Finally, it’s a good idea to figure out in advance how items from your auction will reach your guests, especially if you’re hosting a virtual silent auction. We recommend that you work with a local courier to set shipping expectations and then include shipping costs in your initial auction bid. If it’s an item that may raise shipping concerns, let your bidders know that shipping is included in the auction item description. This strategy works with in-person events such as live and silent auctions and is a must for virtual fundraising and online auctions. With mobile bidding you open your auction to a much wider audience, essential for attracting online followers and increasing your support in the future. At OneCause, we’re experts in charity auctions, so we’ve put together an example of the best online, live and silent auction items to get your event off to a great start.
You can organize auctions with mobile bidding options, as well as paper bid sheets, all thanks to OneCause. In addition, online auctions allow your guests to view auction packages, bid before the event, and purchase fixed-price items. Instead of bidding publicly during a live event, your bid will be recorded in writing on a listing sheet that comes with each item. Each subsequent bid must be higher than the previous bid and the winner is the person with the highest bid at the end of the auction. You need Silent Auction Items to sell to your bidders and supporters. To really maximize the revenue your live, silent, or online auction generates, you need to set an effective price for each item.
Instead of simply asking for donations, organizing a silent auction gives donors the opportunity to actively participate in an event and perhaps even make an exciting purchase. Education-related silent auction items are ideal for school auctions ranging from Pre-K to college. A high-end hands-on cooking class with a professional chef can be a great silent auction item for your next event.
Participants register, bid and pay for items through the auction site. Organizations remain responsible for ordering the items, taking photos of the items to be displayed, and setting the initial offer amounts. Because these auctions are held online, the bidding period is usually longer than a personal auction; some accept offers for a few days, while others accept them for a few weeks.
Contact local venues to discuss the possibility of a donated ticket package and be sure to think about what types of events will be most exciting for your donors. If you can get the right tickets for a sold-out event, you can quickly generate a lot of deals. A staycation package is a great way to raise money and a unique auction item that is sure to be a hit. It can be a combination of a spa day, a restaurant gift card and/or tickets to local events that will give the winning bidder a great holiday at home.
For starters, a silent auction requires people to submit their bids in secret, while a live event requires people to bid on items in front of all participants. In addition, silent auctions are generally more inclusive, as they engage live and online bidders, although some live events allow bids from virtual participants. A silent auction is something like a hybrid charity auction in the sense that it often involves live and online bidders. Live bidders submit their bids by writing them down while virtual bidders register their bids over the Internet. No matter how you bid on an auction item for charity, the person who bids the most money will go home with the piece. Marketing a virtual private lesson instead of a personal private lesson will make your silent auction items more accessible and potentially more attractive to bidders.
If you’re going to include a tour of the winery in your silent auction, be sure to include a bottle of wine in the package. By doing so, you’ll give the winner the chance to enjoy the wine on the night of your event, which will be a prelude to what they’ll experience when they embark on their future tour. If you want to go a step further, ask the winery to prepare a silent auction basket with things like cheeses that go well with their vintages. Creative artworks: Unique artworks are highly desirable, but difficult to donate from leading artists. There are a few items you can get on consignment, but it’s often best to be creative and find ways to create your own artwork.