A School Silent Auction is a Fun Fundraiser

Sunday, December 6, 2009 9:31

Posted in category Finance

Have you ever been to a school silent auction? They can be one of the most intriguing and exciting events you have ever participated in. They are a fabulous way to draw the whole community together. Each one is different, and each one has a variety of things to offer. You won’t want to miss out on the camaraderie, food and fun.

You will need a number of people to help organize and put together the school auction. One person will need to be in charge of the entire activity. Others can approach people about donating items, some can make up all of the auction sheets, others will be needed to set up everything, receive the money and give the items to the winning bidders.

Holding your auction during a special season can add an atmosphere of fun. You can have a Halloween pumpkin fundraiser or a mother’s day basket fundraiser. The main item to be offered can be something that goes along with the theme. For example, for mother’s day a large basket could be decorated in a pretty, feminine way, and the children could bring things they think a mother would enjoy.

All of the local businesses need to be visited and asked to donate something for the school auction. They can donate different types of lessons, such as guitar lessons, dance lessons and tennis lessons. Restaurants can donate appetizers, gift cards, meals for two, meals for a year or free drinks for a certain time period. Hotels can offer free nights or a special room at a discount rate. Tanning sessions, hair cuts or toys are great auction items, too.

Another way to increase the success of a fundraiser is to find a restaurant that would be willing to donate a meal, or prepare one at a reduced cost so people could eat during the time of the fundraiser. A mini-carnival for the children is always a big success. The parents enjoy the freedom of looking at the auction items without worrying about their children.

The day before the auction, all of the items need to be set out on tables. The auction sheet, with the name of the item, the minimum bid and a place for names and bids, will need to be placed below each item. Have some extra pencils on hand for those who forget to bring one. When the bidding comes to an end, the highest bidders are announced and the items are given out.

There is nothing more fun and exciting than a school silent auction. It is a great way to raise money for the school. Encourage all of the teachers, students and parents to help in getting it ready. It will be a great time of fun for everyone.

Silent auctions are a great way to raise money for just about any purpose. Learn the tips and tricks for holding one of these fun fundraisers at the Auction Web Site.