{"id":15782,"date":"2019-10-28T14:28:45","date_gmt":"2019-10-28T18:28:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.qgiv.com\/blog\/?p=15782"},"modified":"2023-09-15T15:07:29","modified_gmt":"2023-09-15T19:07:29","slug":"how-to-engage-non-bidders-at-your-next-silent-auction-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.qgiv.com\/blog\/how-to-engage-non-bidders-at-your-next-silent-auction-event\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Engage Non-Bidders at Your Next Silent Auction Event"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Running a silent auction<\/a>\u00a0can be a great way to raise money for your nonprofit, but it does bring up a few tricky situations. You want to maximize fundraising, of course, which means you\u2019ll want to focus on inviting people who will actually bid on your items. On the other hand, you\u2019ll inevitably have event attendees who won\u2019t participate in the auction at all. Whether they\u2019re not bidding because the items don\u2019t appeal to them or because bid amounts have surpassed their budget, there are still ways to get them involved!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have one or two of these elements built into your next silent auction to engage all <\/em>your attendees, even if they never place a single bid!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Offer fund-a-need items<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"fund-a-need<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

When I went to my first silent auction, I was straight out of college and had just started my first \u201cgrown-up job\u201d after years of waiting tables. The auction items\u2019 base prices would have stretched my finances, but bidding activity quickly put them out of reach. Luckily, there were other ways to give; I could \u201cbuy\u201d school supplies for local students by donating. I couldn\u2019t afford a trip to a luxury beach cottage, but I could <\/em>donate $30 or so to pay for some binders, notebooks, and pencils.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This kind of item, which I later learned were called \u201cfund-a-need\u201d items, are widely appealing to silent auction attendees. Bidders and non-bidders alike appreciate donating tangible items to a good cause! Fund-a-Need items are generally smaller-dollar purchases that are nevertheless important to a nonprofit\u2019s services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try offering fund-a-need items at your next event! Brainstorm some good items to include\u2014fund-a-need items are generally more appealing if they tie in with your organization\u2019s mission. Some examples of great fund-a-need items include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n