Procuring items for your nonprofit’s fundraising auction can seem daunting at first—especially when you’re trying to come up with good auction item ideas or figure out where to get auction donations. But SchoolAuction.net has some tried-and-true tips to help you find and secure great live auction items for your event.
Tip #1: Engage Your Community
Your organization’s key supporters make up the pool from which you can draw the most interesting and meaningful live auction donations. Focus on getting these folks to donate a week at their vacation home, a tour at their (interesting) place of work, or another meaningful experience.
For example, one person who worked as a commercial airline pilot donated an afternoon to hang out with him at the airport, complete with time in the cockpit of an airliner, in Flight Control and Operations, and in the Engine Shop.
Tip #2: Hold A Brainstorming Session
One way to get the creative juices flowing as you think about procuring live auction donations is to arrange a brainstorming session with members of your auction team, community members who are likely to be big bidders, and your auctioneer.
Let them know up front that you’re looking to breathe new life into your auction and are specifically collecting fun, appealing ideas for live auction donations. This session can generate a lot of great ideas—including what your big bidders actually want to see in the lineup.
And if you procure an item suggested by one of these key supporters, they’ll often feel a sense of ownership on auction night and be eager to bid on that item themselves, which can then encourage other enthusiastic bidding.
Get creative and think outside the box! Kick off your brainstorming and help prompt ideas by suggesting things like:
- Trips to exotic locations or beach getaways
- One-of-a-kind pieces of student-created art
- Dinner with a local celebrity
- Walk-on role in a movie or TV show
- Unique or custom-made jewelry
- Hosted dinner for a group with a highly regarded local chef
- A pair of tickets (with team merch and a gift certificate for dinner before the fun) to a concert or sporting event
- Two-night stay at a luxury hotel
- Signed jersey or other memorabilia from a well-known pro athlete
- Private airplane ride
- Private concert with a local musician
- Broadway show or opera tickets with backstage tour
- Tickets to be in the studio audience for a popular television show
A little brainstorming can go a long way—by tapping into your community’s creativity, you’ll uncover unique live auction ideas that truly excite your bidders.
Tip #3: Bundle!
If you’re struggling to procure large, expensive items, you can still create irresistible live auction packages by combining common (and affordable) items into themed bundles. Think about combinations like:
- A case of assorted fine wines, grouped around a region or theme
- Ten pounds of gourmet coffee beans, a nice coffee grinder, and an assortment of dark chocolates
- A “Gardeners’ Delight” package that includes a wheelbarrow filled with gardening supplies and local nursery gift cards
- A “Mixologist’s Dream” basket filled with assorted spirits, a cocktail shaker, and a bar recipe book
Bundled packages like these prove that even simple, easy-to-get donations can come together to create some of the best live auction items for fundraisers—unique packages your guests will love bidding on.
From wine baskets to dream vacations — organize it all in one place
Tip #4: Make Your Own Items
Schools, youth groups, and congregations often have the ability to create live auction items that are especially desirable to their own community of supporters. Some of the most popular include:
- A reserved parking spot
- Lunch with a prominent member of the organization (e.g. the school principal, the organization’s founder, or a congregation’s pastor or rabbi)
- Classroom projects
- A pass to skip something, such as a school dress code or clean-up duty
Homemade auction items like these highlight your community’s creativity and heart—adding a personal touch your bidders will feel when they raise their paddles.
How Many Live Auction Items Should I Have?
Now that you’ve gathered plenty of great ideas, the next step is figuring out how many live auction items to include in your event.
There are three key factors to consider when deciding how many live auction items to include:
-
How much money you need to raise — More items can mean more revenue, but only if they’re appealing and exciting to your audience. Focus on quality as much as quantity.
- How many guests you’ll have at your auction — For smaller events with fewer than 100 guests, you’ll typically have 8-9 bidders at the high end of the wealth scale. Plan for 3–5 live auction items.
- For 100–250 guests, aim for 8–12 items.
- For 250+ guests, you can likely handle 15 or more items, depending on your schedule, which leads to our third factor…
- How much time you have allotted for the live auction — An experienced benefit auctioneer usually needs about 3 minutes per item. Add 6 minutes for a special appeal (aka fund-a-need or paddle raise) and 1 minute of buffer time for every two items.
For example, a 12-item auction that includes a paddle raise fits comfortably into about 48 minutes. Plan on adding roughly 4 minutes for each additional item.
Bringing It All Together
Finding and creating great live auction items doesn’t have to be intimidating. When you engage your community, think creatively, and make the most of what’s available, you can assemble an unforgettable lineup that keeps bidders excited from start to finish.
Whether your event is big or small, the key is to offer good auction items that connect with your audience and fit your timeline. With thoughtful planning—and the right tools—your live auction can be both seamless and successful.
