facilitating a certain number of phone calls or emails to legislators, or more. Your data will tell you realistic ranges for those stepping-stone goals. \n\n**Again, this is why working with an integrated advocacy toolkit can be so beneficial.** Centralized data reporting for each of your tools makes it much easier to generate strategy insights over time. \n\nThink about how your process could be streamlined if your system automatically attached petition signers to existing contacts in your database (or created profiles for new contacts as needed). This would give you a comprehensive, tidy record of engagement data without any need for manual entry.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/3b10687cd7fda60f7ec4609ae9b210f79efc3b05-720x120.jpg)\n\n\n## 3. Develop a multichannel approach.\nOne of the biggest benefits of advocacy campaigns is that they can significantly expand your mailing lists. Highly visible and highly engaging campaigns built around compelling current events or social issues need to be supported with a strong, multichannel [marketing approach.](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/salaslabs_marketing_nonprofit)\n\nA multichannel marketing strategy is designed to engage audiences through a variety of channels and direct them all towards a central goal or target action. In the case of your advocacy campaign, that action might be signing a petition, emailing a legislator, making a donation, registering for an event, or signing up to volunteer. For large-scale campaigns, you’ll probably have more than one target action that needs its own marketing strategy.\n\nWhich marketing outlets should be in play? These are the most effective for nonprofit advocacy:\n\n * Your organization’s website or the campaign’s microsite\n * Your social media profiles on the networks where your target audiences are most likely to engage\n * Your email messages to supporters and contacts\n * Any mobile tools you might have, like an advocacy app\n\n**Let’s consider an example scenario.** Say you’re hosting a dinner and silent auction as part of a larger [advocacy campaign](https://www.salsalabs.com/online-advocacy-software) to raise awareness for your mission. How do you develop a marketing strategy to ensure high turnout for the event?\n\nYou’ll want to create a page or dedicated microsite for the event where you can post blog articles, pictures, and (most importantly) your registration form. Then, use your other outlets to create and share engaging messages encouraging readers to visit the page or microsite. The idea is to funnel readers deeper towards your target goal. This basic model can be adapted to support any campaign goal and to target practically any [segment of your supporter base.](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/segment_engage_averill)\n\nCheck out this [guide from DNL OmniMedia](https://www.dnlomnimedia.com/blog/nonprofit-digital-strategy-steps) for more in-depth examples of what it’s like to create a nonprofit multichannel marketing campaign.\n\n[](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/9dacf76f2eb30c16eaa034453786717d63ac73e1-720x120.jpg)\n\n\n## 4. Give your advocates digital support.\nDon’t just ask your volunteer advocates to share your posts and collect signatures. Get them more involved! With so many digital options and avenues available today, there’s no reason to not maximize the digital support and engagement that you offer supporters. \n\nConsider these options for further empowering your advocates:\n\n * **Host online training sessions.** Whether you offer live-streaming, recorded videos, or online courses, make sure that you’re giving your volunteers everything they’ll need to power your campaign. This is especially important if you’ll be enlisting on-the-ground volunteers who need to all be on the same page with your message, protocols, and goals.\n\n * **Demonstrate your online tools.** If you’re asking advocates to promote your online engagement channels like online petitions, call-a-legislator tools, donation forms, or more, make sure they’re able to answer any and all questions that audiences might have. This is an essential part of [effective, modern volunteer management.](https://doublethedonation.com/tips/nonprofit-software-and-resources/volunteer-management-guide/)\n\n * **Provide plenty of educational materials.** If possible, create a directory section of your website for members and volunteers to access educational materials that you’ve digitized and shared. This is one of the simplest and most direct ways to empower your advocates who will be doing the hard work of raising awareness for your cause. Even something as basic as [creating a weekly newsletter](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/leveraging_email_newsletter) specifically for your advocates can have a big impact on their ability to promote your campaign.\n\nIf you’re looking to raise some financial support for your organization during your advocacy campaign, don’t forget to explore your peer-to-peer fundraising options, too. This fundraising method lends itself well to advocacy-related goals and is perfect for raising your visibility on social media.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/9ed69eb80f48ad28796f539b37d76a0aa80c13ee-720x120.jpg)\n\n\n## 5. Have a data management plan in place.\nWe’ve touched on data throughout the above best practices and for good reason! Data should be guiding all of your organization’s strategies. If you’re investing time, money, and effort into achieving a goal, you have to make sure you put yourself in the best possible position to succeed.\n\n**An important part of setting data-informed goals for your advocacy campaign is establishing KPIs, or key performance indicators.** These are the metrics that you’ll use to measure your progress towards your goals. Without a clear idea of what you’re looking for, the inflow of data from your advocacy efforts can quickly become jumbled or overwhelming.\n\nTypical KPIs for an advocacy campaign might include:\n\n * Signatures secured on petitions\n * Emails or calls to legislators\n * Signups for volunteering or newsletter\n * Number of new supporters acquired\n * Number of previous supporters retained\n * Donations raised\n\nThese are essentially the target actions discussed in Section 3 above, developing a multichannel marketing strategy. Determining these goals and KPIs before launching your campaign gives you a concrete reference point to periodically check in on. This makes it easier to actively guide your campaign in real-time rather than simply launching it and hoping your team can carry it through.\n\nRemember, working with integrated tools drastically simplifies the logistics of tracking and analyzing this data! [Check out our picks](https://www.soapboxengage.com/blog/1770-best-salesforce-apps-for-nonprofits) for the best nonprofit Salesforce apps for examples of the wide range of easily-integrated tools available.\n\n----------------------------------------\n\nAdvocacy can be an extremely effective way to pursue your mission, reach new audiences, and raise the visibility of your organization. **However, you’ll be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t back up your advocacy efforts with the right digital strategies!**\n\nThere are more tools and options out there for supercharging your advocacy campaigns, but you’ll need to follow a few best practices to get started. Working with integrated tools, valuing your data, taking a multichannel approach, and empowering your volunteers are all foundational parts of effective digital advocacy. Good luck!\n\n---------------------------------\nSpecial thanks to Ryan Ozimek for sharing his expert advice.  \n\nAs the founder of a software company serving the public sector, Ryan passionate about empowering organizations to “do good”.  With a focus on effective and efficient technology solutions, he's constantly looking for ways in which the Internet can better serve the greater good, and more specifically the non-profit sector.  He leads up the Soapbox Engage team in our pursuit of affordable and accidental techie-friendly online engagement software, is a Salesforce MVP, and leads the NPSP Days around the world.  Ryan has a bachelor’s degree in communications from UCLA, and a masters of public policy from UCLA’s School of Public Affairs.  He’s also a fan of burritos, so if you have any tips to finding the best taqueria in the world, let him know.\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":2326},{"url":2327},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/185f15fc51870df46c37b47a9735ca1eef203cdf-600x320.png","2020-02-11T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":2330},"5-tech-savvy-ways-to-support-your-nonprofit-s-advocacy","If you’re looking for ways to keep your donors engaged after the busy year-end season, advocacy might be the way to go!   ","5 Tech-Savvy Ways to Support Your Nonprofit’s Advocacy",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2334,"category":2335,"id":5,"image":2336,"publishOn":2339,"slug":2340,"teaser":2342,"title":2343},"Fundraising auctions rely on the participation of engaged supporters to be successful. As an auction manager or nonprofit fundraising professional, you’re continuously looking for ways to [improve your supporter engagement](https://www.auctria.com/blog/4-fundraising-strategies-for-improving-donor-engagement/) and increase excitement surrounding your organization’s auction events. \n\nOne strategy you can use to reach a wider audience is data marketing. Data marketing is often seen as a complex, mysterious process that’s only available to those with an analytical background. However, new data marketing strategies and resources open this marketing tool to all types of organizations. Plenty of nonprofits are turning to data marketing to refine their outreach and connect with prospective donors. \n\nHere are six easy steps to get started with data marketing: \n\n1. Define your goals. \n2. Analyze, clean, and enhance your database.\n3. Determine the demographics or characteristics that best align with your goals.\n4. Segment your data.\n5. Conduct outreach efforts.\n6. Analyze metrics to determine success. \n\nAs [AccuData’s data marketing guide](https://www.accudata.com/blog/data-marketing/) states, a strong marketing strategy is necessary to stand out from the crowd. Data marketing can give your organization the edge it needs to differentiate itself and attract more attendees to auction events. Let’s dive in!\n\n## 1. Define your goals.\nAs you get started with data marketing, give yourself parameters and a starting point from which to build your strategy. The first step of this process is establishing your goals. \n\nWhat are you looking to accomplish with your auction marketing strategy? Perhaps you’re hoping to:\n\n * Grow your local audience.\n * Connect with a younger demographic.\n * Reach more high-value donors. \n * Host your next auction in a new community. \n\nEach of these objectives can be assisted by data marketing. We’ll review how data can reveal the necessary insights to help you achieve each of these goals in a later section. But defining your objectives at the beginning of the data marketing process helps you narrow down the types of data on which you should focus. \n\n## 2. Analyze, clean, and enhance your database.\nAs stated in [GivingMail’s nonprofit marketing guide,](https://blog.givingmail.com/2020/11/12/marketing-for-nonprofit-organizations/) “your data is as good as gold.” You should treat it as such and outline proper procedures for storing, analyzing, and cleaning your data so that it’s useful for fulfilling your goals. \n\nTake stock of your nonprofit’s CRM database to assess the current state of your data. Follow these steps to improve your database before launching your data marketing campaign: \n\n1. **Analyze:** What is the current state of your internal database? Determine areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. Note any missing or outdated information and any data irregularities. \n2. **Clean:** What areas can you improve to clean up your dataset? For instance, perhaps you noticed that you have several duplicate entries or that staff members have used different abbreviations for street addresses. Take this opportunity to correct errors in your database and establish strong data hygiene practices going forward. \n3. **Enhance:** How can you improve your database by pulling data from third-party sources? You might be missing certain data points, such as supporter phone numbers or email addresses. You can invest in [data enhancement services from an external marketing firm](https://www.accudata.com/blog/data-enhancement/) to help bolster your database and input missing data. \n\nAfter this database audit, you should be left with a clean, complete dataset that contains accurate information about your organization’s audience members. From this point, you’ll be in a strong position to start parsing through your data for elements that will assist your marketing strategy. \n\n## 3. Determine the demographics or characteristics that best align with your goals.\nIdentify the characteristics that best align with your goals. Then, parse through your database and external resources to discover supporters who fit the profile. You can craft your marketing messages based on your findings to develop appeals that resonate with your target audience. \n\nThese attributes might include:\n\n* Age\n* Geographic location\n* Giving history\n* Social media use\n* Communication preferences\n\nFor example, if you’re looking to grow your local audience for your auction events, you can focus on supporters who live in your community. If you’re looking to invite more high-value donors to your auction events, you can search for those in your database who exhibit wealth markers, like stock ownership or real estate holdings, as well as affinity markers, such as a strong history of giving.\n\nIs your database too large for a manual review? Or do you need additional information on your supporters, such as wealth information and propensity to give? Partnering with a data marketing company to analyze your database and develop donor profiles or to enhance your data with key attributes might be a good step.\n\n## 4. Segment your data.\nCreate supporter segments based on the characteristics you identified in the previous step. Segmentation is the process of grouping audience members based on shared characteristics or demographics. For instance, you might create segments based on age or communication preferences. \n\nFrom this point, you can tailor your correspondence to each group. As this [guide to donor cultivation](https://www.auctria.com/blog/donor-cultivation-6-tips-for-modernizing-your-approach/) states, segmentation allows you to personalize your outreach efforts to send messages that motivate each segment. \n\nYou might send auction promotions that emphasize your organization’s local ties to supporters who live in your community. Or, you could send targeted Facebook advertisements to supporters who prefer to communicate via social media. \n\nKeep in mind that by making your segments more specific, you can craft highly relevant messages that are more likely to resonate with your target audience. To do this, you might create groups with several different characteristics in common, such as a segment of women over age 45 or supporters in your local community who prefer to communicate via email. \n\nThe more you know about your target audience, the more easily you can create marketing messages that move them. \n\n\n## 5. Conduct outreach efforts.\nOnce you’ve created your audience segments, it’s time to start reaching out to them and marketing your auction event. \n\nUse your research to determine your target audience’s preferred communication channels. Consider taking a [multichannel marketing approach](https://recharity.ca/multi-channel-marketing-tips/) to reach each segment effectively. \n\nFor a multichannel marketing strategy, you can use platforms such as:\n\n* **[Social media:](https://www.auctria.com/blog/3-social-media-strategies-for-auction-fundraisers/)** Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok are effective for reaching a younger audience. However, people of all ages use these platforms, so this is an effective marketing channel to optimize. \n* **Email:** If you want to cut through the digital clutter and speak directly to audience members, an email marketing campaign allows you to send messages right to supporters’ inboxes. \n* **Direct mail:** Time after time, direct mail proves to have a high ROI and response rate for nonprofits. It’s also an effective platform for reaching a local or older audience. Promote your auction using well-designed postcards or letters. \n\nWith [direct outreach,](https://www.accudata.com/blog/direct-marketing-for-nonprofits/) it can take from 18-20 different touchpoints to connect with a new donor for the first time, so a multichannel marketing approach helps ensure you’re reaching prospective supporters effectively. \n\nTo ensure your messages are optimized to convert audience members into supporters, conduct an A/B analysis of your marketing appeals. A/B testing involves creating two different versions of the same marketing message and analyzing which version performs better. \n\nFor example, you can adjust the wording of your social media advertisements to see what messaging works best. You might create one campaign that encourages supporters to “Sign Up for Our Night Under the Stars Event Today!” and another that says “Join Us for a Night Under the Stars!” Then, you can compare the success of each ad at converting recipients to event participants.\n\nRemember to only change one aspect of your advertising appeals at a time to have a clear picture of which elements make a difference. Doing so allows you to pinpoint clear directives for how you should create future marketing materials. \n\n## 6. Analyze metrics to determine success. \nAs you carry out your data marketing efforts, you’ll need a way to assess your strategy to identify areas of strength and opportunities. \n\nChoose a few key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure your organization’s success. KPIs are metrics that quantify your organization’s progress toward your goals, allowing you to analyze your results categorically. \n\nCertainly, you can measure aspects such as your social media engagement metrics or email open rates. But the true statistic that will reveal the success of your marketing campaigns is your conversion rate. This is the number of audience members you were able to convert into event attendees or supporters of your cause. \n\nWith your online advertisements, you can determine your conversion rate by dividing the number of conversions by the total number of interactions with your ad. You can also determine your email conversion rate by dividing the number of conversions by the total number of email click-throughs. \n\nBe sure to store these insights in your organization’s database to reference ahead of future auction events. \n\n\n\n-----------------------------\nWith these six steps, your organization should have the foundation it needs to [market your auction events](https://www.auctria.com/blog/online-marketing-campaigns-for-auction-fundraisers-5-tips/) more effectively. Repeat this process for each new marketing campaign, keeping in mind the successes and failures of your previous campaigns. Good luck and happy fundraising!\n\n----------------------------------------\nSpecial thanks to Gabrielle from AccuData from Integrated Marketing for the expert advice on data marketing. Gabrielle is the Director of Marketing for AccuData Integrated Marketing. She joined the organization in 2017 and possesses more than 15 years of experience in strategic marketing, branding, communications, and digital marketing. She earned a B.S. in Marketing and an M.B.A in Marketing Management from the University of Tampa.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":2337},{"url":2338},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/5a10e60565e5434407fdd91dc730730fe165821b-600x320.png","2021-08-23T16:00:00.000Z",{"current":2341},"demystifying-data-marketing-6-steps-to-get-started","If you’re looking to expand your auction marketing efforts, data marketing can be a great place to start. Follow these six easy steps to get started.  ","Demystifying Data Marketing: 6 Steps to Get Started",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2345,"category":2346,"id":5,"image":2347,"publishOn":2350,"slug":2351,"teaser":2353,"title":2354},"There’s a lot of discussion floating around about Boomers and Millennials, Gen X and Gen Z. It can feel intimidating to figure out how to fundraise across generations when you need to speak to a wide variety of age groups. While there are distinct differences across the generations, event fundraising can be just as effective with Boomers as Gen Z! You just need to keep a few things in mind when planning and running your event.\n\nToday, let’s talk about:\n1. **Knowing your target demographics:** different generations have different preferences, so it’s important to tailor your event to your specific audience.\n2. **Customizing your event to your audience:** consider factors such as event type, location, and bidding type when planning your event.\n3. **Customizing your communication to your audience:** use language and channels that resonate with your target audience.\n4. **How Gen Z is the future of fundraising:** looking to the future, fundraising needs to focus on authenticity, impact, and transparency to speak to Gen Z.\n\nKeeping these 4 topics in mind when you’re planning, organizing, and running your fundraiser will help you curate a fun event for your attendees that’s sure to bring the money in!