Author Archive
A Creative Nonprofit in Denver
Posted by: | CommentsI have the best job, raising money for Denver nonprofits as a fundraising auctioneer. There is no better feeling than knowing that you are helping charities provide shelter, surgeries, food, medical supplies, education, and many other necessities to people who are truly in need in your area. I just conducted a charity auction in Denver for those suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease. These are wonderful people, suffering from a devastating disease. There is nothing I would rather do.
As a fundraising auctioneer, of course, I bring in the money. Money is necessary for every nonprofit to survive; it is vital. However, there are many things that can be given to help other people. Lately, I have seen so many creative people using whatever resources they have to help others. Some examples are giving their time, abilities, talents, and comfort. I recently saw one of these giving people featured on 9 News.
Rise Justice is a giving person who saw a need and decided to fix it. She knows how important it is for young children to celebrate their birthdays. It seems like a small thing to many of us who always expected a birthday party as a child, but many homeless children will not get to celebrate the day of their birth. Rise Justice realized how many homeless children miss celebrating these milestones and starting making birthday parties. What a great idea! A birthday party is a simple event that these kids will remember forever. Rise’s nonprofit, Birthday Smiles, has many organizations that contribute to the events that make them fun and memorable for the kids. Visit her website, http://www.birthdaysmiles.org/, to see what she has accomplished.
Now, I would guess that many, if not all of you have planned and orchestrated a child’s birthday party. It doesn’t take a special ability, but to do it for a child that you don’t know, who lives in a shelter, takes compassion. Take a moment to look around at those that may be in need in your area. There are many families who have lost their jobs or homes that cannot provide some things for their families that you and I take for granted. Be creative and use what you have to fill someone else’s needs. You will love the feeling it gives you and you may even decide to keep doing it!
Denver Fiscal Problems Strain Local Nonprofits
Posted by: | CommentsAs a benefit auctioneer in Denver, Colorado, I have been saddened by the financial struggles of many local nonprofits that are doing their best to bring aid to those in need. Colorado is experiencing a 9% unemployment rate and charitable giving is down. As nonprofits operate with less and less revenue, their ability to support people who are struggling is decreased. It seems like a reversal of the economic law of “supply and demand”.
As the Denver Mayoral race unfolded in the media, much of the discussion turned toward Denver’s fiscal problems. Denver is expected to have a $100 million shortfall in its budget. To handle this budget crisis, many cuts to important government-funded programs will be considered. Most of these programs directly or indirectly bring aid to those less fortunate in our community. Whatever decisions are made in the future, sacrifices are necessary to correct Denver’s fiscal crisis. As these programs experience cutbacks, there will be great demands for nonprofits to fill in the gaps.
My job as a benefit auctioneer is to bring in the funds to these charities so that they can fulfill these needs. I conduct many successful charity auction events that raise incredible amounts of revenue and I see it going right back into our cities. There are many nonprofits that decide to turn a “down” year around with a well-planned and thought-out benefit auction event. A great fundraising event is a win-win for everyone involved, the givers and the receivers. It is a hard time for nonprofits right now; but, because it is a hard time, nonprofits are so vital to our community. Please remember these charities as you look at your own family budget and do your best to support them in this time of great need.
An Amazing Denver Charity
Posted by: | CommentsI am from Denver, but because I often travel as a charity auctioneer, sometimes I forget about the amazing charities right here in Colorado. These are normal people, like you and me, who are using their talents to give to others in a creative way. I would like to spread the word about them to encourage people to give to these organizations and also to inspire others to find a way to use their talents to help those in need.
I recently heard about a nonprofit named, The Wedding Pink, that was featured on Channel 7 News. This nonprofit was founded by Cheryl Ungar, a breast cancer survivor and wedding photographer. She has provided not just wedding photos for couples but puts together an entire wedding package for those who have had to deal with breast cancer. Vendors from Denver have teamed up and contributed their services to provide dream weddings for many who are grateful for even having the opportunity to marry at all. For women who are fighting breast cancer, the dream of a beautiful wedding is not realistic. The moment by moment fight against a horrible disease takes all the energy out of one’s life and pushes “less important” things out of focus. Cheryl Ungar has found a wonderful way to bless these struggling cancer survivors by giving them a wedding, taking care of everything so they can focus on staying healthy. Please visit her website, http://www.cherylungargives.com/, and learn more about her story.
