Charity Auction FAQs | Answers to Common Fundraising Questions

FAQ

Which Auction Management Tools Help Save Time for Nonprofit Staff

Use auction platforms like CharityAuctionsToday, CharityAuctions, Auctria, OneCause, GiveSmart, and Silent Auction Pro to automate setup, bidding, reporting, and donor follow-up — drastically reducing staff hours.

FAQ

Are Charity Auctions Worth the Investment? The Data Says Yes

This article pulls insights from two fundraising research reports, showing that 95% of nonprofits have great ROI with auction fundraisers. Learn how to maximize your auction ROI with donor engagement and the right software.

Podcast

Ep #187 - Behind-the-Scenes Donor Automation for Loyalty

Your major donors crave insider access, not polished newsletters. Episode 187 reveals how to automate a behind-the-scenes series using the Collect, Curate, Connect framework: capture raw moments, package into a 3-4 part story, deliver via CRM. One nonprofit boosted retention from 62% to 81%.

FAQ

Why a Third of Auction Bids are Mobile (& How to Maximize Them)

Learn about mobile bidding features that donors love, like outbid notifications and item previews, while maximizing bid revenue for your nonprofit through easy-to-use software, volunteer training, and more.

How To

How to Launch a Charity Auction in Under 30 Minutes

Learn how nonprofits can spin up a fully functioning charity auction in 30 minutes—connecting payments, item uploads, and bidding rules instantly—so your fundraiser goes live fast and avoids weeks of manual setup.

How To

How to Use Auction Analytics to Raise More Money

Learn how to read your auction’s data—identify underperforming items, retention dips, ROI stats—and act on insights. Many organizations using historical analytics report ~32% increases in revenue across events.

How To

How to Photograph and Display Auction Items (While Saving Money)

This article shows nonprofits how to photograph and stage auction items affordably using white backgrounds, consistent lighting, clean edits, and smart displays—so donors bid more and items sell out.

How To

How to Source High-Quality Auction Items for Your Fundraiser

How to Source High-Quality Auction Items teaches nonprofits how to build a wish list, ask aligned donors, and focus on fewer, high-value items to boost donor bids and engagement — often selling out auctions when generic ones fail.

How To

How to Plan Your Charity Auction (Plus Pre-Auction Checklist)

This guide walks nonprofits through planning an auction—set goals, build your team, budget, choose venue, document tasks, and use a checklist—to run a smoother event and avoid surprises.