The Top 10-ish Most Exciting Auction Lots of 2024

Marking a second straight year of 100% in-person galas, 2024 was a fun year for fundraising auctions. Trips continued to be successful, and dining and entertainment remained the most popular category across fundraising auctions. The most exciting trips transcended “retail” and included unique experiences, offered access to popular members of the community, or both. In this year’s top 10 list, I’ve included an example that covers both of those bases. More than a few dining and entertainment lots made the list as well.

Buy-in parties remain popular and profitable, and this year’s top 10 includes just one shining example. I have always been a huge proponent of the “instant gratification introductory lot,” as well as the collection of restaurants for a “year of dining.” This year, two organizations took both of those ideas to new levels.

The top trend of 2024 was the success of organization-related or organization-specific auction lots. Many organizations created extremely exciting and successful auction lots by utilizing opportunities or relationships from within. These organization-specific lots achieved multiple goals: they effectively communicated the message of the organization, gave donors the opportunity to remain engaged with the organization through redemption of the auction lot, and often were extremely profitable. Organization-specific lots provide a great example when creating your own lots. Not every organization can get a private plane donated for a trip to New Orleans, but most organizations have an experience in-house that could be utilized in their fundraising auction (contact me to brainstorm!).

As always, this list utilizes my arbitrary definition of what makes for an exciting auction lot. “Exciting” is about a lot’s uniqueness, creativity, and the buzz the lot generated at the event. Sale price is a factor, but more important is the number of people who bid on a particular lot.

Our first example took the concept of the “introductory, instant gratification lot” and expanded it. I am a champion of low-cost/highly desirable warm-up auction lots to engage the crowd and build momentum. If you have a DJ or band, including them as part of the opener is an easy ask:

Bubbles, Beats and Sweets

Once again, we are going to kick off this auction in style, with a party at your table, and your shot to start the dance party off with the perfect song! Start with some instant gratification: a bottle of sparkling wine chilled and ready to be served to your table as soon as you are ready. Paired with it is a selection of chocolates from Jesus Chavez and Linda Sanchez’s Casa De Chocolates, where they blend the essence of Mesoamerican chocolate traditions with modern, creative flavor pairings.

As if that weren’t enough fun, DJ Sami of the Heart of Gold DJs is here to rock the party. Sami’s been with Heart of Gold for a decade and they are going to let you pick the first song of their set!

How will you kick off the evening? So. Much. Pressure.

Opening Bid: $250                                                                                            Value: $500

A Year of Michelin Star Dining

Experience the pinnacle of culinary excellence with our exclusive live auction item: a year of Michelin-starred dining in the Bay Area. Indulge in the finest epicurean experiences with dinner for two at 12 prestigious restaurants, each adorned with coveted Michelin stars.

Your journey begins at Acquerello, where Italian elegance meets innovative flavors in a two-star setting. From there, venture to Angler for sustainable seafood and wood-fired delights. Gary Danko awaits, promising culinary mastery and impeccable service in an esteemed Michelin-starred atmosphere.

Continue your culinary adventure at Lazy Bear, where two-star communal dining meets avant-garde cuisine. Madcap invites you to savor inventive dishes in a setting that celebrates culinary artistry in Marin County. At Mister Jiu’s, modern Chinese cuisine takes center stage, offering a fusion of bold flavors and innovative creations.

Nari beckons with inventive Thai dishes, while San Ho Won showcases the art of Korean barbecue. SingleThread transports you to the bountiful fields of Sonoma County with a three-star farm-to-table tasting menu. Sorrel celebrates Northern California cuisine with rustic elegance and modern flair.

State Bird Provisions invites you to enjoy small plates bursting with flavor in a lively setting. Conclude your culinary odyssey at The Village Pub, where classic American fare meets contemporary sophistication in lush Woodside.

Bid for a chance to embark on this extraordinary culinary journey, where each meal promises to tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more. Don't miss out on the opportunity to indulge in a year of Michelin-starred dining excellence in the Bay Area.