I was touched by this charity because it is so simple. Someone has a talent, an ability, and decides to use it in a way that gives to someone in need. Working as a charity auctioneer, I see lots of money raised for charities. When we think of giving to charities, we think of money, but there are other things to give. What talents do you have? Have you learned a trade that could be used to help someone that is economically or physically unable to help themself? We all have abilities and talents. Be inspired by others and take some time to inventory yours. Be creative and “give away” an ability or talent that you have.
Fundraising With Twitter
Posted by: | Comments
I discovered and wonderful idea that I thought I would pass on. It’s quick and easy!
If you tweet, choose a charity that can benefit from it. You can use tweet&give to do all your tweeting and contribute to a good cause at the same time.
The charities that you can choose to support:
- Doctors Without Borders
- Donors Choose
- Malaria No More
- Susan G. Komen for the Cure
- The Innocence Project
- Feeding America
- The Humane Society
- Charity: Water
- The Trevor Project
The tweet&give website makes money from ad revenue on their site. 80% of the ad revenue goes toward charities. None of your twitter functions will change, it just converts all that time tweeting into money for a nonprofit. What a great idea!
Getting Volunteers for a Fundraising Auction
Posted by: | CommentsGetting volunteers can seem like a daunting task. You might not be sure what kind of person to look for or where to look for volunteers. First, you’ll need to organize your list of tasks that need to be completed to create a successful fundraising auction. Once you accomplish this, you can start searching for your additional manpower. Often in a non-profit organization, there is a group of core people that have been touched by the organization’s outreach, and are often willing to help. Family and friends of the helped individuals are often willing to help also and will probably be very enthusiastic about working. This is one great way to locate volunteers. Additional help can also be found by searching for groups that are related to your objective. For example, if you are looking for volunteers for an animal rescue, you might look at 4-H groups. Another idea is to look for civic groups. Ask the Chamber of Commerce for information about community volunteer programs. Some local churches are active in volunteering also. It never hurts to ask. The most important tip is to look for your volunteers early in the planning process.
The Top 25 Most Charitable Cities
Posted by: | CommentsCharities are being hit hard by the recession, just like everyone else. Charitable giving dropped 3.6 percent, regardless of the financial stabilization. There is some good news though. The national volunteer rate rose 26.8 percent, resulting in 8.1 billion hours of service. Those volunteer hours are important donations but all nonprofits must still pay the bills with cash. Where your nonprofit is located in the United States may make a difference in your potential fundraising. At the end of 2010, the Daily Beast conducted research to determine the most charitable giving cities. There may be some surprises on the list.
#1 Seattle
#2 San Francisco
#3 Kansas City
#4 Atlanta
#5 Dallas
#6 Minneapolis-St. Paul
#7 Portland, Organ
#8 Washington, DC
#9 Houston
#10 Denver
# 11 Los Angeles
#12 Philadelphia
#13 Detroit
#14 New York City
#15 St. Lious
#16 Pittsburgh
#17 Chicago
#18 Cincinnati
#19 Boston
#20 San Diego
#21 Cleveland
#22 Phoenix
#23 Miami
#24 Milwaukee
#25 Tampa-ST. Petersburg
Don’t worry if the city your organization operates out of is not on the list. With today’s technology, these generous donors can spread their wealth across the globe. Sometimes non-profit organizations just need to know that they can keep on trying and that many giving people are out there, wanting to support them. In this time of recession, it sure is good to know that charitable giving is strong in the United States and givers still care for the less fortunate.
Professional benefit auctioneers, charity auctioneers, and fundraising auctioneers for charity auction fundraisers
Looking for a professional charity auctioneer, benefit auctioneer, or fundraising auctioneer to conduct your next charity auction? Are you planning a benefit auction and need new fundraising ideas?
What is the difference between a benefit auctioneer, a charity auctioneer, or a fundraising auctioneer? Is a regular auctioneer that sells pots and pans or cars the same thing?
