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

The formula works, but it also caps the result. Scouting and youth development dinners often lean on the same local donations year after year. Gift baskets and cakes fill the tables, but they rarely pull the kind of bid that moves the total. The outdoor, adventure, and family spirit that defines your programs is missing from the auction block.

Adding travel and experience packages changes the bidding math without changing the event. You browse over 140 options and reserve the ones that fit your crowd. 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. The recommended starting bid is 15 to 20 percent above cost, so profit begins with the first bid. Items can be added the same day as your event.

This week, pick three to five adventure-based trips, sporting events, or family getaways that match your council’s outdoor ethos. Reserve them for free. Giveback XP sends a one-page display sheet per experience and a marketing email to help you promote them. Set starting bids at 15 to 20 percent above cost and let the bidding run. If an item does not sell, you owe nothing.

When the gavel closes, your auction total is higher because a few big-ticket experiences pulled deeper bids. The same package can sell twice if the room gets competitive. Council staff and volunteer boards hand off the travel details to the Travel Team. Winners get their trips booked, and you move on to the next event with a new number on the board.