Opening Bid: $6,000                                                                                        Value: $7,500

 [“A Year of Fine Dining” or “Date Night for a Year” is always a popular auction lot and a great way to utilize restaurant gift certificates that would otherwise be spread out across the silent auction. This organization took that idea to a new level and gave their board an easy way to contribute to the auction.]

Animated Star of the Screen

Is the allure of the big screen and Hollywood lights calling your name? Capture your moment of entertainment fame and be a small part of an important animated film based on the novel “Tangles.” The movie tells the story of a daughter coming home to her oddball family to care for her mother living with Alzheimer’s disease.

 The winning bidder will be able to see their likeness transformed into a captivating animated character in a movie produced by Monarch Media. The film is currently in production and the talented team of artists and character designers are prepared to capture every nuance of your likeness for the viewing audience to enjoy. Your “avatar” will be as unique and vibrant as you are. And the piece de resistance is that your name will be listed in the movie credits and on IMDb!   

Opening Bid: $2,000                                                                                       

[This lot was sold at an Alzheimer’s Association event, offering an incredibly unique opportunity that also tied directly to the mission of the organization.]

Honorary Little Wishes Coordinator for a Day!

You will step inside the hospital with us and be a Little Wishes Coordinator for a day at LPCH-Stanford. As our special guest, you will lead activities in the hospital playroom located on the oncology floor, accompanied by Child Life Specialists showing you how our little patients escape into the Land of Play.

Opening Bid: $500
Final Sale Price: $12,000

[During the cocktail hour at this event, I chatted with the donor who purchased this lot the year before. They said it was a phenomenal experience, one of their most memorable moments of the year. They loved it so much, that they were one of the high bidders again, purchasing the lot two years in a row.]

An Evening with LANDO and Friends, “Part Deux”!

You are invited to join us for the “part feux” of an incredible and memorable evening of wine, food, and music. If you heard about how fantastic this evening was this past April, you know you don’t want to miss our second act. This unique lot is a culmination of Sam Lando’s friendships. Each participating winery is good friends with Sam Lando, and coincidentally, they produce some of the best wines in their categories (Cabernets, Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and Rhone varieties).

So let’s set the stage…

You and your guest will arrive at Back Forty’s tasting room decked out for a party. First, the crew will enjoy an extensive tasting with our fabulous featured winery partners. After the tasting, you will certainly be looking for some delicious food and Lando and friends will deliver! Our winemakers (and their wines) will join the guests for a seated meal where local chefs will delight the winning bidders with a wine country-inspired menu.

You may say, “All that is missing is some live music”, and we’ll say that we’ve got you more than covered! To cap off this fabulous evening, three songwriters will take to the stage while you are enjoying dinner and copious amounts of awesome wine for an intimate acoustic set.. This is going to be one for the ages!

Bid high for this incredible experience that will wow your senses!!

35 Couples: $3,000/Couple!

[This buy-in lot highlights the power of buy-ins: offering bidders a unique experience worthy of sharing with a large group, at a price that is well below the average of the auction, without sacrificing the total amount raised by this auction lot (35 x $3,000 = $105,000).]

Rock & Hammer Rarities: Pinot Noir Lot

With five NBA championship victories as Head Coach of the San Antonio Spurs and the most wins by an NBA coach ever, Gregg Popovich knows that putting in the daily work is essential to long-term success.

That’s the story behind Rock & Hammer Pinot Noir, the wine created by Coach Popovich and Rex Hill Winery, one of the pioneers of Oregon Pinot. Growing Pinot Noir is exceptionally difficult. Making wine from this fastidious grape requires intense dedication. A lover and collector of fine wine, Coach Popovich has worked with the Rex Hill Winery since 2005 to fashion the very best expression that Oregon can produce.

