Silent Auction Guide: Ideas, Setup Tips, & Fundraising Strategies 

Silent auctions are one of the most popular ways nonprofits engage guests and raise money at fundraising events. There are a variety of ways to run a silent auction, so use this guide to see success at your next silent auction. 

The silent auction process requires prospective buyers to submit their bids in writing before the event. The auctioneer then reviews each bid and awards the item to the highest bidder. This auction format is ideal for events where the organization aims to sell many items in a compressed timeframe.  

The Benefits of a Silent Auction 

Successful silent auctions can be an exciting, low-cost activity that captures donors’ attention at the event or online, resulting in large donations. 

Silent auctions provide value to your donors while pitting them against others to see who can donate the most to your cause. Since you won’t need an active auctioneer speaking to a crowd of people, you can run a virtual silent auction event for as long as necessary, with bids being placed digitally. The digital element can also attract donors who can’t attend your event in person. 

This format is effective when combined with a larger event, such as a gala or tournament, to provide even more value to your guests. Adding an auction to an existing event remains inexpensive, especially if local businesses donate all the items. Many businesses are happy to donate because it can improve their brand’s PR, provide free advertising, and make them eligible for certain tax breaks. 

How to Run a Successful Silent Auction 

As a fundraiser learning how to run a successful silent auction, you’re constantly adjusting and adapting. When you think you have it down, trends change, hot new items pop up, donors are seeking something different, technology evolves, and more.  

Remember, the key to a successful silent auction lies in careful planning, strong partnerships, and the ability to offer truly one-of-a-kind items. With these strategies, you can ensure your next fundraiser is both impactful and memorable. 

Silent Auction Volunteers 

Be mindful of who you recruit to run your silent auction. Will the volunteers who are procuring auction items deliver? Do they have the connections you need to secure the must-have items or experiences your donors want? Then you must consider the actual day of your silent auction. Will the volunteers who said they will help with checkout be there, or on the dance floor? Are these volunteers outgoing, and will they encourage guests at the event to bid in the auction? 

Not only is it key that your silent auction volunteers show up to help maximize the silent auction, but that they know what to do. Training your volunteers is a significant component of any event, especially if you’re using silent auction software. 

GiveSmart’s online training academy is available to all of our nonprofit partners at any service level. Our full-service silent auction team arrives before your event to help set up the check-in area, train guests on the software, provide equipment, and ensure consistency between your silent auction website and the auction items available at the event. Training also teaches volunteers and staff on how to use the GiveSmart platform so that they can bid and donate on behalf of guests who may need assistance. 

Silent Auction Donations  

In addition to event-night volunteers, you’ll likely rely on volunteers to secure donations for your silent auction. As you begin planning your silent auction, it’s essential to decide who will solicitauction items. Your goals should be clearly defined so that volunteers and staff are held accountable for fulfilling the auction catalog, thereby helping you achieve your fundraising goals. 

It’s also worthwhile to discuss which items or experiences your donors want and are interested in, as this will guide donation solicitors and ultimately drivemore bidding activity. Highly sought-after items will increase the amounts donors are willing to bid, compared to items (such as gift cards) that have a set value. 

Your silent auction should consist entirely of donations. Sometimes, organizations will use consignment companies when they can’t get a hold of items that are harder to obtain (for example, Hamilton tickets or exclusive vacation packages). 

We recommend taking a strategic approach when incorporating consignment items. It’s important to understand the consignment company’s pricing structure and the extent to which donors desire their items. In some cases, the consignment auction items that you offer may draw a new audience to the event. Understanding what donors want is key when curating a successful silent auction. 

As you reach out to your community for donations for your silent auction, you can also enable the Item Donation Form on your GiveSmart site. This form expedites the collection of donor information and automatically adds items to the queue for administrators to upload to the auction catalog. Utilizing technology in this way allows for easy submission of items to the auction and on-the-go mobile image uploads as you import items. 

Silent Auction Promotion 

Promoting your silent auction before your event is a great way to get guests excited about the items and the event. If it’s your first time using mobile bidding software, it’s important to let guests know they’ll be bidding on their phones, so they remember to bring their phones to the event. 

GiveSmart’s silent auction platform lets you communicate with guests via e-mail or text, so you can use this feature to promote your silent auction before your event. You can also open the auction before the event begins to engage donors in pre-bidding. 

