how to get businesses to donate to a silent auction

How to Easily Get Donations for a Silent Auction Fundraiser

• Work with What You Have. The easiest way to obtain donations for your silent auction is to look in your own backyard; that is, determine what products and services members ...
• Extend from Your Group's Circle. ...
• Information for Local Businesses. ...
• Hit the Town. ...

Full Answer

How to get items for your silent auction?

May 19, 2021 · Wine: Connect with your local wineries or stores and see if they’re inclined to donate a few bottles of wine and wine accessories for your nonprofit silent auction. Gift cards: Some small businesses will want to work with your nonprofit organization but …

What kind of items are good for a silent auction?

Oct 24, 2006 · Replied by on topic RE: Companies that will donate for silent Auction. The best way to get donations is to hit the pavement. Face to face communications with local stores in your area are the best tactic. It's harder to say no to …

How to secure silent auction donations?

Sep 07, 2021 · It’s an easy way to gain a few extra bucks. Kroger has given non-profits easy grant accessibility too. Non-profits can apply for a cash grant online with the Kroger donation request form. Kroger reports that they gave over $300 million in 2020, including $16.4 million in grants to over 340 requesting non-profits. 6.

How to get silent auction items donated?

Aug 08, 2014 · Recognize your auction donors and sponsors on your auction website. It is really great if you can put their logo on your auction website and link it to their website. Put their business names in your event program and on the slideshow running during the event. Encourage the donors to send business cards to put on the auction table.

How do I ask my business for silent auction donations?

Silent Auction Request LetterIntroduce yourself and your group.Include event description, date, time, and place.Explain your need, i.e. why you are raising funds.Explain their benefit, i.e. what's in it for them.Specifically “ask” for their help.Give a psychological justification using “because”More items...

How do companies get silent auction items?

Silent Auction Item CollectionStart With Friends and Family. ... Post to Social Media Accounts. ... Identify Potential Item Donors. ... Create an Outreach List. ... Begin Your Outreach. ... Leverage Your Committee, Staff, and Volunteers.Jun 27, 2016

How do you ask for donations at an auction?

8 Tips of an Effective AskBe Upfront. Don't waste people's time. ... Be Specific. Before you approach a potential donor, have a specific auction item in mind that you want donated (that's why you created the wish list!). ... Be Knowledgeable. ... Provide Options. ... Ask Big! ... Do the Paperwork. ... Get an Answer. ... Understand What “No” Means.

How do I convince a company to donate money?

Make connections. Start by thinking of any companies you may have existing contact with. ... Identify the right person. ... Think about non-monetary support. ... Think about what can be offered in return. ... Make the 'ask' ... Say 'thank you' ... Consider any ethical dilemmas early.

What sells best at silent auctions?

Top 20 Best Selling Silent Auction ItemsAuction Item Description% Above Fair Market ValueAutographed music memorabilia720%Autographed sports memorabilia370% - 630%Popular home accessories480%Fine dining restaurant certificates330% - 460%11 more rows

How do I start a silent auction charity?

How to Run a Silent Auction: The Day OfGet to the venue and set up. ... Start welcoming guests. ... Officially announce the beginning of bidding. ... Attend to other programming. ... Check in with guests. ... Close your auction. ... Declare the winning bids. ... Send out a post-event survey.Jul 29, 2021

What are the rules for a silent auction?

Do's and Don'ts for Your Silent AuctionDO recruit your best volunteers. ... DON'T over-procure silent auction items. ... DO organize your items by section. ... DON'T use paper bid sheets. ... DO ensure your silent auction items will be profitable. ... DO monitor the traffic flow. ... DON'T forget to follow up.

Are items donated to a silent auction tax deductible?

Donors who purchase items at a charity auction may claim a charitable contribution deduction for the excess of the purchase price paid for an item over its fair market value. The donor must be able to show, however, that he or she knew that the value of the item was less than the amount paid.Jan 21, 2022

How do you ask for donations?

When asking for donations in person, keep these tips in mind:Do research beforehand.Form a strong relationship before you make your ask.Meet them where they are.Practice your pitch.Communicate in a variety of ways.Be genuine, direct, and specific.Be prepared for rejections.Say thank you more than once.

Can you ask for donations if you are not a charity?

Yes, you can receive a donation without be a nonprofit. In the United States and many other nations, there are tax benefits to the donor when donating toward a certified nonprofit. Regardless of your nonprofit status, someone can give you a donation. The benefit to the donor is lost if you are not a nonprofit.

How do I ask for donations for personal reasons?

3. Make the ask!Be genuine. Donors won't respond well to insincerity. ... Be donor-centric. Remind supporters of what they can get out of donating. ... Explain your mission. People don't give to organizations; they give to people and causes. ... Make it personal. ... Understand that not everyone will donate.

Do billionaires give away money?

From Warren Buffett to newcomer Jeff Bezos, the nation's most generous billionaires have given away a collective $169 billion in their lifetimes–and are still richer than ever. T he billions keep piling up for many of America's great philanthropists. So, too, do their charitable contributions.Jan 19, 2022

What should be included in a silent auction letter?

Included with your letter should be a silent auction item donation form to get additional and specific information about the item they’re donating. This information will be important for creating online item descriptions or bid sheets.

How to write a donation letter?

The first step in writing a donation request letter is ensuring that it gets to the right person. Do your due diligence up front to make sure your request reaches a person with decision making power. Take time to make inquiry phone calls or perform Google searches.

What is a donation request letter?

