Fundraiser Auctions Ideas and Items

No Longer for the High Profile Cause

Auctions have long been a way for organizations to raise money. However until recently, the “fundraiser auction” was something for the elite and socialite crowds. Doctors and lawyers have, for many years, been found attending silent and celebrity auctions for glamorous Save the Rainforests and Feed the Children types of causes. But that isn’t the case any more.

Today, the auction format is being utilized not only by these high profile organizations but by scout troops, sororities, fraternities, student activities organizations on college and high school campuses. One reason for the success of auctions as fundraisers is that the possibilities for what to include are almost limitless. Here are just a few ideas and some tips for how to get each of them together, as well precautions to keep things running smoothly.

Celebrity auction.
In a celebrity auction, groups solicit celebrities, either on the local level or global level if the connections to do so are available, to donate items of a personal nature. A celebrity, in this case, is not necessarily an actor or musician, although these are not exempt. Local business owners, teachers, political figures can all be included.

Examples of items to solicit might be tickets to a play from a prominent figure in the community theater, dinner for two from a local restaurant owner, a copy of a book from a local author. Each “celebrity” attends the auction and presents their donation to the attendees as part of the celebrity gimmick. The base price is generally slightly lower than the cost of the item (bidding on a $50 gift certificate for dinner may begin at $40, for example, although bidders should not be told they are bidding on a $50 certificate, rather on a “dinner for two,” so as to not influence bidding).