With this lot, you’ll receive every vintage produced by Rock & Hammer, beginning with their very first from 2005. These wines have never been available commercially, having been offered solely as part of Coach Popovich’s charitable endeavors. To our knowledge, a complete collection of these wines has never been offered — until now. In fact, this lot is so rare that it warranted a scoop on ESPN.com from sportswriter Baxter Holmes.

Includes:

• Rock & Hammer Pinot Noir: 2005-2017, 2019 (several signed by Gregg Popovich)

• Four seats to a San Antonio Spurs game from Coach Popovich’s allocation, on a mutually agreed date.

Donor: Gregg Popovich and Mike & Nancy T

[The uniqueness of this lot, coupled with the celebrity of Gregg Popovich resulted in coverage for this lot by ESPN sportswriter Baxter Holmes before the event took place.]

Opening Bid: $12,000                                                                     Value: $24,000

First Call to Kids Camp

Get first dibs for your kids this High Desert Museum Kids Camp season! Secure exclusive early access to registration for the 2024/25 Kids Camp series and get a coveted sneak peek of the Winter 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025 camp dates and themes a full week before they’re released to the public. The High Desert Museum offers a unique, immersive learning environment where your kiddos can engage in hands-on discovery and exploration, making these camps highly sought after and quickly filled due to their exceptional, enriching experiences.

Don’t miss this chance to ensure your child’s spot in these popular programs, offering unforgettable educational adventures at one of the region’s most cherished institutions. Does not include camp fees, cannot exceed three spots simultaneously, and must be in one household.

Opening Bid: $500                                                                                            Value: $2,000

[Another great example of a very organization-specific lot, this package did not include the actual classes. It was only for the ability to be first in line, and any parent who has ever tried to sign their kids up for camp knows how challenging getting into camp can be.]

Six Bottles of 1989 in Honor of the 35th Anniversary of vinNEBRASKA and 40th of Stephen Center

From the wine cellar of vinNEBRASKA Board president Mark G comes a commemorative half-case of fine wine from ’89. Celebrating 40 years of the Stephen Center and 35 years of Vin Nebraska, you get six bottles of red that have held up well:

·         ’89 ZD Wines Napa Vally Pinot

·         ’89 Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet

·         ’89 Peju Napa Valley Cabernet

·         ’89 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet

·         ’89 Chante Cigale Chateauneuf-du-Pape

·         ’89 Rioja Vega Crianza

All housed in a custom made vinNEBRASKA wine box made by a local artisan so you can display these bottles proudly!

Opening Bid: $250                                                                                           Value: $500

[Milestones make for good auction lots, and this well-aged collection of wine from the year this wine auction was founded proves it doesn’t have to be a huge lot to be exciting.]

Bloom & Brunch: Flower Arranging Class

Twelve people enjoy the opportunity to learn the fine art of arranging flowers with our very own auction chair, Meredith J. Make your way to Amber J.’s house, where you’ll be welcomed on to her lovely deck with a mimosa. Then Meredith will give you a hands-on demonstration of the fine art of crafting bouquets.

From flower finding to color matching and stem trimming, Meredith will teach you all the ins and outs of creating colorful bouquets. For an example of her handiwork, look no further than your centerpiece tonight: Meredith created and donated all of them!

After learning how to create fantastic floral arrangements, you’ll enjoy brunch prepared with fresh eggs from Amber Jo’s “surviving chickens” – it’s a long story, we don’t have time for it now – and paired with more fun and bubbly!

Opening Bid: $1,200                                                                                        Value: $2,200

[The auction chair also created all of the centerpieces for this gala. This auction lot was a double-whammy: it emphasized her popularity as auction chair, and it exemplified her abilities as a florist. Once the lot was over, we then gave away all of the floral centerpieces on each table.]

Southern Sky Ease to the Big Easy for Frank and Pardis Gras!

Come fly with Southern Sky to New Orleans where old spirits fly! Feasting, sipping, snacking and more – with jazz, historic sights, so much to adore!

