Have you noticed the world of event fundraising is changing every day? Thanks to new technology, increasingly outside-the-box events and changing donor demographics, what’s working today is very different than what worked best just a few years ago.

If you've ever been part of a fundraising auction, you know how important it is to establish not only auction chairs and committees, but an extensive team of reliable, passionate volunteers. On the day of the event, staff and leadership need to prioritize mingling and networking with donors. This means well-trained volunteers are key to the actual execution of your event.

Which type of fundraising event makes the most money in the shortest amount of time? Is it golf tournaments, galas, 5K run/walks, raffles?

Did you know giving back not only helps others - it's good for you?

"You never get a second chance to make a first impression." - Will Rogers, actor

When your fundraising event countdown passes the 3-month mark, it's a good time to celebrate what you have accomplished and make final pushes to reach your goals. How will you ramp up your social media strategy? Which potential event sponsors and underwriters haven't yet responded? How many Fund-a-Need pre-donations have been collected? That's a lot of priorities to balance at once.

Planning a summer fundraising event? As the big day gets closer, there are countless details to finalize: the auction items, your social media strategy, event sponsors and more.

If you've ever helped organize a fundraising event, it won't surprise you to hear event planning is certified tough. In fact, according to CareerCast's Most Stressful Jobs of 2018 list, 'Event Coordinator' is the fifth most stressful job out there!

Recently we hosted a webinar with fundraising software provider Greater Giving all about practical tips to describe, display, promote and sell auction packages more effectively. Today we are sharing part I of a lively Q&A session with charity auction organizers around the country.

With spring fundraising season upon us, many nonprofits are hustling to procure quality items for their charity auctions. How can you generate higher bids on every item and make the silent auction worthwhile? In popular ABC sitcom Last Man Standing, funny guy Tim Allen plays Mike Baxter, a marketing director for sporting goods retailer Outdoor Man. His wife, Vanessa, is a revered geologist doubling as leader of the PTA. See below as Vanessa and Mike attend a fundraiser for the school that includes a silent auction - and one hilarious pen-and-paper bidding war. Then see if you can spot the 4 best practices we found in the clip, plus get free downloads for your next auction (like customizable bid sheet templates).

Silent auctions are a great way to build momentum for a fundraising event, supplement live auction revenue, engage local donors and delight supporters. And as the holidays draw near, people will be interested in buying unique gifts for friends and family (and treating themselves!) while supporting your cause. As we noted in a recent infographic, most items bring in 40 to 60 percent of their retail value. So you want to follow silent auction best practices that spur final bids to the higher end of that range. If you're new to organizing auctions, you may have some of these common questions on pricing, bid sheets, timing and more: Should we put the retail value on bid sheets? How do we determine minimum bids? Do you see value in Buy Now prices? What are best practices in closing the silent auction? How do we expedite checkout? How can we avoid miscellanous problems? Read on for expert answers and practical tips for turning your auction into an exciting, lucrative shopping spree. 1. Displaying retail values Should we display the values on bid sheets? Is it illegal not to put the value? Are there any times when you would put a value on items? This is a very common question among auction organizers—is it wise to display the item's retail value in marketing materials such as bid sheets, display materials, the auction catalog and online auction site? Our take: It's typically not a good idea to include prices in your auction catalog and here's why.