\n\n## Know Your Target Demographics\n\nFirst off, it’s always helpful to know who your target audience is: the audience for Breast Cancer fundraising may be different from the audience for Animal Shelter fundraising. Some demographics may be more split across gender, others by race, and others by generations and age. This information is key to identifying your core audience that’s **most likely** to donate and be involved in your fundraising effort. Your core audience isn’t your only audience, though! A good marketing and fundraising plan will also address how you plan to speak to people outside your core audience. This group may need more education or outreach to see the importance of your fundraising but they can be a great additional source of fundraising and support. \n\nTarget your strengths but don’t limit yourself; bringing people in to support your cause is important for growing your events and meeting your fundraising goals.\n\n* If you want to dig into donor trends across older generations, check out this article by [NonProfitPro.](https://www.nonprofitpro.com/post/a-look-at-generational-giving-donor-trends-and-influences/)\n\n* For information about younger generations, check out [this article](https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesnonprofitcouncil/2021/12/27/the-future-of-giving-trends-shaping-next-gen-philanthropy/?sh=50d486841b88) by Forbes.\n\n\n## Customize Your Event To Your Audience\nOnce you’ve learned more about your target and secondary audiences, you can gain insights to drive your strategy. This goes for any aspect of the demographic (gender, race, income, age) but there’s plenty of data available regarding different generations, making it easy to research how to target your primary audience based on age. You can use external sources and research to determine what drives your audience to give, how to speak to them, where to advertise your event, and more! Once you’ve done your research, it may be helpful to think about how your audience’s age might impact their preferred event.\n\nWould they prefer an in-person or online auction?\n* Young Millennials and Gen Z will likely feel comfortable using online apps to bid.\n* Boomers and older may prefer paper or paddle bidding.\n\nThis also applies to your giving methods.\nIt’s always important to provide multiple giving methods so the donation process is as frictionless as possible, but the age of your target audience can give you a few insights into their preferred methods.\n\n* Older audiences are generally less tech-savvy and often pay with checks or even cash for smaller amounts.\n* For younger generations, it’s critical to offer an online donation platform.\n\nIf the future of fundraising is dependent on Gen Z as the upcoming generation, then the future of fundraising is increasingly online - building out a strong online system will pay back dividends moving forward! If you aren’t sure where to start when it comes to online bidding, [check out our handy mobile bidding guide.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/mobilebidding-strategy/)\n\nBut no matter what age group you’re speaking to, there’s a fundraising event that will fit their preferences - it’s up to you to dial in what your audience will like best in order to maximize event turnout and fundraising.\n\n\n## Customize Your Communication To Your Audience\nJust like customizing your event, it’s important to customize your communication as well. It’s always best to use a multi-channel strategy so that you’re advertising your event and cause to as many people as possible; however, knowing which audience group tends to use which platform the most can help you dial in your communication and pay more attention to the most important channels.\n\n* **Physical mailers and invitations** can be great for audiences of any age, as even younger audiences still enjoy a physical invite or reminder. This may also be a great way to grab their attention by cutting through the digital noise of a busy social media space, where you’re competing for their attention alongside a lot of other events, brands, and more.\n\n* **Direct mail may be the most effective for older generations,** so if you’re targeting an older primary audience, investing in a direct mail strategy may be worth the money.\n\n* **Different social media platforms have different generational audiences as well.** While users of all ages are present on every platform, Facebook tends to have an [older audience.](https://www.statista.com/statistics/436417/us-baby-boomer-selected-social-networks/)\n\n* **Posting on a variety of social media accounts will get your cause in front of a large audience,** but knowing where your primary and secondary audiences are most likely to be can help you get more specific in your communication. For instance, if Gen Z is your secondary audience, you could post more educational content on Instagram to help pull in new audience members.\n\n* **Cultivating a strong email subscriber list is also a great way to keep engaged audience members up to date;** by giving you their email, they’ve told you that they want to hear from you about your events and your cause! Sending regular emails keeps them engaged with your cause even when you don’t have an event soon and could even encourage them to make more donations throughout the year.\n\n\n## The Future of Fundraising\nGenerational-based audiences naturally shift as each generation ages. This means that the future of fundraising is dependent on Gen Z.\n\n* The oldest members of Gen Z are ~26-27, meaning they’re of an age to have enough income to donate comfortably to causes they care about.\n* Additionally, [research](https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/consumer-packaged-goods/our-insights/true-gen-generation-z-and-its-implications-for-companies) has shown that Gen Z cares deeply about where they spend their money - marketers have learned that Gen Z will research brands and their mission, only supporting businesses with missions or ideologies that align with theirs (such as commitments to sustainability and diversity).\n\nThis is a great sign for fundraisers!\nOur entire job is to raise money for causes people care about, so if we effectively communicate to Gen Z why they should care about our causes, then they’re a prime audience for us to work with. They may also be more likely to volunteer and help support causes they care about in ways other than donating, so be sure to give them opportunities to be involved - especially for the younger end of the generation that may not have money to spare yet (but will in the future!).\n\n* For an in-depth exploration of what drives Gen Z, [McKinsey’s](https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/consumer-packaged-goods/our-insights/true-gen-generation-z-and-its-implications-for-companies) article is a great resource.\n\n\nThere are lots of further resources available to help you iron out the details of your event but we’re confident that the tips we’ve included here will help get you off on the right foot as you begin planning. Hopefully this guide has helped you start to consider some of the big decisions you’ll need to make as you begin planning your event - and Auctria is always here to help! We’re an easy to use, powerful tool to run all types of events and auction fundraisers. Auctria makes it easy, from the first donation to the last receipt and all the activity & bidding in between.\n\n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":2348},{"url":2349},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/033ee460472eca34e392083416c24edfa98385d3-1255x835.jpg","2023-11-03T17:19:42.045Z",{"current":2352},"why-event-fundraising-works-no-matter-the-generation","From Boomers to Gen Z, discover the secret to universally effective event fundraising","Why Event Fundraising Works, No Matter the Generation",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2356,"category":2357,"id":5,"image":2358,"publishOn":2361,"slug":2362,"teaser":2364,"title":2365},"A Creative Journey: \"Letters of Love\" Brought to Life!\n\nImagine an event where every detail, from the decor to the cocktails, tells a story of hope and resilience. That's exactly what [Tolo Events](https://toloevents.com/) delivered with the \"Homeward\" Gala. This wasn't just another fundraising dinner; it was an immersive journey into the heart of [Compass Housing Alliance's](https://www.compasshousingalliance.org/) mission, celebrating a century of service and the power of human connection. \nThe Homeward Gala delivered an unforgettable evening through:\n\n* The historic venue and its connection to the event's theme.\n* The event's success in exceeding fundraising goals and deepening mission impact.\n* The creative execution of the \"Letters of Love\" theme through venue transformation, interactive experiences, themed entertainment, and culinary creativity.\n* How Tolo Events overcame challenges related to setup time and sponsorship shortfalls.\n\nThe Homeward Gala stands as a powerful example of how creativity, dedication, and a shared commitment to community can create an event that not only raises crucial funds but also leaves a lasting legacy of hope and inspires action.\n\n## A Historic Venue, A Story of Service\n\nThe choice of venue, the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), held special significance.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/c39086b0a71f08ffffb9aca1ba108f46126f438b-1000x450.png)\n\nHoused in the former Naval Reserve Armory, MOHAI celebrates the city's history and connects with the organization's roots in the Lutheran Sailors Association. This connection to Seattle's maritime past provided a meaningful context for an event centered on the story of Compass Housing Alliance's mail program, a lifeline that processes over 122,000 pieces of mail annually and empowers over 11,000 individuals to access resources, seek employment, and maintain stability.\n\nThe venue itself, with its exhibits and artifacts, served as a reminder of the city's evolution and the enduring importance of community support, mirroring the long-term commitment of Compass Housing Alliance to serving those in need.\n\nThe historical significance of the Naval Reserve Armory, with its robust architecture and ties to the city's industrial past, added a layer of depth to the event, underscoring the enduring strength and resilience of the community served by Compass Housing Alliance.\n\n## Exceeding Expectations Through Engagement\nThe gala was an unqualified success, exceeding expectations across key metrics, largely due to its engaging and immersive storytelling.\nThe event raised $361,000, surpassing the $325,000 goal, with net revenue exceeding expectations by $43,000.\n\nA sold-out crowd of 300 guests attended, exceeding the previous year's 270 attendees, demonstrating the growing interest in and support for the organization's mission.\n\nImportantly, the event deepened attendees' understanding of the organization's vital mail services program, often an overlooked but crucial element in the lives of those experiencing homelessness.\n\nOne guest's reflection, \"I will never again see an envelope without thinking of this organization,\" powerfully illustrates the event's profound impact and its success in fostering empathy and awareness.\n\nThe financial success of the gala will enable Compass Housing Alliance to expand its services and reach even more individuals in need, further solidifying its role as a key community resource. The increased attendance and heightened awareness generated by the gala will undoubtedly translate into greater community involvement and sustained support for the organization's mission in the years to come.\n\n## A Creative Journey: \"Letters of Love\" Brought to Life\nTolo Events transformed the venue into an immersive representation of Compass Housing Alliance's mission.\nThe \"Letters of Love\" theme was woven into every detail, creating a cohesive and impactful experience for attendees.\n\n* **Mail-themed decor, including custom-stamped centerpieces,** flower-filled mailboxes, and postage stamp motifs, created a visually stunning and thematic environment that reinforced the central role of mail services in the organization's work.\n* **An interactive raffle wall and live poets** typing personalized \"love letters\" engaged guests and generated record proceeds, adding a dynamic and participatory element to the evening.\n* **A Motown-style vocal trio performed love and mail-themed songs,** enhancing the event's atmosphere and providing a memorable soundtrack to the evening.\n* **The culinary team extended the theme with dishes like \"Heart Beet Salad\"** and Salmon en Papillote, and a signature \"Air Mail\" cocktail, demonstrating a commitment to thematic consistency across all aspects of the event.\n\nThe meticulous attention to detail in the thematic execution created a truly immersive experience, transporting guests into the world of Compass Housing Alliance and allowing them to connect with its mission on a deeper, more emotional level.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/486efe102204a8bc94a2fbbc5c1dd594b587555b-1000x450.png)\n\n## Overcoming Challenges with Strategic Solutions\nThe event faced two key challenges. Minimal time to transform the venue and make up for lower than expected sponsorship revenue.\nWith only 90 minutes to transform the museum, a complex undertaking involving multiple vendors and logistical considerations, Tolo Events developed a meticulously detailed production timeline and coordinated staff, catering teams, and volunteers for a seamless transformation.\nThis involved precise scheduling, clear communication, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.\n\nTo mitigate a corporate sponsorship shortfall, which threatened to impact the event's financial goals, Tolo Events proactively reduced expenses by optimizing design elements, revising bar service, and adjusting appetizer counts, all without compromising the guest experience.\n\nThis demonstrates the organization's commitment to fiscal responsibility and its ability to adapt to unforeseen circumstances while still delivering a high-quality event.\n\nTolo Events' ability to navigate these challenges with creativity and efficiency underscores their expertise in event planning and their dedication to delivering exceptional results, even in the face of adversity.\n\n## A Lasting Legacy\nThe \"Homeward\" Gala was more than a fundraising success; it was a testament to the power of strategic planning, heartfelt creativity, and meticulous execution.\nIt not only raised critical funds for Compass Housing Alliance but also raised awareness of the organization's mission and the challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness. By centering the event around the theme of \"Letters of Love,\" Tolo Events created a powerful and moving experience that resonated with attendees and left a lasting legacy of compassion and support.\n\nThe gala's success will enable Compass Housing Alliance to continue its vital work in the community, providing essential services and support to those in need.\n\nThe long-term impact of the gala extends beyond the immediate funds raised, fostering a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding homelessness and inspiring ongoing community engagement.\n\n---------------------\nSpecial thanks to [Liz Sexton, Senior Event Producer at Tolo Events](https://toloevents.com/) for sharing this award winning event story. Follow [Tolo events on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/toloevents)\n\nLast year, Tolo’s non-profit clients collectively raised $25 Million! From full project management and fundraising strategy to decor and entertainment, they are so honored to support these organizations that provide crucial services to communities.\n\nSpecial thanks to [Compass Housing Alliance](https://www.compasshousingalliance.org) for sharing their story as well.\n\nAll about Compass: \n\n**Our Mission** Compass Housing Alliance develops and provides essential services, shelter, and affordable housing so that everyone in our community has a safe place to call home.\n\n**Our Vision** We envision a world in which every person lives in a safe, caring community.\n\n**Our Guiding Belief**Everyone Deserves A Home.\n\n**Love** Our work is grounded in love, humility, and the basic human connection we all share. Our organization welcomes all people equally and with love. We honor the people we serve and walk alongside them on their journey.\n\n**Compassionate Curiosity** We approach our work from a perspective of cultural awareness with curiosity, openness, and non-judgmental attitudes. Our employees are present to others through compassionate listening and reflection. The people we serve share with us their needs, hopes, and life stories, and we learn from their hardships and triumphs.\n\n**Engaged Workforce** We employ engaged, effective, and competent staff members. Our employees come to us with varied life experience and the knowledge, skills, and self-awareness to build respectful and enduring relationships with each other, the people we serve, and our stakeholders. Our organization strives to utilize best practices and develop a culturally competent workforce. We are committed to offering opportunities for training, engagement, and development at all levels. Further, our employees are committed to enhancing their own knowledge, growth, and understanding so that they may better serve.\n\n**Stewardship** We are stewards of the legacy, values, and resources of all who have influenced and given to our organization. We uphold our commitments and responsibilities to serve in our community. Our organization uses resources to thoughtfully develop programs and properties that meet immediate and long-term needs to achieve maximum impact. We provide a respectful environment by designing and maintaining our properties to promote well-being and a sense of place.\n\n**Advocacy** We are strong allies and advocates for those whose voices often remain unheard and unheeded. Our organization collaborates with and influences community members, other organizations, funders, and policymakers to create long-term solutions to poverty and homelessness. We educate and encourage the people we serve, our employees, board members, and those in our community to be advocates.\n\n**Community** We foster community by creating opportunities for connection, relationship building, and belonging among those we serve, along with our neighbors, partners, and employees.\n\n**Philosophy of Care**These values guide our Philosophy of Care as we work for and alongside people experiencing poverty and homelessness in our society to improve their circumstances, while simultaneously advocating for societal changes toward equity and justice.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":2359},{"url":2360},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/82df1cd0f4b8e54211299e8d395734ad85896fa7-1640x924.png","2025-04-14T20:19:20.497Z",{"current":2363},"homeward-gala-an-award-winning-evening-of-immersive-storytelling-letters-of-love","Through creative storytelling, a historic venue, and a dedicated team, this gala wasn't just a fundraiser","Homeward Gala: An Award-Winning Evening of Immersive Storytelling - \"Letters of Love\"",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2367,"category":2368,"id":5,"image":2369,"publishOn":2372,"slug":2373,"teaser":2375,"title":2376},"Charity auctions are a powerful way for nonprofits to [raise funds](https://www.auctria.com/blog/recording-nonprofit-auction-funds-3-best-practices/) and engage supporters. Whether [live, silent, or online,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/auction-types/) auctions generate excitement, encourage friendly competition, and create meaningful donor experiences. But what if you could take your auction revenue to the next level?\n\nBy leveraging workplace giving programs and corporate sponsorships, nonprofits can maximize auction success, secure additional funding, and deepen donor engagement. In this guide, we’ll explore how to boost auction revenue through sponsorships, in-kind donations, matching gifts, volunteer grants, and more.\n\n\n## 1. Secure Corporate Sponsorships for Your Auction\n[Corporate sponsorships](https://doublethedonation.com/corporate-sponsorships-guide/) are one of the best ways to increase auction revenue while engaging businesses that want to support your mission. After all, companies benefit from sponsorships through brand visibility, positive PR, and employee engagement opportunities. It’s a win-win!\n\n**Here’s How to Attract Corporate Sponsors for Your Auction:**\n\n* **Offer Multiple Sponsorship Levels** – Create tiered sponsorship packages with benefits like logo placement, event mentions, and VIP tickets.\n* **Recognize Sponsors at the Event** – Acknowledge sponsors in your auction catalog, website, and live event presentations.\n* **Align Sponsorships with Corporate Goals** – If a company prioritizes employee engagement, offer them opportunities to contribute through matching gifts, volunteerism, or in-kind donations.\n\nBy securing corporate sponsorships, nonprofits can offset event costs and increase overall revenue, ensuring more funds go toward their mission.\n\n\n## 2. Promote In-Kind Donations from Businesses\n[In-kind donations](https://doublethedonation.com/in-kind-donations-for-nonprofits/) (or non-monetary gifts) help reduce event expenses and attract more bidders. Fortunately, many companies are eager to support nonprofits by [donating auction items](https://www.auctria.com/blog/finding-auction-item-donations/) such as gift cards, products, and experiences.