How do we fill our auction without competing with grantees?

Community foundations and United Ways have a unique position. You raise funds from a broad donor base, often through corporate campaigns, and then regrant to local nonprofits. When your annual dinner or golf event needs auction items, the natural instinct is to turn to local businesses. But those are the same businesses your grantees depend on for donations. Asking them creates a direct conflict: a funder competing with its own partners. This is not a hypothetical worry; it is a structural reality.

Consignment travel packages fill your auction without asking local businesses. Browse over 140 experiences, from US Open tickets to Italy trips and regional adventures. Reserve what fits your banquet or award dinner at no charge. 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. Starting bids are set 15-20% above cost, so profit begins with the first bid. You are not too late: items can be added the same day as your event.

This week, pick a few experiences that match your audience. Sporting events, adventure trips, and international destinations work well for community foundation and United Way crowds. Reserve them online. You get a one-page PDF for each, ready for your event program. After your dinner, send the winning bidders’ details to Giveback XP. The travel team books everything, and your donors have up to two years to travel. You keep the local donor pool untouched for your grantees, and your auction raises more money without any conflict.

With the auction filled, your banquet or award dinner runs smoothly. You are not competing with your own grantees. Local businesses still support the nonprofits you fund. Your event raises money from experiences donors love, and your community foundation or United Way keeps its focus on strengthening the whole community.