Helping Nonprofits Raise More — One Auction at a Time
Practical fundraising resources informed by nearly three decades of nonprofit experience.
"Every dollar a nonprofit raises is a dollar closer to the change they're working to create. Our mission is simple: give every organization — regardless of size, budget, or experience — the knowledge they need to make their next silent auction their most successful yet."
30yrs
Of nonprofit
experience behind this
resource
experience behind this
resource
100%
Free — no registration,
no paywalls
no paywalls
All
Sizes of nonprofits
served, from PTAs to
national orgs
served, from PTAs to
national orgs
1goal
Help your mission raise
more money
more money
Meet Josh Burke
I’m Josh Burke, the creator of SilentAuction.org. I began working in the nonprofit sector at 14, and my experience includes direct care, disability services, community education, community engagement, fundraising, and marketing. I’ve also served on three nonprofit volunteer boards.
Working across those roles has given me an appreciation for both the services nonprofits provide and the work it takes to fund them. Behind every event are people balancing budgets, recruiting volunteers, building relationships, and making the most of limited time.
Working across those roles has given me an appreciation for both the services nonprofits provide and the work it takes to fund them. Behind every event are people balancing budgets, recruiting volunteers, building relationships, and making the most of limited time.
Fundraising Experience Behind This Resource
My fundraising experience includes donor cultivation and stewardship, alumni engagement, golf outings, local fundraisers, and gala-style events. I was also part of a team that raised $2.5 million through a capital campaign.
For some of those events, I’ve worked directly on the silent auction—from securing donated items and setting starting bids to managing bidding and checkout. For others, my responsibilities involved the broader event, marketing, or donor relationships.
Those experiences shape how I approach this site: practical guidance that considers the staff, volunteers, donors, and guests who make an auction possible.
For some of those events, I’ve worked directly on the silent auction—from securing donated items and setting starting bids to managing bidding and checkout. For others, my responsibilities involved the broader event, marketing, or donor relationships.
Those experiences shape how I approach this site: practical guidance that considers the staff, volunteers, donors, and guests who make an auction possible.
Why I Created SilentAuction.org
Planning a silent auction involves a lot of small decisions. What should you ask businesses to donate? How should you price an item? What information belongs on a bid sheet? How do you keep checkout organized and make sure donors receive a thoughtful thank-you?
I created SilentAuction.org to help nonprofit staff, volunteer committees, schools, and community organizations work through those questions with useful guidance and resources they can adapt.
I created SilentAuction.org to help nonprofit staff, volunteer committees, schools, and community organizations work through those questions with useful guidance and resources they can adapt.
What You'll Find Here
SilentAuction.org offers auction planning guides, item ideas, fundraising strategies, downloadable templates, and information about auction software.
The goal is to help you move from reading about a task to completing it—whether that means preparing a donation request, organizing volunteer assignments, choosing starting bids, or planning donor follow-up.
The goal is to help you move from reading about a task to completing it—whether that means preparing a donation request, organizing volunteer assignments, choosing starting bids, or planning donor follow-up.
An Approach Built Around Relationships
A successful fundraiser involves more than the total raised that evening. It also depends on how donors are treated, whether volunteers feel prepared, and whether guests leave wanting to support the organization again.
That’s why donor stewardship, clear communication, and practical event preparation are central to this resource. A well-run auction should support your mission and strengthen the relationships that make your work possible.
That’s why donor stewardship, clear communication, and practical event preparation are central to this resource. A well-run auction should support your mission and strengthen the relationships that make your work possible.