\n\n**Here’s How to Secure In-Kind Auction Donations for Your Upcoming Auction:**\n\n**Reach Out to Local Businesses** – Restaurants, spas, retail stores, and entertainment venues often donate auction items in exchange for exposure.\n* **Leverage Corporate Volunteer Groups** – Employees who volunteer may have access to donation programs at their companies.\n* **Recognize In-Kind Donors Publicly** – Show appreciation for corporate donors on social media, auction programs, and during the event.\n\nAll in all, a strong in-kind donation strategy ensures your auction has high-value items while keeping costs low.\n\n*Top tip:* These [Auction Donation Request templates](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-to-create-effective-auction-donation-request-letters/) can help kick off your efforts!\n\n\n## 3. Promote Matching Gift Opportunities for Auction Donations\nMany companies offer matching gift programs, where they match their employees’ charitable donations. While donors often submit matching gifts for direct contributions, many don’t realize their auction donations may also be eligible.\n\n**Here’s How to Incorporate Matching Gifts into Your Auction:**\n\n* **Educate Donors on Matching Gifts** – Include matching gift information on your auction website, bid sheets, and event materials.\n* **Use a Matching Gift Search Tool** – Platforms like Double the Donation allow donors to quickly check if their employer will match their gift.\n* **Encourage Post-Auction Matching Gift Submissions** – Send follow-up emails reminding participants to check their matching gift eligibility for auction purchases.\n\nBy making it easy for donors to submit matches, nonprofits can double their auction revenue without requiring additional bids!\n\n## 4. Leverage Volunteer Grants to Boost Auction Impact\nMany companies offer [volunteer grant programs,](https://doublethedonation.com/volunteer-grant-basics/) where they provide donations when employees volunteer with a nonprofit. These grants can be a great way to generate additional revenue from volunteers who help with your auction.\n\n**Here’s How to Maximize Volunteer Grants for Your Auction:**\n\n* **Encourage Corporate Teams to Volunteer** – Ask local companies if their employees can help set up, run, or close out the auction.\n* **Identify Volunteer Grant-Eligible Participants** – Use a volunteer grant database to check if volunteers’ employers offer grants.\n* **Follow Up After the Event** – Send personalized emails to volunteers with instructions on submitting their hours for grants.\n\nTurning volunteerism into financial support ensures your nonprofit maximizes revenue while strengthening relationships with corporate partners. Don’t miss out by letting the opportunities slip through the cracks!\n\n------------------------\n\nBy integrating workplace giving programs, corporate sponsorships, and more into your auction strategy, your nonprofit can increase revenue, engage corporate partners, and inspire long-term donor support. You don’t want to miss out on these opportunities!\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":2370},{"url":2371},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/bf0f8cb446fd97a09abf75f3a603f2727e0db308-1760x940.png","2025-02-13T14:50:12.259Z",{"current":2374},"boost-auction-revenue-with-workplace-giving-and-sponsorships","Ready to bring your next auction to new heights? Find out how your team can boost its revenue with a combination of workplace giving and corporate sponsorships.","Boost Auction Revenue with Workplace Giving & Sponsorships",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2378,"category":2379,"id":5,"image":2380,"publishOn":2383,"slug":2384,"teaser":2386,"title":2387},"# 5 Creative (And Effective) Event Ideas to Entice Your Donors\nFundraising events are more than a method of raising money for your organization. Events are powerful tools that can serve many purposes at once, from raising funds to promoting awareness of your cause. Encouraging donor involvement through [enticing and creative planning](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/selling_tickets_filling_seats) is key to the success of your next event. \n\nWhether your organization is long-established or newly formed, here are some event ideas that can entice new and returning donors:\n\n 1. Auctions\n 2. Wine Pulls\n 3. Behind-the-Scenes Tours\n 4. Educational Events\n 5. Holiday Parties\n\nFor newer organizations, these events may have prohibitive out-of-pocket costs. When you begin event planning, ask local businesses to become sponsors to ease these costs. Even if a business can’t provide direct funding, they may be able to provide in-kind donations ranging from free or discounted food, beverages, linens, raffle gifts and more. For guidance on how to ask for sponsors, check out these [sponsorship letter templates from Fundraising Letters.](https://fundraisingletters.org/template/sponsorship-letters/#event)\n\nCreating a well-rounded event that hits all the marks can be tricky, but they’re well worth the effort. \n\n![Doubleknot_Auctria_5 Creative And Effective Event Ideas to Entice Donors_Header1.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Doubleknot_Auctria_5-Creative--And-Effective--Event-Ideas-to-Entice-Donors_Header1.jpg)\n\n## Event Idea #1: Auction\nAuctions are a classic fundraising idea used by organizations of all sizes to raise money and boost engagement. \n\nMany times the items in an auction can actually add marketing value to your organization as well. [Museums planning this event might decide](https://blog.doubleknot.com/2018/04/03/museum-event-planning-guide/) to auction off memberships or activities to lucky buyers. This markets their membership opportunities to those who might be interested in buying (even if they don’t have the highest bid). \n\nGenerally, there are two different ways to run an auction fundraising event: on-site or online. Each offers unique [benefits and challenges:](https://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/auction_type_proscons)\n\n * **On-site auctions** are a great way to gather people for face-to-face interaction and mingling. They can offer networking opportunities as well as the option to combine the auction with another event (such as a silent auction held at an awards dinner). However, on-site auctions limit the number of possible bidders to the number of event attendees. \n\n * **Online auctions** expand your audience to anyone with access to the internet. The larger audience can help drive prices higher, especially as people see themselves being outbid in real time. And, because bidders don’t have to fight lines at auction tables to view the items or pay for event tickets, they may bid higher. However, online auctions don’t offer the organization or the bidders the opportunity for face-to-face interactions. \n\nA third option that harnesses the benefits of both options is incorporating an online element into an on-site auction. You can advertise the auction items online before the event to drive prices higher with a broader audience. People can bid online before and during the event from wherever they are including the comfort of their homes. \n\nAn important benefit of online bidding is that you’ll have access to information about every bidder. This includes not only their contact information but also a good idea of what they’re interested in based on the items they bid for. For example, everyone who bid on a behind-the-scenes tour (see event idea #3). \n\nTo help ensure a successful auction, be sure to select a full-featured auction management software solution that can handle any kind of auction process from beginning to end.\n\n## Event Idea #2: Wine Pull\n\nWine pulls are a great standalone idea as well as additional fun element for other events! In a fundraising wine pull, which is similar to a raffle, attendees buy tickets that allow them to pull a bottle of wine from a large collection of wrapped bottles. (Wrapping the bottles adds an element of surprise and ensures that all kinds of wine have an equal chance of being chosen.) At some wine pulls, organizers offer additional prizes by adding a “You’ve won!” note inside the wrapping. \n\nHere are the general steps for planning this kind of event: \n\n 1. **Gather the wine.** Partnering with a local vineyard or wine vendor is a great way to get a good price on a variety of bottles. (Consider offering sponsorship opportunities in exchange for a donation or significant discount.) As a rule of thumb, plan to provide around one bottle per every three guests. Adding a few premium bottles to the mix increases excitement for the pull.\n 2. **Cover or decorate the bottles.** Ensure the surprise factor and make sure that people can’t identify the type of wine by looking at it! If the event is themed, decorate the bottles to match the theme of the event. \n 3. **Decide how much the wine pull tickets will cost.** Choose an amount greater than the average price of all the wine, but lower than the premium bottles in the mix. \n 4. **Sell event tickets online.** You may decide to include an add-on option during the ticket sales so that guests can pay for their wine-pull ticket ahead of time. This will cut down on lines to buy tickets to pull a bottle at the event itself. Because some people will wait to purchase the ticket until the event, make sure you have a mobile POS system that allows you to collect credit card payments and donations quickly and easily.\n 5. **Invite guests to select a bottle.** It’s always exciting to find out what you picked and whether you won an additional prize!\n\nMake sure to use event management software that makes it easy to register online and purchase additional chances to select a bottle.\n\n![Doubleknot_Auctria_5 Creative (And Effective) Event Ideas to Entice Donors_Header3.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Doubleknot_Auctria_5-Creative--And-Effective--Event-Ideas-to-Entice-Donors_Header3.jpg)\n\n## Event Idea #3: Behind-the-Scene Tours and Programs\n\nBehind-the-scenes tours allow guests to see the inner workings of your organization! Visitors are often interested to learn how art is stored and curated, how historical artifacts are preserved, or how animals are fed and kept healthy. You can entice even more participants with special hands-on activities, such as:\n\n * Scuba diving or snorkeling at an aquarium\n * Preparing meals and feeding animals at a zoo\n * Learning how to perform daily activities from another century at a history museums\n * Hands-on experimentation at a science museum or technology center\n\nUse your ticketing software to upsell other opportunities during the registration. For instance, you may offer a discount membership to registrants who book a behind-the-scenes tour. If you have access to a comprehensive software solution with many native features, you’ll have end-to-end support for planning and promoting tours, add-on options, discounts, memberships and more. \n\nTo learn how a fully interested software solution can help your organization, check out this guide about [aquarium management software by Doubleknot.](https://blog.doubleknot.com/2018/10/11/aquarium-management-software/) Although it’s geared toward aquariums, the concepts can also be applied to other admission-based nonprofits like museums, nature centers, zoos, and more. \n\n![Doubleknot_Auctria_5 Creative (And Effective) Event Ideas to Entice Donors_Header4.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Doubleknot_Auctria_5-Creative--And-Effective--Event-Ideas-to-Entice-Donors_Header4.jpg)\n\n## Event Idea #4: Educational Programming\n\nNo matter what kind of organization you work at, chances are very good that there are other groups in the area who share the same values and mission. Hosting events like classes, seminars, and symposia can provide your constituents with a unique educational experience and spread awareness of your organization to new groups of visitors. \n\nAssociations are an often-overlooked partner for education programs. While many offer educational opportunities through their [association learning management system,](https://webcourseworks.com/association-lms/) they may still greatly appreciate the value of an in-person, hands-on experience in your organization’s unique setting. \n\nDon’t forget that these events are also a great networking opportunity for your team! You may find an entirely new group of potential donors who are already passionate about your cause. \n\n![Doubleknot_Auctria_5 Creative (And Effective) Event Ideas to Entice Donors_Header5.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Doubleknot_Auctria_5-Creative--And-Effective--Event-Ideas-to-Entice-Donors_Header5.jpg)\n\nEvent Idea #5: Themed Parties\n\nEvents and parties with special themes that correlate with the season (such as holidays) or events like the Academy Awards or sports championships are always popular! Holiday themes are a longstanding way to encourage year-end donations. But, since almost every nonprofit holds a year-end donation drive, consider expanding your event calendar to include unique and overlooked opportunities the rest of the year! For example, consider:\n\n * **Winter celebrations.** Identify a new spin for year-end events that’s related to your mission. For example, history museums and historic homes can throw holiday parties with food, activities and gifts from different cultures and/or time periods. Remind people that they should donate before the year’s end in order to receive their tax deductions!\n* **A #GivingTuesday event.**\nEncourage more #GivingTuesday donations with an event to commemorate the day. In addition to donations, offer community service opportunities to help your organization or your community. \n * **A Valentine’s Day event.** When the winter holidays are over and spring is still far away, a Valentine’s Day party can be just the right thing to bring people together and chase away the doldrums. \n\nYou could also use themed parties as an opportunity to promote one of your organization’s own special giving days, anniversaries, and other special occasions. No matter what you’re celebrating, it’s bound to be a hit. \n\n__________________________________\nIf none of these fundraising ideas struck your fancy, check out other ideas in this Auctria article. No matter what event you choose, be sure you select the right solutions to help you manage planning, communications, sponsorships, registrations, and donation. The right software will provide your team with more time to create a unique and successful event!\n\n______________________________\nSpecial thanks to David Mimeles from [Doubleknot](https://www.doubleknot.com/) for expert advice on how to boost attendance.  David is the Vice President of Sales & Marketing at DoubleKnot.\n\n[![doubleknot_logo_160px_transparent.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/doubleknot_logo_160px_transparent.png)](https://www.doubleknot.com/)",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":2381},{"url":2382},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/8722a2ce969f5621a660d5dbc7a302f5eb51f1db-600x320.png","2019-01-15T17:00:00.000Z",{"current":2385},"dk_event_ideas_entice","Use the power of an event continue to entice donors","5 Creative (And Effective) Event Ideas to Entice Your Donors",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2389,"category":2390,"id":5,"image":2391,"publishOn":2394,"slug":2395,"teaser":2397,"title":2398},"![social.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/social.jpg)\n\n\n## [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/auctria/)\nFacebook updates provide current articles and new ideas in the auction fundraising industry.  Content on FB authored by Auctria and linked from reputable sources.  Auctria’s Facebook page connects auction volunteers in their own online ‘community’ share best practices. \n\n## [Twitter](https://twitter.com/?lang=en)\nTwitter feed is designed for quick tips and information from leading experts for auction fundraising.  \n\n## Podcasts\nEvents With Benefits\nAuctria was proud to share some auction fresh tips and takes on the Events with Benefits podcast.  [Listen to Auctria's interview](http://www.eventswithbenefits.com/13) to uncover auction tips and tricks.\n\nTony Martignetti\nTony Martignetti, fundraising guru broadcasts a very informative podcast: Fundraising Fundamentals. This month's podcast is featured in The Chronicle of Philanthropy and invited Auctria and a client to discuss online fundraising.  [Listen to Auctria's advice](https://www.philanthropy.com/resources/audio/podcast-tips-for-taking-your/5995/?cid=cpfd_home) to using data from past auctions to improve and expand your event. \n\n## [Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/)\nFollow Auctria or pin your favorites from our boards.  **Over 500 pins on pins with link to donation request pages and fundraising tips.**\n\n### [Mega-Donation Board](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/mega-auction-donations-from-auctria/) links to donation pages\nLinks to over 100 national and local restaurants and general merchandise and services.\n\n[![Auctria mega auction general donation seal.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Auctria-mega-auction-general-donation-seal.jpg)](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/mega-auction-donations-from-auctria/)\n\n\n### [Sports-Donation Board](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/mega-donations-sports/) links for sports donations\n\nLinks to donation pages for NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA College sports and more.\n\n[![Auctria mega auction sports donation seal.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Auctria-mega-auction-sports-donation-seal.jpg)](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/mega-donations-sports/)\n\n### [Raffle board](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/raffle-ideas/)\nLinks to creative raffle ideas.\n\n[![Auctria raffle seal.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Auctria-raffle-seal.jpg)](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/raffle-ideas/)\n\n\n### [Keepsakes board](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/keepsakes-priceless-for-auction-from-auctria/)\nKeepsakes are priceless and can yield BIG donations when created with love and promoted with passion.\n\n[![Auctria keepsakes donation seal.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Auctria-keepsakes-donation-seal.jpg)](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/keepsakes-priceless-for-auction-from-auctria/)\n\n### [GivingTuesday](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/givingtuesday-with-auctria/)\n\n[![Auctria giving tuesday seal.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Auctria-giving-tuesday-seal.jpg)](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/givingtuesday-with-auctria/)\n\n### [Golf Tournament Auction Board](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/golf-tournament-auction-board/)\nDonation request links for golf equipment, resorts and experts.\n\n[![auctria golf donation seal.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/auctria-golf-donation-seal.png)](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/golf-tournament-auction-board/)\n\n\n# [Get inspired NOW!](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/)",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":2392},{"url":2393},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/8cbb76f22a3092fe2f99d4a03193e6ec25f4d7bd-600x320.jpg","2020-10-12T16:00:00.000Z",{"current":2396},"auctria_social","Won't you join us?","Auctria is VERY social",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2400,"category":2401,"id":5,"image":2402,"publishOn":2405,"slug":2406,"teaser":806,"title":2408},"StoryTelling: Data Retention & Transition is Critical\n\n## Our History\nStarship Orion School is a K-5 elementary school, located in a suburb of Northern California.  My name is Jackie and I was the chair of our school’s annual auction for 2016.  This is our fundraising story. \n\nStarship Orion has a dedicated team of volunteers that fundraise, and fundraise well.  For 4 years they have auction fundraised with increased growth in both value and funds raised.  The volunteers do change roles from year to year but the key to continued & ongoing growth is access historical data for future analysis.  \n\nStarship Orion a K-5 elementary school has lots of volunteers that have helped their auction over the past 4 years.  Instead of handing over a paper folder and saying “good luck”  Auctria has made each auction transition smooth and comprehensive.  \n\n\n![share story 360 jackie s.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/share-story-360-jackie-s.jpg)\n\n## Cloud Based is Mandatory\nThe cloud based or web based program has given our PTO the ability to literally store thousands of bits of information in very stable and always accessible location.  Having disconnected team activity  in the past was a nightmare!  Some people were using Mac or Apple, and an even wider variation of Windows operating systems.  This worry simply vanishes with a [web based program](https://www.auctria.com/CAO/Content/Features).  It is secure and accessible to all the admins across the street or across the city.  \n \n\n## Multiple Administrator & Platform Access\nFor the last 4 years many volunteers have come and gone from helping with auction.  By effortlessly handing over the administration access for Auctria to the next auction committee is ready to go.  We are literally handing over all the past year’s data mine so there is no loss in transition.  