A procurement list you can work from. Items are grouped by what they realistically close for, so you can see where your table is thin before the event instead of the night of.
Never list one of these alone. Group four to six into a themed basket.
This band does most of the volume. Aim for half your table here.
Where bidding wars happen, because there is no retail price to compare against.
Two or three of these raise the ceiling for the whole room.
The highest-margin category in any school or club auction.
For pricing, closing, and procurement scripts, read the full silent auction ideas guide.
Tell us your event date and goal. A campaign strategist sends back a target item list, price bands, and who to ask locally.
About one item per two guests. Extra items thin the bidding instead of adding revenue — bundle the weakest donations rather than listing them separately.
Access that cannot be bought retail — principal for a day, lunch with the coach, naming rights. It costs your organization nothing and routinely outsells donated goods several times over.
Theme them into baskets of four to six with a name like 'Date Night Downtown'. A $25 card alone stalls; the same cards bundled regularly close above $200.
Open bidding at 30–40% of fair market value with increments around 10%, and display the value beside the sheet so bidders know what they are chasing.
Sponsor packages, senior night, alumni giving, and what each costs in parent hours.
Read the guideThree letters you can copy — businesses, families, and in-kind auction asks.
Read the guideWork out your rate, then seven moves that keep more donors giving next year.
Read the guideOr browse all fundraising guides.
In Play runs procurement, marketing, bidding, and follow-up so your volunteers work the room instead of the spreadsheet.
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