Bidding in advance of the event is beneficial because it gets guests used to the mobile platform, gets them excited for the event, and engages them in bidding, allowing you to kick off event night with money already raised! 

Setting Up Your Silent Auction 

It’s beneficial to have a homepage for your silent auction event that guests can come to for the event itinerary, tickets, contact information, auction details, and more.  A landing page for your event is setting you up for success as guests, donors, and volunteers seek more information. 

GiveSmart provides organizations with a hub to sell tickets, sponsorships, make donations, bid on items, purchase merchandise, process payments, and run reports. For processing payments and reporting, it’s great to have a ticketing solution that integrates with your auction so that guests only need to log in and pay once. 

The physical setup of the auction on event day is as essential as the digital setup.  How you display your auction items will directly impact their performance.  Here are some things to consider: 

• Keep the location and available space in mind as you consider where guests will mingle. 

• Place the auction within view. 

• Ensure there’s space to peruse the auction items. 

• Print display sheets in a legible font. 

• For experiences or certificates, you can print a customizable display sheet directly from your GiveSmart site instead of rewriting all of the information that already exists within your auction catalog. 

Running your Silent Auction 

On event day, the auction area should be a highlight, and it is here that the silent auction staff or volunteers come into play.  They need to encourage guests to roam the auction area and browse the items as they arrive and head to the bar. 

If guests would like to bid, you can direct them to the welcome text message they received upon arrival, offer to place a bid on their behalf, or provide further instructions on bidding. 

As the event continues, utilize the Message Center to communicate with guests throughout the evening. Let them know when it’s time to sit for dinner. Remind them that some items may not have bids yet.  Ask if they’ve checked out the fantastic vacation package.  Tell them when the program is about to begin, or give them a time warning as the auction comes to a close. 

Volunteers and staff acting as bidding assistants should continue to support guests throughout the event, beyond the cocktail hour, checking in to see if they need assistance bidding or donating. 

As the event is underway, you can project a bidding visual on a wall or projection screen that will update in real time as bids come in. This stirs competition in the room and updates guests on where bids are as the auction clock continues to dwindle. A similar donation or thermometer visual can be displayed during a digital pledge or a text-to-donate campaign so everyone can watch donations pour in. It’s a great way to build excitement in the room and encourage donations of all sizes. 

Guest Experience and Engagement Tactics  

For those who run nonprofit organizations and fundraise for a living, it’s easy to admit that virtual fundraising has opened up new fundraising opportunities.  

If your organization is worn down by an abundance of silent auctions, you may need new ideas for having fun with them. As you review these tips, remember to keep the same out-of-the-box thinking and creative mindset that got your business through the past year. 

We can now combine with classic in-person auctions to create a hybrid experience for participants and generate more money for your organization. 

Some ways to keep your virtual silent auction fun and productive for your guests and your organization include: 

• Offer unique silent auction experiences and prizes. Are there any new items on the market you’re interested in? What would your perfect date night look like? What is something you’ve been eyeing at the store but haven’t purchased? These are great brainstorming questions to ask yourself and your colleagues to come up with unique silent auction ideas that no one else has thought of. You can even include mystery prizes. 

• Incorporate entertainment: Rather than hosting a virtual silent auction where people simply go online and bid on prizes, make the event a virtual silent auction party. Have employees and their friends or family donate entertainment. If they’re a singer, juggler, comedian, or have another great talent to share, give them a five-minute time slot to keep donors entertained in between bids. Do you have a famous member of the organization? Is there a hometown hero everyone looks up to? Having a high-profile person advertise at the event may bring in more people. 

• Offer dinner and a show: If you’re hosting a hybrid or in-person event, you can also combine it with a food-related fundraiser, such as a spaghetti dinner. If you provide your donors with a meal and entertainment, they will likely spend more time and money at the event. 

• Host a hybrid event: Now that people feel more comfortable with in-person events, you can start hosting hybrid parties and events. This allows those who don’t feel comfortable attending in-person events, those who live far away, or those who have other plans to participate.  

• Use visual tools to track progress: Many people find it helpful to visualize something to understand it, and visual tools are another way to make your silent auction fun. Here are some examples of how to track your fundraising progress while motivating your attendees to continue to donate: 

• Use a whiteboard or digital screen as a donor scoreboard to showcase the top bidders, thank them, motivate others to donate more, and inspire friendly competition. 

