Fundraising Auctioneers: Unique Skills and Customised Approach to Auctioneering

12/01/202013/01/2020

Live Auctioneer for Fundraising Auctions Jason Kazanis helping with fundraising ideas.

Did you know that there exists a specific type of live auctioneer that specialises in fundraising auctions?

Fundraising auctioneers have a unique, tailored approach to hosting live auctions that can significantly improve guest participation, bidding, and overall fundraising results. Helping Hand Group has developed a network of fundraising auctioneers over more than two decades who assist our team at hundreds of fundraising events throughout Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and other countries in Asia. Our team has witnessed improvements in size and number of bids due to the specific skills that fundraising auctioneers bring to live auctions held at fundraising events.

Fundraising auctioneers are different than other auctioneers who focus on items such as cars, equipment, property, or livestock.

Fundraising auctioneers work with fundraisers on a regular basis and have developed the experience and skills required to effectively engage with different types of audiences that attend fundraising events. Fundraising auctioneers conduct their auctions in a different way because participants are bidding based on a different motive than, say, a standard property auction. During a property auction, participants bid based on their desire to own a particular piece of property at the best possible price up to their maximum bid. However, during fundraising auctions, participants not only bid based on their desire to own a particular item, but also to give generously to the benefitting charity. This is where fundraising auctioneers excel:

1. Fundraising auctioneers excel at tapping into the emotions of your guests to ensure that all guests are reminded of the purpose of the fundraising event – to give generously to your cause.

2. Fundraising auctioneers will connect with your audience with dialogue, gestures, and interactivity to get their attention, maintain it, and ensure they know how to participate.

3. Fundraising auctioneers will find ways to encourage higher bids while running a fun auction with effective dialogue to encourage guests to start friendly bidding rivalries and push bids as high as possible for your cause.

4. Fundraising auctioneers make the auction items “come to life” by leveraging descriptive selling and promoting the benefits and usability of the auction item itself.

5. Fundraising auctioneers can work within tight timelines to ensure that your event schedule stays on-time.

Live auctioneers for fundraisers are flexible and can auction almost anything that you have to offer.

Fundraising auctioneers have the ability to present and auction off a wide range of auction items. Helping Hand Group has a variety of autographed memorabilia, themed items, unique experiences, and holiday packages that work well with our fundraising auctioneers. However, if you have acquired your own items – regardless of the value – our fundraising auctioneers have the skills to adapt and connect the value and theme of the item to your guests to ensure as many people are inspired to participate and bid as generously as possible.

Live fundraising auctioneers can be provided at no cost to your event budget.

Helping Hand Group can provide one of our live fundraising auctioneers at no cost to your event budget when our team also supplies five auction items to your auction list. Our team can also work with you to ensure that the type, theme, and value of the auction items are well suited for your guests to ensure the greatest opportunity for success possible. Our team covers our service costs when our auction items sell at your event. So, it is up to us to ensure that our team strives for the best possible results at your live auction!

Helping Hand Group maintains a network of fundraising auctioneers that can be made available to perform their services for your live fundraising auction.

Contact our team to discuss the many options available to suit your next fundraising gala or corporate dinner auction.

Opinion: Ballot Bidding® or Electronic Silent Auction?

06/07/201907/04/2021

Ballot Bidding or Electronic Silent Auctions for charity fundraisers

Ballot Bidding® or Electronic Silent Auction: Which format is best for your event?

Choosing the right auction format for your fundraising event is key to achieving your fundraising goal. Not sure which is the best format to raise as much money as possible for your charity? We can help! Here are some unique features of paper-based Ballot Bidding as well as technology-based Electronic Silent Auction systems:

BALLOT BIDDING®: Classic paper-and-pen silent auction format

Cut to the chase: Ask your guests for their maximum auction bid once and eliminate back and forth “penny bidding”. Keep them tuned in to your speakers rather than constantly checking their silent auction bids.

Maximise bids for your charity: This “blind” method encourages guests think about possible bids from other guests. It encourages bidding at or as close to as possible to their personal maximum bid. This helps to ensure your fundraising auction raises as much as possible.

Sell multiple auction items for your charity: When available, we facilitate selling more than one of an auction item to the top bidders. Yes, that means the amount you fundraise multiplies!

Let us do the work: Our team will design, print, and distribute our Ballot Bidding® forms to your guests’ seats at no cost. We seamlessly incorporate all items available at your event.

ELECTRONIC SILENT AUCTIONS: Electronic auction system using tablets, smart phones, and event screens.

