Shake the Money Tree: How to Produce a Winning Fundraising Event with a Live and Silent Auction

by Richard O'Keef

Shake the Money Tree describes the four objectives that are achieved at every successful fundraising event and the tasks that need to be accomplished to make sure those objectives are met. There are over 160 tasks divided among 15 hypothetical committees for easy reference. Hi, I'm Richard O'Keef. And I wrote this book to help fundraisers everywhere raise more money to help more people. I have seen organizations actually double the amount of money raised over the previous year by implementing the principles taught in this book. This book will show you the tasks you need to accomplish to meet (and even exceed) your financial goals AND send guests home having had such a good time they'll want to attend again next year. The most common comment I hear from readers is, "I wish I had had this book years ago." I've discovered four objectives that are accomplished at every successful fundraiser. 1. Guests are made to feel important. 2. Guests gain a desire to support the cause at hand. 3. Guests want what is being sold. 4. If there is a live auction, guests get caught up in the thrill of bidding. This book describes the tasks that need to be accomplished to make sure the four objectives are met. To see a list of all the tasks, go to www.letsdoanauction.com/tasks.htm. Shake the Money Tree will also help you achieve the 1. You will form long-lasting relationships. 2. You will experience a deep satisfaction rather than becoming stressed and frazzled like so many organizers. 3. Your volunteers, donors, and guests will feel a connection to your organization, which will result in future donations of time, goods, services and money. Producing a successful fundraising event comes as a result of accomplishing the right tasks. Those who accomplish the right tasks have success; while those who leave them out, no matter how sincere they their desire, how hard they work, or how noble their cause, generally meet with less-than-desired results. If producing a successful fundraising event is a result of doing certain tasks, then anyone, regardless of their background or experience, can be successful. They just need to know the tasks. Shake the Money Tree will show you the tasks to accomplish to ensure a successful fundraising event. When People Offered to Buy the Incomplete Rough Draft, I Knew I Had Something. I was consulting with an event committee one afternoon, and one of the committee members said, "These are some great ideas. You really need to put them in a book and I'll be the first to buy it." This wasn't the first time the idea of a book had been suggested to me, but this particular request caused me to get started. When this book was about 90% complete, I started taking a copy of the unfinished rough draft to committee meetings just to get a feel for its value. When people offered to buy the incomplete rough draft, I knew I had something. I often meet with event organizers two or three weeks before their event. During that meeting I request that certain tasks be done that will help achieve The Four Objectives of a Successful Fundraiser. You see, when those objectives are met, it's easier for me, as the auctioneer, to conduct a successful live auction. In this chapter called Three-Week Countdown, I provide the material that I go over in that meeting just as if I were holding that meeting with you. To see the entire Three-Week Countdown chapter, go to www.letsdoanauction.com/countdown.htm Nothing currently published, remotely approaches Shake the Money Tree. You have never read anything like it. See if you don't agree that this is the most thorough and enlightening book about fundraising events on the market.

265 pages, Perfect Paperback

Published March 1, 2007

About the author

Richard O'Keef is a distinguished parenting educator and author dedicated to transforming parenting practices. With years of experience teaching parenting education in the community and in prisons, Richard has witnessed firsthand the challenges parents face, often trapped in cycles of abuse and trauma. His mission is to break these generational cycles and help parents build stronger, healthier relationships with their children.

Richard's journey into parenting education began with his own struggles as a young parent. Without a stable father figure and overwhelmed by the demands of raising children, he turned to books and resources to educate himself. Dissatisfied with the complexity and fluff (the non-essential material) of many parenting guides, Richard distilled practical, actionable advice into his teachings, focusing on meeting the four essential emotional needs of children. His approach has received positive feedback from inmates, who report significant improvements in their relationships with their children even while being incarcerated.

O'Keef's educational background includes an undergraduate degree in Interpersonal Communications from Brigham Young University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. This academic foundation complements his wealth of practical experience in family dynamics. Since 2016, O'Keef has been employed as a Fatherhood Educator. In this role, he conducts parenting classes for incarcerated individuals in state prisons and county jails, focusing on breaking cycles of abuse and reducing recidivism through effective parenting strategies.

O'Keef's professional philosophy centers on his innovative concept of the "4 Emotional Needs" of children. This framework forms the cornerstone of his approach, designed to foster stronger parent-child relationships, enhance cooperation, and guide children towards making sound decisions. He is the author of multiple parenting books, including "The 7 Essential Dad-Skills," "3-Step Parenting: How to Replace Misbehavior with Cooperation," and "How to Get Kids to Behave: The Manual that was Supposed to Come with Kids." His most recent book, "911: What Is Your Parenting Emergency," synthesizes his extensive knowledge into actionable strategies for parents facing challenges.

The overarching mission of Richard O'Keef's work is to equip parents with the necessary tools to guide their children away from potentially destructive life paths. His aim is to elevate the concept of "Meet the 4 Emotional Needs" to a level of recognition comparable to that of "The 5 Love Languages" within parenting discourse. Through his literary contributions, educational efforts, and advocacy, O'Keef continues to pursue his vision of empowering parents to raise confident, responsible children within nurturing family environments.

O'Keef is a father of six, grandfather of twenty-three, and great-grandfather. Residing in Salt Lake City, Utah, he maintains an active lifestyle, engaging in hiking expeditions in the local mountains and regular jogging, having completed three marathons.

Discover more about Richard's work and how he can help transform your parenting journey at 911ParentingEmergency.com.