Getting Started
Getting Started
Getting started can be the toughest
part of planning a major event like a charity auction. Running
a Profitable and Fun Charity Auction will help you pick a
location, choose a date, pick a theme, choose an auctioneer,
decide on the sequence of events and even help you plan the refreshments.
The following is just a short excerpt from Running
a Profitable and Fun Charity Auction
Choosing a Date
Choosing
a date is equally important as choosing a location. Often,
these two decisions are tied together for obvious reasons.
Most auctions are held in either the Spring or Fall. This is
because the summer is generally considered a bad time to hold
a major event since many guests may be vacationing. Winter
is also considered a bad time of year as many are preparing
or recovering from the holidays. Between
Spring and Fall, Fall is normally considered the best time
of year to hold an auction because many of your guests are
beginning to get into the holiday shopping mood and may find
that what you have to offer is on their shopping list. Weekend
evenings are the most popular time to hold auctions since most
auctions last well into the night.
When choosing the date for your auction you
should first check with your own organization to make sure
there are no internal conflicts. You should also check the
calendar section of your local paper (last year’s copy
found at the library), to see what other organizations might
hold events during this time. If you feel there might be a
conflict, you should call and see if they have chosen a date
yet. Coordinating dates with them can prevent your guests from
having to choose between the two events.
Picking a Theme
Using a theme can add to the fun of an auction and most auctions
use them. This allows you to create a “buzz” around
what would normally be seen as just another fundraising event.
A theme also provides direction for your Decoration Committee.
It is always a good idea if you can find a way to align your
organization’s mission or cause with the theme. Some
popular general themes are; a Masquerade, a Rock and Roll Party,
a Disco Party, Winter Wonderland, Mardi Gras, a Medieval Night,
etc.
Choosing an Auctioneer
You will need to decide whether you are going to hire a professional
auctioneer or use a volunteer. If you are very lucky, you might
have a volunteer who is a professional auctioneer. This decision
generally comes down to the following considerations. A professional
auctioneer will charge for their services. However, they will
auction more gifts faster and for more money.
Auction Committees
Chapter 3 covers every committee in detail. It discusses
when they should be formed, how many volunteers you will need to
staff them, and their major responsibilities. The excerpt from Chapter
3 below lists all of the committees that are discussed in Chapter
3.
You should create committees to handle the major
auction components. The size of your auction will determine the
number and type of committees you need and the number of volunteers
you will need to staff them. This chapter describes 14 different
types of committees you might consider forming to make your auction
a success
-
The Executive Committee (not an auction committee
per se)
-
The Auction Steering Committee
-
The Acquisition (Procurement) Committee
-
The Advertising Committee
-
The Invitations/Reservations/Check in Committee
-
The Auction Catalog Committee
-
The Silent Auction Committee
-
The Live Auction Committee
-
The Publicity Committee
-
The Auction Checkout Committee
-
The Decoration and Display Committee
-
The Miscellaneous Revenue Sources Committee
-
The Volunteer Coordination Committee
-
The Thank You Committee
-
The Finance Committee
Getting Started
Getting started can be the toughest part of planning a major event like a charity auction. Running a Profitable and Fun Charity Auction will help you pick a location, choose a date, pick a theme, choose an auctioneer, decide on the sequence of events and even help you plan the refreshments. The following is just a short excerpt from Running a Profitable and Fun Charity Auction
Choosing a Date
Choosing
a date is equally important as choosing a location. Often,
these two decisions are tied together for obvious reasons.
Most auctions are held in either the Spring or Fall. This is
because the summer is generally considered a bad time to hold
a major event since many guests may be vacationing. Winter
is also considered a bad time of year as many are preparing
or recovering from the holidays. Between
Spring and Fall, Fall is normally considered the best time
of year to hold an auction because many of your guests are
beginning to get into the holiday shopping mood and may find
that what you have to offer is on their shopping list. Weekend
evenings are the most popular time to hold auctions since most
auctions last well into the night.
When choosing the date for your auction you
should first check with your own organization to make sure
there are no internal conflicts. You should also check the
calendar section of your local paper (last year’s copy
found at the library), to see what other organizations might
hold events during this time. If you feel there might be a
conflict, you should call and see if they have chosen a date
yet. Coordinating dates with them can prevent your guests from
having to choose between the two events.
Picking a Theme
Using a theme can add to the fun of an auction and most auctions use them. This allows you to create a “buzz” around what would normally be seen as just another fundraising event. A theme also provides direction for your Decoration Committee. It is always a good idea if you can find a way to align your organization’s mission or cause with the theme. Some popular general themes are; a Masquerade, a Rock and Roll Party, a Disco Party, Winter Wonderland, Mardi Gras, a Medieval Night, etc.
Choosing an Auctioneer
You will need to decide whether you are going to hire a professional auctioneer or use a volunteer. If you are very lucky, you might have a volunteer who is a professional auctioneer. This decision generally comes down to the following considerations. A professional auctioneer will charge for their services. However, they will auction more gifts faster and for more money.
Auction Committees
Chapter 3 covers every committee in detail. It discusses when they should be formed, how many volunteers you will need to staff them, and their major responsibilities. The excerpt from Chapter 3 below lists all of the committees that are discussed in Chapter 3.
You should create committees to handle the major auction components. The size of your auction will determine the number and type of committees you need and the number of volunteers you will need to staff them. This chapter describes 14 different types of committees you might consider forming to make your auction a success
-
The Executive Committee (not an auction committee per se)
-
The Auction Steering Committee
-
The Acquisition (Procurement) Committee
-
The Advertising Committee
-
The Invitations/Reservations/Check in Committee
-
The Auction Catalog Committee
-
The Silent Auction Committee
-
The Live Auction Committee
-
The Publicity Committee
-
The Auction Checkout Committee
-
The Decoration and Display Committee
-
The Miscellaneous Revenue Sources Committee
-
The Volunteer Coordination Committee
-
The Thank You Committee
-
The Finance Committee
