Fundraiser Dinner Auction

A fundraiser dinner auction is a very productive way to conduct a money raising campaign for just about any type of special charity drive. Almost anything can be auctioned off during a dinner party such as antiques, handcrafts, jewelry, vacation packages, theatre tickets or even a date with a handsome, young fellow! Offering food, fun, fellowship and maybe even something in return for the participants, fundraising dinner auctions can spell success from the get-go if organized effectively. An invitation-only meal, community wide event, a black tie affair or a potluck smorgasbord are just some of the tried and true ideas for dinner auctions that can be implemented by any host organization to benefit those who are in need. "He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor." (Proverbs 22:9)

In order to achieve success with an auction event, there are several things to keep in mind while planning the meal. Assuming that there is a team involved in executing the idea, first call a planning meeting to come up with the best idea for a fundraiser dinner auction. Choosing the right idea is paramount for success and should be relevant to the organization and targeted participants. After an idea is decided upon, the planning stage is critical to success even before any details are implemented. Areas that must be addressed in the planning stage include food, items to be auctioned, facilities, advertisement, equipment, and volunteer personnel. The food area will require attention to the details of menu planning, preparation and the way in which the meal will be served to all the participants.

Sit down meals may cost more to host than buffet style meals, so a thorough comparison of caterers is necessary in order to determine which is the most cost effective. Of course, it is cheaper to provide in-house food preparations by volunteers. This method can save a lot of money for groups that have the personnel to cook, serve and clean up afterwards. Menus can be chosen that are simple or novelty in appeal such as Mexican, Italian, Asian or German. An interesting menu is a good draw for many participants who appreciate tasting new or culturally influenced foods. Choosing a venue to host a fundraiser dinner auction is not always a simple matter depending on the expected participation. Some groups may have access to free or donated facilities or may have to reserve a venue large enough to accommodate the event.

The responsibilities of planning a great auction time at the proposed dinner should fall to someone who is creative and will happily attend to details. Auctioning off items is a common approach but can be handled more than one way for fundraising dinner auctions. Sometimes items are offered through a silent bidding process where each product is presented in a bulletin format. The lowest acceptable bid is stated for each item and participants are encouraged to register their bid before dinner. The winning bids are announced after the meal and each winner may take possession before he or she leaves for the night. Other formats include the typical call out production that allows people to compete with each other while the auction is in progress. This always is a fun format and most participants genuinely enjoy the banter and camaraderie that results in the process.

Items for bid can include football season tickets, television sets or a date with a single fellow. The excitement and fun is heightened during many fundraising dinner auctions by unusual or delightful items that are thrown into the mix. The possibilities are almost limitless in producing appealing items for bidding. Another area that must be addressed when planning a charitable drive includes the equipment that may be needed for the meeting area. Equipment such as a PA system is usually necessary in order to provide good sound for any moderate to large venue. PA systems can be rented from a variety of rental companies if needed. Another option is to borrow a system from a church or community center for a function. Launching an effective advertisement campaign is another critically important detail that must be accomplished in order to inform targeted participants about the function as well as persuade them to attend.

Personal mailers, community flyers, radio spots, newspaper adds, phone calls and elegant invitations are all part of a good advertising campaign that must be implemented. The type of function will determine the best choices for advertising and how much expense will be involved in getting the word out. Recruiting enough volunteer personnel to pull off the function is a high priority for producing a memorable fundraiser dinner auction. The person in charge of this area should be able to motivate others to be voluntarily involved in raising money for a worthy cause. There is a lot to be done when planning fundraising dinner auctions, but through proper planning and execution of a great idea. However, the needy will benefit and volunteers can enjoy the satisfaction that comes from helping others.

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