Class Canvas Auctions | Fundraising Directory

Class Canvas Auctions: Timing is Everything

Sometimes, instead of the ‘Fundraising Whisperer’, I think I’m better off being the ‘Fundraising Listener’. So much learning comes from listening. Last week, I was invited to sit down with a handful of fete co-ordinators who had organised to meet. It was magic – to witness the sharing of everything from ideas to equipment… and support.

Here’s a cracker of an idea I learnt from the amazing Donna. It was definitely an ‘a-ha’ moment for me!

It’s a combination of two established elements of a fete.

First element: Class Canvas Auction

By now, we all know about preparing class art canvasses and auctioning them off. Each child in a class contributes to an artwork. The artwork is carefully managed by a teacher or volunteer and often turns out to be quite stunning. The art is then auctioned off, with proud parents competing against each other to take home the masterpiece.

This fundraiser can form its own activity, such as an art fair, but is often held in conjunction with a fete. See below for some amazing examples of class artwork.

Second element: Class Performances

Most school fetes will run class performances. Students will practice in the lead-up to the event, usually a dance or a song. Students are given a certain time to meet at the performance location, and it’s a great way of making sure all the students and parents turn up on the day!

It brings all of the parents together at the one time, which leads into Donna’s brilliant plan….

Donna’s approach: 1+2=Genius!

Instead of holding a separate live auction, Donna’s school holds the auctions AT THE SAME TIME as the class performances!!!!

Between the prep and grade 1 performance, while ALL THE PARENTS ARE ALREADY THERE (can you tell I’m excited?!?) they auction off the canvasses for those two year levels. In between grades 3 and 4, they auction those canvasses off.

It’s a captive audience and you don’t have to beat your head against a wall to get a crowd together to run a separate auction.

Thank you Donna!!!

Happy Fundraising!

Mandy Weidmann aka the Fundraising Whisperer

Here are a whole bunch of class canvas images that can serve as inspiration. Many of them are pieces you would be proud to exhibit in your home. You can see why they can raise a lot of money!