It’s the trip you’ve always dreamed of but never imagined would ever even be a possibility… much less come true! Four (4) of you are headed to New Orleans for 3 deliciously action-packed days (and 2 colorful nights). Best part? You’ll be doing all of this in the company of Birmingham’s favorite hosts: Pardis and Frank Stitt!

Friday: You’ll fly conveniently and comfortably on a Cessna Citation XLS private jet courtesy of Southern Sky Aviation. A quick stop at the Four Seasons to drop bags, then off to lunch at the legendary Galatoire’s, a Stitt favorite! At Galatoire’s, where lunch is grand, a second line rolls through, brass band in hand!

After lunch you’ll make your way to the Bywater for an afternoon with Patrick Dunne, renowned culinary historian and antiques dealer. At his shoppe, Lucullus, you’ll have exclusive access to his expertly-curated collection of 19th century silverware and French crystal glasses. But what good is crystal without Champagne and a good story or two?

Dunne will captivate you with his tales of wit and wonder, sharing the fascinating histories behind the treasures you explore while you sip and shop. (Bring an empty bag: leaving empty-handed is hazardous!) You’ll build quite the appetite, too…

So it’s off to dinner at Herbsaint to enjoy Donald Link’s refined Southern flavors with a French twist. A James Beard winner, Link’s dishes strike the perfect balance of comfort and creativity – just what you’ll need to recharge. And since no day in NOLA is complete without a nightcap, wrap up with a drink or two at Cane & Able.

Saturday: Sleep in! Enjoy a leisurely morning along the river, stroll through the sleepy quarter, or indulge in one of the spa services offered at the Four Seasons.

Lunch at Peche, an upbeat, artsy, upscale lunch spot before indulging in an afternoon of culture, wine and live music at Bacchanal, NOLA’s most beloved and lively backyard party. Laissez les bon temps rouler right on into dinner at N7, one of Bon Appetit’s “Best New Restaurants of 2016.”

After dinner, you’ll head to Tipitina’s or Preservation Hall. The night is still young; let the jazz cast its call!

Sunday: Those Stitt’s just won’t quit. It’s off to brunch at Brennen’s! Fill up on Eggs Hussarde and Bananas Foster before your guided walking tour of the historic Garden District.

With feasting, music, and stories to share, this New Orleans trip is beyond compare.

Opening Bid: $25,000

[This lot has it all: access, relationship, travel. The Stitts are some of the most popular restauranteurs in Birmingham, and the opportunity to go to New Orleans with them was all kinds of exciting.]

Lindsay and Michael Tusk: Quince Come in Your Home

Indulge in a culinary masterpiece as Chef Michael Tusk brings the refined elegance of Three-Star Michelin cuisine from Quince to your home. With a lifelong passion for the culinary arts, Chef Tusk offers you an unparalleled dining experience, showcasing exceptional ingredients at their purest in the comfort of your own home.

Prepare for an extraordinary evening as Chef Tusk weaves together contemporary flavors with hand-selected, exceptional ingredients, creating a personalized menu tailored exclusively for your party of eight. Every dish is a testament to Chef Tusk's dedication to sourcing locally and seasonally, with ingredients carefully curated from Quince's network of Northern California purveyors, including their own farm.

To complement this culinary journey, Lindsay and Michael will personally curate a selection of wines from their cellar, perfectly paired with each course, enhancing the flavors and ensuring an unforgettable dining experience for you and your guests.

Mutually agreed upon date.

Value: $2,000, Private Chef Experience — Priceless

[Dining and entertainment is always a popular category, and having two well-known chefs come to your house for a gourmet, wine-paired feast is the pinnacle of this type of auction lot. But if you can’t get Michelin-starred, well-known chefs, lean into the people to whom you do have access: your committee, your board, or popular members of your auction community.]

Full Orthodontic Treatment from Image Orthodontics

From Dr. Yan Kalika and Image Orthodontics: our 45th Season Corporate Sponsor, comes the ultimate auction lot: a winning smile! Dr. Yan will give you or your loved one the perfect smile.

