Procuring auction travel packages to match your audience's interests and hobbies is a crucial part of creating a successful fundraising event. But what if your audience of donors has a wide range of interests? This can make it a challenge to pick which travel package to include in your live auction.
One way is to consider the event itself. While some supporters will show up solely for the cause, others will attend an event because something else about it has a special appeal to them. This can give you some important clues about what auction items they might be interested in. Here are four ideas for how you can enhance your overall event with the right auction packages.
1. Sporting events
If you're planning your event around a golf tournament, it’s safe to assume that most of your attendees love to play golf.
Why not offer an auction travel package that includes a chance to play on a premium golf course, such as the Links at Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach, California? Better yet, send them on a bucket-list trip to a top-notch professional golf tournament like THE PLAYERS Championship.
If you are raising money for a specific sport or athletic program it makes sense to offer a package that relates. For example, tennis club boosters could create a winner’s choice raffle that includes a trip to see the U.S. Open Tennis Championship.
Other more general sporting events, such as a walk-a-thon or 5K run can make it harder to pinpoint your audience's interests. In these cases it can make more sense to offer a “choose your own” travel package, such as the Ultimate Pro Sports Fan Getaway.
2. Themes
If your event has a theme, try procuring items that complement it.
Event themes such as a casino night, for example, are an ideal opportunity to offer trips to Vegas. If your event has a nautical theme, packages such as a Royal Caribbean Cruise or America’s Cup Yacht Sailing in San Francisco are a perfect fit. And if your organization decides to host a luau, offer auction packages that tie with tropical vacations to Hawaii or the Caribbean.
For more ideas, see...
3. Wine
Wine is lovely because it goes with just about anything – not to mention it is an immensely popular auction item. Regardless of your theme or audience, most people who attend fundraising galas appreciate the value of good wine – and it’s the reason our Experiences to Napa Valley and Sonoma County are consistently the best selling travel packages we offer.
The opportunity to bid on an incredible trip to Napa Valley may be all the motivation a donor needs to RSVP "yes."
4. Entertainment
When pairing an auction event with some form of entertainment such as comedy, live music or a dance, consider items that stretch the experience.
You can offer a number of entertainment packages ranging from Broadway shows in New York City to Jazz performances in New Orleans.
If you are hosting an event with a “red carpet” experience, consider offering an auction travel package with VIP tickets to an Award Show in Los Angeles – the entertainment capital of the world. Donors who are interested in your fundraiser will be more likely to attend if you complement the event with the right auction packages.
Consider ways to enhance your event with items that tie in with the overall theme and match your audience's interests.