Instead of re-inventing the wheel [Auctria let’s a new team pick up where the last team left off.](https://docs.auctria.com/guide/your-organization/adding-users)\n\n\n## Using the Data\nHaving accurate data is CRUCIAL.  Using the data helps make smart decisions.  Retrospectively reviewing outcomes of different bidding options, starting prices, auction item procurement the planning is efficient.  \n\nProcurement is efficient.  We know which businesses have donated and the past so we ask them to donate again.  Example:  Tuscan Dinner for 4 is a widely sought after auction item- let’s ask again for that item! \n\nPast bidder data allow us to keep in touch with past supporters.  The more bidders, the higher the bids!\n\nPricing is another imprecise science but with our [OWN history](https://docs.auctria.com/guide/using-auctria/lists-reports) we can create pricing and bidding strategy that will maximize bidding.\n\n## Save Sanity and Time\nBeing organized and providing clear direction to volunteers not only saves time but guarantees that their time is used wisely. Auction volunteers are willing to help, but how? If volunteers feel helpful they come back to help again.  Auctria is so super simple.  \nAuction volunteers find it so easy to search up bidder, donor, item by name number or partial info.  \n\nEither a quick tutorial from a co-volunteer or self-teach from the [detailed user guide](https://docs.auctria.com/guide/using-auctria/lists-reports) with time and sanity are saved with the simplicity.\n\n\n\n\n## Moral of the Story\nInformation is Knowledge\nInformation and history is the knowledge that auction teams need to make critical decisions.  Nothing is better than your own data to work smarter, faster and yield bigger results.  Data is easy to share when it has a home.\n\n\n\nSpecial thanks to Jackie S. from Starship Orion Elementary for kindly sharing their fundraising story.  If you have a best-practice to help enlighten the Auctria family please email us at [hello@auctria.com](mailto:hello@auctria.com)",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":2403},{"url":2404},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/99bac7cc10337760c9999d1854a86f91533c042d-600x320.jpg","2016-06-10T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":2407},"story_data_sharing","Storytelling: Data Retention & Transition is Critical",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2410,"category":2411,"id":5,"image":2412,"publishOn":2415,"slug":2416,"teaser":2418,"title":2419},"# Digital Marketing: Conveying Your Nonprofit's Brand Online\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/3dbcc7b80852389919d34cdb3682fb29655acd11-735x312.jpg)\n\nThe nonprofit world has evolved significantly in recent years. Fundraising professionals like you are navigating a digital-first landscape shaped by changing donor expectations and new technologies. From in-person events to strategic online campaigns, you’re finding new ways to engage supporters and strengthen relationships.\n\nToday, a strong online presence isn’t optional, it’s essential for sustainable growth and impact. Organizations that intentionally invest in digital tools, data, and engagement strategies are better positioned to reach supporters, inspire generosity, and maximize impact.  Digital marketing enables your organization to quickly raise awareness for your mission and continue to grow your foundation of support even during a time when we can’t physically be together. Having an online presence is paramount for organizations of all sizes, but getting started or boosting your existing efforts can be difficult — especially if you’re a full-time fundraiser who has little-to-no experience in web design and other digital marketing strategies. \n\nBut before you can dive into tasks like revamping your website or optimizing your content for search engines, you have to start by creating a nonprofit digital marketing strategy. You should start by defining how your organization stands out from the rest — your brand. Once you know your brand, you can use it to increase and improve your online presence. To help, we’ve created this guide to conveying your brand online. In it, we’ll cover the following steps: \n\n1. Define your brand. \n2. Lean into storytelling. \n3. Use impactful visuals. \n4. Brand your donation page. \n5. Leverage social media. \n6. Remember that consistency is key. \n\nCreating a nonprofit digital marketing strategy can certainly seem intimidating. However, you can streamline the process and effectively convey your brand by following these steps and using the right technology. \n\nOne critical tool you’ll need is a nonprofit-specific website builder or content management system (CMS). A website builder created for nonprofits can help you easily design a great website, which can in turn help you begin building your brand online. [Morweb’s guide to nonprofit website builders](https://morweb.org/post/best-nonprofit-website-builder) can help you explore your options. \n \nOnce you have the tools to support your vision, you can start bringing your mission to life online. Let’s dive in! \n\n## 1. Define your brand. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/3ffcf64e2a2388e1a1d738e797e93258a8ea8fda-648x432.png)\n\nThe word “brand” can make many nonprofit professionals pause. After all, the idea of branding feels very abstract and hard to pin down. But the truth is, even if you can’t put your finger on what your organization’s brand is, you already have one! \n\nYour brand is everything that helps your nonprofit stand out from other organizations. It’s what your community remembers about your organization after hearing about it or interacting with your team. This includes obvious things like what your mission is and who your beneficiaries are, but it also includes how you talk about your mission and treat your donors and volunteers. \n\nThis less tangible aspect of your brand will be critical for guiding how you interact with your audience online. But the visual aspect of your brand will also play a large role in your [digital marketing strategy.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/how-to-engage-online-donors-digital-marketing-101/)\n\nYour visual brand includes the following elements: \n\n* **Colors.** Colors can establish the general mood of a web page or social media post. For example, a bright yellow web page will convey energy, positivity, and cheer, while a subtle green might evoke mental images of nature and establish a relaxing mood. \n\n* **Logos and slogans.** Your logo is a shorthand visual representation of your organization. If your organization is dedicated to elephant conservation, for example, it would be natural to have a logo that included the form of an elephant. A [nonprofit slogan](https://gettingattention.org/nonprofit-tagline/) differs from a logo in that it is a written message or phrase that conveys what your organization’s core work is all about. For the elephant conservation example, a potential slogan might be “Stopping elephant poaching in its tracks since 1999.” \n\n* **Typography.** The look of the words on your website or in your email newsletter also convey what your brand is. Your chosen font, text size, color, and even kerning (the space between individual letters) all contribute to the overall mood of your marketing materials and messages. \n\n* **Imagery.** The photos, graphics, and illustrations you use online play a huge role in establishing your organization’s brand. Sticking to only black-and-white pictures, for example, will create a certain impression for website visitors, whereas only using colorful images will create another impression entirely. \n\nClearly there is a lot that goes into a nonprofit brand. But, as mentioned before, much of your brand is already established! You may already have an extremely recognizable logo or a clear pattern of behavior in your local community that sets you apart from other nonprofits. Whatever you have to work with, build on that foundation and strengthen your brand so that you can continue standing out, especially online. \n\n## 2. Lean into storytelling. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/56e230ea61bae2799caefd43db50210bbe3f5908-1000x657.png)\n\nOnce you’ve defined and worked on building your brand, learning how to tell your nonprofit’s story is a next crucial step in your nonprofit digital marketing strategy. Storytelling is a reliable technique to engage your target audience. When used effectively, it can capture their attention and motivate them to support your cause, even if they were only originally browsing your online content. \n\nWhether you’re a humane society or a community outreach organization, storytelling can go a long way in communicating your cause’s brand and impact. Try the following strategies to inspire supporters: \n\n* **Understand your audience and meet their needs.** Oftentimes, nonprofits don’t fully understand their audiences. To resolve this, try getting to know your audience better by reviewing your CRM data and surveying your supporters. You can also segment your donors by demographic or preferred communication method. From there, center your narratives around specific people and help your audience connect to those individuals. As the storyteller, it’s your job to reveal the connection between your audience and your narrative’s protagonists. \n\n* **Find a new perspective.** Keep readers engaged by telling stories through different points of view. This can include your donors, volunteers, board members, or beneficiaries. You can tell the same story in many different ways, so get creative and give different advocates a platform to use their voice. \n\nBe authentic. Not every story has a clean ending or conclusion, and that’s alright. Life rarely allows us to wrap things up neatly. When constructing a narrative on your website or in a social media post, aim to communicate your desired outcome or how the problem is being addressed. Don’t hide the difficulties or challenges you’re facing. People want authenticity and honesty. \n\n* **Drive traffic using powerful calls-to-action.** When audience members are motivated to support your cause after reading one of your emotional stories, calls-to-action (CTAs) tell them what their next step is. CTAs maintain momentum built from your story and enable you to funnel users to high-value pages, whether that’s your donation page, volunteer sign-up form, or event registration page. \n\nFrom composing blog posts to writing event descriptions and crafting your email newsletters, storytelling is one of the most effective nonprofit digital marketing strategies you can use. By showing your organization's work in action and proudly displaying your accomplishments, you’ll effectively boost your brand, and this may be just what you need to spark the interest of a prospective supporter who was sitting on the fence.  \n\n## 3. Use impactful visuals. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/10d4308ca5aa8285ed031a93cc9f6cd4ba9c3b3c-1000x700.png)\n\nWe’ve all heard the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words.” But how does this pertain to nonprofit digital marketing? \n\nInstead of relying solely on your words to tell your audience about your impact, incorporate images to show your organization’s impact. Compelling imagery can be your ticket to establishing an emotional connection with your audience. Keep the following best practices in mind when selecting and incorporating your images: \n\n* **Feature your own images.** Generic stock images won’t fully connect with supporters. Instead, use pictures and videos that you’ve taken of individuals who are directly involved in your work. Photos of real volunteers, staff members, and donors are better for evoking emotion and can add value to your content. \n\n* **Regularly update images.** Updating your images and videos regularly signals that your content is recent and that your organization is actively engaged online. The best [nonprofit websites](https://www.morweb.org/Post/best-nonprofit-websites) on the internet leverage nonprofit-specific website builders to make these updates and design their pages in a way that stands out. These nonprofit website builders give you user-friendly tools for working with images, making the process easy so you can focus on maintaining your aesthetic. \n \n* **Be strategic about the number of images you use on your site.** While images are a wonderful tool for engaging website visitors, too many of them can work against you by slowing down your page load speed. Not to mention that a cluttered page can look distracting and unprofessional. Instead, use a few high-quality images to support your narratives and break up large sections of text. If you do have a lot of images to share, such as photos from an event, try putting these in an interactive photo gallery. \n\nWhen used effectively, images help readers absorb the content that’s in front of them and create visual connections to your organization’s brand. Carefully choose the images that you want to feature so that you can capture your audience’s attention and inspire them to get involved.\n\n\n## 4. Brand your donation page. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/4a812c6535ec407a847d60d96cf49d10f27802ca-648x432.png)\n\nOne of the most important parts of your nonprofit website is your donation page. According to [Morweb’s guide to effective donation page design,](https://morweb.org/post/donation-page-design-tips-examples) “When donors find a donation page to be untrustworthy… they’re more likely to abandon their gift before their transaction is complete.” \n\nIn other words, the last thing you want is for your donation page to feel disconnected from your cause or look like you've redirected users to a third-party site. If you haven't designed it well, you could be losing out on donations. This is why it is essential to brand your donation page. Here’s what we recommend: \n\n* **Make your overall design match the rest of your website.** Consistency communicates trust and connection. By using the same look and layout on your donation page that you use on your website, you’re showing donors that the financial contributions they generously make are going to your work, not some sketchy third-party site. Plus, the consistency will make you look more organized and professional. \n\n* **Clearly display your nonprofit’s logo.** A logo is a powerful component of your visual brand. Just as millions of people instantly connect McDonald's to its recognizable golden arches, your supporters should immediately think of your nonprofit whenever they see your logo and vice versa. Prominently displaying your logo on your donation page will help to cement this visual reminder and the cause it represents in your donors’ minds. \n\n* **Make your donation buttons stand out.** Your donation page might feature an image, a final donation appeal, and some donation form instructions. But you want your donation buttons to stand out so donors can quickly see and use them. Try making these buttons pop by making them a different color from other elements of the page. \n\nWhen a supporter makes it to your donation page, you know that up to that point, your nonprofit digital marketing strategy has been working. By branding your donation page, you can take your strategy one step further to get your supporter over the finish line, converting them into a donor who will hopefully find your page easy enough to use that they’ll return to make a future contribution.  \n\n## 5. Leverage social media. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/a6e8d89ae6811e3124d18808afb7267a2543baee-1000x538.png)\n\nSocial media can be a powerful nonprofit digital marketing tool, but only when it’s used effectively. Like any marketing initiative, social media reaches its full potential only when you create a plan and stick to it. To create your plan, start by determining which platforms your supporters are using, and then create accounts on those apps. From there, implement the following best practices: \n\n* **Share important updates.** Social media is a great tool for quickly dispersing information. Consistently update supporters if major announcements or changes occur. For instance, if you’re having to suddenly [shift your upcoming charity auction to an online format,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/the-6-best-tips-for-your-online-charity-auction/) quickly spread the word on each platform. \n\n* **Interact with followers.** An effective social media strategy involves more than crafting well-written posts. Your team should interact with supporters by actively responding to their comments. They’ll appreciate that you took the time to respond, which can help nurture the relationship you’re building. \n\n* **Post consistently.** Instead of abandoning your social media for weeks at a time, develop a regular posting schedule, whether that’s once a week or every day. Thanks to modern marketing tools, you can easily share content across all platforms, which makes updating your accounts much easier. One great strategy is to look for opportunities to share your new website content that will keep your followers moving back and forth between your profiles and your website. \n\nOnce you’ve created a solid social media strategy, you should ensure your CMS enables social media sharing. That way, your website visitors can share their favorite content with their personal networks and further spread your cause. \n\n## 6. Remember that consistency is key. \n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/086d13a8e3d2691765367bcbe4d15cc5a2f315bd-1000x717.png)\n\nMaintaining brand consistency across all communication channels can help you with your fundraising efforts. When you’re consistent, supporters will recognize your organization from social media, posters hung in public spaces, and more. While your website presents the best opportunity to convey your brand, it’s important to keep up the hard work across all channels. \n\nTo remain consistent in your branding, consider these two tips: \n\n* **Use consistent visual elements**. With each piece of content you produce, maintain visual consistency. This means using similar colors, fonts, imagery, and layouts. An effective CMS will allow you to incorporate the exact elements you want to help reinforce your visual brand. \n\n* **Leverage templates.** Use customizable templates to set the fonts and colors for each page, email, and social media post. This will make your design process much easier, allowing you to spend more time creating fresh content instead of manually branding each piece of communication. \n\n* **Define your voice.** A strong voice and tone enable you to relate to your audience. When you establish a consistent communication style, your audience will come to recognize your messaging instantly. In short, developing a unique voice can differentiate your nonprofit from all of the other organizations out there. \n\nThese simple tips enable you to accurately promote your brand across all of your messaging. Start with your website, then build your strategy out from there. Use a CMS platform that allows you to fully customize the look and feel of your content so you can represent your unique organization in a way that helps you move your mission forward. \n\n## The Gist \nNonprofit digital marketing is critical for nonprofits who want to connect with their audiences and boost [supporter engagement.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/4-fundraising-strategies-for-improving-donor-engagement/) As you follow these tips, you’ll be well-equipped to spread the word about your cause online and get the support you need to keep making a difference. Good luck!\n\n\n---------------\nSpecial thanks to Murad Bushnaq, the Founder and CEO of Morweb for his expert advice. Since its inception in 2014, Murad has acted as Creative Director and Chief Technologist to help nonprofits spread their vision online through engaging design, intuitive software and strategic communication.\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":2413},{"url":2414},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/abae0333d9b38ef6b564d1bddf7ac7bf9160582b-600x320.jpg","2022-02-28T17:10:00.000Z",{"current":2417},"digital-marketing-conveying-your-nonprofit-s-brand-online","Having a solid approach to nonprofit digital marketing is essential to the success of your organization’s mission. Learn how to convey your brand online!","Digital Marketing: Conveying Your Nonprofit's Brand Online",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2421,"category":2422,"id":5,"image":2423,"publishOn":2426,"slug":2427,"teaser":2429,"title":2430},"Pricing auction items is not a perfect science, in fact it can be quite tricky. Justify pricing by including lots of photos and lively descriptions. [Auctria](https://www.auctria.com/) recommends finding the sweet spot that will initiate interest and bid donations up and up. Remember, almost all auction items are donated so any income is considered profit; fundamentally the higher the final bid the greater the philanthropy.\n\nAuctria’s [program](https://www.auctria.com/features/) makes the pricing process uncomplicated and orderly. Each item is loaded individually to be properly described, categorized. A photo of the auction item and a logo of the donor are basic functions of Auctria but crucial to gaining enthusiasm and initiating the bidding process.\n\nAuctria’s options for pricing are simple and flexible. Choose either a pre-programmed pricing policy OR individually price each item, add in the anti-sniping feature to give additional opportunity for higher bids.