Certificates designating donations of services are always numerous and must be handled with great care and organization. They are valuable, often impossible to replace if lost and come in every imaginable shape and form. Some donations ask that you create an award certificate for the donation and you must be prepared to complete the task.

The certificate coordinator should:

1. Copy all certificates immediately upon receipt. This will help if the committee or the winning bidder misplaces a certificate.
2. All certificates and their copies should be carefully placed in file folder or loose-leaf binders, color-coded by subgroup after being cataloged.
3. The original award certificate should be placed in an attractive envelope with a label depicting the item and catalog number and perhaps decorated with a special seal, perhaps the auction logo.
4. These original certificates should be filed according to catalog number and placed in a container ready for distribution at the conclusion of the event.

Display counterfeit certificates may be utilized to illustrate items at the silent auction tables. It is not advisable to showcase the actual certificates. The exception to the rule is baskets that contain award documentation in addition to other physical items. As an example, you might consider packaging several dinner certificates with a limousine transportation award and two bottles of wine in an attractive basket.