Top 10 Reasons Fundraising Auctions were a failure

Charity Fundraising Events are a lot of work.  With months of planning, meetings after meetings all boil down to it being worth the work if the charity fundraising event is a success.  If your last event wasn’t a success, maybe these are the reasons why:

1. You focused on the “Party” and not fundraising: 

You want your guests to have a great time so that they will contribute to your cause and bid on your auctions.

2. You did not to market your items before and during your charity fundraising event.

Because you want your event to be the “Rock Star” in your area, you need to let everyone know what to expect.  If you don’t, they are not going to be prepared – prepare them.  Post a list of the items available on your social networks like Facebook and send out emails to everyone with a “Preview Sheet.”  Let them prepare themselves with a strategy and with their spending.  They will see how much better your event is then all others in your area.

3. Your items were run-of-the-mill. Who cares?

Fascinate them with things they can’t get at the mall or at nearby stores. Experiential, Unique and  Hard to Find.

4.  Your focus was on awards and speeches instead of fundraising.

Your fundraising event was more about awards and speeches instead of focusing on fundraising.  Speeches and presentations should accent your fundraising efforts to let your guests know what you are doing in your community. 

 

5. You didn’t have enough Bid Spotters.

Find Volunteers who love to have fun and want to be an active participant in your event.  Having enough bid spotters in your audience is essential from turning a dead auction to a very lively, entertaining event.  Remember, people love to have fun…bid spotters can absolutely add to your fundraising success. 

6. You forgot it’s the live auction that brings in the big money.

Live auction items don’t need to be ridiculously expensive.  But the live auction items need to be placed in a way to maximize the auction.  The Live Auction items need to be placed prominently in your event to get maximum attention and away from your Silent Auction.   The best place for the Live Auction items are directly in front of your stage.  If you have the ability to have a video screen, show the items on a loop throughout your event.  

7. Your silent auction was a Yard Sale.

Did we mention your goal is to make money? Inexpensive items by definition don’t cut it, wasting valuable table space. Use them sparingly to give the low-spenders a way to contribute or bundle them to create more attractive items.  Offering these items in a raffle setting guarantees financial success.

8.  Did you openly ask your guests to donate?

Hoping and wishing your guest donate will not make it happen.  Openly ask them too donate by having a “Fund a Need” or “Paddle Raise” at the end of your Live Auction.  By placing envelopes on the table and hoping people fill out a donation card, won’t bring you the money you are hoping to raise.  Acknowledgement of a donation is key, let people openly show their support.

9. Your event is either too long or too short.

Your guests want to enjoy themselves, have a great meal and a few drinks, get the items they want and go home before the baby sitter starts calling.  By having an incredibly long event, with many long speeches will ensure your guest early departure.  Also, by leaving your fundraising platforms (Live & Silent Auction, Raffles & Games) open too long will also tell them not to bid because they are leaving  early.  However, by having a short event, the momentum of your fundraising efforts will not have enough time to truly get going. 

10. You had the Wrong Auctioneer.

After getting a beautiful venue, ensuring you have a fantastic dinner for your guests, getting someone from your Board or a local celebrity to conduct your auction is entirely a bad move.  Professional Auctioneers are a major part of your event and play a critical role to its success.  A Professional Auctioneer is truly a key to ensuring you raise the money you need.  Also, getting someone free to do your auction guarantees “You get what you pay for.”  Hire a professional Charity Auctioneer to conduct your Auction – it will make the difference.

BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising is a leader in North America in a “One Stop Shop” convenient setting.  Known all over North America as the most reputable and respected “No Risk Auction Item” provider, the expert fundraisers at BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising can guide you to ensure that your fundraising efforts are not wasted.  Through many years of experience involved in 1,000’s of charity fundraising events, the experts at BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising will bring your last fundraising event from “Run of the Mill” to a “Rock Star Event” that everyone will talk about.  Contact us today to learn how we can help you at www.BWUnlimited.com