| Imagine the scenario ... | | | | this type of gala, the primary goal is to honor the hero - |
| You've agreed to chair the Gala Committee for a | | | | not raise cash. The auction takes second billing, and |
| charity in your hometown. You're excited because you | | | | that is OK. I will suggest appropriate ideas in relation to |
| have a lot of new ideas, but you also feel | | | | the goal of the event. |
| overwhelmed. You've heard that many benefit | | | | So what are the motives for hosting a benefit auction? |
| auctioneers are booked months in advance, so you've | | | | Here are some of the (paraphrased) reasons I have |
| decided to call a few today to get an idea of their | | | | heard: |
| styles. | | | | Pressure from a donor |
| Stop. Don't pick up the phone until you're clear about | | | | "We had one exceptionally nice item donated this year, |
| one point. You'll save yourself and the auctioneer a lot | | | | and the donor refuses to let it be sold in a silent auction |
| of time if you answer this question first. | | | | so we need to have a live auction." |
| What is primary reason this auction is being held? | | | | Honor a local hero |
| When an organization calls me to inquire about | | | | "It is is important for us to honor our Volunteer of the |
| services, I have a series of questions I ask to better | | | | Year, so we're going to have 90 minutes of speeches |
| understand the event. If the person calling me is | | | | honoring him, and then the live auction will follow at |
| knowledgeable about past fundraisers, our talk takes | | | | 10:30 PM." (Gosh, get me out of that room!) |
| around 40 minutes. One question I ask is why the | | | | Tradition |
| group is conducting this event. | | | | "This is a social function. Any money raised is |
| "To raise money for XYZ," is the common response, | | | | secondary. Our guests have donated a lot of money |
| but a deeper dive into that response will reveal other | | | | throughout the course of the year, so we don't want |
| reasons as to why an auction is being held. As an | | | | to appear to pull it out of them on stage." |
| auctioneer, I know it's important to understand why the | | | | Friendly function |
| fundraiser is taking place because it will determine how | | | | "Auctions are fun, and we thought this would be a |
| I work with my client. | | | | good way to raise a little money, meet others in our |
| If the goal is first and foremost to raise $100,000, then | | | | church, and have some entertainment." |
| a group is usually focused on implementing | | | | Image |
| step-by-step, time-tested strategies to ensure they | | | | "Everybody in town attends this event. An auction has |
| achieve their goal. They will re-arrange the schedule, | | | | always been part of our evening so we always have |
| change the menu, and refuse to let anyone of | | | | it, but people will come whether there is a benefit |
| importance on stage if they feel it detracts from raising | | | | auction or not." |
| that $100,000. | | | | Being honest with your auctioneer as to the primary |
| But if the goal is to honor a local hero, the auction | | | | goal of your gala will go a long way in building your |
| proceeds are secondary. At that point, I know that if I | | | | relationship. Your auctioneer will be able to suggest |
| suggest anything which might be perceived to conflict | | | | ideas appropriate to your gala and gracefully |
| with the hero ceremony, I will lose that discussion! At | | | | complement your mission. |