| A lot of work and thought goes into planning a charity | | | | item they really want to buy, so that their name is last |
| auction, there are venues to book, items to secure, | | | | on the list'. A good amount of money can be raised |
| advertising for the event, and food and refreshments | | | | this way but there is an interesting psychology at work |
| to get. You want to have a successful outcome for | | | | at charitable events. |
| your charitable cause, and one way to do this is to | | | | The psychology relates to people's need and desire |
| include a live auction. | | | | for appreciation and public acknowledgment for their |
| Organizers sometimes think that the best ways to | | | | good deeds. This doesn't necessarily apply to |
| raise money for their charity is to sell tickets, get | | | | everyone but when people are coming out to a special |
| donated items, and then hold a silent auction. They | | | | event to raise money for charity they enjoy the |
| think that the items will sell themselves, and that will be | | | | recognition that comes from being the winning, high |
| the arrangement that their guests will be most | | | | bidder on a specific item. They enjoy having their |
| comfortable with. However studies show that only | | | | generosity on display, and feel rewarded by it. It also |
| 25% of invited guests will actually place bids on the | | | | encourages even more generosity. |
| silent auction items. You might think: 'but it's so easy, all | | | | So the next time you're planning a charity event, be |
| they have to do is write their names down on a piece | | | | sure to include a live auction component for a |
| of paper, and then keep checking back if there's an | | | | successful outcome. |