30 Best Silent Auction Ideas That Don’t Cost A Dime

Collecting silent auction items for your next fundraiser takes a lot of consideration — you need to know where to begin, fight donor fatigue, and think of fresh items. It also takes a dedicated committee, which builds relationships and solicits items from local businesses and other partners. Gathering desirable and exciting silent auction items shouldn’t cost your nonprofit much money! 

Jump to a section for revenue-driving ideas: 

$ Potential Auction Revenue

$$ Potential Auction Revenue

$$$ Potential Auction Revenue

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Sign-up parties are unique experiences and social gatherings that your organization, school, or association can offer donors as auction items or instant buys. As an auction item, you can offer guests the chance to win the whole party package and invite their friends. Some fun ideas include:  

Class or Sign-Up Parties $ 

• Parents’ night out 
• Class dance party  
• Movie night  
• Tailgate party 
• Paint and sip 
• Donut or pizza delivery by the boss or principal 

Family Photoshoot $ 

Family photoshoots are special events for many families. Network with local freelance photographers who connect with your mission and see if they’re willing to donate some of their time and talent for your highest bidder. If a photographer is willing to offer more than one session, you can have the winning bid be a double down for the next closest bidder(s). 

#1 Fan Basket $ 

Sports teams – from high schools to colleges and professional teams – are often willing to donate merchandise to create a basket for your auction. High school baskets can be great for rising 8th graders and seniors, especially around graduation time.   

Fan Paddles $ 

Do you have candidates, table captains, award nominees, teachers, researchers, or sponsors that you can put on fan paddles? Fan paddles feature these top volunteers, partners, and other stakeholders that attendees can use to show their support visually. These low-cost options sold as an instant buy can double as auction paddles, too.  

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The Ultimate Data-Driven Auction Fundraising Guide 

Leverage data-driven insights to confidently predict auction items that will spark bidding. This guide covers tips on understanding your donors, key questions to consider before your auction, data-informed goal planning, and more. Download the guide and stop relying on guesswork. 

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Kitchen Appliances $ 

Kitchen appliances include air fryers, blenders, stand mixers, pasta makers, and other countertop devices. Get your hands on donated kitchen appliances by working with local businesses or seeing if you can make arrangements with larger department stores with charitable programs.  

Local Goods Basket $ 

Creating a local goods sample is a great way to support local small businesses. Consider putting together a gift basket or an array of local goods, including: 

• Memorabilia 
• Spa goods 
• Jewelry 
• Teas and spices 
• Cuisine 

Be mindful that small businesses rely on their merchandise for income. By participating in your silent auction, small businesses are making a marketing effort to get their merchandise in front of a large group of contributive community members.  

Lottery Tickets $ 

Imagine if someone could spend $100 and win millions! A lottery ticket wreath or basket can be an opportunity for a small group – such as a group of parents, junior board, corporate group, or others – to donate less than $5 of lottery tickets to put together your wreath.  

Memberships $ 

Memberships are a smart, no-added-cost opportunity for zoos, museums, park systems, gymnastics centers, trampoline parks, and others to get people at their space, perhaps spending gift shop money or lunch money for additional support of the institution.  

Pro Tip! Ask your committee or board to donate a month’s worth of credit card points and buy gift cards to help fill out your auction. That way, you can offer shelf-stable groceries with your kitchen appliances, aprons to your Paint and Sip attendees, and other bits and baubles to make your auction feel robust.

$$ Potential Auction Revenue 

 

Artwork $$ 

If your organization involves student artists or local artists willing to donate, a silent auction is an excellent opportunity to include their one-of-a-kind pieces.  Parents are also willing to bid on their student’s art.  

Many artists are willing to donate; be mindful of who you approach and whether they depend on the income from their art. Express the mutual benefit, where professional artists can gain customers if they present their artwork to your bidders. 

For a Year $$ 

This charity auction package lets your winners really indulge! Ask local businesses to donate a “for a year” package. Solicit a year’s worth of cupcakes, donuts, local brews, pizza, oil changes, or other popular twists for this unique item! 