The letters are the first introduction to individuals and businesses that you’re having an event, need silent auction items, and what recognition and visibility is included for auction donors. So, make it count!

Do you thank donors for an auction?

Always, always, always be sure to thank auctions item donors. It’s such an important element of a donation request and sometimes overlooked in the craziness of auction prep. Be sure to:

What is a silent auction donation?

This silent auction donation is a surefire way to please any jetsetters or adventurers in your audience. These packages, popular at most auctions, offer once in a lifetime experiences to bidders. Auction off an exciting experience at your next silent auction!

Why don't you offer up a package to a location that's too obscure?

Don’t offer up a package to a location that’s too obscure because you might lose interest. Pick a popular vacation site with a good reputation so your winner can enjoy their stay without worrying about safety or cleanliness!

How much is Disney World Family Adventure?

Like previously mentioned, different packages will have different costs, depending on where your nonprofit books from and which features you want to include. OneCause’s Disney World Family Adventure is listed at $4,995 for nonprofit’s. The whole package is worth up to $10,470, so it’s sure to be an experience your winner won’t forget.

Where to stay at Disney World for 4?

Your winner’s family of 4 can enjoy a 4 night stay at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, Florida, which includes outdoor gardens, a lagoon-style pool, 12 tennis courts, and 45 holes of golf.

How to promote a silent auction?

You can also promote the link on your social media platforms. To encourage a wide range of attendees, promote your silent auction through various channels, including email, social media, and direct mail. Make it easy for your supporters to share your event with their friends and family so they can spread the word too.

Why do nonprofits hold silent auctions?

Holding a silent auction can be a fun way for your nonprofit to raise funds , and it can also be a smart move for engaging with donors. Silent auction software can make it easier to organize and run your event, but there’s a lot you can do to streamline the registration and payment processes if you’re not using it.

Why is it important to have a diverse silent auction?

Securing a variety of items makes it more likely that your silent auction will be a success. A diverse range of items will appeal to more attendees and can lead to more bids being placed.

What is silent auction?

A silent auction is an event that is typically held by fundraisers and charitable organizations. It normally takes place without an auctioneer. In a silent auction, items are displayed to the attendees and each item has a bid sheet.

What is a raffle?

A raffle is a game of chance. It’s a great way for an organization to raise money where typically, businesses or services donate an item to be raffled off. The organization holding the raffle collects money by selling tickets, and the winner is chosen at random. The more tickets you purchase, the more are your chances of winning the draw. However, the winner is still decided by a chance drawing and not whoever places the highest bid. A silent auction is completely different from a raffle. The bidders must be physically present and have the chance of examining the product before placing their bids. The one with the highest bid gets to walk home with the item.

How long should a silent auction last?

The best time to close your silent auction is before the live event begins. Ideally, a silent auction should last anywhere between 60 to 90 minutes. 10. Legal clauses to include. Your silent auction must include some legal clauses and by bidding in your auction, each bidder must agree to these rules.

Can you run a silent auction online?

How to run a silent auction online: Offline events being inadvisable during the pandemic, your silent auction can be run online. Such events are virtual in nature but require less hassle, can be longer, and help you reach a wider range of audiences. Here’s how you can run a virtual silent auction –. 1.

What are some examples of naming rights?

Another example of naming rights is dedicating a memorial bench to your highest donor. Memorial benches are typically placed in parks with high traffic and engraved with a name or a short quote. Work with your local park to see if there is a bench you can dedicate as a memorial bench for the winner.

What is virtual private lesson?

Marketing a virtual private lesson rather than an in-person private lesson makes your silent auction items more accessible and possibly more appealing to bidders. Bidders don’t have to worry about keeping a 6-foot distance between them and their instructor.

What are private lessons?

Private Lessons. If there are individuals in your community who can offer lessons as a silent auction item, it’s an opportunity to enhance your auction. The bids on lessons will be higher if this person doesn’t usually give lessons, therefore making them invaluable. The lessons can include anything like: Art. Sports.

What is executive lunch?

Executive lunches are silent auction items that give donors one-on-one time with someone they want to talk about important issues or common interests with. Examples of people to collaborate with for private lunches include: Your organization’s executive director. A community leader. A public figure.

Do parents love silent auctions?

Including child care services in your silent auction may capture the interest of parents who dream of a date night or relaxing day doing nothing on the couch.

Can you do virtual cooking demos in silent auction?

Although many kitchens aren’t open to visitors at the moment, bidders can still enjoy cooking demos virtually.

What is reserved seating?

Like reserved parking, reserved seating is clutch at special events that demand a good seat. For instance, if you’re fundraising for a school, front row seats at graduation are always a hot item because families want to be as close as possible for that special moment — not to mention the optimal photo opportunities.

How to donate to a charity auction?

Include a pledge form and self-addressed envelope with the letter that individuals and businesses can mail back to you to let you know they want to donate an item. Give your auction donors several methods for donating, including: 1 Mailing the item to your non-profit (this works for gift cards and other small items) 2 Dropping the item off at your office 3 Having someone from your organization come to pick-up the item

How to supercharge an auction?

The final step for supercharging your auction event is to follow-up on your auction mailing with phone calls. Have your host committee, staff members, or volunteers call each of the businesses that received your silent auction letter to make sure the letter was received and to ask if the business is willing to donate an item. These calls shouldn’t be long… just a simple check-in to boost the response rate on your letters.

Ask Your Key Supporters For Help

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Send Out A Letter Seeking Auction Donations

Follow-Up with Phone Calls