Secret Sauce of Auction and Event Fundraising Featuring Emily Quinn, aka “Auction Emily”
The Big Picture (Annual Fundraising, Marketing and Communications)
Your Perfect-Fit Event
Guest Experience
The Design in the Details
Getting Creative! Gamify Your Gala
Helping nonprofits execute wildy fun and successful fundraising events and annual campaigns since 2008. Emily Quinn www.AuctionEmily.com Let’s keep in touch!
Agenda: The Secret Sauce of Event and Auction Fundraising 1. The Big Picture (Annual Fundraising, Marketing and Communications) 2. Your Perfect-Fit Event 3. Guest Experience 4. The Design in the Details 5. Getting Creative! Gamify Your Gala “Ask the Auctioneer” Open Q+A Let’s keep in touch!
The BIG Picture: Annual Fundraising, Marketing and Communications How does your fundraising event fit in with your other annual fundraising efforts? ● Aligned organizational messaging ● Clear/delineated fundraising messages ● Annual communication timeline Let’s keep in touch!
What Goes Wrong? Let’s keep in touch! Development/Leadership uses “In-Talk.” Ex: “Annual Campaign,” “Kids First,” “The Auction,” “The Willow School Fund.” _____________ But I already gave… Community is unclear on the difference between campaigns. IE: Answer the “why” before the “what.” _____________ UGH–ANOTHER ASK!!? GIVE at least as much as you take. _____________ Didn’t we JUST do this?? Create an annual marketing and communication plan so you have quiet time between campaigns. _____________
Your Perfect-Fit Event What type of event is the “perfect fit” for your organization? ● Know your audience ● Clear communication ● No “one size fits all” ● FUN event vs. FUNdraising event ● “This is for me” experiences Let’s keep in touch!
What Goes Wrong? Let’s keep in touch! Another “Rubber Chicken Dinner” Gala Create the event that YOUR community will say YES to _____________ “I hate going to auctions because they’re not for me.” Don’t call it “the auction,” if that’s not the main focus. Have opportunities for ALL guests to participate. _____________ “I hate going to auctions because I feel burdened to buy stuff I don’t want.” Be sure your fundraising is intentional and customized. _____________ I bought a ticket–why are you asking me for money? Be sure you are communicating that your event IS indeed a fundraiser. _____________
Guest Experience What does success look like? ● Fundraising goals: Basic, Stretch and Dream ● How will we get there? ● Sponsorship/pre-event vs. day-of fundraising ● Participation metrics Let’s keep in touch!
What Goes Wrong? Let’s keep in touch! “We plan to raise $1M–can you help us?” Yep-let’s break down how we will get there! _____________ “Oh shoot–we raised $90k.” Identify success ranges, not targets. _____________ “Our fundraiser is getting expensive–let’s get a cheaper auctioneer.” Every line of your event budget can be a sponsorship opportunity. Don’t cut corners on the things that make you money. _____________ “Only 35% of our families attended.” Know your participation metrics. _____________ “WE EXCEEDED OUR GOAL BY $100K!!!!! Oh no wait….” Your audience doesn’t necessarily need to know what you raised.
The Design in the Details Getting the details right keeps your fundraising FUN! ● Registration ● Bidder numbers ● Table assignments ● Guest comfort ● Ways to participate in the fundraising Let’s keep in touch!
What Goes Wrong? Let’s keep in touch! “We plan to raise $1M–can you help us?” Yep-let’s break down how we will get there! _____________ “Oh shoot–we raised $90k.” Identify success ranges, not targets. _____________ “Our fundraiser is getting expensive–let’s get a cheaper auctioneer.” Every line of your event budget can be a sponsorship opportunity. Don’t cut corners on the things that make you money. _____________ “Only 35% of our families attended.” Know your participation metrics. _____________ Not all activities at your event need to raise money. Engagement activities add value and improve inclusivity.
Getting Creative! Gamify Your Gala ● Many small opportunities ● Premium Drawing ● Paddles in the Basket ● Paddle-Raise Pop Quiz ● Wild Card ● Warm Up Live Auction Item ● Buy-a-Chance / Everyone's a Winner Let’s keep in touch!
What Goes Wrong? Let’s keep in touch! “For our gala we always…” Change is good! But not TOO much change. 😉 _____________ “We have 219 Silent Auction Items, 17 Live Auction Items, a Raffle, a Wine Toss…and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.” Understand the balance of supply and demand at your event. _____________ “We have 9 Live Items. Each of them is valued at least $5k.” High-value items are good but too many can be risky. Work to find other ways to use some of those items. _____________
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