How We’re Making Sure Our Clients Can Still Connect With Donors

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Baker Auction Company Is Going Virtual

If there’s one thing all of us can be certain of right now, it’s that we’re in a season of uncertainty. Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, hundreds of businesses and organizations in the Boise area have shut their doors, and no one is sure when they’ll reopen. Several of those businesses and organizations are clients of ours who have had to reschedule or outright cancel the fundraising events they had planned.

Just within the first few weeks of business closures in late March, we had rescheduled over 50 events. That means a loss of business for us, but more importantly, a loss of much-needed revenue for the organizations we work with. In no time at all, running a charity or a nonprofit has become much more difficult than it already was. That said, I don’t want to just focus on the doom and gloom of this whole ordeal. I want all of you to know that we’re actively working with our clients to be a part of the solution.

To all of you reading this who work for businesses or nonprofits that have really been struggling, the first thing I want to say to you is that you’re not alone. No one is immune to the effects this pandemic has had on our economy. That’s why, as an act of solidarity, we’ve waived all rescheduling and cancellation fees. We understand how much the money you raise at your events means to your organization, and we want you to know that we are actively working on a solution that we hope will become a viable option for fundraising, even after the effects of the outbreak start to wane.

At Baker Auction Company, we’ve been working on a way to host live events on a virtual platform. That way, your donors can have a way to support your organization, even while they’re quarantined. We’ve been working with a professional TV production crew and studio to film our auctions live. Your supporters can buy tickets to access the video. Then, they can participate in paddle raises through the steaming service to bid on items. Without the costs of catering, ambiance, and the venue, these auctions will be a lot more affordable to host and a lot shorter, as well.

Before this pandemic started, we always assumed we would one day offer some sort of online fundraising option. When the coronavirus hit, we took that already existing idea and kicked it into high gear out of necessity. After the pandemic has passed, I can foresee this becoming a viable alternative to live auctions. I don’t think it will ever replace live events — people still like dressing up and being seen while they’re donating to a good cause — but it could be a way to access larger groups of people than any venue could hold. Done right, virtual auctions can engage larger support bases in their homes and potentially bring in more money for your cause.

I’m not pretending to be the world’s best economist, but I think that on the other end of this season, there are going to be a lot of people who have been working from home and getting a paycheck who will have money to spend. Fundraising could hit an all-time high. In the meantime, I hope the virtual platform we’re working on can give you the tools you need to reach your supporters.

A New Era of Fundraiser Creation

“Because of the ban on large gatherings throughout the United States, several organizations that count on people being able to gather are in trouble. Many of those organizations are nonprofits that use fundraisers that draw hundreds or even thousands of supporters to help their causes. A ban on gatherings might seem like a death knell — but it doesn’t have to be.

I’ve worked in the event planning industry for 13 years, and I have a passion for helping nonprofits reach their fundraising goals so that they can help the people who need it most in their communities. That’s why when the quarantine started, Tyson Baker and I began creating what is now DanielleSnelson.com, a site where nonprofit organizations can find the resources they need to host their very own online auctions.

Through DanielleSnelson.com, you can sign up for our services and we’ll help you with the rest. You’ll have complete and total access to our expert team of event coordinators and auctioneers who will all work to ensure that your online fundraising event goes off without a hitch. I’ll be your host, Tyson Baker will be your auctioneer, and Brent Berg will be your go-to guy for making everything work.

We understand if you have questions about how well an online auction will work. After all, it’s not something many of us have really thought to try before now! That being said, we’re confident that not only will this be the solution to many organizations’ fundraising problems during the pandemic, but it could also be a viable option for fundraising long after the pandemic is over.

While we’re based in Boise, hosting events online allows us to work with organizations all over the country without anyone having to do any extensive travel. Furthermore, without costs such as catering and venue rentals, virtual fundraisers will be far more cost-effective than live auctions. It won’t ever replace live auctions, but it will definitely be another viable option in the future. Curious if virtual fundraising is right for you? Visit DanielleSnelson.com to find out more!”

- Danielle Snelson

How Baker Auction Company Is Helping Us Get Back on Track

“Ever since I’ve been the business and development manager at St. Joseph’s Catholic School, our Crab Feed Auction has been our most important fundraiser. I work with the St. Joseph’s Parents Association to make sure that it goes smoothly every year, and this year, we were hoping to take it to the next level with Baker Auction Company’s involvement.

I first saw Tyson and his team in action at another school’s fundraiser about a year ago. We had just held our Crab Feed Auction not long before, and as I watched Baker Auction Co. do what they do best, I knew that with their energy, I could take this year’s Crab Feed to the next level. I talked to our event planning committee about having them host our next auction, and they agreed.

When it came time to start preparing for the 2020 Crab Feed Auction, I got in touch with Tyson, and we began planning right away. From day one, Tyson provided us with outstanding customer service. He answered all our questions, and his experience, tips, and tricks seemed like they would destine the Crab Feed for success.

Unfortunately, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were forced to postpone St. Joseph’s Crab Feed Auction the Thursday before it was scheduled to happen. When the mayor announced that big events could no longer happen, we pushed the auction back to June.

Even in the wake of the cancellation, Tyson and the Baker Auction Company team have done everything they can to help us prepare for when the Crab Feed will (hopefully) happen in the future. They’ve taken our challenges in stride and supported the decisions we’ve made for the school. We’re looking forward to having them as our auctioneers for the Crab Feed when it eventually happens.”

- Anita Miller

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