Auction items

Auction items can be difficult to obtain, especially from large companies. There is a lot of competition among non-profit organizations. Here's a list from Fundly.com of potential donors. You'll find links to airlines, hotels, technology companies, restaurants and lots of other opportunities. Small businesses will often contribute items, and don't forget offering professional services is valuable too! Pet-sitting, music lessons, professional decorating services, cooking classes, flower arranging are just a few ways people can help without money out of pocket. The trick is to start contacting companies early - at least 3 months ahead of the event - and to write a compelling letter. You'll find a template on the site below. Remember, businesses need to know what's in it for them. Tell them about your previous successes, social media presence, event advertising and number of subscribers on your electronic mailing list. They want to be seen as supporters of the community while getting their name out there:
https://blog.fundly.com/donation-requests/

Filling out multiple applications is time consuming and energy draining. Here's a link to the site donationmatch.com.  Fill out one application that reaches 100+ participating companies:
https://www.donationmatch.com/for-schools-nonprofits

More Fundraising ideas

It can be hard to think of new ways to bring in donations, especially if you want to stand out among the competition. Here's an article from fundly.com. You'll discover more than 100+ ideas that have proven to be successful. Try out a Dog and Car Wash, Dog Kissing Contest or have a Pet Party:
https://blog.fundly.com/fundraising-ideas/
Have you worked on getting sponsors for your events? Visit your local businesses and corporations. Create a proposal letter for distribution. Include several levels of sponsorship, so that both small and large companies could get involved. Sponsorship can even include product items, such as food and giveaways. Here are some great ideas from an organization called Operation Warm:
https://www.operationwarm.org/blog/the-five-types-of-charity-event-sponsors331/