The annual school auction—silent, live, or both—is de rigueur for private-independent schools. And every school wants to offer those very special items that generate excitement and bring in the big bucks!
Joy Riddle, Development Director at Oak Hall School (FL), asked the question of her peers on the ISM Advancement listserv—"What items sell really well—for $1,000 or more—at your action?"
She shared that some of the top sellers at her school included vacation packages; mini vacations such as tickets to Walt Disney World, etc.; elaborate trips to Europe or high-end domestic destinations; and autographed memorabilia from the Florida Gators. (Her school is in Gainesville).
The responses came fast!
The Bear Creek School (WA) has a long list of live auction successes, according to Linda Sheppard, Director of Development Affairs. Here are the “best sellers” and the dollars raised:
- Vacation homes in England ($1,200), Sedona ($2,200), Maui ($3,200) , La Quinta, CA ($1,600) , and Brazil ($5,000)
- Three different local resort destinations ($1,900 and $1,600) with the third local destination winner chosen by raffle—100 tickets sold at $100 for $10,000 of income to the auction.
- Seattle Mariners owner’s box seats for four ($1,300)
- Lunch in the school cafeteria for the year ($1,100 sold twice)
- Twelve class projects (only grades with even numbers do them in any given year) that average over $1,000 each— the highest ever at $7,500 for a quilted wall hanging
- ESPN radio show sit in ($1,150)
- Progressive dinner for eight hosted by the parent group with transportation on the school mini bus ($1,700)
- Playhouse or shed of your design built by a contractor dad ($1,200)
- Planked salmon dinner hosted by the Board ($4,300)
- "Tesla party" for 20 with food and test drives ($2,100)
- Exterior house cleaning with steam ($1,300)
- Sleep in a tree house with dinner delivery (sold twice at $1,600)
- U2 concert—two tickets ($2,600)
Choice parking—usually closest to the door—is a very popular item for many schools. Linda Sheppard said that three families bid $3,200 successfully for on-campus parking on the large campus and two paid $1,300 for parking on the smaller campus this year. Each winner received a personalized sign they can keep at year’s end. Bear Creek’s record is for parking spaces at $4,000 each.
John Carroll School (MD) also has a very large campus, and Laura Lang, Director of Annual Giving & Constituent Relations, said that the student parking lot requires a good hike to get in the building. The auction parking space in the front is one of the school’s biggest sellers.
Michele Brumsey, Director of Institutional Advancement at Academy of the Holy Names (NY) says their auction has some very interesting big ticket items. Prayers for a year from a special sister raised $6,000, and a sleepover for a class with the students' favorite teacher brought in $3,000 twice. Plus, dinner provided and served at the winner’s home netted $2,500!
“We offer a ‘walk-on’ role in our middle school play for a child in K-5th grade. We have sold it every year for $3,000+ and have sold it to multiple bidders!” said Melanie Johnson, Development Director at Southfield School (LA). “Another popular item in the last two years has been a puppy. Walk it around school for two weeks before the event and every child will go home and tell their parents about it!”
She said that Coach for a Day and Chef for a Day also bring in high bids.
Additional ISM Resources
ISM Monthly Update for Development Vol. 9 No. 7 It’s Auction Time!
ISM Monthly Update for Development Vol. 9 No. 7 Ask the Expert
Private School News Vol. 10 No. 8 Food Truck Nights
Consortium Resources
To The Point Vol. 10 No. 6 The Annual Fund Cabinet: A Volunteer-Professional Partnership
