We just had our 2nd Silent Auction & Art Show last week. This year we had a new chairperson who revamped everything. Last year we did a Tuesday night in early March, baskets & a schoolwide art show. This year we did a Friday night, in Feb, strickly silent auction items (one basket), schoolwide art show & contest. Plus added dinner and some booth activities.

We made more money than last year, but less than 1/2 our goal. This was suppose to be our biggest fundraiser. Teachers fought us tooth and nail. We want this to be our largest fundraiser and get rid of the smaller fundraisers.

Questions:
Do you think Friday night was a bad choice - do more parents go out doing school nights?
Do you think Feb was too early?
Has anyone done both baskets and auction items and had more success w/ one than the other?

And please let me know the schools out there that have about 400 students or less are a Title 1 school (we have a huge mix very wealthy to low income) that are having success w/ auctions. Doing $8000 or more.

No one believes that we can make that much money - they think we were being too ambitious. But I believe we can make that and more. We just need to take out all the little fundraisers that they throw at the parents every month. I think that is what is hurting us more than anything.

Thanks for feedback.

I would be encouraged that you made more money than last year! I understand that it didn't meet your goal, but when you change things significantly, I think it might take a year or two to reach it's full potential.

What were your teachers unhappy about?

My school doesn't do an evening event, so I am no help there. I am very interested on others experiences with this though.