Grassroots Fundraising:
Promise Auctions

Promise auctions are suitable for the office or social settings, in large groups as well as small groups.

Draw up a list of promises and appropriate names for auction to get the ball rolling. Promises can range from a single kiss to the performance of an undesirable task to a boss doing a menial task, e.g. cleaning up the tea room for a week. A great way to ensure a success and a high level of involvement is to encourage the people to think up the promises themselves. This opens the door for people to poke fun at themselves and really get into the spirit of the auction. To avoid an embarrassing situation, all suggested promises should be submitted in writing so the auctioneer can apply appropriate discretion.

Not only do the promises cause interest levels to rise but also who is making the promise. For instance a normally chatty person promising not to talk through lunch breaks for a week will attract more than a little attention and shows that these kinds of promises can provide amusement for more than the day of the auction

An important ingredient to a successful event is the imagination used in the promises. Encouraging donors to view this auction with a sense of humor can lead to the promises that grab the attention of other participants and create an event that is as memorable as well as financially rewarding.

Add an extra dimension for raising funds by introducing a penalty for non-performance. Something like a promisee who fails to fulfill their promise must donate twice the bid for their promise.



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Doug Nash lives in Logan City in Queensland, Australia. He has graciously consented to share a fundraising idea with us every month. Although many of the ideas aren't new, each of them has a unique flair that comes from being developed and refined half a world away from ours.