DINNER & AUCTION

One of my favorite fundraisers was our annual “DINNER & AUCTION.” Of course, the chief element of any successful youth event is FOOD. Serve a basic meal for free to entice everyone in your church to stay for your fundraising event. Your goal with food is to get them there, not to make a profit; the auction is your moneymaker.

Timing is crucial when it comes to hosting a successful fundraising event. In our experience, the most favorable situation was hosting the ‘DINNER & AUCTION’ right after church on a Sunday morning. This allowed us to capture the attention and participation of church members who were already present.

When inviting people to donate items for the auction, be clear about what you’re looking for. Ask for nice, clean items that people would be excited to bid on. Avoid accepting junk or clothes, unless they are new with tags or a bundle of baby clothes. Remember, this is an auction, not a garage sale.

You should start advertising this event and requesting items at least a month in advance. We have always had exceptional items donated. We also have had lots of “services” given. We have had a masseuse in our church, and she created a certificate for a massage. Below are some services that have been donated, along with how much they were sold for:

Additional items that were included in the auction were baseball memorabilia, exercise equipment, KLH floor and surround sound speakers, fishing rods and tackle boxes, new dresses with tags, and various gift cards that were donated by local businesses.

After collecting the items, you can hold an auction to raise funds for your student ministry. It’s always an exciting event, and having a good auctioneer can make it even more enjoyable. We raised between $1,000 to $2,000 annually. I am in contact with churches that have been hosting this event for 20 years now, and it’s still a great way to raise funds while having fun.