Ok, I've rethought this whole giving my art to a non-profit to auction.  What I've done recently is ignore my profit margin, set aside my business goals and let go of issues about how the non-profit displays my art.  Here's why and how.

 

Recently, my granddaughter's preschool was collecting items for their annual fundraiser.  The preschool is a bitsy place but oh my gosh do they run a wonderful preschool. The teachers are fabulous, the playground is well done and the "instruction" (I use that word rather loosely as granddaughter is only 2 1/2 years old) excellent.  So, without being asked, I offered a small piece of my art as a contribution to this wonderful organization.  I gave no thought to how they were going to display my art at their auction or whether my name would be mentioned in any respect.  I gave just the way we're supposed to give - without thought of myself and in the hopes that someone would buy my art for a decent sum in order to help support these lovely humans.

 

That's the way that the spirit of giving is supposed to work.

 

I only mention this to you all because I wrote a previous blog about not contributing art to fundraisers.  I still hold to those various comments.  It's tough to find a non-profit that knows how to set up an auction so as to give proper credit (and therefore possible future sales) to an artist.  But when you let go of the advertising/exposure motive and just give, the contribution is easy.  

 

I plan to give my art only to organizations to which I have a personal connection.  That way, I can let go and simply give in the true spirit of giving.  I recommend that you do the same.