theater silent auction how to donate items firehouse theater

by Prof. Ollie Welch 7 min read

What information should be included in a silent auction donation letter?

Jul 23, 2020 · NEWBURYPORT — The Firehouse Center for the Arts seeks donations from local merchants for a silent auction to help fund its reopening this fall.

Should your nonprofit include a silent auction at its event?

Estimated Cost of This Silent Auction Donation. Like all packages, the cost will depend on the features included. OneCause’s Wrigley Field silent auction donations has a suggested retail value of $5,855, but your nonprofit will only pay $2,795 to auction it off! Don’t forget, this package is risk-free. Pro Tips from OneCause

How do you run a successful silent auction?

To begin your silent auction donation request letter, first introduce yourself and acknowledge the relationship your organization has with the recipient. For example: “You have played a huge role in the success of our organization for years. We can’t thank you enough for supporting us as a frequent donor and volunteer.”

Why host a silent auction event?

Of course, a lot goes into hosting a successful silent auction event. Beyond the items your supporters will take home, the charity auction software you use will be the true backbone of your event. Your attention-grabbing auction items will have your guests tripping over themselves to place bids, so make the bidding process as efficient as possible.

How do I donate to a silent auction?

Tailor your auction items to what you know donors will want. When it comes to obtaining worthwhile donations, reach out early using corporate donation websites to request support. Contact your local supporters by phone and arrange a meeting to discuss your request and explain the benefits of donating auction items.

What can you donate to a charity auction?

Some classic charity auction items that sell well include: Gift baskets. Gift cards. Memorabilia....8. StaycationA fancy local hotel stay.Private wine or beer tasting.A meal at an upscale restaurant.Tickets to a local event.Luxury bath products.Snacks and drinks.Movies or books.

What sells best at silent auctions?

Top 20 Best Selling Silent Auction ItemsAuction Item Description% Above Fair Market ValueAutographed music memorabilia720%Autographed sports memorabilia370% - 630%Popular home accessories480%Fine dining restaurant certificates330% - 460%11 more rows

What items can be auctioned?

Items for Live AuctionsTravel package. This is one of the most popular choices for auctions of all shapes and sizes. ... Live artwork. Bidding on artwork at a charity auction is very common. ... Pamper basket. ... Signed memorabilia. ... A personal chef for an evening. ... Lottery ticket basket. ... Homemade baked goods. ... Season sports tickets.More items...

How do you pack items for silent auction?

Silent Auction Packaging & Procurement: 5 Tips [Updated]Focus on your best silent auction items.Avoid too much cellophane in silent auction packaging.Don't over-bundle your standalone auction items.Have purpose with your silent auction packaging.Create a dazzling auction item display.

How does a silent auction fundraiser work?

Silent auctions are a type of charity auction and nonprofit fundraising event. During silent auctions, organizations raise money by taking bids on auction items and selling each to the highest bidder. Bidding is either conducted by using paper bid sheets or mobile bidding software.

How do I bid for charity items?

To solicit items you can use for an online charity auction, create a committee to manage the solicitation process, brainstorm with your committee members, list possible donors, write an effective solicitation letter, distribute the letters, follow up with phone calls, and send thank-you notes.

How do you auction off items?

Here are the basic steps to holding an online auction:Choose a vendor. ... Solicit goods. ... Decide when enough is enough. ... Collect or take photos. ... Determine fair market values. ... Set starting bid amounts. ... Let people know about the auction. ... Present goods in an attractive light to bidders.More items...

How many silent auction items should I have?

How many items should I assign to each silent auction section? Aim for 35 items per silent section, and try not to exceed 50. With more than 50 items, it becomes cumbersome for your guests to peruse the full contents of a section and remember what interests them.Aug 1, 2011

What happens to items that don't sell at auction?

What is Burning? Burning is when an item goes unsold at auction. Auction houses like to refer to these items as "bought-in" (even though very few auction houses nowadays will actually buy unsold lots from sellers). An item can be burned if no one bids on it or if it does not reach the reserve price.May 17, 2016

How much can you make from a silent auction?

A rule of thumb is that live auction items will produce 65-75% of their retail or fair market value, while silent auctions will result in 50-65% of their fair market value.Feb 13, 2018

What is a silent auction donation?

This silent auction donation is a surefire way to please any jetsetters or adventurers in your audience. These packages, popular at most auctions, offer once in a lifetime experiences to bidders. Auction off an exciting experience at your next silent auction!

Why don't you offer up a package to a location that's too obscure?

Don’t offer up a package to a location that’s too obscure because you might lose interest. Pick a popular vacation site with a good reputation so your winner can enjoy their stay without worrying about safety or cleanliness!

How much is Disney World Family Adventure?

Like previously mentioned, different packages will have different costs, depending on where your nonprofit books from and which features you want to include. OneCause’s Disney World Family Adventure is listed at $4,995 for nonprofit’s. The whole package is worth up to $10,470, so it’s sure to be an experience your winner won’t forget.

Where to stay at Disney World for 4?

Your winner’s family of 4 can enjoy a 4 night stay at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, Florida, which includes outdoor gardens, a lagoon-style pool, 12 tennis courts, and 45 holes of golf.

What should be included in a silent auction letter?

Included with your letter should be a silent auction item donation form to get additional and specific information about the item they’re donating. This information will be important for creating online item descriptions or bid sheets.

What is a donation request letter?

The letters are the first introduction to individuals and businesses that you’re having an event, need silent auction items, and what recognition and visibility is included for auction donors. So, make it count!

How to write a donation letter?

The first step in writing a donation request letter is ensuring that it gets to the right person. Do your due diligence up front to make sure your request reaches a person with decision making power. Take time to make inquiry phone calls or perform Google searches.

Do you thank donors for an auction?

Always, always, always be sure to thank auctions item donors. It’s such an important element of a donation request and sometimes overlooked in the craziness of auction prep. Be sure to:

Fund a Need

For those who simply don’t want more stuff! Make it easy for people to donate, with a variety of price points to fund a specific initiative or need.

More Ideas

Need more ideas? C heck out 23 Awesome Silent Auction Baskets. And to help figure out how much to include in your auction, read The Right Number of Silent Auction Items for a Fundraising Gala.