Hi,

I need to help my daughter solicit donations for her team's silent auction fundraiser. Any ideas of what works best? Last year, we managed to get a few gift cards from a few local stores, but that's about it. Many stores say we have to contact their corporate office, and we don't have that much time to work with!

Try local boutiques, sporting goods stores, video stores, restaurants, etc. Try to get merchandise as well as gift cards/certificates. Maybe come up with a few theme type baskets to put together and try to get stores to donate just a few items to add to the basket.

A few more ideas...local photographers or artist's work, scrapbooking store collection, a bundle of books for their age level.

Good luck, it is a lot of work!

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TLJ ~ Women United in Spirit

When we did a raffle for one or our clubs, we had each family make up some type of gift basket or a gift type item and donate it: Coty is one of the companies I work for so I did a basket with a fragrance, body lotion, tote bag and umbrella, another family purchased a popcorn bowl, box of popcorn, some movie type candy and a DVD, someone else donated a Easter snow globe, another person donated 5 classic books, that type thing, pretty much anything goes. We also went to independent type stores that could give us an answer right away and got a $50 gas card from a locally owned convenience store, a turkey and a ham from the local grocery store. Walmart will usually gove a gift card, but ours only decides once a month, so you have to get your request in early.

We asked for hotel rooms on the beach for here. I was able to get a bunch and the hotel managers just wanted the schools tax exemption number for their write-off....anyway you can do that? krispy cream donuts cards.....blockbuster cards.....a family gift basket always goes over really well here. Do you have any local theme parks around you???? or a waterpark?? How bought a dinner and a movie basket? gift cards to a local resturant(get the restaurant to donate) then movie passes or a round of putt-putt golf.

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Vicki


TLJ Women united in Spirit!

I know it doesn't help much this year, but my sister helps out her organization for their silent auction, by buying a bike from Target clearance, and donating it. She raises hundreds of dollars every year, doing that. One year a 20 inch boys bike went for $345.00! One year she bought a wine cooler on clearance and bought a few bottles of wine and it went for $410.00. You just have to be on the look out.

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Freedom Stands...Because HEROS Serve

Mary

We get asked to donated quite often for the area project proms. We own a Napa Autocare. We make up pails of supplies to wash your car. We also do GC's for oil changes.

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small, local businesses are good to ask for donations - massages, photography packages, even bakeries for custom cake - it's good advertisement for these little or individual business owners who don't have big advertising budgets.

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Bevogal

WOW..thats cool! I would have never thought to ask the auto places around here. We have three of the big companies here like Discount Advanced, Pep Boys and Napa......they have about one on every corner here.

Who would I ask if I approached them to do something similiar?? A franchise owner or Headquarters?

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Vicki


TLJ Women united in Spirit!

I would just talk with the local manager. He/She should be able to help you.

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Don't forget about hair salons.....i.e. they are usually independently owned. They can give gift cards for hair and make up services, pedicures, manicures, plus tanning services and supplies.

HTH!!

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email is moserlara@yahoo.com

I have done a few of these in the past so here are a few ideas:

We get lots of oil changes, car washes, etc from local gas station/auto shops. You can make up a 'theme' bucket or basket with these.

If there is a semi-pro or local college team around we get tickets to games or family packs (usually tickets, hot dogs, pop, programs, maybe a hat or pin). You can call the ticket office and ask for whoever handles charity donation.

Also, local chain restaurants and hotels have been very generous, pizza places especially. Just ask for the manager or whoever handles charity donations.

We have also had very good luck with liquor stores, we had a margarita basket with lots of bids (marg mix, glasses, tequila) but that may not be appropriate for high school kids ?

Good luck and have fun!!

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"It's not about how much baggage you have, it's about whether or not you can carry your own baggage with grace and dignity."

Do you know anyone who has a home based business (Pampered Chef, Tupperware, Stampin Up, Creative Memories, etc.). They will often give a donation to get their name out there. Many times they get items for free, so it really doesn't cost them anything to give a donation.

