Live Auctions That Fit Community Foundations & United Ways

You run a community foundation or United Way. Your annual gala or golf event brings together business leaders and donors from across the community. You need auction items that excite that room without asking the same local businesses your grantees depend on.

What works for a community foundation or United Way live auction? Travel and experience packages that feel like a reward, not a charity ask. Sporting events like the US Open or Kentucky Derby draw strong bids. Adventure trips, regional getaways, and international destinations like Italy also sell well. These are big-ticket items that appeal to a room of corporate tables and community leaders. Because the packages come from a national catalog, you never ask the same local businesses your grantees depend on. You fill your auction without creating a conflict. You can tailor the mix to your audience, choosing from over 140 experiences.

Why is a community foundation or United Way different? You have a professional staff, a corporate campaign culture, and donors who span the entire community. Your biggest fundraising constraint is that you cannot compete with your own grantees for local donations. If you ask a restaurant for a dinner certificate, that restaurant might say no to the food bank you fund. Consignment travel solves this. The experiences are from outside your area, so local relationships stay intact. Your donors respond to unique, out-of-area experiences that feel exclusive.

Cost and scope. There is no upfront fee. 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 the bidding 15-20% above cost to guarantee profit. You are not too late: items can be added the same day as your event. The number of packages depends on your crowd size; a typical event might carry 5 to 20 experiences. You control the mix.

How it goes. Browse over 140 experiences online and reserve the ones that fit your audience. You get a one-page PDF display for each, plus marketing emails to promote before the event. At your live auction, the packages go to the highest bidder. After the event, send the winners’ details to the Giveback XP travel team and they handle the booking. Donors get a certificate and have up to two years to travel for most experiences. Nothing ships; everything is digital.

Once it’s handled, your event runs smoothly with fresh, exciting items that match your crowd. You raise more money without straining local relationships. Your donors get memorable trips, and your grantees keep their funding sources intact without competition. The auction adds to the night, it doesn’t create a conflict.

Common questions about live auctions for community foundations & United Ways