We still do our Theme baskets in the raffle style. (Each classroom has a theme basket.) This is not a particularly profitable method. I am pretty confident that silent or live auctions make more money. In fact, since we are trying to raise funds for a specific goal this year, we have added some higher priced items to our regular auction and are making them Silent Auction items. (Our standard auction is also raffle-style, we refer to it as a "Chinese" Auction.) So we will have a Silent Auction with higher priced or unusual items & the "Chinese" Auction with local tickets, gifts, etc and the theme baskets.
What we do is raffle off the baskets. Chances are 5 for a dollar. That way you can choose many baskets to try to win. BUT any basket that has a high value we make a dollar a chance. We set it up with the dollar ones at the head of the table, seperated so that it is clear they were Bonus Baskets.
I also believe this is the best way because everyone gets a chance at winning the prize no matter how much money they can afford to spend.
Is there a way to do both? Raffle the smaller baskets and auction off the nicer large baskets. I'm thinking it'll be easier to set (or ask) a good starting bid on the larger baskets while the smaller ones can be raffled by selling tickets at a certain price....
Our Spring Carnival is just around the corner and our committee is still in disagreement about whether to raffle off our baskets or have an auction. The baskets are various themes such as: TLC Basket, Car Care Basket, Movie Night Basket and Family Fun Basket. Do you think we would make more money having an auction or raffle? And how much would we raffle the baskets for? Is 50 cents not enough? Is $1 too much? We are trying to make money. Thank you in advance for all the suggestions.
