| Consider raising funds for your special cause with a | | | | event. If so, you can put them into a separate |
| Blind Auction fundraising event. They are fun, exciting | | | | "premium" auction, for an exciting grand finale. |
| and easy to organize. In fact, there are several ways | | | | Alternatively, you can mix the expensive donated |
| to organize a blind auction. | | | | items with the others for added excitement as |
| In a typical blind auction fund raising, people are | | | | everyone tries to guess which ones they are. |
| invited to donate items for the auction. Each of the | | | | Donors can have fun too. You can invite them to |
| items is wrapped, by the donors or volunteers, so | | | | wrap the items in a way that disguises their true |
| that bidders cannot tell what they are bidding on. | | | | weight, size and so on, and have fun writing |
| Hence, "blind" auction. | | | | mysterious clues to what the items are. Children |
| The items are given a number and put on display | | | | especially will have great fun with this, making small |
| some time before the actual auction. Guests have | | | | items large, light items heavy, and so on. |
| fun trying to guess what each item is. At some blind | | | | The actual auction can be done in the traditional way, |
| auctions, items are tagged with helpful hints. Guests | | | | by a volunteer acting as auctioneer. Perhaps you can |
| then bid on the item numbers that interest them. | | | | persuade a professional auctioneer to volunteer their |
| Blind auctions fundraisers are usually part of a larger | | | | services. Professionals are usually very entertaining. |
| event, such as a charity dance, dinner or fair. The | | | | Alternatively, you can use a silent bidding system. In |
| items make an attractive display and the auction | | | | silent bidding, people write down the number of the |
| itself usually takes place towards the end of the | | | | item they want and the amount of their bid. Winning |
| event, as a grand finale. | | | | bids are announced at the grand finale. A simple way |
| Regarding donated items, it is a good idea to set | | | | to do this is to place a clipboard or box (if you want |
| guidelines regarding the type of items that can be | | | | to keep bids secret) by each item. |
| donated. This will ensure that items are not | | | | Many organizations have great success with blind |
| inappropriate or dangerous to your guests. You can | | | | auctions and they become a popular annual fixture. |
| also suggest a minimum value so that all winning | | | | For your own blind auction, there is plenty of scope |
| bidders will get a worthwhile item. | | | | to use your imagination to use your imagination and |
| Local business and individuals may wish to donate | | | | make your blind auction fundraising event unique and |
| high-value items to your blind auction fund raising | | | | exciting. |