Auctions with Impact
Auctions with Impact — Securing, Showcasing, and Selling High-Value Lots for Honest-Money Reform.
Why Auctions Matter to Globalgood
Auctions generate more unrestricted funds—per minute—than any other single activity in Globalgood’s fundraising arsenal. A well-curated catalogue can underwrite an entire year of reserve audits, treaty translations, or Switch-Over Day toolkits while giving donors a tangible keepsake that continually reminds them of the C2C vision.
The Volunteer Auction Team — Core Roles
- Lot Scouts identify items or experiences that resonate with Globalgood’s ethos—ethically sourced art, estate jewelry, executive mentorship lunches, or even royalty-free commodity warrants pledged by agribusiness partners.
- Valuation Analysts obtain fair-market appraisals and comparable-sale histories to set authentic starting bids and prevent donor-value disputes.
- Compliance Checkers verify legal transferability, export permits, CITES certificates (for wildlife products), and intoxicant licenses (for rare wines).
- Catalogue Designers craft high-resolution images, provenance narratives, and “impact blurbs” explaining exactly which program each sale supports.
- Bidder Concierges handle paddle assignment, absentee-bid registration, and remote-platform technical aid.
- Volunteer Auctioneers (or professional auctioneers who donate their fee) conduct the live session, using approved “fund-a-need” language so bids remain deductible where law allows.
Securing High-Impact Lots
- Mission Alignment Pitch – Explain to the donor that their item becomes more than a luxury good; it funds systemic economic justice initiatives that will stabilize entire nations.
- Provenance Packet – Gather authenticity certificates, previous sale invoices, and artist bios. This packet reassures bidders and satisfies charity-audit guidelines.
- Donation Agreement – Use the Globalgood standard form; it vests title in Globalgood on receipt, defines reserve price (if any), and clarifies donor recognition language.
- Insurance & Transport – Arrange insured transport through a partner logistics firm; volunteers must never carry high-value lots in private vehicles.
Showcasing Lots: Photography, Story, Impact
- Photography Standards – 300 dpi, neutral backdrop, multiple angles, and a macro shot of signatures or hallmarks.
- Narrative Copy – 120-word provenance + 60-word “Impact Capsule” (“Sale of this piece funds one regional C2C Readiness Retreat training 40 lawmakers.”).
- Digital & Print Catalogue – Upload PDFs one month before auction, embed live-bid links, and mail glossy catalogues to top-tier patrons to encourage pre-bidding.
High-quality presentation elevates perceived value and drives bid ceilings upward.
Legal & Ethical Compliance
- US IRS requires disclosure of fair-market value (FMV) in receipts; volunteers must list FMV in catalogues so bidders know the non-deductible portion.
- UK Charity Commission dictates public posting of reserve prices for transparency; emulators elsewhere follow suit to avoid accusations of shill bidding.
- Anti-money-laundering: payments above USD 10 000 must run through Globalgood’s KYC gateway—no anonymous crypto accepted.
- CITES and cultural-property export rules: items containing ivory, certain hardwoods, or antiquities require pre-clearance; volunteers submit documentation 60 days before shipping to buyers.
Violating any rule jeopardizes tax-exempt status and could stall treaty credibility; Compliance Checkers are therefore mandatory.
Bidding Technology & Hybrid Formats
- Globalgood uses a PCI-compliant auction platform that syncs paddle raises with online clicks, allowing bidders in Nairobi or New York to compete equally.
- Volunteers test latency, conduct a 20-item mock sale, and train floor spotters to verify bid increments verbally for transparency.
- Mobile push-notifications remind registered users five minutes before their watched lots go live, boosting final bid jumps by an average of 22 %.
Night-of Rhythm & “Fund-a-Need” Moments
- Opening Energy – Start with an experiential lot (VIP Treaty Summit passes) to set a philanthropic mood rather than a bargain-hunter mind-set.
- Mid-Event Paddle Raise – Immediately after the halfway entertainment break, the auctioneer calls a rapid-fire gift ladder: “Who’ll pledge $10 000 to train one nation’s Switch-Over hotline?”
- Climactic Showcase Lot – A one-of-a-kind artwork or proprietary asset-backed security auctioned last spikes adrenaline and nets biggest totals when guests are emotionally invested.
Pacing keeps attendees engaged and maximizes revenue.
Volunteer Compensation & Allowed Commissions
Suggested image: pie-chart—Net Proceeds allocation: 92 % Programs, 4 % Event Costs, 4 % Volunteer Commissions (when eligible).*
- Standard Volunteers – Serve pro bono; reimbursed for approved mileage and attire rental (black-tie).
- Authorized Lot-Scout Commissions – If a volunteer directly secures a tangible item that sells for > USD 20 000, they may earn a 5 % commission on the increment above reserve value, capped at USD 2 500.
- Professional Auctioneer Fee – If not donated, fee is capped at 3 % of gross sales; higher bids require Board approval. All commissions are stated in advance, documented in the Representation Agreement, and paid only after Finance certifies cleared funds.
Post-Auction Close-out & Impact Storytelling
Within 48 hours: credit-card batches settled, unsold lots offered in post-event online extension, donors receive automated “Thank You—Tax Receipt Pending” notes.
Within 10 business days: Finance posts net totals plus lot-specific impact allocations on the “Impact Receipts” page.
Within 30 days: a glossy mini-report profiles three projects launched with proceeds—e.g., “Your bid funded the Ethiopia Wage-Peg Dashboard”—reinforcing donor satisfaction and motivating future participation.
Training Path & Resources
- Complete online course “Charitable Auctions & Tax Law” (1 hour).
- Pass the Provenance & Valuation quiz (85 % minimum).
- Attend a live mock-auction rehearsal in Zoom, receiving feedback on bid-spotting gesture accuracy.
- Sign the Volunteer Auction Confidentiality & Conflict-Disclosure form.
- Receive your assignment—Lot Scout, Catalogue Writer, Bidder Concierge, or Auction-Night Spotter.
Ready to Turn Collectibles into C2C Impact?
Email auctions@globalgoodcorp.org with a brief bio and your area of interest—securing lots, compliance, catalogue design, or auctioneering. Our Advancement Office will match you to the upcoming event roster and provide immediate onboarding instructions.