How do we make our annual dinner auction raise more than last year?

Your Scouting & Youth Development council gala and Distinguished Citizen dinner follow a proven formula. The auction raises a solid amount, but it lands in the same range every year. Leadership wants growth, and you need items that pull bigger bids without changing the whole event.

Many Scouting & Youth Development dinners fill the auction tables with gift baskets, cakes, and scouting memorabilia. These items have a natural ceiling on bids. The room supports the cause, but the items don't create the excitement that pushes a bidder to stretch. One real trip changes that.

Adding travel packages is low effort. You browse over 140 experiences, reserve what fits your dinner, and get marketing materials. You set the starting bid 15 to 20 percent above the cost, so your council profits from the first bid. There is no upfront cost. 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.

This week, pick one adventure trip, sporting event, or family getaway that fits the outdoor ethos of your Scouting & Youth Development audience. Reserve it at no charge. Even if your banquet is days away, you can add it last minute. You don't need to change the whole event, just upgrade what's on the block. Call Giveback XP to talk through what works for your crowd.

After the dinner, your auction total is up. You had a couple of hot packages that sold once or twice, bringing in profit that wasn't there before. The event still felt like your event, just with a bigger number to report to the board.

Other questions about banquets & award dinners for scouting & youth development