How to Throw a Charity Car Auction

Auctions of big ticket items such as a car or truck can be a quick way to raise much needed funds for your favorite charity. Whether you auction off one or many, you can throw an inspiring charity event to help raise money and awareness for a cause you are passionate about.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A/V equipment
• Printer
• Donated cars
• Refreshments
• Auctioneer
• Bidding paddles
• Paper
• Volunteers

Get Cash Rolling in With a Charity Car Auction

1. Solicit donations of new or used cars from area dealerships. You will need to provide them with your tax-exempt status if that is applicable, and most potential donors will require a statement of purpose informing them of what you intend to do with the money raised.

2. Get a local park or large area land owner to donate space for the day of the auction in order to have the car or cars on display. By keeping your outlay of expenses towards things such as space, equipment and refreshments down, your charity will see a higher return on the event.

3. Raise money in advance by selling tickets to the auction. This will help attract individuals who are truly interested in bidding as well as create a buzz about your event.

4. Appoint volunteers to register bidders as they arrive. It is acceptable in most areas to request potential bidders give a credit card number or bank account information to secure their right to bid.

5. Hire an auctioneer or solicit an experienced volunteer. Part of the success of any live auction is the personality and ability of the auctioneer to generate excitement and bids amongst the crowd.

6. Throw a party along with your auction, especially if you are conducting a silent auction. In this style of car auction, your bidders will write down their bidding numbers on a piece of paper for the car they are interested in. Live entertainment and an open bar will attract more bidders and potentially higher bids.

7. Don't throw in the towel if you can't auction off all of the cars you have had donated. A good "post mortem" of any charity event will evaluate the successful and not-so-successful elements and help your next car auction be that much more successful.

Tips & Warnings

• By including a disclaimer that your charity is not responsible for the tax associated with the car being auctioned off, you may help protect your charity from potential legal entanglements. Discuss any concerns you may have about the legal ramifications of auctions involving valuable commodities like cars with your legal adviser.