At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, the Kids’ Chance of PA (KCPA) board recognized the need to find alternative ways to raise scholarship funds. The Fundraising Committee came up with several ideas, one of which was to hold an online auction, especially since silent auctions were already one of KCPA’s successful fundraising events.

The Committee contracted with One Cause, a company that provides a virtual platform for the entire auction process from staging items for bidding and registering bidders to tracking bidding and providing detailed reports.

One COVID-19 challenge that arose with the virtual event was that items typically donated or procured for live auctions were not practical for auction during the pandemic. Items that usually are a big draw for bidding, such as tickets to sporting events or restaurant gift cards, were not practical since sporting events were canceled and restaurants were closed. Sponsors and donors ended up providing items or money to purchase items, including gift baskets, gift cards, sports memorabilia, and artwork.

Another challenge, not present with a live auction, was that everything had to be shipped to the successful bidders, thus impacting auction profits. This was somewhat mitigated by donors shipping items to the successful bidders and also shipping or delivering from a central point close to the winners.

Despite these challenges, the online auction proved to be a big success for KCPA, raising about $8000 (more than the 2019 fall live silent auction)! And, since the Once Cause software allows for unlimited use, plans are underway for other auctions, including one in the fall where participants at a live golf event will download the app to their phones and then engage in virtual bidding.

KCPA shares these suggestions in undertaking a virtual event:

• Ensure there is sufficient lead time before the event to raise awareness and participation and obtain donations
• Keep the auction open for at least one week
• Tie the auction into another event or large meeting
• Advertise, advertise, advertise, early and often, through as many mediums as possible, including social media