And we’re not trying to say that you don’t already have a beautiful smile, or that you haven’t passed on great looking teeth to your kids. We’re just saying Dr. Yan is that good. Whether you’ve been meaning to touch up some long-forgotten needs, or your child is having some growing pains of the mouth, Dr. Yan will lend new meaning to “winning smile” with this full orthodontic treatment! Everything you need from start to finish (but you’ll still have to brush and floss yourself).

Opening Bid: $2,000                                                                           Value: $6,500

[This final example is here to underscore how important it is to know your community and offer auction lots that are enticing to them. The San Francisco Girls Chorus auction is supported primarily by parents of middle-school-aged children: a prime demographic for orthodontia. This lot was the most bid on, most exciting lot of the auction, with three sets of parents going back and forth to get a tax write-off on their kid’s braces.]

Auction lot idea: “The Wine Spectator Top 100”

Wine is consistently one of the top-selling categories of auction lots in fundraising auctions, and the vast majority of charity auctions we conduct feature at least one or two “wine lots.” People like their wine and are often more than willing to overpay for it in support of a good cause.

But not every committee is comprised of wine lovers with expansive wine cellars, and sometimes coming up with a good wine lot is a daunting challenge. Committee members often don’t have the wines and don’t know which wines they should purchase to donate.

We’ve worked with a number of committees to come up with ideas for lots that can be achieved without necessitating a deep and expensive cellar. Lots that can be assembled at minimal expense to your individual committee members, but for which the collective perceptual value is very high. One lot that is the easy to replicate and consistently yields solid results is “The Wine Spectator Top 100.”

Every year Wine Spectator releases its list of the top 100 wines of the year. It isn’t simply a list of the 100 highest scoring wines from the previous year; the editors of Wine Spectator base their list on “quality, value, availability and excitement.” All important criteria when assembling an auction lot!

Wine is perennially popular, especially wine with provenance. 

What this means is the wines on the Wine Spectator Top 100 are readily available and relatively affordable. Thirteen of the top twenty wines on the list have a retail value of $50 or less. Only eight of the entire list cost $100 or more.

I recommend creating a lot of at least ten bottles. “Ten of the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines” has a nice ring to it and is an achievable goal for most committees. Avoid duplication by agreeing as a group which wines you’ll be targeting individually. This ensures people have a clear direction and clearly defines the goals of the lot.

Here’s a dirty little secret: although it is nice to target the top ten wines on the Wine Spectator list, you really don’t have to have all wines from the top of the list. Wines from anywhere in the top 100 will work – as long as a few of them sniff the rarified air of the top of the list.

From a bidder’s perspective, the fact that someone else has pre-assembled a group of highly qualified wines makes this lot appealing. If the retail value is relatively low it, great! That gives people the opportunity to earn a higher tax deduction if they pay over value. And the many times I’ve sold variations of this lot, the final sale price has outperformed retail value.

Have a favorite go-to wine lot for your fundraising auction? Let us know in the comments below!

The top 10 most exciting lots of 2016

At the end of each year I comb through every auction lot I sold and compile a list of the “most exciting” lots I sold that year. It’s an arbitrary assessment, based on the uniqueness of each lot, the creativity that went into the lot, the buzz generated at the event, and how much it sold for. A lot doesn’t have to be a huge seller to be included here; it just has to be exciting.

In 2016 the Warriors remained one of the best-selling tickets in the Bay Area, Hamilton became understandably hot, and chefs and vintners remained the rockstars of fundraising auctions.

One interesting trend was the continued growth of buy-in parties. As buy-ins gain acceptance at more and more fundraising auctions, committees and donors are becoming better at assembling creative buy-in experiences. This year three buy-in experiences made the top 10, including a SWAT team experience that generated over $50,000!

Once again, the goal of this post isn’t to inspire you to duplicate these lots. My goal is to inspire you to create your own stellar lots, so I can include them in my next best-of list!

