Thursday, March 25, 2010

Practical and Effective Approaches to Auctions

Auctions are crucial to bringing in the funds your organization needs to thrive, but they can sometimes seem overwhelming. What specific questions do you have about executing a successful and memorable event? What successes are you having? What roadblocks have you encountered? Bring your questions to our Auction Planning Class on March 31 for us to look at together as a case study, and get to the bottom of the details that might seem daunting!

Space in the class is extremely limited, register today!


http://auctiontraining.eventbrite.com/


Engage your volunteers in auction planning...

Volunteers are the lifeblood of any organization and your major fundraising events are no exception. Do you want to know how to engage them in a meaningful way and involve them in the auction-planning process? Bring your questions to our Auction Planning Class on March 31 and get them answered! We have loads of ideas and effective tools to use to make your volunteer relationships a critical element in your auction.

Space in the class is extremely limited, register today!


http://auctiontraining.eventbrite.com/


Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Raise More Money - Auction Training

So your auction has raised the same amount of money every year for three years and you're looking for ways to grow. How can you shake things up and generate more funds at your next event?

Join us Wednesday March 31st for an Auction Planning Workshop to take a real life review of your event and find simple solutions to increase your fundraising.

REGISTER TODAY!


Are you telling a story with your event? Are you maximizing your human economics? Are you engaging emotionally and critically? Are you talking too much or too little? Are you focused on your mission? Are you leveraging the tools in your own planning toolbox?

Morning Session – Introduction to Auctions & Fundraising Events

9AM-12PM — $25
Are you a small non-profit looking to start your first fundraising event? Are you a staff member planning a fundraising event and looking for some tools for planning? This session will break down the basics and give you the 1-2-3 of planning your next fundraising event.
Topics will include:
• Recruiting and managing a volunteer planning committee
• Basic needs and resources for your event
• Basic budgeting – when to purchase and when to use donations
• Tips for sponsorship solicitation
• Ideas for auction procurement

Afternoon Session – Advanced Auction Strategies

1 – 4PM — $25
Are you looking for creative ways to raise more money? Do you wonder what trends are occurring in fundraising events? Are you looking for some specific insight about how you can increase your bottom line? This session will look at a couple of event case studies and identify strategies to implement in the planning of your next event that will reduce your workload and increase your profits.
Topics will include:
• Simplify your logistics to focus on your fundraising (room layout, sound quality, and guest experience)
• Creating an event program that increases your fundraising
• Get strategic about your auction (What sells? Should you do a silent/live auction? Compelling bidders)
• The Appeal (Don’t let this money making opportunity slip through the cracks!)

Both Sessions
9AM – 4PM — $40 (lunch available for an additional $12)


REGISTER TODAY!

Monday, March 15, 2010

Early Bird Registration for Fundraising Conference

WVDO Regional Fundraising Conference, May 20-21, 2010

Don't miss out! Early bird deadline: April 2, 2010. Register at: www.wvdo2010.org

Two full days of workshops, keynote speakers and the 17th Crystal Awards recognizing excellence in development.

Keynote Speakers: Eric Utne, The Utne Reader Flo Green, IdeaEncore.org and nonprofit sustainability Madeline Stanionis, Watershed Corp., social media guru

Local Speakers: George Thorn, Jim Lewis, Ellen Bussing, Andy Nelson, Jim Lillis, Helen Kennedy

Meet the Funders with Grantmakers of OR and SW Washington: The Autzen Foundation, Bank of America, The Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, Meyer Memorial Trust, The James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation, M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust, Spirit Mountain Community Fund, THE OREGON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, The Standard, U.S. Bank, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, Social Venture Partners Portland, The Jackson Foundation, Wessinger Foundation, The Ford Family Foundation, Pacific Corp, Safeco Insurance Foundation and more reservations coming in daily.

Fantastic exhibitors for nonprofits: eTapestry, Target Analytics, NOZA, DonorSearch, MatchMaker Fundraising, Emma.com, Cricket, WaveOne and Samantha Swaim Fundraising, LLC.

