Hello Bach in Baltimore Choir & Board Members,

The 2022 Bachfest Online Auction is around the corner!

For those of you who are new with us, returning from a hiatus, or having a hard time remembering a pre-COVID world, Bachfest is our primary annual fundraising event. 2022 marks our 12th Bachfest event! We are once again hosting this event online – concluding with a live soiree immediately following the May 1st Handel Festival concert (more details to come)! We will be featuring items from both beloved local institutions and donors AND more nationally-accessible contributors for potential bidders all across the country! Additionally, this year, we’re partnering with local artists, showcasing their fine art and crafts, to promote and support Baltimore art in all varieties during these challenging times. Funds raised will be split between Bach in Baltimore and local artists.

As we begin our preparations, here is what you need to know:

BACHFEST 2021 AUCTION:
Auction Dates: April 28- May 1
Item Receipt Deadline: April 15
Fundraising Goal: $10,000+
Needs/Expectations: Each member to procure at least 2 items to be offered at auction

Now, we realize that obtaining items during this time may be more challenging and require some creative thinking to ensure a robust list of items that A) are being made available by contributors and B) are consumables people are willing and desiring to bid on during this season.

For this reason, we have assembled a FABULOUS group of folks from our board and choir who have already begun the work of brainstorming such categories/types of items:

1.) Artist creations (jewelry, pottery, glassware, painting, music commissions, and more.)

2.) Local/Driveable Vacation Getaways (do you or a friend have a time share/vacation spot to contribute for a week or two? Are willing to help cover cleaning fees…)

3.) Staycation Gift Baskets (wine; food; movies; popcorn; etc.)

4.) Specialty Cocktail Kits (more to come on specific themes our team has assembled!)

5.) Wine/Liquor Clubs & Delivery Subscriptions

6.) Outdoor, Socially Distanced Wine/Brewery Tastings

7.) Pet Adoption Packages from Local Shelters

8.) Online Classes (Music Lessons; Cooking Lessons; Educational Lecture Series; Exercise Classes)

9.) Lawn Mowing Services

10.) Home Renovation Packages/Discounts

11.) Food Delivery Service Subscriptions (Peapod from Giant; Imperfect Foods; Dinnerly; Blue Apron)

12.) Streaming Subscriptions (Hulu; Netflix; Vudu; AmazonPrime; Disney+)

13.) Local Restaurant Gift Cards: donation OR ON CONSIGNMENT (for every $25.00 of gift cards sold, they get $10; more to come on these).

14.) Generic flight/hotel vouchers with extended expiration dates

We’ve already started receiving some exciting pledges, including: creative works from weavers, painters, sculptors, and jewelry makers. You can access our Bachfest Comprehensive Donor Database HERE to see what we have pledged so far.

And, if you have a new, creative idea – let us know! We aren’t limited to only what ideas the group above has put together so far. This is just designed to give you a jumping-off point, so that meeting the goal of 2+ items per choir member is manageable – and fun! – in the midst of a challenging season for us all.

In case you aren’t aware: anything that you or someone else contributes is TAX-DEDUCTIBLE as a contribution to a nonprofit, and you or whomever you solicit the donation form will be provided with appropriate notification as such. Access to our Call for Donation Letter HERE and nonprofit status are available HERE.

As you develop ideas and commit to pursuing certain items, please communicate these to your section leader, to Eliza Adams and Karen Nafziger (Bachfest Co-Chairs), or to me, so that we can start to mark any and all pledges in our database and get to work on our marketing plans for the items we are receiving. It also lets us start to notice any gaps and make the most of opportunities for untapped asks/contributors.

And if procuring auction items like this is new for you, REACH OUT and ASK QUESTIONS! We have some very experienced, great folks who are ready and willing to assist you. Don’t hesitate to contact myself, Karen Nafziger (nafzigerkaren@gmail.com), Eliza Adams (elizahadams79@gmail.com), or your section leaders to get you started.

Again, we want to make your participation in this year’s Bachfest as positive, successful, manageable – and FUN – as possible. So stay connected and stay tuned as we dive into Bachfest 2022!

Rebecca

Rebecca Fanning
Executive Director
Bach in Baltimore
Bach Concert Series, Inc.
rebecca@bachinbaltimore