So here are my most exciting fundraising auction lots of 2016, presented in no particular order.

On Broadway

Enjoy a trip to New York City to see Broadway’s most sought after show, Hamilton: An American Musical on Broadway.

This package includes two round-trip main cabin seats to New York on Virgin America, accommodations for two people for two nights and three days in New York. A collection of Kendra Scott jewelry to get you ready for the show, and two tickets to see Hamilton on May 13th at 8:00 pm at Richard Rodgers Theatre.

Escape From Alcatraz! 

Experience one of San Francisco’s great unsolved mysteries for yourself! Join Water World Swim and First Graduate’s Ann S. on an adventure that people rarely have the opportunity to explore—an Alcatraz to San Francisco swim. Perfect for those in triathlon training, or just another day in the life of the average thrill-seeker, this package includes transportation by boat to Alcatraz. Before the main event, you’ll receive one private swimming lesson, along with one group practice. Then set out on the San Francisco Bay for the most memorable journey of your life!

Buy-In Lot: Napa County Sheriff SWAT Team Adventure!

This daylong session is as real as it gets without being in harm’s way. Ten adults will live out their fantasies and partake in a day of heart-pounding adventure with tactical training, demonstrations, instruction in the use of special weapons, and SWAT Team assault exercises.

This truly unique opportunity includes Sheriff’s Department transportation from a central point to and from the SWAT training site in Napa County.

Firearms instruction will include a variety of specially selected weapons under the supervision of SWAT team experts. Besides sharpening your aim, our “good guys” will expose you to a simulated SWAT team invasion where you will be asked to play a role that will test your instincts and judgment under pressure.

Travel lunches will be prepared, but water will be the only drink served. Only the guns can be loaded during the exercise!

Following your heroic day on the range and at the assault building, you’ll unwind at a special reception at Trinchero Family Estates in St. Helena. Fine wines and tasty food will be served so that the whole team and your instructors can raise a toast to your bravery and valor! Your performance will be critiqued and awards will be presented by Napa’s finest, including Sheriff John Robertson himself.

We recommend you get a good night’s sleep the night before this exercise!

Opening bid: $5,000 per person

Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski with Peay Wines – Dinner for Eight in Your Home

Chef Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski of San Francisco’s James Beard award-winning State Bird Provisions and The Progress will bring their modern, original culinary sensibilities to the table as they collaborate on a five course feast for eight guests in your home.  The unique and delicious dishes are sure to have your guests talking about Old World traditions and New World inventions as if they are natural companions – much like these talented chef-proprietors themselves! And, of course, a special dinner calls for a special wine.  Andy Peay will introduce his handcrafted wines.  Peay wines come from a vineyard ideally located to produce superior fruit to which the Peay family adds their wine making knowledge. 

PLUS! Stuart is throwing in guaranteed reservations at State Bird Provisions for the next year. Any time you want to eat dinner, give them a call and you’ll be in!

 “Sully”– New York Movie Premier and After-Party

Walk the red carpet like a star at the New York premier and after-party of the upcoming Warner Bros. Pictures film, “Sully,” from Director Clint Eastwood, starring Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart and Laura Linney.  Not only was Sully the inspiring keynote speaker at our gala last year, you may also remember him for serving as Captain during what has been called the “miracle on the Hudson.”  This upcoming film details Captain “Sully’s” once in a lifetime experience, and this package is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.

The winner of this package will receive:
● First class roundtrip airfare for two (2) to New York
● Two (2) tickets to the movie premier & after party, date TBD
● A 3-day, 2-night stay at the Marriott Marquis

Luxuries in the Wild

The ten lucky travelers who snag this lot will escape the realities of everyday life and spend four memorable days floating down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness with the best outfitter in the Northwest, Far and Away Adventures. This unique experience is like a deluxe safari on the river … high-end luxury “glamping” with exceptional, personalized service in some of the most remote and stunning terrain in the country. Accompanying you will be your favorite rock stars of wine, Kosta Browne. Dan Kosta himself will be in attendance to keep you satiated with some of the most sought-after selections from their vineyards.

