I know it can be hard to ask people for anything. Help, donations, money, you name it. But it doesn't have to be difficult. When you're starting to recruit donations for a silent auction, it's all about making connections. First, connect with the other organizers - do they have any suggestions?
Second, connect with the vendors - they may be able to offer something that would be good for the bidding. I was planning a golf tournament associated with some client events we were hosting and our group used a hotel room block in the area. I called the sales manager at the hotel and asked if they would be able to donate anything that could be used for our silent auction in association with the golf tournament. She provided me with a gift certificate good for two nights at the hotel. See what you can get just by asking!
Third, make sure that you're connecting with people that understand and sympathize with your cause. I hosted a silent auction event where I knew that a manager with a large, well-known sunglasses company was going to be in attendance. I asked one of the other volunteers (who invited him) if they could reach out to him and see if his company would donate. Since that company gets requests all the time, they have an online process that we went through for the donation. We just had to make sure that we sent in the request 6-8 weeks before our event.
Lastly, taking to social media is a great way to get the word to the world about your event. Make sure that you post multiple times about needed silent auction items and ask influential Tweeters for a retweet.
No matter how you go about gathering items for your silent auction, make sure you have a process in place for where donations are to be sent, tracking the value of the item and distributing a tax receipt to whomever donates. If you're working with a 501(c)(3) organization, make sure you have access to the Federal Tax ID number.
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