FAQs & HOW TO BID:

DO I NEED TO REGISTER TO ATTEND?

Yes, you do need to purchase tickets to attend the live auction, and registration is required to bid on silent items at the auction. We recommend pre-registering so bidding on auction items and experiences, and donating to the Fund-A-Need is a snap. 

CAN I VOLUNTEER FOR THE AUCTION?

Yes! Volunteering is a great way to help the school and ensure that the auction is a great success! We are looking for volunteers to help with the event set up on Saturday, March 16 before the event begins, help during the event, as well as event breakdown. Please be aware that not all volunteer roles will be provided a sit-down dinner. If you have questions, please email auction@charleswright.org to ask if we still need assistance.

WHERE DO I GO TO BID?

If you are not attending the in-person event, our Silent Auction will be online through Greater Giving! Everything from party dashes to the silent auction will be available to bid on. You can even make a gift to the Fund-A-Need! Since registration is required to bid on online items, we encourage you to register today! The online auction will close Wednesday, March 20, at 5 p.m.

COMMEMORATIVE and CWA EXCLUSIVE ITEMS

This year, our Milestone Wine-bottles for Kinder, 4th, 8th, & 12th graders will be available for purchase later in the year closer to graduation. Our CWA branded ornaments will be available for purchase closer to the holiday season. For any direct questions, please email giving@charleswright.org.

WHAT ARE PARTY DASHES?

A CWA signature offering, spots are sold individually at the auction to these parties hosted by families, faculty, staff and alumni as a way to bring our community together in fun and unique ways. Auction attendees get the first pick to sign up for these events. After the auction ends any left over spots will be offered via the online auction site. Past parties include gingerbread house decorating, art workshops, athletic classes, cooking classes, sing-a-longs, and more.

WHAT ARE GRADE LEVEL ART PROJECTS?

Grade level and class art projects have long inspired bidding wars from families and fans during Spirit Auctions. Each class in the Beginning School have explored different mediums with Miss Naomi in the Atelier to create inspired and unique class art projects. Each grade in the Lower School have poured their hearts into creating projects with art specialist Mr. Kroe that highlight skills they have been finessing in art class or tie in to their grade-level curriculum. Middle School students work with Mr. Hoppin to learn mosaics, culminating in a beloved glass mosaic of an animal, and the Upper School glass class works together to meticulously create a glass-on-glass mosaic of an iconic local scene. The art projects can be found throughout the almost-live and live auctions, and are an auction highlight you do not want to miss. 

RAFFLES & GAMES

Raffle and/or game tickets will be available for purchase at the beginning of the live auction event, with winners pulled throughout the night. We'll announce prizes soon, but past year raffle items have included Seahawks/Kraken tickets, Broadway Across America shows and stays in Seattle, trips and excursions, and concert tickets. This is your chance to play to win big while supporting CWA! 

WHAT IS THE SILENT AUCTION?

This year's silent auction will be held online, meaning you do not have to attend the live auction event in order to bid (and win!) items in this auction section. However, everyone who wishes to bid on the silent auction (including if you are attending the live auction in person) must register through the mobile bidding site. The silent auction will open on March 8th, with items being regularly added. The silent auction will close the Wednesday after the live auction event on March 20, at 5 p.m., and items will be available for pick up from campus during the months of March and April. 

WHAT IS THE ALMOST-LIVE AUCTION?

This year's almost-live auction will be in-person ONLY, meaning you have to attend the live auction event in order to bid (and win!) items in this auction section. The almost-live and live auction will be available for preview on March 8th. The almost-live auction will close at the end of the reception, right before the dinner program begins. Items will be available for pick up at the check out desk or from campus during the months of March and April. 

WHAT IS A DESSERT DASH?

You and your table mates will write down your bids at the beginning of the night, and after dinner the table with the highest cumulative bid will be invited to have first pick from our stellar dessert table. After the highest bidding table saunters back to their table with the most sought after dessert, a group of the next top bidders will have to get ready to dash for their dessert! Our auctioneer will call groups in order of high to low table bids until all tables have gotten their desserts. So if you don't want to get stuck with slim pickins (though we promise all desserts will be delish), bid big from the start!

HOW DO I BID?

This year’s silent auction will use Greater Giving Online Bidding. You can bid using your smartphone or tablet on silent auction items at the in-person event or virtually. You can also easily track packages by “following” the package activity.

