TOP Themed Gift Basket Ideas for your next charity fundraiser

As we all know, gift baskets are always a big hit at charity fundraising events across the country.  With this blog, I hope to share some excellent ideas that will get your guests excited about your offering.  Remember have a plan for each while also thinking about your guests.

Instead of just throwing together baskets, always set out with a plan.  A basket with a theme is always very enticing and exciting.  When planning to build these baskets, give several out to your volunteers or team members for them to go after.  Remember – Size Matters.  The bigger the basket, the more it will attract attention.  Here is a list of great themed baskets which everyone loves:

1. Chocolate Lovers Basket – filled with various chocolates as well as chocolate drinks.
2. Grilling Basket – Filled with Sauces, Spices, Grill Gloves, utensils etc.
3. Italian Dinner Basket – Pastas, Sauces, Kitchen Utensils for pasta, Bottle of Wine
4. Wine & Cheese Basket – A Bottle of Wine, wine glasses, various cheeses, a cork screw, cheese knife etc.
5. Car Care Basket – Bucket, Car Wash items, Car Wax, Windex etc.
6. Kids Beach Basket – Beach Toys, Squirt Guns etc.
7. Dog Bowl Basket – Fill a large Dog Bowl with Dog Treats and toys.
8. Movie Night – Empty Pizza Box, Gift Certificate for Pizzas, 2 cheap DVD’s from Walmart, Liter of Coke, Liter of Sprite, Pop corn
9. Make Up Basket – Make Up, Make Up bag, etc.
10. Picnic Basket – Picnic items
11. Craft Basket – Crafting items
12. Spa Basket – Soaps, Candles, Bubble Bath etc.
13. Candy Basket – Very fun, fill it with every kind of candy you can find, vintage candy is always a hit.
14. Junk Food Basket – Potato Chips, Pretzels, Doritos, Dips etc.
15. Coffee Basket – Coffees, cups, cookies etc.
16. Sports Fan Basket – Calendars, Shirts, Coozies etc.
17. Lottery Tree – a Bunch of Scratch Off Lottery Tickets
18. Christmas Basket – Christmas items
19. Tea & Cookies Basket – Various Teas, cups, spoons etc.
20. Tailgate Basket – Fill a Cooler with Tailgate items, junk food etc.
21. Disney Basket – Disney items
22. Spices Basket – Different Spices, sauces etc.
23. Baking Basket 
24. Gardening Basket
25. Pet Lovers Basket
26. Kids Toys Basket
27. Sports Baskets – One Basket filled with items for each Team

If you know anyone who sells Pampered Chef, Mary Kay, Tupperware, or anyone like that, they will ALWAYS donate a basket.

Many of these items can be found in your local grocery store or Dollar Store.  Remember, build them big so that they attract attention.

For more tips and successful ideas, check out our website at www.BWUnlimited.com.  We would love to help you.

THE “SECRET”: How you and your charity can raise much more money utilizing this “Secret Fundraising” tool.

Note:  Only the people who took the time to read this will benefit from it.

Prior to launching our company, I was involved with several charities involved in the outdoors.  One of the company’s I was extremely familiar with was and still is “Ducks Unlimited.”  Last year, as reported by Charity Navigator, Ducks Unlimited Total Net Profit was $195,923,938.00.   “DU” as they are commonly known by, is a fundraising machine.  This one charity has fundraising so figured out that they make nearly $200 million dollars each year.  Incredibly successful. 

What does “DU” know that you don’t?  They mandate that anyone fundraising use high quality items which they supply.  Now, the items which they supply are not “Consigned”, the fundraising entities (known as chapters) have to purchase the items directly from “DU.”  After the fundraising events, the cost of the items is deducted from the Gross of the event.  What does “DU” know that you don’t?  The answer is this – they, as well as other charities who have adopted this practice, know that they must have great items in order to make much more profit.  Believe it or not, they do not want donated items.

