Athena Advance’s Post

One of the most important moments in a charity auction is right at the very start! 🎤 As an auctioneer, my top priority is to get everyone’s attention before the bidding begins, especially in long rooms where guests can easily be distracted by conversations or the distance from the stage. 📢 Sometimes, you’ve got to get creative to make sure everyone’s focused. I’m not afraid to do whatever it takes to grab attention—even if it means standing on a chair in the middle of the room with a wireless mic! Why? Because once you have the whole room engaged, you set the tone for the auction and keep the energy high throughout. 💥 From experience, I know that when everyone is tuned in and having fun from the get-go, the bids start rolling in and the funds for the cause skyrocket! 🚀 So, whether it’s by moving into the center of the action, or even climbing onto a chair —I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure the crowd is with me! 💪 The key to a successful auction is starting strong! 🎯 Taken at the Rosie May Foundation ball, by Steve Edwards - All of Business Commercial Photography📸 #auctioneer #auction #fundraisingtips #charityevent #fundraiser #FundraisingSuccess #EventTips

As a Charity Auctioneer why do I bring a tablet bigger than my head to fundraising events? 🤔 One of my top priorities is ensuring guests are excited and ready to bid! 🎯 That’s why I always bring my trusty tablet 📲 to every event. It’s a fantastic tool to show guests the auction items in advance. I make sure to arrive as soon as the guests do ⏰. Why? Because it’s crucial to meet and connect with them before the live auction kicks off! By using my tablet to walk them through the lots—complete with images and details—I can build anticipation and get them thinking about their favorite items long before they raise their paddles 🖐️. This personal touch goes a long way. Guests feel more engaged, and when the live auction begins, they’re already excited about the items they’ve seen up close. Whether it’s a dream holiday 🏖️ or a one-of-a-kind experience 🎁, getting them emotionally invested early is key to creating that bidding buzz. My approach is always to get in there, meet the guests, and use a tablet to show off the lots in advance. Trust me, it makes a big difference! 🙌💥 #CharityAuctioneer #Fundraising #Engagement #auctioneer #charityauction #charityevent

Don't Lose Money at your Charity Gala by Making These 3 Mistakes: The difference between a successful event and a disappointing one often hinges on the details. Remember, an irritated supporter is far from a generous one. Let's dive into three critical areas you need to nail to ensure your gala not only runs smoothly but also maximizes donations: 𝟭) 𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸-𝗶𝗻/ 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸-𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 Picture two scenarios—one where attendees breeze through check-in, greeted by well-coordinated volunteers, and another where they're stuck in a snail-paced line. Which do you think fosters generosity? Overscheduling volunteers might seem excessive until you consider the alternative: a bottleneck entry can dampen spirits before the night even begins. 𝟮) 𝗘𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳 I've seen a huge line at the bar hold up an entire program. Also, it dampens the giving mood when folks have to wait a long time for a drink. 3) 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿. Muffled or inaudible announcements don't just irritate; they alienate. Whether it's understanding the cause, getting excited about a live auction, or simply following the evening's program, clear sound ensures your message resonates across the room, compelling guests to act. I don't recommend depending on your DJ or band for sound, they're experts at optimizing their music to sound good, not your voices. Hire an independent audio/visual person. These elements—efficient check-ins, sufficient bartending, and impeccable sound—are not mere details; they're the backbone of a gala that not only entertains but also achieves its fundraising goals. #charityfundraising #auctioneer #nonprofit #nonprofitevents

Now that mobile auctions for virtual or hybrid events are a way of life for most nonprofits, the spotlight is much brighter on your auction item photos! If you want your items to catch your viewers' eyes, you need your photos to stand out, there is a certain level of quality that needs to be met. Check out our blog https://loom.ly/t6trQto where we cover ten photography tips that will help make your items become highly sought-after bids at your next auction! #FundraisingFriday #FunFactFriday #fundraising #nonprofit #auctiontips

🥳 BIG ANNOUNCEMENT 🥳 As we’ve been growing Patchbay Media here in the UK, a few questions have kept coming up: How can we support more London-based charities? How can collaborate with and grow our network of video and communications professionals? How can we create meaningful opportunities for creative Londoners? Super excited to announce the CHARITY FILM CHALLENGE. The Charity Film Challenge is an initiative where teams of volunteers will craft documentary-style short films for deserving charities over a weekend. Like a hackathon for video, we’re challenging London’s best and brightest creatives to donate a day or weekend to produce impactful videos that showcase the incredible stories, impact, and lives changed by fantastic organisations. And we need your help! If you’re a charity - apply for a pro bono video. If you’re selected, we’ll produce a professional documentary-style video for your website and marketing efforts. The Challenge will take place over a weekend in October so you can use your video in Giving Tuesday and end of year campaigns. If you’re a London-based creative - register to volunteer. You can make a massive impact in your community in just one or two days and you’ll walk away with something great for your portfolio. Whether you’re a seasoned production pro, media student, or total novice, we need all levels of video, marketing, and communications professionals to make this successful. The Charity Film Challenge will take place in October. We’ll release more details in the coming weeks. Please spread the word and get involved! charityfilmchallenge.com Activate to view larger image,

