Silent Auction or Raffle: which one actually raises more money? A Silent Auction wins when you've got great items and a crowd willing to bid. Think travel packages, VIP tickets, signed memorabilia. The more people want it, the higher the bids climb. A Raffle wins when you want something fast and affordable. A twenty-five dollar entry brings in supporters that would never bid three hundred dollars on an Auction item. That's why Raffles are perfect for churches, schools, and community groups. So which is better? It depends on your audience. Small, high capacity crowd? Auction. Big, price sensitive crowd? Raffle. But here's the real move: nonprofits that run both in one Campaign raise about thirty-eight percent more than either format alone. Just double check your state's raffle rules before selling tickets online. They vary. I'm Catie with RallyUp, follow for more nonprofit fundraising tips.

00:52 Updated: 10/01/26

Silent Auction vs Raffle: Which Raises More Money?

In this video, Catie from RallyUp walks you through when a Silent Auction outperforms a Raffle, when it goes the other way, and why the answer usually comes down to your audience rather than the format.

Both formats work. They just work on different crowds, at different price points. Once you know which one your supporters are, the choice gets easy — and running both together changes the math again.

Silent Auction or Raffle?

A Silent Auction wins when you have great items and a crowd willing to bid — travel packages, VIP tickets, signed memorabilia. The more people want an item, the higher the bids climb
A Raffle wins when you want something fast. A $25 entry brings in supporters who would never spend $300 on an auction item, which is why Raffles suit churches, schools, and community groups
It depends on your audience: small, high-capacity crowd → Silent Auction. Big, price-sensitive crowd → Raffle
Run both in one Campaign and nonprofits raise about 38% more than with either format alone
Double-check your state’s rules on selling raffle tickets online before you launch — they vary