A Quick Guide in Hosting a Fundraising Auction

Any successful event needs careful planning. If you are hosting a fundraising auction, you should sit down, talk with your team, and plan for the event.



Gather the Auction Goods.

Items that will be put on sale may not be expensive and of the same kind. They can be things like handicrafts, trips, commemorative items, sports or concert tickets, and gift certificates among others.



Set the stage.

A fundraising auction can be mixed with other event such as Sunday garden cookout, or spaghetti a dinner, or wine and cheese party. Prepare everything from food, chairs, tables, bid numbers, and stage. Your venue should be ideal to the event. If you are holding it indoors, decorations are essential. If you are holding it outdoors, check the weather forecast. Have a backup plan in case something goes wrong. The last thing you would want is for the event to be suspended due to weather or any avoidable disaster. Nonetheless, as long as you have a good venue and people ready to shed some money for a good cause, you'll be fine.



Let it be Known.

Have the invitation set. The people that will attend the auction are the people you will expect to bid the give away money without any hesitations. So when inviting people, it is important to talk to them personally and explain what the auction is all about, its goals and mission. Understanding that the proceeds of the auction will go to a good cause will increase the possibility of getting higher bids. Do not forget to print out invitations and auction brochures or catalogues to be given away to the invited people before the bidding starts.



Get a Good Auctioneer.

One secret to a successful fundraising auction is to have a lively auctioneer. He or she may not be a professional or a fast talker; a good auctioneer has to be someone who can stand on the podium and get the crowd going. Because an enthused crowd may buy anything, even the most unlovable object will be sold for a considerable amount. Get it from your group member who has the talent and skill to connect with anyone.



Hosting an action is one of the most effective ways to raise money for a good cause. If you are tasked to prepare for one, use this as a guide to make sure that the auction is a success.

Fundraising Auction Do's and Don'ts

Organizing a fundraising auction is a big task, nonetheless it is possible. But before start, take these do's and don'ts as your guide to a better and more successful auction.



Do's



Do the planning carefully. Set your goal. Gather your team. Draw your plan. Delegate tasks. Prepare everything you need. Execute perfectly.



Get a corporate sponsor. Not only will it reduce your expenses, getting a corporate sponsor will also help you attract more people through corporate contacts or employees. Companies are less likely to refuse since it gives them exposure for a small amount. The thing is: You need them and they need you. Everyone benefits.



Define what auction you will use. You have 3 choices. You can use a regular auction, silent auction, or both. Each has its own pros and cons. It is up to you to decide what approach to take to make the most out of these types of auctions.



Do hire a professional charity auctioneer. Take note: "professional charity auctioneer". Regular auctioneers have a great skill of their own but a charity auctioneer knows how to execute a non-profit event very well.



Integrate the auction into a charity event. Often, a fundraising activity including charity auction is combined with an event. This helps draw invites and keep the guests entertained.



Don'ts



Don't set limitations on the type of auction goods to sell. If you want to gather enough funds for a cause, be ready to sell everything.



Don't assume that your guests know what to do. Not everyone has been to an auction or experienced bidding for an item at an auction. So keep each of your guests informed as to what they should expect during the actual event. Doing this allows you to connect with them personally. In return, your guests are well-informed on the cause of the event which can yield to better bidding results.



Don't spend too much on preparation. This is a fundraising event and your goal is to raise money. The last thing you want is to host an event that requires big money. Keep your budget to the minimum. Any amount you save is added to the money you earn.



Don't stress yourself out. While there are lots of things going on when preparing the fundraising event and during the auction itself, you don't have to stress yourself over the details too much. Trust your teammates. They will do the job as they're told.