• Use a fundraising goal thermometer: another great visual tool that helps donors see the event’s progress and their donations. It may inspire donors to give more, especially when you inch closer to a higher number. 

• Give prizes to top donors: Advertise at the beginning of the event that top bidders will receive a special prize. This can be as simple as a small trophy, a homemade medal, or a piece of candy. Donors will appreciate the recognition, and it may inspire them to give more. You can also recognize them the day after the event with a social media post featuring them with their prizes. 

• Offer instant items: Your event centers on bidding, but a curveball can undoubtedly make your silent auction more exciting. Instant items appeal to those who prefer to purchase something outright rather than spend time bidding. These items have set retail values, for example, two $3,000 plane tickets, earrings that cost $900, or two tickets to a show that cost $400. GiveSmart offers tailored mobile bidding software, silent auction software, and more, so donors around the world can participate in your event. 

• Include some raffle items:  Another way to make an online silent auction more fun is to add a few raffle items in addition to bidding items.This is great for those who aren’t as interested in bidding, and it can help your organization make even more money. Set a price for a certain number of tickets — such as one for $1, three for $5, or 10 for $15 — and include photos of each raffle item. Your digital raffle platform will do the rest for you.  

• Play fundraising games: Another form of entertainment you can provide is fundraising games. These activities help break up the event and make it more fun and engaging for participants. They are also a great way to get more donations. Here are some examples: 

• Trivia about your organization: Host “10 Minute Trivia” about your organization. Whoever gets the most questions right about your organization receives a prize — something small, like a bottle of wine, a box of cookies, or candy. The prize can be something that will encourage them to stay longer at your event. 

• Stand up, sit down for the most tenured members: If you have organization memberships, do a five-minute stand-up, sit-down game. Have everyone stand up or put their hand up, and call out periods of time, like six months, one year, five years, 10 years, and so on. The last person standing will be the person who has been a member the longest, and they win. This is another way to have fun with your silent auction and recognize organization members. 

How to End Your Silent Auction 

It’s a good idea to set an end time for your auction, as it creates a sense of urgency and makes it more exciting for guests to still be at the event when they find out they’re winners. When the auction ends, send a text message to the winners through the Message Center. 

Filtering and directing winners to the checkout area will expedite the checkout process and eliminate congestion at the end of the evening. Guests will know whether they won and won’t need to bombard the checkout area inquiring about auction winners. 

What to do After Your Silent Auction 

Thank you notes and tax receipts are critical to send after an event.  However, donors of all ages say that receiving an impact report is the most critical follow-up message they accept, according to Momentive Software’s Donor Experience Study. Donors want to know how their contribution directly impacted the mission your organization serves–they want to see that they’ve helped make a difference. 

For financial and tax purposes, receipts are a must. GiveSmart’s platform automatically sends receipts to donors and ticket purchasers after a payment is processed on an event site. This feature alone saves development teams hours of work and the hassle of manually compiling and sending receipts. 

How to Evaluate the Success of Your Silent Auction: 

Analytics, Performance Insights, and Post-Event Improvements 

Once the event is over, it’s essential to look back and assess how well auction items performed.  Here are a few things you should consider: 

1. How many of your guests participated in the auction? 

2. Who were the most active bidders 

3. What was your ROI? 

Post-event reporting is vital as you plan for next year. GiveSmart’s Event Dashboard provides real-time insights for auctions, users, and financials. The Reports hub is where organization admins can download a variety of reports, including: 

• Unpaid balances 

• Silent auction bids 

• Donations 

• Ticket orders 

• Attendees 

• Raffles 

• Instant items, and more. 

Silent Auction Data Uses 

About one in four donors give to a nonprofit via an auction. If you’re running your charity auctions online, you’ll have lots of data to better understand what happened at your silent auction.  But what does it all mean, and how can you apply what you have learned to achieve even greater fundraising results with your auction next time?  

Evaluating your silent auction data in depth can further grow giving and even capture new donor giving. Leveraging silent auction data is key to elevating your overall fundraising event strategy. 

• Look at the Auction Packages with the Top Bids: What auction items got the most bids? Those bidding patterns offer insight into where you raise a starting bid to generate more revenue. It also provides insight into what auction items you should preview with next year’s guests to generate excitement.   

