Donations for Silent Auction

I am a jewlery designer. You can see my website here: http://www.JeweledAmbrosia.etsy.com

I would be willing to donate a necklace. The best way to do this though for larger items if you go into a store, is to have notice made up, with a bit of the story and the auction date and details. In turn for the item, you can offer advertising on the flyers. This article will help you with lots of the details to provide:

http://nonprofitfundraising.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_...

B&Bs, restaurants, sports team stuff (signed is even better), tickets to the theater, amusement park tickets, day spas, florists (bouquet a month for a year or something like that). Be sure to know ahead of time what you will be giving them in return (free advertising); how many people you expect to reach; will you be having an event, or will this be online; what the money is actually going for (healthcare bills?). Bring a picture of the 15yo with you, preferably before and after, so that they can see and connect with the situation more. Tell them how much money you are hoping to raise. What is the actual need in $ amount? I hope it works out well for you!

I would go in person with a letter with your contact info to leave behind. If they are "thinking about it" or "checking with the boss" (i.e. you don't get an answer right then & there) follow up with a phone call in 2-3 days.

Avon consultants
Mary Kay consultants
Pampered chef consultants
Gift stores
Gyms
Car dealerships
Insurance agencies
Local Eateries
Local convenience stores
Chain restaurants might donate gift cards

Also go to a banner or sign shop and see if they will donate a "thank you Banner" for yur larger contributers.. You can mention thi on your introduction letter.

If a Grocery store donates 50 cases of water, a Bed and Breakfast donates a weekend stay worth $400.you can list them as Top contributors..

I also like when there is a raffle for a lot of different prizes and a lot of different winners. At our daughters College they sold 4 chances to win for $20. They had about 20 .. baskets full of different themes form different groups and businesses. You placed your ticket or tickets in the box next to the items you wanted to win..
Here is an example of some of them..

A coffee basket (mugs, coffees, coffee press, cookies, chocolate stirring spoons, funny napkins)..

Tea basket (Teacups and saucers, teas, sugar cubes, lace napkins, marzipan candy, books on teas)

Spa basket (gift certificate for a facial, moisturizer, spa shoes, spa wrap, hair products, foot care set)

Comic book basket (collection of anime books, comic books and a piggy bank of a super hero),

Book lovers (gift card to Barnes and Nobles, collection of books, book light, book marks, godiva chocolates)

Soups (Large stock pot, filled with bowls, cookbooks, ladle, dishtowels, and a gift card to a cheese shop)

Wine lovers (Wine glasses, bottle opener, 4 bottles of wine, napkins, gift card to a cheese shop).

They were all wonderful and looked very appealing, I purchased $40. worth of tickets.. They each had a list of the items so you knew what all was included.

yes, go in person and bring a letter about what you're raising money for. But call ahead of time to find out the name of the person you need to talk to, when they're often in the office, and to find out if they do even donate. Some places only donate a limited number of items a year and have already met their 'donation quota.'

Most often, fast foods will donate. Not great for a silent auction really.

The silent auctions I've seen, items included:
- jewelry (nothing fancy) from a local lady who makes it (maybe $50 value)
- a massage from the local massage school or an individual who works out of their home.
- Make-up set from a Mary Kay consultant
- Anything from local gift shops (they may have extras of one item that's not selling they may give you).
- Golf clubs/lessons/entry from the local golf place
- Wine from the local winery

Tell them you will lay out their business cards with the item on silent auction. That way, they can get some extra business more easily perhaps.

UPDATE:
I like Laurie A's ideas. If it's a silent auction but not a lot of people attend, then you may get only $10 for a $50 item. Doing the baskets is a great idea. Goodwill has about a zillion wicker baskets you can go get, then add the donated goodies. And "need NOT be present to win" helps. Sometimes people don't mind giving $10, but they don't want to go to the event.

Yes, go in person. I love asking for donations for a fundraiser auction, because almost everyone is willing to donate something (if you aren't afraid to be a little pushy). When I used to do it, almost every store I went into would donate something. It might be a little more difficult now that there's a recession, but if you tell them about the teen's accident, it will probably help open their purse strings.

Just walk into any stores you think would contribute good, appropriate merchandise, with your paperwork, and ask.