Raise funds with quarter auctions
COSHOCTON – Quarter auctions are very popular right now when it comes to fundraisers.
“I’ve been putting them together for about any (nonprofit) organization that asks,” said Jessie Tubbs.
Tubbs started organizing quarter auctions after attending one in Newcomerstown for the Susan Komen Foundation.
“I thought it was a great way for organizations to raise money without asking everyone in the community to donate,” Tubbs said.
Vendors who sell crafts or home party items pay a $50 fee to be part of the auction and are given 10 tickets for the event to sell.
“The $50 is given to the nonprofit organization having the auction, but the vendors get to keep the money from the tickets they sell,” Tubbs said.
The auctions are set up a lot like craft shows, but there are chairs in the middle of the room for people to sit in and the vendors come up front one at a time to auction an item off.
“If you want the crochet hat that’s valued at $15 you put a quarter in the cup and once they are all collected a number is drawn,” Tubbs said. “If it’s your number you win the item, if it’s not you just lost a quarter.”
Numbers are assigned to people at the door, where you can also buy tickets to enter the event if you didn’t purchase one in advance.
“It’s a fast easy fundraiser that takes very minimal effort,” Tubbs said.
Quarter auctions also are a great way to get a crowd.
“If you have 20 vendors and they sell all their tickets you’ll have 200 people there,” Tubbs said. “The more vendors you have the bigger your crowd. You also don’t have much cost coming out of your pocket, especially if you can get a space donated.”
She recently helped organize quarter auctions for Higher Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center and First Step. Higher Hopes’ auction was held Feb. 25, and First Step’s is set for 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, at Coshocton Village Inn & Suites.
“It’s a quick, easy fundraiser that helps bring in a couple thousand dollars for us,” said Megan Philabaum, office/fiscal manager at First Step. “They had one for us last year and it went over very well. It helps us with direct services to our clients and shelter services.”
Tom Roahrig of Higher Hopes wasn’t sure what to expect during the quarter auction held for his organization, but by the end of the night he was very impressed.
“It was fantastic,” he said. “It went really smoothly and was well organized.”
Roahrig said the idea for the auction came from Cherie Reveal, who is a member of the Higher Hopes family.
“By the end of the night we had raised over a thousand dollars,” Roahrig said. “I couldn’t thank the people who attended enough. They were all pleasant people and there because they wanted to be there.”
He already has plans for the money raised.
“They will probably end up getting us some additional hay,” Roahrig said. “This winter has been brutal. The horses really went through the hay because it was so cold. It also will help us replace some equipment that needs updated.”
To find out how to organize a quarter auction for your organization, contact Tubbs at 610-7433.
“I appreciate the people so much that invited us to do this and helped us raise the funds,” Roahrig said.
Category: Clubs & Organizations, People & Places
