What do we auction besides jerseys and game tickets?
Fresh auction ideas for athlete and team foundation banquets and award dinners.
Running an auction for an athlete or team foundation means the room knows signed jerseys and suite nights. After a few years, those items still sell, but the same crowd bidding on them again pulls thinner bids. You need something that feels new without losing the sports and entertainment energy your donors love.
Your foundation’s guests live and breathe sports. They have seen every signed ball, every game-worn jersey, every suite night package. Those items are still valuable, but they no longer create the same excitement. A room full of insiders needs a category of auction items that feels fresh and exclusive, yet still fits the sports and entertainment world they love. That is where travel and live-event experiences come in.
Adding travel packages does not require an upfront budget. You browse over 140 experiences, reserve what fits your banquet or dinner, and receive marketing materials. 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. Start bids at 15 to 20 percent above cost so you profit from the first paddle raise. You are not too late: items can be added the same day as your event.
This week, pick two or three experiences that match your foundation’s crowd. Think Kentucky Derby weekend, the US Open, or a trip to Italy. Giveback XP helps you choose the right number for your room size and audience. Do not wait until the week of the event to plan the auction; packages can be added last minute, but the best results come from promoting them ahead of time. Even if you have never offered travel before, the setup is simple and risk-free.
Your next banquet or award dinner auction will have more energy. A Kentucky Derby package or a trip to France gets fresh bids from people who already have the jersey. When the bidding is hot, you can even sell the same package to the runner-up, doubling your take from one item. The night feels bigger without any risk to your foundation.
Other questions about banquets & award dinners for athlete & team foundations
add silent auction to charity golf tournament
An auction converts the generosity already in the room into a second revenue line. Premium packages matched to this crowd routinely sell 30 to 50 percent above cost, and adding them costs nothing upfront.
do travel packages sell at golf tournament fundraiser
Golf crowds are the easiest travel bidders there are. Put the packages at registration and the 19th hole, run mobile bidding through the round, and let golf-adjacent trips carry the day.
Ready to talk?
Ask Giveback XP about banquets & award dinners for athlete & team foundations.