Hot Auctioneering does more than just a fast-talking chant. Hiring a foot surgeon to do brain surgery would not work, just as hiring an estate sale or livestock auctioneer to conduct your gala charity auction is not the same. We provide the services of a benefit auctioneer; we also offer fundraising consulting. Our fundraising consultant services include assistance in the planning and organizing of your live auction and silent auction events. Charity auctioneer, Kevin Rutter, will be the ambassador for your nonprofit organization and your fundraising consultant. With our complete charity auction services, we will ignite the magic at your next charity auction. Hot Auctioneering is here to provide your fundraising consulting and charity event planning services. Our team of fundraising consultants, event planners, and benefit auctioneers have “a burning desire to serve you at your next charity auction.”
- Our first priority is to make your benefit auction profitable.
- We know how important it is to put the FUN back in fundraising.
- More than just your paid bid-caller, we are your charity auction consultants.
- Are you considering a live auction for your next charity event?
If you are ready to make more money at your next charity event, contact us.
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Meat-Flavored Water? A Cheeseburger in a Bottle?
Posted by: | CommentsLast week, I blogged about the benefits of selling unique items at auction. However, things like Till Krautkraemer’s meat water is not what we had in mind. His business created a fake new beverage called meat water. It is said to come in every meat flavor you can name, hamburger, steak, fish anything! Yuck! Would you buy this? Probably not! Neither would anyone else. That’s why it was created to be a publicity stunt not a real product.
Selling a rare item like this at auction might produce a lot of interest, but are people actually going to bid on it? Would you? While it is beneficial to sell unique items that bring excitement to your auction, having items that aren’t appealing (like meat water) are probably worth avoiding. Although meat water sounds like an interesting item to sell, would meat water appeal to anyone in your crowd? Imagine someone offering to donate an expensive piece of abstract art, that 90 percent of your crowd doesn’t find attractive. Selling art at a benefit auction is a gamble because everyone has different tastes in art. Personal tastes are too hard to estimate and rely on. It would be safer to auction off a free dental cleaning that is donated by one of your board members who happens to be a dentist! At least it can be safely assumed that the majority of your bidders have teeth.
The Most Scammed States
Posted by: | CommentsHave you ever gotten an email asking for your credit card number? Almost everyone has. “Send us your bank account and routing number, and we will send you Prince Soandso’s secret inheritance.” Does anyone fall for that stuff? They must because the emails keep coming. Scams and identity theft cost innocent people millions of dollars every year. The federal trade commission creates a report to see in which states the most identity is stolen. The most recent report is from 2009, which shows that the 10 most scammed states in the USA are:
- Washington D.C
- Nevada
- Colorado
- Maryland
- Florida
- Arizona
- Oregon
- Washington
- Delaware
- California
People often see scammers requesting money and some have become more cautious, and even sometimes skeptical, of legitimate charities. This reaction is understandable but can make it difficult for fundraising. It can be hard for donors to trust a nonprofit with their money. This is one example of why it is so important to develop a relationship with your donors. Let people know what their donation goes to. Consider creating videos that show images of your organization changing lives. When a nonprofit has developed trust in their donors, they will be cheerful givers and bring success to your organization.
Star Wars Frames Six Volume Set One of Kind Item for Sale
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The best items sold at auction and fundraisers are the most unique!
George Lucas of Lucas Films has just come out with one of the most unique items yet for all you Star Wars fans. It is a set of 6 hard cover leather-bound books (one book for each of the six Star Wars movies) that include 1416 frames of the movies. These images of the legendary movies were hand-picked by George Lucas himself. This item is very limited with only 1138 copies available. These unique books come in a gorgeous wooden box with medallions on either side, sculptures of Star Wars characters. The authenticity certificate is signed by George Lucas himself. What a unique purchase for the Star Wars fan!
Why am I talking about something like this? My point is that the items that sell the best at fundraisers are items that are one-of-a-kind. Rather than auctioning off a board member’s time share condo at your gala event, make it more UNIQUE. You might include a local ski trip, along with a volunteer to be a chef for the day. Maybe you can even get an airline, like Southwest, to donate round-trip tickets and a local limousine company to pick everyone up. That would make this a one-of-a-kind all inclusive item! Having successful auction items for your fundraiser takes a lot of work, and you must first know your crowd and what they will bid on. However, it will pay off for your charity if done correctly. So what are you waiting for? May the force be with you!
