Universities & Alumni Associations · Galas & Benefit Dinners

What can we auction at an athletics fundraiser besides signed memorabilia?

For university advancement offices and alumni associations planning galas, benefit dinners, and athletic fundraisers, travel experiences give auction guests something new to bid on.

Sound familiar?At universities and alumni associations, every athletics fundraiser auction starts to feel the same. Signed memorabilia fills the tables, but the most loyal donors have seen it all and bid less each year. You need auction items that bring fresh excitement without piling work onto a small advancement team.

Signed footballs, jerseys, and basketballs are staples at university athletic fundraisers. But when the same alumni attend year after year, the collection at home is full. The crowd still wants to support the program, yet the bidding energy fades. This happens at golf outings, scholarship galas, and team banquets alike. The challenge is to offer something new without disrupting a polished event.

Adding travel experiences to your auction takes little time. Browse over 140 packages, reserve what you like for free, and get marketing materials for each. 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.

You don’t need to abandon signed memorabilia. Start by adding one or two experience packages to your next athletics fundraiser or gala. Call Giveback XP this week. They will help you pick trips that fit your crowd, like a bowl game trip, Masters weekend, or team travel package. Items can be added the same day as your event, and you owe nothing for any that don’t sell.

Your athletics fundraiser auction feels new again. Donors bid higher for experiences tied to the team they love. After the event, you pass winner details to the travel team, certificates arrive in 3 to 5 business days, and your small advancement staff moves on to the next priority without extra follow-up.

More Questions from Universities & Alumni Associations Events

Ready to add experiences to your event?

Reserve for free. Pay only when an item sells.

Browse ExperiencesContact Giveback XP

Latest Articles

85% of Nonprofits Struggle to Source Auction Items—Here's How Children's Hospitals Fill the Gap

September 4, 2026

34% of Auction Revenue Comes From Last-Minute Items—Here's Why It's Not Too Late

September 4, 2026

Beyond Signed Jerseys: 5 Experience-Based Auction Items That Generate 40-60% Higher Bids at Athletics Fundraisers

September 1, 2026

Search all of our experiences below