5 Keys to Charity Auction Fundraiser Success

Auctions take a lot of time and commitment to put together. Soliciting items is key to an exciting and profitable event.

You need a powerful committee to ensure success and meet revenue goals. It doesn't matter if your committee is a group of professional staff members, volunteers or a combination of the two.  Success follows the same rules.  And the good news is, the rules are easy.  Just follow them!

• Good Committee Members
  Ask people who have the time and desire to contact potential donors by phone and in person. Seek friendly, persuasive people who are committed to your organization.



• Ask People Who Know People
  People who are connected in your industry, community and organization can make amazing things happen.  If you don't know them personally, ask someone in your organization who has a good connection with them to ask them to help.  We help those we like.  And we help those who ask for help.
   
• Set a revenue goal
  This will help you determine how many auction items and what retail value they need to have to be successful. You need three to four times the value of the merchandise to hit your revenue and profit goals.
  
  
• Know Your Audience
  Of course you must make sure to match your audience to the items to make sure they'll want  to bid on them!  You also want to make sure to keep the values of the items in the financial budget of attendees.
   
• Don't Pass Up Opportunities!
  A great time to ask for donations is when you're buying something!  After having dinner at a restaurant, shopping in a store, buying a service.  Ask to speak with the manager or owner.  Compliment them.  Then tell them briefly about the cause you're working on and how it will help them (if possible).  Simply ask for a donation.  Ask for what you want!  If you have minimum $50 package, ask for a $50 gift certificate, or give them an idea of what would be a great donation.