As your event draws near, stay on task by creating to-do lists to keep track of everything you still need to accomplish. Here are four things you will want to take care of in the 3 months prior to your event:

Savvy event planners know one of the most important factors of success is starting early. That means six to twelve months prior to the big date, you should be busy creating your to-do list and checking off tasks as you accomplish them. Following are some of things you should have completed - or be well on your way to completing - by the six month mark.

Successful fundraising events require an emcee who can entertain, engage and encourage your audience to open their wallets. Who are you going to pick for the job? A volunteer? A local celebrity? A member of your organization? Many Nonprofits assume the job of hosting is simple - any outgoing person who isn’t afraid of public speaking can surely do it, right? This assumption can hurt an organization's chances for success. It may be time to reconsider and look at hiring a professional benefit auctioneer. The most common reason Nonprofits avoid hiring a professional charity auctioneer is the expense. This rational is short sighted because these professionals offer more than just gravitas when it comes to running a successful fundraiser.  Whether you are expecting 30 guests or 300, paying for a professional benefit auctioneer to run your event is an essential part of hosting a successful fundraiser. Here’s why...

As a Nonprofit, you know brainstorming auction item ideas can be a daunting task. To get the ball rolling and discover unique and fresh ideas, gather your procurement committee together and have a wish list party. A wish list party is a great way to kick your good old-fashioned brainstorming sessions up a notch and inspire your team to be more effective. To get the most out of the party keep the following tips in mind.

Benefit auctions can be a successful fundraising strategy for Nonprofits and a great way to raise awareness. Before your Nonprofit can host a benefit auction, however, you first have to procure exciting and appealing silent auction items. Even with a dedicated and knowledgeable auction committee, this can feel like an overwhelming task. Follow these three tips to make the process smoother and easier to manage. 1. Calculate How Much You're Trying to Raise When you ask Nonprofits how much money they want to raise, most are going to say there is no such thing as raising “too much money”. However, determining a concrete goal will keep your Nonprofit focused on procuring the right quality and quantity of items to make that number possible. As your procurement team begins the process of gathering items, take the time to determine the Suggested Retail Value and Estimated Yield of each item as they come in.

Having a benefit auction is a great way to connect with members, expand your reach and boost fundraising efforts. But executing a successful benefit auction is a difficult task, even for the most experienced Development Director. These tips are a good start for establishing a timeline and ultimately throwing an amazing event.

You’ve decided to host a benefit auction at your next big Nonprofit fundraising event — that’s great! You’ve taken an important step toward successful fundraising. Now you are faced with a few important decisions while planning the event, which can be overwhelming. One of the first things you’ll have to decide is whether to have a live or silent benefit auction. How do you know which is better for your organization’s big night? Well, before we get ahead of ourselves, first let’s talk about the differences between the two types of auctions.