This allows attendees to peruse the items at their leisure, decide what they want to bid on, and possibly even strategize on how to outbid their competition. From rare collectibles to one-of-a-kind experiences, silent auctions offer something for everyone, making them extremely popular. Each year, HealthWorks for Northern Virginia hosts a fundraising event to coincide with National Health Center Week. Because the auction depended on item donations from local businesses, advance planning was crucial. fundraising silent auction are one of the most popular annual events for nonprofits.
In this article, we will explain how to hold a silent auction and get the most out of the items you have to auction. Silent auction bidding takes place either through a mobile bidding app on participants’ phones or the old fashioned way, by writing bids on bid sheets next to the packages. Silent auctions can feel pretty high stakes—you’re relying on the revenue to justify your event costs and the amount of time and effort you’ve put into it. It’s especially hard because you have a lot of pressure up until it starts, but little to do during the bidding! Reach out to local instructors and see if anyone would be willing to donate an hour-long lesson in support of your cause. This charity auction item can also be packaged with related items, and it can be easily adapted to any audience or demographic of supporters.
For example, you can create a VIP line, a line for those who pre-registered, and a line for walk-ins. Figuring out how to run a silent auction can seem like a daunting task. There are many moving pieces and people to organize, and your nonprofit may not have all of the resources you need to make sure everything runs smoothly. Spin studios are another favorite workout spot for many people. Check with those in your area to see if they can donate some classes for your silent auction.
This means you must have five people working at checkout, collecting payments and dispensing items. On top of that designate three more people as runners and another person to handle any problems and special situations that arise. The Lucky 7 game is an excellent way to change up your typical silent auction.
Set a regular meeting scheduler for your committee so individual teams can provide updates and everyone can stay on track. Are you organizing a fundraiser and need volunteers to help make it a success? Managing volunteers can be a challenging task, but with the right approach, it can be a rewarding experience for both… There will be plenty for your event volunteers to manage, so make sure you have enough hands on deck. When asking individuals for donations, let them know what cause the money is going to and stress why your cause is so important. Once you have a good feel for where your supporters’ interests lie and what their average income status is, you can put together a list of item ideas for your procurement team.