Free Use of the Venue $$ 

If your organization boasts a beautiful space or has a strong corporate partner, you can auction it as a venue for donors to host their next event. Some examples of unique venue options that donors or leaders in your community can use to make their next event memorable are: 

• Museums after hours 
• Libraries for luncheons 
• Breweries for retirement parties or birthdays 
• Lobbies for talks or workshops 

Golden Mulligan $$ 

A mulligan is a purchased re-hit for a shank. Usually, charity golf outings offer mulligan packs to golfers and teams, limiting how many each team can have.  

Offer ONE Golden Mulligan to the highest bidder before your charity golf outing. A golden mulligan offers one lucky player double or triple the mulligans — for a price.   

Guided Day Out $$ 

Find an expert in your community who can provide insight and expertise on something specific to your community. Or, ask a local guide to offer an individual or group a private, guided tour of: 

• Food destinations or cuisine types (pizza, cupcakes, etc.) 
• Architecture  
• Neighborhood(s) 
• Public transit line destinations 
• Child-friendly locations  
• Bike trail adjacent destinations  
• Theater backstage  

Memorabilia $$ 

Many foundations have historical memorabilia associated with your organization’s founding or famous members. Your board members might be collectors, too. Memorabilia are collectibles associated with a recognizable person or organization, like: 

• Posters 
• Autographed baseballs 
• Vintage guitars 
• Records 
• First-edition books 

You might find memorabilia of legendary athletes for athletic foundations or world-renowned performers and artists for art organizations. Dig through your archives and see what history has to offer! 

Private Lessons $$ 

Can individuals in your community offer lessons as a silent auction item? The bids on lessons will be higher if this person doesn’t usually give them, making them invaluable. The lessons can include anything like: 

• Art 
• Sports 
• Music 
• Cooking 
• Photography 
• Writing 
• Fishing 
• Craftsmanship 

Reserved Parking Spot $$ 

Whether it’s driving the school carpool every day, parking farthest from the office, or being late from lunch, a reserved parking spot saves people the hassle of finding parking. Add this perk to the silent auction for a specific event, monthly, or annually. A “good” parking spot is unique to each person, so it’s important to collaborate to find a parking spot many people will enjoy. 

Pro Tip! You may have dedicated volunteers who cannot publicly donate to your organization due to their status, such as politicians or other public figures, or due to family or corporate foundation limitations.   Give these people who want to help but can’t publicly donate a chance to anonymously give things to fill out your auction or wrap-around events, such as bottles of wine, lottery tickets, or gift cards.

$$$ Potential Auction Revenue  

Backstage Passes or VIP Tickets $$$ 

Tickets to the big game are one thing, but tickets to events not for sale are another. If you can find the right connection, it’s no obstacle to give away tickets that don’t have face value. These experiences are hard to come by and highly sought after in a silent auction. Types of tickets to include are seats to: 

• A show during Fashion Week 
• Television tapings with a live audience, like The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Stephen Colbert, Saturday Night Live, and so on 
• A gallery opening night party 
• Tickets to an award show 

Chef’s Table $$$ 

An exclusive seat at a top restaurant can raise top dollar for your nonprofit organization. This is especially true if the table cannot be reserved otherwise. Consider partnering and cultivating relationships with restaurant vendors or groups to open these opportunities. 

A Day In The Life $$$ 

Auctioning off “a day in the life” with someone in a specific profession is fun for all ages. Perhaps it’s a day with: 

• The local news station or radio broadcaster 
• The mayor 
• A zookeeper 
• Firefighters 
• Local celebrities or athletes 

If you’re hosting a school fundraiser, you could include a day with a popular coach or the principal in the silent auction. For adults, it can be a peek at something they’ve always been interested in or some time with someone they admire. 

Event Day Dessert Cart or Personal Bar Tender $$$ 

Immediate, exclusive experiences can be BIG money-makers for your next auction. 

Allow your guests and golfers the opportunity to get a personal, staffed bar cart for their table or foursome. If a bartender is not the right fit for your crowd, a dessert card with candy, a cotton candy machine, or a chocolate foundation with fixings can be a huge hit! 

Executive Lunch or Virtual Meetup $$$ 

Executive lunches are silent auction items that give donors one-on-one time with someone they want to discuss important issues or shared interests with. Examples of people to collaborate with for private lunches include: 

• Your organization’s executive director 
• A community leader 
• A public figure 
• A celebrity 

This offering is another excellent way to connect with restaurants and see if they can donate a meal for your bidder. 

