What do we auction for major donors when gift baskets won’t cut it?

For hospital and health foundations, the annual banquet or award dinner is often the biggest gala in town. The room has corporate tables, professional foundation staff, and a board that cares about optics. The donors in these rooms could book their own travel. They bid because it’s for the hospital. So the auction catalog has to match the room. A table of gift baskets and restaurant cards can feel out of place in front of people who matter most.

You don’t need to buy anything upfront. Reserve experiences for free, and pay only if they sell. Starting bids are set 15 to 20 percent above the cost, so you profit from the first bid. Packages like Formula 1, the US Open, or private villas in Italy, France, and Spain typically sell for 30 to 50 percent above the foundation’s cost. If the bidding gets hot, you can sell the same experience to more than one winning bidder that same night.

This week, browse over 140 experiences. Pick a few that fit your room. Giveback XP reserves them for you at no cost and sends 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. You are not too late: items can be added the same day as your event. There is no risk. If an experience does not sell, you owe nothing for it.

Your auction catalog now includes experiences that match the room. Donors bid on Formula 1 hospitality, a private villa in Tuscany, or courtside seats at the US Open. The board sees a well-run event with items that reflect the foundation’s standing. The foundation keeps the profit, and the donors walk away with something they could not simply book themselves.