• Look at Auction Packages with the Fewest Bids: While the most bid-on items tell you a lot — and can benefit your donor stewardship — packages with the fewest bids also offer great insight to your event team and committee. Consider what patterns you can find with items with the fewest bids. Was the price point too high? Are they part of a niche category? Was it a lot of work to get those items? By strategically using your bid history reports, you can see how many bids an item received and filter out items that received only a few bids to curate a higher-quality auction. It will also guarantee a greater return on investment (ROI) for your auction.    

• Run a Report on the Losers: Look at the bids report to see who was interested in items but did not win. Don’t forget to look at what they were willing to spend. Especially if the same person lost several items, they may have walked out of your event with money they wanted to give. Looking at the losers provides insight into their giving capacity and where you could offer additional giving opportunities at your event. Your major giving team can leverage this data in sponsorship, major giving, and legacy planning conversations. 

• Evaluate Your Auction Opening and Closing Times: Reviewing past auction performance can inform data-driven decision-making for these critical decisions. A longer opening time might be a good choice if you host only a virtual auction with no in-person elements. If you have a program with a robust live auction and paddle raise, consider closing your auction before those moments, so donors know how much they have already given in the evening.  

• Also, consider your auction checkout process. Staff and volunteers can take time to move items and organize. People are sometimes eager to pick up their items and leave immediately after the auction closes. Evaluating your entire event and refining your run of show can help generate more revenue overall.    

• Compare Average Winning Bids to Prior Year’s Average Winning Bids: More is not always best. As you review the number of packages and the average sales price during the event-post-mortem, compare them to prior years. Auctions require considerable work. Suppose 50 auction packages yielded you marginally less than 75 auction packages. In that case, other turnkey wrap-around fundraisers or revenue enhancers may take less time and generate more overall event revenue. 

You can refine your offerings, adjust pricing, and even uncover hidden donor potential through those who came close but didn’t win. Additionally, fine-tuning your event’s timing—from auction openings to closings—ensures that every moment is optimized for donor engagement and revenue generation.  

Benchmarking your current auction performance against past results provides a clear roadmap for continuous improvement. Embracing these data-driven insights sharpens your auction and lays a solid foundation for sustained success in fundraising events.  

Silent auctions are a great way to engage donors, provide unique experiences, raise money, and build excitement for your organization’s mission. Paying proper attention to each phase of the process ensures maximum success and minimum stress as you utilize an auction in your fundraiser. 

Going Virtual: How to Host an Online Silent Auction 

Today, more and more auctions are hosted online. An online silent auction allows donors to bid directly from their mobile phones, tablets, or computers. An online silent auction also has a broader reach, which can increase participation and ultimately raise more funds. 

The Advantages of Online Silent Auctions 

Hosting an online silent auction comes with several benefits: 

• Extended range: Due to the global reach of the internet, you’ll no longer have to limit the attendance of your silent auction to a specific geographic area. Buyers can place their bids from anywhere on their mobile device or computers, which can increase participation, encourage competition, and drive up selling prices. 

• A lack of time restrictions: Unlike an in-person auction, an online silent auction can last indefinitely (though we recommend 7-10 days). Participants can place their bids around the clock at their convenience, and it’s up to you to determine how long buyers have to make their bids, as you’ll be the one to set deadlines for bid submission. You’ll be able to generate an increased bid volume this way and, most likely, earn higher compensation for your items. 

• Increased marketing exposure for item donors and sponsors: Displaying items online enables the businesses donating them to gain greater visibility for their products and services. They can take advantage of free advertising to help build brand awareness. 

• Lower cost: Hosting an online silent auction typically costs much less than holding a live event. With the help of silent auction software, you’ll end up spending less on planning, and you’ll decrease your dependence on human labor. 

How Does a Silent Auction Platform Improve Event Results? 

With the use of silent auction software and a solid promotional campaign, you can effectively manage every aspect of your event, from planning through checkout. The numerous software benefits include: 

• Higher bids: Mobile bidding adds an intriguing lucrative twist to the silent auction. Bidders receive an instant text notification when someone outbids them, and they can return to increase their bid if they wish. This feature can dramatically improve the item’s final selling price. 