Event Sponsors: Bank of the Cascades, Spirit Mountain Community Fund, Safeco Insurance, The Standard, Blackbaud, Wheeler Foundation, US Bank, Bank of America, Phillips & Co., Kinsman Foundation, University of Portland, Pacific University, University of Oregon, The Collins Group, NW Natural

Register at: www.wvdo2010.org Event hosted by Willamette Valley Development Officers (WVDO). Questions: admin@wvdo-or.org or 503-274-1977.

Now Offering Career Mentorship in Event Planning

Do you know about Vocation Vacations? Looking for some career training? Looking to follow your dream job? Looking to make that leap? Vocation Vacations offers you the opportunity of a life time. We are now offering event mentorship. If you would like the opportunity for some on the job training be sure to check us out!

www.vocationvacations.com

CNN talks all about how Vocation Vacations can assist you in your career transition...
Watch Video Here

If you would like to Vacation with us... we'll put you to work:

While on your Event Planner VocationVacations® career mentorship with Samantha Swaim, activities will include some or all of the following:

* Develop a logistics plan that includes traffic flows, timelines, and run of show
* Identify staffing needs for day of event execution
* Create theme concepts in design and program execution
* Act as a lead to manage guest check-in
* Write script notes and provide AV with staffing needs
* Develop a room layout
* Run through dress rehearsal
* Spot auction sales in partnership with auctioneer
* Manage food and beverage service needs
* Participate in AV prep meeting, auctioneer prep meeting, and catering meeting
* Decorate displays for silent auction
* Pull bid sheets and oversee silent auction wrap up



The Event Planner VocationVacations® career mentorship with Samantha Swaim includes:

* Two days of one-on-one mentorship in your dream job as an Event Planner
* The opportunity to participate in a total of one hour of pre- and post- VocationVacations career coaching from an accredited, affiliated VocationVacations career coach
* A pocket-size VocationVacations journal so you can document your dream job coming to reality
* Light lunches with your mentor

Available: Based on mentor’s availability – NOTE: Ideally the two days would consist of the day before the event and the day of the event.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Auction Training Workshop


Auction Planning Class


In December we hosted an auction planning class in partnership with auction support providers. The response was overwhelming and participants asked for more.
So we have created a two-part workshop that is perfect for development directors, development coordinators, and volunteer committee chairs.

The morning session will focus on the steps of getting an auction started. The afternoon session will take a more advanced look at your strategies and fundraising. Space in limited in each group so that we can have specific discussions around your organization’s needs and questions. Each session will look at case studies and examples of “dos” and “don’ts” of planning.

Wednesday, March 31
at The Melody Ballroom

9AM – 12PM Introduction to Auctions: $25
12 – 1PM Planners Lunch (share ideas in a casual setting):
$12 with conference attendance only
1 – 4PM Advanced Auction Strategies: $25
4 – 5PM Auction Planners Networking Hour: free to all attendees

Attend both workshops for only $40


Lunch Menu - $12 with conference attendance only
Grilled Chicken Breast on top of
Caesar Salad with Dressing on Side
Lunch Roll and Butter
Cookie
Assorted Juice and Soda

Register today HERE

Morning Session – Introduction to Auctions & Fundraising Events
9AM-12PM — $25

Are you a small non-profit looking to start your first fundraising event? Are you a staff member planning a fundraising event and looking for some tools for planning? This session will break down the basics and give you the 1-2-3 of planning your next fundraising event.
Topics will include:
• Recruiting and managing a volunteer planning committee
• Basic needs and resources for your event
• Basic budgeting – when to purchase and when to use donations
• Tips for sponsorship solicitation
• Ideas for auction procurement

Afternoon Session – Advanced Auction Strategies
1 – 4PM — $25

Are you looking for creative ways to raise more money? Do you wonder what trends are occurring in fundraising events? Are you looking for some specific insight about how you can increase your bottom line? This session will look at a couple of event case studies and identify strategies to implement in the planning of your next event that will reduce your workload and increase your profits.
Topics will include:
• Simplify your logistics to focus on your fundraising (room layout, sound quality, and guest experience)
• Creating an event program that increases your fundraising
• Get strategic about your auction (What sells? Should you do a silent/live auction? Compelling bidders)
• The Appeal (Don’t let this money making opportunity slip through the cracks!)