Start each morning with a tasty breakfast cooked and served by your guides. Spend the day however you wish. Maybe enjoy a few hours each day fly fishing under the direction of an expert guide, or explore the hiking trails and old mining cabins along the shore. Cool off with a swim alongside the rafts. Paddle your own kayak for kicks. Marvel at the wildlife in Impassable Canyon. Or just float along in peace, basking in the pleasures of such an awe-inspiring place.

As the light fades each day and you lounge by the banks of this gorgeous river, glass of your preferred Kosta Browne wine in hand, Steve Lentz, chef extraordinaire from Far and Away Adventures, will delight you with delectable organic gourmet dinners. After your meal and more outstanding wines, share stories and laughs around the campfire before falling into bed under a blanket of stars, tired and fully satisfied, only to wake up and do it again the next day. Sounds heavenly, doesn’t it?

[Editor’s note: The Warriors were so hot in 2016 that I had to cheat and include two of their lots, just for contrast]

Warriors #1: Everybody Say...“WARRIORS!” Playoff Tickets!

Make a big splash with Steph and Klay and three of your friends

Head to Warrior’s ground for round 2 of the NBA playoffs with three of your blue and gold wearing friends! Golden State is having an epic, record setting season and is well on its way to another NBA Championship! You’ll take a limousine to and from the game from your home and have awesome lower level seats in the Oracle Arena. And you won’t even have to worry about what to wear—included in this package is an official Steph Curry All-Star Jersey!

Warriors #2: Warriors Game in Style: Helicopter Ride to Warriors Game for Four

Talk about arriving in style! Four people will enjoy a scenic helicopter ride from the Santa Rosa Airport to the Oakland Airport and a short limo ride to your seats at the Golden State Warriors game! You’ll sip on libations from Jackson Family Wines on your way there and enjoy the Jackson Family Wines wine area on the mezzanine.

Name Our Red-Tailed Hawk & Enjoy a High Desert Adventure for Four

The High Desert Museum’s most recent addition to the wildlife collection is a two month old red-tailed hawk that will be part of our stellar Raptors of the Desert Sky outdoor flight show. You can name this magnificent bird and learn about it and other soaring species during a field trip led by our Curator of Natural History and Curator of Western History. They will both accompany you on a two-day journey through eastern Oregon’s sagebrush steppe. It is a landscape rich with history—the ancient homeland of Native Americans once traversed by lost emigrant wagon trains, the scene of conflict between U.S. Cavalry and desert tribes and, for a time, the domain of California cattlemen and their buckaroos.

Naming opportunities often make for extremely engaging auction lots, especially with a program as beloved as the High Desert Museum's "Raptors in Flight".

You’ll venture to Steens Mountain where subalpine landscapes of aspen-fringed meadows rise above the desert, with a spectacular view from the summit. There you will enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking glacial-carved canyons. We’ll visit places like Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, the chain of desert lakes in Warner Valley, the Warner Mountains, and Paradise Valley. This trip will take place during the late spring or early summer of 2017.

Your chosen name will be publicized on the Museum’s website and in our member newsletter. You will also receive a certificate of naming with a photo.

Buy-In Lot: Lunch with the Leading Ladies of Napa Valley

Back by popular demand! Beth Nickel of Far Niente Winery invites 25 ladies to join her and other Leading Ladies of Napa Valley in Beth’s lush garden on the grounds of Far Niente Winery. Joining Beth will be none other than Margaret Duckhorn, co-founder of Duckhorn Vineyards; Emma Swain, CEO of St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery; and Delia Viader, founder of Viader Vineyards & Winery. Be ready for a lavish afternoon of wining, dining and entertaining tales of their Napa Valley histories. With each course of the meal, the wines will flow and these ladies will dish, divulging wine country secrets and stories.

