Month: April 2023

Silent Auction Software

During a recent speaking engagement, I mentioned that some participants might want to eliminate their silent auctions and instead offer a well-orchestrated Fund a Need auction.

I wasn’t kidding. Well-orchestrated Fund Silent Auction a Needs surpass the silent auction revenue at a number of my clients’ galas. And a growing number of my clients are keen to eliminate their silent auctions.

For instance, one client has a large event (over 800 guests) and offers 80 to 100 items in her silent auction. She called me one day to discuss this. Here was our conversation.

SHE: “I’m running some numbers. Do you think we could get rid of the silent auction and make up the difference by adding a few more live auction items and improving the Fund a Need?”
ME: “Why do you want to get rid of the silent auction?”
SHE: “Because it’s a huge, time-sucking, pain in my rear and it only makes us $XX,XXX.”
ME: “Tell me how you really feel… ”
She’s not my only client with this “kill it” attitude.

Another client eliminated her silent auction years ago. Her 300 guests enjoy a raffle during the reception period. No silent auction. No games. She offers nothing but a raffle.

“I HATE silent auctions,” she confided in me the first year we worked together, “Oh how I hate them.”

It will depend on your gala as to whether it makes sense to cancel the silent auction.

With the first client I mentioned, the silent auction has been kept. With the other client, she’s never offered one and has no plans to.

Here’s one thing I know. If you’re going to run a Fund A Need auction, don’t assume that because you’ve observed it a couple times at other galas, you understand the mechanics of it. To do so would be like saying that you — as a guest at a wedding — understand what the bride is thinking.

Honey, you have no idea what the bride is thinking.

Think about it. The bride knows everything happening behind the scenes. As a guest, you lack that information.

The bride noticed that the caterer swapped out the portobellos in the appetizers for cheaper white cap mushrooms.
The bride knows Aunt Ellen is unhappy with the seating chart and has demanded to sit at a different table, away from cousin Margo.
The bride got a phone call telling her the band is stuck in traffic.
The bride knows that she’s suffering through a blister on her right heel.
The bride isn’t happy about any of these developments. Yet as a guest at her wedding, you’re unaware.

There you sit, starry-eyed and enjoying the celebration. You probably think the bride looks lovely. And you’re swallowing those appetizers without realizing the mushrooms are all wrong.

To be blunt, you don’t know what the heck is going on! You’re oblivious because you weren’t working behind the scenes.

When it comes to planning a Fund a Need, that’s how most people are. Oblivious.

Most auction guests don’t have any idea how to properly run an auction or its many components, like a Fund a Need. It’s because attending an auction is different than planning an auction.

(Just like attending a wedding is different than being the bride.)

When one of those guests becomes responsible for planning a Fund a Need, she thinks, “Oh, I went to a gala six months ago where I saw them do that. I know how to do it.”

 

3 Top Advantages of Employing the Online Donation Collection Process

Many fundraising specialists, like you, have skilled the exclusive and incredibly overwhelming number of alternatives that are to be had for Online Fundraising Technology. You start to notice how complicated it is able to be whilst weighing all the concerns in purchasing a brand new fundraising software package deal. Does it have the functionality you want? But, more what is an in-kind donation importantly, do you have got a solid expertise of your desires that allows you to determine what functionality your organization wishes? In light of this, we have compiled 10 specific pointers that can help to make your software program buying decisions no longer simply simpler, however greater effective as nicely.

Unfortunately, cyber crime is a fact. Anything published online has the capacity to be taken by using a person else for his or her own gain. This includes credit card data and private data your donors offer.

When you are looking at Fundraising Software take the time to affirm that it’s miles PCI/DSS certified. This ensures that the software has met the minimal requirements of both MasterCard and Visa thus supplying you with and your donors the peace of thoughts in understanding that each one facts is encrypted and comfortable.

In addition to this, all your statistics need to be saved on a redundant server in the event that there is an outage as well. That way any device failure or malicious user can not damage your valued data.

To get the maximum from your Online Fundraising Technology, find one this is like minded with electronic mail advertising and marketing and social networking web sites like Facebook and Twitter. Facebook and Twitter, specially, connect with millions of people and you may expand the reach of your donation talents with these web sites. Having the capacity to attach thru your supporters’ social networks will create more of a buzz round your cause and get more people more inquisitive about donating.

Fundraising Software that provides the cookie cutter appearance can be a low fee way to get your toes moist with online fundraising technology, however it may also limit your ability. You want to have your Fundraising Software to mirror your business enterprise and supply a effective effect that human beings will need to donate to. Remember which you do not want to combination in with other web sites, this will result in the confusion that comparable sites with similar causes are the same organisation just searching out extra money.

Tip # four Reports Need Options

The record for fundraising agency A will not necessarily meet the identical reporting wishes by fundraising organisation B. With this in thoughts, locating Online Fundraising Technology that offers you the option to generate reports tailor-made in your enterprise’s desires will benefit you ultimately.

Tip # five Features that Match Your Needs

There are all sorts of bells and whistles you could get with Fundraising Software. The aim is to ensure you get precisely what you want. While some functions is probably quality to have you must make sure the software covers your fundamentals. Once it has managed to try this, some thing above and beyond might be a bonus to you.

Some functions that could interest you are:

• The potential to designate donations to precise funds