Despite being on the quieter side of the nonprofit fundraising spectrum (pun intended), silent auctions can be an effective way to engage your donor base and involve local businesses in your cause.
An auction fundraiser can be a stand-alone online campaign with mobile bidding or part of your next event to take its impact to the next level. Plus, bidders get to have fun vying for their favorite prizes all while supporting a good cause.
To run a successful silent auction, you need to identify and collect items that will excite your audience. Below, we’ll provide tips on how to run a silent auction and collect the right items for this fundraising idea. We’ll also share 30 silent auction ideas to jump-start planning for your next nonprofit fundraiser.
What Are Some Tips for Running a Silent Auction?
Whether hosting an in-person auction or online auction, using event software for nonprofits can make your next silent auction a breeze. Classy Live saves event admins time and improves participants’ experiences during silent auctions.
Templates for bid sheets come built into the mobile bidding platform. That way, event admins can set reserve prices for silent auction items—meaning the minimum amount they’ll accept for that item—but still have the starting price begin lower to encourage bidding.
Meanwhile, attendees can set maximum bids for items they want, and Classy Live will automatically place new bids when outbid until they reach their max. This lets attendees focus more on enjoying the event than constantly checking their phones.
Additionally, virtual fundraising event platforms make collecting payments for silent auction items easy. With Classy Live, attendees can save a credit card on file before participating in a silent auction, purchasing fixed-priced items, or making donation commitments in a digital paddle raise. Event organizers can then swipe or tap attendees’ credit cards to have that information ready to go for an easy checkout at the end of the auction.
How Do You Solicit Items for a Silent Auction?
Before gathering items for your silent auction, make a list of some of the goods, services, and experiences you’d most like to offer. For each item, note the people and businesses you could contact for potential in-kind donations.
While you’ll likely reach out to some new restaurants or gift shops during this process, don’t forget to tap friends, family, nonprofit board members, volunteers, and others already involved with your organization.
Once you nail down ideas for auction items, you can begin your outreach. Send emails, make calls, and consider visiting local businesses to share information about your event and the items you want. You can also put the word out over social media by letting people know the types of items you have and how they can become critical sponsors for your event.
Make sure to tell potential donors about your:
Mission and ambitionsTarget audience and how it aligns with theirsGoals for highlighting their auction donationIntentions for this event to help you make a difference in the community
What Are Good Ideas for a Silent Auction?
Overall, you want to find unique items and unique experiences to fuel your silent auction and satisfy your winning bidders. The best charity auction items will depend on your event and audience.
If your event already has a theme, try to pair your silent auction items with that. For example, a silent auction at a wine-and-cheese night may include items like tickets for a winery tour, a cheese board gift basket, and other related gifts.
Additionally, consider the demographics and interests of your attendees. Are you hosting established professionals able to bid on high-end items, or do you expect more college students interested in smaller items that still let them make a difference? In other words, tailor the experience to your target donors.
If you’ll have a mix of attendees, include big-ticket items and some smaller, more approachable options.
In general, there are five main categories of successful silent auction items:
Experiences: Opportunities that give donors a chance to do something—it’s even better to tie these to your mission. For example, a forest preservation nonprofit could auction off a day exploring national forest trails with a ranger.Travel: Items related to vacations, traveling, and a chance for donors to get away and make some memories.Sports: Memorabilia, tickets, and activities that connect to your donors’ favorite teams.Music: Autographs, lessons, and events that connect with your audience’s musical tastes.Food: Chances for your donors to try new restaurants and food experiences.
Below, we’ll help you start brainstorming by highlighting 30 high-performing silent auction item ideas that build off these themes. These popular auction items can help inspire your event’s next bidding war.
1. Photo Shoot
Local artists and photographers may want to donate a family portrait day or professional headshot session.
2. Weekend Getaways
Everyone loves a good staycation. Check with nearby resorts or glampgrounds to offer weekend getaways as an auction item.
3. All-Inclusive Trips
An all-inclusive trip to the Caribbean will surely be a hot auction item. Reach out to cruise lines and resorts for donations.
4. Hotel Stays
Nights at boutique hotels or bed and breakfasts make for great silent auction items. You can also consider credits to larger national hotel chains for winners to book their stay at their location of choice.
