Join us for A Night Under the Salish Sea! On May 9th, our fundraising efforts will culminate in a grown-ups night out community event at Old Stove Gardens. With tickets starting at just $10, enjoy games, music, drinks, and food while coming together to support our school!
Date: May 9th, 2025 • 7-10pm
Location: Old Stove Gardens, Ballard
(All purchases, ticket sales and donations go directly toward our funding goal)
Check our auction and party links regularly and follow on Instagram – more items & events will be added throughout the month!
Here’s how you can help right now:
- Direct Giving Donations — Ask friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors to chip in!
- Buy tickets — Celebrate with us in person and make a difference while having fun.
- Bid in the Online Auction — Amazing experiences and items are up for grabs!
- Join a Buy-In Party — Fun events for kids, adults, and families
What’s New this Year?
The 2025 Spring Fundraiser is taking a slightly different format this year, and we hope you enjoy the changes! A big change is that we’re back in Ballard; we hope that being closer to home & the school will make it easier for more families to attend!
Here are some additional things that are different: ALL auction items are online bidding only – no auctioneer will be running any items, or large ticket items to be verbally bid on at the event. Online auction items are set to close around 8pm on the night of our celebration, so you can still go on your phone during the event to place one last (winning) bid on the items you have your eye on! But, we hope you’ll be present at the event and enjoy socializing with other parents, teachers and friends. Also, we won’t have a traditional “raise the paddle” the night of; past years this has been our “Fund-a-Need,” with donations going to a very specific school-related cause. This year, all direct donations will be going through our online platform, and all funds will go towards the general budget – supporting our School Grant, school operations & programs, scholarship funds and additional operating costs. After the event, if you ended up missing these elements, please consider joining the fundraiser planning team for next year!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FOSB auction?
The FOSB auction, held each spring, is one of our biggest fundraisers. More than just a fundraiser, this event celebrates our fantastic parent community’s dedication and hard work. It’s a great opportunity to connect with fellow Salmon Bay parents, build a stronger sense of community, support our school, and enjoy a fun night out! Your participation in the auction helps us provide resources and opportunities that go beyond what the school district can fund.
What do I bring to the auction?
You don’t need to bring a thing!
What do I wear to the auction?
Our auction is always come as you are, or you can dress to fit the theme. Costumes and creativity are highly encouraged!
What is a Fund-a-Need?
At each Salmon Bay annual auction, our community raises their paddles to fund a special initiative within the school. These fund-a-needs have provided much-needed funds for scholarships, classroom supplies, counseling services, teacher mini-grants, and more.
What does the income from the auction support?
All income from the auction supports the FOSB budget for the next school year. Did you know FOSB funds:
- community-building activities for students and families
- committee work that fosters diversity, inclusion, and education within our school community
- a generous annual grant to Salmon Bay school that helps to close the gap in funding between what the district provides and what it costs to staff the school, purchase supplies, and enhance curriculum
- scholarships to ensure that every student has access to our school’s unique programs such as SEP (Spring Enrichment Program), camps for every grade level, and co-curricular field trips that extend classroom learning
- yearbooks for all students
- complimentary staff tickets for our annual auction
- and so much more!
Does the auction have sponsors?
Yes, we welcome sponsorships that support the mission of Salmon Bay K-8! We’re always looking for a Main Sponsor as well as additional sub-sponsors. Sponsorships can come from businesses or individuals. If you’re interested, we’d love to hear from you!
Who plans the auction? Can I help?
The Auction Committee works year-round to bring the auction to life. We develop the theme, secure the venue, coordinate with vendors, plan fundraising activities select the ‘fund-a-need’, design decor, and infuse the artistic spirt that makes a Salmon Bay Auction unique.
Our team includes leads for tasks like procurement, sign-up parties, community outreach, data entry, item pick-up, graphic design, and fundraising games. Every year, we rely on new volunteers to make the event successful!
We’re a fun, collaborative group that meets as needed, and we welcome all Salmon Bay adults to join the team. Whether you have a little time or a lot, we’ll find a role that matches your interests. Feel free to ask questions or let us know if you want to join the Auction Committee! Email Geo Rittenmyer.