Fundraising Auction

How to Run a Successful Fundraising Auction in the Toronto and York Region

Many Toronto non-profits have turned to auctions as a way to fundraise for their respective cause. At the Auctioneers Fundraising Group International (AFGI), we have earned a reputation for being Canada’s top live and silent auction fundraising experts. We understand what it takes to raise much-needed funds during your Toronto fundraising auction.

Should Your Group Have a Silent Auction?

Every fundraising auction is unique; each presents its own set of goals and challenges. A silent auction can be a great way to generate funds, but is it right for your group? Silent auction fundraisers work best when you have a large number of items to auction off, or if you have a lot of people attending the auction bidding on a few higher-end items.

There’s no other way to say it. Hosting a silent fundraising auction is a lot of work. You’ll need to spend time contacting local businesses and supporters to get a diverse selection of items to auction off. You will also need volunteers to help you run the actual auction and keep track of items, bids and payment. Overall, a silent auction is a great way to generate funds, but it takes people and is oftentimes very labour-intensive.

Setting Up Your Silent Fundraising Auction

Again, make sure you have enough people helping you when the auction begins. Be sure to assign people with specific jobs and provide all needed materials and information. It’s important that you have enough supplies such as clipboards, pens and bid sheets.

Gain more bids by grouping items together by category, this will make it easier for your guests to navigate through the items they are more interested in purchasing.  Try closing the bidding by section, as opposed to closing the entire auction all at once. This will create more bidding action throughout the entire auction. Start with the lowest priced items and work your way to the highest valued.

More and more people do not carry cash. Having a simple and affordable device that will accept both credit cards and debit cards will generate more money. Without this device, you’ll see your revenue cut.

We also suggest sending email blasts, social media posts and posting online catalogs of the items you are selling. When done properly this will generate some buzz before the auction starts and should get your group some more foot traffic. Many non-profits have found that allowing people to bid online is another great way to generate some more bids.

The truth is, not everyone will walk away with an item at your auction. Have a table at your auction with some literature about your group and the work you do within the community, this will encourage people to make donations even if they didn’t purchase anything.

How Auctioneers Fundraising Group International Can Make Your Silent Fundraising Auction a Success

We take a lot of pride in being able to provide Toronto and York region non-profit groups with a turn-key fundraising auction solution. It begins with our experience. We are a family-run auction company and we’ve been running fundraising auctions for over 40 years. We’ve helped a wide range of groups raise funds, from local high schools to multiple A-list celebrity charity gala auctions. Experience is a key component to having a successful auction and we are passionate about bringing this auction experience to your group’s auction.

Throughout the years we’ve run high-profile and successful fundraising auctions such as the Toronto Taste auction, the Parachute Gala, the Marques d’Elegance auction, Baeumler Family Foundation Gala and many others. We’ve also managed celebrity hosted auction featuring stars such as Al Pacino (Empower Global and Good Shepherd Centres of Hamilton), Sylvester Stallone (Canadian Diabetes Association), Garth Brooks (Teammates for Kids) and many other stars.

Our team can take your fundraising auction to the next level. You pick what works best; it can be a silent auction, a live auction, or an online auction. Regardless of what you pick, we’ll help make your group’s fundraising auction both exciting and profitable.

We work hard to partner with you and your group; we take care of all the details and leverage our 40 years of experience. That’s why we provide unlimited consultation and advice through the entire process of planning your auction. We also have access to a wide range of items to be auctioned off.

You and your team can relax and enjoy the event while our professional team will do a full set up and take down of everything. We’ll make sure all items are presented in an attractive display and we manage all bidding sheets and auction supplies.

Check out is easy and smooth with our wireless POS technology. At the end of the event, you will receive a full breakdown of bidding and a final reconciliation.

Need More Items for Your Fundraising Auction?

One of the hardest parts of putting together a successful fundraising auction is to have the right items that will generate a high amount of bids. At AFGI we have you covered; we have access to a wide range of items that we can sell at your auction. The best part is, you will be our partner and we’ll guarantee you a percentage of the final highest bid.

You, of course, will receive all of the proceeds from the donated items you sell at the auction. With AFGI, your charity will receive more money than any other auction company offers. All you need to do is deposit the cheque – we’ll handle the rest!