\n\n**Prevent bid sniping by last minute bids outbidding people before they have a chance to react. Under Website -> Online Bidding are two new options to specify an anti-sniping trigger window and an anti-sniping extension. Any bid placed within the trigger window will cause the closing time to be extended by the amount of the extension period.**\n\nUsing a hybrid of both methods can cut work time too. Set the standard pricing structure then go back and tweak the non-standard items.\n\n![auction pricing strategy508x.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/auction-pricing-strategy508x.jpg)\n\n## Bid Sheets need to match the pricing strategy\nBid Sheets need to include: auction item name, auction item number, next bid increment and any combination of bidder name, bidder number, bidder email. [Bid sheets need to look neat and professional.](https://www.auctria.com/article/bid-sheets/)\n\n## Ordinary Goods & Services\n\nGeneral rule of thumb for pricing for ordinary goods and services is START the bidding at about 40-50% of the retail, then divide the remaining value by 5 to engage a typical back and forth bidding exchange.   \n\n### Example pricing for ordinary goods and services:\nYummy Restaurant donates a $100 gift certificate.\nStarting bid should be $100/ 2= $40-$50\nIncrements should be $50/5 = $10\n\n## Auctria built-in tools\nAuctria has a built in all-auction pricing policy that saves time and by setting the starting bid, minimum bid increment and 'buy it now' price for your silent auction items making this part of the process quick and easy.\n\n## Unique or High Value Goods & Services\nUnique goods and services or those that have a high value can be speculative. Start too high and risk no bids, start too low and close at an undervalued price. *START* the bidding at about 40%-60% of a realistic retail value, then divide the remaining value in bite sized chunks to quickly elevate the donation. \n\nHigh Value items do well at live auctions too. Live auction permits impromptu modifications. If the starting bid gets no activity the auctioneer can immediately lower the starting bid and adjust accordingly.\n\n### Example pricing high value:\nA vacation package is donated with a retail value of $3000\nStarting bid should be $1200-$1800 range\nIncrements should be $75-$200 range\n\n## Keepsakes & Priceless auction item pricing\nTailor items that are one-of-a-kind keepsakes or local and priceless experiences. Exclusive auction items will garner interest to the overall event as well as the auction item itself. Keep in mind the past buying practices for starting bids.\n\n * **Do** create the image of exclusivity.\n * **Create** descriptions with lots of details.\n * **Include** in the description how bidding on this auction item will delight the buyer.\n * **Don’t** be apprehensive to start a bit higher on these too. \n * **Don’t** start the bidding at last year’s final sale price either- leave room for the bidding process to start and flush out.\n\n## Keepsakes are high emotional-value which can equal high monetary value\n[Keepsakes:](http://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/auction_items_keepsakes) Consider with a keepsake is it ‘valuable’ to only a subset of the audience ie. Mrs. Smith Classroom parents. If this is the case start the bidding on the higher end, but with smaller increments to draw bidders into the action and remain captivated. To capitalize on the [rarity of the item the description](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/keepsakes-priceless-for-auction-from-auctria/) should be detailed and play up the sentimentality. If there are multiple types of keepsakes i.e. school projects try to be consistent with the starting bid and let the market forces dictate the natural flow of bidding.   \n\n### Example pricing for simple projects: \nEach class created a coveted, group art project.\nStarting bid should be consistent: perhaps $25-$30\nIncrements should also be consistent, perhaps $5-$10\n\n### Example pricing more complicated projects:\nClass created a photo book that was created and printed costing $30. Starting bid should consider at least cost for raw materials +25-50% or more. Increments should be 20% of starting value.\n\nStarting bid should be $37-$45\n\nIncrements should be: $8-$9\n\n## Priceless Auction Items \nPriceless items are those that truly do not have a retail value but do have an utility or emotional value. For instance upfront reserved parking, front row at an event, or an opportunity that is out of the ordinary like Principal helper for the day. The priceless opening bid can be in the higher range. The bid increments should also be a bit larger in relation to the general goods. The total number of bidders for priceless items tends to be lower so make each bid increment count.\n\n### Example pricing for priceless items:\nReserved Up Front Parking or seating to an event\nStarting Bid: $50\nBidding Increments: $20\n\n*Priceless Quick Tip: Auctria features a PRICELESS category and pricing for such activities.*\n\nThe Value of the item that should be displayed publicly. You can enter -1 to categorize the item as [Priceless.](https://docs.auctria.com/v3/items/modify-item-details)\n\nListing an item as Priceless draws attention to the item. In Auctria simply list the price as -1 and Priceless will show on the website and catalog. This has a two-fold benefit for the Charity: \n 1) The retail value is not artificially inflated on reports and \n 2) The priceless items can stand alone for marketing purposes.  \n\nKeep in mind that this information is based on past auction experiences however it is only a guide. The basic principle to stay consistent in auction item types should yield success!\n\nThus, if you would like more information on pricing auction items, [contact](https://www.auctria.com/contact/) Auctria today!",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":2424},{"url":2425},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/6f0e4072fd51c92f01ff684d83285fd5073028b7-600x320.jpg","2016-01-25T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":2428},"pricing-auction-items-with-auctria","Understanding the pricing of auction items has never been simpler with Auctria. Read on to find out more. ","Pricing auction items with Auctria",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2432,"category":2433,"id":5,"image":2434,"publishOn":2437,"slug":2438,"teaser":2440,"title":2441},"Generation Z is the future of nonprofit support. Born between 1997 and 2012, these individuals tend to be socially conscious and culturally aware, making them the perfect candidates to join your organization in creating lasting change. \n\nTo engage Gen Z in your mission, you also need to look to the future. [Supporters in this segment](https://www.auctria.com/blog/what-is-donor-segmentation-and-why-is-it-important/) are considered digital natives, meaning they’ve grown up surrounded by technology and online content. Modernizing your nonprofit’s marketing strategy is essential to get their attention and inspire them to get involved.\n\nIn this guide, we’ll walk through four [digital marketing](https://gettingattention.org/digital-marketing-for-nonprofits/) strategies your nonprofit can use to reach current and prospective Gen Z supporters, including how to:\n\n1. Step up Your Social Media Strategy\n2. Optimize Your Website for Mobile\n3. Leverage the Google Ad Grant\n4. Tell Compelling True Stories\n\nAs you try out these tips, make sure to promote the right engagement opportunities to your target audience. Since the oldest members of Generation Z only entered the workforce a few years ago and the youngest ones are in middle school, they might not have much disposable income to donate. However, Gen Z individuals make great volunteers and advocates for your cause, and they may become significant donors in the future if you give them an entry point now.\n\n## 1. Step up Your Social Media Strategy\n\nSocial media is one of the most popular communication platforms among your Gen Z audience—in fact, [research shows](https://sproutsocial.com/insights/guides/social-media-use-by-generation/)that nearly two thirds of Gen Zers consider social media usage to be an essential part of their lives. It also has benefits for your organization—it’s easy to post a lot of content quickly, and two-way communication features allow your audience to respond to your posts and interact with each other in comments.\n\nHowever, some types of social media posts will be more engaging for your nonprofit’s Gen Z followers than others. Here are some ideas to leverage social media specifically to reach this audience:\n\nHowever, some types of social media posts will be more engaging for your nonprofit’s Gen Z followers than others. Here are some ideas to leverage social media specifically to reach this audience:\n\n* **Create video content**—both long-form videos for YouTube and short, vertically oriented videos for TikTok.\n* **Post interactive Instagram stories** that contain polls and question boxes to encourage viewers to engage with them.\n* **Host livestreams** in which someone from your organization discusses important topics related to your cause and answers audience questions.\n* **Collaborate with influencers** to make your nonprofit’s content appear more credible in the eyes of your Gen Z followers.\n* **Use social media platforms’ built-in crowdfunding** features to encourage supporters to quickly make small donations.\n\n\nAdditionally, encourage your followers to share your content with their networks, as this expands your nonprofit’s reach on social media and helps bring even more prospective Gen Z supporters into the fold. Use [graphic design](https://www.memoryfox.io/graphic-design-for-nonprofits/) tools to create visually interesting and informative graphics that are easily shareable from platforms like Instagram. \n\n\n## 2. Optimize Your Website for Mobile\n\nAccording to [nonprofit fundraising statistics from Double the Donation,](https://doublethedonation.com/nonprofit-fundraising-statistics/) more than half of all nonprofit website traffic comes from mobile devices. Considering that [96% of Gen Z individuals in North America](https://www.warroominc.com/institute-library/blog/how-gen-z-is-re-defining-digital/) own a smartphone, it’s likely that many supporters of that generation will access your organization’s website via a mobile device.\n\nTo provide the best possible user experience for Gen Z visitors, make sure your website is mobile optimized. In addition to using a responsive [web design framework,](https://nonprofitssource.com/nonprofit-web-design/) which resizes automatically for any screen size, test your site’s buttons, form fields, and navigation to ensure users can easily tap any of these elements on a touchscreen. When Gen Z audiences have a good experience using your website on either mobile or desktop, they’re more likely to return to it and take action.\n\n## 3. Leverage the Google Ad Grant\n\nOne way to [make the most of your website](https://www.auctria.com/blog/nonprofit-websites-5-ways-to-make-the-most-of-yours/) is to promote its core pages with paid search ads so they appear higher up on Google’s search engine results pages (SERPs). But since many nonprofits have limited marketing budgets, paid advertising may seem out of reach at first.\n\nFortunately, there’s a solution: the [Google Ad Grants program.](https://gettingattention.org/google-ad-grants/) To make paid search ads more accessible to nonprofits, Google gives eligible organizations a $10,000 monthly stipend. Nonprofits can then use this credit to place their ads on the SERPs for search terms that are relevant to their missions, expanding their reach to even more internet users—including members of Generation Z.\n\n[Getting Attention’s guide to applying for the Google Ad Grant](https://gettingattention.org/how-to-apply-for-google-grants/) lists five steps your nonprofit will need to take if you want to secure this stipend:\n\n1. **Check your organization’s eligibility status.** Most 501(c)(3) nonprofits with functional, secure websites are eligible for the Google Ad Grant, but healthcare organizations and educational institutions aren’t.\n2. **Register with TechSoup.** If you’re already signed up, verify your status; if not, register for the first time and wait to receive your validation token before proceeding to step three.\n3. **Create a Google for Nonprofits account.** In addition to the Google Ad Grant application, this account provides you with access to Google Workspace and YouTube for Nonprofits as an added bonus.\n4. **Spruce up your organization’s website.** Make sure your site is secure, your mission statement is clearly displayed, and core pages like your About page and donation page are in good working order.\n5. **Fill out and submit your application.** The form only takes about 20 minutes to complete, and you should hear back about your approval status within a few business days.\n\nOnce your application is approved, you can use your Ad Grant money to promote a wide variety of website content. In addition to your donation page, make sure to advertise other engagement opportunities like volunteering, upcoming events, and advocacy campaigns to encourage Gen Z users to click on your ads and get involved in ways that are accessible to them.\n\n## 4. Tell Compelling True Stories\n\nWhen interacting with organizations like yours online, Generation Z values authenticity. To add a level of genuineness to your digital marketing content that will appeal to Gen Z audiences, incorporate stories about specific instances in which your nonprofit has made a difference.\n\nHere are some examples of how nonprofits in different verticals can tell stories through the platforms their Gen Z supporters are likely to use:\n\n* An organization focused on children’s literacy could create a YouTube video featuring testimonials from parents whose kids have benefited from their free tutoring.\n* An environmental nonprofit might feature before and after pictures of past beach cleanup days on their website’s Volunteer page.\n* An animal shelter may make a series of Instagram posts that each tell the story of one cat who found its forever home through the organization.\n\nBesides showing Generation Z that your nonprofit follows through on its mission, stories can engage your audience’s emotions and inspire them to support that mission.\n\n\n--------------------\n\nRemember that your nonprofit’s goal should not only be to acquire Gen Z supporters, but also to [keep them engaged](https://www.auctria.com/blog/4-key-strategies-for-nonprofits-to-keep-supporters-engaged/) with your organization long-term. After implementing the above marketing strategies, monitor your campaigns and make improvements as needed. Additionally, consider sending out surveys to Gen Z audiences to get their perspective on what you’re doing well and where you could improve your communications with them.\n\n\n--------\n\nSpecial thanks to Jessica King, Business Lead at [Getting Attention](https://gettingattention.org/) for the expert advice. Jessica helps nonprofits acquire and manage the Google Ad Grant to expand their impact. Prior to her work at Getting Attention, Jessica worked in nonprofit and higher education organizations focusing on communication and digital marketing, and most recently in search engine optimization in the mission-driven sector. Jessica holds a master’s degree in communication from Virginia Tech. In her free time, you can find her reading, building furniture, and hanging out with her cats, Benny and Olive.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":2435},{"url":2436},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/21c8f4f120fe1cd54b54862a372e397125085a83-1200x640.png","2023-11-10T15:20:26.691Z",{"current":2439},"4-nonprofit-marketing-tactics-to-inspire-gen-z-supporters","Generation Z is the future of nonprofit support. Start engaging them in your organization’s work now by trying these four modern marketing strategies.","4 Nonprofit Marketing Tactics to Inspire Gen Z Supporters",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2443,"category":2444,"id":5,"image":2445,"publishOn":2448,"slug":2449,"teaser":2451,"title":176},"\nBuilding an event fundraiser takes effort—so use your marquee event as a foundation to boost income! **Auctria’s features** provide the tools to meet goals, engage supporters, and keep your mission thriving year-round.\n\nKeep donors engaged and maximize your Auctria license and features:\n\n\n1. Tickets & Sponsorships\n2. Revenue Generators\n3. Tournaments\n4. Online Fundraisers\n5. Creative Giving\n\nYour license is valid for a whole year, with no performance fees, and can be used for **unlimited** events. Boost your fundraising success by driving year-round giving and engagement.\n\n\n## 1. Tickets & Sponsorships\n\nTurn your annual gala, auction, or signature fundraiser into a record-breaking success. Using Auctria for your tickets and sponsorships brings everything into one connected experience, making it easier for guests to participate, engage, and give. \n\n#### Tickets - 1 singular digital event space \n\n\nUsing Auctria for your ticketing creates a single, seamless digital event experience for both your team and your guests. Instead of juggling multiple tools, everything from ticket sales to guest management lives in one place. \n\nWhen attendees purchase tickets, they’re automatically pre-registered as bidders.  They can store e-tickets in their mobile wallet, and even save their credit card in advance, making check-in and giving effortless. \n\nGuests can manage their information, invite others, and access everything through one simple link. At the same time, your team can track sales, handle catering details, and communicate important updates with ease. \n\nTickets are included in all Auctria licenses; there is no separate module to pay for or add on, making it simple to get started and scale your event. \n\n\n#### Sponsors Beget Sponsors\nDevelop a sponsorship package that aligns with your goals and offers higher levels than you think will sell—you might be surprised! [This behavioral sales technique](https://www.auctria.com/webinar/fuel-your-fundraising-with-the-actionology-method-using-behavioral-science/) encourages higher-tier participation and makes lower levels more appealing. \n\nPromote your sponsorships on your event website by featuring logos, clickable URLs, and premium sponsor recognition in the footer of every page and your transactional emails. Advertising sponsorship opportunities adds credibility and purpose to your event. \n\nWatch your sponsorships sell out! Nothing motivates buyers more than seeing others already committed. Creating FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) drives urgency and can turn your next event into a sold-out success. Don’t leave money on the table; while some businesses may not be able to donate cash, they can and will purchase sponsorships, often from their marketing budget, making it an easier sale for you.\n\n[Learn more about sponsorships in Auctria.](https://guide.auctria.com/redirect?id=Intro_Sponsorships)\n\nWhether you’re selling individual tickets, tables, or sponsor packages, Auctria keeps every interaction connected, so your event runs smoother and raises more.\n\n## 2. Revenue Generators\n\nThink about the guest experience and choose activities that fit the vibe of your event and align with your timeline.  Plan ahead and let guests pre-pay for activities to start the evening with a zero balance — adding to the excitement of the evening while boosting your event's revenue!\n\nFun features to consider:\n\n* VIP Perks – Early access to the event, special seating, and premium drinks that are special for the event.\n* Games of Chance – Ring toss, balloon pop, and airplane contests add to the fun.\n* Pre-sell Food & Drink Tickets online – Simplify purchases and speed up lines at the event. \n* Wine Wall – Guests pay a fixed amount to pick a mystery bottle. [See how to set up For Sale items in Auctria.](https://guide.auctria.com/redirect?id=ForSaleItems)\n\nThese activities can add to the excitement of the evening, increase participation while boosting your event's revenue.\n\n\n#### Raffles: A Smart Way to Engage More Donors\n\nSome guests may not bid on auction items—but they love a good raffle!  Adding raffles to your event gives people another way to participate, especially if they don’t see an auction item they love or know they may not win.\n\n**Jumbo raffle tickets** are popular on the [Auction Team Talk page](https://www.facebook.com/auctria/). Here are a few examples that were entirely sold out this past season:\n\n**1. $2,000 AirBnB Gift Certificate**: $50/ticket, 100 tickets = $5,000 in sales.  Subtract the gift certificate cost, and there is a  $3,000 net profit.  \n**2. $500 Amazon Gift Card:** $25/ticket, 100 tickets = $2,500 in sales. Subtract the gift certificate and there is a $2,000 net profit. Covering the cost of the gift card is a great sponsorship opportunity, and then the sales are 100% profit.\n\nSell the tickets online or in-room.  The Auctria Admin App allows event organizers to [manage guest sales](https://guide.auctria.com/redirect?id=AdminApp_Sales) from mobile devices, making it easy to capture more revenue in the moment.  Give this a try for your next event fundraiser!  \n\n#### Auction and Raffle Donations \n\nStruggling to find auction and raffle donations? \n\nHere’s how to make it easier: use the Item Solicitation form to streamline requests, explore no-risk items, seek out local experiences or celebrities, and get inspired with [Pinterest boards](https://www.pinterest.com/Auctria/mega-auction-donations-from-auctria/). These tools make gathering exciting items a breeze!