In addition, each will bring a favorite wine from her winery to give each guest as a memento of this most magical afternoon. Remember, what’s heard in the garden stays in the garden! This is a $1,000 per-person buy-in lot for 25 women. Date is not changeable.

Buy-In: Wing & Barrel Ranch Clay Shooting and Lunch with Charlie Palmer for 16

Escape to an exclusive and incomparable private hunting club in the heart of the wine country with 15 of your friends for a day of shooting, exceptional food, and fine wines at Wing & Barrel Ranch. Life-long friends Darius Anderson and Mike Sutsos, Jr. have spent their lives traveling the world following their passions, and these experiences are where the vision for this extraordinary club was born—combining a passion for the sporting life and all that surrounds it. Wing & Barrel Ranch brings together the best of shooting, food, wine and the wine country lifestyle. As renowned shooting coach Chris Batha’s only West Coast Sporting Clays Course, it features 15 fully automated fields, each containing three shooting stations. Please note that no experience is necessary and that everything (ammunition, guns and instruction) will be provided for you and your guests.

Guests will also sit down to an unforgettable lunch prepared by the legendary Charlie Palmer, Wing & Barrel Ranch’s Culinary Advisor and one of the most highly regarded chefs in America, critically acclaimed for his signature Progressive American Cooking. Lunch will be accompanied by delicious wines from Kosta Browne and CIRQ. You are invited to embrace a way of life, share the experience and surround yourself in this private setting created to make legendary memories. Join us on your journey towards realizing your finest passions.

Suggested Opening Bid: $1,000 per person

Bonus Lot: Escape to Vegas for Three Nights

Las Vegas and Elton John for Two
Your stylish Las Vegas escape begins at the modern, upscale five star Vdara Hotel and Spa, an all-suite, gaming-free hotel located in the new City Center complex, near the Bellagio Hotel.  Indulge in your grand luxurious suite located on the 53rd floor with a large spa-style soaking tub. The highlight of your escape will be the Elton John concert at Caesars Place on February 18th.  Sir Elton himself is providing you with his personal seats, plus two backstage passes to the green room.  End your escape with a dinner at the award winning Michael Mina Restaurant in the Bellagio Hotel, a gift certificate of $250 provided.  Plus we are including a $500 gift card on Southwest Airlines.  What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!  

Creating desirable packages for your live auction

Procuring enticing packages is one of the most challenging aspects of organizing a fundraising auction. Solicitation committees often get hung up on comparisons to other events and focus on the lots they see doing well at other fundraising auctions.

And while there is value in learning from one’s peers, we never encourage our clients to focus on specific auction lots. It can be frustrating, and it seldom yields results.

For example: I’ve sold “Breakfast with Bo Derek the morning after the auction” for over $20,000. This was wonderful for the event that had Bo as a supporter, but it is useless to the rest of you reading this right now (unless you are good friends with Bo as well).

Instead, we encourage our clients to focus on the types of lots that sell best and then work to find the most desirable packages in each of those types. There are three levels of desirability across all types of auction lots: Retail, Access, and Relationship:

• Retail is the ground floor of desirability in an auction lot. If your attendees can find a price for it online, they’ll bid accordingly. There are types of auction lots that do fine when sold as straight retail, such as trips. Generally speaking, however, it is the least desirable.

• Access denotes an experience bidders could not enjoy otherwise, something that is not available through retail channels. Lots that offer access engage your crowd to spend more, and make your auction more memorable. 

• Relationships are the hottest selling lots in any auction we do. “People support people” is one of the oldest adages in fundraising, and nowhere does this prove more true than onstage. Relationship lots offer access to a “celebrity,” and the definition of celebrity varies.

Creating attractive packages for the live auction is one of the most crucial elements of the pre-event planning we consult on, and one of the areas upon which we focus the majority of our consulting. As such, we’ll be discussing this and brainstorming desirable auction lots in person at our upcoming workshop: “Raise More, Right Now: Advanced Fundraising Auction Strategies.”