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Planning a school auction can be both exciting and challenging. While the main auction items bring in the big bucks, incorporating some fun and engaging fundraising games can boost your earnings and keep the energy high. It’s also a way for everyone to participate and contribute to the cause. Today, I’m sharing some tried-and-true auction fundraising games that will not only add fun to your event but also help you raise extra funds. Let the games begin!
1. Wine Toss
What it is? Wine Toss is a crowd-pleaser that’s as simple as it is effective. Participants toss rings, aiming to land one around the neck of a wine bottle. Each successful toss wins the bottle.
How to Play:
- Set up a table with wine bottles.
- Provide participants with rings (small hoops work best).
- Charge a fee for each set of rings (e.g., $5 for 1 ring and $20 for 3 rings).
Why it Works: Wine Toss is a low-cost, high-engagement game. People love the thrill of trying to win a bottle of wine, and it’s a great way to involve everyone in the fun.
Tip: Confirm with your venue if there is a corkage fee and pass the cost on to the guests if they wish to open their wine that evening.
2. Golden Paddle
What it is? The Golden Paddle is a unique twist on traditional bidding. Before the auction begins, auction off a “Golden Paddle” that gives the winner a special privilege during the auction.
How to Play:
- Announce that the Golden Paddle holder can add $1000 to any winning bid at no extra cost to them.
- Auction off the Golden Paddle at the beginning of the event. (You could also make it a raffle item, sell each ticket for $100)
Why it Works: This game adds excitement and a competitive edge to the auction. Bidders will vie for the Golden Paddle, knowing it could give them an advantage later on.
3. Raffle an Experience
What it is? Raffle off a fantastic prize, like a weekend getaway, a fancy dinner, or a piece of jewelry.
How to Play:
- Sell raffle tickets throughout the event (e.g., $50-$100 each).
- Draw the winning ticket at the end of the night.
Why it Works: High-value raffles are always a hit. They generate excitement and can significantly boost your fundraising total.
4. Wine Pull
What it is? A Wine Pull is an easy way to offer a guaranteed win while still raising funds. Participants pay a set amount to pull a wrapped bottle of wine from a selection.
How to Play:
- Wrap and number wine bottles (some higher-value than others).
- Sell pulls for a fixed price (e.g., $20 per pull).
Why it Works: Everyone wins a bottle, but the chance of getting a premium wine adds a fun element of surprise.
5. Heads or Tails
What it is? Heads or Tails is a simple, interactive game where participants guess the outcome of a coin toss. The last person standing wins a prize.
How to Play:
- Sell entry tickets (e.g., $25 per person).
- Participants stand and choose heads (hands on head) or tails (hands on booty).
- Flip a coin and eliminate those who guessed wrong. Repeat until one person remains.
- Use beaded necklases to determine who purchased tickets when its time to play!
Why it Works: This game is quick, easy, and highly engaging. Plus, it gets everyone involved without much effort or cost.
Tip: Sell a Second Chance! Guests get two beaded necklaces if they purchased a 2nd chance. If they guess incorrectly during the game, they take one necklace off.
6. 52 Card Pick
What it is? Sell chances to win a prize by purchasing a playing card. The prize is awarded to the holder of the winning card drawn.
How to Play:
- Display a deck of cards.
- Sell each card (e.g., $20 per card).
- The auctioneer will draw a card to determine the winner.
Why it Works: This game is straightforward and guarantees a winner, making it a popular choice at fundraising events.
7. Diamond in Champagne Glass
What it is? Offer guests a chance to win a real diamond (or a high-value prize) hidden among fake ones in champagne glasses.
How to Play:
- Fill champagne glasses with water and place a cubic zirconia in each glass. One glass contains the real diamond.
- Sell the glasses (e.g., $50 per glass).
Why it Works: The allure of winning a diamond adds a touch of glamour and excitement to your event, encouraging people to participate.
8. Lucky Envelope
What it is? The Lucky Envelope game involves selling envelopes that contain various prizes. Guests buy an envelope without knowing what’s inside, adding an element of surprise and excitement.
How to Play:
- Guests can purchase envelopes at a set price.
- Display the Envelopes on a wall or poster board.
- Each envelope contains a prize, which could range from small trinkets to high-value items.
- The fun lies in the mystery of not knowing what prize they’ll get until they open their envelope.
Why it Works: The element of surprise creates excitement and engagement among guests. It encourages participation because everyone has a chance to win something, and the range of possible prizes adds to the thrill.
9. Treasure Chest
What it is? The Treasure Chest game features a locked chest filled with a valuable prize. Guests can purchase keys, but only one key will open the chest, creating a sense of anticipation and excitement.
How to Play:
- A chest is filled with a valuable prize and securely locked.
- Guests buy keys, each with the hope that theirs will be the one to unlock the chest.
- At a designated time, guests take turns trying their keys in the lock until someone finds the right one and wins the prize.
Why it Works: The anticipation and suspense of trying to unlock the chest engages guests and keeps them invested. The allure of a valuable prize motivates people to participate, and the excitement builds as each key is tried.
10. 50/50 Raffle or Black Card
What it is? A 50/50 raffle involves selling raffle tickets prior to the event and during cocktail hour. The winner will receive half of the total amount raised from ticket sales and the other half going to the fundraiser.
How to Play:
- Tickets are sold to guests at a set price prior to the event and during cocktail hour/silent auction.
- At the end of the event, a winning ticket is drawn.
- The holder of the winning ticket receives 50% of the total amount raised from ticket sales, while the other 50% goes to support the fundraising cause.
Why it Works: The 50/50 raffle is a simple and effective way to raise funds while giving participants a chance to win a cash prize. The potential for a significant payout encourages more ticket sales, benefiting both the winner and the fundraising cause.
Tip: I have also done this game, where the winner receives 50% of the winnings to go towards their final purchases at the end of the night. This way, they get a “discount” on their winnings and the money stays with your foundation.
These fundraising games are a great way to keep the energy up, get people involved, and most importantly, raise more funds. So, when you’re planning your next event try to incorporate at least 2-3 of these fundraising games for your guests to play.