Standout Auction Items That Will Help You Market Your Event
Let’s face it, the nonprofit gala circuit can get a little… predictable. But what if you could inject a jolt of excitement into your next fundraising event? The key lies in transforming your silent auction into a dynamic marketing tool.
Here’s the thing: people don’t just donate or bid on things—they invest in stories. By curating a selection of unique auction items with compelling narratives, you’re not just selling a weekend getaway or a signed sports jersey, you’re marketing an experience, a chance to be part of something bigger.
So, ditch the tired gift baskets and predictable offerings. Let’s explore exceptional auction items that will have your attendees pumped for the event, ready to bid, and talking about your event long after the final gavel falls.
1. Wine or Liquor Baskets
Silent auction baskets are classic, fun auction items that guests love because they get a collection of items instead of just one. When it comes to standout baskets, curated wine and liquor baskets are a surefire crowd-pleaser.
These aren’t your average grocery store selections; think themed collections that tell a story. Imagine a “Wine Around the World” basket brimming with vintages from celebrated regions like Napa Valley, Bordeaux, and Tuscany. Or, for the craft beer aficionado, a “Local Brews” basket featuring selections from trendy microbreweries. The possibilities are endless, catering to every taste and budget.
Promoting these elevated baskets will get guests excited well before the event begins. For instance, you might:
- Post enticing photos on your event’s social media, highlighting the unique bottles and their origins.
- Highlight the provenance of the bottles or the unique story behind the theme in your marketing materials.
- Host a social media contest where followers can guess the total value of the basket, with the winner receiving a free raffle ticket for the auction.
- Partner with the local wineries or distributors that donated the bottles to create shareable content that expands your reach.
By amping up the excitement around these baskets online, you’ll have your audience eager to place their bids and take home a piece of the story.
2. Hard-to-Get Game Tickets
Many of the best, high-value auction items aren’t actually items—they’re experiences. Tickets to sports games or events can make appealing auction items, but especially if they’re hard to get seats or special experiences. Here’s where your silent auction can truly shine. Try offering tickets that include:
- Courtside seats
- Private boxes with catering
- Exclusive access to a championship race
- Behind-the-scenes access with the chance to meet players
We know what you’re thinking… These might be expensive endeavors. The secret is to reach out to local corporations or sports arenas for potential sponsorships. Many companies are eager to support worthwhile causes, more than you think!
To promote these items, utilize high-quality photos and videos that showcase the excitement of the game. Don’t underestimate the power of collaboration. Reach out to the folks running your sponsors’ social accounts and advocate for cross-promotion to reach a wider audience.
3. Commissioned Paintings
Unique auction items make for great marketing opportunities, and commissioned paintings are especially unique. No, you’re not auctioning a completed piece. Instead, it’s a session with a skilled artist who donates their time and talent to create beautiful, personal artwork.
Commissioned paintings can take a variety of different forms, including:
- Family portrait painting sessions
- Live paintings at major events like weddings
- One-on-one portrait sessions
- Specially requested paintings
You can arrange for the winning bidder to collaborate with the artist, sharing their vision and style for a unique painting. This custom experience enhances the value and emotional connection to the auction item.
By strategically marketing this unique auction item, you’ll transform it into a sought-after experience, drawing high bids and building a lasting connection with your cause. For example, highlight the artist on your event website and social media, display examples of the artist’s work in different styles, or conduct a live Q&A session on social media.
4. Travel Packages
If you have the budget, travel packages can attract a large crowd to your auction. After all, who doesn’t crave a change of scenery? Travel packages are silent auction powerhouses, consistently leading the charts.
Offer unique experiences beyond the usual beach getaway. Include all essentials for a great trip: hotel booking, flight vouchers, and tour tickets. Packages of reservations like this work especially well for online and hybrid auctions, since you can easily distribute all the tickets online.
The key to successfully marketing travel packages lies in tapping into people’s desire to explore. Here are a few ideas to spark wanderlust and ignite bidding wars:
- Create destination dreamscapes. Utilize high-quality photos and videos that capture the essence of the travel experience. Consider creating a short video montage that takes viewers on a virtual journey through the destination.
- Partner with travel agencies. Collaborate with local travel agencies to secure exclusive packages at competitive rates. This not only enhances the value proposition for bidders but also allows the agency to potentially gain new clients.
- Host a social media takeover. Partner with travel bloggers or influencers to create sponsored content that promotes the auction item to their audience, too.
- Offer a mystery getaway package. Provide enticing clues about the destination on social media platforms, building anticipation leading up to the event. This element of surprise can add a fun twist and attract adventurous bidders.