When we started, our company identified the fact that there were currently 104 Million charities in the United States.  We then took the idea from charities like “DU/Ducks Unlimited” in regard to using high quality items and began to introduce it to the charities outside of the outdoor charities.  However, we decided instead of trying to sell these products to charities, we would consign them.  We came up with the plan that charities would be able to use our items, mark up the starting bid above our costs by at least 20% and no matter how high the profit, they would keep 100% of it.  If the item or items did not sell, they could simply return them at no cost to them.  I understood the importance of it and the fundraising impact it would have for charities – but unfortunately, the charities did not.

Immediately we were met with resistance.  We heard commonly “Our charity does not allow us to use items we have to pay for” or “We only accept donated items” or “We are against using items that are consigned.”  What they failed to understand or realize is simply this – they pay for the venue which they are holding the fundraiser, they are paying for the food, the decorations, the printing costs, the bar and everything else but when it came to the tools which would help them raise the money they need, their thought process shut off completely.  They wanted and would only accept totally free items. 

Over the many years we have been in business, we have studied every single fundraising trend there is.  After specifically studying donated items, we found that donated items only bring 1/8^th to 1/4 of their full retail value.  Why so little?  Because the event is attended by people who live locally, the event itself is local and the items are donated by local businesses – if the guests wanted them, they would have gone and bought them themselves.  Furthermore, after speaking to the same businesses who donated – they informed us that the items they donate are ones that are not selling in the stores.  People are always looking for a deal.  The most drastic thing that stood out is that two (2) of the most common items used in fundraising events are Gift Cards and Gift Baskets.  I have asked our clients for years this question “How many Gift Baskets did you give away to your family or friends for the holidays?” and every single time I have been told “None/Zero.”  Furthermore, I’ve asked everyone how many times have you bought yourself a Gift Card?  Again, they laugh and say “Never” – that is why they are both called “GIFT Cards / GIFT Baskets” because we give them away as gifts.  No one will ever pay anywhere near what they are worth based on this simple observation.  But yet, every single day, charities across the nation still insist on getting and using these unsuccessful fundraising items as the keys to their success.  

No matter how hard I tried to tell or convince them, they were not going to do it.   Slowly, charities began to accept the idea and started using our items.  Those charities experienced immense profit and would commonly say “This sounds too good to be true, what’s the catch?”  My response was and still is “It’s good and it’s true, but it’s not too good to be true – there is no catch” and I put it (our policy) in writing on our website and in contracts.  Slowly it started to catch on.

Then one evening, as if a light bulb went off, an idea came to me which would revolutionize the use of our items and could possibly even change the thinking of the charities who refused to use consigned items or items which they had to pay for.   I am going to share it with you and you too will realize just how brilliant it truly is.

The Secret is “Underwriting” or Sponsoring the items themselves.

As you are already well aware of, routinely charities offer differing sponsorship levels – Gold Sponsorship for $5,000.00, Silver Sponsorship for $2,500.00 etc.  Some sponsorship's are much higher.  However, the fact of the matter is, most people can not afford these levels of sponsorship.  However, they can afford much lower, much more affordable monetary sponsorship's such as $250.00. 

Here is the Secret – Businesses such as Real Estate brokers and Agents, Doctors, Lawyers, Accountants, Dentists, Consultants etc. have nothing to donate other than money.  These people are never approached and asked to donate unlike your local jewelry store.  However, if you offer them a chance to “Sponsor” or “Underwrite” the cost of an item, they will.  Let’s say you approach Jane from ABC realty.  Jane looks at the items available, chooses one and writes you a check for the cost of the item.  You then place the item on your Live or Silent Auction with a tent card in front of it reading “Sponsored by Jane Smith, ABC Realty”, while marking up the “Starting Bid” 20%.  When the item gets bid on and no matter how high it goes, you and your charity now keeps 100% of the funds brought in because “Jane from ABC Realty” paid for the item and received marketing in return.  WIN WIN.

