Among the various kinds of fundraising strategies, auctions are a great way to engage supporters and involve local businesses in your cause. To ensure a successful auction fundraiser, you must be strategic and organized— this means doing your research on what items would generate the most interest and thinking of clever ways to source them. Below, we’ve provided some thoughtful and creative tips on how to begin planning your auction, as well as a list of over 11 auction item ideas that can help you jump-start your fundraising efforts.
How do I begin planning an auction?
The first step to setting up a successful auction is establishing clear goals and objectives, such as your fundraising target, desired auction items, and your target audience’s demographics. Additionally, consider what kind of auction will best suit your organization’s goals, whether that’s a live, silent, or hybrid auction. Digital auction software and mobile bidding tools can help streamline the management of your auction through automating tasks like ticket sales, bid tracking, item inventory, and payment processing, which can save you a lot of time and energy. Once you have a clear vision, assemble a dedicated team who can help you with event logistics, marketing, and item procurement.
How and where can I source auction items?
Before you start gathering items for your auction, brainstorm a list of goods and services you think would attract your target audience. For example, if you’re an educational nonprofit, you might want to consider listing tutoring services, school supplies kits, or e-readers as potential item listings. For each item, note people and businesses in your community you could reach out to for donations. Once you have your finalized list, you can begin your outreach! Below are some tips you can follow to find items more effectively:
Tip #1: Ask the Right People
One of the best ways to procure items is to reach out to local businesses for items in exchange for free advertising. Small businesses are usually always in need for good publicity, and this can be one effective way to do that. In addition, you can also try finding a corporate sponsor who can help secure event supplies, donate via a matching gift program, or offer grants to your organization.
Tip #2: Have a Broad Range of Items
Offer a diverse range of auction items to appeal to a wider audience, but still make sure that your auction items are relevant and still appealing. If your audience mainly consists of older adults, a ticket to a wine-tasting event may be more appealing than a trip to Disneyland. In addition, you should ensure that you have items across a broad price range— let’s face it, not everyone can afford hundreds or thousands of dollars in auction items. Consider organizing items evenly across low-cost, average, and high-end pricing categories— this can ensure that every one of your guests can participate in your auction event.
Tip #3: Be Persuasive
When you request donations, make sure to communicate the impact of your event and your organization’s mission. Not every donor will be familiar with your cause, and they’ll be more likely to donate if they feel as if their donation is making a positive impact. Some things you can do to be more persuasive is sharing annual reports, pictures, videos, individual stories, and constituent testimonials.
Tip #4: Show Your Gratitude
If a business does decide to contribute to your auction, make sure to thank them for their support. There are many ways to do this— handwritten letters, social media shoutouts, gift baskets, etc. Expressing your appreciation is a great way to forge long-lasting connections with local businesses, which can come in handy at your next auction event.
11 of Our Favorite Auction Item Ideas
Now that you’re familiar with how to begin planning and procuring items for your auction, here are some of our favorite auction item ideas that can inspire your efforts and your donors to give more for your cause:
1. Themed Gift Baskets
Gift baskets are great auction items because they can be tailored to specific interests and are a relatively easy way to involve local business. For instance, you could create a basket fit for coffee lovers that contains gourmet coffee blends, mugs, and gift cards from your local coffee shop. Additionally, you can theme your gift baskets around your organization’s mission. If you’re part of an environmental nonprofit, you could auction off a zero-waste starter kit or a DIY gardening basket to further reinforce your cause to your supporters.
Gift baskets also provide a great opportunity to raise more through a Bucket Raffle. At your event, when guests first arrive, showcase multiple baskets or items with a bucket for tickets beneath. Guests can purchase tickets and drop them in the corresponding bucket in the hopes of winning the basket. This is a quick way to raise additional revenue as your guests are arriving at your event.
2. Event Tickets & Passes
Tickets and passes to sought-after events can add a lot of excitement to your auction. Some examples include tickets to local concerts, sporting events, theme parks, museums, and festivals, just to name a few. This item can stand out when it comes to events that frequently sell out when they come into town. For example, if tickets to see a famous artist perform is sold out in your area, but you have the last two tickets up for bidding, it’s sure to draw in a lot of money.