Both Sessions
9AM – 4PM — $40 (lunch available for an additional $12)

Are you looking to immerse yourself in auction planning? This full day will provide you both the building blocks and the advanced strategies. Join both sessions for a reduced rate. You can also purchase lunch for an additional $12 and stay for an auction planner networking session from 4 – 5PM. Share a glass of wine, share ideas, and share resources with fellow development professionals.

“I didn't know what to expect, but I was so glad I went. It was eye-opening and I appreciated the opportunity to learn.”
—December Workshop Participant


“I loved it! What a great way to help fundraisers in the area.”
—December Workshop Participant

Thank you to our sponsors:
The Melody Ballroom
Witham & Dickey

Reserve your spot... buy your tickets today! Click Here

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Photography & Fundraising

A big piece of fundraising events is "managing the budget" to reduce your expenses and increase your income. So I am often asked about the use of a professional photographer at a fundraising event.

Before the explosion of Twitter, Facebook, and blogs I used to advise clients that volunteer photographers would get you fun photos for documentation sake and that hiring a professional event photographer wasn't a cost you should incur.


But now that social media is so accessible as a tool for pre-event marketing, post-event wrap up, sponsor thank yous, and post-event solicitations, don't miss out on a great opportunity to increase you support. The work of a professional event photographer can help you to really capture the important moments, the feel of the event, and can give you a tool to recognize all of the folks involved in the event.

Two of my favorite event photographers in the Portland area are:
Andie Petkus Photography -and-
Mon Amour Photography

The two of them each have a real sense of what it takes to plan a fundraising event and work hard to capture all of the elements involved. For example, photos of the food and beverages can be used to thank your vendors and donors. Photos of your auction items can highlight key auction donors. Photos of your volunteers and planning committee can be a great way to honor all of their hard work. Think about all of the ways to capture your event and how valuable the tool of a simple photo can be.


Thank you to our wine donor!



Thank you to our Committee Chairs!





Thank you to our great emcees!





Thank you to our donors!

Club Cabaret In Review

All photos by Andie Petkus Photography... click to see more photos.

Congratulations to The Northwest Academy on a great event February 27th. This year the organization made the bold choice to expand their event to allow for increased growth in head count. It was a bold move in a tight economy but one that was effective.

Their silent auction moved to the Sunken Ballroom at the Portland Art Museum where guests gathered for drinks, light bites, and lots of auction bidding. The theme was a 1930s super club set in Argentina. Guests came ready to Tango.




During the silent auction middle school students shined shoes and tapped their way through the room to the delight of many guests.

Gaucho stilt walkers roamed the room selling Wild Card Raffle tickets and doubled the raffle income from years past.

The wine wall was a huge success with over 130 great bottles of wine to select from.

By 7PM guests were ready for dinner and headed upstairs to the Grand Ballroom where music was playing and student ambassadors were greeting guests upon their arrival.













Vibrant Table served a fantastic Chicken Chimichuri that fit the theme of the evening.

Live auction bidding was fast and furious with three exciting additions to the auction this year. Big hits were:

1. Oprah Package - 4 tickets to a taping and hotel stay in Chicago.
2. Vocation Vacation Broadway Director Experience - with airfare and hotel to New York.
3. A Twilight Fashion Show - at the home used in the film as Edward's home, folks purchased tickets to attend a Twilight themed party and fashion show.

At the end of the Auction Karen & Skip Freedman were honored by board member Michael McCulloch with the Arlene Schnitzer Award for support in arts and education.

Then with a sputtering airplane crashing down in the jungle, the Northwest Academy Tango Cabaret entered for a show following the tango team through the jungles of Argentina in search of Carlitos, the King of Tango. Alison Irvine performed a beautiful love ballad with violinist Ardon Lee, and Noah Goldenberg and Kelsey Chapman Sutton were fantastic as the star crossed lovers.










The evening wrapped up with Tango lessons by Eric Zimmer and Erin Shannon. It was a fun event filled with lots of entertainment and passion for the school while raising funds for scholarships.

Congratulations to all the committee members on a great event and special thanks to Smart Tech AV & Vibrant Table on all of your support.

A a big special thanks to Karen O'Rourke & Kari Lackstrom for their committee vision and leadership!

If you missed the event but would like to make a gift to the scholarship fund at Northwest Academy... Click Here!