Fundraising With a Chinese Auction by Kimberly Reynolds

A free newsletter with fundraising ideas, tips, and secrets for the small nonprofit fundraiser

May 17, 2008

SUBSCRIBE FREE
Get an email update every time I publish a new fundraising article!

I promise never to sell, rent, or give your email address to anyone else. PERIOD!

Subscribe in a reader

Home

Subscribe Free

Why Subscribe?

About Us

About Us
Contact Us

Article Archive

Managing a Fundraiser

Fundraising Strategies

Fundraising Ideas

Fundraising Products

Fundraising Events

Fundraising Resources

Fundraising Volunteers

Fundraising With a Chinese Auction

by Kimberly Reynolds

Chinese auctions are very similar to silent auctions except they have a raffle component added to the mix. The bidding on items is done by ticket instead of by a written bid.

In a Chinese auction, customers buy a number of tickets for a set price, then use the tickets to bid on the items on display by dropping them in a fishbowl next to the item. In a silent auction, they would just enter a bid amount on a form next to the donated item.

Buyers are free to put as many tickets as they want in the fishbowl. At the close of the auction period, the winning ticket for each auction item is then drawn from the corresponding fishbowl.

Obviously, the more tickets a person deposits in the bowl, the higher the percentage chance that they'll win the item. That means that highly desirable items will draw a lot of tickets, just as they would draw a lot of bids in regular auction.

That's part of the big draw for a Chinese auction. Ticket costs are low compared to the ultimate value of the auction items, so lucky winners will get a great deal.

And having lots of ticket buyers means your group will do very well!

Three types of Chinese auctions

The standard format is as we previously discussed. The items are displayed on tables with a ticket box or bowl next to each item. Buyers circulate and check out which items they want to win, then drop in their tickets. At the end of your event, the winning ticket is drawn for each one.
A second variant when the auction is the only event is to run it from a central stage. Bidders are seated and each item is put up for auction one at a time. Your auctioneer pitches the item while ticket collectors gather bid tickets from those raising their hands or waving tickets about.

This makes for somewhat of a bidding frenzy, with really popular items getting hundreds of tickets submitted. Some people quickly exhaust their ticket supply, so you'll need to have ticket sellers working the room as well.
The third type of Chinese auction involves everyone depositing all their tickets into a big drum. Tickets are then drawn and called out bingo-style for each item up for auction.

People like this because they have a chance at winning every time an item is drawn. As a result , many people will drop in a huge amount of tickets, which of course is what you want to happen.

You can hold back some really high-end or desirable items for separate bidding at the end. Buyers can then buy extra tickets for these last chance drawings.

Auction profit tips

Ticket sales Price your tickets in bundles of 25, 50, or 100 tickets. Have ticket bundles pre-packaged. Price in even amounts for quick sales.
Popular items Gift certificates, gardening supplies, personal spa packages, vacation travel deals, and consumer electronics items are always popular. So are anything celebrity related or offering exclusive access.
Bundle items Bundling items together will oftentimes raise more than the individual items would. Group them in related categories or complementary packages.
Themed auctions You can also do an entire Chinese auction on a theme such as Spring, Christmas, fantasy packages, vacations, golf, sports or other popular categories.

Summary A Chinese auction is a great way to get extra profits out of donated goods and services. Obviously, the more items you have up for grabs, the more tickets you'll sell and the more funds you'll raise. Try one at your next fundraising event and you'll be pleasantly surprised!

***********************

About the Author:

Kimberly Reynolds writes for national publications about youth sports fundraisers, having a fundraiser using a Chinese Auction and other fundraising events. Find more school fundraiser ideas on her website, FundraiserHelp.com

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Editor's Note:

There is a movement trying to take the name "Chinese Auction" and make it more politically correct by renaming it "Pick-a-Prize" auction. Just a heads up on that! The name "Tricky Tray" is also sometimes used instead of Chinese Auction.

View a video advertisement for a chinese auction.

See what Wikipedia has to say about Chinese Auctions.

What's a possible origin of the term Chinese Auction?

Editor's Picks

Top 5 Fundraisers
An up to date look at the top 5 fundraisers for 2008
Read the Article
__________
Fundraiser of the Month ( May)

Each month I hand pick one fundraiser that stands out to me. Check it out! __________
Fundraising Booklets
Complete "how-to-do-it" fundraising guides - Free

Online Fundraising
Chocolate Fundraising
Cookiedough Fundraising
Scratchcard Fundraising
Magazine Fundraising
Candle Fundraising
Lollipop Fundraising
Safe Fundraising

Recommended Suppliers

Constant Contact
The gold standard in nonprofit email newsletter delivery. Custom newsletter templates, funding appeals, event updates & more. 20% nonprofit discount!
www.constantcontact.com

eFundraising
Their proven fundraisers make money quickly and easily. Quality service and up to 90% profit. Fundraising programs for any size/type group.
www.efundraising.com

Funding Factory
Recycle empty printer cartridges and old cell phones for a no cost easy fundraiser. Great add-on to your existing fundraising programs.
www.fundingfactory.com
Read the Article

cMarket
An easy-to-use package of online auction products & services. Improve your fundraising results and tap into new sources of income.
www.cmarket.com
Read the Article

Fast Track Fundraising
Discount Cards- High profits, and easy sell, no hassles, any group, and a healthy fundraiser. Check it out!
www.fasttrackfundraising.com
Read the Article

Recommended Books

Raffle Secrets
The complete step by step guide for creating raffle fundraisers that sell out in 30 days or less. Learn how to get every prize donated free. www.rafflesecrets.com
Read a Free Excerpt

Let's Raise Money
The inside scoop about small group fundraising. Learn from the founder of a national fundraising company as he reveals secrets observed over nearly two decades of fundraising.
www.LetsRaiseMoney.com
Read a Free Excerpt

Golf Tournament Planning
Proven planning & marketing strategies guaranteed to maximize your charity golf tournament profits.
www.golftp1.com

Fundraising for Small Groups Newsletter

A free newsletter with fundraising ideas, tips, and secrets for the small nonprofit fundraiser