It's block party season! 🥳 Why not turn your neighborhood get-together into a fun fundraiser? Hosting a block party fundraiser is a great way to bring your community together to make a difference for people with CMT while having a blast. Here are some tips for throwing an epic block party fundraiser: 😊 Start your fundraising page – Create your fundraiser online in a few simple steps here: https://lnkd.in/eaJHha5e 🥘 Plan tasty treats - Ask neighbors to contribute dishes or host a potluck cookout. You can also sell food/drinks as a fundraiser. 🎶 Line up entertainment - Recruit local musicians, dancers, or DJs to perform. Host games and activities for kids too! 🎟 Sell tickets or take donations - Charge an entrance fee or suggested donation amount. You can also raise funds through raffles, auctions, or activity fees (just check your local laws to make sure this is okay). 🤝 Get community involved - Reach out to local businesses for raffle prizes or sponsorships. Ask vendors to rent a table/booth and sell their goods. The more neighbors you get involved, the more fun and funds you'll raise! Throw the block party of the summer while doing good for your community. Who's in? 🙋♀️ Let us know if you need any other tips for hosting an amazing fundraising block party bash!

It was great to speak to Justin Livingston, CFE, Founder of Giving Brands - Guys Who Give / Gals Who Give shares the inspiring mission behind this incredible initiative. With a shared passion for creating positive change, Justin and his team are dedicated to empowering local charities and making a tangible impact in their communities. Imagine the power of collective giving—where each member's contribution, no matter how small, creates a ripple effect of generosity. Through quarterly events, Giving Brands rallies over 100 men and women to each contribute $100, culminating in substantial donations exceeding $10,000 per quarter and $40,000+ annually per market. But it's not just about the numbers—it's about the stories, the connections, and the shared sense of purpose. Members come together to nominate and champion charities close to their hearts, ensuring that every dollar raised goes directly to causes that matter. What sets Giving Brands apart is its grassroots approach and hyper-local focus. By keeping the impact local, members can witness firsthand the transformative effects of their contributions, fostering a sense of community and fulfillment. No elaborate presentations or corporate agendas—just genuine passion and a desire to make a difference. Together, we can create a brighter, more compassionate world. Subscribe: https://lnkd.in/gAzFdTEA

Something that we don’t shout about enough, but a huge part of what we do. Event Management is how Salone Events begun and our key area of expertise, hence why our Track Days are well organised! We help many companies and charities organise, project manage and deliver a range of events - some are motorsport related and some are not. Unfortunately a lot of them we can’t talk about, which is why you don’t see much social media promo about it. So, if you have a company that needs some support with events, you know where to find us! https://lnkd.in/ezxNBRAf #eventmanagement #events #eventmanager #salesincentive #hospitality #corporate #corporateevent #charityevent

The picture below was taken July 14th, 2015. The site: World's Fair Park in Knoxville, Tennessee. The event: Rally North America's Smoky Mountain Rally. See... I've lived in CO almost without interruption since 1990. I'm not a Colorado Native - to claim so would invite calamity - but I've lived here long enough to have adopted the haughty "you call those mountains?!" incredulity that can only come from sustained periods of oxygen deprivation. I had no idea there was a range of pseudo-mountains in the southern United States and I *really* had no idea that the region was so beautiful. The field of Rally participants, from Dodge Challengers to Scion xBs to Shelby Cobra replicas, a Polaris Slingshot, a rare-all-these-years-later Mustang SVO... From luxury cars to classics and even a brand-new Merc on an extended review by Matt Farah and the team at The Smoking Tire traveled from Worlds Fair Park across to Savannah, GA through some truly wonderful, lush terrain. This is why I can't stop participating in these events; it lets us see parts of the United States we might not otherwise find the motivation to take in in a way we can never forget. Please help me out by hitting Like and, if you think the cause worthy, repost to your networks. All donations, large or small, are hugely appreciated and roundly celebrated. My goal for this week is to raise $250 through our donation page, which is linked below. All proceeds go directly to Camp Sunshine and you will receive a receipt for tax purposes. 🏕 ☀ This post is related to Rally North America's 2024 Sunshine Rally. As we do nearly every year, my wife and I are participating under the team name Slightly Lost. Our goal is to raise as much money for the chosen #charity as we possibly can; please help us make a difference for the kids at Camp Sunshine by contributing at our Team Page. Link in the Comments. For more information, or if you represent a business that would like to get exposure during the event, DM me. #fundraising #foragoodcause #rallynorthamerica #campsunshine #slightlylost661