How much can a humane society raise with a silent auction?

Short answer: whether you worked the adopter list, and whether the auction named a programme rather than the general fund.

Revenue across animal welfare organizations

Working it out from the adopter file

The adoption records hold a much larger warm audience than the donor database suggests.

• Adoptions over the last five years, which is your real list
• Current donors and volunteers
• Gala ticket holders, if the auction is attached to one
• An average winning bid for an audience that includes both gala guests and adopters — two very different numbers, so plan two tiers

Most societies size an auction against the donor file. The adopter file is usually several times larger and requires only an export and a permission check.

What decides a society's result

1. The adopter list

Count adoptions over the last several years, not just current donors. Most societies have a much larger warm list than their donor database suggests, and it is sitting in the adoption records.

2. A named programme

The behaviour programme, the medical fund, the van, the clinic. Publish the cost. For a contracted society, name something outside the contract.

3. Access items in the catalogue

Tours, a morning with the medical team, naming rights. Nothing to price-check against. See item ideas that actually sell.

4. Whether it opened before the gala

Online bidding a week before adds the supporters who did not buy a ticket, and brings items into the room with bids on them.

Setting the goal

Work from the programme cost rather than from a fundraising target, and decide whether the auction reports inside the gala total or beside it. Then report what it funded — a donor who paid for the van should see the van.

Goal and budget mechanics: fundraising goals and budget.