In order to have a successful auction, you must have items to auction off!
The most common option for nonprofits is to ask local companies for these items, but you can also ask individuals for donations.
You can try to auction off literally anything, but it’s wise to have items that are unique and desirable. People will be more willing to bid against each other if the item up for grabs is extremely sought after.
You can also sell off experiences or services like a weekend getaway or flying lessons. Get creative with what you put up for sale, and think outside the box!
There are numerous categories of auction items to choose from. Depending on your auction’s theme, you could ask for:
- Arts and cultural items
- Gift baskets
- Technology-related products
- Travel tickets or experiences
- And more!
Your relationship with the person you’re asking will dictate the asking method. A small business owner who was your best friend in high school probably doesn’t need an extremely formal, three-page letter (you might even be able to ask him over lunch one day!). But the CEO of a large corporation with headquarters in your town might require the kind of formality that a letter lends.