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.

What's the best way to arrange seating in a live auction? As always, it's imperative to think like a pro when planning a fundraising event.

Why do fundraising events need good, clean sound? Your ability to raise money depends on it. As competition between charities grows, donor dollars are getting stretched thinner and thinner. To stand out, your auction must entertain the crowd and keep guests engaged the entire time.

When it comes to hosting a successful fundraising auction, few can do it alone. You'll need several passionate, organized committee chairs with a laser-sharp focus on specific aspects of your event. What are the most essential event chair roles and responsibilities? And how can you find the right person for each job?

In last week's post, we discussed a simple yet often overlooked principle of fundraising auctions: analyzing the different spending tiers of bidders at your event. Today we share 4 practical steps to use this information by customizing your live auction with top tier spenders in mind.

"The #1 enemy at any fundraising event is the clock." You already know every fundraiser is a major investment of time, resources and effort. On the big night, you have just a few hours to generate as much return on that investment as possible. How can you arrange the major fundraising components of the event program—the silent auction, live auction and fund-a-need—to maximize revenue? As a member of our Winspire News community, I wanted to personally invite you to register for Part 1 of a FREE 3-part webinar series on this very important topic. We'll team up with renowned benefit auctioneer Scott Robertson to discuss five secrets for the proper timing and sequencing of a Silent Auction. During this one-hour session, learn how to... Schedule your silent auction and balance it with cocktail hour. Make announcements during your silent auction to encourage bidding. Close in sections to create a bidding frenzy. Adjust the program when using electronic bidding. Set up a quick and easy checkout process. Part 1 will take place on Tuesday, December 20 at 1pm ET/10am PT. Spots are filling fast, so I highly recommend saving yours now! Register in seconds at you.winspireme.com/auction-timeline-secrets.

We are excited to present a free recording of our latest webinar, "Generate Record Profits at Your Next Fundraising Auction"! In this FREE, exclusive one-hour session, renowned fundraising auctioneer Danny Hooper shared unique fundraising techniques that keep an audience engaged and extract more money out of the room. Topics covered include: The 3 E's of a successful fundraising auction event How to structure your event so everyone stays focused on the goal How to secure sponsors, donors and underwriters How to get a top auctioneer for free The hottest new extra revenue generators such as the Wildcard Auction™, Legacy Auction, Blind Auction, Triple Chance Raffle, and more How to raise more money than you thought possible! This is a must-watch for anybody associated with a fundraising auction who wants to achieve record-breaking results at their next event and develop a foundation for successful event fundraisers for years to come. Click here to get the video link, then read on to see what other auction fundraisers are saying about our auction webinar series and how your nonprofit can benefit.

Winspire is proud to present a free recording of our recent webinar, "10 Deadly Sins of Charity Auctions (and how to prevent them),” featuring our good friend and renowned fundraising auctioneer, Danny Hooper. In what could easily fill a 2+ day workshop, Danny covers the following topics: The Do's & Don'ts of organizing your program Proper timing and sequencing of your live auction Commonly missed revenue opportunities Silent auction boo-boos Dangers of losing control of the audience The high cost of using an unqualified auctioneer How to avoid the 10 most costly mistakes ...and more! This is a must-watch for anybody associated with a fundraising auction who wants to achieve record-breaking results at their next event and develop a foundation for successful event fundraisers for years to come.

Including no-risk travel in fundraising galas, auctions and raffles is an increasingly popular strategy for nonprofits. Whether you are considering using consignment travel packages for the first time or have been leveraging Winspire Experiences for years, chances are you still have a question or two about how best to use this fundraising tool.

In this post: "Procure Buzzworthy Travel Packages in 2016" webinar recording and part 1 of our must-read Q&A. Most charity fundraisers are not complete without a dazzling live and silent auction. And for quality items that generate "buzz," drive ticket sales and raise bidding, travel is a proven charity auction bestseller—yet one of the most difficult items to procure. To the rescue: incredible Experiences reserved on consignment. In an informative and entertaining webinar, we teamed up with our friends at Greater Giving to explain how consignment travel helps you raise more money for your cause. Topics covered include: 3 reasons travel performs well in auctions How to host a procurement party How to procure travel packages 4 key strategies to consider when using no-risk travel...and more!