Fundraising ideas

Charity auction ideas: lots, pledges and running a fundraising gala

How to raise more at a charity dinner or fundraising gala: which lots sell, how to mix a silent auction with a live one, how to run the pledge moment, and how to collect the money afterwards. For schools, alumni, associations and companies that give back.

Three ways to raise money in one night

  • Silent auction: lots on display all evening; guests bid from their phones and see straight away when they are outbid.
  • Live auction: three to six star lots sold on stage by an auctioneer, with paddles in the air.
  • Pledge moment (paddle raise): no item at all. The auctioneer calls an amount, guests who give it raise a paddle, and a target bar climbs on the big screen.

Lots that sell

Experiences beat things. People pay most for what they cannot buy anywhere else.

  • A weekend away: a hotel stay or a holiday home
  • Dinner cooked by a well-known chef, or a private dining room
  • Signed sports shirts and match tickets
  • Time with someone: lunch with the CEO, a day shadowing a pilot or a newsroom
  • Art made by the people the charity helps
  • Class lots for schools: the best seats at graduation, a party for the class

How many lots

  • Silent auction: about one lot for every eight to ten guests.
  • Live auction: no more than six. Each one takes three to five minutes on stage.
  • Set a starting bid of about 40% of the value, and a clear bid step.

Running order for a fundraising gala

  • Arrival: the silent auction opens; guests register for a paddle number on their phone.
  • Dinner: the story of the cause, ideally from someone it helped.
  • Live auction: the star lots, one by one.
  • Pledge moment: right after the story, while the room is moved.
  • Dessert: the silent auction closes; winners are shown on the screen.
  • Close: the total raised, and a thank-you.

The pledge moment, step by step

  1. Show the target on the big screen and say what it pays for: "every 1,000 funds a classroom for a year".
  2. Start high, then come down: 5,000, then 1,000, then 500, then 100.
  3. Read out paddle numbers as they go up, and record each one.
  4. Let the bar climb on the screen; the room cheers each jump.
  5. Thank the donors by name, or by paddle number if they prefer.

Collecting the money

  • Before guests leave, every winner and donor should see on their phone what they owe and how to pay.
  • Show the bank details and a payment QR code; mark each one paid when the money arrives.
  • Send a short thank-you with the total raised within a week.

Try it free

Yaypick runs the silent auction, the live auction and the pledge moment from one event, with the big screen showing the lots and the target bar. Auction & pledges comes with passes for 150 guests and up; set it up and rehearse with your committee before the night.

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