New Ideas, Enthusiasm Transform Your Auction We love our annual auctions. For many congregations the auction is the second largest fundraiser we do, next to our canvass. In addition to the money auctions bring in, they bolster our social lives with dinners, recreational outings, and other community-building events. So when we find ways to make our auctions better, and bring in more money, we do it. Just as Jefferson Unitarian Church, Golden, Colo. (468 members), did a few years ago. The Jefferson auction had been bringing in $18,000 or so when church leaders, believing more was possible, hired a professional auctioneer who works with nonprofits. That year the auction raised twice as much--$36,000. The next year it jumped to $44,000. In addition, the auctioneer, Steven Talbot, of Portland, Oreg. (503-282- 8466), helped the church incorporate new elements such as a lottery within the auction. He taught members to think big when seeking auction items and to have fun with it. "He just transformed our auction," said John Bradford of the Golden church. "He had lots of suggestions that we were able to incorporate." Talbot and auctioneers like him don't come cheap. He charges around $3,500 plus travel expenses. Or he'll do an all-day workshop for $650. But many nonprofits, including churches, have found his advice worth the investment. His mantra could be "Think big, involve as many people as you can, spend money to make money, have fun." He shared his advice with InterConnections:
He also recommends selling the majority of items by silent auction, reserving only the high-interest items for the live auction. Auction timing is important, Talbot says. One option is to run the silent auction from 6 to 7:30 p.m., followed by dinner. Begin the live auction as soon as entrees are served, keeping it to 90 minutes maximum or 40-45 items. Hiring an auctioneer can be expensive, Talbot acknowledges, but so can taking years to grow an auction to the level you'd like to have. Golden, after two years of using Talbot, hired local auctioneers last year, paying them $500 and applying what they'd learned from carefully working with and watching Talbot. Bradford said the local auctioneers have kept the auction income level up. It's important, Talbot says, to meet with auctioneers well ahead of time, ask questions, find out about their experience with fundraisers, and check references. First UU Church of Columbus, Ohio (568), raises about $17,000 at its auction, which includes silent and live auctions, dinner and entertainment, and a bake sale. Cost is $5 to get in. (Some congregations charge more — up to $25 — if a fine dinner is shared.) Each year it has a theme, from Latin to Shakespeare to Mardi Gras. Last year the items in the auction booklet each had Shakespearean quotes. The entertainment was, of course, Shakespearean playlets. This year Columbus is planning high-tech changes including accepting donations and pre-auction bids on-line. During the auction in February a Powerpoint presentation will help the audience identify the items. Sarah Jordan, auction chair, says, "The most important part of the auction is fellowship--getting to know people by volunteering to help with the auction, meeting people at the auction, and either buying or hosting events like dinners, movie discussions, or game nights where you really get to know them better." At the UU Church of Akron, Ohio (289), the annual auction had a modest turnout, said auction chair Cindy Eubanks, until last year when it put on a dinner and assigned table hosts to invite people and prepare food and decorations. Each table had a theme, and guests were asked to dress to the theme. "They really got into that," says Eubanks. "Each table was a mini work of art. We had a group of happy partygoers ready to bid, plus the auction was great entertainment. It was the hit of the year--people are still taking about how much fun it was! It raised $15,000, compared to $5,000 to $6,000 previously. Allegheny UU Church, Pittsburgh, Pa. (85), has a combination talent show, silent auction, and dinner, raising $2,500. "Some of the talent is pretty good and some of it is outrageous," says the Rev. Art McDonald. "But it's really fun and a highlight of our year." RESOURCES See the July/August 1998 issue of InterConnections for another article on auctions.
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