Laying the Foundation for Future Fundraising Success

featuring Mekenzie from Alaska Premier Auctions

Transcript

1. Laying the Foundation for Future Fundraising Success
2. Today’s guest Mekenzie Pettitt is a Benefit Fundraising Auction Specialist with Alaska Premier Auctions and Appraisals, where she combines energy, expertise, and heart to help non-profits amplify their impact. Since joining the team nearly three years ago, Mekenzie has helped raise over $4.5 million for more than 40 local Alaska organizations—all in just the past year. A data-driven powerhouse, Mekenzie takes the heavy lift off her clients’ shoulders by managing the backend logistics—especially data entry and day of event analytics—so they can stay focused on what matters most: building strong donor relationships. With a deep love for Alaska’s tight-knit communities, she brings a marketing-driven background and a strategic approach to fundraising—seamlessly blending auctions and fundraising to help bring out the mission-focused storytelling tailored to the unique needs of the Alaskan organizations she serves. Mekenzie Pettitt Benefit Auction Specialist
3. Auctria | Since 2011 Organizations have raised over $1 billion dollars “Auctria’s mission is to empower nonprofit organizations by providing you with an affordable, easy to use powerful tool for event fundraising” Laurie Hochman Director of Growth and Strategy, Auctria
4. Auctria | Since 2011 Organizations have raised over $1 billion dollars “Auctria’s mission is to empower nonprofit organizations by providing them with an affordable, easy to use powerful tool for event fundraising”
5. 💙 BLUE + ❤ RED = 💜 PURPLE • Tickets • Event Revenue Streams • Paid services v volunteers • Max out the software • Good data in, good data out • Feedback • Make it memorable Agenda
6. BLUE is the logistics - planning and executing the strategies RED is the passion - your mission and attendee engagement PURPLE is the blended harmony and making your mission shine while raising the most money 💙 BLUE + ❤ RED = 💜 PURPLE
7. Tickets BLUE - LOGISTICS • Pricing - High • Quantity • Pre-sale tickets • Venue Selection RED - PASSION • Pricing - Low • Naming Tickets • Incentives • Selling tickets at the door 💙 ❤
8. Tickets 💜 PURPLE TIP • Cover costs in ticket sales - sweet spot for cost • Pre-selling tickets for budget planning • Open sponsorships BEFORE individual tickets are available • Pre-registration of guest info
9. Admission Tickets - AWCC • Tickets/Sponsorships went out to their database of current supporters first before opening to the public • Costs covered by ticket price • Sponsorships add value while covering costs 💜
10. Title Sponsor 💜
11. Auctria Sponsorships 💚
12. Auctria Sponsorship Dashboard 💚
13. BLUE - LOGISTICS • Knowing what exists • Setting up • Selling • Implementing RED - PASSION • Prize match for the right price point • Time consideration • Worry it will derail from the mission 💙 ❤ Event Revenue Streams, Gamify
14. Event and Auction Revenue Streams, Gamify PURPLE TIP • Matching the prize + audience • Price points for every audience to say YES • Seller v data entry 💜
15. Event and Auction Revenue Streams, Gamify • Wine Glass Raffle – one (1) for $75.00 or two (2) for $125.00. Be entered to win a VIP Tour with Alaska Zoo Director of Education, Rich Capitan. This behind-the-scenes tour for four (4) guests includes special experiences with key species, including Polar Bear and Amur Tiger. Value at $1,000.00 VIP Tour for Four (4) with Education Director, Rich Capitan • Table Auctioneer – The prize is an extra set of beads for everyone at the table who bids the highest amount for their centerpiece. (Cost - Bidders decide) • Paddle Drop – $100.00 Final Donation enters you to win: Private Group Encounter with Any Animal of Choice for up to eight people – FMV $1000 • Antler and Tail Feathers – One (1) for $25.00 or Five (5) for $100 – Prize is a set of tickets to the remaining 21+ events for the rest of the 2025 year: 7/17 – Zoo Brew, 8/2 – Clue at the Zoo, 9/13 – Birds, Bees & Wine, 12/5 Ullr fest • Red Fox Naming Rights Raffle – $100 per ticket for 100 tickets. 💜
16. Event and Auction Revenue Streams, Gamify Heads Tails Heads tails video 💜
17. Event and Auction Revenue Streams, Gamify Dessert Dash 💜
18. Auctria Dessert Dash 💚
19. BLUE TIPS • Procurement deadlines • Loading information • Starting bids and bid increments items RED TIPS • Getting the bidder hooked with a good deal • Falling in love with the item they are bidding on • Paper bid sheets for the in person FOMO 💙 ❤ Silent and Online Auction
20. Event and Auction Revenue Streams, Gamify Bid Buddies • Paper v online photos, example events + RESULTS (no reserves) • Start everything at $5 • Info and bidder gathering, now you know who is looking and then post event nurture
21. Auctria Silent and Online Auction 💚
22. Auctria Online Auction BIdding 💚
23. Auctria Silent 💚
24. BLUE TIPS • Using a volunteer hub • Training • Paid services- trained and professional RED TIPS • Know the community personally • Volunteers just want to help 💙 ❤ Paid Services & Volunteers
25. Paid Services & Volunteers PURPLE TIP • Using the right volunteer in the right place • Using staff- board members, EDs and high value volunteers are the front face 💜
26. BLUE TIPS • Keeping the cost down $ • Keeping the cost down in time • Learn and use • What it capable of? RED TIPS • Think about what you know vs the gain in changing • Reduce the wait lines 💙 ❤ Max out the Software
27. PURPLE TIP • Focus on your strengths & hire out your weaknesses • Full service event and auction team • Levels of service vary 💜 Max out the Software
28. Good data in, Good data out PURPLE TIP • Thank and acknowledge Sponsors AND Donors via software & personal touch • SO important to set-up so the guests can buy and register easily • Registration (1 min per person), NOW Self check in → 30 seconds 💜
29. Auctria Software - Self Check-in For the self- starters • Admin -Trigger email or text • Guest - Add a credit card Once they are checked in they will receive an email and/or text confirmation and if necessary, an access code, paddle number, table number 💚
30. Auctria Software - Check-in at event 💚
31. Auctria Software - Check-in at event 💚
32. Auctria Software - Buy before You Arrive, Sell in the Room 💚
33. Max out the software 💚 Getting your data out of Auctria
34. Good data in, Good data out 💜
35. Make it Memorable PURPLE TIP • Not just another banquet dinner • Themes w/or without black tie • Professional photos (sell out the next event) FOMO 💜
36. Make it Memorable PURPLE TIP • Tie in the gamification- to the mission ◦ Eagle or egg - Wildlife Conservation Center (mystery box) ◦ Mahjong tiles - 10 Chefs (heads/tails) ◦ Pick-a-brick - Paving our Future (mystery box) ◦ Unclaimed Baggage - Equipping World Changers (mystery boxes • Instead of the paddle drop 💜
37. @auctria Email: hello@auctria.com FB Group: Auction Team Talk
38. Stay in touch with @alaska-premier-auctions-and-appraisals Email: info@AlaskaPremierAuctions.com Phone: 907-570-7050 @AlaskaPremierAuctions