Charity Auction

A charity auction is one of the highest-yield fundraising formats available when you have access to generous donors or business connections willing to donate quality lots. The emotional dynamic of competitive bidding drives prices well above retail value — people pay a premium when they know the money goes to a great cause.

Live auctions work best at formal events (charity dinners, galas). Silent auctions — where bids are submitted on paper or online over a set period — work brilliantly online or as a standalone event.

• Donated auction lots (experiences, goods, services, vouchers)
• An auctioneer for live auctions (a willing volunteer works fine)
• A bidding system — paper bid sheets for silent, or a live format
• Online platform or Kayana Aid page for digital auctions
• A secure way to collect payment from winning bidders
• Volunteer helpers for logistics on the day

1. 01

   Source your auction lots

   The quality and appeal of your lots determines your auction's success. Prioritise experiences (restaurant meals, spa days, sporting event tickets, weekend breaks) over generic goods — they auction for more. Ask businesses, supporters, and trustees to donate.

2. 02

   Set your format

   Decide between live auction (high energy, needs an event), silent auction (bids on sheets at an event), or online auction (runs over several days via a platform or your Kayana Aid page). Online auctions work particularly well for supporters who can't attend in person.

3. 03

   Promote the lots in advance

   Share photos and descriptions of your lots on social media before the auction opens. This builds excitement and drives early engagement.

4. 04

   Run the auction

   For live auctions, a confident auctioneer makes all the difference — the process should be fast, fun, and competitive. For silent/online, send reminders as the deadline approaches to trigger last-minute bidding.

5. 05

   Collect payment and fulfil lots

   Have a clear payment process ready before the auction ends. Send winning bidders their lot details promptly and thank all bidders publicly.

• Set realistic minimum bids — too high puts bidders off, too low undersells the lot. 30–40% of retail value is a sensible starting point for most items.
• Online auctions running over 3–5 days generate more total bids than single-evening events because supporters can check back.
• A "Buy It Now" option at 120–130% of the expected hammer price converts impatient buyers and captures maximum value.
• Never start a live auction without at least 5 confirmed lots — a sparse auction loses energy quickly.