Silent Auction Item Ideas

So, what should be up for bid at a silent auction? Silent auctions hold many opportunities to gain long-term supporters, and it is your job to create a fun and exciting event that they will remember. Let’s discover the best silent auction item ideas to engage your donors!

1. Tickets to Sporting Events

Who doesn’t love a local sporting event? No matter where you live in the world, sports is a family affair, and many sporting organizations are happy to donate tickets to nonprofits for their auctions. Should you run out of luck getting donations, there may be people in your network or donor list that has season tickets they are willing to share. Often, sporting event tickets will sell more than they are worth because tickets run out.

You may even decide to pair two items together, such as the limo ride and the sporting event tickets. A bundle can get higher bids because the perceived value is higher.

2. Vacations

Everyone loves a getaway. The hustle and bustle of everyday life can be stressful, and a vacation can refresh you. Since ideas for silent auction items you are hosting a virtual fundraising event, your auction fundraiser ideas attendees are likely located in different parts of the country. This means the destination won’t matter much. People want to travel out of their immediate environment, and an item on auction like this will generate a lot of buzz and attention.

If you can, add transportation to the vacation to make it an all-inclusive package. That way, you can maximize the bid and increase interest. Who could resist this silent auction idea?

3. Memorabilia

Memorabilia will forever be popular. People collect things because it helps them relive their childhoods, connect with history, or the auction fundraiser ideas thrill of the hunt. Several memorabilia items will grab your attendees’ attention at your auction:

• Old books
• Coins
• Postage stamps
• Sports memorabilia
• Antiques
• Historic artifacts
• Vintage clothing

If people donate many of one genre of goods, you can host another event for a specialized audience later. Collectibles are sought-after items, and a niche auction can be a successful event for your nonprofit.

4. Wine or Brewery Tours

Who are your donors? Consider your target audience and whether they are beer or wine individuals. Most cities or towns have local breweries that offer tasting flights and tours of their breweries. Craft beer has grown exponentially due to its popularity, and as of 2021, there are 9,247 breweries nationwide. In addition, there are more than 11,000 wineries.

Often, people value experiences over goods. Wine and brewery tours are excellent group adult activities where people can explore new areas of their city and broaden their tastes with their favorite beverages. You may even gift the tickets with a charcuterie board for their venture!

5. Music Lessons

Haven’t we all wanted to learn an instrument or two? Music is popular among all demographics, and it’s never too late to start. Offering music lessons as an item at your silent auction may be a big ticket because those who have been wanting to take lessons but never got around to it might jump at the opportunity.

You can create a combo item and auction an instrument with the lessons to up the ante. For example, offer a guitar with ten guitar lessons.

6 Catering

Offering catering as a gift is an excellent item for an auction. People may have a wedding or holiday event or simply want to entertain guests, and a catered meal is just what they are looking for. Contact catering companies in your area or research where your online bidders live good silent auction items and secure a donation. The best way to ensure a donation is to set terms and conditions. For instance, they may offer their services for a small, intimate gathering instead of a huge wedding. Other conditions can include the time of year the event should be hosted and the length.

7 An Outdoor Adventure

Outdoor adventures are fun for the whole family! Unfortunately, life gets busy, and we spend our days running around after the kids or endless hours at work. So why not spark their imagination and encourage outdoor excitement with some adventure?

Let’s discover some great outdoor adventures to offer as an auction item:

• A tour through a national park
• Horseback riding excursions
• Camping or glamping experience
• Fishing trip
• Surfing lessons
• Zoo tickets
• Guided ATV tour

 8 Skydiving Excursion

Skydiving has substantial financial potential! So many people have skydiving on their bucket list, which could be their opportunity to do what they’ve always wanted. Contact your local skydiving companies and see who wants to partner with your nonprofit. Offer them free publicity for a free jump.

If you have daredevil attendees, maybe offer a group package! It will be a great opportunity to network with like-minded people and make new friends while making money for your charity.

 9 Car Wash

Who doesn’t love the new car smell? Offer a year’s worth of car washes as an auction item. This can be a hot ticket because everyone enjoys a clean car. Generate hype on your car wash item by offering detailing as well. You can give daily or monthly washes or opt for unlimited yearly car washes with a bi-annual detailing service, often costing hundreds of dollars.

10 Fitness Package

Fitness packages can include a gym membership. Go a step further and couple it with the fitness basket, including dumbbells, a yoga mat, protein bars, workout videos, and more! Add a gift card to a sporting goods store so they can buy sporting clothes or gym equipment.

Another item you can do alone or add to the package is online workout classes, which will appeal to them no matter where your attendees live.