Virtual galas provide nonprofits an affordable alternative to an expensive in-person gala. By replacing ballrooms and dinners with online auction and event streaming technology, online fundraisers can engage supporters at a fraction of the cost. However, cost is only one side of the equation. Equally important to cost is revenue, and an important revenue driver to in-person […]
We’ve discussed earlier on this blog how to get donated silent auction items without cold calling. In short, you should leverage your charity auction committee’s existing connections before cold-calling businesses for donated auction items. But sometimes personal connections are not enough, and you need to build new connections to generous businesses through donation request letters. In this […]
If you’re running a silent auction, setting the proper starting bid, bid steps and buy-it-now price will result in higher bids and bigger donations. Starting Bids Here are some rules of thumb for setting the starting bid (AKA minimum bid) for your silent auction items. Type of Item Starting Bid TravelPledge Experience Use the TravelPledge-provided starting bid, […]
As a charity auction organizer, you want to maximize the promotional benefit to your item donors as well as the tax deduction to your winning bidders and donors. In this post, you’ll learn what is and isn’t tax deductible for donors and bidders at your charity auction, and more! Please note that we are not tax professionals. […]
We’ll get right to it. Here are answers to the most common questions about charity silent auctions:
Many nonprofits are tempted to run their silent auction fundraiser on Facebook. After all, most of their supporters already have an account and Facebook doesn’t charge anything. But, are charity auctions even permitted according to Facebook’s terms of use? If so, what’s the best way to run a silent auction on Facebook? Drawbacks to Running a Silent […]
In this post, you’ll learn the do’s and don’ts of getting sponsors for your fundraiser. DO: Ask Your Organizational Contacts and Personal Connections to Sponsor Your Event There’s no better place to start your list of target sponsors than with businesses that have previously contributed to your nonprofit. On the flip side, any businesses to which your […]
In this post, you’ll learn how to maximize donations during your Fund-a-Need. What is the fund-a-need? The fund-a-need, or paddle raise, is where you solicit donations from the audience at your gala. In the typical fund-a-need format, the auctioneer starts at a high amount, say $5,000, and asks donors to raise their bid cards to commit to […]
In this post, you’ll learn 10 amazing tips to increase bidding at your silent auction fundraiser. 1. More items are not always better A good rule of thumb is to auction approximately one item for every two attendees. For example, if you expect 200 people, then the ideal number of Silent Auction items would be 100. If […]
Are you running a charity gala and need the help of a benefit auctioneer? Hiring an auctioneer can seem daunting, particularly if it’s your first time as the auction chair. Not to fear! Regardless of whether you’re running a small live auction, a big gala or perhaps even a virtual gala, this post will teach you how […]
