Top 10 Questions We Get From Nonprofits

Where there's a will, there's a way. Where there's a Q, there's an A!

At Auction Packages, we’ve come together to compile a list of the Top 10 most frequently asked questions we receive about travel packages and how to make the most out of them during your nonprofit fundraising events. From package procurement to booking team bliss, this article's got the all answers you've been looking for. Let's dig in!

01. How many days before my event should I reserve packages?

When it comes to package procurement, the earlier the better! We recommend that nonprofits looking to auction off travel packages at their event begin the reservation process around 90 to 120 days before the event date. In addition to hammering out logistical details, this range allows nonprofits enough time to plan and ask questions about a key pre-event step: strategic package placement.

Strategic package placement thrives with a brief comparative outlook on what items your nonprofit already has donated for the auction block and assessing which travel packages can best serve as seamless compliments or stunning show-stoppers for your event's overall flow. Our Fundraising Specialists can advise you on how and when to place your packages or you can check out our blog on How to Structure a Live Auction to explore why travel packages do best around halfway through an event.

02. Can our organization customize or personalize the travel packages for specific events or campaigns?

Yes. When you work with an Auction Packages Fundraising Specialist, you're working with someone who has seen it all and knows what's possible. By connecting with us months in advance, we can help you find premier packages for any donor base, at every price point. Ultimately, our goal is to help you raise as much money for your cause as possible and perfecting packages to fit your needs is part of that mission.

03. What are your donor-favorite packages?

One of the most thrilling parts of offering both international and domestic experiences is entering the wide world of travel trend-spotting! We love coming together and chatting about our exclusive new hideaways and giving love to our tried-and-true getaways. Right now, we're seeing donor spending trending toward these five experiences:

Exclusive Riviera Escape: Unwind on Caribbean time with an exclusive 4-night stay for 2 at the premiere adults-only resort and spa in tropical Playa del Carmen. Achieve total relaxation at this unparalleled, all-suite Mexican resort just steps away from the famed white sand beaches of Playa Mamitas.

Go West Adventure Awaits: Hit the slopes with your choice between two stunning skiing destinations: majestic Jackson Hole, Wyoming or wondrous Whistler, Canada. Enjoy the comforts and convenience of luxury lodging after a day carving through the pristine powdered snow with this exhilarating 3-night stay for 2.?

Havana, Cuba Private Residence: Immerse yourself in the vibrant rhythms of Cuba with a curated itinerary for 4 guests including pickup in a vintage American convertible, a hidden beach hideaway, mixology and salsa classes, and a luxurious 3-night stay in the heart of Havana.

Tuscany Food & Wellness: Find your inner peace in tranquil Tuscany with 5 intimate nights immersed in the serene splendor of Italy's famous calm and cuisine for 2 guests. Nestled in historic charm and elegance, Cortona Resort & Spa offers guests an eighteenth-century Tuscan villa surrounded by an evergreen park with 30,000 square meters of complete solitude.

Tropical Beach Collection - Private Residences: Relaxation in residence has never been so blissful with this 4-night escape for 4 to a tropical beach getaway of your dreams. Choose between the European Mediterranean vibe of St. Maarten, the colorful coastal culture of Costa Rica, or the beachfront beauty of Barbados and delight in the sun-soaked sands of this tropical beach collection.

04. How do I promote and market the travel packages to my donors?

At Auction Packages, we know donor outreach can help you outreach your fundraising goals! ? Package promotion is one of the best tools at a nonprofit's disposal and often the most underutilized. Even a simple email marketing campaign that offers details about what auction items will be available at your upcoming event can generate donor interest, increase event turnout, and drive on-the-day bidding habits. When personalized and customized to your donors, you're bound to kick up the right kind of buzz!

This year, Auction Packages has begun to roll out Promotional Materials?for all of our travel packages including printable posters, high-quality images, 60-second videos, and customizable social media posts to help nonprofits take advantage of the precious marketing months leading up to your fundraising events. Feel free to chat with your Fundraising Specialist about procuring these Promotional Materials in advance of your event.

05. How can I pitch travel packages to others in my nonprofit?

Well, nonprofits are numbers-focused, dollars-and-cents strategists and thankfully, so are we.

As of 2023, the average household of 2 spends around $4,000 on vacation every year. Meaning, that's also the amount that an average donor is comfortable spending on vacation each year. So why not have that come through your organization in the form of a donation? By redirecting their travel budgets to your event, you're giving your donors the opportunity to do two things they love at once: travel and support your cause.

06. When auctioning travel packages, should we start below cost, at cost, or above cost?

We recommend starting at 20% above the nonprofit cost listed with the package as this is the safest way to generate a profit on the sale. Even if you get one bid for an item set above cost, you have a clear fundraising profit. If you start at cost and sell at cost, not only will you not raise any funds but you likely won’t hit the reserve set for the item. Now, this is sort of pirate code in nonprofit fundraising--it’s more of a guideline than a rule as some auctioneers might start at or below cost intending to generate bidding momentum but unless you are willing to undertake the sizable risk, starting at 20% above cost is our advice.

07. Can I sell a trip more than once?

YES! This is a question our Fundraising Specialists hear at least 4 or 5 times a week from nonprofits realizing that travel packages are bigger ticket items that tend to go FAST. The ability to sell multiples is one of the biggest advantages of using Auction Packages as opposed to a donated item as, as long as you can sell it, we can provide it. It's not uncommon for one of our most popular packages to sell into the double digits at a single event and we are constantly encouraging nonprofits to take full advantage.

08. What happens if we offer a package and it doesn't sell?

You pay nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zero.

We offer our travel packages completely, 100% risk-free. That means that not only do you pay $0 up-front, but if you reserve a package and it doesn't sell at auction, you don't pay a dime. It's part of our commitment to making sure nonprofits and their fundraising experience always come first.

09. What happens if a donor is unable to redeem the travel package?

Thankfully, this has been a rarity at Auction Packages due in no small part to our 1-Year Booking Window and 2-Year Travel Window. The trip winners have 12 months to book from the moment they receive their Redemption Certificate and then an additional 2 years to make the journey. Our fantastic Booking Team is in constant (but not overbearing!) contact with your trip winners to facilitate the booking process and provide updates to availability, blackout dates, seasonal changes, and handle all communications between the trip winner and the trip provider.

10. What is the ultimate benefit of using professional travel packages?

Time. Normally, time is money. But we also think time...is just time.

One of our nonprofit clients revealed to us that before she started using Auction Packages, she was procuring, promoting, and booking travel packages for her donors by herself. Frustrated by the length of the process, she wanted to know the total amount of time that she had spent on a single item. Over 3 months, she had spent 42 hours post-event booking for the trip winner between trying to secure upgrades, donors requesting added nights and additional guests, and serving as the go-between for the donor and provider.

That's why we made sure our in-house booking team is the industry's best. By handling everything post-event from serving as experience provider liaisons, sending full itineraries to trip winners, and managing additional requests, we save you time. This is not just time that can be dedicated to other nonprofit activities like donor engagement and retention but the time that so many nonprofit workers need to take a breath, take a beat, and appreciate all the good work they're doing.

So for Auction Packages, saving you time is the ultimate benefit for us too.

Have a question you didn't see here? Comment below with a question you'd like Auction Packages to answer and we'll feature it in our next Q&A blog!