The Seneca Valley Foundation is going online for a new type of fundraiser this year.

The foundation is auctioning off 13 donated items through an online auction, forgoing the time and cost of hosting a physical fundraising event. The auction opened March 22 and closes at 3 p.m. April 21.

The items range from a football autographed by Hines Ward or Pittsburgh Pirates tickets to a behind-the-scenes tour of the Andy Warhol Museum with his nephew or a custom painting from one of the Seneca Valley School District’s art teachers.

In the past the foundation has hosted a gala and socials to raise money, and it has also hosted similar silent auctions during these events.

While these events are a great way to network and build awareness for the group, Linda Andreassi, a foundation trustee and the district’s communications director, said the cost for the venue and food and the time and volunteers needed to organize a large event add up quickly.

“The amount of time and expense that you put out don’t necessarily net as much money as some more simple fundraisers can,” she said.

Andreassi said the only cost for the online auction was $100 to register with the website hosting the auction. Any money brought in over that goes straight to help with the foundation’s mission to encourage excellence and innovation in district schools.

The foundation, established in 2012, seeks to development new capital projects, programs and scholarships for students. In the past it has provided grants for STEM programming and classroom activities.

“The Seneca Valley Foundation is in a unique position to leverage resources to come alongside the district and help fund projects or programs that the district wouldn’t be able to support,” said Superintendent Tracy Vitale, the foundation’s executive director. “In doing that, we are able to reduce our financial burden to the public.”

The foundation, run by volunteer trustees, also plans to hire a part-time director of development in the near future to develop large-scale funding efforts. The trustees will still host their annual golf outing in the summer, but the director of development will help the foundation focus and expand its fundraising efforts.

The online auction is going well so far, Andreassi said, with $2,000 already raised. The two graduation ceremony packages have been popular. They offer families front-row seats on the football field and reserved parking for the ceremony in May.

“It’s generated quite a bidding war,” she said. “That package is coveted.”

The public can bid at any time. The only requirements is that winners are able to pay the foundation at the time of pickup and claim their winning items at the school’s secondary campus on Seneca School Road in Jackson Township by May 31.

Those interested can find the auction items at www.32auctions.com/SVFSpring17.