Alumni auctions are a common but great way to connect the supporters of your institution. Amidst the innocent bidding battles of alumni and parents and the gracious volunteering of students, faculty and staff, auctions effectively bring together school communities under the cause of the institution.
For these popular fundraisers, alumni and development offices take creative approaches with theming. For example, Francis Parker School in San Diego puts a fun annual twist on their auction with themes such as “Cajun Carnivale” or “Haute Harley Nights”, while Lawrence Academy of Groton, MA looks to “Celebrate the Art of Teaching” this upcoming Saturday!
Beyond the conference rooms, gymnasiums and cafeterias where these events are traditionally held, new virtual venues for bidding are arriving, and have received some nice traction from the advancement crowd. One of these virtual venues that we would like to highlight is an online charity site Bidding for Good, a fellow Boston-based startup.
In a recent auction by one of our clients, The Pomfret School, we noted how they successfully integrated their online auction to lead up to their live auction “Hollywood on the Hilltop,” and as a way to follow up and satisfy the needs of those still hungry bidders.
By acting as a promotional tool for the “big event” and by providing those who are unable to make it to the auction an opportunity to participate, we think that online auctions have the ability to make a positive impact for your next alumni auction!
What tools have your advancement office found helpful in promoting alumni auctions? Are there any themes from years past that your school is particularly proud of? Let us know by dropping us a note at marketing@evertrue.com!