Now here is the best part of “The Secret” – If the item does not receive a bid, you simply return the item back to BW Unlimited and you keep the sponsorship money “Jane from ABC Realty” gave you.  You can not lose.

Using this secret “Brought to you by the great people of BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising”, you will raise more money then you could ever dream of while giving many more people an opportunity to help you.

For secrets like this and many more, contact us at www.BWUnlimited.com.  We would love to help you EXCEED your fundraising goals each and every year.

"Broken Spoke Fundraising" - Unknowingly repeating unsuccessful fundraising tactics

I’m sure you’re familiar with the old saying “Repeating the same thing over and over expecting different results.”  Well I’m going to introduce you to a whole new phrase which applies to the charity world – “Broken Spoke Fundraising.”  These two sayings have a lot in common because they address the same issue which many charities like yours are experiencing.  But you don’t know why you are having problems.

So imagine this – you and a friend or loved one are a part of a charity who has a fundraising event coming up in a several months.  You are invited to go to another charity fundraiser which a local charity is hosting.  You have little experience hosting a fundraiser since you only do one or two a year.  But while you’re there at the fundraiser you were invited to, you take mental notes on what they are doing to raise money.  You think to yourself “We will do these things at our event.”  Now, what they are doing seems like a great idea and also appears successful – so why not do them at yours right?

The problem is this – you honestly do not know if what they are doing or did do was successful.  What appears popular could have not been a successful way of fundraising.  As a real life example, charities all across the country have been doing a raffle called a “50/50” for decades.  But…have you taken time to think about it?  Let’s say you sell $5,000.00 worth of raffle tickets.  The prize which you give away is $2,500.00.  Why on earth would you give away ½ of your earnings?  Charities hope and pray that the winner donates the money back but after a three (3) year study by our company BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising, 83% of the time the winner does not donate the money.  As a professional fundraising event planner, those odds are bad and we do not ever do raffles or games which give money away as a prize because we are there to raise money, not give it away.

So, you start planning your fundraising event and utilize the ideas you saw at the local fundraiser you attended.  You don’t know if what they did was actually successful even though it appeared like it was.  But while planning it, you didn’t take the time to go and speak to the charity and get the full run down of how the raffle works and what you need to run it – so you miss something when repeating it.  In reality, the fundraising tactic they used wasn’t successful and when you do yours, you missed something making it that much more or less successful.  You now broke a spoke in the wheel which already had broken spokes to begin with.

Then you go through your event and wonder why what you did, did not produce what you thought it would but you decide to move on until next year.  You figure “Well, we will try it again and it will be different” – it’s not.  You begin to repeat the same things over and over and over again, hoping and praying or expecting different results – which never comes.  In fact, you spend days, weeks and months out of your full time life only to not be as successful as you want to be. 

This is what I call “Broken Spoke Fundraising.”  You truly can’t copy what others are doing for many reasons:  #1 – You don’t know if what they were doing was successful and #2 – You don’t realize that people are tired of the same old things. 

Another saying which holds very true is “Everything has a shelf life.”  What this means is…if you don’t change things or evolve, what you are doing will eventually die out and fade away.  In today’s society, people tend to get bored quick.  When you’re planning your next fundraising event, think of innovative fundraising platforms which are different and exciting.  Get away from the old 50/50’s and wheel’s…and do something that people will have fun with. 

More importantly, don’t copy what another charity is doing if you don’t have all the facts – which seldom do.  Most charities just accept what money came in and move forward.  Be smart and plan to be successful.

BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising would love to help you plan your next fundraising event and provide you and your guests with new, innovative, exciting fundraising tactics which not only your guests would love but will be extremely successful.  Contact us today at www.BWUnlimited.com. 

BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising is a North American Charity Fundraising leader in a convenient “One Stop Shop” setting.  BW can help you plan, manage and host an incredibly successful event which has a diverse amount of fundraising platforms which your guests will love time and time again creating a unique fundraising event that they will come back to each year but will also tell their friends.  Let BW help you by contacting us at www.BWUnlimited.com.

If you think its expensive to hire an Expert, wait till you hire an Amateur.

I say this all the time so just like everything I say, its become a part of my script.  The reason it’s became a part of my script is based upon its meaning and importance.  So here it is:

“If you had a bump on your neck with spiders crawling out of it, would you go to your mechanic or a Doctor?  If you were building a house, would you get advice from your Doctor or talk to an Architect or Contractor?  If you had serious legal issues, would you go to your Contractor?”

Obviously, the answer is No – simply No, you would seek the advice of an expert. 

However, when it comes to fundraising, we as charities commonly make the mistake of asking someone with no experience in fundraising and no understanding of it. 

Unfortunately, fundraising is not just something you “Wing” especially if your charity or organization truly needs to raise money to pay for your activities or mission.  Why place something so vitally important in the hands of someone who is not an expert?

Fortunately, there are experts across the country – Charity or Benefit Auctioneers and/or BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising which is truly the only Charity Fundraising Event planning business in the world.  BW does not plan weddings and birthday parties – we only plan fundraising events. 

If you go to an event planner, the event planner will have a background in planning birthdays, weddings and Bar Mitzvahs and they are the experts in their fields.  If you’re getting married, don’t come to BW because we will look back at you with an empty look but we won’t say “Sure, we can do it.”  No, we will tell you to find a wedding planner.

Yes, a Charity Fundraising Event such as a Gala is an event – but the importance of the event is the fundraising capability and result.  Event planners look at the actual event, however, with a fundraising event, the event begins months before with ticket sales and finding financial sponsors.  There are elements inside a fundraising event in regard to the fundraising platforms that you must know and have a depth of knowledge in.  The Why’s and How’s are the most important.

In summary, if your charity truly needs to raise money – seek the help of an Expert, an Expert Fundraiser whether it’s BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising or some other person or company, get the assistance of an expert – don’t leave it in the hands of an amateur. 

There is a very famous saying that is so incredibly true – “If you think an Expert is expensive, wait to you hire an amateur.”

If you, your charity or your organization needs help, please contact us at www.BWUnlimited.com or email me at George@bwunlimited.com.

BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising is a North American Charity Fundraising leader in a convenient “One Stop Shop” setting.  BWUCF is the only full service, charity fundraising event company in the world with an extensive resume in regard to hosting highly successful charity fundraising events.  If we can help you, contacting us is free at www.BWUnlimited.com.

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5 easy methods to effectively advertise your Charity Fundraiser

How & where do I advertise my Charity Event?  That is a question I hear ALL THE TIME.  The reality is, the “Old Norm” is gone, dead, dust in the wind.  What do I mean by the “Old Norm”?   Well here they are:

#1 – Print Adds in the Newspaper

#2 – TV Commercials

#3 – Billboards

#4 – Hanging Flyers in local convenience stores.

I know what you’re saying about #2, how can that be true?  There are 1,000’s of TV Commercials, very true but do you have a Digital Video Recorder (DVR)?  If you do, which most do, what do you do when you are watching your favorite show and a commercial comes on?  You hit the Fast Forward button don’t you?

The answer to the question is simply this – Facebook & other social networks.  Facebook is definitely leading the charge. 

The entire world is on Facebook just waiting to be talked to.  You have to learn how to use Facebook and how Facebook works in order to be truly effective.  But Facebook is the single most powerful tool you have in your charity’s arsenal.  Plus – it’s FREE!!!

 

Seriously, if you're not on Facebook, chances are, you're not even reading this Blog!!! 

If you have an event flyer, here are some simple methods to use to draw attention:

#1 – Your flyer must “POP” – and not be just a simple Word Document.  It must grab

attention and be different than the rest.

