Title of the post, Hiring a Nonprofit Event Auctioneer: An Essential FAQ Guide

Hiring a Nonprofit Event Auctioneer: An Essential FAQ Guide

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As the mood-maker of your event, your auctioneer sets the tone and encourages your audience to participate in your live auction and bid as much as possible. Hiring a great auctioneer can bring you across the finish line for your fundraising goals, but how do you find the best fit for the role? Take a page from a professional talent acquisition team’s playbook with comprehensive hiring strategies.

Hiring an auctioneer can seem daunting, particularly if it’s your first time as the auction chair. Whether you’re running a small live auction or a large gala, this guide will teach you how to hire the ideal auctioneer for your needs successfully.

Why should you hire an auctioneer?

If you’re new to running nonprofit auctions, it can be tempting to take a “DIY” approach to save money and streamline management. However, having a seasoned auctioneer at the helm provides several significant advantages, such as:

  • Increased engagement. A professional auctioneer knows techniques to excite the audience and up the ante, encouraging friendly competition among attendees to raise more money for your cause.
  • Professionalism. Having a talented professional overseeing your event reflects well on your nonprofit, boosting the experience and convincing supporters to attend more of your events in the future. 
  • Streamlined activities. Besides engaging the audience, the fast pace of traditional auctions is an intentional strategy for keeping the event on track. Your auctioneer is the cornerstone to maintaining a high-tempo event that ensures that bids are made promptly and all items get highlighted.

Some nonprofits enlist volunteer auctioneers to run their events. While more cost-effective than professional auctioneers, volunteers should only be considered for events with a relatively low fundraising goal. Leave the high-stakes events to the professionals to mitigate risk and get the most from your event.

What are the types of professional nonprofit auctioneers?

You generally have two main options for obtaining an auctioneer for your auction:

Benefit Auctioneers

First, there are professional gala auctioneers who exclusively serve fundraising events. In addition to taking bids, they consult on procurement, audience development, event planning, storytelling, and other key aspects of your gala. 

If your event aims to raise a significant amount of money (approximately $50,000 and up), benefit auctioneers are your best bet. As a full-service professional, a benefit auctioneer reduces your need to hire additional help, streamlining logistics and maximizing your return on investment.

Commercial Auctioneers

Commercial auctioneers are professional bidtakers who don’t just collect bids for fundraisers. While they likely have broad experience hosting many types of events, commercial auctioneers may lack specialized expertise for your fundraising event, like delivering a compelling fundraising appeal.

How can you hire the best auctioneer for your needs?

You’re likely already familiar with acquiring talent for your nonprofit’s permanent staff; hiring an auctioneer shares certain steps with this process. However, there are some unique differences you should be aware of to make your search for the perfect auctioneer a breeze. Here’s how you can get started:

  • Research potential auctioneers. In addition to general job boards like LinkedIn,use auction-specific resources to find a good fit, such as the National Auctioneers Association’s list of Benefit Auction Specialists. 
  • Interview promising prospects. While many auctioneers have similar skills on paper, it’s important to choose one with the right temperament and understanding of your cause. Ask specific questions about your nonprofit’s work and their auctioneering experience during the interview process. Also, look at factors like their professionalism and external references to gauge their credibility.
  • Analyze feasibility. The final step to hiring a benefit auctioneer is determining which candidate most aligns with your event, mission, and budget. Consider the information gathered in step two alongside your event’s budget and expected turnout to make an informed decision. 

Remember to record information about different auctioneers for future reference. If you’re looking at many candidates at once, Jobvite recommends using hiring software to organize information and maintain talent pools for the future.

How can you ensure a successful auction?

Come event day, work with your auctioneer to ensure a positive experience for everyone involved. Here are some items to add to your auction to-do list:

Pre-Auction

  • Collaborate with the auctioneer. As a professional, your auctioneer can offer valuable perspectives on running a successful event. Collaborate with them to set expectations for minimum bids, auction rules, and other strategies to maximize your fundraising revenue.
  • Run a rehearsal beforehand. You never know what could happen on event day, so prepare your team and auctioneer with a rehearsal run. During the rehearsal, verify the auctioneer’s knowledge about the various auction items and the schedule of activities to prevent mistakes during the actual event.
  • Promote auction items. Winspire suggests building anticipation and attracting attendees with item-focused marketing materials. Give potential attendees a sneak peek of what they can bid on via email, social media, and your website. Ask the auctioneer to spread the word to their network as well for maximum exposure.

During the Auction

  • Use technology to your advantage. Ensure your auctioneer understands how to use your auction-specific fundraising technology to track bids and item winners. That way, you have instant insights into your fundraising progress, and the auctioneer can adjust their strategies on the fly.
  • Cultivate a personal and impactful experience. The most resonant events are tailored to your audience and focused on impact. Ask the auctioneer to refer to key donors by name, explain the background of certain items, and highlight how donations directly support your mission.

After the event, keep the momentum going by debriefing on your success and collecting feedback from attendees. Ask them specifically about the auctioneer’s performance so you can decide whether to hire them again in the future.

As you find candidates and weigh their potential value-add to your auction, remember to maintain the quality of your hiring process. If your hiring process isn’t smooth, your perfect auctioneer may be wary of working with your organization. Ask for recruitment feedback from all candidates, regardless of your hiring decision, so you can improve the process and retain more quality candidates—and ensure that future auctions go swimmingly!