We’re currently running a series on how to organize a fundraising extravaganza – check out the main page on how to plan an evening fundraiser for more details. Today’s post has a list of ideas for silent auction items for the evening extravaganza, along with how to obtain these items.
How To Get Silent Auction Items
The best way of getting silent auction items is by contacting local businesses and asking them to donate either goods or services for your auction.
Before contacting each company, consider what you think might be appropriate goods or services, especially based on the demographic of people attending your evening fundraiser. That way, if the business asks what you have in mind, you’ll be able to suggest some ideas for silent auction items.
Don’t restrict your inquiries to just small businesses – many national retailers have some kind of commitment to supporting youth groups and charities in local areas where they have a store, so consider contacting companies like Walmart, Target, etc, but be aware that it might take longer to obtain items or gift certificates from them.
When contacting businesses, be sure to mention during the conversation or letter how their donations will benefit them also, as this will make it more likely that they’ll want to support you. You can do this by:
- Advising that you’ll mention their business name next to any items or services that they donate
- Having their business name listed as a supporter on flyers handed out to attendees of the silent auction
- Emphasizing the social benefits of the fundraiser. For example, if you’re raising money for a youth center, this could help reduce crime in the local area – something that benefits their business too
Also consider asking families of people connected to your youth group or other organization whether they have any items they could donate. This doesn’t mean you just want their unwanted Christmas gifts like cheap perfume or a half-read book, but they may be able to provide more valuable (and auctionable) items like gift cards, unused and unopened electronic devices, etc.
75 Ideas For Silent Auction Items
Now here’s what you’re really after! Here are the ideas for silent auction items – this includes both items and services that should auction well. Where possible, try to make experiences as unique as you can. For example, instead of just asking for a movie theater to donate tickets, ask if they’d be willing to provide a private viewing.
- Gift certificates for online retailers (e.g. Amazon, iTunes, etc)
- x amount of hours of babysitting
- Gardening services
- Landscaping services
- x amount of items dry-cleaned
- Car servicing (e.g. tire rotation, oil change, etc)
- Bouquet of flowers delivered
- Weekend hotel stay
- Sports tickets in a corporate booth
- Wine-tasting evening
- Free storage unit for a year
- Movie tickets
- 2 hour massage
- Spa day
- Manicure & pedicure
- Hair styling
- Gift certificates for stores (e.g. Target, Walmart, etc)
- Jewelry
- Limousine ride
- Paintballing
- x number of hours painting and decorating
- Personal chef service for the evening
- Flights
- Golfing day
- Cake decorating class
- Painting/sculpture by a local artist
- Ballroom dancing lessons
- Personal chauffeur for the day/week
- Professional photography shoot with copies of photos included
- Kindle or Nook
- Convertible car rental for the weekend
- Basket of food from a local farm
- Hot air balloon ride
- Tickets to a theme park
- Segway experience
- Helicopter trip for two
- Skiing/snowboarding lessons
- River dinner cruise
- Gym membership
- Item autographed by sports team
- Gift basket
- Concert tickets
- Go Karting
- Makeover experience
- Theater tickets
- x number of bowling games
- Museum tickets
- Inflatable castle for a child’s birthday party
- Lunch with a local celebrity (e.g. local news anchor)
- Teeth whitening
- Designer handbag
- x hours of house cleaning
- x hours of pet walking
- Pet sitting for when on vacation
- Pottery class
- Tennis lessons
- TV show tickets
- Sailing day
- Website design
- Gift certificates for restaurants
- Singing lessons
- Tour of brewery
- Private concert by local band or artist
- Lasik eye surgery
- VHS to DVD conversion
- Case of wine
- Free tax preparation
- Charter fishing trip
- Children’s birthday party entertainer
- Swimming pool services
- One pizza a week for 6 months
- Kayaking day out
- Botox
- Portrait by a local artist
- Custom-made piece of furniture
If you’ve found these ideas helpful, check out our series looking at how to run a silent auction. You may also like all of our other youth group fundraiser ideas.
Question: What are some other good ideas for silent auction items? Share your thoughts in the comments below to give inspiration to other people organizing silent auctions.
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