\n\nOn [Auctria’s Partners](https://www.auctria.com/partners) page, you'll find corporate donation aggregators (like DonationMatch and The Shareway), along with no-risk item consignment companies offering travel, one-of-a-kind experiences, jewelry, and memorabilia. These partnerships help you secure amazing items with less work and no upfront costs!\n\n#### Dessert Dash: A Competitive Crowd Favorite\n\nWho doesn’t love a **dessert dash**? If you are unfamiliar with this, it’s a blast and a great motivator for donations! At a gala, desserts are on display, but the table that raises the most money gets to choose first. These get VERY competitive and are a high-energy way to raise more funds.\n\nCapturing pledges with pen and paper? [Auctria’s Dessert Dash dashboard](https://guide.auctria.com/redirect?id=DessertDashDashboard) gives you one place to print the table's Dessert Dash sheet, record Dessert Dash pledges, and generate reports. \n\nWant to collect donations online? Set it up as a donation item and place the QR code display page in the center of the table.\n\nEven better, if you are using Auctria’s Tables feature with your Ticket sales, Dessert Dash tables will be generated automatically once enabled from the dashboard.\n\nA little friendly competition = big donations!\n\nWith the Auctria Admin App, you can handle Raffle sales and For Sale items right from the palm of your hand, keeping lines moving, and giving your team the flexibility to manage the event from anywhere in the room.\n\n\n\n## 3. Tournaments\n\nTournaments are a powerful way to bring in big dollars, attract a unique audience, and welcome new supporters to your cause. As activator events, they create natural opportunities for connection, engagement, and giving—especially with participants who may not attend a traditional gala.\n\nWith Auctria’s pre-built templates, you can launch a tournament quickly — just grab and go! From registration and team setup to sponsorships and on-course fundraising. Everything lives in one place, making it easy to manage players, sell foursomes, promote sponsors, and streamline the day-of experience.\n\nPlus, tournaments create a fun, competitive spirit around giving, where philanthropy thrives as people come together, rallying for a cause while having a blast! Auctria even has templates that are designed JUST for golf and pickleball so you can get started faster and focus on maximizing both the experience and your revenue!\n\n\n## 4. Online Fundraisers: Expand Your Reach & Maximize Impact\n\nHolding your auction online removes geographic barriers, inviting supporters to give from anywhere, anytime. You set your timeline, choose the start and end times, and let participation build.  After all, fundraising brings people together, turning shared passion into powerful support!\n\nWith Auctria, you can host online auctions, accept secure item donations through a special website page, and use max bidding with bid extensions to keep the excitement going. Supporters can easily browse, bid, and donate from their mobile devices, making participation simple and accessible.\n\nEvery great campaign needs a great website — tell your story on your Auctria event and make giving easy!\n\n\nAuctria offers a streamlined approach to [peer-to-peer-lite fundraising](https://guide.auctria.com/redirect?id=PeerToPeer), making it easy to expand your reach. Empower supporters to become ambassadors for your cause, encouraging their peers to donate. Enhance engagement by adding a donation tracker or thermometer to their online page, making tracking pledges and celebrating progress simple.\n\nWant to make the donation page scannable? Print a display page with a QR code to take them directly to the page. The faster someone can access the donation page, the faster they can donate!\n\n\n## 5. Creative Giving\n\nFundraising doesn’t have to be a standalone event — why not add giving opportunities to events where your audience is already engaged? Whether you host a focused campaign or enhance an existing event, creative giving allows you to meet supporters where they are and make every interaction count.  [View our gallery of unique events hosted in Auctria.](https://www.auctria.com/unique-events/)\n\nDonation-only events are a powerful way to rally support, whether for a local giving day or a national initiative like Giving Tuesday. These focused campaigns highlight your mission and allow you to showcase a specific need, making it easy for donors to connect with your cause.\n\nTo maximize impact, tie each donation level to a tangible outcome. When donors see how their contributions make a difference — feeding families, providing essential supplies, or funding critical programs — they’re more likely to give and engage at higher levels.\n\nWith Auctria, setting up a Giving Tuesday campaign is simple — just three clicks, and your site is ready to go! More than just another ask, your giving day becomes a movement that inspires action and drives real change.\n\nYou can also layer fundraising to well-attended events like school award ceremonies, concerts, or toy drives — where attendees are already gathered and enjoying the moment — by setting up easy, passive donation options like QR codes, text-to-donate, or a raffle.\n\n**Creative Fundraising Ideas**\n* Pie & Cake Auctions – Have supporters bid on delicious homemade desserts.\n* Game-Worn Jerseys & Keepsakes – Sell memorabilia from local teams or schools.\n* VIP Upgrades – Offer exclusive seating or backstage access at existing events.\n\nWith a little planning, any event can become a successful fundraiser!  \n![Unique Events](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/39ef49d3e237b0ad28916464ef1f28fff3a54b3d-975x569.png?w=850)\n\n[View our gallery of unique events hosted in Auctria.](https://www.auctria.com/unique-events/)\n\nAuctria makes it easy to keep donors engaged and maximize fundraising all year long. Ready to elevate your next event? [Explore Auctria today!](https://www.auctria.com/)\n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":2446},{"url":2447},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/bc6bf10870407b5906ee23a114c4d4451576b7f1-960x540.jpg","2026-04-01T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":2450},"maximize-auctria-more-ways-to-fundraise","Use the event fundraiser as a foundation to catapult the income. Your license is valid for a whole year, with no performance fees, and can be used for multiple events.  Boost your fundraising success by driving year-round giving and engagement.",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2453,"category":2454,"id":5,"image":2455,"publishOn":2458,"slug":2459,"teaser":2461,"title":2462},"Many nonprofits find that they spend hours writing social media posts in the hopes of attracting new members — only to get just a handful of responses.\nIt can be frustrating and disheartening, particularly when some nonprofits are managing to create social campaigns that go viral, earning millions of views and shares. You might also be wondering if there’s a secret ingredient that these posts have and yours don’t.\n \nIs there a certain combination of words to use?\nA shortcut to get Facebook likes?\nOr does it just take a huge marketing budget?\n\nHowever, the real secret ingredient to increasing engagement with your social media is surprisingly simple. Whether your organization is big or small, it’s something you can achieve, even with limited resources.\n\nAnd that secret ingredient is: preparation.\n\nNonprofits often create exciting, well-written content on social media, but still don’t see much engagement because their posts:\n\n * Don’t have a clear purpose\n * Aren’t speaking to the most relevant audience\n * Aren’t on the right platform\n * Aren’t being posted at the right time\n\nBefore you publish another post, take a look at our guide to the four key questions you should be asking yourself in order to avoid these setbacks.\n**Read More:** [*The Beginner’s Guide to Mastering Facebook*](https://nonprofitlibrary.com/product/beginners-guide-mastering-facebook/)\n\nIn this blog, we’ll cover:\n * Why are we posting?\n * Who are we trying to reach?\n * Where is the right place to post?\n * When is the best time to post?\n\nBy answering these questions, you’ll have created a plan that outlines both what to post and how to post it for the maximum impact. Let’s get started...\n\n## 1. Why are we posting?\nThe first step of creating a social media marketing strategy that really works for your nonprofit is deciding what you want to achieve from your posts.\n\nMany organizations set broad goals such as ‘raise awareness’ that are difficult to track. Instead, to make your goal more focused, think about how you would be able to report on it. Does ‘raising awareness’ mean increasing the number of people who share each post, or the number of people who click through to your website?\n\nA good guide is to set goals that are SMART:\n * Specific\n * Measurable\n * Achievable\n * Relevant\n * Time-based\n\nFor example, you could aim to gain 100 new members over 3 months from a specific campaign. Or maybe your goal is to gain enough donations to complete some badly needed office renovations.\nWith a measurable goal in your sights, you can choose a call to action that works towards this, such as ‘Follow our Facebook Page’, or ‘Join Us as a Supporter’. This will also help you choose the text and images you post, and to easily track your progress as you go.\n\nTake this post by Circle of Health as an example. As well as giving a link to their donation campaign, they also let supporters know how they use those donations, the reasons that they're vital, and how they're progressing towards their target. \n\n![facebook-post-nonprofit.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/facebook-post-nonprofit.png)\n\nTracking your progress could take the form of weekly reports on the number of subscribers to your newsletter, or the number of times your posts have been shared. It could mean keeping a running total of the donations you’ve received in a place where your whole team can see it, or the number of people who have signed up for your next event.\n\n## 2. Who are we trying to reach?\n\nThe most successful social media marketing is targeted towards very specific audiences. For example, an organization supporting schools in New York is more likely to receive donations from parents who live within the state than from teenagers who live in Europe.\n\nEstablishing your target audience will help you focus your social media posting to the places they are and the things they care about. To do this, many organizations find it helpful to create personas — fictional characters who represent the people you’re trying to communicate with.\n\nTo create personas for your nonprofit, start by looking at your existing members and supporters, and researching the people you would ideally like to reach.\n\n * How old are they?\n * Where do they live?\n * What kind of job do they work in?\n * What are their hobbies?\n * How do they prefer to communicate?\n\nIn order to get to know your current supporters, it helps to keep a tidy and comprehensive database of your members, donors and contacts that lets you find the information you need at a glance. Using a [nonprofit management software solution](https://www.wildapricot.com/nonprofit-software) can take the hassle out of managing your data by helping you set up easy membership sign ups, online access, and filters that easily pick out the right people to speak to.\nUsing your research, you can create a character (or two, or three at most) that represents an average member of your audience. As you begin to plan a new social media campaign, try to write to this persona. Would they understand any technical lingo you’re using? Would they stop to look at the image you’re planning to use? Would they find the content you’re posting helpful?\n\n\n## 3. Where is the right place to post?\n\nOnce you’ve gotten to know your audience, you’ll find it easier to choose the platforms these people are looking at. Check out this [article by Social Media Today](https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/the-advertisers-guide-to-social-media-demographics/507630/) for a useful guide to which demographics are using the most popular platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.\nIt’s also important to remember that different platforms suit different types of content. Choosing the social media networks you’ll be posting on will also help you structure the types of post you’ll be making. On Facebook, you can create Events that people can easily share with their networks or use to register; with Slideshare, you can upload educational presentations about your mission; and on Pinterest, you can keep a photo log of all your projects.\n\nFor example:\nThe ASPCA use Facebook Events to let supporters know the date, time, location and details of their upcoming fundraisers. \n\n![facebook-event-screenshot---nonprofit-social-media.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/facebook-event-screenshot---nonprofit-social-media.png)\n\nThe Dana-Farber Cancer Institute use Slideshare to explain complex medical questions in a way that’s understandable to everyone.\n\n![nonprofit-slideshare-screenshot DF.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/nonprofit-slideshare-screenshot-DF.png)\n\nJolkona supports social entrepreneurs, and uses their Pinterest to showcase the projects and people they work with.\n\n![pinterest-project-screenshot---nonprofit-social-media.png](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/pinterest-project-screenshot---nonprofit-social-media.png)\n\n## 4. When is the best time to post?\n\nFirstly, you’ll need to decide how you want to pace your social media accounts. Will you be posting regularly, or more frequently around events? Are there major holidays or events coming up that you want to piggyback on for traffic, or avoid clashing with in case you get drowned out?\n \nIf you’re planning to post several times about a particular project or theme, you should also consider whether you want to spread these out with posts on other topics to keep readers interested. A good rule of thumb is the 80/20 split. 80% of your posts should be non-promotional and provide interesting or educational content for your readers, leaving 20% to ask for donations or promote events.\n \nSecondly, pick the day and time of each post to maximize the number of people who see it. Each social media platform has different points in the week when they receive the most visitors — [Sprout Social](https://sproutsocial.com/insights/best-times-to-post-on-social-media/) has a helpful guide to this. Linkedin, for example, has lots of visitors on mid-week afternoons, but very few on the weekends. The best time to post on Twitter, however, is Thursday and Friday at lunchtime.\n \nNot available at the peak time? No problem. There are [free or low-cost online tools](https://www.wildapricot.com/blogs/newsblog/2018/03/13/best-social-media-tools-for-nonprofits) like Hootsuite and Buffer that let you save the posts you want to send and schedule them to be published automatically at specific times.\n\n\n## How to Start Writing Social Media Posts Your Supporters Will Love\n\nOnce you’ve set your plan in place, you’re ready to start creating your campaigns. For ideas on what to post and examples of campaigns that have worked for other nonprofits, watch our [on-demand webinar](https://trial.wildapricot.com/jc-social-media-webinar) with nonprofit social media expert and author Julia Campbell, 5 Ways Nonprofits are Actually Attracting New Members with Social Media.\n \nIn this free 1-hour webinar, you’ll learn about the common pitfalls that make your social updates less effective, the real reasons why some nonprofits are finding success, and a simple process to create engaging content on social media.\n\n-----------------\nSpecial thanks to Wild Apricot for re-posting for the Auctria audience. [Original blog post can be found here.](https://www.wildapricot.com/blogs/newsblog/2018/08/09/social-media-for-nonprofits)",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":2456},{"url":2457},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/2bd4ec34c0303fdcd45b17b37b09f3f01e3e3903-600x320.png","2019-01-11T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":2460},"social-media-for-nonprofits-4-questions-to-ask-and-answer","Secret ingredient to social media posts revealed here.","Social Media for Nonprofits: 4 Questions to Ask & Answer",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2464,"category":2465,"id":5,"image":2466,"publishOn":2469,"slug":2470,"teaser":2472,"title":2473},"Charity auctions are a staple of fundraising events. Whether you’re organizing a live, silent, or online auction (or some combination of the three!), there are ways to remain innovative and fresh while taking on such a [classic fundraising strategy.](http://auctria.com/Web/Articles/why_auction_fundraiser)\n\nIn this article, we’ll go over a few ways you can combine your charity auction with other popular fundraising techniques to maximize engagement and fundraising dollars:\n\n 1. Matching Gifts\n 2. Volunteer Grants\n 3. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising\n 4. Remote Participation\n\nReady to plan the perfect auction? Let’s get to it!\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/f9fba7d625bbe6f4c9abd66213765d69c3389ec2-730x120.jpg)\n\n## 1. Matching Gifts\nMatching gifts are a type of corporate giving program in which companies match donations their employees make to eligible nonprofits.\n\nHere’s how corporate matching gifts work:\n\n 1. A donor makes a gift to a nonprofit.\n 2. The donor submits a request for a matching gift to their employer.\n 3. The employer reviews the request and verifies the donation with the nonprofit.\n 4. The employer provides a matching donation to the nonprofit.\n\nIt seems like a great deal, but matching gift programs are often overlooked by both donors and nonprofits. This is generally due to a lack of awareness that the donor’s employer even offers such a program.\n\n**But matching gifts can have a huge impact on your auction.**\n\nIf an auction attendee donates to your cause during the event, and their employer offers a matching gift program, they can submit a request for a match.\n\n### How Can You Implement It?\nIn order to make the most of matching gifts during your auction, consider investing in matching gift software that offers access to a matching gift database. A matching gift database houses information on thousands of companies and their matching gift programs so your donors can easily access the guidelines needed to submit a match request.\n\nGuidelines include:\n\n * **Match ratio.** Many companies match at a 1:1 ratio (a dollar for a dollar), but others match donations on a range from .5:1 all the way to 4:1.\n * **Minimum and maximum match amounts.** The most common minimum amount is $25, but it can range anywhere from $1 to $100. The maximum match amount typically ranges from $1,000 to $15,000, but can go even further up.\n * **Submission deadlines.** Different company deadlines vary, and you’ll want to be aware of these so your auction guests submit their match requests in time. This may be the end of the calendar year, a set number of months following the donation, or another specific timeframe.\n * **Nonprofit eligibility.** Many matching gift programs match donations to most nonprofits, but sometimes there are restrictions, such as for religious organizations.\n * **Employee eligibility.** An employee’s employment status may impact whether they’re eligible for matching gifts. This may include full-time, part-time, or retired individuals.\n\nWith the matching gift software, you can embed a company name search tool directly on your website, which will provide your auction donors with direct access to the database. All they need to do is type in the name of their company, and the search tool will populate the information they need about their employer’s program.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/dace77770aac267e73ee1aac5f3fb41eb28ff3b5-660x348.png)\n\n### Best Practices\nBe sure to promote your matching gift search tool at the same time you promote your auction. You probably already use social media, direct mail, your website, and email to reach your donors. **Include matching gift information and a link to the search tool on your website in all your event outreach so attendees can look up their eligibility.**\n\nMatching gifts can provide a [huge boost in revenue](https://www.auctria.com/blog/double-the-donation/) because you’ll earn double the donation you would have otherwise gotten!\n\n## 2. Volunteer Grants\nFocusing on your auction attendees is important, but what about the volunteers who are helping run your event? Did you know that many of them may be eligible for volunteer grants?\n\n**Volunteer grants are another form of corporate philanthropy in which companies provide monetary grants to nonprofits where their employees regularly volunteer.**\n\nHere’s how volunteer grants work:\n\n 1. An individual volunteers with a nonprofit.\n 2. The individual submits a request for a volunteer grant to their employer.\n 3. The employer verifies the volunteer hours with the nonprofit.\n 4. The employer sends a check to the nonprofit.\n\nLike matching gifts, volunteer grants are often overlooked due to lack of awareness. But if you run multiple auctions throughout the year, or any kind of event, and the same volunteers help out at each one, it’s important to have them check their eligibility for a volunteer grant.\n\n### How Can You Implement It?