Gift Baskets and the Silent Auction - Re Deux

Several months ago I wrote an article on the topicapproached for donations by large non profits and
of creating Gift Baskets for Silent Auctions. Therecivic groups and they already donate thousands of
was such a great response to that article, that Idollars every year to community events. They have
decided to re visit the subject.budgets too, so when approaching them for
Non profit organizations are not the only ones whodonations, keep your request simple. You can do a
are looking to raise funds by non traditional means.lot with a $25 or $50 donation when you are creating
Every day I read a newspaper article or see a posterthemed gift baskets.
for fund raisers for individuals within the communityWhen the first items start to come in, see if, by
who need assistance because a fire has left themcombining some of the items, you can come up with
homeless or their medical bills from an accident orsome ideas for themes. Did the bookstore donate a
illness are not being met by their insurance. I saw abook about gardens or birds or flowers? If so,
poster recently promoting a spaghetti dinner to raisecombine the book with the garden planter and start
money to assist the family of a soldier wounded ina "gardening" theme. If the bookstore donated a
Afghanistan. The family needed help with travel andrecent best selling mystery, you can still combine it
living expenses. A silent auction is a great way towith the planter but your theme could be a little
accomplish the goal of raising money for any gooddifferent. It could be entitled "the weekend", a little
cause.gardening, a little reading, you get the idea. Use any
The first step is to ask local businesses for help. Amonetary donations to purchase items that will
retailer might be willing to donate an item from theircompliment the themes you have chosen.
store. For example, a book store may donate aSome easy themes to design are a wine basket, a
book, a garden center a planter, etc. Ask businesspasta basket, a night at the movies basket, an arts
people like insurance agents or car sales people. Theyor crafts basket and a game night gift basket.
may not have a product they can donate but theyYou can buy everything you need to finish off the
may be willing to donate a few dollars or an item likegift basket such as cello wrap and a hand tied bow
a bottle wine.at many local craft shops. If you have a gift basket
Remember that most banks and the few largercompany in your area, ask them to donate their time
companies in your area are always regularlyand expertise.