#2 – Post your flyer everywhere you can – meaning, Facebook, Instragram, LinkedIn etc.

#3 – Once your flyer moves down your Facebook wall, reshare it back to the top.

NOTE:  It is a scientific fact that someone needs to see something seven (7) times before the act upon it.

#4 – Get your friends or other people involved in your charity to post your flyer as well.

#5 – When you post the flyer, ask your friends to also “Share” it.

Using these five (5) methods, you will be able to advertise your event from wherever you are, to the entire world – more importantly FREE.

If you would like to more valuable and effective ways to advertise your event and what type of flyer grabs people’s attention, contact us at www.BWUnlimited.com, we would love to help you.

BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising is a North American Charity Fundraising Leader in a “One Stop Shop” convenient setting.  BW can help guide you toward a very successful event, ensuring you do not fall into any of the fundraising pitfalls that surround you. Contact us at www.BWUnlimited.com to learn how we can help.

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The “Grinch” who stole your Success

The Grinch who stole Christmas is probably one of the most popular Christmas movies of all time.  Then after Jim Carrey brought the cartoon into reality, the popularity of the movie skyrocketed.  But as in the movie, the Grinch’s job was to ruin a merry Christmas for everyone.  And with fundraising event planning committee, we all have a Grinch.

If you’re reading this, I bet you already are thinking of your very own Grinch.  You know the Negative person who is the wet blanket.  “That won’t work”, “I don’t like that idea”, “We shouldn’t do that”, “I disagree”, “What happens if we don’t sell tickets” and on and on and on.  I see them all the time; in fact, sometimes it’s even the person in charge of the event or the charity.

When I’m initially meeting with a charity, I try to shake the trees to find the hidden “Grinch” because there will always be one or several.  Here are several reason why there is always a “Grinch”:

#1 – They were in charge in previous years of planning and hosting your fundraiser.

#2 – If your NEW ideas are successful, that means they were not.  No one wants to look bad.

#3 – Fear of change.

#4 – Fear of the unknown.

#5 – Fear of Failure.

All of the above are viable reasons why “Fundraising Grinch’s” exist.  But, you shouldn’t let them deter you.  Build a committee around positive, supportive people.  Building a happy committee is the key to your overall success. 

Your “Fundraising Grinch” will be the “wet blanket” and their negativity will take over your committee.  The best way to change them, is don’t even try.  Recruit the people you need to be successful and will support the mission you are on.

Remember – NO FUNDRAISING GRINCH’S.

BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising is a North American Charity Fundraising Leader in a “One Stop Shop” convenient setting.  BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising can and will assist you by helping you build a positive, educated, supportive committee who will carry out the mission of the event toward its ultimate success.  To learn more, contact us at www.BWUnlimited.com.

Episode #28 - Kids Sports Team Fundraising

Episode #25 - How speeches negatively affect your fundraiser

Why were they successful – a True Success Story

This is the true story of success in regard to charity fundraising.  I will tell you exactly why it was successful but here is the back story:

Several months ago, I was asked by Frances Straka (who is my part of my family) if I would help her and a few of her friends hold a fundraiser for a young boy battling cancer – Austin Harrison.  Of course, I agreed and scheduled to meet with them.

When I went to meet them, I was a little taken aback because they were all much older and didn’t understand the importance of Social Networking or Marketing.  The “Them” were only four people in total – Only FOUR (4) (NOTE THAT).  However, after talking for nearly an hour, the planning began.

The committee quickly rose to well over 20 active committee members.  Everyone did their fair share of the work, but a couple quickly rose to the top – Phil & Angela Dicke.  Angela became the Ticket Chair person and was my main point of contact, she handled everything.  Phil himself sold well over 30 tables of 10.  Those two were Rockstars!!!  But the committee became a fundraising “Dream Team.” 

