One of the newest trends at charity auctions is mobile bidding — using smartphones, tablets, laptops, or other mobile devices to browse the catalog and make bids, purchases, and donations. Mobile bidding can add excitement, quicken the pace, and raise the profitability of a silent auction. But is mobile bidding […]

Welcome back to Theme Corner, a blog series full of fun ideas for auction themes! Giving your auction a theme can turn a conventional event into an exciting affair — think African Safari! Cabaret! Mysterious Masquerade! But finding the perfect theme can be difficult. If you are aiming to delight […]

Welcome to Theme Corner, a blog series full of fun ideas for auction themes! Giving your auction a theme can turn a conventional event into an exciting affair — think African Safari! ’20s Speakeasy! Mysterious Masquerade! But finding the perfect theme can be difficult. If you are aiming to delight […]

Looking for a fun way to close a night of successful bidding? A Dessert Dash can help your organization bring in additional cash by keeping anticipation high and satisfying your guests’ sweet tooth. Read on for a step-by-step guide to ending your event on a sweet note. It’s a piece […]

Does your charitable organization hold an annual fundraiser auction? Has attendance started to drop as guests begin to expect the same thing, year after year? If so, consider changing things up by giving your next auction a theme. A theme will naturally refresh and enliven the atmosphere of your event […]

As you cast your procurement net, it’s likely that you’ll receive donations that won’t stand on their own or fetch their full value at your auction. In these cases, consider combining them with other items into packages, or baskets. Below you’ll find a list of silent auction basket ideas that […]

Here is a list of tried and true items that perform well in an online auction. Tickets to sporting events, the theater, and symphony. The latest and most popular electronics, like an iPad, Wii, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. Specialty food items like a box of hand-dipped chocolates, home-baked cookies […]

Raffles present an additional opportunity for your organization to raise money during your silent and live event auction. There are many types of raffles, one of which is the 50-50 raffle. In a 50-50 raffle, the winner is awarded 50% of ‘the pot,’ that is the money that was raised […]

In the previous posts of this series, I’ve covered naming your silent auction sections, staggering their closing times, and choosing the right number of items for your benefit auction. In this installment, I’m moving from abstract organizational matters to something more tangible: silent auction bid sheets. We’re often asked “What […]

A benefit auction is one of the most valuable fundraising tools available, not just because it provides a way to raise a lot of money in a short period of time, but also because it is the ideal vehicle for making personal and lasting connections with your supporters. All too […]