Online auction

Items listed on an auction platform for a week or two, ideally closing at an in-person event.

Typically raises

$4,000

$1,000–15,000 per campaignest.

About $114 per organiser hour

Is it right for us?

Money: $2,000–10,000
Work: Weeks, part-time
Helpers: 3–6 people
Lead time: 1–2 months
Red tape: None

Fairly common: increasingly common through Facebook and auction apps

People: 2-4
Organiser time: 20-50 (estimate)
Lead time: 4-8 weeks
Up-front cost: $0–$500. Platform fees vary; Toko says it takes no fee from schools.
Risk: Very low.

Suits: Primary or intermediate school, Charity

Less usual for: Kindy or early learning, High school, Sports club or team, Church, Community group, marae or service club, Kapa haka, choir, theatre or band

When: Summer (Dec–Feb), Autumn (Mar–May), Winter (Jun–Aug), Spring (Sep–Nov), Christmas

How big a job: Several weeks, part-time, 3–6 people

How it works

The money, as an example sum

Take about $4,100, pay about $100 of costs, and you keep about $4,000 per campaign: the typical result.

From the typical figure on this page. Your result will differ.

Where the money figure comes from

Estimate. No NZ benchmark found.

Last checked October 2026. Ran this? Tell us what you raised and we’ll use real results to improve the figures.

Step by step

Choose a platform.
Photograph and describe items.
Set a 10-14 day window.
Close on an evening when supporters are reachable, or at your event.
Collect payment and arrange pick-up.

Getting the word out

Even a well-run plan fails if nobody hears about it. There are two asks, and the first one goes out first.

Ask for help: Businesses and families to give items to auction.
Ask people to buy: People to come and bid.
When to start: Ask for helpers first, as soon as the date is set. Start the public ask about 3–4 weeks out, and book newsletter and paper notices before that: small newsletters close early.

Where to put it

School, club and church newslettersYour own newsletter is free and read by the families most likely to say yes. Check when it closes.
Local Facebook pages and community groupsPost in your town’s community page and local groups (check their rules), and share from your group’s own page.
Facebook events and what’s-on listingsMake a Facebook event people can say they’re going to, and list it on your council’s or town’s what’s-on page.
Community newsletters and magazinesResidents’ newsletters, village magazines and other churches’ bulletins often run community notices free. Small ones close early.
Other groups sharing itAsk the school, kindy, church, sports club or marae down the road to share it in their newsletter or page. Offer to share theirs back.

The full guide to getting the word out: every channel from flyers to the evening news, with lead times and costs.

What you’ll need

Place: Not neededNone needed
Landowner’s permission: Not needed
Council permit: Not needed
Food rules: Not neededNo food sold
Alcohol: Not neededNo alcohol sold
Gambling rules: Not neededNot gambling

Auctions aren't gambling. Fair Trading Act rules apply, and an auction purchase can't be receipted as a donation.

Make more from it

Close the auction at a live event
often 20-40% higher final bids (estimate)
bidders watch the close together
Ask businesses for experiences, not stock
often lifts average lot value (estimate)
experiences and services cost donors little and bid well

What you can get donated

Same as silent auction.

Tips

Close it at an event if you can; without one there is no natural close or browsing room (32auctions).

Watch out for

Weak bidding because nobody is watching the close.

Online auction: checklist

0 of 8 done

Before

Choose a platform.
Photograph and describe items.
Set a 10-14 day window.
Close on an evening when supporters are reachable, or at your event.

While it runs

Collect payment and arrange pick-up.

After

Bank the money and record it in the books.
Thank donors, sponsors and helpers, by name where they’re happy with that.
Tell supporters what you raised and what it will pay for.

Auctions aren't gambling. Fair Trading Act rules apply, and an auction purchase can't be receipted as a donation.

Ticks are saved in this browser only.

Also pairs with: Closing at a gala, quiz or prize-giving

Free tools for this

Silent auction kitUse the winners register to track who has paid and who has collected.
Checklist for any ideaBefore, on the day and after, built from this idea’s own steps and rules.

Typical rules

Auctions are not gambling under the Gambling Act. The Fair Trading Act auction rules still apply, and anyone who carries on business as an auctioneer must be registered under the Auctioneers Act 2013; a volunteer calling one charity auction is a different situation, but check (Commerce Commission fact sheet).
Tax receipts: a ticket price or an auction purchase is not a donation, even when the price paid exceeds the item's value (IRD QB 16/05). Only a separate, voluntary gift (e.g. a donation appeal on the night) can get a donation receipt, and only from an approved donee organisation.

Check the details

Names, numbers and privacy · Privacy Commissioner: Clubs and societies

Sources

Researched October 2026. All fundraising ideas

* General fundraising information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Money figures are examples and estimates, not promises. Check current official requirements before you commit. About this guide