| Many non profit organizations, charities and schools | | | | items to bid on. |
| hold a silent auction as part of a fundraising event or | | | | 4. Items at Variety of Prices |
| dinner. It can be a great additional way to raise funds | | | | Consider your audience and how much money they |
| while people are enjoying the event. | | | | would likely be willing to spend on an auction item. Are |
| Before you start planning a silent auction, be aware of | | | | they likely to bid $5,000 on a travel package? Or |
| these five essential elements of a successful silent | | | | should most of your items be in the $25-$100 value |
| auction. | | | | range? |
| 1. A Goal | | | | This is something that you'll have to decide based on |
| There are many books related to goal setting and | | | | your demographics, the type of event, and the |
| why it's important for personal and professional | | | | experience you've had with other fundraisers for your |
| success. Goal setting is just as important when | | | | group. |
| planning a fundraiser. This includes setting goals for the | | | | In most cases there should be a variety of types of |
| number of attendees, your overall dollars raised and of | | | | items that fill a range of values. Then attendees are |
| course goals just for the silent auction. | | | | more likely to find something they are interested in at a |
| Decide how many auction items that you want to put | | | | price they can afford. |
| on display for bidding. Often it is best to put items into | | | | You can also use add-on fundraisers like raffles and |
| prize bundles or gift baskets, so while you may have | | | | grab bags to appeal to all interests and give everyone |
| 40 donations, those might be bundled into 25 auction | | | | a chance to take something home. |
| items. It just depends on how many and what type of | | | | 5. Volunteer Support |
| items have been received. | | | | While silent auctions are good fundraisers because |
| 2. Bidders | | | | they are low cost, they do require some leg work. |
| You must have people attend the event in order to | | | | Getting the auction items donated, sorted, and |
| get bidders for your auction. It is best to have a whole | | | | displayed can take quite a bit of time. Without |
| committee or "go-to" person in charge of publicity and | | | | volunteers the auction would not even get off the |
| getting RSVPs for the event. Then the silent auction | | | | ground! |
| committee can focus on obtaining items and preparing | | | | The actual number of volunteers needed depends on |
| for the auction. | | | | how large the auction is going to be. Even for a small |
| 3. Attractive Auction Items | | | | auction, at least two or three dedicated volunteers will |
| Auction items get bids when they appeal to the | | | | need to focus on getting auction items and organizing |
| interest of the attendees and the bid matches their | | | | them. On the day of the auction additional volunteers |
| pocketbook. | | | | will help set up the auction, monitor the auction and |
| With the exception of events that are theme-based | | | | check out the winners. |
| such as art auctions, the silent auction should have a | | | | Silent auctions can be a great way to bring in needed |
| wide variety of items. When there are items that | | | | funds to your organization. Just remember to set |
| appeal to a broad range of interest from wine gift | | | | these five aspects as your foundation and you'll be off |
| baskets, to travel, to sports tickets, and everything in | | | | to a great start. |
| between - there's a better chance of attendees finding | | | | |