Silent auction
Items displayed with bid sheets or a phone app; guests write bids during an event and the highest bid at close wins.
Typically raises
$5,000
$1,000–20,000 per eventest.
About $125 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
Common: a standard add-on at galas and dinners
- People
- 3-6
- Organiser time
- 20-60 (estimate)
- Lead time
- 6-10 weeks to collect items
- Up-front cost
- $0–$300. Printing, display, an app subscription if used.
- Risk
- Very low when items are donated.
How it works
The money, as an example sum
Take about $5,100, pay about $100 of costs, and you keep about $5,000 per event: 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; depends on audience size and item quality.
Last checked October 2026. Ran this? Tell us what you raised and we’ll use real results to improve the figures.
Step by step
- Ask businesses for items 6-10 weeks out.
- Write clear descriptions with retail value and conditions.
- Set a sensible starting bid and minimum raise.
- Display items where guests spend time.
- Announce a firm closing time.
- Collect payment before items leave.
- Thank donors publicly.
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
Not gambling. Wine hampers can be auction lots but not raffle prizes; ask the council about auctioning alcohol. Purchases can't be receipted as donations.
Make more from it
Move the 3-5 best lots to a live auction
often doubles the top lots (estimate)
competition in the room lifts prices
Paddle-raise or pledge appeal for one costed need
often $1,000-10,000 (estimate)
a specific ask in the room after a moving speaker; gifts are receiptable for donee groups
Stack it: on its own, about $5,000. With the add-on above, roughly
$10,500est.
What you can get donated
Experiences, vouchers, services, art, hampers (no alcohol if it doubles as a raffle prize).
Tips
- Experiences that cannot be price-checked sell best (32auctions).
- Bundle small items into themed packages.
Watch out for
- Too many items for the crowd, so most sell below value.
- No payment on the night.
Silent auction: checklist
0 of 11 done
Before
On the day
After
Not gambling. Wine hampers can be auction lots but not raffle prizes; ask the council about auctioning alcohol. Purchases can't be receipted as donations.
Also pairs with: Dinner, Gala, School gala, Online auction to extend reach
* 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