Bishopsland & FloatArt: Gala Fundraiser at the Gherkin
How two arts charities combined live auction, silent auction, text raffle and direct donations at a Gherkin gala dinner to raise £63,740 in a single evening from just 120 guests.
A gala dinner held at the Gherkin in London brought together supporters of two arts charities to raise funds through a combination of live auction, silent auction, text raffle, and direct donations - all powered by mobile technology.
The Charities
Bishopsland, based in Oxfordshire, offers one-year residential courses for silversmiths. With over 170 graduates in twenty years and a 75% retention rate in the craft, it is one of the UK's most important training grounds for the next generation of silversmiths.
FloatArt provides startup funding for emerging artists transitioning from art school and curates exhibitions of their work.
The Four Fundraising Channels
Live Auction
Silverware, art, and experiences were sold to the highest bidder via mobile payment technology, with Gift Aid applied to all eligible lots. Raised: £37,500
Silent Auction
Mobile bidding enabled all 120 guests to bid and pay via their phones, removing the chaos of paper bid sheets and creating competitive, real-time bidding. Raised: £23,500
Text Raffle
Guests texted a keyword at £10 per entry (up to three tickets each). Raised: £1,240 - in just 3 minutes
Direct Donations
Additional contributions collected via app or Gift Aid envelopes. Raised: £1,500
The Result
Total amount raised: £63,740 from 120 guests
"Hats off to DONATE™! The team was amazing...the guests used their mobiles to bid, make payments and participate in the text raffle."
- Glyn McIntosh, Senior Charities Administrator