How to Price Auction Items to Maximize Fundraising Revenue
Expert Auction Guidance from AFGI.ca – Canada’s Trusted Partner for Fundraising Success
When it comes to maximizing your auction results, pricing your items correctly is critical. Price them too high, and you risk deterring bids. Too low, and you leave valuable dollars on the table. That’s where AFGI.ca comes in.
With over 45 years of experience in fundraising auctions, AFGI works directly with your team to ensure every item is priced just right—never too low to undermine value, and never so high that it stalls momentum. We provide expert guidance for pricing both donated and consigned auction items, ensuring you achieve the perfect starting point for strong bidding activity.
Why Work With AFGI.ca?
-
You keep 100% of the final bid price on all donated items
-
AFGI’s curated consignment items never compete with your donations—they enhance them
-
We handle pricing, display, bidding strategy, and post-event reporting at no cost or risk to you
Let’s walk through some key pricing best practices—and how AFGI ensures your items are positioned for success.
Understand Fair Market Value (FMV)
AFGI uses FMV as a guide to help estimate value, especially for retail goods or experiences. For one-of-a-kind items, our team will help you research comparables and use past auction data to assign a realistic and strategic FMV.
Set Starting Bids with Confidence
We help you determine ideal starting bids to encourage participation while maintaining perceived value. Our experienced team customizes this strategy item by item, ensuring that opening bids generate excitement, not hesitation. Despite what you read online, there is no set formula. We treat every item as it’s own.
Smart Bid Increments That Encourage Momentum
AFGI uses bid increment strategies that maintain energy and reduce fatigue.
Offer Buy-It-Now Options Strategically
For high-demand or exclusive items, AFGI can implement “Buy-It-Now” pricing—typically 150% to 200% of FMV—to encourage immediate purchases while preserving the integrity of the auction. We’ll advise when this tactic makes sense and where it can drive quick wins.
Bundle Items to Increase Appeal
Not every item performs well on its own. AFGI helps you bundle lower-value donations into themed experiences or curated baskets that offer broader appeal and drive more interest.
Examples:
-
Ultimate Night In: Wine, meal kit, spa basket
-
Kids & Family Fun Pack: Amusement tickets, snacks, toys
-
Local Luxe: Restaurant vouchers, artisan products, and more
Presentation Matters—And We Handle It All
AFGI provides professional, attractive displays and digital auction listing materials, ensuring your items stand out both in person and online. We also manage item descriptions, photos, and category placement to increase visibility and engagement.
Premium Items? Consider Sealed Bidding
AFGI also supports sealed bid formats for luxury items like trips, private dinners, or signed collectibles. This high-impact strategy builds suspense and can significantly increase final bid amounts—especially when promoted in advance to your top-tier guests.
Post-Auction Analysis That Drives Growth
Once your event is over, AFGI provides a detailed breakdown of every item’s performance: engagement levels, bid activity, buy-it-now redemptions, and more. This actionable data helps you refine your future strategy—and shows your stakeholders the full impact.
Final Thoughts: Maximize Every Dollar with AFGI.ca
At AFGI, pricing auction items isn’t guesswork—it’s a science backed by decades of results and a deep understanding of donor behaviour. We’re not just here to drop off items; we partner with you to ensure your auction is strategic, profitable, and stress-free.
Ready to raise more with smarter pricing, expert support, and risk-free auction enhancements?
Visit AFGI.ca to learn how we help nonprofits, schools, and charities across Canada host successful auctions—without the guesswork or the overhead.