A Legacy of Giving Through Wine & Food
For the Wine & Food Foundation, the Rare & Fine Wine Auction Gala is about more than celebrating the culinary arts—it’s about making a lasting impact.
Entering its 39th year, this annual event has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to food security and hospitality programs across Central Texas.
“This is our largest fundraising event and the event for which we are the most well-known,” Neve shared. “The funds we raise at this event power our philanthropic initiatives and allowed us to donate $90,000 to organizations battling food insecurity in Central Texas [in 2024]."
Beyond financial aid, the foundation also invests in the local hospitality community, providing scholarships for culinary education, WSET certifications, and even Court of Master Sommelier accreditations.
Photo credit: Wine & Food Foundation
Choosing High-Impact Auction Items
This year, the Rare & Fine Wine Auction Gala featured a raffle, live auction, and keynote speech from distinguished vinter Kathryn Walt Hall.
All in all, they showcased an impressive 70+ curated auction lots, from rare vintages to exclusive travel escapes.
We've enjoyed using [LuxGive] packages—they're items we wouldn’t have been able to acquire from our local community. The trips are a great alternative to wine lots and excellent packages for a whole table to go in on together.”
While generous donors contributed exceptional wines from their private collections, securing high-value items like luxury travel can often prove more challenging for nonprofits.
“Travel packages are difficult to source through traditional donations,” shared Elizabeth Philippe, LuxGive's Head of Fundraising. “And even when available, nonprofits can typically only sell them once.”
To offer aspirational, high-value items and maximize their fundraising potential, the foundation turned to LuxGive’s risk-free travel consignment.
With the ability to sell unlimited multiples, they were able to provide exclusive experiences that excited donors and drove competitive bidding.
“We have enjoyed using these packages," Neve shared. "They are items we wouldn’t have been able to acquire from our local community, who generously donated exceptional wine from their private collections for most of our auction lots."
"The trips are a great alternative to wine lots and excellent packages for a whole table to go in on together.”
Raising More with Luxury Travel
LuxGive’s experiences immediately sparked excitement in the room, with donors eagerly competing for luxurious trips, from an enchanting wine-themed stay in Provence to a sun-soaked golf getaway with five-star dining.
Demand was high, with each live auction package selling multiple times and generating nearly $13,000 for the cause.
“The ROI on these packages has been great for us in the two years we’ve worked with LuxGive,” Neve shared. “There are several trips with a wine and food focus, which is very appealing to our community.”
By incorporating risk-free luxury travel, the foundation expanded its auction offerings effortlessly—delivering exceptional experiences that resonated with donors while ensuring every sale directly benefited their mission.
Turning Culinary Passion Into Incredible Impact
With the generosity of its supporters, the Wine & Food Foundation is already transforming lives in Central Texas.
“In 2024, we gave $55,000 to initiatives battling food insecurity in our community and $35,000 in educational scholarships for the hospitality community,” Neve shared.
Photo credit: Wine & Food Foundation
“This included sending three people to culinary school and helping several others get their WSET and Court of Master Sommelier accreditations.”
It's an impact that only continues to grow, with over $1.7 million in grants and scholarships awarded to local organizations since 1995.
By blending a passion for gastronomy with a commitment to giving back, the foundation is creating a ripple effect in their communities—fueling the next generation of passionate hospitality professionals while building a future where no family in Austin goes hungry.
We’ll toast to that! 🍷
Key Takeaways for a Successful Fundraising Event
✅ Auction Catalog & Preview
A well-designed auction catalog and lot preview showcased the experiences before bidding began, building awareness, anticipation, and higher engagement.
✅ Strategic Auction Items
Choosing wine and food-themed travel experiences reinforced the foundation's mission and event theme, resonating with donors and driving higher bids.
✅ Risk-Free Fundraising
LuxGive's risk-free travel experiences allowed the Wine & Food Foundation to keep 100% of the proceeds above the consignment cost for a strong ROI year after year.
✅ Multiple Sales Model
Using consignment items meant the organization could sell each trip unlimited times, maximizing revenue without any added effort.
✅ Mission integration
The nonprofit tied its mission into every aspect of the event, from culinary-related auction lots and fine wine pairings at dinner to its Featured Winemaker Keynote speaker.
Your Success Story Starts Here
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At LuxGive, we've helped thousands of nonprofits like yours raise over $25 million with our risk-free travel experiences.
Let’s chat about how we can help you raise more—effortlessly.
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 home and villa experiences.
Our travel experiences feature Premium Guest Services for trip planning and access to an exceptional portfolio of over 1,500 stunning private properties across 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.