What can we auction at an athletics fundraiser besides signed memorabilia?
For universities and alumni associations, banquets and award dinners work better when the auction offers experiences tied to the sports your donors already follow.
Your athletics fundraiser sees the same signed footballs and framed jerseys every year. The loyal crowd has bought them before, and bids flatten a little more each season. Advancement offices and athletic departments need auction items that reset the energy in the room without adding work for a lean staff.
Alumni donors at university events skew older and come ready to spend, especially at golf outings, athletic fundraisers, and scholarship galas. But when every auction table holds another signed ball, the excitement fades. Your crowd wants something to do, not just something to display. That is why experiences tied to the team's own world, bowl games, rivalry weekends, bucket-list golf, perform better than objects. They give two or three alumni a reason to bid hard on the same trip, and the room feels the lift.
The number of experiences you offer depends on audience size and the flow of your banquet or award dinner. You browse over 140 options, reserve what fits for free, and get a one-page display sheet with photos and details for each. 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 three to five experiences that match your school's sports calendar: a bowl game trip, a Masters package, a travel opportunity tied to a rivalry weekend or team away game. Reserve them through Giveback XP. You will receive the marketing materials, and you can place the displays on your banquet tables or award dinner screens. After the event, send the winner details to the in-house travel team. They handle every booking, and travel certificates arrive within 3 to 5 business days.
Your advancement staff runs a polished event without chasing memorabilia that no longer excites the room. The travel team manages the donor follow-through, and winners have up to two years to book non-event experiences. Your auction feels fresh, your paddles rise faster, and the same trip can sell more than once when the bidding gets competitive.
Other questions about banquets & award dinners for universities & alumni associations
best silent auction items for alumni event
Plan about one silent item for every 7 guests and anchor the tables with travel and live-event packages alumni actually want: bowl games, golf trips, rivalry weekends. Mobile bidding keeps alumni bidding after they've left the table.
how to get big auction items for scholarship gala
Consignment fills the headline slots on demand: pick from 150+ experiences 60 to 90 days out, pay nothing upfront, and keep everything above the reserve for scholarships. Every package comes with a print-ready display PDF for the program.
Ready to talk?
Ask Giveback XP about banquets & award dinners for universities & alumni associations.