- Prioritize experiences over souvenirs. Frame the travel package as an unforgettable experience. Highlight unique cultural activities, culinary adventures, or exclusive access to local events.
When you thoughtfully market these travel packages, they go from just a trip to a sought-after escape. This draws in top bids and really sticks with your attendees!
5. Dinner with a Celebrity
If anyone at your nonprofit has connections with a local or national celebrity, ask them if they’d be willing to have dinner with a supporter for a donation. This can be a goldmine for your silent auction! But remember, the key is to choose the right celebrity for your audience. Here are some factors to consider:
- Cause alignment: The ideal celebrity should have a personal connection or passion for your organization’s mission. This creates a more authentic experience for the winning bidder and resonates more deeply with your supporters. For example, if your nonprofit focuses on animal welfare, consider an actor known for their animal rights activism.
- Local popularity: Don’t underestimate the power of local celebrities! Sports stars from your city’s team, renowned chefs, or even prominent local news anchors can be a huge draw for your supporters.
- Availability: While a mega-star can be tempting, a rising star or a beloved actor might be more readily available and just as exciting. Consider the demographics of your typical guests and choose a celebrity they’d be genuinely thrilled to meet.
- Supporter interests: Are your supporters primarily sports fans, art enthusiasts, or music lovers? Tailor your celebrity selection accordingly.
Marketing dinner with a celebrity can get you great bragging rights! This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity can be effectively marketed through a variety of channels. For instance, consider crafting a captivating text message to your donor base, like:
Feeling fiery in the kitchen? Bid on a chance to meet the one and only Gordon Ramsay at our upcoming fundraiser! Enjoy a private dinner for two with the world-famous chef himself. Learn more & bid at [your event link].
Remember to personalize the text by mentioning the specific celebrity’s name and tailoring the message to resonate with your target audience. By creating a sense of exclusivity and highlighting the positive impact on your cause, you can effectively generate excitement and encourage bids for this unforgettable auction item.
6. Multi-Course Private Dinner
Partner with a local restaurant or up-and-coming chef to offer one of your lucky guests a personal dining experience unlike any other. This enticing auction item can take a couple of forms:
- An intimate home soiree: Collaborate with a chef who specializes in private in-home dining experiences. The winning bidder gets to transform their home into a culinary haven, complete with a customized menu. The chef will arrive with everything they need for a show-stopping meal for the winner and their guests.
- Restaurant buyout for a night: Partner with a high-end restaurant to offer a VIP experience that allows the winning bidder to invite a small group to enjoy a private dining room, personalized service from the waitstaff, and a multi-course tasting menu.
What’s great about this is how it offers something for any type of person. It caters to both introverts and extroverts, those who crave an intimate gathering within the comfort of their own home and those who desire a luxurious night out.
In your marketing materials, highlight the exclusivity of both options—a private chef experience is a rare treat, while a restaurant buyout offers a level of privacy and personalization rarely found in a dining-out experience. By effectively marketing both possibilities, you’ll attract a wider range of bidders and transform this dinner experience into a highly coveted item at your fundraising event.
7. VIP Concert Tickets
Music is a universal language, and the chance to experience it live in a VIP setting is a powerful auction item. Select artists who resonate with your target audience, considering factors like your supporters’ demographics and interests, local artist popularity, and which artists are coming to your area.
Once you’ve secured those coveted VIP tickets, it’s time to ignite a bidding frenzy. Here’s how to make social media your personal hype machine:
- Flaunt these VIP perks on your Instagram Stories, tagging the artist and the venue to create a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) that’ll have your followers itching to bid.
- Craft an email that reads like a golden ticket. Mention the VIP perks like soundcheck access, meet-and-greet opportunities, and premium seating that practically puts you on stage. Include a short video of the artist’s most iconic performance to get your audience pumped.
- Utilize social media’s targeting tools to reach people who breathe, eat, and sleep your chosen artist. Trust us, these superfans will be ready to throw down for the ultimate concert experience.
- Offer a limited number of “standard” concert tickets as a donor perk for a specific contribution level. This creates a tiered system, incentivizing bigger bids for the ultimate VIP experience (and maybe some bragging rights amongst their fellow music lovers).
With clever marketing, these VIP concert packages transform a night out into a once-in-a-lifetime memory.
With these unique, experience-driven auction items, you can turn your event into a night to remember. Whether you’re promoting these items on social media or a custom auction website, they’ll stand out. Market your silent auction as a night that fosters excitement, ignites bidding wars, and ultimately leaves your supporters feeling like they’ve not only contributed to a worthy cause but also snagged an unforgettable experience.
