It’s inevitable: someone is going to ask you to donate money to a cause. In fact, lots of people would love to hit you up for cash in order to promote or grow whatever organization or event they represent. While Girl Scouts have a great think going with their now iconic cookie business, you may get just a wee bit tired of seeing the neighborhood school kids walking up to ring your bell and try to charm you into buying overpriced wrapping paper or cookie dough yet again.
An auction fundraiser can successfully do away with fundraising fatigue by artfully discarding blatant begging for money and replacing it with an enjoyable, even sophisticated event. Charitable givers get to choose the items they want to purchase, and often feel that they have received a good deal in return for their cash. You can dress it up or down to suit your mood and needs. You can even offer multiple types of auctions so that all attending will find their favorite auction methods under one roof, thereby increasing your organization’s coffers.
On the black tie event end, such fundraisers deal in very sophisticated products such as fine art, exquisite hand-made items, luxury services, or even discounted travel. There is no rule as to what you must offer for auction as long as it will be well-received by the attendees. A more casually oriented church fundraising auction can include donated crafts and services from congregation members.
During the fundraiser, it’s best to include several different types of auction styles. A live auction produces a thrilling energy as participants try and outbid each other. It can promote much laughter and good spirits as well as competition, and when people are laughing and having a good time, they are statistically much more willing to open their wallets.
Silent auctions come in various flavors and suit most people, especially if they see desirable prizes they would like. The most typical silent auction is to place the prizes themselves (if small enough) or pictures and descriptions of physical items or services to be won next to a lined sheet of paper. On the paper, a beginning bid will be listed along with the bidding increment, and a guest can write his name on the next available line to bid. Chinese auctions also use the display of the prizes, but instead of letting people write their names, guests must buy tickets. They can then place however many tickets they wish into the jar or box next to the desired item. The more desirable items will get more tickets, of course, so guests will want to increase the probability that their ticket is drawn by dropping in multiple tickets. At the end of the auction, a ticket will be drawn, and the winner takes home the prize.
Auction fundraisers allow guests to spend a night out in a fun environment. When prizes are worthy, they come away feeling that they not only had an enjoyable time, but they got something valuable in return for their generosity.