At their event, they had over 640 people in attendance with more donated items than you can imagine.  Everyone did exactly what they were supposed to do and more.  With that many people in attendance, Check In was extremely smooth.  The raffles were incredible because the committee made them happen.  The Live & Silent Auction did absolutely fantastic!!!  Check out went just as smooth, truly everyone did absolutely fantastic.

They had twice the amount of people they thought they would have, raised more money than they could dream of and the event ran as smooth as silk.  In fact, many of the guests asked when was the next one. 

Why was it so successful from beginning to end?  The answer is very simple – the committee members were not experienced fundraisers and started out with zero negativity.  Here is the straight answer why they were successful – Because they listened to me.  They followed the exact direction I gave them, no more no less. 

Novice fundraisers (those that only one or even a handful of charity events) have no preconceived notion or ideas of what they should do.  However, the truly novice fundraiser has no experience and zero preconceived idea notions.  They merely follow direction.  What happens is, a Novice Fundraiser begins to plan their event, despite having professional assistance, the same way they have planned the few others.

If you are an experienced fundraiser and your previous attempts have been not as successful as you wanted them to be, perhaps you should open yourself to new ideas and think like you have never done one at all.  Do exactly like the Rockstars did above, ask for help and follow the direction given to you to the “T.” 

 

 

If you would like the same assistance as they did above, contact us today, we would love to help at www.BWUnlimited.com.

BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising is a North American Charity Fundraising leader in a “One Stop Shop” convenient setting.  The charity fundraising experts as BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising will guide you through the myriad of fundraising pitfalls, lessen the amount of stress by providing a fundraising plan and a detailed, easy to follow strategy.  If you would like assistance, contact us at www.BWUnlimited.com.

“One Bad Apple Spoils the whole Bunch” - Infestation of Negative thinking

Lately, I have seen major differences in both Positive and Negative Thinking, especially when it comes to charity fundraising. 

When I initially begin consulting or speaking to a charity about assisting them plan and host a fundraising event, the very first thing I look for is NEGATIVITY.  If there is any negativity either with the person or people I am talking to and not shear positivity and motivation, it sends us a huge “Red Flag” of Disaster.

Negativity can and will infest a fundraising committee like roaches, soon taking over the entire thought process of everyone involved.  There is no point to negativity when it comes to fundraising, in fact, negative thinking is what separates the large, more profitable charities from the small unsuccessful non profits.

Case in Point – We are going to use a “Real Life” Scenerio of three (3) Fundraising Committees (this is real):

Committee A – Committee “A” is actually comprised of two (2) women only.  Committee “A” is 100% positive and more importantly, is hosting their very first charity fundraising event.  Their cause is based on local government.

Committee B – Committee “B” Is a very well established, large group of people.  These people meet on a regular basis and their group is based around a well-established “Lifestyle.”  They have held many fundraising events, however, those events were not as successful as they should have been.

Committee C – Committee “C” started out as three (3) 70 yr. old women.  They wanted to host a “Benefit” fundraiser with no background, no experience in Charity Fundraising and were a little hesitant at first but wanted to follow successful direction.   

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Committee “A” & “C” are and were 100% positive with “ZERO” negativity.  However, Committee “B” is quite honestly, infested with Negativity. 

Committee “A’s” event is scheduled for Feb of 2016 – they already have over 400 tickets sold and an enormous amount of donations.  “Negative” thinkers would say “Oh it’s because of the cause” or find some other reason why they are successful – the cause ladies and gentlemen is constantly attacked in the Press. 

Committee “C” event already occurred.  There were well over 600 people in attendance and raised more money than even they dreamt of.  Their event was an overwhelming success.

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Committee “B’s” event has not occurred and the fundraising committee has not even engaged yet.  Their large committee is racked with negativity around every turn.  Their event is before Committee “A’s” but to date, they have barely sold tickets.

