If a donor’s item racked up an extra-impressive winning bid, tell them that as well. Display live auction items in a separate area where people can see them up close. However, someone should model very fine jewelry while mingling among the crowd.
Instead, attendees place bids on items on paper or through software, and the highest bidder at the end of the auction wins the item. Non-profit organizations typically use silent auctions to raise funds for their causes, but they can also be used in other settings, such as schools or businesses. Silent auctions are fundraising events that are usually hosted by a specific organization to raise money for a certain cause.
If you’ve ever wondered how these events work or are eager to host one yourself, you’ve come to the right place. So, let’s dive in and explore how a silent auction works, along with valuable tips to make your event a resounding success. A silent auction is a type of fundraising event where attendees can bid on items without the help of an auctioneer. Instead, bidders place their bids anonymously using the silent auction software. This allows for a more relaxed and enjoyable bidding experience, and it can also help to raise more money for the charity or organization that is hosting the auction.
In a live event, an auctioneer is present to sell the audience on the features a given auction item has. Audience members are left to determine the inherent value of a piece on their own in a silent auction, as there is no emcee or auctioneer to reveal the value of the items up for sale. Because silent auctions are scalable you can have as few as a dozen good items and see a boost in your fundraising results. Depending on how many items you plan on getting and the overall size of the event, the silent auction can be planned and executed by just two or three people. Realtime reporting enables you to see how your event is performing at all stages, and includes insight into live and silent auctions sales, guest information, and credit card reports. Exports are provided to import information into various CRMs and direct integrations are available for Sales Force and Raiser’s Edge.
By “Small Tangible Item”, we are referring to any item for which the winning bidder will no trouble carrying to their car to take home. One folder will contain the original bid form for your records, and the other folder will contain the winning bidder’s copy. An auction scrip is simply a voucher that is good toward some amount of an auction purchase.
Donors with a great experience at checkout are more likely to return for the same event next year and attend other fundraising galas for your organization. Set up an online storefront on your event site and/or a physical merch booth at the event where guests can purchase items to remember your auction by. During crowdfunding campaigns, nonprofits aim to reach a clear-cut goal to be put toward a specific cause or project. They do so by collecting small donations from a large number of donors. When bidding is as easy as clicking a button (or getting software to bid for you!), donors will be more inclined to do it. Make sure you arrange tables in a way that promotes good traffic flow so that guests are able to check out (and bid on!) your items.
Guests receive instant alerts if they are outbid, which keeps them in the bidding game. They are notified when the auction closes and are instructed to easily check out and complete their payment. It costs much more to hold a silent auction than it does to hold a raffle, and there is more planning required. Silent auctions sometimes require hiring caterers and entertainment, setting up and decorating an event space, and sending out invitations in advance.
A local benefit auction open to all may do well in a school auditorium or public library, emphasizing the connection between the organization and the community. If online silent auction for nonprofits ’re hosting a ticketed, high-society silent auction, you’ll want a fancy venue to match, such as a banquet hall or conference center. If you’re hosting a silent auction that’s in-person or hybrid, you’ll also want to consider the venue. Auctions that aren’t in conjunction with other events might require catering and consideration for amenities. You may also need people assigned to help with things like registration and parking.
She geeks out on brainstorming bold ideas and then actually brings some of them to life. She is currently the CEO of Reventals, where her mission is to reduce overconsumption by making it as easy to rent as it is to buy. We will offer a selection of prizes including memorabilia of all genres, experiences and holidays, inkeeping with your clientele. However, the computerized bidding program will not reject bids which are lower than that amount. As always when bidding, you should bid only what the item is worth to you and what you can afford to pay for it.