High-demand Auction Items That are Low-or-No-Cost to You!

At Lincoln Children’s Zoo, we look for gala auction items that offer our guests unique Zoo experiences or items that have little or no cost to us, but offer huge intangible benefits to donors. Here are some categories we consider, with examples:

Naming Opportunities
When new animals arrive, the gala is a great place to auction off an animal name. Each one includes a behind-the-scenes tour and meet-and-greet with that animal. In 2018, animal names sold from $5,000 to $18,000!




Historical Items 
Donors have a sentimental streak for your history! Sample items we’ve auctioned off: an antique wood display case ($1,500), a watercolor painting of a well-loved play area ($1,350), two cast-iron street lamps ($10,000 each) and a bronze lamb statue ($29,000!).

Unique Experiences
A Penguin Painting Party for 20, where guests enjoy a meal, penguin-themed gifts AND the chance take home a canvas painted by penguins? The winning bid was $15,000! The event was on-site and costs for table decorations were minimal. We even approached the event caterer about donating the food!



What amazing experiences does YOUR organization have to offer your donors? Leave a comment to spark our imaginations!