By Dan Campbell, Senior Partner, Fundraising Auctioneer One of the most common questions we hear from those we consult with is ‘how many fundraising elements should we include in our program?” What is too many? Which ones are best for our event? It is not surprising that we see some events that are jam packed [...]
By Scott Jones, Senior Partner, CFRE, CAI, BAS Part I: The Homework All too often, I find myself in conversation with fundraising managers concerning the uncomfortable position of having board members ask their connections for monetary support. We all agree that all fund development is founded on board support and participation. Why is it [...]
By: Erin Williams, Fundraising Auctioneer and Consultant Our team is seeing a trend towards weekday fundraising events. While there are pros and cons to everything, we think there is a very strong argument for why this may be something to consider. Let’s weigh a few out together now! I supported an event in Chicago [...]
The short answer is….BOTH! While most non-profit galas include both a live auction and a paddle raise, some will stick with one or the other. You will see one organization that is uncomfortable asking their donors who support them throughout the year to give again at their gala. Another organization will express concern that [...]
One of the first questions we have when we start consulting with an organization is, “Which should we do first, the live auction or the Fund A Need?” That’s like saying, which came first, the chicken or the egg? Ask any auctioneer and you’ll probably get a different answer on which to do first. [...]
By: Erin Williams, Fundraising Auctioneer & Consultant A client we support in St. Louis had been at the same venue for many years but they had outgrown the space and made the decision to move to a larger venue this year. Change can be scary, especially when your input cost increases. So we decided [...]
By Scott Jones, CFRE, Senior Partner Raising Paddles You might not be aware of this, but tennis and golf are some of the most popular sports in the United States. It also happens they can be some of the best fundraising opportunities for nonprofits. That’s because tournament fundraisers are a great way to appeal to what [...]
Gala season is under way and one of the most popular features of the evening is the live auction. Making sure your live auction results in the best year ever takes work and premeditation. However, following the next 10 steps is your secret to success! Introducing: THE BEST PRACTICES WORKSHEET-10 Best Practices for a Successful [...]
Do you like Parties? I sure do. Parties are fun, and the more the merrier! But what makes a party fun? I usually make sure my “fun” friends are invited. Of course, I will invite everyone in that circle to attend as well, based on my party planning. I might even ask my other guest to [...]
Bueller? Bueller? Looking for your donors and there's no response? Where are our donors when we're looking for them. 6 Ways to Get New Donors 1) Relationship Mapping. Your current donors, board members, and volunteers are your best link to finding new donors. ... If each board member provides ten contacts to the developmental [...]
