Charity Golf Auctions And Raffles

Charity Golf Auctions and Raffles Create More Excitement

Charity auctions and raffles are among the top fundraising activities to create revenue at your golf event. They also give the golfers and spectators something fun to do in between playing golf and enjoying the dinner and awards ceremony. 

Our guide will help you choose the best fundraiser for your golf event. We’ll also highlight some helpful tips, prize ideas, and management recommendations to better ensure your event moves smoothly.

Hosting a Live Auction

Live auctions involve people bidding on items in real time. The auctioneer encourages people to outbid each other until the highest bidder wins. While live auctions typically happen in person, it’s also possible to host these events online.

Some golf tournaments are fortunate to receive luxury donations, such as travel packages, designer products or golf equipment. A live auction may be the best way to raise the appropriate revenue for these items. To run a live auction, you will need an experienced auctioneer who knows how to get the best offer for each item. It is customary to start with the lowest-priced item and work toward more valuable items. 

What Is a Silent Auction?

A silent auction is the most popular choice for golf events and the easiest to run. Instead of calling out the bids, people write the amount they think an item is worth on a piece of paper. At the end of the event, organizers identify the highest bidder and award them the item. Here are some strategies to follow when hosting a silent auction: 

• Display the items up for auction on 8-foot tables with a bid sheet in front of each object.
• On the bid sheet, you will list the item’s description and the starting minimum bid. 
• Allow space after these details for bidders to write down their names, contact numbers and the amount they wish to pay for the item.

If someone has donated the item, it is a good idea to list their name on the bid sheet as well. You may have a live auction in conjunction with a silent auction if all your items do not warrant a live action. 

Creating a Successful Raffle

Raffles provide an additional way to raise funds. A successful raffle relies on event organizers collecting various prizes and designing a fair ticketing system. Golf tournament software is a great tool that can support with this. Here are some tips to help you run an efficient raffle: 

• Showcase the raffle items: Have a large display area showing the items included in the raffle. Visual displays pique people’s interest and result in more ticket sales.
• Announce the winner at an optimal time: Draw your raffle winner during the awards ceremony after the tournament. Announcing the winner when everyone is present helps ensure greater credibility. 
• Involve volunteers: Ask your volunteers to sell tickets. Position them in the registration area and at the various holes so people can buy tickets throughout the event.
• Keep financial records: Be sure to record how many tickets you sell to ensure it matches the money you make. Assign one person to collect the cash and provide a report for organizers.

Popular Auction Items and Raffle Prizes

To get the most out of your auction and raffle, source a mix of big and small items to fit all your participants’ budgets. Popular items include collectibles, concert tickets, jewelry, vacation packages and rounds of golf at exclusive courses. Here are some ideas for getting desirable items for your auctions and raffles.

Source Donations

This is the best way to minimize costs and add to your bottom line. Start by asking your sponsors for a donation well in advance. Corporate companies may donate event tickets, gift cards, food or other items. 

Alternatively, reaching out to your local community can result in donations for your silent auction or raffle. Even companies not sponsoring your event could be interested in gaining exposure by donating some of their products or services. If you receive several smaller items, get creative and pair them together for more attractive prizes.

Buy Wholesale Items 

Some companies will sell you their items at wholesale prices if they are familiar with your organization. You can then encourage bids equivalent to retail prices and cover the cost of the items while making a profit. 

Event organizers could negotiate further discounts by offering companies free advertising opportunities. It’s a win-win situation!

Contact Auction Companies 

Many reputable companies offer auction services on a consignment basis. You only pay for the items that sell and can return any leftover items to the supplier. 

Your organization keeps all the money you get over the consignment cost. For example, if the consignment cost for a Tiger Woods photograph is $100 and the item sells for $150, your tournament will generate $50. 

Benefits of a Golf Silent Auction, Live Auction or Raffle

While organizing an auction or raffle may feel like an extra task on your golf day agenda, the results are well worth it. Here are some of the benefits you can expect by adding these events to the program: 

• Optimize revenue for charities: An auction encourages people to outbid each other. The result is more money for charity.
• Boosted visibility for sponsors: Companies that donate items to an auction or raffle help boost their brand awareness. In addition, donating one of their products or services allows them to expand their reach in new markets. 
• Greater networking opportunities: Auctions provide an opportunity for players and spectators to connect. This can lead to new business relationships. 

Raise More Money for Charity at Your Next Golf Tournament

Adding an online silent auction or raffle to your golf event helps you raise additional money for charity. It also adds an extra entertainment element and attracts more participants and spectators to your event. 

At Perfect Golf Event, we help you organize and market your tournament with an easy-to-use website. We also enable you to attract more sponsors and raise more money for your favorite charities with an exclusive silent auction golf package. Take your event from good to perfect. Contact our team today to provide golfers with a more seamless experience!