Banquets & Award Dinners for Animal Shelters & Rescues

Animal shelters and rescues run on passion. Your donors give again and again because they care about the animals. When you plan a banquet or award dinner, you need auction items that tap into that loyalty and fit a small-room format, without upfront costs that a volunteer board can’t afford.

For a rescue banquet or award dinner, you want auction items that grab attention and fit a shorter program. Travel experiences like a trip to Ireland, Italy, or France, a Formula 1 race weekend, or a golf getaway to a major tournament are what sell. These packages work in any room, from a community center to a hotel ballroom. You can offer a few high-interest items and watch the bidding heat up. And because you don’t buy anything upfront, a small volunteer board can try a travel package without risking the shelter’s budget.

Your donors are different. They give repeatedly and emotionally because they love the animals. At a rescue gala, whether it’s a fur ball or a volunteer dinner, the crowd wants every dollar to help the cause. Ticket prices are usually mid-range, so auction items need to feel like a splurge without breaking the bank. For a small rescue with a volunteer board, there’s no budget to lose on an unsold package. The no-risk model means you can offer travel experiences without putting a single shelter dollar at risk.

You don’t pay anything upfront. You only pay for an experience if it sells, keep 100% over the cost, and can sell experiences multiple times if the bidding gets hot. You are not too late: items can be added the same day as your event. The recommended starting bid is 15-20% above cost, so you make money from the first bid. The cost of the packages varies, but you can choose ones that match your donors’ spending. Most rescues start with a few items and adjust based on the room. There’s no minimum and no penalty if something doesn’t sell.

It starts with browsing over 140 experiences online. You reserve the ones you like at no cost and get marketing materials, a one-page PDF for each item with photos and details. At your event, the auctioneer presents the packages. Afterward, you send the winning bidders’ information to Giveback XP’s travel team. They handle all the booking. If a package doesn’t sell, you owe nothing. Most donors have up to two years to travel, so they can plan around their schedule.

After the event, your shelter has more funds for the animals, and you didn’t risk a dime on unsold items. The auction brought energy to the room, and your donors are already looking forward to their trips. Your board can turn its attention to the next fundraiser, knowing the travel details are handled.

Common questions about banquets & award dinners for animal shelters & rescues