• No need for additional infrastructure: With the right platform, you can manage your online silent auction without purchasing extra equipment or modifying your existing computer systems. You’ll have access to everything you need to run your event at your fingertips. 

• Better organization: One of the most challenging aspects of hosting an online silent auction is organizing the event. With software, you won’t have to set up a physical location or display items manually. Bidders can view clear, detailed, full-color photos of all the items at the event and access all the details on their computer, smartphone, or tablet. As the event holder, you’ll be able to track the bidding progress on every item in real-time and make inventory updates as needed. Remember, promotion and communication with your supporters is key. You have to publicize the campaign to attract an audience to your virtual event. 

• Automation of tasks: Software will enable you to automate functions involved with managing an auction, such as keeping records, gathering attendee information, and tracking auction proceedings. You’ll experience enhanced oversight with greater data accuracy as a result. 

• Fast, efficient checkout: If you’ve ever conducted or attended a live auction, you have firsthand experience with the chaos and confusion that occurs at checkout. Silent auction software eliminates these hassles by allowing you to manage all payment and delivery details with just a few clicks from the comfort of your home or office. You’ll have no worries about getting paid or figuring out where to send the purchased items. 

We invite you to explore our products, schedule a free demo, or contact us with any questions or to speak with someone about how GiveSmart can help with your next silent auction. 

The Best Silent Auction Items 

Silent auctions are a tried-and-true way for organizations, foundations, and schools to raise money while bringing families, students, and the community together. With creative and meaningful auction items, you can spark excitement, encourage participation, and maximize your fundraising potential. Whether you keep it simple with school swag or go big with unique experiences, these ideas can help ensure your next event is both memorable and impactful. 

Creative School Silent Auction Item Ideas 

Planning a silent auction can be a great way to earn money for your school. Whether you’re throwing an event, upgrading a classroom, or adding a new facility, a silent auction can be a fruitful way to start funding. You can choose from many prize options for little to no cost when planning a school fundraiser. While most of these packages and prizes work best for schools, consider adapting them for other types of fundraisers. 

Silent auction ideas for school fundraisers include:  

• Graduation Package: Graduation packages often include parking and VIP seating for the big occasion. They might also include the cost of the cap and gown and complementary alum merchandise. 

• Principal for a Day: What student doesn’t want to be the principal and make their own rules for the day? Younger students might especially love the opportunity to spend the day with their principal, delivering the school’s daily announcements and helping the principal with their daily duties. Principal for a day is one of the most original school fundraising ideas, and you can increase donations by selecting multiple winners who each get their own day as principal. 

• School Swag: For one of the most classic school auction ideas, put together a basket complete with school swag. If your school has a school store, ask management if they have leftover merchandise to create the basket! School stores often have a surplus of supplies. You can make the most of inventory that’s already accounted for by raffling it off as a basket or opening individual items for bidding. 

• Parking Spots: Many upperclassmen drive themselves to school every day. If your school has a small parking lot, some students may park farther away, which can make them late for class, especially in the colder months. If spots are in very high demand, you can raise even more money for your school by auctioning the same parking spot each semester or each season. This way, a new student can enjoy prime parking every few months. 

• Artwork: Individual student artwork and collective class artwork are unique and memorable pieces that typically perform well in school auctions. These items might be well-suited to parents or grandparents who want to collect as many keepsakes as possible from their younger children or grandchildren. 

• Teacher’s Day Off: Everyone can agree that teachers could use a well-deserved day off. At a school fundraiser, students can bid to help one of their teachers get the day off! This school fundraiser idea works particularly well for a raffle. Aim to raise a certain amount of money first — when you reach the amount, pull a teacher’s name out of a hat to see who wins the day off. 

• Dress-Down Days: Many schools that require uniforms offer periodic dress-down days where students can wear casual attire, such as jeans or sweatpants. These days are students’ favorites, so bidding for extra dress-down days is a fun way to bargain for casual dress.  

• School Sports Pass: Sports lovers always rejoice when all-access sports passes are offered at auctions! Bidding on a sports pass gives spectators an all-access pass to all school sporting events for the entire year. Winners can receive a season pass to football, basketball, soccer, or another sporting event of their choice! If this is popular with your school families, step it up a notch and offer VIP seating for pass holders as well! Pass holders would enjoy having the best seats in the house at the school stadium or a spot in the announcer’s box, protected from the weather. Sports passes are also great items to duplicate or auction multiple times. 

