Moving into new offices this month has put many tasks on the daily schedule.
Our office phone and fax number has changed, but staff has not updated the web site pages, yet.
To contact me at the new office, call 775-969-3060. Or, just email me at KarinCosta52@peoplepc.com
Let's talk soon.
Karin
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
It's time to be strong
Now, more than ever, it is time to optimize under-utilized techniques to maiximize your benefit auction fund-raising efforts. Most of these techniques, taken from best business practices, can be applied to other fund- and friend-raising you are doing.
Critical for your success are: 1. Focus on your mission; 2. Cultivate and deepen relationships; 3. Ask; 4. Employ the best practices.
Capture your audience by branding your mission and communicating the lofty cause you are funding in every communication, including mailings, newsletters, on the save the date card and invitation, in the auction catalog and bid forms, and throughout the event. Let every guest know exactly where the money is going. Most of all, highlight how you make a difference in the community and show how your Supporters are part of the solution.
People give to causes that they care about, and a well planned auction event opens many opportunities to deepen relationships with guests, sponsors, members, directors, prospective donors, and even volunteers. When you think of the benefit auction as the easiest face to face donor cultivation opportunity of the year, you will ensure that the auction event will instill thoughts of future giving and invite donations and involvement long after the event. (Future Blogs will discuss opportunities for engagement.)
If you don't ask, the answer will always be the same! It's a rough economy and you depend on your donors more than ever, but if you don't tell them what impact you are making with the funds you raise and how critical their continued support is at this time, your clients may disappear. Look at all of your communications and collateral marketing materials: Do you only invite people to give or attend an event, or do you also include information about where previous and future funds will be allocated?
Does your event appear to be an amatuer event? To have a record-breaking fundraising auction in ANY economy, you must act like the best businesses: those that rise and succeed even in a slow economy. How do you sustain yourself? Develop an auction guest list of people who have the means and influential bidding power to increase "Giving bids", demonstrating that they support your cause and are not just bidding for bargains. Offer premiere items that your guests really want: staying focused on your guest donors demonstrates that you sincerely appreciate them and their donations.
Keep the event exciting, active and on-time. For many guests, particularly at school and small community events, choosing your event over another outing, activity or party weighs into their budgeting decision-making. If dinner is late, you've lost your audddience. Speeches, slide shows, brow beating appeals for donations, and events that get off schedule or last late into the evening are unpleasant memories for your guests, causing them to leave early or not return in the future.
Finally, you must employ technology throughout the pre-, post- and at the event. You can jump into Twitter, Facebook and You Tube, but if you haven't updtaed your web site in 2 years, don't bother employing the newest technology. Master the old (phone calls, face to face meetings, web site and hand written letters, and database management), before exclusively using the latest items. Have you contacted everyone in your database--or do you have one--who has donated, attended, inquired or recently moved to your area? Are there new businesses opening who might bring new sponorship and volunteer assistance?
Yes, benefit auction planning takes time--12 to 18 months for the best results, but you can succeed -- or exceed-- your goals when you take time to optimize. Remember, many of the longest sustaining non-profits and for profit businesses began during the Depression; therefore, you can rise, too.
Critical for your success are: 1. Focus on your mission; 2. Cultivate and deepen relationships; 3. Ask; 4. Employ the best practices.
Capture your audience by branding your mission and communicating the lofty cause you are funding in every communication, including mailings, newsletters, on the save the date card and invitation, in the auction catalog and bid forms, and throughout the event. Let every guest know exactly where the money is going. Most of all, highlight how you make a difference in the community and show how your Supporters are part of the solution.
People give to causes that they care about, and a well planned auction event opens many opportunities to deepen relationships with guests, sponsors, members, directors, prospective donors, and even volunteers. When you think of the benefit auction as the easiest face to face donor cultivation opportunity of the year, you will ensure that the auction event will instill thoughts of future giving and invite donations and involvement long after the event. (Future Blogs will discuss opportunities for engagement.)
If you don't ask, the answer will always be the same! It's a rough economy and you depend on your donors more than ever, but if you don't tell them what impact you are making with the funds you raise and how critical their continued support is at this time, your clients may disappear. Look at all of your communications and collateral marketing materials: Do you only invite people to give or attend an event, or do you also include information about where previous and future funds will be allocated?
