Featured Article

Product Updates

Featured Partner

Client Spotlight

Auctionpay News

Client Services Corner

Educational Resources

Jan 28-30 2007
CASE/NAIS Independent Schools Conference
Philadelphia, PA
 

 
Feb 4-7 2007
CASE District III Conference
Nashville, TN
 

 
March 25-28 2007
AFP International Conference on Fundraising
Dallas, TX
 

 
View online calendar of events for more information.
 

- Resource -
Get the Auction Planner
A detailed timeline providing tips and ideas for planning successful benefit auctions.

- Featured Article -
Top five reasons to hire a professional charity auctioneer  

Frank Bizzarro Bizzarro's Auctions

Top professional auctioneers:

1. Participate in the planning
2. Understand the audience
3. Focus on raising money
4. Become part of your team
5. Are passionate and likeable

To read this article in its entirety, click here.

- Product Updates -

Price of Auctionpay Online Auctions goes down
 
The annual cost of Auctionpay Online Auctions goes down. We know, a price drop is unheard of, but it’s true. For only $295 you can hold your first online auction. Please contact your sales representative for more details or contact sales@auctionpay.com.
 

Auctionpay adds 24 new packages to Auction Booster
 
Auctionpay’s Auction Booster provides amazing packages to sell at your live and silent auctions. We have just added packages in all categories - travel, adventure, sports and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Your organization benefits by keeping the proceeds of these packages - the difference between the winning bid and the package cost. If you don't sell any packages; your organization pays nothing. It’s an easy way to generate excitement and raise more money at your auction events.

"We offered Auction Booster at our Fall event, and were thrilled with the results. The Auction Booster packages were new and different and items we would never have been able to offer otherwise. We appreciate how easy it was." -- Vivian Naylor with the Auxiliary of Condell Medical Center, Auctionpay customer since 2003.

For more information, please go to http://www.auctionpay.com/auctionbooster/

- Featured Partner -

Reynolds & Buckley
It's more than just event night
 
While event night is the final performance on stage, just like putting on a theatrical production, there are many things that need to happen even before that live performance. An expert in the theater and science of charity auctions, long-time auctioneer David Reynolds of Reynolds & Buckley Fundraising Auctioneers knows the preparation that takes place long before he steps on stage is the key to fundraising success.

From his 25 years of experience, Reynolds has developed a wide range of creative solutions for handling challenges faced by each individual event. He focuses on five key areas that are vital for auction event success:

1. Laser beaming your message
2. Donor development
3. Bidder recruitment
4. Audience empowerment
5. Event structure

Reynolds considers himself an "auction performer." His boundless energy and witty style has served his clients very well. "People want to be entertained. It works to put on a show to motivate attendees to fulfill their philanthropic potential. As dedicated fundraisers, we are constantly researching the latest fundraising techniques and philanthropic trends to help our clients maximize that critical time on stage."

Reynolds & Buckley tries to get involved with clients as early in the planning stages as possible - up to a year in advance - to be able to provide guidance all the way through the closing of the curtain.

Reynolds & Buckley is a San Francisco auctioneering firm serving nearly 100 charities nationwide. One paddle at a time, Reynolds & Buckley has raised over 100 million dollars for the arts, children's charities, health care and research, and other worthy causes. For more information visit www.reynolds-buckley.com or view a recorded web seminar on "The Theater of Auctions."

- Client Spotlight -

Rodman Ride for Kids
 
The Rodman Ride for Kids is an umbrella charity that raises funds for children’s social service agencies in Massachusetts. They are famous in the New England area for their annual Rodman Ride for Kids bike ride, and recently held their Fourth Annual "Celebration for Kids" event on December 2, at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston with 2,000 guests in attendance.

The event has grown 25 percent since the organization began using Auctionpay’s event software, online registration and payment processing solution, and this year raised over $700K at their evening gala. Celebrities in attendance included locals Donnie Wahlberg (Mark Wahlberg was unable to attend at the last minute), as well as auctioneers Susan Wornick from WCVB Channel 5 and Glenn Ordway of WEEI Radio. 100 percent of the proceeds from the 600 piece silent and substantial live auction will benefit at-risk children.

