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I had some questions about charity auctions that I was wondering if anyone could help me with. I've never done an auction or anything before, and I'm not possitive I'll do one, but I wanted to get some more info's on it to see if I would really be interested.

What charities in the States have people done auctions with?
Do you have to go to the charities ahead of time and ask them if you can do the auction, or do you just do the auction and then donate the money?
How do you set up auctions? Like where do you do them, and how do you collect the money and send the augograph?
Who is good to ask for autographs from for charity auctions, and can you do celebrities specific to your cause?

I had some other questions, but I forgot them (hehe oops) When I remember them I'll ask them too

Hi, thanks for your questions!

In answer of your questions, as I do not live in the States, I do not know which charities do auctions.

Also, you do not need to ask the charity first but you could just to tell them when it is so they can support it as much as they can too.

For your question, "Where do you do them?" - it depends on what kind of auction you'd like. The auction I collect for is done over the radio, and people phone in to bid, then when the auction is over the person comes in to collect the autograph as it is a local radio station.

Or you could rent a hall or something like that and do you own auction, or just take your autographs down to a proper auction room, sell them off and give the money to the charity.

Many celebrities will be more than happy to help you raise money, but you need to - in your letter - to mention what the charity is and why you are collecting for it. John Travolta, Ewan McGregor, and Vin Diesel are some of the many celebs to send me a signed pic.

Hope this helps, and good luck if you are planning to organise an auction!

Thank you so much for your answers!

I don't know if this is a good idea, but I was doing research on different charities and celebrities I know a lot about. I know a TON about Paul McCartney, so I was doing some research on the Adopt-A-Minefield foundation, which Paul does a lot with. (I'm not sure whether or not he founded it, I don't think so, but he does a lot with them.)

On a letter I recieved from Jessica Wells, Paul's sectretary apparently, saying that Paul only sends autographs on very exceptional causes and special charities. Since Paul does so much work with Adopt-A-Minefield I was wondering if it would be worth it to ask if he would send an autograph if he knew it was for that charity. I mean the worst that could happen was if they said no again, right?

I know Adopt-A-Minefield isn't based in the States, but I could do an auction and then just donate the money myself couldn't I? Or would that not work? If not I'll find a more localy based charity.

Also, I'm not sure anyone would let me rent an auction hall, or go to an auction to action to do it, or a radio station or anything like that. I'm not really old enough. I mean people ask me what college I go to, which I can understand because I do work at summer camp, but I don't even look THAT old. I think it's just the concept of working at a camp the assume I'm in college. And I can pass myself off as 16 at most (oops, I'm getting closer to my real age! Better stop soon) but I don't even think if I could pass myself off as 16 that they would let me do an auction like that. Are there any other ways that I could do it?
I could probably get a parent's help if there aren't, and obviously if there were too, but if there were any other ways that might be better.

Thank you again for being so helpful!!!!!!!!!

Hi there,

It is quite difficult to run a charity auction with the public if you cannot rent anywhere to hold it.

I think the Paul McCartney charity would be great to raise money for only if it is close to you and means something to you. The first rule in charity collecting, don't raise money for charities just to get an autograph out of a celeb, the celeb believes that the charity is also close to your heart. Just a warning!

However, I can't help you with a good way of running your own auction. It will cost quite a lot, you could just put your items on Ebay and give all the money you make to your chosen charity.

Hope this helps!

Merry Christmas!

Thank you again so much!

The Adopt-A-Landmine I feel very close to, so I think I will try to do and auction for them. I'll probably have to just sell the items on ebay, but I think I'll be able to figure all of the rest out.

I think I'll try for this charity and if it doesn't work out very well I'll donate the money and start again with a more local charity.

Thank you so much for being so helpful and patient, Merry Christmas!!!!!

You're welcome.