Why Choose a Professional Fundraising Auctioneer

As you plan your fundraising event, there are many, many details to think about. Don’t forget to also include hiring a professional fundraising auctioneer on your list. Here are a few reasons why:

A professional fundraising auctioneer knows how to conduct a fundraising auction.
A fundraising auction is different from any other kind of auction. The goal is not just to sell items, but to also get the audience excited about the mission of the organization. The auctioneer will remind the audience why it is important to bid high and bid often—“inspiring” them to give.

Live auctions raise significant dollars.
When planning your event, you’ll hire the best caterer, decorator, designer, etc. you can afford. Why try to save when it comes to the person motivating guests to open their checkbooks?

If the audience is having fun, chances are you will have a successful auction.
A professional fundraising auctioneer sees him/herself as an auctioneer and an entertainer (of course we can’t guarantee all of the jokes will get laughs…). He/she knows how to keep the pace lively and interact with the audience in a fun and comfortable manner.

An experienced fundraising auctioneer knows which items are the best candidates for the live auction and is familiar with the “going rate” for items.
He/she will be able to tell you why a dinner party for ten with your board president as host and chef will create more enthusiasm (and bidding) than a fur coat or riding lawn mower. He/she will know how much similar live auction items have been selling for at other events. The professional will guide you in appropriate item selection and help you to set attainable (and even exceed-able) bidding goals for the audience.

A professional is experienced in how to push the bidding to its limits—and make the audience feel excited about and comfortable bidding top dollar.
The professional fundraising auctioneer will know when to move to the next item, when a bidder has reached his/her limit, when to pause, when to tell a joke and when to keep the bidding moving fast and furious. This feel for the rhythm of the auction only comes with experience.

Professional fundraising auctioneers will be with you every step of the way.
A professional fundraising auctioneer won’t just show up the night of the event to conduct the auction. He/she will take time to learn about your organization, your audience and your goals. You'll receive expert advice throughout the planning process. We will brainstorm new ideas with you and give you perspective on what has worked well (or not) at other events. We’ll even “debrief” with you after the event to talk about successes and areas for improvement.

Believing it is our job to “inspire audiences to give,” Fladeboe Auctions works closely with each client in the months leading up to the event to ensure the most successful auction possible. We understand the stress involved in planning a fundraising event and our goal is to make your live auction run smoothly and efficiently while raising the maximum amount of dollars possible!

"...They suggested a new fundraising idea which helped us raise an additional $40,000 in revenue!”

Lori Dossett
FRASER