One of the questions I get asked most often is, "When should we close our silent auction?"

It's a great question, but I actually think there's a better one to ask:

How do we protect the final five minutes of bidding?

Because that's where some of the biggest revenue opportunities happen.

Whether your silent auction closes before the program or after it, those last few minutes deserve your full attention. If guests are distracted by something else, you're making it harder for them to place those final bids that can add hundreds or even thousands of dollars to your results.

The Last Five Minutes Matter More Than the Closing Time

During those final minutes, guests are:

• Checking whether they've been outbid
• Raising their max bids
• Watching the countdown
• Jumping into bidding wars
• Deciding whether to make one last bid

This can be the most active part of your silent auction.

If a speaker has everyone's attention, dinner is being served, or guests are being asked to move into another activity, you're competing with your own fundraising.

Instead, create space for those final few minutes. Make it easy for guests to focus on bidding before you ask them to focus on anything else.

I Usually Recommend Closing Before the Program

Years ago, I actually preferred closing the silent auction after the program. Since mobile bidding allows guests to bid from anywhere, and I'm always focused on raising as much money as possible, it seemed like a natural fit.

I've changed my mind.

Today, I usually recommend closing the silent auction before the live program begins.

Not because leaving it open will dramatically hurt your live auction or paddle raise. I think that effect is probably smaller than people imagine.

I recommend it because it creates a better guest experience.

Your guests finish one fundraising activity before moving on to the next. The silent auction has a clear ending, and everyone can fully engage with the live auction and paddle raise without wondering if they should still be checking their phones.

That transition feels cleaner, and I think it helps keep everyone's attention where you want it.

Be Clear About When Bidding Ends

One of the easiest ways to improve your silent auction is also one of the simplest.

Tell guests exactly when bidding closes.

Instead of saying:

"The silent auction closes in about 30 minutes..."

Say:

"The silent auction closes at 7:30 p.m."

That becomes even more important if you have remote bidders. Everyone should be working from the same timeline, whether they're in the room or bidding from home.

Once you've announced a closing time:

• Include it in your text messages.
• Mention it from the stage.
• Make sure volunteers know it.
• Keep it consistent everywhere.

The clearer you are, the more confident your bidders will be.

Build Excitement During the Final Countdown

As the close approaches, keep directing guests back to the auction.

Simple reminders can make a big difference:

• A 10-minute announcement
• A 5-minute announcement
• Text message reminders
• Countdown timers in your mobile bidding platform
• A countdown displayed on screens, if possible

The goal is simple: Everyone should know these are the final minutes to bid.

When I managed mobile bidding teams, we'd watch the auction refresh over and over during those last five minutes. It wasn't unusual to see the revenue climb by hundreds or even thousands of dollars right before bidding closed.

That's exactly the momentum you're trying to protect.

Don't Extend the Closing Time

One mistake I see fairly often is extending the silent auction after the closing time has already been announced.

It usually comes from a good place.

Maybe guests are still arriving.

Maybe there are a few packages with limited bidding.

Maybe someone asks for "just ten more minutes."

I'd resist the temptation.

Your most engaged bidders planned around the time you gave them. They were watching the countdown, placing their final bids, and making decisions based on the rules you set.

Changing those rules at the last minute can be frustrating for the people who were paying the closest attention.

It's a small thing, but donor trust is built through lots of small moments.

Once you've announced a closing time, stick to it.

The Real Question

So... should you close your silent auction before or after the program?

Either can work.

But I think the more important question is:

How are you protecting those final five minutes?

Give your guests uninterrupted time to bid.

Communicate clearly.

Build excitement with reminders and countdowns.

Then let your silent auction finish strong before moving everyone's attention to what's next.

Small changes in those final few minutes can make a meaningful difference in both your guest experience and your fundraising results.