We used to do a silent auction for classroom
baskets and also had troubles!
We eventually switched to a raffle with
"Basket Bucks" and put a raffle container
near each displayed basket. One dollar for
each chance to win!
It turned out great! We raised about the same amount and anyone could afford to enter.
It was always fun if a child won his or her own classroom's basket! The anticipation was
was half the fun and it was always a big hit!

Wow! What a great site! So many ideas and people willing to share! This is great!!

I am co-chairing a Spring Silent Auction & Art Appreciation night and would love some new ideas on how to run the auction &/or what else to do besides the auction. For the past two years our school has had the students pick out their favorite artwork from the year and then the teachers have the hallways & classrooms covered with it. During the evening people view the artwork, listen to performances by the band and chorus, eat dinner and bid on class baskets. The dinner has been burgers/chicken/hot dogs grilled by a local company that lets our parents do the cooking at school. We are looking for new ideas of something to do instead of the dinner. Also, the class baskets have done great but the closing of the auction has been nasty! Parents changing bids, people wanting baskets paid for immediately, etc.. What procedures have worked for you??? How do you run your auction? Our school has only two fundraisers a year so we want to raise as much as we can. Any input would be appreciated and thanks in advance.