Should I use Mobile Bidding for the Fund a Need?

As mobile bidding becomes more an more popular at fundraising auction events we tend to get this question quite frequently: "Should we use mobile bidding for the fund a need?"  The simple answer is NO!

While mobile bidding is a spectacular way to maximize funds in your silent auction, it just does not perform well with a fund a need (aka: paddle raiser, fund a cause, etc.).  I want to reiterate that I am specifically writing about the fund a need aspect in regards to mobile bidding.

Here are the top three reasons why mobile bidding is not effective for your fund a need:

1.  People give to people and by having everyone looking at their phone screens the personal feeling is taken
out of the giving process and it becomes much less emotional.

2.  A fund a need is driven by a "community" effort to come together and fund a specific need of the organization.  The sense of community is taken out of the equation by everyone focused more on finding the correct button to push rather that engaging and cheering on each other to accomplish that goal.

3.  Accountability.  Mobile bidding is much more discreet and it allows people that would otherwise give a larger amount to "cheat" a bit and give less.  People are simply not as inclined to give big in such an impersonal way with no recognition.

Mobile bidding is a fantastic tool for the silent auction but please let your audience hold their bid paddles up high and show you what they can do when the spirit of giving is out in the open and they are united in funding that specific need.


Please visit EliteFundraisingAuctions.com to find out how we can take your fundraising event to the next level!


Written by Mike Grigg, AARE, BAS of Elite Auctions and Fundraising Services

Should you have a Live Auction at your charity auction event?

Wondering if a live auction at your next fundraising auction event makes sense?  Well, the simple answer is YES!!!  Live auctions are not only huge money-makers but they provide a high energy excitement that is matched by nothing else.  There are some critical elements to having a successful live auction at your nonprofit or school fundraiser.  I have outlined the most important ones below.

1. Hire a professional fundraising auctioneer.  DO NOT use a volunteer or inexperienced auctioneer here; your results will be much more dismal and your audience will feel like they are having their teeth pulled during the auction.

2. Fill your audience with people that have the means to support your cause.  You have to have money in the room to have a great revenue outcome.

3. Procure desirable, higher dollar items to sell.  Find out what your audience is interested in and the price range they can afford.

4. Don't have too many items in your live auction.  A good rule of thumb is to not exceed 30-45 minutes for your live auction.  It takes me about 3 minutes per item so about 8-12 live auction items is perfect.

Live auctions at your fundraising auction event will be one of your biggest revenue generators.  Whether you have three items or twelve you should be doing one. 

Visit EliteFundraisingAuctions.com today to find out more about our services and how we can help you achieve your goals!


Written by Mike Grigg, AARE, BAS of Elite Auctions and Fundraising Services.

7 Things You Should Know About Conducting a Successful Fund a Need or Special Appeal at Your Fundraising Event

1.  What is a Fund a Need or Special Appeal?

A Fund a Need (aka: Special Appeal, The Ask, Cash Ask, Fund a Mission, etc.) is the single most important fundraising technique at your benefit event, whether you do silent and live auctions or not.  The fund a need is a completely different fundraising aspect than your silent auction, live auction or other revenue enhancers.  It allows your donors to give a cash amount at a specific level to help fund a specific need or needs that your nonprofit or school has.


2.  What should the fund a need benefit?

This is your opportunity to ask your donors to give at specific levels to fund your Nonprofit's biggest need for the upcoming year.  For example: If you are a school and need to purchase iPads for the 6th graders, this would be a perfect fit for fund a need.

3.  How should we determine the different levels for our donors to give?

We at Elite Auctions and Fundraising Services believe that you should do no more than six levels beginning high and working to low.  The first high level should be determined prior to the fundraising event with one of your larger donors so that there are no crickets in the room when your professional fundraising auctioneer begins the ask.  Once you have established your high level, work with your professional auctioneer to determine how many and which levels should follow.


4.  When should you conduct a fund a need?

The fund a need should be done at every single fundraising event that you conduct where you will have an opportunity to be in front of your donors in a sit-down environment.  The beauty of a fund a need is that you do not have to do any other fundraising elements, and you do not have to procure items to conduct one successfully.  It is simply your donors showing their support of your cause.


5.  Who should conduct the fund a need?

A fund a need must be conducted by a professional benefit auctioneer, preferably by a designated Benefit Auctioneer Specialist (BAS) to get the most desirable results.  There is a definite formula for success here and a professional will more than pay for themselves!


6.  Should we use mobile devices or electronic giving for our fund a need?

The simple answer is NO!  The success of a fund a need depends largely on emotion and a group of people giving together to fund a great cause.  Using mobile devices to give takes out almost all of the emotion and generally produces mediocre results compared to a traditional appeal using a qualified professional charity auctioneer.


7.  Why is the fund a need important?

The fund a need is important for many reasons.  The top two reasons are that it raises funds that would otherwise "walk out" of your event and it enables you to determine who your biggest supporters are.  Knowing who your biggest supporters are is essential to having fundraising success in the future, but that's an entirely different blog for another time.


Written by Mike Grigg, AARE, BAS of Elite Auctions and Fundraising Services

 

Hiring a Professional Fundraising Auctioneer & Consultant?

