For schools, PTAs & school councils
The easiest school silent auction your council has ever run
SilentBid was built for a school council that was juggling Google Docs and paper bid sheets. Parents bid from their phones, volunteers see every bid live, and the winners report is ready the moment bidding closes.
- Free for up to 15 items
- Parents bid without an app or account
- Winners report the second it closes
- Free up to 15 items
- No credit card
- No fees on what you raise
Experiences
Weekend Cabin Getaway
Current bid
$245.00
6 bids
Why SilentBid
Why school councils switch from paper bid sheets
Parents bid from anywhere
Not everyone can make it to the gym on a Thursday night. Online bidding lets grandparents, working parents, and the whole school community take part — and bid up the good stuff.
No more deciphering handwriting
Every bid is timestamped and legible. No crossed-out numbers, no "is that a 7 or a 1?", and no volunteer stuck tallying sheets at 10pm.
Collecting payment is the easy part
The moment bidding closes you get a PDF and CSV of who won what and what they owe, and every winner gets an email. Collect by e-Transfer, cash, or cheque — we never touch the money.
How it works
Up and running before the next meeting
1.Create your auction
Sign up free, name your auction, and add items with photos, a starting bid, and a bid increment.
2.Share the link & poster
Send the link to your group chats and newsletter, and print the QR poster for the event itself.
3.Collect from winners
When bidding closes, winners get an email and you get the report. Collect however you already do.
Live activity
Updates automatically
- 🔥$295 bid on Cabin Getaway Weekendjust now
- 🔨$180 bid on Signed Hockey Jersey1 min ago
- 🔨$420 bid on Chef's Table for Six3 min ago
- 🔨$115 bid on Spa Gift Basket6 min ago
Item ideas
Items that do well at school auctions
- Class art projects and class-made quilts
- Principal for a day
- Front-row seats at the school concert or graduation
- Reserved parking spot for a term
- Teacher-hosted experiences — pizza lunch, a baking class, a hike
- Local restaurant and café gift cards
- Family memberships — zoo, science centre, museum
- Summer camp spots and swim lessons
- Themed gift baskets assembled by each classroom
- Sports gear signed by a local team
FAQ
Common questions
Is SilentBid free for schools?
Yes. Any school auction with up to 15 items is free, with no credit card and no ads on your auction page. Bigger auctions are a one-time $29 CAD (up to 50 items) or $79 CAD (up to 150 items) for that event — never a subscription.
Do parents need to download an app?
No. Parents scan the QR code on your poster or type the 4-letter auction code, and bid in their phone's browser. The first bid asks for a name, email, and phone number so you can reach winners.
Can other volunteers on the council help manage it?
Yes. On Standard and Pro you can invite co-admins who can add items and manage the auction with you.
Can we run it during a school event and online at the same time?
Yes — that's the most common setup. Open bidding a week before your event so families can browse, then print the QR poster for the night itself. Everyone bids on the same live auction.
Ready to raise more for your cause?
Setup takes about ten minutes. Your first auction is free — no credit card, no catch.
Or try the live demo first →