Donate An Item

The Burlington #SaveLocal Online Auction

Powered by The Burlington Downtown Partnership 

The BBA, CEDO, and The Church Street Marketplace are working together to create the Burlington #SaveLocal Online Auction to raise money for our small businesses! The auction is designed to have a double benefit to the business community in that downtown merchants will be reimbursed for the auction items they submit and proceeds of the auction will go to microloans and grants to Burlington small businesses. 

How it works

• Any downtown Burlington merchant, retailer, or restaurant can submit items for auction. Merchants are highly encouraged to submit products or services, not gift cards. 
• Physical products and services will be prioritized for reimbursement. Downtown Burlington merchants may be reimbursed for up to $350 of the retail value of the total items submitted pending review of the auction committee.
• Restaurants - If submitting a gift card we encourage you to submit apparel alongside it that could be auctioned as a package. 
• Individual items should have a retail value of at least $25.00.
• Reimbursement for auction items is funded by CEDO business assistance funds.

 

How participating in the #SaveLocal Auction benefits you

• Showcase your business to the greater Burlington community. Auction listings will include a business description, link to your website, and information about how to support your business via e-commerce, delivery, or other means. 
• The online auction will be promoted on Church Street Marketplace social media with support from BBA and other local business-focused social media partners. Print and digital media sponsorship with Seven Days is also in the works. Our goal is to have significant state and local reach to drive traffic to the auction website showcasing Burlington’s retailers.

 

When will the online auction occur? 

We aim to have the auction run May 1 - May 9. The last day to submit items for the auction is May 1. Contact Colin@bbavt.org with questions. 

 

Want to participate but not a merchant, retailer, or restaurant? Not located in downtown Burlington?

We welcome all businesses in the greater Burlington community to donate items. Your donation will highlight your business and digital operations in its listing to a broad audience. We're expecting 10,000s of visits to the auction site. You’ll also be included in our promotional efforts for the auction. 

 

Seeking high-value auction items

We are also seeking donations of higher-value items ($500+) to ‘headline’ the auction.  Interested businesses should contact Kelly Devine at Director@bbavt.org

Ready to participate?

To submit items please sign in or register below. You will be asked to provide some information about the item(s) you would like to donate, pictures, retail value, and information about your business including website and logo. All donors will responsible for shipping or coordinating fulfillment to the winning bidder.

You can submit items individually or as a bundled gift box. We recommend whichever way you think will be the most attractive to bidders. 

Form Instructions

• click "Sign in to Donate" below. You'll need to register an account. Upon completion you'll be returned to this page with a form.  
• Donor Name - Please input the name of your business
• Be sure to include your website and logo
• Be sure to include an email so we can contact you for reimbursement
• "Of Special Note" section - please include any information about your current business operations, social media, delivery/pick up options, etc. We will use this info when promoting you via our social media channels. 
• Please include at least 1 image per item. Accepted image files - .JPG, .GIF, and .PNG. no special characters in the file name. 
• Delivery Information  - regardless of what is input please know you are responsible for working out shipping/fulfillment of the item to the winning bidder. The Downtown Partnership will not be picking up items from donors. Unfortunately due to the technical limitations of this platform we are not able to edit the drop down. 

Questions or technical issues submitting items -

Email Colin Hilliard at colin@bbavt.org with any issues completing the donation form.  

What's Next?

The auction committee will contact you by email after your item(s) has been reviewed to confirm eligibility for reimbursement.

 

 

About the Burlington Downtown Partnership: 
The Burlington Downtown Partnership is a Designated Downtown District  by the State of Vermont through the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. Originally awarded in 1999 its partners are the Burlington Business Association (BBA), Church Street Marketplace, Community and Economic Development Office (CEDO), and City of Burlington Planning Department.