Maximize non-profit charity benefit fundraiser fundraising auction ideas
for groups, schools, PTAs, clubs, churches, associations and organizations
5 Keys to Charity Auction Fundraiser Success
Auctions take a lot of time and commitment to put together. Soliciting items is key to an
exciting and profitable event.
You need a powerful committee to ensure success and
meet revenue goals. It doesn't matter if your committee is a group of professional staff
members, volunteers or a combination of the two. Success follows the same
rules. And the good news is, the rules are easy. Just follow them!
- Good Committee Members
Ask people who have the time and desire to contact potential donors by phone and in person.
Seek friendly, persuasive people who are committed to your
organization.
- Ask People Who Know People
People who are connected in your industry, community and
organization can make amazing things happen. If you don't know them
personally, ask someone in your organization who has a good connection with
them to ask them to help. We help those we like. And we help
those who ask for help.
- Set a revenue
goal
This will help you determine how many auction items and what retail
value they need to have to be successful. You need three to four times the value
of the merchandise to hit your revenue and profit goals.
- Know Your Audience
Of course you must make sure to match your
audience to the items to make sure they'll want to
bid on them! You also want to make sure to keep the values of the items in
the financial budget of attendees.
- Don't Pass Up Opportunities!
A great time to ask for donations
is when you're buying something! After having dinner at a restaurant,
shopping in a store, buying a service. Ask to speak with the manager
or owner. Compliment them. Then tell them briefly about
the cause you're working on and how it will help them (if possible).
Simply ask for a donation. Ask for what you want! If you have
minimum $50 package, ask for a $50 gift certificate, or give them an idea of
what would be a great donation.
Follow these five steps, and
you'll gather lots of great items that will have attendees wanting to come and
HELP YOUR auction event each year.