Welcome! Our auction is an important fundraising event for the church and a great way to bring people together. Do you have a special talent or service to offer? Can you host a dinner or lead an outing? Then you've come to the right place! Want to help or have questions? Email us at auction@firstuucolumbus.org.

Auction how-to’s and FAQ’s

New to the auction? How to sign up

Ideas for new donations; see list here or pick up a list at the auction table

How to enter new donations

How to make a financial donation

How to Log in and Donate. Watch the video here.

How to enter a new donation

1. Pick the most appropriate category for your donation:
   • Art/Handcrafted
   • Collectible/Antique
   • Community & Camaraderie
   • Electronics
   • Excursions
   • Food Items
   • Gift Certificates & Baskets
   • Housewares
   • Jewelry
   • Meals and More
   • Miscellaneous
   • Services
   • Tickets
   • Vacation/Lodging
2. Craft a catchy title
3. Write engaging descriptions with dimensions, colors, materials, etc.
4. Physical items should have minimum bids of at least $15. Services should have minimum bids of at least $10.
5. Make sure to check the box “Is this a physical object?” if your donation is a “thing.” If so, please indicate how you want the winning bidder to get it from you.
6. Putting in a picture of your item is very, very important. Your auction team can help you with this. To combine multiple pictures you can make a 'collage' here.
7. If you are hosting an event, you should pick a date and time. Check the auction calendar to avoid conflicts with other

Auction Donation Suggestions

VACATIONS

• Any kind of lodging or vacation home

  OUTINGS AND TOURS

• Clintonville (or downtown Columbus, etc.) scavenger hunt
• A picnic at a Metro Park shelter
• Educational excursions to historical houses, museums, or places
• Tours of the Statehouse, art museum, Franklin Conservatory, Ohio village, a neighborhood, etc.
• Tour at CMA and lunch
• Hot air balloon ride
• Birding at a local park
• Birding trip in the Spring at Magee Marsh
• Remodeled kitchen tour
• A house tour highlighting good interior design/decorations
• Tour of hobby room- train setup; doll or woodworking shop
• Bike trips

  FUN GET TOGETHERS

• Game nights
• Movie night with snacks
• Oscar-themed party (or any themed party)
• 1950s Sock Hop at church

  HOW TO

• Cooking classes offered at home or at the church
• Art classes or lessons
• Knitting lessons

  TICKETS

• OSU football tickets
• Holiday Pops or Columbus Symphony Choir tickets
• Tickets to a play, opera, concert, festival

  GIFT CERTIFICATES

• A gift certificate for your favorite local restaurant
• Gift Certificate to Tony Haygood Concert at CMA and lunch
• Gift Certificate for a Mozart to Matisse Program at CMA and lunch

  MEALS AND MORE

• Dinners, lunches, brunches, etc. – these are always a favorite and typically sell out. If you don’t want to host on your own, find another person and do the event together!
• Progressive dinners (great for a few UUs in an area to join forces and offer)
• Cocktail parties with heavy appetizers
• An afternoon tea with scones and other treats
• Chicken coop tour (Carolee Noonan and Donna Adassa) with hosts providing egg dish to eat (plus egg nog, haha)
• Backyard barbecue

  FOOD TO OFFER

• Any specialty food items you make (jam, wine, beer, cakes, pies, BBQ sauce, pesto, etc.)
• Pies and specialty baked goods to be made to order
• Tastings - Chocolate, potato chips, wine, etc.

  SERVICES

• Services such as offering to crochet or knit a particular item for a winner, or to make them a quilt
• Cat or dog sitting services
• Tech or computer services
• Bathroom cleaning
• Car wash or detail - Car detail went for $400 at live auction for summer institute
• 1 hour of cleaning
• 2 hours free babysitting

  REALLY GOOD STUFF

• Heirloom items you don’t want but might be a treasure for someone else
• Nice or one-of-a-kind jewelry