12 Reasons to Partner with Professional Benefit Auction Specialists (BAS) + Fundraisers
Fundraising events – whether in-person, hybrid or virtual – require a certain something from stage and online talent. So what do you need from your Benefit Auction Specialist, to nail that fundraising event on your behalf? Here’s what fundraising professionals need in order to shine and be successful.
1. Superior Visuals + Crystal Clear Messaging
Our Benefit Auction Specialists and fundraising ambassadors are experts at every aspect of fundraising and events. From script content, PowerPoint design and messaging, to what colors work best to create the mood you’re going for, to what images belong on green screen backgrounds, and everything in between!
2. One-Stop Shop
Want to really streamline the process of planning and executing a successful fundraiser? You’re in the right place. We are your one-stop shop for all things fundraising and fundraising events. So what does this mean for you, when we partner? It means fewer vendor decisions to make and manage. If we can’t provide it in-house, we have plenty of great referrals for you. Need a good AV technician? Emcee? How about that perfect venue for your in-person crowd? Need an appeal video written, shot, edited? A talented visual storyteller? Professional voiceover work? Photography services? Scriptwriting? Event support or software? Registration support? Entertainment? Caterers? There are a million things to secure for every event. We can ultra-streamline this process for you, freeing you up to focus on pre-commits, donor outreach, development, even event marketing. What else might you do with all of the time you’ll save, by working with us? Our Benefit Auction Specialists work with fabulous vendors and pros every day. They’re a goldmine of insider info. Another benefit? You’ll reduce the chance of communication breakdowns, since everyone is on the same page. The left hand always knows what the right hand is doing!
3. The Art of the Pivot
Think of your major fundraising events back in 2019. (Seems like about a decade ago, doesn’t it?!) What were your chosen fundraising activities? Fun Runs? Competitive tournaments? Social campaigns? One of the valuable things we learned during the pandemic was that we can – and DID – pivot these types of events to virtual formats. We developed a new service called Go Social – a quick and dirty social media special appeal, intended to accompany an in-person event. Know that when you partner with us, you can’t lose because no matter what happens, we’ll be ready. We don’t use outdated fundraising methodology. Innovation is one of our brand values!
4. Fundraising Goals + Strategy
There are certainly parallels to fundraising strategies for in-person, hybrid and virtual events. There are also some major differences! And to be frank, it all comes down to experience. One might think you can simply point a camera at what would’ve been your in-person show, and send that out into virtual land. But it’s not quite that simple. A performance that feels super high-energy in person doesn’t necessarily come across that way, virtually. Something gets lost in translation. Your fundraising professionals need even more energy, as well as the ability to skillfully keep up the pace during a virtual or hybrid event. But there’s a fine line between being energetic and coming across as manic or hyper – no one will take that seriously! (OR want to watch it – unless they think it’s so bad, it’s humorous. In that case, your benefit auctioneer specialist has lost all credibility, perhaps forever.) Experienced charity auctioneers understand that fine line and walk it frequently as their profession. As a result, they’re more effective at executing your program and keeping donors engaged. Maintaining energy levels in an online environment is essential to engaging online donors. Creating momentum through timing, sequencing and content is also a skill learned through experience. Practice makes perfect and experience matters!
5. Expertise
Think of all the time, energy, money and resources you put into every big in-person fundraising event. Despite your best efforts, snafus can and do happen. You have a great chance of resolving these impromptu gaffes gracefully when working with a fundraising professional. Again, this takes on even more importance in a formal fundraising environment when every word counts. Things can and do go wrong in a live environment. (Ever watched news bloopers?) Having a pro who gracefully rolls with the punches can mean the difference between a disastrous show, and one with a little hiccup that your viewers will at least forgive, if not completely forget.
Charity auctioneers are trained in one thing – raising you more money. Trust that their consultation is current, on trend and has your mission’s and budget’s best interests at heart. Vet them. Be sure your fundraising professional is a member of the National Auction Association, the largest professional auction organization in the world. We’re also confident you’ll be most successful using a Benefit Auction Specialist – one of the elite few who specializes in charity fundraising and events.
6. Consultation + Fundraising Trends
What works? What doesn’t? What’s new? What’s outdated? Avoid common pitfalls, while keeping your event relevant, on schedule, and packed full of mission moments. Maximize your fundraising efforts while streamlining everything, in order to make planning events easier and less time-consuming. Many of our clients are already working on their second or third virtual events. Thus, part of the planning for the next one involves evaluating what worked, what didn’t, and where there’s room for improvement. Your auctioneer will work with you to ensure your next virtual event is smooth AND successful. The success of your hybrid’s virtual component is completely dependent upon EXECUTING it beautifully. Work only with pros to achieve this.
7. Proven Revenue Stream Ideas
We’re taking copious notes and learning a ton with every event we produce and execute. Experience and donor feedback is helping us narrow down what fundraising strategies and revenue streams translate well to virtual and hybrid formats, and which don’t. We’ve learned how to streamline the process and maximize what you’re already planning, to grow events organically.
8. Experience Matters
Does your professional benefit auctioneer have experience with pivoting to a different format? Have they ever had to raise the bar, or come up with a creative solution to a fundraising event problem on the fly? Ask them to provide examples. Our Benefit Auction Specialists can talk about this ALL DAY!
9. Event Best Practices
Your fundraising specialist will teach you and your team best practices for executing stellar events. Date selection, catering, venue selection, revenue streams – we’ll share all you need to know!
10. Event Presentation
A professional benefit auctioneer and their team will elevate your events in myriad ways. Donor experience is key to your success. Professionals know how to engage and finesse folks in event environments with mission storytelling, education, humor, charm and persuasion. A professionally-produced event brings in more revenue than boring or poorly executed fundraisers. The key to pleasing your donors is through events with higher production quality.
11. Mission Ambassadors
Benefit Auctioneers know and use mission-driven language during your event, emphasizing your unique message and mission to donors. Often, even their voice is specially trained to deliver these messages, so donors want to hear what they have to say. These messages must be extra powerful at fundraising events. We have tried-and-true strategies to encourage your supporters to raise the paddle or hit the donate button “just one more time!”
12. FUN! = More $$$
It’s a fact: when donors have a positive experience and more fun, they give more and remain donors for longer. If donors enjoy a beautifully-produced, fast-paced program, they DO give! Professional benefit auction specialists know what they’re doing and they know how to do it. Consider your auctioneer your fundraising specialist in the same way you consider your dentist a cavity-filler or your dermatologist a skin saver.
Leave the fundraising to the fundraising professionals, whether you’re planning an in-person, hybrid or virtual fundraising event. You always realize greater results!
Ready to change the world with us? Contact us today!