Auction Frequently Asked Questions

auction FAQ

Frequently Asked Auction Questions

Below, you will find a list of the most commonly asked questions about fundraising auctions. If you have another question that is not addressed below, please feel free to contact us...

How much will having a silent or live auction with The Heart of Giving cost my organization?

Absolutely nothing. We will provide all the assistance needed in planning and making the event a success. After the auction's financial reconciliation, we will provide a substantial percentage of the auction proceeds or a pre-determined minimum amount to your organization.

How long does the auction run for?

This depends upon the individual clients. Normally, you can expect a live auction to run from 1 and a half hours to 2 hours. A silent auction would be introduced at the beginning of the evening, perhaps as the guests are arriving, and would close out at the end of the event. As with every aspect of our program, we will work closely with you and customize our auction times to suit your individual needs.

What is the difference between a live auction and a silent auction?

A live auction will involve an auctioneer that presents the works individually on a stage and vocally tries to get the highest bid for the item being auctioned, as opposed to a silent auction that employs a more subtle approach having the items on display and having the guests browse around and placing their bids on sheets.

Which type of auction is more effective?

Both types of auctions have shown incredible success at creating revenue. This is a strong point of The Heart of Giving. We will work closely with you to determine which type of auction would be best suited for your particular event.

How does the financial reconciliation work at the end of the evening?

While most organizations leave the financial reconciliation to us, some organizations prefer to settle all of the purchases themselves on the evening. If you opt to let us do the accounting for the event, we will provide for you a full breakdown of all the purchases that same evening or the next business day, and your organization will receive your full share of commissions made within 10 business days.

How do my guests settle their accounts at the end of the evening?

We accept all major credit cards, American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club, and Discover. In addition, we also accept checks and cash.

How will advertising and invitations be handled?

We will provide full color custom invitations to the auction event as part of our service to you, at no cost. All that we ask is that on the flyers or distributed material that would normally be sent out for the event by the organization, mention be made of the auction.

Are there really no hidden fees involved with this?

ABSOLUTELY NOT. The only thing that we ask is that we are provided with the space to display the art, a working sound system with microphone (if a live auction), a working outside phone line (for credit card payments), and any refreshments needed during the event.

Who determines what art or other collectables are included in the auction(s)?

We tailor make a collection to fit with your organization's vision and taste. If you have any particular requests for art, i.e. specific artists or works, we will do our very best to satisfy those requests.

Are my guests going to feel pressured or obliged to buy something?

Never. We do not believe in the "Hard Sale" concept. Our mission is to provide an evening full of excitement, entertainment, and profits for your fundraising cause. We do not believe that this is accomplished by placing pressure on your guests.

How does a live auction work?

Upon completing registration, each person will receive an auction program and a bidder number. After making a brief introduction, the auctioneer will start the bidding on the first item. Each interested bidder will raise their bidder number to place a bid upon the auctioneer's current price. The auctioneer will continue the bidding until there are no higher bids placed. At that point, the auctioneer will give fair warning and close the bid on that item. Each item will be sold to the highest bidder.

Do people take the items they successfully bid on with them after the auction?

Yes, once the payment for a particular item has been confirmed, the guest will be expected to take the item with them. In the event that a guest is unable to carry an item, we can arrange shipping to their home, at an additional fee.

We want to have The Heart of Giving to hold a Fundraising Art Auction for our organization. How do we get started?

Easily. All you need to do is select the venue, the date, and contact us.

How long do I need to plan a successful fundraising auction event?

Normally, we like to work with a 3 month prior notice, in order to fully plan the event, and to create all the custom brochures and invitations that will be required. However, if you have an upcoming event that is sooner than 3 months, please contact us and we will work with you to make a successful event.

Will my guests be able to afford the items on auction?

We have a huge collection of art, jewelry, and other collectables that have opening bids as low as $45. All the artwork that we sell will come with the framing and matting included in the opening bid.

How can I get started?!

Contact us by clicking here to get your next fundraising success started!