Essential to Our Success
The TDS Annual Auction is one of the primary fundraising initiatives for the year, and it is essential to the success of Triangle Day School. In years past, the event has raised over $150,000. All proceeds go directly into TDS’ tuition-assistance and operating budgets which, in turn, help maintain our rich curriculum, extensive student services, and exceptional staff.
If that isn’t enough, it’s fun!
Auction FAQ
The Live Auction is conducted by a surprise guest auctioneer. This is where the night gets fun, and sometimes a little crazy — in a good way! Items generally included in the Live Auction are a combination of unique opportunities, school/classroom/teacher experiences, getaways and anything else that’s spectacular.
Once all bidding is concluded, you will be notified which items you won – please pay for the items and collect them before you leave!
Tickets are around $125 per person and include passed hors d’oeuvres, an open bar, and dinner.
Guests are encouraged to dress according to the selected theme. When in doubt, smart casual attire also works.
There will be a range of items to bid on including services, getaways, physical goods, school-associated items, and experiences. Our Silent Auction catalog has items in all price points, from $20 on up. There’s something for every budget — you don’t have to break the bank to have a good time and help the school!
When both the silent and live auctions are closed, the auction mobile website will show you a list of items purchased and your total for the evening. All items from both the Silent and Live Auctions will be available for pick-up at the end of the evening – please don’t leave without them!
All Silent Auction bidding is done anonymously; the winning bid amount will be displayed, but it is not publicly associated with a name. For the Live Auction and Fund-A-Cause, your name and bid amount may be displayed that evening.
No, but we certainly hope you do.
YES! All are welcome! The auction is a social, fun event for all our guests, and we need buyers to make it a financial success — the more the merrier.
The auction is one of the primary fundraising initiatives for the year, and it is essential to the success of Triangle Day School. Proceeds raised from the event — which, in the past, have exceeded $150,000 — goes directly into TDS’ tuition-assistance and operating budgets. These funds help maintain our rich curriculum, extensive student services, and exceptional staff. The auction is also a fun way to spend an evening socializing with other members of the TDS community!
A team of parent volunteers solicits local and national businesses for donations. Of course, there are always things we would love to be able to offer that we are unable to source through our corporate donors, and so we ask TDS families to consider donating items as well. A cash donation is always welcome, too, as it allows us to purchase the missing pieces for some of our packages.
The TDS Auction is planned and staffed entirely by volunteers. If you’d like to help, we have an array of opportunities to put you to work, encompassing everything from acquisitions to class projects to set-up and breakdown. Some tasks can be done from home with a phone and a computer, while others involve a number of meetings. Each job provides a wonderful opportunity to become more integrated with the TDS community through meeting and working with other parents, all towards a common goal of providing an exceptional education for our children.
Each year, the Head of School designates a particular area of need for the school, and donations to the Fund-A-Cause are earmarked specifically for these projects and items. The Fund-A-Cause is an integral component of the live auction, with donors raising their paddles in support of a specific initiative.
Each year, our amazing faculty and administrative staff offer up fantastic outings and experiences to share with one or more TDS students. These are some of the most popular items offered each year. Some are organized by a group of faculty/staff for a larger group of students and are the highlight of the Live Auction. Other experiences will be part of the Silent Auction, available for bid via the mobile app.
Yes, faculty and staff attend the auction at no or reduced charge; however, we pay for their tickets out of the auction budget. By sponsoring a teacher, you help offset those expenses so that more of the auction proceeds can directly benefit the school.
Admission tickets to the auction cover the actual cost of your food and drink at the event and are not tax-deductible.
Donations (of items and cash) to the event are USUALLY tax-deductible.
In terms of “won” auction items: if you pay more for an item than the stated value of the item, any amount over the stated value MAY be tax-deductible.
As always, please consult your personal tax advisor or accountant for advice on what may be deductible in your particular situation.