First Pitch $$$ 

Many of us dreamt of the big leagues as kids. Connect with your local baseball team and request a game where one of your donors can throw the first pitch. This opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for donors and their kids, and it’s a perfect way to bring awareness to your organization. 

Throwing the first pitch at a game gives your organization a large and local platform to inform the audience of your mission and work. 

Hot Air Balloon Ride $$$ 

The odds are that there’s a local ballooning organization in your community or surrounding areas. Collaborate with the ballooning organization to offer your bidders an exciting hot air balloon excursion.  

Hot air balloon rides offer incredible views, tranquility, and niche advantages, like an ideal setting to propose to your special someone. Rides are stunning during the sunrise or sunset, which you can arrange with the ballooning organization. 

 

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Beyond Bids: Best Practices and Proven Strategies to Perfecting the Live Auction 

Watch this webinar-on-demand for tips on curating a successful live auction, effective item promotion, and integrating the live auction with other fundraising elements like silent auctions, raffles, and paddle raises.  

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Instant Wine Cellar or Stocked Bar $$$ 

Give a wine cellar or bar starter! This is an excellent opportunity for a board member who may be a connoisseur to share their knowledge, stock, and tasting notes. Offer a variety of bottles or spirits, perhaps some exclusive wine club, to really make this auction package shine. Make sure to list years, makers or wineries, and other specifics. The details matter to these collectors!  

Naming Rights $$$ 

Building a new park or playground? Renaming streets in your city’s historic district? Trying to update a bathroom? Give the naming right of a new project to the highest bidder as a fun way to engage donors.  

Naming rights are often permanent changes, allowing donors to make a mark on their community and show they care. You can also change the name yearly for a cheeky location.  

Reserved Seating at a Special Event $$$ 

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. 

Take advantage of other events like: 

• The Fourth of July fireworks 
• The Lighting of the tree 
• Parades 
• Graduation  
• School play or sports games 

Secure these seats by thinking about where the event happens and speaking to nearby businesses. Are there rooftops available? Storefront views? Is there someone’s front lawn that can accommodate seating or parking? Look at what’s available and see if the person or organization is willing to donate some of their space to your nonprofit. 

 

Sky Box $$$ 

Corporations often lease skyboxes annually, usually having to pay for all or a minimum number of events at a venue. While they are prime locations to entertain clients, a Tuesday night in April can sometimes be a hard sell for a client. Or, there could be less client-friendly events, like a kids-themed ice show or the circus.  

Consider asking a board member or a corporate partner to donate their box, which they have to pay for anyway, to your event’s auction.  

Sky Miles $$$ 

Perhaps the most overlooked item is sky miles. Did you know you can transfer sky miles from one person to another? These are always popular items. Some sky miles expire depending on the airline, so it’s an easy item to donate if donors have additional miles they won’t be able to use before the expiration date. 

Travel $$$ 

Does anyone on your board or volunteer committee have a second home?  

Offering a vacation home for a weekend is a great way to obtain a vacation package. When using someone’s second home as an auction item, it’s important to consider location — how long will it take to get there? Is it required to buy a plane ticket? If the distance is quite far, you may eliminate potential bidders, depending on your outreach. 

Votes $$$ 

In an online dollar vote for a silent auction, bidders can donate dollars that allow them to place votes on superlatives like: 

• Best garden 
• Best seasonal decorations 
• Best dessert  
• Best chalk art 
• Most creative costume 
• Volunteer of the Year 
• Teacher of the Year  

Online dollar votes are fun and engaging ways to broadcast your community’s talents and other remarkable attributes. Plus, more than one person can donate dollars for each superlative, quickly generating funds as people cast their votes.   

Pro Tip!  Preview your $$$ auction items with likely large bidders, dedicated major donors, and committed-to-your-mission-guests.  Giving them a preview and asking them to share what they want to see are smart ways to strategize success for your auction.

Silent auctions can be a powerful way to engage your community, raise funds, and create lasting memories. By focusing on unique and creative ideas, you can build an auction lineup that excites bidders and drives revenue. 

From low-cost items with broad appeal to exclusive, high-value experiences that captivate major donors, you can craft an auction that not only meets but exceeds fundraising goals. 

Remember, the key to a successful silent auction lies in careful planning, strong partnerships, and the ability to offer truly one-of-a-kind items. With these strategies, you can ensure your next fundraiser is both impactful and memorable.