"Thank you Auctionpay for helping to make our event run so smoothly. Since our event is a ticketless event, we have a lot of people to manage and get checked in and we couldn't have done it with out you - both the payment terminals and the software helped us have no lines at the end of the night. I didn't know how it would be with 600 items auctioned off, and it really went off without a hitch. The event software is so much more user friendly than our prior solution, and we are very happy with everything."
 
- Tracey Goulet, Executive Director, Rodman Ride for Kids

- Auctionpay News -

Auctionpay donates to Portland’s Shriners Hospital for Children  

As part of Auctionpay’s annual holiday giving program, employees selected Portland’s Shriners Hospital for Children in Portland, Oregon as the recipient of this year's fundraising campaign. While Auctionpay employees give their time year round, every holiday season, employees band together to do a bit more. This year Auctionpay held an online auction, using its own software solution. This year’s $5,300 marks the largest donation made by Auctionpay to a charity.

"We are delighted that Auctionpay is making their holiday donation to Shriners. This donation will support our teen transition program, Camp Spirit, a wonderful program which helps our teenagers learn how to function independently in the world," said Pat Grennan, Director of Community Affairs and Development at Portland’s Shriners Hospital. Grennan was pleased with the donation and accepted the check from Steve Sterba, Auctionpay’s CEO and President.

All of Auctionpay’s employees participated in the online holiday auction, procuring items and inventing creative donations such as auctioning off their own offices or providing catered breakfasts and dinners. Their efforts helped surpass the goal of raising five thousand dollars. The company’s online auction service, Auctionpay Online Auctions, ran the internal auction. It is a comprehensive, easy-to-use online auction service which supplements live events or can be used as a year-round fundraising tool.

To learn more, click here.
 

Auctionpay recognized as Privately Held Company of the Year at 2006 Technology Awards
 
Auctionpay was proud to receive the "Privately Held Company of the Year" award at the 2006 Technology Awards. The event recognizes the accomplishments of Northwest companies and executives who demonstrate leadership and innovation in the technology field, as well as its contribution to the company’s industry and to society. Hosted by the Cascade Pacific Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Auctionpay received the award for its dedication to the success of nonprofits with easy-to-learn, cost-effective technology solutions and for its experienced team of industry-knowledgeable professionals.

To learn more, click here.

- Client Services Corner -

A tip for large events:
 
For large events, or events that tend to have guests arrive all at the same time, it’s a good idea to have a fun diversion at registration.

• Have models showcase jewelry from live or silent auction
• Have volunteers walk through selling raffle tickets; you might display prizes on trays
• Offer wine and other passable appetizers

For more event tips, visit the "Tips" section of the Auctionpay web site.

- Educational Resources -

On-Demand Web Seminars:

Mastering Auction Challenges
This weekly online seminar covers solutions for the most common auction challenges and pitfalls.

Profitable Online Auctions for Nonprofits
Learn how Auctionpay can help you supplement a live event, engage those donors who cannot attend the live event and attract new and potential donors through Online Auctions.

Synchronizing Raiser's Edge and Event Software
Learn how data is shared between donor and event management systems. This seminar is pre-recorded and available at all times.

Event Success With Auctionpay
This presentation shows how Auctionpay solutions work together to improve nonprofit events and benefit auctions.

 

 
Live Seminars:
 
We have teamed with a variety of our partners to offer to you the following upcoming seminars. Check our site often as it is continually updated.

Auctionpay - Mastering Auction Challenges

• Jan 31: Miami, Florida
• Feb 13-15: Long Island & New York City, NY

ePhilanthropy eTour - Nonprofit Internet Strategies

• Jan 25: Naples, Florida
• Feb 15: Dallas, TX

Kathy Kingston - Fundraising Auction Seminar

• March 2: Indianapolis, Indiana
• March 8: Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Louis Murad - Taking Your Benefit Auction to the Next Level

• Jan 30: Denver, Colorado
• Jan 31: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Target Funding Group - 10 Steps to a Successful Charity Auction

• Jan 23: Orlando, Florida
• Jan 25: Tequests, Florida
• Jan 30: Boca Raton, Florida
• Feb 7: Sarasota, Florida
• Feb 8: Ft. Myers, Florida
• Feb 20: Davie, Florida

To learn more and to register for the above seminars, click here.