Unique Silent Auction Items: Exclusive Items Add Personality and Raise More Money

After you've sent solicitations for core silent auction donations, and creative requests (see the articles on Types of Auction Items – Basic Items and Creative Ideas), there is one more important step in creating outstanding auction offerings. Developing items that utilize the unique resources of your organization or capitalize on the personal or charitable interests of event attendees will generate higher bids and more buzz at your silent auction.

Since these offerings will be unique to your organization, it's impossible to list every idea, but hopefully these will get your creative juices flowing or offer themes you can customize.

"Celebrity" Outing Packages

Who are the "celebrities" in your organization? Groups may have principals or teachers, board members or well-loved staff, local doctors or researchers. If holding an awards dinner, there's your honoree(s). Also don't forget well-known personalities in your community.

Ask these celebrities to create an exclusive experience. Offer lunch with the principal. Send four kids for ice cream with a popular teacher. Have the school music teacher write an original song for a child. Ask the local police to offer an adult ride-along or drive a child to school. Offer coffee with a city councilperson. Get a VIP tour of a research center.

When your celebs have worked with you on what experience they will offer, try to get needed items donated. Appeal to businesses (ice cream shop, zoo, restaurant), letting them know the item will get lots of attention. You may have received a donation already from your core targets that you can use. If you can't get a donation, and the celeb shouldn't bear the expense (a teacher, for example), ask a loyal supporter to underwrite.

One-of-a-Kind or Exclusive Items

For schools, kids can do class projects – ones where each child contributes a part work especially well (quilts, decorated tile tables, wall art). Offer reserved front-row seats to school performances or events or even to Commencement!

Some charities might use art or handiwork created by those the charity is trying to help, which often meshes nicely with the recreation or therapy programs of related schools or care giving centers.

Auction guaranteed or reserved parking, or for large staffs, an extra vacation day (supporters may bid too as a gift for a staffer). Offer reserved seating at events or skip-the-line passes for buffets. Anything that a person can't get themselves under their own power is a biddable item.

Also, see what "unbuyable items" your donors or supporters might be able to offer. For example, great seats they aren't using from a season package for an art or sporting event? What resources might be available within your group?

Charitable Items

The people at your event are there because they believe in your cause, and while some are interested in the silent auction for the items, many bid mostly as fun additional way to support your organization. So ask them to "bid" to "win" an item that stays with your group or supports your goals.

For example bid to select the staff holiday gift – a $100 bid buys 10 people a mug, $150 a Starbucks card and so on. Bid to select the classroom or office to get a luxury item like a microwave. "Bid" on a new printer for the front office (not even really a bid, just a donation, but more fun *and* more public). These are just a few ideas.

Unique and exclusive items are a great way to give your auction personality and raise more money at the same time. Be sure not to skip this fun and valuable step in planning your silent auction. Now it's time to get started with How to Get Silent Auction Items.

The copyright of the article Unique Silent Auction Items in Non-Profit Fundraising is owned by Nicki Heskin. Permission to republish Unique Silent Auction Items in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Aug 8, 2009 8:31 PM

Guest :

I helped hold a silent auction for my infant cousin Max who needs a kidney transplant. I wanted to share some successful auction items that came from "outside the box."
A "date night" with Max's grandpa. This was actually done as a joke! It included a $50 gift card to a local resturant. The package went for $120.
A boating excursion for 10. My family has several ski boats as well as a private camp on the Ohio river. The auction item was a day on the rivercamp for up to 10 people to spend the day at the camp and in the boats. They had the opportunity to learn how to ski, wakeboard and tube. It also included lunch and dinner. It went for $265. It was a blast for us as well as the family who purchased the package.
The other item was a 90 minute ride around a historical town in a 1915 Ford Model T. It was purchased as a gift for the person's parents. It went for $75. I followed up with the owner\driver and he said that he and the passengers had a blast! This wasn't done for any type of promotion, this was a way the car's owner could give to the benefit.