How do we get big auction items for a university scholarship gala?

A scholarship gala for a university advancement office or alumni association is a marquee event. The auction needs a few headline experiences that match the crowd’s interests. Golf trips that follow the team to a rivalry weekend or tickets to the Masters sell themselves. But securing those big-ticket travel items from donation requests alone is slow and uncertain. Even when a donor promises a package, the details can fall apart before the gala.

Consignment travel packages change the equation. You browse over 140 experiences and reserve what you like for free. 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. You are not too late: items can be added the same day as your event. Recommended starting bids are 15 to 20 percent above cost, so the gala makes money from the very first bid.

The next step is to call Giveback XP and talk through your gala audience and theme. The team will help you pick the right number of packages, from golf trips to bucket-list sports events. You get a one-page display PDF for each experience, ready to print for the program. You don’t need to send anything now, just a quick conversation to see what fits.

After the gala, you send in the winner details and the in-house travel team takes over. Donors get their certificates and book directly, with up to two years to travel for most experiences. The advancement staff does not become a travel agent. The auction runs, the funds go to scholarships, and the team moves on to the next event.