How to Run a Great Silent Auction Fundraiser

Any charity can use silent auctions as a means of fundraising to support their charitable cause. In fact, organizing and running a silent auction is much easier than it may seem, especially if you are hosting your auction online as part of your fundraising strategy. Online auction sites are not difficult to build.

You can start by following this simple step by step guide on how to run a silent charity auction fundraiser:

Step 1: Create an auction committee for your silent charity auction

You will need to find some excited volunteers from your group to help plan and run the event. Make sure you have plenty of people to volunteer. It is necessary to make sure that tasks are assigned to people. It’s not possible to do everything on your own.

Start out with a strong, dedicated group and assign leadership roles to those who will be in charge of managing and publicizing the event.

Step 2: Solicit donation items

To keep costs low, have members ask co-workers, friends, and family who own local businesses to donate items for your auction. You may wish to focus on contact-less items like gift cards and vouchers.

In exchange for donated items, you can offer businesses free publicity during the fundraising event and in your marketing materials. Free advertising is always a good way to reciprocate. You can make a separate PR and marketing team also for your auction.

Try to get all offers for donations in writing, when possible, or collect the items on the spot. Most museum or recreational venues will donate items if you ask in writing.

Make sure you have plenty of copies of a request for donations written on the school or nonprofit’s letterhead.

Step 3: Determine a time and place for your event

If hosting your event in a public venue, you will need to find an appropriate and affordable space to hold the silent auction. In general, school auditoriums and cafeterias are the perfect space for such fundraisers. In times of social distancing, you may look to outdoor venues with online options that don’t require physical participation.

Whether you are doing a school fundraiser or not, check with your nearest school and see if they will donate or rent the space. Be sure to find a place where doors can be locked or hire security, if necessary.

The room should have good circulation and be comfortable for guests, giving them plenty of space to move around freely.

Arrange tables around the walls, placing items for bid on the tables. You can place a few in the center of the room, too, if needed. It’s ideal to place your auction items in the middle of all the action.