Try local businesses. Most of the chains have to have donations approved through Corporate, which can take a long time.

A real estate agent or someone with a business that isn't condusive to a 'give away' may be willing to buy something and donate it if you promote his/her name and company.

How about someone who does crafts or handmade items -- they may be willing to donate too.

Sarah.......mom to Jason & Devin

My church does a silent auction every year to raise money for the summer mission trips. Most of the items that we have donated come from our congregation. We get homemade bread (whole wheat, hand ground flour, it's the stuff we use for communion and really good); homemade cookies; the most amazing carrot cake you've ever eaten (regularly goes for over $100); various amounts of babysitting, sometimes including specific events or activities, sometimes not (we've got a small church, so most people know everyone); pool parties hosted by a family (includes use of the pool and a meal (burgers and hot dogs or whatever) sometimes with a couple of date options, sometimes it's more open; various "gourmet meals" cooked either in your own house or at the house of the chef (these are very popular, especially the "all chocolate" one that was new this year); various lessons in musical instruments or crafts, sometimes for one person or a group of people; wine tastings (again, hosted by a congregation member); handmade crafts (greeting cards, paintings, etc) and a variety of other things.

I shop the sales (especially Target) and buy things that I think will sell. I often put together two or three small toys (like stuff from the Target Dollar Spot) so that it's a package that has a retail value of around $5-$10. That way even the kids can have something to bid on.

Another thing I've done is pick up a few classic movies on DVD (check the dollar store), a large plastic bowl and a box of microwave popcorn to create an "instant movie night". I usually try to pick a theme for the movies (kids' movies, B grade sci-fi, classic dramas, etc). These aren't as popular as some of the other things, but, like the toys for the kids, it allows people who don't want to (or can't) spend as much money participate.

Thanks for all the helpful replies! Lots of ideas to try -- but I'm still awful at this!!

We have found that parents are usually the best donors. Send out a memo asking if they have goods/services they are willing to donate. Local business owners are usually easier to get donations from.

When you see what you have put some together to make theme baskets etc. It will usually raise the value and the bids.

Each grade/class made baskets that are always very popular. Lunch/Scrabble with the principal. Something fun with the gym teacher, an extra hour or two with the music or art teacher etc.

Best of luck

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beth

Maid/Cleaning Services go over REAL BIG here... plus the gals that donate and then do the cleaning stand a chance of repeat customers or picking up a few more regulars on their route because they do such an awesome job.

X

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Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

Planning an auction right now for school, here are some of our suggestions (they may not all work for you but might for someone else)

Front Row for Holy Communion
Front Row for 8th grade graduation
For sports, you could auction off a "reserved box" for the game of their choice" - for 4 people, you would just need to rope off the area, put in 4 chairs and offer food from your concession stand - maybe or the playoffs

We send out about 400 letters to all the local restaurants, hair salons, nail salons, auto care places, grocery stores, etc

American Girl will donate a doll every 3 years to certain organziations. You can go on their website to find out where to send it to.

We have also contacted all the local camp grounds, local charter bus companies - they've donated trips to Atlantic City.

contact your local sports teams (both pro and semi pro).

We have 3 funeral homes within 5 miles of our school and they always donate cash which we use to fill baskets with.

We have each classroom do a theme basket. We give an incentive - if the classroom has 100% participation, they get an out of uniform pass and the classroom who's basket goes for the most money we give a pizza party to.

Children's art - if you can get some good art from them, you can get inexpensive frames - you'd be amazed at how much parents will bid on this.

We also contact all the local amusement parks and movie theatres and bowling alleys.

good luck!

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I was born free, but now I'm expensive!

My idea may be for younger kids - but how about a police car or fire truck ride to school. I am sure your local departments would be willing to help. We have done this before and when the 2nd grader showed up to school in the cop car with the lights and all and the cheif escorted him in it was neat.

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saraedawson@yahoo.com

Mommy to Jake, Alexis, Abigail and Joshua, Wife to Matt