Country School Auction Raises $125,000

Imagine raising $125,000 for your school. Money that can be used to provide enrichment programs, supplies, equipment, and technology to better the students' learning environment. With the help of a dedicated committee, that is just what one mother of 3 has done at The Country School in Easton, Maryland.

The Country School, a private school of 300 students for grades K-8, is hosting its 21st Annual Fundraiser Auction this February. In past years, they have successfully raised $80,000; a phenomenal achievement for a school of any size. Auction Chairperson, Kathy Dawkins, however, has been able to raise the bar even further and increase earnings to over $125,000 for the past three consecutive years. Now in her fourth year, Kathy is once again working with her committee and the community in hopes of another successful fundraising event.

Kathy's former position as a Director of College Activities where she brought entertainment events to several colleges, has provided her with the expertise to coordinate large events. Speaking of the auction, Kathy said, I approach it like a business. I pick the right people and manage those volunteers. I don't micro-manage, but do touch on every facet of the planning in some way.'

When asked her secret to increasing revenues by $45,000, Kathy explained that they changed venues from the school to a large, area hotel where they had access to 10,000 square feet of event space. This seemed to make a difference in that they were able to display over 250 silent auction items, offer a cocktail reception with a cash bar, entertainment, and a buffet dinner; making it an entertaining evening for all that attended.

In recent years, Kathy also added the element of a school webpage to their marketing plan. In doing so, she created a page that provided all of the available auction opportunities; from purchasing tickets and raffle tickets to advertising, donation, and sponsorship opportunities. The webpage allows for the auction catalog, featuring all live and silent auction items, to be viewed in advance, online. She also published a donation wish list, which has proven to be a very effective donation source.

Kathy says that it seems as though everyone wants to donate in some way, but only about half of the parents are able to donate larger items like vacation getaways because they happen to have the resources or contacts. So, Kathy says, We gave others an avenue to give by providing a wish list of smaller items.' They published a wish list on the school webpage that included an array of items like lunch for a week, lessons of all types, sports gear, and even a gas grill. These are items that appeal to a vast majority and are well sought after at the auction.

The internet offers a vast source of alternative auction item ideas. By going to sites like PTO Ideas (www.ptoideas.com) you can view a page detailing how to plan an auction fundraiser as well as find lists of unique donation items that can be provided by families, students, faculty, and businesses. Distribute these lists to potential donors to give them ideas!


In addition Kathy says, We took a three-prong approach to increase revenue. We allowed people to donate an item, buy an advertisement, and/or become a sponsor.' In doing so, they opened up opportunities for families, relatives, friends, alumni, and businesses to donate the way that best suits them. Kathy says that her goal is to have $50,000 worth of live auction items and $50,000 worth of silent auction items available on the night of the auction. The key to that is getting the parents to donate', says Kathy. If the auction items are donated the sale of those items are considered all profit, as well as a tax deduction for the person making the donation.

In past years, Kathy says that the auction committee also ran a profitable 50/50 raffle. But she now raffles off a $5,000 tuition credit that raises an average profit of $8,000. Her secret to selling these $25 raffle tickets is to distribute them to over 2,000 school families, relatives, friends, faculty, alumni, and businesses. And by allowing the credit to be used at any educational institution, it opens the door to an unlimited number of families with children in school.

Kathy also credits her dedicated auction committee and generous community for their fundraising successes. As it takes 18 chairmen and nearly 100 volunteers in all aspects of the auction including advertising, decorating, publicity, printing, and more working together. For more information on The Country School auction visit their website at countryschoolauction.org.