Companies That Donate to Auctions in 2025 (+ Easy Item Ideas)

You don’t need connections to big-name celebrities, athletes, or owners of exclusive vacation spots to raise money with a charity auction.

Plenty of businesses want to improve their corporate responsibility, AKA their role in the community, and accept cold requests for auction donations. There are also plenty of popular auction items that are easy to obtain without any special connections (and without begging for favors or making ten calls).

We've compiled a list of companies that donate items to charity auctions, with a list of causes each company donates to. We’ve also included some practical item ideas to help make auction setup easy.

How to Lower the Chance of a Rejected Donation Request

Many of the companies in our list receive hundreds—or even thousands— of donation requests every year from nonprofits and schools. They simply don’t have the budget or time to donate to everyone who requests a donation.

So before you begin reaching out, here are a few ways you can improve your chances of receiving an in-kind donation from large corporations:

• Send your requests early. Most companies require at least 6 weeks' notice before your event, and some require up to 4 months advance time. 
• Make sure your cause aligns with the company’s priorities. Most companies only donate to organizations that support specific causes and will not donate to religious organizations.
• Make sure you’re in the correct location. Corporations usually prioritize organizations in areas they serve or in areas near their headquarters. 
• Go local first. While we've included national companies with donation programs, you'll often have better luck with locally owned franchise locations or local businesses. They're more interested in community exposure and have the time to personally review your request.
• Apply correctly. Some companies ask that you contact their local branch, while others provide online donation forms you can fill out.
• A note for schools: Corporate donation programs typically require 501(c)(3) status, which may exclude school PTAs and PTOs. School organizations can still reach out directly to local franchise locations—they often have more flexibility to support school fundraisers.

List of Companies Accepting Donation Requests

Click on each link below to find that company's requirements and donation forms to obtain in-kind donations.

Home Goods

• American Eagle– AE offers gift cards for programs that support teens and young adults
• L.L. Bean – If your event focuses on conservation/outdoor recreation, health and human services, or culture/art, you might be eligible to work with L.L. Bean.
• Signet Jewelers - Your organization must focus on underserved women and children, and/or social change advocacy.
• Kendra Scott - Kendra Scott will donate products to organizations that empower women and youth in the areas of health & wellness, education, or entrepreneurship.
• Wayfair - Wayfair will donate to organizations that foster safety, stability, and acceptance.
• GE Appliances - Will donate appliances to nonprofits. Your organization must support STEM education.
• Big Lots - Big Lots will prioritize requests sent via employees or from organizations helping needy families, but will consider other requests as well.
• Build A Bear – This company gives priority to nonprofits assisting children and has a limited number of donations they give per year.

Groceries & Food 

• Albertsons – Ask your local store if you can build a relationship for donations. Albertsons prioritizes causes that help eradicate hunger.
• Casey’s General Store – Can provide food, coupons, or gift certificates, but only on the local level. Casey’s supports programs in the areas of education, hunger and community service.
• Gourmet Gift Baskets – Can offer a limited amount of donated gift baskets, get your request in early!
• Kroger – Can assist local non-profit organizations. Kroger prioritizes causes related to hunger relief, sustainability, health & nutrition, disaster relief, diversity & inclusion, and education & youth development.
• Publix – Fill out Publix’s online donation form if you focus on youth, education, reducing hunger, or alleviating homelessness in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, or Kentucky.
• Total Wine - Total Wine offers auction donations as well as beverage discounts.
• Heaven Hill Brands - Will donate alcoholic beverages for nonprofit and school fundraisers.
• Winn Dixie – Can donate gift cards or offer sponsorships to local organizations. Supports causes related to hunger, military service members and family, disaster relief, inclusion & diversity, and inequity.
• Sprinkles - Will donate dessert packages like cupcakes. Focuses on causes related to women, children, and hunger.
• Wawa, Inc. - Provides gift baskets for silent auctions. 
• Trader Joe’s - Reach out to the nearest Trader Joe’s to request silent auction donations.

Sports & Outdoors

• Major League Baseball (MLB) – Choose your team and see what they have to offer.
• National Basketball Association (NBA) – Choose your team and navigate to Community or Donation Requests.
• National Football League (NFL) – Navigate to your team’s website, then navigate to Community or Contact Us.
• National Hockey League (NHL) – Choose your team and navigate to donation requests to check out offers.
• DICK’S Sporting Goods – This chain is a great sponsor for sports leagues, teams, athletes, and outdoor enthusiasts.
• Academy Sports + Outdoors - Eligible organizations must promote fun, safety, and/or responsibility within sports or outdoors and/or first responder programs that foster safer communities.
• Callaway - Callaway will donate golf products to organizations supporting youth development, military & veterans, disability advocacy, health & wellness, and golf.
• TopGolf - Will donate golf products to organizations supporting public education, military, golf, health & wellness, animals, and disaster relief.
• Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s - These shops will donate outdoor products for auctions. Eligible organizations must focus on conserving wildlife and habitat, connecting new audiences to the outdoors, or supporting military and veterans.
• Harbor Freight Tools - Harbor Freight donates to public school organizations, fire departments, law enforcement, EMS agencies, and veteran-serving nonprofits.