\nRemember the matching gift database we mentioned earlier? Many of these databases also offer information about volunteer grant programs! Direct your volunteers to your website to view your search tool. Once they find their company in the database, it will populate both matching gift and volunteer grant information, if applicable.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/fd988c0dbb83b49c18081afcb0daf47972334ca6-660x348.png)\n\n\n### Best Practices\nMake sure you stay up-to-date with your volunteers’ employer information to determine if they’re linked to any volunteer grant programs. If multiple volunteers come from the same company, they may even be eligible for a team volunteer grant!\n\nLooking for more information? Check out [Double the Donation’s guide to volunteer grants.](https://doublethedonation.com/tips/volunteer-grant-basics/)\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/f566947efc202e1ac0bc7820dde9bdb4279d6aee-730x120.jpg)\n\n\n\n## 3. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising\nPeer-to-peer fundraising is a social fundraising technique in which your supporters fundraise on your behalf. These fundraisers typically culminate in an event. In this case, that’s your auction!\n\nHere’s how peer-to-peer fundraisers work:\n\n 1. The nonprofit determines a fundraising goal and sets up its main campaign page.\n 2. The nonprofit recruits volunteer fundraisers to set up their own campaign pages, providing them with resources they can use to promote their pages.\n 3. The volunteer fundraisers share their individual campaign pages with friends and family on a variety of platforms.\n 4. The nonprofit tracks the campaign’s progress and continues offering support.\n\nPeer-to-peer fundraising campaigns increase anticipation as you lead up to your event. If you’re looking for ways to effectively leverage it, read on!\n\n### How Can You Implement It?\nIn order to implement a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign as part of your auction, you’ll want to set a specific fundraising goal for your event. But beyond that, you’ll want to set individual goals to motivate your participants. A specific goal for each participant will give them something to work toward.\n\nThen, throw a little friendly competition into the mix by incorporating gamification techniques. This can help maximize engagement in the lead-up to your auction. Gamification elements, like fundraising thermometers and leaderboards, provide an effective visual to motivate donors and participants to get you to your goal.\n\nAs you plan out both your event and your preceding fundraising campaign, remember that both tactics should come together to create one cohesive fundraiser. If you’re raising money for a specific cause (for example, a new school building), make sure that both components reflect that.\n\nDuring your auction event, call attention to your campaign. If you met or exceeded your goals, celebrate and publicly thank your highest contributors. If you didn’t meet your target or would like to raise more, extend your campaign to include the night of your auction and dedicate time at the event for attendees to make last-minute contributions and receive special rewards for doing so.\n\n### Best Practices\nHere are a few ways to make your peer-to-peer fundraiser a key part of your auction planning:\n\n * **Tell your story with visuals.** Make sure you tell your organization's story in an effective way. Share heartwarming stories across your marketing channels and incorporate compelling visuals.\n * **Recognize your peer-to-peer volunteers.** Motivate your volunteer fundraisers by recognizing them and giving them a shoutout when they reach a certain threshold. This is a great way to keep them engaged and raise more.\n * **Incorporate matching gifts.** Individuals are more likely to participate in your peer-to-peer fundraiser if they know their donation will go twice as far. Encourage donors to look up their matching gift eligibility, and you can end up with double the donations!\n\nPeer-to-peer fundraising campaigns are a great technique to pair with your auction. You’ll boost engagement, raise more, and keep your cause at the forefront of your supporters’ minds. Learn more about peer-to-peer fundraising [here.](https://doublethedonation.com/peer-to-peer-fundraising/)\n\n\n## 4. Remote Participation\nWhether you want to increase participation or you need to convert your live auction event into a virtual auction, offering a way to participate remotely widens your audience and can result in even more revenue.\n\n### How Can You Implement It?\nUse online bidding features that can be leveraged before or during the event. Showcase all of your auction items in an online catalog to build up hype for the auction itself, while opening the event up to everyone.\n\nIt’s important to have a website for your event, as well, which lends you credibility and allows you to effectively promote your auction. This is also where donors can engage with your nonprofit, bid, donate, and share the event on social media.\n\n### Best Practices\nBe sure to use all of your marketing channels to promote your virtual event. This includes:\n\n * Social media\n * Email outreach\n * Direct mail\n * Your nonprofit’s website\n * And more!\n\nThe more you promote your virtual event across platforms, the more engagement you’ll build. And if you promote matching gifts as part of your marketing strategy or build in a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign, you’ll be able to boost your revenue and put that toward serving your mission!\n--------------------------------\n\n[Managing an event](https://www.auctria.com/blog/dk-success-event-management/) like a charity auction is a classic way to engage donors and bring in major donation dollars. If you’re looking to add a fresh take on your next auction event, consider pairing it with one of these popular fundraising techniques!\n\n-----------------\nSpecial thanks to Adam for sharing his expert advice in this article.\n\nAdam Weinger is the President of Double the Donation, the leading provider of matching gift tools to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions. Adam created Double the Donation in order to help nonprofits increase their annual revenue through corporate matching gift and volunteer grant programs. Connect with Adam via email: [adam@doublethedonation.com](mailto:adam@doublethedonation.com) or on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjweinger/). \n\n\n\n",{"id":21,"title":22},{"asset":2467},{"url":2468},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/1e6bd9fd0645d8f09a93aa01beaf57532c80d644-600x320.jpg","2020-09-16T16:00:00.000Z",{"current":2471},"techniques_to_pair_with_auction","Planning an auction to support your cause? Check out these popular fundraising opportunities to boost revenue and increase engagement with your supporters.","Fresh Fundraising Techniques to Pair with Auction",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2475,"category":2476,"id":5,"image":2477,"publishOn":2480,"slug":2481,"teaser":2483,"title":2484},"# Mobile Bidding for an Auction Fundraiser: Proven Guidelines\n\nWant your charity auction bidders to bid more frequently, faster and make more money for your cause? Mobile bidding is the answer! As with any new technology, there is a right place and right time to use it. \n\nTo make the best decision for your organization’s charity auction, first let’s understand that in order to enable mobile bidding the auction must take place online. No, you cannot have paper pencil bidding and mobile bidding for the same auction items simultaneously. It’s impossible to simultaneously record a paper bid to an online auction. You can however go from online to paper, more on that later.\n\nNot all online auction platforms are mobile friendly. Choose wisely. \n\nSeeking a flawless mobile bidding experience that is both streamlined for the organization and fast and easy to use for the bidder. You want something that saves you time and makes money for the cause. Discuss these concepts with your auction team before making a decision:\n\n1. Mobile means going online\n2. Timing for mobile bidding\n3. Mobile optimized website or mobile app (or both!)\n4. Online auction boosters\n5. Streamlined registration and collections\n6. Frequently asked questions about mobile bidding\n\n\n## 1. Mobile means going online\nMobile bidding means you are running an online auction. In order for the audience to view the online bidding the auction itself needs to be online. Don’t be intimidated by the terminology. [Auction Software](https://www.auctria.com/features/) makes this both super easy and bidder friendly. To do so you will utilize a platform where:\n\n- **Input of the auction items is easy.** You want to be able to upload auction items with a description, terms and conditions, starting bids, bid increments. Use video for the special auction items to draw attention  \n\n- **Access to the auction is easy.** Be able to share the entire auction with a QR code or individual auction items.\n\n- **Creating an event microsite is easy.** Utilize a microsite to promote and show off the charity mission. This is in addition to managing  the auction functionality. If you use a streamlined platform the auction information will flow to the event website with ease.\n\n\n## 2. Timing for mobile bidding\n\nThe last thing you want to do is compete with yourself for your supporters' attention. The timing for an online auction and mobile bidding is dependent upon the event that is paired with the auction and fundraising activities.\n\n**In person auction and event fundraiser.** Mobile bidding and an in-person event should be scheduled to close prior to or after any presentations, keynote speakers or testimonial videos. It is imperative to limit distractions, a mobile device that is triggering notifications should not be compounding that issue.\n\n**Online only auctions may run days not hours.** This scenario is a great match for mobile bidding. Since bidders are not on-location the online auction is always a tap away from mobile devices. Bonus, online auctions can easily be accessed from a desktop or tablet too. \n\n## 3. Mobile optimized website or mobile app (or both!)\nChoosing a mobile optimized website or downloadable [mobile bidding application.](https://www.auctria.com/blog/mobilebidding-strategy/) Using a mobile optimized event bidding page for mobile bidding is a requirement for smooth bidder experience. \n\n**Bidding with a mobile optimized website:** Bidders will use their personal mobile devices, on their preferred browser and make bids and purchases. Note: bidders will receive outbid notifications via email. \n\n**Bidding with a mobile application:** Bidders will download a mobile application that is used exclusively with the auction platform. When bidders utilize the mobile app for bidding outbid notifications are immediately pushed out on the mobile device. Some people will not want to download an app for short term use. That’s ok, because that is why a mobile optimized event website is essential.\n\nHow about both? Yes, having both is the most flexible. Giving your supporters the opportunity to bid and receive notifications as they wish. Mobile bidding also means [contactless bidding](https://www.auctria.com/blog/contactless-event-fundraising/) can occur.\n\n\n\n## 4. Online auction boosters\n\nOnline auction & mobile bidding considerations, going online can expand the bidder pool. Auction fundraising depends on bids, bids depend on bidders. The greater the number of bidders, the more bidding will take place and the higher the bids. Similar to traditional silent auctions, there is a start time, end time, and the bidding process takes place in between, but is completely web-based. Online auctions add a layer of flexibility for both the auction itself and the participants.\n\nHave you ever run an online auction fundraiser and the bids come in s-l-o-w-l-y one by one? \n\nMax bid is the answer to slow bids.\n\nAlthough small increments for online auctions can provide engagement and activity, it may not produce the maximum potential for the highest bids. In a standard online auction, after each bid is placed, the outbid bidder receives a notification. However, they then NEED to bid again to be back on top, and because people are busy, they might forget. With Max Bid the system bids for the bidder at each increment up to the max bid they privately indicated.\n\nDuring online auctions the bidding fury takes over as the clock ticks closer to closing time. The winner is the one that gets that very last bid at the mere moment before the auction closes. The winning bidder is super happy, but how much higher could the bids have gone? \n\n[Max Bid, also known as proxy bidding,](https://www.auctria.com/blog/proxy-bidding/) is the answer to last second bidding activity. \n\nOnline auction technology has removed the sniper and increased auction proceeds with a bid extension feature. [Bid extension](https://www.auctria.com/article/antisniping-details-examples/) accelerates the bidding so more bids can be placed, thus increasing the final bid.\n\n\n## 5. Streamlined registration and collections\n\nMobile bidding is fast and easy. When a bidder purchases a ticket to attend an event or registers online for an online auction they are all ready to bid. Organizers can reduce or completely eliminate the check in desk duties. No more fumbling with bid paddles or standing in line at a check in desk.\n\n**Speedy bidding.** The [auction fundraising](https://www.auctria.com/features/) success can be raised with mobile bidding utilization. Mobile bidding’s chief benefits:\n\n- makes it easier for bidders to view the catalog from their device\n- makes it easier to scan the auction catalog by category, and personal bidding status\n- mobile bidders receive instant outbid notifications with a quick click to re-bid\nThe quicker a bidder can find the items they want to bid on, the faster the auction income can rise. The quicker a bidder realizes they have been outbid, the sooner they can rebid. Faster bidding means fundraising soars.\n\n\n## 6. Frequently asked questions about mobile bidding\n\nMobile bidding from anywhere opens the auction door to anyone with internet access. Mobile bidding opens the bidder pool to a much wider audience, however here are **two most frequently asked questions regarding mobile bidding:**\n\n**What if a bidder does not want to use mobile bidding?** \nKiosk bidding for those that don’t want to mobile bid. For bidders that choose not to download the app on their personal device during a mobile bidding auction, Auctria does have a kiosk mode. A kiosk mode website will function essentially the same as the auction website. This allows a bidder to walk up to the device, browse the items and place their bids quickly. When the bidder clicks on an item in the catalog (and online bidding is open for the item) a form prompts for a bidder# and amount. No need to sign in, just enter the bidder# and amount and click on Bid. If there is an email address associated with the bidder, they will still be notified by email when they are outbid, and if text messaging is enabled and a phone# is available for the bidder, they will get a text message too.\n\n**What is the right venue to use mobile bidding?**\nAt an in-person event, silent auction bid sheets can be replaced with mobile bidding. First, ensure there is wifi or mobile service availability. Benefits and scenarios that make mobile bidding a great match are:\n\n- **Functions with familiar faces.** Functions where it’s the regular crowd, where it’s a bit more social rather than formal presentations, keynote speakers where you would want undivided attention.\n\n- **Functions that are spread out over time or space.** Silent auctions at an event (ie carnival, music, art show) gain lots of attention to auction items. However, many bids are placed but never re-bid because the silent auction is in a static location or over an extended period. The bidders that placed bids at the beginning of the event may not be on location at the close of the event. Utilizing a mobile app will notify bidders that may not be present that they have been outbid; encouraging rebids.\n\n## Further consideration, texting\nOne more bidding piece to consider with mobile bidding and online auctions is text messaging. If you don’t want the bidders distracted with mobile bidding but do want to get just the vital information alerts to pop up on screen, texting may be a good fit. \n\nText-2- register, donate, pay are also great time savers for organizations and bidders. When using text in conjunction with the auction fundraiser it gives the organizer the ability to use mobile  communications for key functions. Allow the mobile devices to do the work so you can focus on the people. \n\n----------------\n\n[Auctria’s](https://www.auctria.com/) mobile bidding helps the bids soar! Bidders can use their personal device and bid with their favorite mobile browser to download the Auctria mobile application which is available for both Apple and Android devices.\n\nAt an in-person auction event, instead of printing bid sheets for every auction item, offer a few ways to access mobile bidding. When QR codes are on the auction item display page. The Auctria app will jump to that item to give quick access to the exact item they want to bid on.\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":2478},{"url":2479},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/85bf4e1bd2d68a316a31d1ce78fdf832eb3f5ecb-600x320.png","2019-05-13T14:00:00.000Z",{"current":2482},"mobilebidding_strategy","Silent auction mobile bids have revolutionized auction processes. Download Auctria’s mobile app and enjoy the many benefits. Read on.","Mobile Bidding for an Auction Fundraiser: Proven Guidelines",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2486,"category":2487,"id":5,"image":2488,"publishOn":2491,"slug":2492,"teaser":2494,"title":2495},"Online Auctions have become the Plan A for event fundraising since March. Going to an online fundraiser offers several benefits over an in-person event that takes the form of a party or gala. The doors are now wide open to a much larger audience with little to no barrier to entry.  Does this really result in higher activity and income? The answer is YES! \nWith savvy marketing virtual events expands the visibility of the cause bringing greater awareness. Photos and videos during the event fundraiser help viewers make an emotional connection to the cause. It is that initial pledge, bid, or donation that now connects the donor to the charity. In business terms, you may hear the term ‘customer acquisition’, in this scenario virtual events expand the ‘benefactor acquisition’. \nProfessional auctioneer Patrick Siver, BAS has seen increased participation and even more importantly increased incomes with online auction fundraisers since March. Here he shares his observations from the virtual fundraising event journey. \n\n## Pivoting in Days\nI was involved in my first virtual fundraising event on March 11, 2020…two days prior to our Governor locking down our state of Oregon. I was told by the client we were making the move from a paddle raising breakfast event to livestreaming on YouTube live on March 9…literally less than 48 hours in advance of their primary source of funds to operate their non-profit. **By 8:30 am on the 11th we had successfully raised $92,000 of the $97,000 we had raised the previous year. Seven days later we had surpassed the previous year total.**\n\n## Converting in Weeks\nSince we ripped the band aid off our traditional gathering format back in March, I have been impressed with how the community of professional benefit auctioneers has joined forces with benefit auction software and audio visual companies to help our non-profit clients navigate this new environment. At times it has felt like we are attaching the wings to the plane at 30,000 feet. However, the overwhelming positive results for our clients has been very rewarding. These dollars allow our clients to continue positively impacting the communities where we live and work.\n\nIn October we executed a new virtual event to replace a gathering event for a longtime client. The client is a small organization providing health, nutrition, and education services to over 500 children in Makindu, Kenya. In the past, the gathering event was relatively small with roughly 80 attendees in their hometown of Eugene, Oregon.\n\nAfter experiencing several virtual events in the spring, I reached out to the Executive Director to discuss her Fall event. She expressed concern over not having the resources to produce the traditional event based on the impact of the pandemic not only here in the U.S. but also in Makindu. I shared with her the success we had been having with virtual events and she trusted me to move forward. We immediately gathered our team including The AV Department and Auctria.\n\nWe had an extremely successful event generating **over 28% more in net proceeds…and the number continues to grow daily** as folks continue to give through the Auctria site with the livestream replaying on the landing page.\n\n## Broadening the Audience\nAudience demographics from last year were remarkable. We normally suggest the potential for audience growth is exponential with a virtual event and the actual results are determined by the non-profit’s effort in this area. Well, this organization saw the power firsthand!\nIn 2019, we had 70 registered bidders attend the event in-person. Each of these bidders resided in the state of Oregon. Last week we had 130 registered bidders. This is a nice 86% increase in participants.