Does your event appear to be an amatuer event? To have a record-breaking fundraising auction in ANY economy, you must act like the best businesses: those that rise and succeed even in a slow economy. How do you sustain yourself? Develop an auction guest list of people who have the means and influential bidding power to increase "Giving bids", demonstrating that they support your cause and are not just bidding for bargains. Offer premiere items that your guests really want: staying focused on your guest donors demonstrates that you sincerely appreciate them and their donations.
Keep the event exciting, active and on-time. For many guests, particularly at school and small community events, choosing your event over another outing, activity or party weighs into their budgeting decision-making. If dinner is late, you've lost your audddience. Speeches, slide shows, brow beating appeals for donations, and events that get off schedule or last late into the evening are unpleasant memories for your guests, causing them to leave early or not return in the future.
Finally, you must employ technology throughout the pre-, post- and at the event. You can jump into Twitter, Facebook and You Tube, but if you haven't updtaed your web site in 2 years, don't bother employing the newest technology. Master the old (phone calls, face to face meetings, web site and hand written letters, and database management), before exclusively using the latest items. Have you contacted everyone in your database--or do you have one--who has donated, attended, inquired or recently moved to your area? Are there new businesses opening who might bring new sponorship and volunteer assistance?
Yes, benefit auction planning takes time--12 to 18 months for the best results, but you can succeed -- or exceed-- your goals when you take time to optimize. Remember, many of the longest sustaining non-profits and for profit businesses began during the Depression; therefore, you can rise, too.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Summer reading
With all the talk about the bad economy, unemployment and decline in consumer spending, I had to find something good to read this summer.
Dr. Suess had been a favorite during childhood, and today, it seems, one of his books is very uplifting and remindful of our potential, if we apply ourselves.
Pick up a copy of "Oh, the Places You'll Go", in which Dr. Suess encourages to be successful and tells us that we WILL succeed, indeed, '98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.'
Still overwhelmed by bad economic reports? In the middle of this little book, Seuss tells us to persevere when times get tough: challenge yourself, the status quo and the problems you face. It may be time to be creative and inventive in your special event planning, to look to new faces to support your cause, or to step up or diverisfy undraising activities. Though you may challenge the truths of the past, now may be the time to swim against the current and create a new beginning for your organization that will sustain its success for the future.
Dr. Suess had been a favorite during childhood, and today, it seems, one of his books is very uplifting and remindful of our potential, if we apply ourselves.
Pick up a copy of "Oh, the Places You'll Go", in which Dr. Suess encourages to be successful and tells us that we WILL succeed, indeed, '98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.'
Still overwhelmed by bad economic reports? In the middle of this little book, Seuss tells us to persevere when times get tough: challenge yourself, the status quo and the problems you face. It may be time to be creative and inventive in your special event planning, to look to new faces to support your cause, or to step up or diverisfy undraising activities. Though you may challenge the truths of the past, now may be the time to swim against the current and create a new beginning for your organization that will sustain its success for the future.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Welcome!
I am excited about offering this Blog to those of you who plan fundraising events, are development professionals or simply a member of a fundraising committee.
Although I am an auctioneer, you will find many ideas, inspirations and solutions that can be applied to many forms of fundraising event planning. My goal is to help you put the "profit" into a fundraising endeavor, keep your volunteers and staff motivated, and encourage strong community support.
You are welcome to participate with any questions, concerns or personal experiences or solutions which we can share and discuss. We can all help one another by communicating our fundraising stories, both good and bad.
The economy is on everyone's mind; however, I hope that bleak news has not stifled your energies. Let the creative juices flow, the positive attitude supercede any negative thoughts, and let's raise some funds...and have fun while we are doing it!
Enjoy the forum,
Karin Costa
Fundraising Auctioneer
Although I am an auctioneer, you will find many ideas, inspirations and solutions that can be applied to many forms of fundraising event planning. My goal is to help you put the "profit" into a fundraising endeavor, keep your volunteers and staff motivated, and encourage strong community support.
You are welcome to participate with any questions, concerns or personal experiences or solutions which we can share and discuss. We can all help one another by communicating our fundraising stories, both good and bad.
The economy is on everyone's mind; however, I hope that bleak news has not stifled your energies. Let the creative juices flow, the positive attitude supercede any negative thoughts, and let's raise some funds...and have fun while we are doing it!
Enjoy the forum,
Karin Costa
Fundraising Auctioneer
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