The annual springtime fundraising auction at Hill-Murray school is as much social event as it is an auction. There's a cocktail hour, silent auction bidding, a live auction and even a gourmet dinner for attendees.
But in a bad economy, for a school with 14,000 alumni all over the world, the school decided to add something different, something that is not quite as social: an online auction.
"I think it's time to go online," said Mary Mathson, who is development officer at Hill-Murray School in St. Paul. The school, which had about 200 auction items at its social event, also put seven items online this year and brought in $2,500 on its first auction venture on the Internet. "So many people do so much shopping on the Internet."
Minnesota's private schools have used springtime auctions at annual benefits to raise money for decades. The money helps schools do everything from offer financial aid to improve technology, and fills holes in school budgets.
But more and more of Minnesota's private schools are turning to the Internet to run the auctions that bring a considerable chunk of fundraising money every year. Most of the schools still hold annual galas, with a few items for a live auction, but many are conducting the bulk of their auctions online.
To date, at cMarket, one of the sites that schools use, Minnesota schools have raised $279,000 in recent years.
"More people are looking online for everything," said Julie Coskran, executive director of the Minnesota Association of Independent Schools. "I think the schools are meeting the needs of the time."
Other Minnesota private schools that use online auctions to supplement their annual benefits include Breck, Blake, Lake Country School and Cedarcrest Academy. Breck's first auction last year raised more than $90,000; the school brought in $52,800 this year.
