You may be used to the fact that nonprofit organizations are hosting dinners in order to raise some funding for one cause or another. Perhaps you’ve attended those in the past, and you believe that things are still the same today, and that nothing has changed in terms of how this is done. And, while those benefit dinners are still definitely quite important, the truth is that the fundraising game has gone beyond it. It has evolved. If you want to plan a fundraiser event, this could help.

What does it mean that this game has evolved, though? To put it simply, it means that this particular world has experienced some changes. Donors often expect some quite unique and memorable opportunities when planning to donate to a cause that they are passionate about. So, simple dinners can often no longer do the trick.

Among the changes that you may want to look into if you are in this field, auction vacation packages really stand out as quite important. In other words, they stand out as an exciting, memorable and unique opportunity, which is why it tends to attract people, combining the appeal of traveling with the thrill of auctioning. So, using this particular idea to your advantage could undeniably be the right move, that is, a win-win scenario both for you and the mission you are fighting for, and for your supporters and donors.

Before you decide to use this particular option, though, and introduce it as a fundraising strategy, you first want to better understand what it entails. So, below I am going to answer that question for you, hoping to make it clear what auction vacation packages are, as well as what they bring to the table specifically. After that, we will be able to proceed towards helping you understand how to organize the right fundraising event using these packages, or, better yet, how to ensure that you are offering the right packages.

Here are some more tips on how to may want to set up a fundraiser in general: https://www.wikihow.life/Set-up-a-Fundraising-Event

What Are Auction Vacation Packages?

Unsurprisingly, we are going to begin with the very basics here. To put it simply, we first have to ensure that you understand what these packages really are. So, to cut to the chase, an auction vacation package is basically a curated travel experience that has been designed specifically to be sold at nonprofit auctions. They can include all kinds of experiences, from luxury villa stays to all-inclusive resort trips, and many, many things more.

Another thing that you should know if you run a nonprofit organization is that these packages are actually offered on consignment, which basically means that you pay to the provider only if the actual package is sold. So, clearly, you eliminate your own financial risks, and there are no upfront costs that you have to worry about, meaning that you can organize this type of a fundraising event, offering the vacation packages on auction even if you are not a huge organization, and even if you don’t currently have quite a lot of funds.

As for the travels that are offered within the packages, we are talking usually about luxury ones. In other words, those that most donors often think about and want, but never really treat themselves to. Now that it is for a good cause, though, they may decide to treat themselves, thus doing something amazing both for the mission of the nonprofit organization and for themselves. And, of course, the packages often have longer validity, from a couple of months to a couple of years even, meaning that the person that wins them at the auction can travel at their own convenience, and when they decide that they want to.

How to Choose?

Now that you have understood what these are, how they work, and why they may be beneficial for you, the next thing you want to know is how to actually choose the right ones to add to your event. In other words, you want to choose the very best auction vacation packages to offer, so that you can be sure that you’ll raise a lot of funds for your cause. How can you make the right choice here, though?

Well, first of all, you have to know your audience. Don’t choose something that you would like. Choose something that your audience will like. So, consider their demographics, their travel preferences, as well as their average giving capacity, so as to choose the right traveling experiences that will appeal to them, and that they will be able and ready to pay for.

Of course, remember to match the packages to your event, and don’t forget to consider how flexible they are in terms of booking windows, group size and similar. The more flexible the package, the more appealing it will be to the bidders. Naturally, you should keep the ROI in mind as well, and check the ROI potential for the packages you are considering, as that’s how you’ll ensure that you’ll be able to really make something for your cause.