Almost-live auction, Live Auction, and raffle items will be available exclusively at the in-person auction. Party Dashes will open at the live auction and be offered first to attendees to the Live Auction event. Remaining Party Dash spots will be available for purchase after the Live Auction ends. 

Starting on March 8, online bidding will open for silent auction items. Check back throughout the week as items will continue to open leading up to March 16. During the Spirit Auction on March 16, if you are attending in person, please make sure you have your smartphone fully charged and are logged in to Greater Giving so you can participate in the online silent auction. The night will be fun, and competitive, and you'll want to be ready so you don't miss anything. The online silent auction will close on Wednesday, March 20 at 5:00PM.

How to Mobile Bid with Greater Giving Online Bidding

1. Register your mobile number and credit card information on our registration page in advance of the event, or create an account by clicking "Get Started" here: https://charlesw2024.ggo.bid/bidding/package-browse.

2. You will receive an automated ‘Welcome’ text with your bidder link.

3. After clicking the link in the text, begin searching for packages by name, number, or category

4. Select the package you wish to bid on.

5. You can Bid the next increment or Bid More than the next increment

6. If you choose to Bid More you can choose to set your Max Bid. If your max bid is the highest, the system will automatically bid in your favor until you are outbid or until the silent auction closes. If your bid is lower than the highest max bid on that package, you will be prompted to enter a higher bid.

7. To purchase a package at the Buy Now price, select the Buy button.

8. To "watch" a package, select the star icon on the package.

9. To make a donation, select the Fund-A-Need button on your home screen and choose a preset amount or select the Custom Amount button to enter the amount you wish to donate.

10. If you’re out-bid at any point before the silent auction closes, you will receive a text message.

11. To view packages you are bidding on, click the menu button and select Bids.

12. To view packages you are watching, click the menu button and select Favorites.

13. Once the auction closes, the guest with the highest bid will win.

14. Under the Bids area you can check your winning packages.

WHAT ARE THE BIDDING RULES?

• Buyers are responsible for checking all terms and conditions on each and every item. Auction packages are not refundable.

• In accordance with laws of the state of Washington, a bid in Greater Giving, CWA’s online bidding platform, is a legal contract to purchase the item that is bid upon. By bidding in the auction, each bidder agrees to abide by the auction rules here stated.

• You must register a credit card in order to place a bid. If you wish to pay with another method, or set up monthly payments, please contact the Office of Development at auction@charleswright.org or 253-620-8875 to make arrangements. Unless other arrangements are made in advance, all auction winners will be charged in full during the week of March 18.

• All purchases are FINAL. There will be no exchanges or refunds on items either at Charles Wright or at the donor’s place of business, unless specifically stated otherwise.

• Under no circumstances are bidders allowed to approach donors to request a duplicate item from the auction. Certain duplicate items may be offered by request from CWA's Office of Development (most often including buy-it-now options and certain trips). Items that are allowable for duplication will be governed during the bidding process by CWA’s Office of Development.

• The auctioneer reserves the right to settle any and all disputes, complaints, misunderstandings, errors, and sales at his discretion. The auctioneer is the final decision-maker on all live auction activities.

• The Auction Leadership Committee and/or CWA Office of Development reserve the right to add or withdraw, without notice, items to or from the auction.

• Any item not receiving the required minimum bid may be removed from the auction.

• Please pay attention to all conditions, restrictions, and expiration dates on items and services. Restaurant certificates do not include liquor, tax, or gratuities unless otherwise indicated. Except where noted by the donor, all services, tickets, certificates, etc., must be used within one year of the auction and are subject to mutually agreed upon times and dates. CWA assumes no responsibility for travel arrangements. No refunds will be made for canceled tickets and accommodations.

• The Charles Wright Spirit Auction committee has attempted to catalog and describe all items correctly, but all items are sold “as is.” CWA and the committee neither warrant nor represent, and shall not be responsible for, the correctness of description, genuineness, authorship, provenance or condition of the property’s donor-stated value. No statement contained in the catalog or made orally at the sale or elsewhere shall be deemed such a warranty, representation, or assumption of liability. Items have not been appraised unless so noted in writing.

Charles Wright Academy is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization.

Federal Tax ID # 91-0673111.

Event guests must be 21+. You must be 21+ to bid and win packages or experiences that include alcohol. All purchases are tax-deductible as provided by law. Your tax-deductible contribution is limited to the excess of the contribution over the value of the auction item. Please consult your tax advisor regarding tax laws and items purchased. You will be provided with a receipt stating the value of your items for tax purposes.

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