Transform fundraising events into long-term revenue with expertauction advice A Higher Bid is the nonprofit school and organizationguide to planning and executing more exciting, more lucrativespecial event fundraisers. In this book, award-winning consultant,fundraiser, speaker, and professional auctioneer Kathy Kingstonshares her proprietary and proven approaches to audiencedevelopment, board empowerment, leadership succession, guestcultivation and engagement, and donor development. You'll learn howlive auctions, special appeals, innovative icebreakers, silentauctions, and new technologies can help increase revenue, and howto execute these events in a way that translates to a strongerdonor base for long-term giving. Kingston describes how to matchthe guest list and catalog for better results, and reveals thestrategies professional auctioneers use to curate the right auctionitems and discover the right people to generate optimum revenue andengage donors. This book offers a fresh approach to fundraising, showing youhow charity benefit auctions can be made a centerpiece offundraising special events to drive both short- and long-termfundraising goals while providing a fun and inspiring opportunityto generate awareness and keep supporters excited about themission. Using Kingston's proven framework, you'll learn effectiveways to: Strategically increase high-profit revenue streams Increase your organization's donor base Empower the board toward efficiency and productivity Engage supporters more deeply and keep them invested Donors are the lifeblood of any nonprofit organization, andsustainable revenue depends upon their high engagement andwillingness to give. Well-executed benefit and charity auctionshave proven to be effective fundraisers for nonprofits,associations, and schools of all types, and A Higher Bid isthe expert guide to optimizing these special events for maximumimpact.

Readers who dream of rallying their communities toward supporting a cause will love this book. Replete with useful information about holding a fund-raiser at school or in a local community, these books are sure to get kids engaged in fund-raising. Kids learn how teachers, administrators, parents, and friends can all help turn their concern about a cause into money that can help the cause.

In a climate in which community services funding is more and more scarce and the causes are getting more and more urgent, grassroots fundraising is the brightest light at the end of the tunnel. The easiest grassroots fundraiser is a benefit auction, and this book offers tried-and-true methods for putting on a wildly successful event. In this comprehensive, step-by-step guide, author Sandy Bradley draws on her many years of experience as an organizer and auctioneer for nonprofits and arts organizations.

Auctions are unique in the world of special events. They contain core elements of other fundraising events, but a critical factor is that they also must procure auction items to match their clientele and then motivate those bidders to buy. True success requires the application of creative strategy to every facet of the event, as well as the use of organized systems to stay on track. Auction Fundraising Simplified shows how to think outside the box, provides examples and worksheets, and will help add thousands of dollars to the bottom line. Contained within these pages is information about: Skills needed to be a successful auction director Insider tips and strategies for "thinking outside the box" Identifying auction demographics and laying a strong foundation Examples, systems, timelines, and worksheets for all auction elements Choosing an effective auctioneer Determining what committees are needed and how to keep them on track Ideas for recruiting sponsors, donors, and attendees Targeted procurement techniques for obtaining auction items Packaging auction lots for the highest sale Catalog writing processes and tips to save time Negotiating contracts with venues, caterers, suppliers, and others Food and beverage suggestions for menu planning and service Ways to market and promote your auction Creating site plans and logistics schedules Contracting for production (stage, sound, lighting, visual media, entertainment) Using volunteers for maximum effect Pre- and post-auction activities The easy-to-read format and systems in Auction Fundraising Simplified have been successfully used by auction managers of all skill levels and by academic institutions as a teaching tool. We guarantee this book will pay for itself many times over in time and financial gain.

The Big Book of Benefit Auctions is the ultimate step-by-step handbook on how to plan and have a successful and effective auction. Auction committees will find it an invaluable reference as it provides all the tools they will need for complete auction planning and management. From setting the goal for the event, to organizing the committee, procuring auction items, building the audience, preparing the catalog and through auction night cashiering (check out) services, everything you will want to know about the auction process is readily at your fingertips in this resource guide. The book will not only contain important "how to" information, it will also explain why some decisions and activities are not only good practices, they are essential to having a well-run and efficient event. Also, the book will discuss important strategies for maximizing revenue at your event, and will cover common pitfalls and how to avoid them.