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/13561ae50221f4fdc0ea49851d85fc6516c9722e-1280x720.png)\n\nInterestingly only 47 of these bidders were from Oregon. The balance of 83 bidders hailed from 25 different states! This is terrific news for this organization as they look to grow their donor base. **Almost doubled the bidding audience by going forward with a virtual event.**\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/08425695b6cfad753844d99b3b2b9823085adf73-961x691.png)\n\n[For a full breakdown here is Patrick sharing the story.](https://youtu.be/fz1MUOkmIKY)\n\nThe Video\nCamp Lutherwood is a prime example of what happens with a virtual event has an even wider audience. They were unsure how the bidding would proceed regarding their top-tier item, a Private Winemakers Dinner. The item sold for a final bid of $17k and when they offered a second dinner it again sold for the same amount! [Click here to see the exciting bidding.](https://youtu.be/rVhYfJuak38?t=3375)\n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/60e5754b796dd2daec380ccec17e4b45a774a6d2-400x224.png)](https://youtu.be/rVhYfJuak38?t=3395)\n\n## Transforming for the Future\nIn the past when in-person events ended after a few hours of fun and games so did the fundraising for that cycle. With virtual events, the doors never close. Typically the events are recorded and posted publicly for playback. In the same location is a quick access donation button for online giving. \n\nIt may take some time for events to come back to full occupancy and chances are it will be in step-up formation. Hybrid events will be the precursor and maybe permanent fixture to event fundraising. The newfound freedoms and unleashed creativity with the virtual activity will make it even more exciting. \n\n## 2021 Event Fundraising\n2020 has given us the foundation and opportunity to evolve. The next iteration in this journey as we design will be “hybrid” events. [A 2020 review and 2021 look forward with Patrick Siver & Anca Trifan Virtual Event video](https://youtu.be/23AIOnmGvRA) \n\n## Hybrid Comes to Life!\nSince our first virtual event we produced in March 2020, we have been brainstorming and developing the next evolution of fundraising events...and the concensus was a blend of the best elements of virtual and gathering. We created a model where the base is a virtual event and we would add a studio audience as society would allow. Well, May 19th this vision became a reality!\n\ngEvents was engaged by the YWCA of Greater Portland to produce their first virtual fundraising event. Working together with YWCA staff, The AV Department, Auctria, Stoller Family Estate & Winery and colleague auctioneer JillMarie Wiles, we were able to hit it out of the park and exceed their goal by 35%!\n\n\n[Watch the live fundraising](https://vimeo.com/552952404) paddle raise starting at 22:40 mark and the live auction at 42:33 mark.\n\n[![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/d87e5d4fbed8bc5a09c4e5244620f9557721cd1a-391x249.png)](https://vimeo.com/552952404)\n\n---------------------------\nSpecial thanks to [Patrick Siver of gEvents](http://www.geventsllc.com/) for sharing his experience. For his expert advice gEvents is available to help you and your organization capitalize on these new opportunities in the virtual fundraising world. Drop Patrick a line at [patrick@geventsllc.com](mailto:patrick@geventsllc.com)\n \n\n\n",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":2489},{"url":2490},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/54c69e1cfbb0cb4f14e825de6f306a28471d4cad-600x320.png","2021-08-26T16:00:00.000Z",{"current":2493},"online-auctions-extend-benefactor-reach-and-income","Does this really result in higher activity and income? The answer is YES! ","Online and Hybrid Auctions Extend Benefactor Reach & Income",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2497,"category":2498,"id":5,"image":2499,"publishOn":2502,"slug":2503,"teaser":2505,"title":2506},"Scramble for Sight is an annual golf tournament, dinner and auction that has been running annually for twenty years.  Scott Burt & Sherri Kroonenberg have been chairing the event since it’s inception. In that time the money raised has gone directly into research to fight blindness. Scott is happy to proclaim “We are winning”. The very first genetic treatment approved by the FDA was because of research funded by the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Vision can be restored with one injection in each eye for patients suffering blindness due to a particular gene mutation.  The fight is not over though, there are still many retinal degenerative diseases that still need to be cured.  \n\nThe Scramble for Sight golf tournament is a one-day event starting with golfer registration, exciting tournament activities on the course then coming together for an open air dinner, silent & live auction. In 20 years the event has raised over two million dollars and even more exciting the  millions has been used to fund research, treatments and cures for blindness.\n\nWith all this fundraising success Scott’s best tip for event fundraising is short on explanation but long on implementation. **Nurture ALL participants in the golf tournament, doing so will multiply the efforts and amplify the message.**\n\n## Golfers Beget Golfers\nStart with a great venue, fun agenda, good food and top it off with a beautiful open-air dinner auction with meaningful presentation.  Golfers and event goers that joined the event are most likely to return next year if: \n 1. It’s fun\n 2. You invite them with plenty of lead time\n\nMake the event fun with a spectacular location. Scramble for Sight has chosen Arrowhead Golf Club for its attraction and superior views and hospitality. This course has provided Scramble for Sight the ability to attract and retain golfers year over year. The tournament includes day-long activities with kegs along the course, longest drive contents, hole-in-one contest and the popular golf ball cannon shot.\n\n![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/41a93412ad2ff096389d45a365a9f2ff4876fa44-1800x1015.jpg?w=500&h=200&fit=crop&q=85)\n\n## Golfers Beget Sponsors\nTwo notes on sponsorships, the Scramble for Sight succeeds by tapping into marketing, not philanthropy, budgets.  As such, having key sponsors and high-ranking participants makes it easier to then get follow-on sponsors that want to market to and with that audience.  This is key.  \n\nSponsorship for an event is just the beginning. Nurture the relationship for long term commitment and future donation considerations.\n\n## Sponsors Beget Sponsors\nIt’s not just about getting the sponsor to write a check, it’s about creating a true partnership where sponsors feel as if they are getting something out of the investment. Tell the sponsor about the potential audience and how the sponsor will be recognized. Sponsors that feel they are well treated will be repeat sponsors and tell others! \n\nA marquee sponsor can provide so much more than just funding. A local or national recognized name bring an additional level of goodwill. It’s okay to ask the elite sponsors for help in helping network with other potential sponsors. When one business sees another in the spotlight, helping a great cause year after year this begets attention and additional sponsors.  \n\n[Watch this short, but compelling video on the SFS event!](https://vimeo.com/320941021)\n\n----------------------\nAbout Foundation Fighting Blindness\nThe urgent mission of the Foundation Fighting Blindness is to drive the research that will provide preventions, treatments and cures for people affected by retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, Usher syndrome and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases. The Foundation is a beacon for those affected by these blinding diseases. \n\nThe Foundation Fighting Blindness was established in 1971 by a passionate group of individuals driven to find treatments and cures for blinding retinal diseases that were affecting themselves or loved ones. At the time, very little was known about these devastating retinal degenerative diseases that lead to blindness.\nToday, the Foundation is the world’s leading private source for inherited retinal disease research funding. The Foundation is committed to driving research until the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases is eradicated.\n\nConnect with [Foundation Fighting Blindness.](https://www.fightingblindness.org/research)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":2500},{"url":2501},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/cf28ed9cfc34b0c633d3f6ad24c9ce8b9c8d445f-600x320.png","2020-02-27T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":2504},"nurture-fundraising-activity-year-round","Nurture ALL participants in the golf tournament, doing so will multiply the efforts and amplify the message.","Nurture Fundraising Activity Year Round",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2508,"category":2509,"id":5,"image":2510,"publishOn":2513,"slug":2514,"teaser":2516,"title":2517},"Recruiting Volunteers to Help with Auction Fundraising\n\n![recruiting volunteer tips auctria colors600x.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/recruiting-volunteer-tips-auctria-colors600x.jpg)\n\n## Takes a team, however it's worth it\n\nRunning an auction requires lots of effort but it is rewarding to serve the cause.  Doing so with a nice group of dedicated volunteers make the job socially rewarding too.  Asking volunteers to help does take some skill and having a volunteer coordinator can be beneficial.  Specific expectations with friendly open communication makes the team inclusive and impassions others to help.  An efficient and productive auction event depends on the entire volunteer group.\n\nA simple [volunteer request form](https://auctria.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/FindAndRetainVolunteers.pdf) helps get the conversation started.  First, thank the person for  offering to volunteer. Pledge to respect their time.  A simple form helps the volunteer tell a little bit about themselves to we can best match you to volunteer opportunities within our organization.\n\n### Auctria helps volunteers say YES.\nUsing [Auctria](http://www.auctria.com/CAO/Content/Features) program eases the stress on volunteers.  Share the work online.  Auctria is easy to use making it quick to teach volunteers.   When a potential volunteers sees that the auction committee is well organized it much easier to say YES, I’ll help!.  Volunteers feel their contributions of time will be well spent when duties are clearly defined and coordinated.\n\nAuctria is the online tool that organizes ALL the auction activities.  Throughout the entire process, and from year to year, Auctria houses all fundraising auction data and makes volunteering easy.  Planning the auction with [checklists and timelines](http://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/auction_timeline_checklist) keep everyone on the same page yet.  \n\n### Match the person to a job\n\nHow do you know what a volunteer likes to do?  Ask.  Guaranteed that whatever they are good at, the auction team can use their expertise.  \n\nLots of people like to volunteer and finding the right fit is imperative to the volunteer feeling comfortable and giving of their time.  For instance if a person loves to create don’t ask them to count money or make copies.  DO offer them creative jobs such as writing letters, making posters or taking photos.  Alternately DO offer the detail oriented jobs to those that enjoy organizing.  \n\n### Continue to recruit\n\nContinue to recruit volunteers throughout the process.  Keep in mind schedules change and different jobs are needed throughout the development of the event.  This gives lots of new opportunities to match motives to the volunteer. \n\n## Be open to new people and new ideas\n\nSuccessful auction Chairpersons know in order to get different results is to build upon past success and tweak or retool the parts that need improvement.  A fresh set of eyes is great way to get new solutions.\n\n### Be realistic about workload and time commitments\nBe realistic about the workload.  Offer several tasks and allow the volunteer to choose one or many.\n\n### Be Honest\nBe open and honest about how much time the job at hand will take.  If this is unknown that’s ok, just say so.  If the volunteer is an expert in that area advise on the job that needs to take place that’s even better.  \n\n### Communicate \nAgree on a roadmap and timelines for tasks.  Keep communication lines open and friendly.  \n\n### Recognition for retention\nRecognize and [thank volunteers](http://www.auctria.com/Web/Articles/thank_you_everyone) throughout the process.  Positive feedback and a simple thank you go a long way in keeping volunteers engaged.  \n\n## Bring a friend\nAlways ask volunteers to bring along a friend.  It doubles the volunteer count and with a friend jobs go quicker with a higher level of satisfaction.  Higher satisfaction should equate to return volunteerism.  \n\n### Be organized and specific on volunteer jobs\n**YES, I will help.**  This is the exact response the committee chairperson wants to hear.  Be organized, know exactly what needs to be done.  Be specific on tasks that need to be accomplished BUT allow the volunteer to do have some say on how a job is accomplished.  Do suggest past successes and make solid recommendations to give the volunteer all the information and tools for the most positive outcome.  \n\n### Be nice\nBeing friendly and nice goes a long way in encouraging volunteers to join the cause.  It also goes a long way to encourage volunteers to increase their participation level.  \nAlways ask, don’t tell.  Engage the volunteer on a personal level before asking for more time and effort.  **The donation of time should always valued.**",{"id":8,"title":9},{"asset":2511},{"url":2512},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/0dc25929b9051028d92e00a230dda5f3877ef28a-600x320.jpg","2016-02-10T17:00:00.000Z",{"current":2515},"recuiting_volunteers","Hint: be nice and match the volunteer to the job, not the job to the volunteer","Finding & Keeping Volunteers",{"attachments":5,"authors":5,"body":2519,"category":2520,"id":5,"image":2521,"publishOn":2524,"slug":2525,"teaser":2527,"title":2528},"Find a Fundraising Formula\nCase Study with Little Black Dress Inc.\n\n\nUsing the best model and creating a formula can keep the fundraiser on track.  Little Black Dress Party (LBDP) is a not for profit located in Washington state.  They focus on creating community awareness by bringing women together for unique and fun fundraising events. These events benefit local charities that focus on women, children, and families. Partnering with a new charity every year allows LBDP to help lots of different groups.\n\nThe signature Little Black Dress Party aspires to provide an opportunity for women to get out, get dressed up and have fun, while at the same time increasing their awareness of local charities, thus inspiring them to get involved.”\n\n\nLittle Black Dress Party has this down to a simple formula.  \n\n![lbdp formula.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/lbdp-formula.jpg)\n\n# Name and Images are Consistent\nLittle Black Dress Party instantly conjures up images of party and fun.  LBDP merges that with with their mission of giving back to the community.  Branding the party as Little Black Dress Party really creates a mental image that is easy to remember and adored.  Recently they did swap out black for blue to celebrate the bachelors in blue uniform, the imagery still remains the same.   \n\nConsistency is key.  Doing the party as little black dress party past attendees as well as future potential attendees can understand in one illustration what to expect.\n\n# Strategic Partnering\n\n## Location\nEvent location does change annually to keep the interest level up and diversified.  Changing locations means each venue is fresh.  Fresh for new food and fresh for marketing and promotion.  When LBDP chooses a location for their event location it’s a with the understanding that both will have a positive impact on each other.  The locale is carefully chosen for the dining function but ALSO because of their willingness to really partner.  When the restaurant helps market and celebrate the charity the message get spread a little wider each year.\n\n## Charity\nChoosing a new charity each year is actually part of the consistency.  LBDP chooses a charity that gives back to a local group that helps women and children.  This to chosen wisely for both their mission and partnering ability.  A charity that has a clear mission and vision that LBDP can share stories and images with their attendees greatly increases the success factors.  Success meaning attendees as well as donations.  \n\n## Donations\nAlthough Little Black Dress party is an annual event Kelly is always on hunting for donations and partners.  Her philosophy of “Give before you ask” has yielded immediate and long term relationships.  She is always networking and has found opportunities at the local chamber of commerce leading to warm introductions.  Kelly prefer to meet and buy someone a cup of coffee to share the LBDP story, THEN she asks for support.  Support can mean a donation, attending the event or helping spread the message\n\n![kelly quote.jpg](http://cms-assets.auctria.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/kelly-quote.jpg)\n\n## Being Strategic\nLBDP has figured out when to say yes and when to say no.  Yes is when both parties can help each other in reaching and exceeding goals.  For instance they did say yes to adding a fashions how to last year’s event.  It helped the fashion group promote their goods and expand name recognition.  It helped LBDP have another reason for ladies to attend.  Mutual promotion of the fashion show AND LBDP by both parties was mutually beneficial.  They were both synchronized in getting the word out and ultimately reaching the end goal of helping the charity.  \n\n# Uniformed Bachelors for Auction \n\nLBDP really puts the LIVE in Live Auction items.  The formula for success continues with the live auction offerings.\n\nThis was our first year going BLUE. The marquee auction items at the for 2017 Little Black Dress Party are the bachelors.  Yes, you heard that right the bachelors. Their men in uniform are Police Officers, SWAT Team Members, Army Sergeants and more. THey add a creative twist to the standard bid for bachelor date night.  Their men in BLUE will be up for silent auction to bid on a guy for handyman work, self-defense training, or a 5K race buddy.  \n\nAll year long LBDP is recruiting and taking applications for the men.  They look for uniformed men that like to make a difference and give back to the community.   Current, past or retired Fireman, Police Officer, Law Enforcement or Military are highly sought after and profitable.  LBDP makes this easy with a simple form on their website.  The silent auction is rounded out with additional goods and services at varying price points and starting bids along with a raise the paddle for the charity. \n\n# Images and Video Promotion\n\nFacebook is an important part of the LBDP formula.  The ability to connect with past donors and future supporters in-between annual events is precious.  Photos of how the proceeds from the past event shows transparency for how the funds were dispersed.\n\nPromoting the event for pre-registration was key to increasing reach for LBDP.  Using social as that tool helped for early promotion and early registration and wider spread recognition.  \n\nHyping up the upcoming auction via facebook video is fun yet strategic.  Because of the Facebook algorithms videos tend to show more prominently on feeds.  Videos for LBDP have many more views than a simple text only post.  Posting a video on Facebook for the event was not haphazard.  An outline was planned to be sure that all the pertinent information was gathered and later facilitated.To make their video interesting they included several personalities and visuals.  The chairperson and auctioneer lent the energy to the video while a few of the most sought after auction items were exhibited.  A couple practices,  a few takes,  and some minor editing then the video was ready to post.  \n\n[Facebook Video Guide from Auctria](https://www.auctria.com/Web/News/fb_video_instructions)\n\nThis past year LBDP was able to secure their favorite auctioneer.  Luckily he was local and able to help create the Facebook video this year.  A quick glimpse into the live auction the activity and surely encouraged more ladies to attend.  \n\n**So what is your fundraising formula?**\n\n-----------------------\nSpecial thanks to Kelly Fennelly founder of Little Black Dress Party Inc. in Washington for taking the time to share their fundraising story.  \n\nIn the past LBDP Inc, a 501(c)3  has donated to Ladybug House, Operation Sack Lunch, Sophia’s Way, NorthWest Harvest.  This year LBDP is supporting Washington State C.O.P.S charity.\n\nLBDP is  looking to expand to other major cities in the future and follow us on social media for updates but also include my contact information if anyone has questions. What do you think? LBDP is looking to expand in major cities.  Follow Little Black Dress Party on social media for updates for reach out to [Kelly on email.](http://thelittleblackdressparty.org/contact-us/)  \n\nFollow [LBDP on Faceook.](https://www.facebook.com/thelittleblackdressparty/)",{"id":124,"title":125},{"asset":2522},{"url":2523},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/n5tmywf4/production/1770da4ec92311c119d92e9241c21574fe7fdf34-600x320.jpg","2017-11-28T15:00:00.000Z",{"current":2526},"story_fundraisingformula_lbdp","Find a formula and stick to it!  Here is how Little Black Dress Party does it.","Auction Fundraising Formula",1775509523460]