3. Gift Cards & Certificates
Gift cards and certificates are another great auction item because they provide flexibility for your bidders on how they’d like to spend the money. Consider certificates from the best local spots in the area, such as well-known restaurants, cafes, spas, and retails stores to garner interest from people in your hometown. This is also a great opportunity to highlight local businesses or sponsors of your event.
4. Luxury Items
Luxury items can add a bit of glamour to your silent auction, attracting donors who are likely to bid high amounts. Some examples of luxury items include designer items, high-end kitchen appliances, tech gear, and fine art. Although higher-end items might seem too pricey to acquire for your auction, it can be relatively simple! You could approach upscale local business, such as antique stores, art galleries, electronics retailers, and boutiques who might be willing to donate exclusive products in exchange for some good publicity.
5. Fine Dining Experiences
Fine dining experiences make enticing auction items. Offers bidders the opportunity to indulge in great food while supporting a worthy cause. There’s also flexibility in what kinds of dining experiences you could offer, whether that’s a private chef’s tasting menu, a Michelin star restaurant, or a wine tasting event a local winery.
6. Memberships & Subscriptions
Membership packages can offer ongoing benefits beyond the auction night, making it an attractive listing for potential donors. You can consider memberships to yoga studios, ski clubs, or even subscription services, such as Netflix or HelloFresh. Not only do these listing provide a long-term benefit to your bidders, but they also present your nonprofit with the opportunity to forge long-term connections with local businesses.
7. Premier Parking Spaces
While it doesn’t seem particularly exciting, a premium parking spot can make for an incredibly practical and coveted auction item, especially if your organization gets lots of visitors or if parking is scarce where you live. For example, if your organization is a school, you could auction a reserved parking space at the entrance of the school, attracting parents who want to be first in line for carpool pickup.
8. Classes & Workshops
Fun classes and workshops can be attractive to bidders who want to explore new interests and create lasting memories. There’s a variety of lessons you could offer to your supporters, whether it’s mastering a new recipe in a cooking class, capturing stunning photos in a photography workshop, or learning salsa in a dance class. These experiences are not only incredibly enjoyable for your supporters, but they also often have low overhead costs, making them a more affordable auction item for your nonprofit.
9. Travel Packages
Travel and vacation packages can appeal to a broad audience, including avid travelers, adventure seekers, and those in need of a well-deserved getaway. Travel packages are often come with significant value, making them particularly attractive to bidders who are looking for high-impact items. Some examples of what you can offer include a luxury resort getaway in Cabo, an all-expenses paid trip to Disneyland, or a week-long cruise to the Caribbean! Whichever it may be, it can create lasting memories for auction winners while generating substantial funds for your nonprofit.
10. Services
Offer bidders a break from their housework duties by listing services in your auction. This can include yard work, house cleanings, roof repairs, and painting services. You can partner with local landscaping or interior design companies and advertise their services in exchange for a free item listing in your auction.
11. Seasonal/Holiday Items
Holidays can be a fantastic time for auctions, as its easier to theme your auction items around them. For example, if your auction is held close to the 4th of July, you might want to auction off a prime seating booth to watch the fireworks. Additionally, since these items are time-sensitive, your bidders may be willing to spend more for them!
Hosting a successful auction fundraiser for your nonprofit requires careful planning, strategic sourcing of auction items, and effective communication with donors and supporters. By following the tips outlined in this blog, such as setting clear goals, leveraging your network, diversifying your auction items, and expressing gratitude to donors, you too can create an engaging event that attracts many bidders and maximizes your fundraising potential. Whether you're organizing a live, silent, or hybrid auction, the key is to engage your supporters, offer compelling auction items, and showcase the value of supporting your cause. With careful planning and preparation, your nonprofit can host a successful auction that not only raises funds but also strengthens community relations and advances your mission.
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