I used to go to a synagogue that, it seemed to me, made selling honors a higher priority than prayers.
Case in point: For several years, a Board member auctioned off honors for Yom Kippor well into nightfall, pushing Kol Nidre into the dark.
All "orthodox" authorities that I know about insist that Kol Nidre be said BEFORE nightfall.
Literally hours were spent on bidding for honors.
I go to another synagogue now where things are run "by the clock," at least in following halakah.
It takes a little effort to make a "HaNetz" minyan - just exactly when do we start korbanote and, later, hodu? Juggling the time to arrive at the amedah at its earliest time can be challenging.
This congregation sells honors, but unlike the other congregation, it makes sure the prayers - after all, that's why we supposedly are present - are said at the proper time.
Admittedly, my previous synagogue has lots of overhead - more during the High Holy Days - and the new one is less burdened with debt.
The thing is, the old congregation could have sold honors AND started Kol Nidre before nightfall.
How?
Glad you asked.
PRE-SELL THE HONORS.
You know what honors are available.
List them and send the list to all members (even, or most especially, the 3-day variety).
List, if you wish, "suggested" starting bids and last year's winning bid. This sets the floor for this year's bidding without actually stating "Bids start at ..."
Give all congregants - and any bidders from previous years - a chance to bid on each honor. Allow two weeks to collect responses. (This also can be done via emailed response.)
The highest bid for this year becomes the BASE or FLOOR bid.
Before evening prayers, (about 90 minutes before Kol Nidre on erev Yom Kippor) sell the honors for the next day by announcing the base/floor bid and asking if anyone wants to top it.
This process eliminates the most of the small number bidding wars and greatly speeds up the sale of honors, letting us get to the prayers on time.
Another thought: You might ask for the bids to be accompanied by a check for the full amount. If the bid is topped by another bid, the checks can be returned. If not, the congregation has the check so there's no chasing after a promised donation.