5. Airline Tickets
Flight credits offer silent auction bidders a chance to win discounted travel to their locations of choice.
6. Date Nights
Great date nights could include gift cards curated into bundles for bidders. For example, you could include a restaurant reservation, limo ride, and movie tickets.
7. Spa Days
Wellness providers in your area may want to donate services like pedicures, manicures, facials, or massages for your silent auction.
8. Brewery Tours
Local breweries may be willing to offer VIP tours of their facilities along with tastings as a silent auction item.
9. Sunset or Harbor Cruises
If your nonprofit is near a river or bay, see if local companies offer evening boat rides. These can be memorable experiences for donors to bid on.
10. Museum Tickets
Tickets to art museums, science centers, and other cultural institutions can be fun excursions for silent auction bidders.
11. Theme Park Tickets
Disney World, Dollywood, and Six Flags—entice the amusement park lovers in your community with donated passes to some of their favorites.
12. Comedy Nights
Tickets to stand-up comedians touring in the area or other comedy nights can be an appealing auction item for supporters looking for some laughs.
13. Hot Air Balloon Rides
Taking a hot air balloon ride is on many people’s bucket lists. Having one donated for your silent auction is bound to encourage bidding.
14. Outdoor Adventure Activities
Local outfitters and guides may want to donate excursions like hiking, kayaking, bungee jumping, horseback riding, or rafting.
15. Sporting Event Tickets
Tickets to local minor league games or favorite teams in the region are popular items. See if there are any tournaments happening in your area that you can help donors score tickets to attend.
16. Sports Memorabilia
Other items sports lovers will enjoy include signed baseball cards, footballs, and other memorabilia from their favorite athletes.
17. Meet and Greet With Athletes
If you have a minor league baseball or hockey team in your area, see if they’d be willing to donate an outing with one of their local celebrity athletes.
18. Golf Outings
A round of golf at your local course is a great silent auction idea. You can pair it with a new set of golf clubs to up the auction item’s value.
19. Ski Passes
Another fun experience that donors can bid on to help plan their future travels is ski passes.
20. Yoga Classes
Local yoga studios might be willing to donate class packs or a monthly membership for your silent auction.
21. Spin Classes
Spin studios are another favorite workout spot for many people. Check with those in your area to see if they can donate some classes for your silent auction.
22. Concert Tickets
Local theaters or musicians may want to donate concert tickets for performances. You can also check with streaming services to see if they’ll donate a platform membership where winning bidders can watch their favorite artists live no matter where they are.
23. Backstage Passes
Music lovers will enjoy the chance to meet their favorite musicians and have special access to concerts with backstage passes.
24. Signed Instruments or Albums
Your network may be able to help you secure signed instruments, albums, or photos from famous musicians or local bands.
25. Music Lessons
Auction items that offer chances to try new things are often a hit. See if local music teachers would be willing to donate a few hours for bidders interested in learning the guitar, piano, or another instrument.
26. Local Restaurant Gift Certificates
Not having to do the cooking for a night is always appreciated. Gift certificates to favorite nearby restaurants are good auction items for bidders across budget levels.
27. Wine Tastings
A wine-tasting experience as part of a silent auction gift basket that includes a bottle of wine, a new wine opener, and other related items is another surefire winner.
28. Cooking Lessons
Donating a cooking class is a great way to offer an experience that foodies will love. Winning bidders will get the chance to make high-quality meals with star chefs.
29. Food Gift Baskets
Food items are always great for silent auction basket ideas. You can create themed baskets, such as one for dessert lovers or one with everything needed to make the perfect charcuterie board.
30. Landscaping Services
Another item auction participants may love is landscaping services. See if local providers will donate pruning, lawn mowing, or gardening services for winning bidders.
Engage Event Attendees and Boost Fundraising Revenue With Creative Silent Auction Ideas
You’ll be off to a great start if you can identify silent auction items that are experiential in nature. These help create positive memories and lasting relationships with your donors. It’s as easy as tapping into your networks and contacting local businesses to secure unique items your participants will enjoy.
If you want to boost your event’s bottom line with a silent auction, Classy Live can help you unlock your fundraising potential with ease. Whether in person, virtual, or hybrid, we can streamline the administrative process for your event staff while offering a user-friendly bidding interface for attendees.