I love silent auctions! But if fundraising is critical, opt for a live auction.

By Sherry · Monday, May 3rd, 2010

Benefit Auctioneer Sherry Truhlar sells at a gala.

When groups are looking for fundraising ideas, many add a silent auction to an existing event. I’ve heard of and seen silent auctions at all types of fundraisers and friend-raisers: dinners, fairs, golf outings, networking events, sorority meetings, and church functions. The silent auction is casually added to the mix of activities with the hopes that it will generate some needed funds.

And it does. Sort of.

Make no mistake, people LOVE silent auctions!

Many people like them because they are hoping to take home “a deal.”

They like to poke around in the silent auction, seeing what’s available that they might be able to pick up at a discount.

Silent auctions are also popular because they are unobtrusive.

Items can be displayed on a table somewhere and are often (sadly) generally ignored until pick-up.

Unlike some auctioneers I know, I’m the first to admit that live auctions don’t work at every fundraiser. Some of the auctions my company works each year are silent auctions only. And to be honest, I wouldn’t recommend that those charities incorporate a live auction into their event unless they are prepared to make some changes. A live auction won’t work in their current set-up.

But if you are thinking of adding a silent auction to an existing event because you really need to raise more money, here’s my advice.

Look at your existing event. If there’s a way to add a live auction into your event, do that. Don’t add a silent auction.

A live auction will make you a lot MORE money for a lot LESS work. (And don’t you think that sounds good?)

Here’s just one example.

A few years ago, one of my clients decided to add an auction to an established spring fundraiser. They were planning on incorporating a silent auction into the event, but changed their minds after one of the volunteers suggested calling me. We held a live auction (no silent auction) at their festive, carnival-type event. It went better than they hoped.

It earned almost 3X what they had expected.

Five years later, this charity decided to incorporate an auction into their fall fundraiser. They wanted to try a silent auction on their own. After the event, they called me. “We’re going to have a live auction at the fall fundraiser, too,” they said, “The results were a big disappointment. We didn’t raise nearly what we’d hoped and it was a lot of work.”

So the next year (in 2009), we conducted two live auctions for this charity: one at their carnival-like spring event, and another at their hoe-down fall event. That hoe-down fall event, which was held during the deepest part of the recession, earned double the funds raised in 2008. That is the power of a well-crafted live auction.

Friends, I personally love silent auctions (hey, I like to shop, too!).

But I’m being frank.

If the goal is fundraising and your event allows for it, opt for the live auction. It will pay off for you in the end.

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