Feel free to share your url. I'd be happy to come like it. Ask others too, if they are not already. Social media requires that our friends and family help by clicking for us!!

Thanks DreamTeam so much for your input!

I put together a posting on the Facebook page and will try to spotlight different contributions each week leading up to the event. At the bottom, I also included a request for more contributions and a link to our webpage with more donation ideas and have asked someone to post it on the PTA website too. If nothing else, at least it may get people excited at some of the great things that will be available at the auction.

Hi Natasha,

I'm not sure about ratio, but I feel like our Facebook page really helped here. Every time a parent donated something awesome, we talked it up like crazy. "So excited to see the brand new Tivo, donated by another awesome parent.." type of stuff.

Also, be VERY specific in your requests. Tell people exactly what you need, instead of just a generic, "anyone have anything to donate." Communicate via constant contact and your website at least once a week.

Success begets success, so feel free to fake it a bit. Start your communication with "many thanks for the awesome items that have already come in. Your generosity is seriously appreciated. For those of you still looking for a way to contribute, we are in need of sports tickets, restaurant gift cards, and X and Y..." It makes people think "all the cool kids are contributing. I had better."

As for class baskets, we write 27 (the number of classes) themes up, then send the theme to each class parent, and send them the communication each class parent is to send, as well. For example, "Mrs. Brown's class theme is "Green Thumb.' Here is your letter: 'Hi Mrs. Brown's class. We are collecting for our school auction basket. Our class theme is Green Thumb. We are asking for a contribution of $5 to $10 per child, from which we will be buying gardening supplies, books, etc., and putting together our basket. If you would rather contribute a gift card, please feel free. It is due to me by Friday the 12th..."

Anything less specific and we hear crickets too. HTH

Thanks so much for the Ultimate Donation List and Search function! This is my first time chairing a silent auction for our high school and the event is in about a month.

I have scoured the internet and yellow pages getting donations (currently I have in hand/pledged around 90) and have only received a handful of donations from within our school community. It makes me sad. We are mostly paperless so most of the requests have been through the PTA website and e-newsletters with a mid-October deadline. Last week, I asked one of the Class Parent Reps to see if there was interest in the other classes in putting together Class of... baskets but no response and the clock is ticking. Also sent emails directly to the various booster groups to check out interest there. I guess I didn't realize they would need an invitation.

So my question is how do you get the word out for more parental donations?

My assumption going in was that we would get around 75:25 to 50:50 Business to Family donations so I am a bit disappointed at such dismal participation and feel this cannot bode well for the auction itself!

Do you think more will come in closer to the deadline?

What do you think is a more realistic donation ratio?

Thanks!
N.