Bidding on auction items without borders: We provide you with a link to an online version of your auction. Share it via email or social media and collect bids from contacts worldwide.

Flexible auction item list: Silent auction technology allows you to enjoy a limitless number of silent auction items. It is also designed to be in a flexible digital format.

Communicate and up-sell for your charity: Messages can be sent directly to your guests during the night via SMS. Use the electronic silent auction technology to promote higher bids by enticing competitive bidding. You can also use the auction software to remind guests about important information about the auction.

We believe that both electronic silent auctions and classic paper-based silent auctions are fantastic in their own way. They engage guests and both are effective at raising funds. However, we recognise that they are very different approaches.

Contact our team and let’s have a conversation about which format will work best for your next event.

Planning a fundraising event? Here are 5 tips to help you make it a success

10/06/201910/06/2019

Planning an event can be very stressful and hectic. It is also be a fantastic way to raise a significant amount of money for your special cause. That being said, there is a long list of variables that need to come together in unison to create an effective fundraising event.

Our team has put together a shortlist of the top five fundraising event tips and best practices.

Fundraising Event Tip #1: Set your event budget

It is important to ensure that your ticket price will cover most of your event costs. This will ensure that the funds you raise will go directly to your cause. Set and secure sponsorships as early as possible as this also helps cover other expenses involved with putting together the event.

Fundraising Event Tip #2: Plan your run sheet

It’s important that the event flows in the most important way to maximise fundraising. Ensure guests are well fed, ‘watered’ and entertained before really emphasising why they have all come together for your event.

Use a heartfelt speech or video that tells the story of your cause in an emotional way to appeal to you guests. This should make sure everyone understands the impact of their donations Then, ensure you go straight into your Live Auction. This is the most crucial time to drum up funds.

Important note: Ensure that food service is not happening during the Live Auction. Guests should not be distracted by dessert or their food. You want their full attention on the auction items.

Fundraising Event Tip #3: Keep the activities fun and entertaining

Do something different. Create a spark! Wow your guests to encourage them to donate and spend money. Consider including competitive games such as heads and tails, balloon raffles, or Helping Hand Group’s Last Donors Standing Format as a way to engage with your guests.

Use your table centrepieces as a way to raise funds. It is most likely that you’ve spent money to make the room attractive. Use them as a lucky draw with raffle tickets with one winner at each table!

Try out a unique venue location indoors or outdoors that offers a special view, architecture or décor. Consider pairing your event up with a public event that is planned in close proximity to your venue.

Fundraising Event Tip #4: Be well organised ahead of time with proper help to reduce stress and workload

Consider bringing in a third party fundraising specialist (such as Helping Hand Group) to ensure your auction is stress free! They take care of everything such as bringing in big ticket items, providing the bidding platforms for you to facilitate your auctions, and providing a smooth, care-free auction process.

Don’t leave finding donations to the last minute. Plan ahead and reach out to your network and chase people up persistently to ensure they confirm all details so you can plan and promote your auction lists well in advance.

Start selling event tickets early. Planners have been known to often leave this detail to the last minute. Focusing on guest attendance should be a high priority as this is the hardest element of the event sometimes.

Note: If you will use an electronic silent auction platform, connect your ticketing system with your auction platform. This promotes registration before your event so your guests don’t have to spend time doing it at your event. Speak to a Helping Hand Group staff member today about how we can help you do this!

Fundraising Event Tip #5: Post-event Follow Ups and Thank Yous

Take the time to use the data you’ve collected from your event to thank people for their contributions. This could include your prize purchasers, your volunteers, people who donated items or people who donated their time helping you put the event together. It’s a small gesture that can go a long way when planning your next event.

Helping Hand Group can handle all your post-event auction tasks such as chasing outstanding winners for payment, handling item deliveries and ensuring guests get their vouchers and have a great time using their prizes!

Contact a Helping Hand Group Fundraising Event Expert near you for more information and tips for your next fundraising event.

Helping Hand Group Ballot Bidding®: A Great Way to Maximise your Fundraising.

07/11/201707/04/2021

Let us do the work for you! We design and print Ballot Bidding® forms that include all of the items available for the fundraising auction of your event. This includes any items that you have amassed as well as any items supplied by our team. We integrate all items into a seamless, professional, presentation that is specially-branded for your event.

Guests are given one chance to lodge their max bid against the items that interest them and multiples can sometimes be sold! Our expert team is made available to assist guests with bidding, to answer questions, and handle all payments at the end.

Check out our other auction formats that may suit your next event: https://helpinghand.com.au/auction-formats/