An auction catalog is as basic to a fundraising auction as an auctioneer and bidder numbers.  Also referred to as a “program” or “booklet”, it is the printed document provided to auction attendees A real workhorse, the auction catalog serves many functions.   It helps underscore your message about why you are raising money.  It can […]

For those of you not familiar with table auctions, it’s a very popular revenue enhancer at many events.  The way it works is, you place an inexpensive centerpiece  at each table then mark a chair or place setting to decide who the “auctioneer” is and then conduct a mini-auction at each table to bid on […]

A fundraising auction requires myriad volunteers, vendors and staff, all working on their individual pieces to create a greater whole. Every individual working on an event always has their own personal agenda. Successful events manage to get every individual to buy in to a larger goal, and bend their personal agendas towards the “greater good.” […]

Recently we got a panicked call from one of our school clients on the Monday after their auction. Although they had three capable volunteers dedicated to recording the winning live auction bids and fund-a-need, they missed a significant number. The reason? In the good-time spirit of the evening, their fellow parents kept stopping by to […]

Some of our national clients who have offices in major cities across the country often have regional Gala’s with live auctions at each one. Each event has it’s own local connections and donors who offer wonderful access lots for the auction, but after offering them year after year the luster has worn off and the […]

When people ask me about my job, I tell them that I work for fundraising auction consultants, handling client support and scheduling the consulting time for two auctioneers. And, I get to work from home, along the banks of the Russian River. Sound easy? Sometimes, but sometimes not. Founder Colleen Buckley calls us “wranglers”; she […]

A successful fund a need is a magic moment. The auction stops, the crowd quiets, an emotional story is told, and then BOOM! The whole crowd is swept up in an avalanche of pledges that brings everyone together in support of a common cause. It is the emotional cornerstone of the evening; it is inspiring, […]

Almost every event has a series of speakers who make their way to the podium pull out a crumpled sheet of paper and “make a speech.” Some are dynamic presenters and some…not so much. Sometimes the flow of the evening is determined by these people, instead of the other way around. And what your speakers […]

One of our key tenants here at R & B is to counsel our clients to respect their attendees’ time. Close the silent auction on schedule.  Start speeches early in the evening. Conduct the live auction (with rare exceptions) during dinner.  Since everyone knows why they are in the room, it is best to get […]

Many events become stuck in a rut producing diminishing returns with each year’s Gala.  Same venue, same auction lots, same food, etc. What this does is suck any excitement out of your attendees.  Perhaps you can change your attendees thinking from “they do this every year” to “I wonder what they’re going to do this […]