Furnishing Industry's Fast and Furious Fundraiser
How the Furniture Makers' Company raised £12,500 in their first online charity auction, featuring 40 lots including Chelsea Flower Show tickets, artwork, and luxury experiences.
When the Furniture Makers' Company summer fundraiser was cancelled, the organisation turned to a month-long online charity auction - their first ever. The event needed to replace a significant income stream while engaging a community used to meeting in person.
The Auction
40 lots were carefully curated for maximum appeal, including:
- Original artwork
- Chelsea Flower Show tickets
- Limited edition prints
- A four-day chair making course
- A luxury London hotel stay with dinner
- Golf experiences
International Bidding
The DONATE™ platform enabled bidders to participate via computers and mobile devices, with international participation capabilities. This created genuine competitive tension in the closing hours, as bidders from across the country and beyond competed for the most sought-after lots.
The Result
Amount raised: £12,500
"We were impressed with the system, it was very easy to upload and manage the auction lots and the straightforward bidding process made it incredibly simple for users to bid on items. We were able to raise over £12,500 for our charity and we will definitely be using the DONATE™ platform again for future events."
- Alistair Gough, Fundraising Chairman, Furniture Makers' Company