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Why is this the case?  Committee “A” & “C” were and are 100% positive and filled with motivation to be successful.  Committee “A” & “C” listened and did exactly what they were instructed.  Their positive demeanor and the ability to follow direction is what is making them as successful as they truly deserve to be.

Even more importantly, Committee “C” started out small but followed direction and built a large positive thinking committee simply by asking others to help them and furthermore, not allowing negative thinking to take over their committee.

The moral to the story – When a committee focuses on the negative possibilities, negative results are what they will find.  Negative thinking, especially at the start of the planning stages will absolutely ruin your chances to be successful – I’ve seen it time and time again. 

 

Negative thinkers will always point out reasons why others are successful and they are not.  They will point out the "What If's" and put fear in the hearts and minds of others involved.  They will focus on the minimum expectations and not have a "Shoot for the Stars" mentality.  Negative thinkers will pull others into them to support their negative rationale.

Build a committee of positive, motivated thinkers.  Squash negative thinking by focusing solely on the positives.  Remember the old saying “One Bad Apple Spoils the whole Bunch.”  Seek out fun loving, helpful people who love to get involved no matter what the cause.  Build a committee that supports each other instead of tearing you and your success down.

BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising is a North American Charity Fundraising Leader in a “One Stop Shop” convenient setting.   BWU assists charities by guiding committee’s around the myriad of negatives and pitfalls toward hosting a highly successful fundraising event.  To learn more, contact us at www.BWUnlimited.com.

 

When Donated Items Attack!!!

I have seen it all when it comes to donated items.  Sometimes, I sit back and scratch my head wondering why in the world charities would even ask for some of the craziest donations.  But, as a fundraiser, I totally understand their mentality.  Volunteers going after donations always have the best of intentions and always think “WOW, this is going to help us raise of ton of money!!!”

I hope you’re reading this and honestly listening to my advice.  So, let me give you a very real life scenario.  You ask a business to donate and they tell you it’s retail.  Volunteers think that’s the price it’s going to bring at their event.  But the reality is, it’s only going to bring 1/3 of the value.  This is “Reality of Fundraising” ladies and gentlemen.

No one attends a charity event looking to purchase a “Tax Preparation” or “Life Coaching Sessions.”  They will always do bad.  Items which are not “Exciting” will always crash and burn.  What is the most important issue to understand is, what will that tell the Donor?  I have seen Donor’s get up and leave the event because they were angered how little their item went for. 

Another issue is, I have seen many times charities listing the retail value of an item both with the item and prior to it in their inventory.  Charities are under the false impression that because the item or items retail for a price, that that is what it will or should bring in the Auction – FALSE.  If you list the retail price with the item, you are telling the possible donors to not bid anywhere near that – EVERYONE IS LOOKING FOR A DEAL. 

Also, understand that when businesses donate an item to you, they are more times than not giving you items that are not selling in their stores.  Be smart about what you’re going after, just because it’s donated doesn’t mean it’s good.  The last thing you want to have is an auction that looks like a “Yard Sale” or “Flea Market.”  Keep in mind how the donor will feel if the item brings very little or doesn’t sell. 

There are definite ways to ensure that you and your charity receives “Top Dollar” and more for donated items.  If you would like to learn how, contact us today at www.BWUnlimited.com.

BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising is a North American Charity Fundraising leader in a “One Stop Shop” convenient setting.  BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising can help you plan, manage and host your next charity fundraising event so that your event is the best it can possibly be.  There are many mistakes novice fundraisers make while planning their fundraisers, BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising will direct you around all the pitfalls to a very successful event.  Contact us at www.BWUnlimited.com.

 

Experiment - How to plan & host a highly successful fundraising event

We are going to do an experiment and here is what we are going to test.  Now, before I explain what the experiment is, I first have to explain to you what we know the result will be – INCREDIBLE SUCCESS!!!

