Drive In

We finished our final fundraiser of 2020 this past weekend with Soul River, and their Gala at the Drive Inn. Close to 100 people turn up at the World of Speed parking lot for the Drive inn Fundraiser.

Because of the new rules on social distancing, everyone stayed in their cars, and box dinners were delivered to the guests. So that everyone could enjoy the featured speakers, film and of course the auctioneer, a FM frequency was used so everyone could hear the gala through there car speakers.

We did a raffle and a Special Appeal, it worked out great! It pays to think outside the box.

Oktoberfest

October kicks off the fall fundraising season here at srdorsey auctioneering! Instead of the bevy of beer and bratwurst that defines Oktoberfest, our month is chockerblock full of benefits and galas, special appeals and fundraising auctions.

This year, we are back at the World of Speed Museum. We are working again with Chad Brown and his Soul River Foundation in Portland, then onto San Francisco for the Wild Salmon Center 25th anniversary celebration at the end of the month. We will likely raise over a million dollars at these three auctions alone. Very exciting stuff.

On the car side of things; I worked a collector car auction with my old boss Mitch Silver, over the weekend. We'll be meeting up again in Southern California and Las Vegas. Check back in with us at the end of the month to see how we made out!

Fall Fundraising

Fall fundraising season is already right around the corner.

Even as kids are getting back into the classroom, fundraising season preparations have already been underway. This year, I have auctions booked from September that continue into December. Despite twenty-five years in the business, this is a first for me.

I have always felt that there were more advantages of having your auction in the fall, as opposed to waiting till spring to hold your traditional auction. One of the main advantages is that there is less competition with other non-profits who are trying to attract the same patrons. I also prefer fall auctions, as the fundraisers tend to have a more relaxed feel to them. It's a nice escape from the wind and rain outside, where you can enjoy warm conversation with some friends over a couple glasses of your favorite Oregon Pinot. All of that, while raising your bid card in support of a worthy cause.

Just as the days get shorter in the fall, so do the auctions. The trend of having only a few select items for auction followed by a special appeal is fast becoming the norm. While not technically the fall, I auctioneered at a late summer fundraising event. We auctioned off three items and then we did a special appeal. With just over a hundred people in attendance, the organization netted close to $40K. Not bad for a 30-minute gig.

See you next at the Big Green Benefit or the Governors' Gold Awards.