Article Archives >> To the Point
I oversee a high demand fundraiser for our 501(c)(3) charitable organization that sells out weeks in advance every year. My committee wants our museum to auction off four tickets to the highest bidder after the event sells out. I think it is disingenuous and unethical for a nonprofit to auction its own fundraiser tickets. Am I overthinking this?
There must be a whole lot of special event chairs who would love to have your problem. I am not sure why you think it would be unethical to auction a few tickets if there is actually a limit on the number of people who can attend the event. Everyone knows that the whole purpose of a fundraiser is to raise money for the organization and they are all willing to pay more than the event is worth in order to support the organization. Many fundraisers have tiered pricing so that people can contribute at different levels even though they all get the same chicken dinner. I don’t know why anyone could legitimately object to auctioning a few tickets to raise extra funds for the organization.
If the event is as successful as you say it is, however, I have to wonder why you don’t raise the price of all the tickets. It sounds as though you aren’t maximizing your potential revenue.
12/18/2011
Sign up and receive a free report on electioneering!
What our readers say about Nonprofit Issues
Once again you've tackled a tricky question and explained it so we all can understand the issue.--M.V.
Thank you for your informative and keen advice on nonprofit matters. I believe it's a unique and concise place to get answers to this often wispy area called nonprofit. --R.T.
Have a question?
If you can't find your answer, submit a question and Don will pick one question a week to answer online and to include in our weekly e-mail notice.
Other ways to
find answers:
Talk to the Editor
Next Conference Call:
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Participate
in this bi-monthly telephone seminar conference call and ask your questions directly to Editor
Don Kramer.
Access the entire site
($9.95/24 hours, $17.95/3 months).
Nonprofit Issues
Live
Full Day Program
A well-received full-day
program that covers the current hottest topics in nonprofit
law. Qualifies in Pennsylvania
for Continuing Education credits.
Speaking Engagements
Don is available for programs and speaking engagements ranging from
a one-hour presentation to a full-day primer on nonprofit law. Contact
us if you are interested in having him speak at your program.