Receive the latest articles, inspiring experiences, and auction tips straight to your inbox! Sign up here
What if your highest-earning auction items didn’t have to sell just once?
Live auctions are one of the most impactful ways to fundraise at a charity event. But most nonprofits are unknowingly leaving thousands on the table by stopping the sale at a single winner.
Enter one of the most powerful and underutilized fundraising strategies: Selling Multiples.
In this article, we break down how it works, why it works, and how you can use this high-impact tactic to maximize revenue effortlessly at your next live auction.
Selling Multiples is a live auction strategy where a single item is sold to multiple competing bidders for the same final bid price.
Let’s say three donors are locked in a bidding war over a luxury vacation at $2,500. Instead of driving the price up and declaring just one winner, the auctioneer sells it to all three bidders at the $2,500 price tag.
That $2,500 winning bid instantly becomes $7,500.
With one simple shift, your organization triples its fundraising revenue from a single item—with zero extra effort.
The catch? This approach only works with items that can be sold more than once, making it the perfect strategy for auction consignment items.
These auction-ready packages are endlessly resellable and risk-free to offer at your auction, making them ideal for maximizing returns.
Live auctions are all about emotion, momentum, and the thrill of competition. Selling multiples lets you act on the energy and enthusiasm of the moment.
According to the data, live auction items get an average of 5.36 bids per item. Imagine turning those bids into revenue for your auction! By selling to two, three, or even more bidders, your nonprofit instantly multiplies funds without lifting a finger—and no one walks away disappointed.
While it may be tempting to drive bidding up until only one bidder remains, you'll often net more by selling to multiple eager bidders at an attainable price. Compare a winning bid of $3,500 to three sales at $2,750. A single winner raises $3,500 for your nonprofit while multiples raise $8,250!
Photo credit: Raising PaddlesThe strategy also preserves the excitement of the auction. It keeps the room engaged, rewards competitive bidders, and avoids undercutting the sense of urgency that drives bids upward.
It’s a go-to technique our fundraising experts and auctioneer partners love because it’s simple, adaptable, and incredibly effective at turning one strong item into multiple high-impact gifts.
Not every auction item is suited to this strategy. Donated auction items are one-and-done, meaning you can’t duplicate them even if bidders are willing to pay.
Consignment travel experiences are ideal for this strategy, as they’re:
In short, the scalability of auction consignment travel packages makes them the ultimate tool for selling multiples.
What makes this strategy so powerful—and appealing—is that it’s easy to implement and even easier to scale:
One of our nonprofit partners sold our Oceanfront Siesta experience to thirty-six different bidders, raising $38,000 in a matter of minutes!
To get the most from selling multiples, a little pre-planning goes a long way:
Not all auction items are created equal—especially when it comes to selling multiples. To maximize your fundraising impact, you’ll want travel experiences that combine broad appeal, strong perceived value, and affordability.
Here are some of our top recommendations:
A historic Tuscan apartment in the heart of Cortona, complete with wine tasting and walking tour. A dream trip to tick off the bucket list.
Powder-white beaches, elevated accommodation, and breathtaking ocean views make this an auction favorite across all demographics.
Enjoy a five-star culinary experience from the comfort of your home. Perfect for elevated dinner parties, milestones, and special occasions.
Selling multiples is a smart, scalable way to raise significantly more—without adding cost or complexity. When paired with travel experiences that can be sold again and again, it becomes one of the most effective strategies in your live auction toolkit.
Book a free strategy session with our fundraising experts and explore more techniques that help you raise more, effortlessly.
🚀 Let's Talk Fundraising
At LuxGive, we believe in the transformative power of travel. Our mission is to help nonprofits raise more funds at auction through once-in-a-lifetime villa and resort experiences.
Our travel experiences feature Premium Guest Services and access to an exceptional portfolio of exclusive homes, resorts, and VIP events around the world.
Whether it’s a luxury Caribbean villa, an enchanting Tuscan apartment, or an alpine lodge steps from the powder, we have something for all your clients' needs.
Our editable templates and commitment form make it simple to secure an underwriter for your consignment items, so every dollar raised goes straight to your cause.
Boost your auction results with 10 quick and easy tips that drive more bids, more engagement, and more impact—no major planning required.
