Q.  Our organization has been using a local TV personality, who does not charge for his services, to auction items at our annual gala. Since ours is a charity auction, why should we engage your services and have to pay for what we have been getting free of charge?
 
A.  First, there is the old saying that you get what you pay for. We are trained specialists in fund raising via benefit auctions and are much more able to capture every available dollar for your cause. We also provide extensive guidance and assistance in the planning and production of your event in the months prior to it’s occurrence. In other words, we do not just show up the night of the event, auction a few items and then disappear. Finally, since the caterer, the band, and others are paid for their services, it seems only natural that those responsible for producing the vast majority of the revenue raised by the event should be compensated for their services.


 
Q.   I see that your two principals have received Benefit Auctioneer Specialist training by the National Auctioneers Association. Why should our organization consider this in deciding whether to engage Bountiful Benefits for our charity auction?
 
A. The Benefit Auctioneer Specialist (B.A.S.) training provided by the National Auctioneers Association, conducted by several of the most experienced and successful benefit auctioneers in the nation, includes study of how to maximize donations, attendance, and participation, how to structure live and silent auctions to best enhance bidding, and publication of attractive and motivational catalogs.  Other topics covered include development and application of auction psychology to increase the level of bidding and the identification of multiple additional revenue sources beyond live and silent auctions which can be tapped to add substantially to the amount raised at an event. Clearly, auctioneers without this training, not to mention volunteer "personality" auctioneers, cannot be expected to produce the levels of revenue capable of being realized by trained, professional benefit auctioneers.



Q.  O.K., I understand why you are compensated for your services.  Our organization's fund raising auction is small compared to many and I am concerned whether we can afford your professional assistance.

A.  The real question is whether you can afford NOT to use our services.  We will increase substantially (by far more than what our fee will be) the net revenue previously raised by your organization's use of a non-benefit auction specialist. There are several levels of our possible involvement in your fundraising effort (click on "Fee Options" under "What We Offer" to see a listing) with varying fee levels for each.  For all levels payment may be a flat fee, a percentage of the amount raised, or our compensation may be entirely underwritten by either sponsors or by winning bidders, resulting in NO COST to the organization or diminishment of the total of the winning bids at the auction. 


Q.  How far in advance of the date for a fundraising auction do we need to contact you?

A.  Ideally, the planning and development of a fundraising auction should begin eight to ten months prior to the date of the event. Less time may be required for organizations that have been conducting auctions for several years and who have knowledgable committees working on planning and soliciting donations prior to our becoming involved.  We do expect to be deeply engaged with the creation of the auction catalog, which requires our being on board no less than four to five months prior to the fundraiser.  While we do not advise it, if the organization only wants our services on the day of the auction, a two or three week prior contact is adequate. 


Q.  Should our type of organization use a benefit auction? 

A.  Yes.  While most of our clients are private or public schools, civic clubs, or 501(c)3 organizations,  other entities such as hospitals, sports related groups, animal rescue organizations,  political interest groups, and almost any other organization can raise significant amounts of money by holding a professionally directed fundraising auction.