Dormie Network Foundation Can Help Your Charity Auction

A well-run auction is key to generating critical operating revenue that supports your nonprofit’s mission, and it's our mission to help you fundraise as much as possible.

The Dormie Network Foundation empowers its nonprofit partners to run stellar golf charity auctions by contributing in-kind donations to their causes. Through our programs, we gave nearly five million dollars in 2023 alone to organizations within our four pillars: youth golf, environmentalism, military and first responders, and humanitarian.

“Donations like the in-kind from Dormie Network allow us to feed even more kids in the communities we support. Many of these communities don’t have the capacity to fundraise on their own, so high-value packages like these Stay and Plays as well as the donated memberships to Dormie Network help spread awareness of our cause and ensure we can keep growing the program.”

— Beth Bush, director of athletic and strategic partnerships at Blessings in a Backpack

How to Host a Charity Auction

1. Select Your Type of Charity Auction

First, choose the type of auction you will conduct. Popular formats include: 

Live Auction

A live auction occurs in-person, usually with bidding paddles and an auctioneer. In a live auction, be sure to start with the lower value, easy sellers first and gradually move up to the high-ticket items, building momentum to keep the attendees engaged. 

Silent Auction

Hosting a silent auction offers numerous advantages, particularly because you can use auction technology to enhance the experience. For example, if you prefer to run a silent auction, consider mobile bidding. Mobile bidding increases your event revenue with:

  • Constant bidding: Guests can stay connected to the auction no matter where they are.

  • Time for fun: Attendees can bid on their cell phones, then get right back to socializing with their friends. The software will alert them if they’ve lost their lead.

  • Auto-notifications: Bidders receive outbid notifications, auction messages, and a countdown clock will appear on their mobile phone to drive last-minute bids.

  • Remote bidding: Supporters who aren’t able to attend your event can still participate in bidding and support your cause wherever they are.

No matter which auction format you choose, the success of your golf tournament and charity auction depends on your nonprofit’s tech stack. We recommend our software partner GolfStatus, the leading event management platform for golf fundraisers. 

They provide simple, powerful technology that keeps you focused on what matters: your supporters, your mission, and your cause. GolfStatus helps nonprofits achieve more impact by streamlining golf fundraisers, which helps engage more supporters, save time, raise more mission-critical funds, and drive impact. Plus, they have an auction management tool built into their system so you can get started right away.

2. Collect and Choose Items

Here comes the fun part! Your auction is only as good as the items available, so you’ll need to pull out all the stops to blow away guests and achieve your fundraising goal. Luckily, the gift sourcing process is easy with the help of these key best practices:

  • Work with an auction item provider. These organizations (usually foundations) can provide items for you to auction off at limited or no cost to your nonprofit. For instance, the Dormie Network Foundation provides in-kind one-year Dormie Network memberships, which significantly increase bidding excitement and revenue.

  • Seek in-kind sponsorships. You might view sponsorships as purely financial, but in reality, there are many different types of support you can garner through these partnerships. Instead of a check, pitch in-kind donations of auction items to your sponsor prospects. Some businesses even prefer these sponsorship opportunities because they are often less expensive and give auction participants first-hand experiences with their product or service.

  • Pick themed items. Complement your event’s theme by auctioning off relevant items. This allows you to appeal to the event’s target audience. For instance, if you host a charity golf tournament, golfers are more likely to attend, and they’ll appreciate Dormie Network Foundation’s luxury golf experiences.

“Dormie Network’s generosity has made a true impact. The auction items have increased overall audience appeal and total revenue of our event auctions, which is great, because funds raised directly impact the lives of individuals and families impacted by autism worldwide,”

— Jennifer Nicholas, Senior Events Coordinator for Els for Autism, headquartered in Jupiter, Florida.

“Our relationship with the Dormie Network is great because it’s always a win / win / win situation. It’s a no-brainer for any non-profit, with zero risk.

When doing live auctions, we showcase the Dormie Network videos and it’s like an explosion goes off and the whole room gets popping. The Dormie Network in-kind donations generate far more than the minimum bid. We are grateful for their partnership—Dormie Network is a huge reason why we are able to provide Christmases for 200 families in need.”

— Don Liimatainen, Founder & President/CEO, Best Christmas Ever

Promote Your Charity Auction

Next, you’ll need to spread the word about your charity auction so you smash your turnout goals and secure the most funds for your cause.

We know how difficult marketing can be, especially if you’re trying to convince entirely new audiences to attend your event. That’s why the Dormie Network Foundation made Fundraising in a Box, a program that gives your nonprofit everything it needs to promote your golf charity auction in style. The program allows you to:

  • Utilize materials provided by Dormie Network to help promote the package, such as videos, photos, and logos. 

  • Use these professionally-designed materials in flyers, email blasts, newsletters, and more. You can find the latest logos and brochures in the Media Kit (password is dormie), and the most recent videos and commercials on YouTube.

After the auction is over, you can even use Dormie Network’s winner’s certificate to make the event feel professional and help commemorate the auction.

“Working with Dormie Network’s Fundraising in a Box could not be any easier. They provide us with everything we need, from the winner’s certificate to marketing materials including professionally done videos and flyers, and more. Their team is always ready and willing to help in any way they can.”

— Clark Harvey, Executive Director, Brighter Days Foundation

Thank Your Supporters

Finally, once the big event has wrapped up, it’s time to express your gratitude to the people who powered your success. Your staff, volunteers, and donors (both auction participants and item contributors) deserve your utmost gratitude! 

Manually drafting and sending personalized messages for everyone is tedious and time-consuming, but it doesn’t have to be. Using GolfStatus’ automated communication features, you can customize messages at scale to steward donors efficiently and secure repeat signups for your next charity auction.