Low Cost, High Return Silent Auction Items 

Collecting silent auction items for your next fundraiser requires careful planning — you need to know where to begin, combat donor fatigue, and consider fresh items. It also requires a dedicated committee to build relationships and solicit items from local businesses and other partners. Gathering desirable, exciting silent auction items shouldn’t cost your nonprofit much.  

Silent auctions can be a powerful way to engage your community, raise funds, and create lasting memories. By focusing on unique and creative ideas, you can build an auction lineup that excites bidders and drives revenue. From low-cost items with broad appeal to exclusive, high-value experiences that captivate major donors, you can craft an auction that not only meets but exceeds fundraising goals.  

Silent Auction Items: Experiences 

• Family Photoshoot: Family photoshoots are special events for many families. Network with local freelance photographers who connect with your mission and see if they’re willing to donate some of their time and talent for your highest bidder. If a photographer is willing to offer more than one session, you can have the winning bid be a double-down for the next-closest bidder(s).  

• Memberships: Memberships are a brilliant, no-added-cost opportunity for zoos, museums, park systems, gymnastics centers, trampoline parks, and others to bring people to their spaces, spending gift shop money or lunch money to support the institution. 

• Tip: Ask your committee or board to donate a month’s worth of credit card points and buy gift cards to help fill out your auction. That way, you can offer shelf-stable groceries with your kitchen appliances, aprons to your Paint and Sip attendees, and other bits and baubles to make your auction feel robust. 

• For a Year: This charity auction package lets your winners really indulge! Ask local businesses to donate a “for a year” package. Solicit a year’s worth of cupcakes, donuts, local brews, pizza, oil changes, or other popular twists for this unique item!  

• Free Use of the Venue: If your organization boasts a beautiful space or has a strong corporate partner, you can auction it as a venue for donors to host their next event. Some examples of unique venue options that donors or leaders in your community can use to make their next event memorable are:  

• Museums after hours  

• Libraries for luncheons  

• Breweries for retirement parties or birthdays  

• Lobbies for talks or workshops    

• Guided Day Out: Find an expert in your community who can provide insight and expertise on something specific to your community. Or, ask a local guide to offer an individual or group a private, guided tour of:  

• Food destinations or cuisine types (pizza, cupcakes, etc.)  

• Architecture   

• Neighborhood(s)  

• Public transit line destinations  

• Child-friendly locations   

• Bike trail adjacent destinations   

• Theater backstage 

• Private Lessons: Can individuals in your community offer lessons as a silent auction item? The bids for lessons will be higher if this person doesn’t usually give them, making them even more valuable. The lessons can include anything: art, cooking, or fishing. 

• Sky Box: Corporations often lease skyboxes annually, typically paying for all or a minimum number of events at a venue. While they are prime locations for entertaining clients, a Tuesday night in April can be a hard sell for some clients. Or there could be less client-friendly events, such as a kids-themed ice show or the circus. Consider asking a board member or a corporate partner to donate their box, which they have to pay for anyway, to your event’s auction.   

• Timeshare/Vacation Home: Does anyone on your board or volunteer committee have a second home? Offering a weekend stay in a vacation home is a great way to obtain a vacation package. When using someone’s second home as an auction item, it’s essential to consider location — how long will it take to get there? Is it required to buy a plane ticket? If the distance is quite far, you may eliminate potential bidders, depending on your outreach. 

• Backstage Passes or VIP Tickets: Tickets to the big game are one thing, but tickets to events not for sale are another. If you can find the right connection, it’s no obstacle to give away tickets that don’t have face value. These experiences are hard to come by and highly sought after in a silent auction. Types of tickets to include are seats to:  

• A show during Fashion Week  

• Television tapings with a live audience, like The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Stephen Colbert, Saturday Night Live, and so on  

• A gallery opening night party  

• Tickets to an award show  

• Chef’s Table: An exclusive seat at a top restaurant can raise top dollar for your nonprofit organization. This is especially true if the table cannot be reserved otherwise. Consider partnering and cultivating relationships with restaurant vendors or groups to open these opportunities.  

