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

At council dinners with corporate tables and volunteer boards, auction catalogs often rely on familiar local donations. Bidding can settle into a predictable groove when the packages look like last year’s. An adventure-based trip, a major sporting event, or a family getaway taps into the deep outdoor ethos your audience shares. One real travel experience changes the auction’s ceiling without changing the event you know.

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. A recommended starting bid of 15 to 20 percent above cost means profit from the very first bid. Nothing is owed if an item does not sell, so trying a bigger package risks nothing.

Browse over 140 travel and experience packages at Giveback XP. Reserve the ones that fit your crowd: adventure trips, major sporting events, family vacations. You get a one-page PDF display and marketing tips. After the event, pay only for sold items and send winner details; the travel team handles booking. You are not too late: items can be added the same day as your event.

Your next dinner auction runs the same schedule, the same room, but the numbers climb because one or two standout trips sparked real competition. You report growth without a heavier lift. The council keeps more of every dollar, and the year-over-year total moves up.