What you think you’re paying for: Someone who can call an auction

What you’re actually paying for: Someone who can get on stage and maximize your items’ values while promoting your cause Plus: Provide consulting throughout the year for your event Design and conduct a winning fund a need Answer any questions surrounding your fundraising efforts Provide professionally trained bid assistants Organize a timeline to maximize your event revenue Put your auction items in their most effective order Training on donor development Training on procurement How to set up your venue to maximize returns Auction event marketing techniques Access to several revenue enhancers to increase your event’s bottom line How to run the most successful silent auction Which items you should be obtaining for your audience How to effectively check-in and checkout attendees Committee consultations Volunteer training Access to exclusive auction items Licensed and bonded auctioneers Event follow-up meeting

Still think that hiring a professional auctioneer is expensive?

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR - So if you hire a cheap auctioneer or go with a volunteer, don't be surprised when your results aren't what you wanted!

Please share this and help spread the message so that non-profits and schools can raise the most revenue possible for their great causes.

Written by Mike Grigg, AARE, BAS of Elite Auctions & Fundraising Services

VIDEO: Fundraising Auctioneer works with Ringman

Thought we would share a video from a recent auction where we show the power of a professional ringman in your audience and how it benefits the bottom line.  In this video you will see fundraising auctioneer, Mike Grigg, works with professional ringman, Rick Werner, to drive up the price on a firehouse dinner benefiting Interfaith Community in San Diego County. Visit Elite Auction's Ringman page to find out more about professional ringmen.

Professional Fundraising Auctioneer VS. Professional Auctioneer

So you’re having a fundraising auction event and you need an auctioneer… one of the board members says:  “My uncle is a world champion cattle auctioneer and he is willing to donate his bid calling services.”  The rest of the board says that’s spectacular and your event proceeds with a great cattle auctioneer at the helm.  After the event your guests say things like: “I couldn’t understand the auctioneer, he was speaking so fast” or “I wanted to bid but I couldn’t understand the auctioneer.”  These are very common problems that occurs at fundraising events all the time and are easily preventable. 

Cattle auctioneers and many auto auctioneers have quick chants with minimal filler because their job requires them to sell a ton of items as quickly as possible to “professional” bidders that understand a super fast chant.  The vast majority of fundraising auction attendees have never been to an auction before and will have no idea what a “fast-chanting” auctioneer is saying.  

What happens when a bidder doesn’t understand the auctioneer?  THEY DON’T BID!!  What happens when they don’t bid?  YOUR CHARITY RAISES FAR LESS MONEY!!  You have to ask yourself if it is worth a “free” auctioneer when he or she is raising you significantly less proceeds for your non profit or school.  

Here is an example of a ten item auction that could potentially happen without a professional fundraising auctioneer in control of your live auction:

Item 1:  His and Her Bicycles worth $350 sold for $150 because audience couldn’t understand auctioneer.

Item 2:  Flat screen television worth $1,000 sold for $600 because audience couldn’t understand auctioneer.

Item 3:  Box of wine worth $500 sold for $300 because audience couldn’t understand auctioneer.

Item 4:  Trip to Napa Valley worth $1,500 sold for $900 because audience couldn’t understand auctioneer.

Item 5:  African Safari worth $4,500 sold for $3,000 because audience couldn’t understand auctioneer.

Item 6:  Latin dinner and dance party for 10 worth $2,000 sold for $1,200 because audience couldn’t understand auctioneer.

Item 7:  Nice Men’s watch worth $1,000 sold for $550 because audience couldn’t understand auctioneer.

Item 8:  Puppy worth $900 sold for $600 because audience couldn’t understand auctioneer.

Item 9:  Dinner for two with wine at nice restaurant worth $300 sold for $200 because audience couldn’t understand auctioneer.

Item 10:  Firehouse dinner worth $200 sold for $150 because audience couldn’t understand auctioneer.

In this example the loss was $4,600!!!!  This doesn’t include improperly running the fund a need at all and it has already cost you nearly $5,000.  We have consistently seen results like this and far worse with volunteer auctioneers and auctioneers that don’t specialize in fundraising.   

ARE YOU REALLY GETTING HIS OR HER SERVICES FREE OR ARE YOU SACRIFICING FUNDS RAISED THAT WILL FAR EXCEED WHAT YOU WOULD PAY A PROFESSIONAL FUNDRAISING AUCTIONEER.

1. Experienced fundraising auctioneers know how to interact with the audience and drive the prices of your items to their full potential.  It is a proven fact that experienced auctioneers can easily attain 15%-50% higher for your items.

2. Experienced fundraising auctioneers have a passion for their profession and understand that their performance reflects the quality of their public perception.  Having a volunteer call your auction is like having an accountant work on your car.

3. Experienced fundraising auctioneers understand that the main goal of any event is to raise money, whether it be for a charity, business, or organization.  Auctioneers make giving money fun, emotional and competitive! 

4. Experienced fundraising auctioneers understand that keeping the audience entertained and having fun is the key element to a successful auction event.  According to a National Auctioneers Association survey, FUN is the number one reason why people attend auctions.

5. Experienced fundraising auctioneers have all of the necessary tools to make your event unforgettable.  Good auctioneers are always training and educating themselves about the latest trends in the business.

Written by Mike Grigg, BAS, AARE of Elite Auctions & Fundraising Services (http://www.elitefundraisingauctions.com)