• A Day In The Life: Auctioning off “a day in the life” with someone in a specific profession is fun for all ages. Perhaps it’s a day with a local news station or radio broadcaster, firefighters, local celebrities or athletes, a zookeeper, or even the mayor! If you’re hosting a school fundraiser, you could include a day with a popular coach or the principal in the silent auction. For adults, it can be a peek at something they’ve always been interested in or some time with someone they admire.  

• Event Day Dessert Cart or Personal Bartender: Immediate, exclusive experiences can be BIG money-makers for your next auction. Allow your guests and golfers to have a personal, staffed bar cart at their table or for their foursome. If a bartender is not the right fit for your crowd, a dessert card with candy, a cotton candy machine, or a chocolate foundation with fixings can be a huge hit!  

• Executive Lunch or Virtual Meetup: Executive lunches are silent auction items that give donors one-on-one time with someone to discuss important issues or shared interests. Examples of people to collaborate with for private lunches include your organization’s executive director, a community leader, or a public figure.  

• First Pitch: Many of us dreamt of the big leagues as kids. Connect with your local baseball team and request a game where one of your donors can throw the first pitch. This opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for donors and their kids, and it’s a perfect way to bring awareness to your organization. Throwing the first pitch at a game gives your organization a large, local platform to inform the audience about your mission and work.  

• Hot Air Balloon Ride: The odds are that there’s a local ballooning organization in your community or surrounding areas. Collaborate with the ballooning organization to offer your bidders an exciting hot air balloon excursion.   

Silent Auction Items: High Value Goods 

• #1 Fan Basket: Sports teams – from high schools to colleges and professional teams – are often willing to donate merchandise to create a basket for your auction. High school baskets can be great for rising 8th graders and seniors, especially around graduation time.    

• Kitchen Appliances: Air fryers, blenders, stand mixers, pasta makers, and other countertop devices. Get your hands on donated kitchen appliances by working with local businesses or arranging with larger department stores that have charitable programs.   

• Local Goods Basket: Creating a local goods sample is a great way to support local small businesses. Consider putting together a gift basket or an array of local goods, including memorabilia, spa goods, jewelry, teas, spices, cuisine, and more! 

• Note: Be mindful that small businesses rely on their merchandise for income. By participating in your silent auction, small companies are making a marketing effort to get their merchandise in front of a large group of community members who contribute.   

• Lottery Tickets: Imagine if someone could spend $100 and win millions! A lottery ticket wreath or basket can be an opportunity for a small group – such as a group of parents, junior board, corporate group, or others – to donate less than $5 of lottery tickets to put together your wreath.   

Silent Auction Items: Nostalgic and Priceless 

• Artwork: If your organization includes student or local artists willing to donate, a silent auction is an excellent opportunity to feature their one-of-a-kind pieces.  Parents are also willing to bid on their student’s art.   

• Note: Many artists are willing to donate; be mindful of who you approach and whether they depend on the income from their art. Express the mutual benefit: professional artists can gain customers by presenting their artwork to your bidders. 

• Memorabilia: Many foundations have historical memorabilia associated with your organization’s founding or famous members. Your board members might be collectors, too. Memorabilia are collectibles associated with a recognizable person or organization, such as records, autographed baseballs, vintage records, and first-edition books.  

• Reserved Parking Spot: Whether it’s driving the school carpool every day, parking farthest from the office, or being late from lunch, a reserved parking spot saves people the hassle of finding parking. Add this perk to the silent auction for a specific event, monthly, or annually. A “good” parking spot is unique to each person, so it’s important to collaborate to find one that many people will enjoy.  

• Naming Rights: Building a new park or playground? Renaming streets in your city’s historic district? Trying to update a bathroom? Give the naming rights of a new project to the highest bidder as a fun way to engage donors. Naming rights are often permanent changes that allow donors to make a mark on their community and show they care. You can also change the name yearly for a cheeky location.   

• Reserved Seating at a Special Event: Like reserved parking, reserved seating is clutch at special events that demand a good seat. For instance, if you’re fundraising for a school, front-row seats at graduation are always a hot item because families want to be as close as possible for that special moment — not to mention the optimal photo opportunities. Take advantage of other events like:  

• The Fourth of July fireworks  

• The Lighting of a holiday tree  

• Parades  

• Graduation   

• School play or sports games  

GiveSmart is here to help your organization with all of its fundraising efforts. Contact us today for a free demo to learn how to get the most out of your next silent auction. 

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