Theme Parks

• Sea World – Each theme park location can offer tickets for your auction. Your organization must be local to that park, and requirements differ by location.
• Six Flags – Each Six Flags location donates park passes to local nonprofit groups for fundraising. Check each park location individually for guidelines and request forms.

Travel

• Best Western, SureStay, and WorldHotels – Best Western will work with nonprofits focusing on poverty and disaster relief, among others. Contact your local hotel for a stay certificate.
• Hawaiian Airlines – This airline is particularly interested in organizations that support educational, environmental, or cultural understanding, among others. Requests must be sponsored by a Hawaiian Airlines employee.
• Cape Air – Fill out Cape Air’s donation form to request flight tickets. Your organization must be located in Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, New York, Illinois, Michigan, or Montana. 
• Air Canada - Will donate flight tickets to Canadian organizations improving children’s health and well-being.
• Spirit Airlines - Does not donate flight tickets for online-only auctions. Organizations must support children & families, service members, or the environment.
• Frontier Airlines - Will donate fight vouchers to nonprofits in the cities that Frontier serves. Your nonprofit may NOT be affiliated with individual schools/PTOs/school sports programs, labor groups, and religious/fraternal/political or athletic organizations.
• Hilton Hotels – Contact your local hotel to inquire about donations.
• Intercontinental Hotels – Contact your local hotel to inquire about donations.
• Marriott Hotels – Marriott offers stay certificates and gift cards. Take a look at Marriott’s nonprofit engagement guidelines to see if you qualify.
• The Ritz-Carlton - Will donate to organizations that focus on hunger and poverty relief, child well-being, and environmental responsibility.

Where to Send Additional Donation Requests

While your organization may find some great items by reaching out to the companies listed above, you likely won’t fill out your whole catalog through these requests. 

That’s where local businesses, general donors, and volunteers come in. Local businesses are more interested in getting local brand exposure through your auction, and general supporters or volunteers can directly purchase items on your wish list to donate to your auction.

So if you’re looking to secure items from our list of easy item ideas, reach out to local businesses, general supporters, and volunteers to complete your wish list.

List of Easy Charity Auction Item Ideas

Here are some popular yet hassle-free items that can earn high bids.

Gift Cards & Certificates

• Gift cards to local restaurants & shops – Prioritize local restaurants & shops over chain restaurants or chain stores that everyone’s already been to. These local shops will be happy to get their name in front of all your guests.
• Online retailer cards (Amazon, Target, etc.) – Simple to purchase or ask for in small denominations. Ask for these from general donors instead of reaching out to the company itself.

Local Experiences & Services

• Passes for local landmarks or attractions - Anything local is always easier to get. Large corporations may be busy, but popular attractions will be more interested if you help the community they’re a part of.
• Wine tasting or beer tasting - These are classic auction items. Do a quick search for brewing companies or vineyards that offer tasting, and reach out for a donation of 2+ vouchers.
• Tickets to local shows - These could be theater shows, comedy shows, local concerts, etc. Big name concert and show tickets may be hard to get your hands on, so try researching local concerts and events.
• Movie theater passes – Many theaters have community partnership programs.
• Bowling, mini golf, or escape room passes – Fun for families; easy for small local spots to donate.
• Gym training or fitness class packages – Gyms, yoga studios, or pilates studios love local exposure.
• Massage/spa/salon gift certificates – Massages, spa, manicure, or even haircut vouchers are easily obtainable in almost any city.
• Car wash or oil change vouchers – Quick, practical, and often donated by local service centers.
• Photography mini session – Local photographers often give away short sessions to gain exposure.

Gift Baskets

• Coffee/tea lover’s basket – Combine donated beans, leaves, mugs, and gift cards.
• Movie night – Pack in popcorn, snacks, a streaming gift card, and a cozy blanket.
• Self-care package – Candles, lotion, bath salts, and a spa gift card.
• Pet lover’s basket – Toys, special treats, and a gift certificate to a local groomer or pet store. (Add in a pet costume if it’s near Halloween!)
• Gourmet food package - Include some gourmet cheeses, premium snacks, rare seasonings, etc.—anything that will make a donor’s mouth water when they see this gift basket.
• Game night package - Put together the newest board games plus some game night snacks. Families will love these.

Food & Everyday Items

• Liquor and wine - A classic auction item that you can’t go wrong with. This is something a general donor can easily donate.
• Local bakery goods – A custom cake or dessert basket is easy for bakeries to provide.
• Cleaning or organizing service – Local businesses are often happy to donate a few hours.
• Flower arrangement or delivery – Florists and nurseries frequently participate.

School-Themed

• School spirit package - Pack in merchandise from your school store, like T-shirts, sweatshirts, patches, or stationery.
• Reserved seats to graduation or school events - An easy experience to set up that always sells high at school auctions.

Easy Auction Setup

We know how much time auctions take, especially for small nonprofits and school organizations.

That’s why CharityAuctions was designed with the fastest setup and easiest onboarding of any auction software. Compare CharityAuction’s features with other platforms to discover how you can save time on your next auction fundraiser.

Looking for more ways to save time? Check out our Charity Auction Quick Setup Guide.

Tom Kelly

Tom Kelly, TEDx speaker and CEO of CharityAuctions.com, helps nonprofits raise millions through auctions and AI. He hosts The Million Dollar Nonprofit podcast and inspires leaders to live their legacy, not just leave it.