4 Easy Ways to Incorporate an Auction Into Your Next Event

Your fundraising team is always looking for new, easy ways to simultaneously activate your events and increase revenue. Auctioning off items might not be your first idea, since what likely comes to mind are large, formal events with high-end prizes.

But adding an auction portion to an event — and maximizing your fundraising revenue in the process — is easier than you might think.

Whether your nonprofit is hosting an annual alumni gala or a local community event, you can easily incorporate elements of an in-person or online auction to engage guests and bring in additional revenue for your mission. Let’s explore four ways you can simplify auction planning and boost your events’ fundraising potential, no matter what kind of events you have lined up.

How to Add an Auction to Any Nonprofit Fundraising Event

1. Ask event sponsors to donate auction items.

If planning an auction feels intimidating, it’s likely because of the auction item procurement process. Fortunately, you can secure items through the resources you already have. Make procurement easier by tapping into the network of corporate partners who already support your mission or have sponsored events in the past.

Reach out to any current or past financial sponsors to see if they can provide in-kind gifts you can turn into auction items, such as:

• Gift cards for their business
• Surplus merchandise
• Certificates for free services
• Behind-the-scenes experiences
• Small assorted gifts you can bundle together

When asking for these donations, highlight the benefits for sponsors, like free promotion and additional visibility for their brands. Remind local businesses that donating an item places their brand in front of an engaged audience that trusts your organization, making them more likely to trust your sponsors, too.

2. Repurpose existing resources as easy auction item ideas.

In addition to conducting sponsor outreach, remember that you don’t always need to solicit donors to find compelling items. Sometimes, the most popular prizes are the experiences or items your organization already has on hand.

Gather your team and brainstorm ideas for easy auction items that you may have at your disposal without realizing it. These might include:

• Exclusive campus or facility access. Higher education institutions could auction off VIP parking passes, while nonprofits might give private, behind-the-scenes tours of their program facilities.
• Bundles of branded merchandise. Combine small items you have on hand, such as branded t-shirts and local coffee shop gift cards, into themed gift baskets.
• Unique staff experiences. Consider any experiences your team could offer, such as a private lunch with the university president or a specialized workshop led by one of your nonprofit’s program directors.
• Surplus items in good condition. Extra office supplies or specialized lab equipment that’s no longer used by your university can bring in high bids.

Not only are these auction ideas free to your organization, but they’re also likely to engage your audience because they relate directly to your mission. These items, combined with sponsor donations, can easily provide the foundation for a great auction at your next event.

3. Run a silent auction during your main event.

Once you have your auction items, plan how the auction will fit into your existing run of show. The easiest way to do this is to set up a passive bidding area that doesn’t interrupt the primary activities. This way, guests can browse the items throughout the event and place bids whenever they want.

No matter what kind of event you’re hosting, try to integrate your item displays and auction announcements into the natural flow of the day. For example, Graham-Pelton’s university fundraising guide recommends adding fresh fundraising events and themes to your existing Giving Day fundraisers. In this case, you might run an online auction throughout the day and display items across campus for in-person guests to see.

Or, if you’re hosting a golf fundraiser, you could set up your auction items near the check-in desk or at the clubhouse so participants can view them before and after their rounds.

4. Let guests bid on their own time with mobile bidding.

If you have a limited budget, you can use paper bid sheets at item stations to track bids and determine winners at the end of the event. However, consider making bidding easier for everyone by using mobile bidding software instead. These tools allow guests to place bids, track their items, and check out directly from an app or website on their phones.

Ultimately, mobile bidding offers several benefits for your supporters:

• Guests can bid at any time, from anywhere. Whether guests are seated at a table or mingling across the venue, they can keep an eye on their bids and browse items at their leisure.
• Supporters can easily join from home. Online bidding means that supporters who can’t attend your event in person can still participate, expanding your potential donor pool and increasing overall fundraising revenue.
• Bidding becomes even faster and more exciting. Many mobile bidding solutions come with features built to boost engagement and drive higher bids. Bonterra’s auction software, for instance, notifies guests the second they’re outbid, encouraging them to place higher bids and drive up final contributions.
• Attendees can check out faster, with less hassle. Online auction tools allow guests to check out instantly within the app, so they won’t have to stand in a long line at the end of the night to make payments.

Plus, auction apps automatically tally final bids and process transactions for your team, freeing up your event staff to focus on relationship-building rather than administrative tasks.

With the right mindset and a little creativity, you can seamlessly add a memorable, successful auction to any fundraising event to amplify its impact. Try implementing these strategies at your next fundraiser to see the potential benefits for yourself.