Good questions.
Thoughtful answers.

OFG supplies auction items without requiring your organization to purchase the inventory upfront. We establish a minimum bid; your charity retains an agreed portion of that minimum and everything raised above it. You pay only for consignment items that sell.

Before you commit, your proposal sets out the minimum bids, your organization’s share, and the services included. That gives your committee a clear basis for reviewing the opportunity alongside donated items, sponsorships, and the rest of your fundraising plan.

Unsold consignment items cost your organization nothing. There is no need to buy them to complete your auction or use your event budget to cover their minimum bids.

At staffed events, our team takes back the unsold OFG items during breakdown. For a different event format, return arrangements are agreed in advance. Keep the sold and unsold item records clear at closing so your team can reconcile the evening with confidence.

OFG works with organizations across the United States. Our approach can support charity galas, foundation events, school and alumni celebrations, golf tournaments, celebrity fundraisers, and corporate gatherings for a cause.

The right fit depends on your guests, goals, event format, and the level of support you need. Share the expected attendance, individual ticket price, location, and whether you plan a silent auction, live auction, or both. Those details help us have a useful first conversation.

Start the conversation once you have an event concept and a likely date—even if the venue or guest count is still taking shape. Early planning gives you room to select items, align the committee, prepare descriptions, and build the auction into your event schedule.

There is no single lead time that suits every collection or event. Tell us your date and what is already decided, and we can discuss a practical timeline. If your event is close, be clear about the remaining deadlines so we can assess the scope with you.

A bigger auction is not automatically a better auction. Start with how many guests are likely to bid, the time they will have to browse, their interests and spending range, and the strength of the donated items you already have.

Aim for a collection with variety and room for each item to attract attention. OFG’s staffing arrangements can depend on the number of OFG items selected, so discuss the collection size and event support together. Your proposal will establish the scope for your evening.

Yes. A thoughtfully chosen consignment collection can sit alongside the items your community has donated. Share your donation list early so we can consider the whole auction and look for useful variety rather than repeating the same experiences.

OFG can help with bid sheets for donated items, and support for their display or checkout can be included in your event arrangements. Identify which team will provide descriptions, values, restrictions, certificates, and fulfillment details for each donated item.

We begin with your audience: what brings them together, what they enjoy, their connection to the cause, and the types of experiences they are likely to value. Your ticket price, previous auction results, and existing donations can all help shape the conversation.

From there, we discuss a mix of travel, experiences, art, and memorabilia suited to the event. Share what has worked before and what has not. A focused collection with clear descriptions is easier for guests to understand and easier for your committee to promote.

Explore the collection to find the experiences and pieces that interest you, then contact us to build your event selection. Availability and package terms are confirmed with you before you promote the auction. Pieces marked “Previously featured” are past offerings.

Use “Ask about this collection” to tell us what interests you. For a specific package, request its current description, guest limits, inclusions, restrictions, and fulfillment arrangements before adding it to your auction catalog. We will work with you on the final selection.

OFG provides a tailored item list with descriptions, minimum bids, and estimated values. We can also prepare bid sheets. Review the information with the person managing your auction catalog so printed displays and any bidding platform use the same details.

For donated items, collect accurate descriptions and restrictions from the donor. Make the opening bid and bidding increments easy to find, and use one clear item number throughout the catalog, display, bid sheet, and checkout record.

Ask for the authentication information for the specific piece you are considering, including the issuer and the documentation that accompanies it. Guests should be able to understand exactly what is being offered before they bid.

Keep any certificate or other item documentation connected to the correct item number, and explain how the winner will receive it. Include the authentication details for each individual piece in its auction description.

For staffed events, the agreed support can include setup, display of OFG and donated items, answers to guest questions, and breakdown. Staffing depends on your event arrangements and the number of OFG items selected.

Ahead of the event, share the floor plan, table dimensions, loading access, setup window, and closing time. Name one committee contact who can coordinate with the venue and our team. Clear responsibilities help the display feel like part of the evening from the moment guests arrive.

OFG offers mobile bidding support. If you already have a platform, tell us which one and who manages it so we can discuss compatibility, item information, and the setup your event requires.

Plan for consistent item numbers, complete package restrictions, bidder registration, and a clear closing process. Test the venue’s connectivity and give guests a simple way to ask for help. Platform fees, payment processing, account access, and staff responsibilities should be settled in your event plan.

Tell us about your auctioneer and the live portion of your event when you inquire. We can discuss which packages you would like to feature, the descriptions needed for the presentation, and how the silent and live auctions fit together.

Your auctioneer should have the exact inclusions, restrictions, minimums, and any limits on multiple sales before going on stage. Agree who records winning bids and how those results reach checkout. Any separate auctioneer services or availability are confirmed in your proposal.

Think about both the collection and the people moving through it. Guests need room to see items, read descriptions, discuss a bid, and move on without blocking the reception, dinner entrance, or accessible routes.

Share a floor plan and the size and type of tables available. Group items logically, provide readable signage, and allow for lighting and power where needed. Position the auction where guests can naturally return to it during the evening, and agree the final layout with the venue and event team.

If you are considering an online or hybrid auction, discuss that format with us before promoting the collection. Remote participation changes the practical details: guests need complete descriptions, clear closing times, and a reliable way to receive their items or redemption information.

Agree the bidding platform, eligible locations, payment process, and shipping arrangements for each item. Keep online and in-room records aligned so the same physical item cannot be awarded twice.

Your organization can collect payments and receive an invoice for the reserve prices of sold OFG items. Full auction checkout services are also available, with the responsibilities and financial arrangements set out in your proposal.

Before the event, agree payment methods, closing times, the handoff of winning-bid records, and the process for releasing items. Give volunteers a clear route for payment questions or disputed bids. A well-planned checkout protects the tone of the evening at its busiest moment.

Package terms should be available before bidding opens. Look for guest limits, booking and travel deadlines, blackout dates, availability rules, and what is—and is not—included. Do not assume airfare, transfers, meals, taxes, or resort fees are included unless the package states that they are.

Put important restrictions beside the package description, not just in a document the winner receives afterward. If a guest has a question about a particular date or requirement, ask for clarification before they bid rather than promising an exception.

The process depends on the item and your event arrangement. Physical items may be collected at the event or shipped; travel and experience winners need the redemption instructions and booking contact associated with their package.

Confirm collection or shipping responsibilities, any delivery charges, and the handoff of certificates before the evening. At checkout, check the winner’s contact details and provide the relevant item documentation. For donated items, make sure the donor’s fulfillment instructions are just as clear.

Your checkout arrangement determines how payments and proceeds are handled. If your organization collects payments, OFG invoices you for the reserve prices of the OFG items sold. With full checkout services, OFG provides bidding and buyer information along with the agreed proceeds process.

Confirm the settlement schedule in your proposal and designate a finance contact for reconciliation. Keep the final sold-item list, payment records, and bidder information together so your team can close the accounts and follow up with supporters.

A prompt, personal thank-you helps guests see the connection between the evening and your mission. Thank bidders, winners, donors, sponsors, and volunteers; give winners a clear next step for collection or redemption.

Review what attracted interest, what sold, and which questions guests asked. Use those insights to shape your next event. Coordinate receipts and donor communications with your organization’s own policies, and keep ordinary auction fulfillment separate from any optional marketing signup.