How to Have a Successful Christmas Silent Auction

The Basics of a Silent Auction

A silent auction is a fundraising technique in which participants bid on items by placing a bid slip with a designated amount or using a bid sheet. It can be an excellent way to raise money for charity if it is well-organised.

Participants in a silent auction bid on items in secret or anonymously, and there’s no auctioneer present. Winners are determined by the highest bidder. A seller may set up an item with a minimum bid of $10 and a maximum bid of $100. 



Silent auctions work best when you have many donated items like paintings, furniture or jewellery. You can also organise an elaborate raffle, drawing numbers to see who wins certain items. You can ask people to donate money as well so you can cover the costs of running the event.

How to Get More Engagements in Your Silent Auction This Holiday

Engaging donors is one of the most critical parts of any charity fundraising campaign. But how can you get more engagements in your silent auction this holiday?

Here are a few tips on how you can engage people and run an auction successfully: 

1. Get exciting items that people will want to bid on. A successful silent auction raises more money than it costs to run. To make this happen, you must ensure that every item in the silent auction is high-quality, unique and appealing to potential bidders. Some of these are:

• Sports memorabilia
• Artworks
• Helicopter ride
• Cruise
• Wine tasting experience
• Holiday trips
• Jewellery and watches
• Other unique experiences

    2. Promote your silent auction event to your target audience. You can create a website dedicated to it or take advantage           of social media platforms to reach out to as many people as possible. 

       Once you have launched your silent auction event, you can use Facebook and other platforms to share it with your                 friends and followers. A landing page on your website is also a good idea so that people can learn more about your                   items and bid without having to leave your site.

     3. Create a fantastic program that may include a raffle, a door prize and a donation

         matching program (e.g. purchase a raffle ticket for $1 and enter the drawing for the chance to win $10 of gift cards!).

     4. Hold a preview event to create a buzz.

     5. Partner with another non-profit that has similar goals.

     6. Encourage people to bid based on their values (e.g. animal rescue groups may want to

         work with local shelters).

     7. Don’t forget about donors who have already donated—thank them for their support! You

          can also send them thank-you cards as a bonus gift. 

     8. Organise silent auction baskets.

     9. Get help from seasoned auction professionals like us at Charity Auctioneer.



Will Auction Baskets Sell This Holiday Season?

When it comes to the Christmas silent auction, remember that your event focuses on the items on the list or the bids at stake. Baskets of goodies are excellent items for bidders to fight for. Christmas baskets are a holiday delight for those who can receive them. But how do you assemble a silent auction basket?

Your baskets need to be moderate. The key to knowing what to put up in your basket is your target audience and keeping your items in trend but still of high value. Tailor-fitting the content of your basket will encourage your bidders. It should also be unique, attractive and stylish, and easy to transport.

Below are some silent auction basket ideas that will excite guests to place their highest bids.

1. Coffee Basket–Coffee lovers come out. This season, a coffee basket will surely hit the hearts of coffee drinkers. It may contain an assortment of different coffee brands but can also have coffee-themed trinkets like stickers, pins, buttons or signature and decorative mugs and cups.
2. Wine Basket—Whilst bidders come from different places, you could hit the jackpot if someone loved to collect precious wines! Put this on your list, and almost everybody in the corporate world would love to receive wine on Christmas.
3. Movie Basket—Netflix fans will have a great time receiving movie baskets. Movie-themed baskets may include gift cards from various streaming platforms (not only Netflix!) and can be adorned with popcorn and soda drinks. This basket is a win for those who want to spend Christmas night streaming their favourite shows!
4. Barbecue Basket—Christmas time in Australia is barbecue time outdoors. Filling up this basket with goodies will complete a holiday barbecue party.
5. Dinner Basket—Charcuteries are a fad these days. This basket may contain all the meaty stuff, so the winner won’t consider buying the items. Include a board and guide to bring out the best in the board. Even moms will love charcuterie baskets!



We can’t lay them all here because basket ideas fit for a Christmas silent auction are endless. However, plan your goal very well and ensure that the baskets are in time for the season, for the people and their culture.

Charity Auctioneer: Your Partner in Fundraising

Wrap your day with these tips and bring smiles to donors and bidders alike. If you need assistance setting up your event, we can help. With over 20 years of combined fundraising event experience, Charity Auctioneer is your excellent partner in making your silent auction a success. 

For more details about our services, contact us today.