How Habitat affiliates get auction items donated

For letter structure, follow-up cadence and tracking, see how to get silent auction donations and the donation request letter template.

The order to work the list

1. The ReStore, as a standing source

Not an ask at all — a process. One person with a threshold, flagging donations that would raise more at auction than on the floor. It runs continuously and it is the affiliate's structural advantage: sourcing from the ReStore.

2. Trades on your build sites

Subcontractors, skilled volunteers and the professionals who donate work already. Ask on site, in person, for a specific day with a date. Someone who has given you a Saturday will usually give you a weekday too.

3. Building suppliers and merchants

The merchants supplying your builds and stocking your ReStore. They understand material donations, they have surplus and end-of-line stock, and a tool set or an appliance package is a straightforward yes for them.

4. Corporate build sponsors

Companies that fund or staff a build day are already committed and already have employee engagement in mind. Ask for an item, a match, and their internal channel to promote the auction — the third is often worth the most.

5. Faith partners and congregations

For many affiliates the founding relationship. Congregations contain trades, professionals and people who will bake, build and cook, and they have their own channels for reaching members.

6. Build volunteers, as individuals

Not just their employers. Ask what they do — a build volunteer roster is a professional directory nobody reads as one.

7. The high street

Restaurants, retail, services. Last, and mostly for basket filler.

What to offer

The item listing, a mention to a ReStore customer base that visits repeatedly, recognition at the dedication or the build, and a receipt from the local affiliate — named as the local affiliate, because a business wants to know the money stays in town.

Timing, around the build calendar

• Standing — ReStore flagging, all year
• Eight weeks out — trades and suppliers, asked on site
• Six weeks — corporate sponsors and congregations
• Four weeks — build volunteers as individuals; high street gap-filling
• Two weeks — catalogue closed; brand check on anything produced

Schedule the campaign into a gap between builds. During one, the same people are on a roof and the answer to everything is later.

Committee structure: committee and volunteer roles.