Contact one of our professional fundraising specialists today  at AFGI.ca to alleviate the work and worry associated with your next event. Ensure its success!

How to Run a Successful Silent Auction in the Toronto and York Region

Many Toronto non-profits have turned to auctions as a way to fundraise for their respective cause. At the Auctioneers Fundraising Group International (AFGI), we have earned a reputation for being Canada’s top live and silent auction fundraising experts. We understand what it takes to raise much-needed funds during your Toronto fundraising auction.

Should Your Group Have a Silent Auction?

Every fundraising auction is unique; each presents its own set of goals and challenges. A silent auction can be a great way to generate funds, but is it right for your group? Silent auction fundraisers work best when you have a large number of items to auction off, or if you have a lot of people attending the auction bidding on a few higher-end items.

There’s no other way to say it. Hosting a silent fundraising auction is a lot of work. You will need volunteers to help you run the actual auction and keep track of items, bids and payment. Overall, a silent auction is a great way to generate funds, but it takes people and is oftentimes very labour-intensive.

Setting Up Your Silent Fundraising Auction

Again, make sure you have enough people helping you when the auction begins. Be sure to assign people with specific jobs and provide all needed materials and information. It’s important that you have enough supplies such as clipboards, pens and bid sheets.

Gain more bids by grouping items together by category, this will make it easier for your guests to navigate through the items they are more interested in purchasing.  Try closing the bidding by section, as opposed to closing the entire auction all at once. This will create more bidding action throughout the entire auction. Start with the lowest priced items and work your way to the highest valued.

More and more people do not carry cash. Having a simple and affordable device that will accept both credit cards and debit cards will generate more money. Without this device, you’ll see your revenue cut.

We also suggest sending email blasts, social media posts and posting online catalogs of the items you are selling. When done properly this will generate some buzz before the auction starts and should get your group some more foot traffic. Many non-profits have found that allowing people to bid online is another great way to generate some more bids.

The truth is, not everyone will walk away with an item at your auction. Have a table at your auction with some literature about your group and the work you do within the community, this will encourage people to make donations even if they didn’t purchase anything.

How Auctioneers Fundraising Group International Can Make Your Silent Fundraising Auction a Success

We take a lot of pride in being able to provide Toronto and York region non-profit groups with a turn-key fundraising auction solution. It begins with our experience. We are a family-run auction company and we’ve been running fundraising auctions for over 40 years. We’ve helped a wide range of groups raise funds, from local high schools to multiple A-list celebrity charity gala auctions. Experience is a key component to having a successful auction and we are passionate about bringing this auction experience to your group’s auction.

Throughout the years we’ve run high-profile and successful fundraising auctions such as the Toronto Taste auction, the Parachute Gala, the Marques d’Elegance auction, Baeumler Family Foundation Gala and many others. We’ve also managed celebrity hosted auction featuring stars such as Al Pacino (Empower Global and Good Shepherd Centres of Hamilton), Sylvester Stallone (Canadian Diabetes Association), Garth Brooks (Teammates for Kids) and many other stars.

Our team can take your fundraising auction to the next level. You pick what works best; it can be a silent auction, a live auction, or an online auction. Regardless of what you pick, we’ll help make your group’s fundraising auction both exciting and profitable.

We work hard to partner with you and your group; we take care of all the details and leverage our 40 years of experience. That’s why we provide unlimited consultation and advice through the entire process of planning your auction. We also have access to a wide range of items to be auctioned off.

You and your team can relax and enjoy the event while our professional team will do a full set up and take down of everything. We’ll make sure all items are presented in an attractive display and we manage all bidding sheets and auction supplies.

Check out is easy and smooth with our wireless POS technology. At the end of the event, you will receive a full breakdown of bidding and a final reconciliation.

Need More Items for Your Fundraising Auction?

One of the hardest parts of putting together a successful fundraising auction is to have the right items that will generate a high amount of bids. At AFGI we have you covered; we have access to a wide range of items that we can sell at your auction. The best part is, you will be our partner and we’ll guarantee you a percentage of the final highest bid.

You, of course, will receive all of the proceeds from the donated items you sell at the auction. With AFGI, your charity will receive more money than any other auction company offers. All you need to do is deposit the cheque – we’ll handle the rest!

Contact one of our professional fundraising specialists today to alleviate the work and worry associated with your next event. Ensure its success!