Article Fundraising 1 min read

Membership Hack: Online Charity Auctions

This year, the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading raises funds for its foundation using an online charity auction that taps into members’ passion for model airplanes.

Tim Ebner

December 1, 2017

Heads up: this content is over 5 years old, so some information may be out of date.

How to hack it? The International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading gets members in a giving mood with an online charity auction hosted on eBay  (opens in a new tab). The annual auction gets members competing and bidding on something they love—model airplanes.

Why does it work? The auction taps into members’ interests to bring in funds for good causes. This year, the ISTAT Foundation collected more than $165,000 through all of its fundraising efforts to support global charities, including air transport services that deliver humanitarian aid to those in need.

“Commercial aviation can be a tremendous force for good because aircraft provide an unmatched ability to get people and cargo to just about anywhere,” says Julian Balaam, chair of ISTAT Foundation’s humanitarian aid committee. “The ISTAT Foundation wanted to support this capability, which is put to great use by so many aviation charities around the world.”

What’s the bonus? Online auctions are yet another way to engage members for year-end giving. While a lot of associations may have collected funds on #GivingTuesday, an online auction can extend a fundraiser into the holiday season.

(stockcam/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Tim Ebner

Tim Ebner is communications director and press secretary at the American Forest & Paper Association in Washington, DC. He is a member of ASAE’s Communication Professionals Advisory Council and a former Associations Now senior editor.

Comments