Every day, I scream at the top of my lungs “Charities are doing it wrong.”  What I’m talking about is, charities all across North America plan their event around the charity and about the charity.  As you know, I am a very direct kind of guy which some people like but most people don’t.  Being direct, I say something on a very routine basis that truly makes people mad, here it is “People don’t care.” 

So with that in mind, let’s talk about an event being held on February 5^th.  The area isn’t important; the charity isn’t important – what’s important is this – if the people who are a part of the charity LISTEN!!! 

But, so that I’m providing you the information, it’s for the Prince George’s County Police Department K-9 Unit. 

I can hear it now “Well people will support it because of the dogs…awwww” – No, WRONG!!! 

Here is what I am doing; I am “Branding” the event.  Making the event memorable by giving it an image.  We are calling it the “2016 Blues Brothers Bash.”  Get it, “Blues Brothers”….brothers in blue?  Now, this event will most likely sell out at 700 people.  In fact, I’ll guarantee it.  But – here is what the Experiment is – if we create an event that’s not about the charity, what happens? 

By doing this experiment and sharing it with you, I am going to show you why charities are going wrong today.  The issue is, there are over 104 Million Charities in the United States.  Charity Fundraising is a competition!!!  If there wasn’t true, charities would walk out to their mailbox each day and pull out a huge stack of envelopes which have big checks in them.  Let’s be real for a second, it just doesn’t happen. 

For instance, just last night I met with a charity that is having a problem growing their attendance.  Amongst a few other reasons such as an abnormally high ticket cost, the charity was trying to advertise the event as all about the charity and not about the event.  That’s the reason people aren’t coming!!!

So, let’s sit back and watch as this unfolds.  Guaranteed, doing it the BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising way, it sells out.  Let’s watch!!!

BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising is a North American Charity Fundraising Leader in a “One Stop Shop” convenient setting.  The expert fundraisers at BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising can consult & coach you and your committee to have an incredible event which sells out year after year after year while guiding you through the myriad of fundraising pitfalls.  To learn more, contact us at www.BWUnlimited.com.

 

Are you already knocked out before the fundraising fight even begins? www.BWUnlimited.com

Have you ever watched a boxing or UFC match when the two (2) fighters are so wrongly matched that the novice boxer gets knocked out in the very first round?  It’s almost hard to watch.  But I can bet, the novice fighter thought that they would come out the winner, getting their hand raised at the end.  But, professional, experienced fighters who train and study always come out victorious.  It’s just common sense.

Same with Charity Fundraisers.  Novice fundraisers with very little experience, who don’t study fundraising trends always think the same thing.  They don’t know their opponents or their guests.  In fact, a common statement which I hear all the time is “Our people don’t spend like that.” 

Do professionals think this way?  Does the professional boxer watch his opponent and plan for every possible outcome? 

How do you possibly know how your guests will spend their money when you only have lesser priced, cheap items for them to bid on? 

In order to go from novice to a professional formidable charity fundraiser, you have to understand the “Reality of Fundraising.”  The fundraising myths, mainly that donated items are the best way to raise money because you keep 100% of the money, is truly a novice approach. Not that I’m trying to sell you or your charity on using our items, I’m telling you that the reason our Auction Items exist is because they are proven.  No one wants left overs, no one will bid over the retail price of an item that only sells in a store for $30.00.  You sooner have a better chance of finding Bigfoot then for this to ever happen. 

Novice charity fundraisers always refer to bigger spenders and ask how they can attract those types of people.  The first novice method is to plan your event “Low.”  Another issue, you don’t know until you at the very least try.

Go from the skinny kid in the ring to the Heavy Weight fundraising Champion by asking for our help.

BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising is a North American Charity Fundraising leader in a “One Stop Shop” convenient setting.  BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising helps over 1,400 charities each and every year all across North America.  BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising’s real approach to fundraising, studying the successful fundraising trends, makes BW the #1 fundraising firm in the country.  If you would like our help, contact us today at www.BWUnlimited.com, we would love to help you.