Many schools seem to be in a financial budget crunch and a lot of times the first things that seem to be short on funds is the music and arts programs. A great solution to this problem is for the school to host a professional live auction with a silent auction as well. Students love to get involved in projects like this and will learn a lot of important skills in the process.
School staff and students can be organized into cheap silent auction ideas committees that are responsible for specific tasks. When the whole school auction event is carefully divided up into small responsibilities, the project will run smoothly and the fundraising auction will be successful. Students will learn skills that will aid them in future employment and will value the school programs that their hard work goes to support. The school usually has a location at their facility already that will be acceptable to host the event.
Young people who are good with details and numbers can be responsible for the accounting side of the auction, recording bidding information, auction purchases, payments, donations, and clerking at the auction. The location team can responsible for the location of the event, organizing the layout, arranging for food and drink, decorations, lighting, and sound. The printing and promotion teams can create invitations, signs, bid numbers, the auction catalog, bid sheets, silent auction posters, sponsor appreciation signs and any other printed material needed. They can promote the event through online media sources and send out invitations to key donors. Those in charge of the donated items to be auctioned off will solicit businesses for donations, organize the donated items for silent or live auction, submit the details of the items to the auction catalog, and ensure the deliveries once the items are sold. Finally, the appreciation team can send out thank you cards after the charity auction event to show the school’s gratefulness to their generous donors.
Many businesses are willing to donate items or supplies for the auction, i.e. the food, in exchange for advertising in the auction catalog or signage at the event that promotes their company. Make sure students are aware of what they have to offer these businesses and the kind of items that they really need. Most professional charity auctioneers are a wealth of knowledge on this subject and can give you great advice on how to run your school charity auction event.