Hi Looking for Help,
One thing that may work is to put a process in place for how donations are solicited. Use a standard form letter to contact all businesses, for example.
We have various documents in our File Exchange that could help you do this, such as this one, which is a standard donation request letter that you can download and customize for your group:
www.ptotoday.com/filesharing/document/10...ion-request-letter-1
In terms of what should be solicited, we have lots of resources for you!
Here's a list, also from our File Exchange, of 112 suggested auction items:
www.ptotoday.com/filesharing/document/74...gested-auction-items
Also, please check out the 2013 Ultimate Donation List thread on the Message Boards. You will find tons of ideas and suggestions on auctions. Here's the link:
www.ptotoday.com/boards/35-auctions/1622...timate-donation-list. You can pose a question to your peers on this thread and youll be suprised (in a good way!) at the responses you'll get back.
In the meantime, if you are looking for general information on running an auction, check out these articles:
Auction Action Plan:
www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/arti...-auction-action-plan
Auction Planning FAQs:http://www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/article/478-auction-planning-faqs
Make Local Businesses a Resource:http://www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/article/411-make-local-businesses-a-resource
Good luck!
Rose C