| There are many choices when deciding what items | | | | positives. There will be a very high reserve amount |
| to sell at a charity auction for silent and live items. | | | | that must be reached in order for the charity to |
| Many auctions use items that are donated by | | | | cover the cost of the item. If the bidding does go |
| volunteers and members of the nonprofit | | | | high enough, the consignment company will generally |
| organization and hopefully, items are also donated | | | | keep about 80% of the money. For example, if a |
| from local businesses. However, some charities | | | | consigned item is sold for $1000, the for-profit |
| choose to offer high-valued consignment items to sell | | | | consignment company receives $800 and only $200 |
| at their benefit auction. You should understand the | | | | goes to the charity. Besides the fact that your guest |
| positive and negative outcomes this may have. | | | | brought $1000 with the intention to give it to your |
| These consignment companies supply large items | | | | charity and you only really received $200, the buyers |
| such as a flight on a MiG jet or an African safari. It | | | | may feel somewhat misled into thinking that all their |
| may seem like a much better item than can be | | | | money went to the nonprofit. Sometimes the term |
| obtained from donors. If your nonprofit does not | | | | "donations" does not mean what your guests think it |
| have the volunteers, the community support, or the | | | | does. |
| time to solicit donations, getting items from a | | | | With strictly donated items, the nonprofit can |
| consignment company may help fill your catalog of | | | | publicize that "100% of the proceeds go to the |
| items. Additionally, offering one of these alluring items | | | | charity". Unfortunately, with consignment items, your |
| can be a great marketing way to attract more | | | | promotional material may read, "a portion of the |
| people to your event, but it can also have it's own | | | | proceeds" go to the charity. Now which sounds |
| consequences. | | | | better to you? |
| Usually, there are more negatives that outweigh the | | | | |