Setting up a bachelor/bachelorette auction fundraiser is a way to not only raise awareness and money for your cause, it may turn out to be helpful to those who take part. At the very least, it can be fun for everyone who participates. Put the same forethought into planning a bachelor/bachelorette auction as you would a night out when you really want to impress your date, and you can’t go wrong.
While the focus should remain on the fundraising aspect of the auction, the nature of it does require some special considerations. You’ll be sending two people out on a date, and while it may start out as something done for charity, who knows? By the end of the evening, your group may be responsible for bringing two people together who might not have otherwise met.
Find a Location for the Auction
The best place is one that has a stage. Bachelors and bachelorettes will need to be present on stage while the bidding is taking place so bidders can see who they’re bidding on. It’s also optimal for the location to have a PA system with a microphone so the auctioneer can keep things running smoothly and tell the bidders about the bachelors and bachelorettes taking part.
Who Will be Auctioned?
The first place to look is within your organization’s ranks. Are there any single members who would like to participate? Don’t force anyone, or guilt them into it, though. If they don’t want to be part of the auction itself, they can always help out in some other way. Think about members of your community, your neighbors, members of your church. Do you know any singles who might want to help out a cause and have a fun evening out in return? One way to really ramp up community involvement is to include single local celebrities like news anchors or radio hosts. Ask them if they’re willing to participate to help out a good cause. The worst they can do is say no, and who hasn’t been turned down at least once when asking someone for a date?
Inform the Bidders
Before the auction begins, hand out lists of the available bachelors and bachelorettes with short bios and descriptions of the date they’ll be taking the bidder on. Try to include fun facts about each person, or maybe a funny quote from them. Photos are also helpful to get people interested in bidding.
Where Will the Date Take Place?
Every city or town has hotspots like popular restaurants, bars, clubs, and activity centers, like bowling alleys and go-kart tracks. Talk to the establishments’ managers to see if they’re willing to donate gift certificates, or better yet, date packages to go along with the bachelor/bachelorette won in the auction. For a really nice touch, see if a local limo company is willing to donate a few hours with a limo and driver to take the couple out in style. Have the bachelors and bachelorettes choose the package they want so the person bidding on them has an idea of that person’s interests, and will know whether that’s how they want to spend an evening.
Decide How the Auction Will be Performed
You can go the traditional route, with bidders shouting out their bids while the auctioneer, bachelors and bachelorettes encourage bidding. With a large group, this can get a little loud and rowdy, especially if you are able to get any local celebrities to participate. If your group likes things a little rowdy, then by all means, go for it! On the other hand, if you’d rather hold a quieter event, a silent auction fundraiser is the way to go. The lists you provide to bidders will have to be more detailed, and more than just black and white photocopies. Invest in glossy pages with full color photos. Since this is the only way bidders will know what they’re bidding on, they need to look as enticing as possible.
When Will the Date Take Place?
This is best left to the bachelor or bachelorette, and the person with the winning bid. After the auction, they can discuss a time and day that work for both of them so there’s no immediate obligation. If they like, this also gives them a little time to talk before the date actually takes place so it’s not as awkward as blind dates can often be.
This post originated at FundraiserInsight.org - the premier online magazine for fundraising.
Read More at: Fundraiser Insight - Raise Money With a Bachelor/Bachelorette Auction
