Raising Funds for Schools

I'm the chair of our school's spring fundraiser. It is usually a silent auction that raises about $5,000. With the sad state of the economy, I think that this could be harder to do. Would you continue with the auction or try something else? -- Money Needed
Answer: Since the auction has become a tradition, it makes sense to continue it unless you are hearing a lot of protests against this type of fundraiser. It would be a good idea to make sure that there are auction items at a variety of price levels. It's also very important to solicit items that people will truly want to own. Families who don't feel that they can bid can contribute to the auction by soliciting items or helping run it. They can even offer special meals or services. The more participation you have by school families, the better the chance of success.
You should make it very clear in auction flyers what the money will be used for. State that it will be for extra materials for teachers, the music program, field trips, science equipment and so on. Then you might describe how auction funds have been used in the past and what they accomplished.
You may be able to increase attendance at the auction by inviting all family members to attend. Having many items for children could increase family interest. Also consider having the auction during a weekend afternoon so families won't need to hire babysitters. You can even gain additional revenue from selling refreshments. Some of these can be donated. And some schools gain additional money by charging an admission fee.
If there is a widespread objection to the silent auction, consider a different option. Some possibilities are: a carnival, play or musical, book sale or big garage sale. You can use a search engine to find many more choices.