# Fundraising through Silent Auctions: A Complete Guide

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/books/fundraising-silent-auctions-complete-guide/
- Published: 2008-06-22T19:05:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**A silent auction is a fundraising event that lets participants and supporters 
bid anonymously for items on offer. As such they contrast with traditional auctions
in which bidding happens rapidly and usually in person, with the bidders making 
themselves and their bids known, and the auctioneer acknowledging them.**

Silent auctions work in person and online. Charities work to secure valuable or 
popular items beforehand and bidders then usually have a set period during which
they can place their bid.

Since bids are anonymous there is no bidding war: it is simply down to who made 
the highest bid. This can work to the charity’s benefit in that bidders know they
need to bid high to secure the items they are really interested in.

 **SEE ALSO: [iBid sees more than 100% rise in number of charities using silent auction technology](https://fundraising.co.uk/2013/04/03/ibid-sees-more-100-rise-number-charity-events-using-silent-auction-technology/)(
3 April 2013)**

Equally, some lots can still not realise their full or potential value, which a 
skilled auctioneer might be able to secure in a traditional auction.

Robert Dechene’s guide was published in the early days of digital fundraising so
focuses on the traditional in-person events.