Supercharge Your Fundraising Auction Results

As an organizer of fundraising auctions, you understand the importance of a successful auction event in generating valuable contributions for your cause. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, there are always new ideas to explore when it comes to fundraising auction planning. Here are 8 simple yet impactful ideas to help supercharge your results.

Three Pillars of Fundraising Auctions:

The Silent Auction:

The silent auction is a classic option that offers guests the opportunity to bid on items of interest. Bidding takes place while they mix and mingle. The goal of a silent auction is to entice guests to bid. So, consider adding a fun twist to your presentation.

Fun Twists for Your Fundraising Auction:

1. Package Deals: Offer a series of related items or experiences together as a package deal in the fundraising silent auction. These could be anything from vacation packages to dining experiences. The packages are a great way to drive up bidding and create excitement.
2. Art Auction: Art auctions are a great way to showcase local talent, and can be a fun and innovative way to raise funds. Offer pieces from local artists, in your silent auction where guests can bid on original works of art.
3. Online Auction: In today’s digital age, consider hosting your fundraising auction online in addition to your live-in person event. Participants who cannot attend the event in person participate in the silent auction online. They bid on items from the comfort of their own home.

The Live Auction:

A live auction is an entertaining and high-energy way to engage your guests. A professional auctioneer will take the stage to facilitate bidding and create a competitive atmosphere. Guests will want to participate in the excitement and enjoy the thrill of bidding in real-time, so consider adding some fun twists to the live auction too.

More Fun Twists for Your Fundraising Auction

1. VIP Experience: If your organization has access to unique experiences or opportunities, offer a VIP experience package. For example, a meet-and-greet with a celebrity, a behind-the-scenes tour of a famous attraction, or a private dinner party with a famous chef.
2. Wine Tasting: Wine lovers will love this auction idea. Offer a range of high-end wines, either donated or purchased, and hold a wine tasting session where guests can sample and bid on their favorites.
3. Personalized Services: Give your guests an opportunity to bid on special personalized services that aren’t offered elsewhere such as a private coaching lesson with a retired professional golfer, or a private baking lesson with a renowned pastry chef. You will want to customize the services to match the needs and preferences of your guests making sure that they get the best experience and the greatest interest possible. Ideas to Explore:

Auction Games and Raffles:

Create a fun and interactive non-profit auction experience for guests with auction games that encourage participation. Many games are conducted like a raffle because participants need to buy a ticket to play. But there is also a participation element to the game.

Heads or Tails: A heads or tails game is a simple and fun way to raise money. Attendees purchase a raffle tickets for a designated prize. Participants stand and declare “heads or tails” by placing their hands on their head or their “tails”. The auctioneer flips a coin and those who guessed correctly remain standing while the others sit back down. The game continues until a winner can be declared.

50/50 Raffle: A 50/50 raffle is a raffle-style game where half of the money raised goes to a winner, and the other half goes to the cause. Charity Auction attendees purchase raffle tickets and a winning ticket is drawn from a raffle drum. The prize amount is half of the total number of tickets sold. This game can be a fun way to get attendees involved. Be sure to have your auctioneer announce and drum up ticket sales throughout the evening.

In conclusion, these 8 simple fundraising auction ideas can help you to supercharge your results and make your next charity auction a huge success. Remember to keep your audience in mind, focus on the cause and have fun! Good luck!