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Silent Auction Fundraiser Planning: A Quick Guide

January 2, 2023

Silent auctions are the newest trend amongst fundraisers to reduce hassle and make the event enjoyable. Silent fundraisers are more effective in suitable settings and audiences without the auction proceedings taking up the event duration. Planning a memorable charity event is a mammoth task and will require research, external help and hard work.

To begin planning, you may start with questions like, what venue is suitable for a fundraiser? How can I get an auctioneer? And how to get items for a silent auction fundraiser? Read on to learn more.

What Is a Silent Auction?

A silent auction is a type of auction where participants submit sealed bids rather than calling out their bids in open auction. The auction will not involve loud bidding. The highest bidder is then declared the winner of the auction once the bidding period is over.

Silent auctions are often used to raise money for charity or other causes. This form of the event is designed to let other performances take centre stage to keep guests entertained whilst the auction proceeds in the background.

When you look for good fundraising ideas in Australia, you will find silent auctions on the list. Many organisations prefer silent auctions over parties to help donate to charity whilst people have a night of acquaintance.

A silent auction can easily become a fundraiser when all profits are promptly donated to support a cause: the eradication of diseases, poverty or even individual problems, reasons are many in the world. Many fundraisers become successful when presented as silent auctions due to their providence of anonymity if the bidder wishes for it.

If you're looking to plan a fundraiser, you might also be questioning how to get items for a silent auction fundraiser. Learn more about the proceedings of auctions and how you can effectively organise them below.

How Can You Plan A Silent Auction Event?

Event planning is a complicated process, especially concerning fundraisers. As these events are usually for charitable causes, all structures and services hired must be tasteful and in line with the vision of the room. Awareness of the proceeding and making empathetic choices are essential traits of a good auction planner. The main items to check off your planning list are as follows:

Silent auction platform

If you’re going to use bidding software, it is crucial to check and recheck the status of the software before the event to ensure a smooth auctioning process. The event's primary purpose is the fundraiser, and the event depends on the platform's performance. Other acts are secondary priorities when the silent auction is at stake.

Items for fundraising

The biggest question as a planner would be how to get items for a silent auction fundraiser. You can get these items from organisations who are specialised in catering to fundraisers. An expert opinion is essential when choosing articles that might interest more people to bid and help a charitable cause.

Performances

A silent auction doesn't fill up the proceedings of the night. You will need other performances from dancers, singers and other performance actors to keep your audience entertained whilst they bid. An enjoyable night filled with impressive performances can do wonders for the amount of money raised in an event.

Invitations

Great invitation cards, either physical or digital, must be handed out to parties of your interest. Sending out invitations with sufficient time to spare allows people to plan their schedule around the event, and you can expect a better turn up. A larger audience usually accounts for better success at fundraisers.

Food and decorations

The most critical hospitality features of fundraisers towards its donors are the food and drinks. It would be best never to compromise on the quality and quantity of food available at a fundraiser. A good décor instantly puts people in a good mood. A great setting is the first sign of a good event designed for success.

What Are The Different Stages Of Fundraiser Planning?

When you search for fundraising ideas in Australia, your planning process doesn't end there. The main steps of fundraiser planning are as follows:

Pre-event planning

The central part of the planning process for a silent auction happens before the event. The organisation of various parts of the fundraiser occurs in this stage, and we head towards execution.

Execution

Plan execution is when we see ideas come to life. Planners often need to make spontaneous decisions to help the event run smoothly. Staying in the moment and seeing the event through is vital.

Post-event review

The most overlooked process is the review phase. Learning from what went wrong and applying experiences to the next planning venture is how one can grow as a fundraiser planner. Reviews from the guests are also a great way to gather feedback and improve.

Charity Auctioneer: Your Partner in Fundraising

Auction fundraisers, whether silent or live auction, involve adequate planning and good execution to become successful.

If you’re looking for professionals to help you with your event, Charity Auctioneer is a team of auction experts with more than 20 years of experience. We can help you organise your auction by assisting you with items, auctioneers if needed, and helpful advice.

For more details about our services, contact us today.

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