Charity Auction Tips, Strategies & Fundraising Insights.

How To

Fundraising Thermometer Template: How to Boost Donations and Engagement

A fundraising thermometer is a powerful visual tool that motivates donors, creates urgency, and tracks campaign progress in real time. This guide covers how to set it up, customize it, and display it online or in person to boost engagement and maximize donations.

FAQ

Marketing Plan Template for Nonprofits & Charity Auctions

This marketing plan template helps nonprofits structure winning campaigns from start to finish. It includes strategy, messaging, content, promotion channels, timelines, and conversion tracking. Use it to build consistent, scalable fundraising launches with less guesswork.

Guides

Donation Request Letter Template + Guide for Fundraisers

A strong donation request letter blends mission, clarity, and reciprocity. Use a friendly greeting, articulate your cause, specify what you need, highlight benefits to donors, and make it easy to say “yes.” Below is a fillable template and examples to help you craft letters that raise support.

Guides

Trust and Safety in the Charity Auction Industry: A Complete Guide

Trust and safety are the foundation of successful charity auctions. From secure payments to transparent reporting and ethical practices, protecting donors, bidders, and organizations is essential to sustain credibility, meet regulations, and increase long-term fundraising impact.

Auction Best Practices

The Ultimate Auction Package Bundle — All-in-One Fundraising Power for Nonprofits

The Ultimate Auction Package Bundle unites auctions, raffles, ticketing, text-to-give, and donations in one platform. Nonprofits save time, boost engagement, and deliver a seamless donor experience with real-time reporting, automation, and mobile-first fundraising tools.

FAQ

Ticketing Software for Live Charity Events and Fundraisers: The Complete Guide

Ticketing software for live charity events makes it easy to sell tickets online, track RSVPs, and check in guests quickly. The best systems connect ticketing, seating, and fundraising—so nonprofits can manage auctions, raffles, and donations in one place while delivering a smooth guest experience.

FAQ

Text-to-Give Software: The Easiest Way to Accept Donations from Any Phone

Text-to-give software lets donors give instantly from their phones by texting a keyword to a short code or phone number. It’s fast, secure, and friction-free—perfect for events, churches, and nonprofits that want to collect donations anywhere, anytime.

How To

Silent Auction Software: How to Run Modern Fundraisers That Raise More in Less Time

Silent auction software lets you manage items, bids, and payments all in one place—online or at live events. The right platform enables mobile bidding, real-time updates, and automated checkouts, helping nonprofits raise more money with less manual work and a better guest experience.

FAQ

Raffle Software: The Complete Guide to Easy, Legal, and Profitable Fundraising

Raffle software helps nonprofits and schools sell tickets, manage entries, draw winners, and track proceeds—digitally and legally. The right platform automates ticketing, payments, and random drawings while staying compliant with state raffle laws, making fundraising faster and easier than ever.

FAQ

Donation Software: The Complete Guide to Modern Fundraising

Donation software helps nonprofits and schools accept online gifts, automate receipts, track donors, and analyze giving trends. The best donation platforms offer mobile-friendly giving pages, recurring gift options, and integrations with CRM and email tools—helping you raise more in less time.

FAQ

Auction Software Guide – Features, Best Picks & How to Choose

Auction software helps you run fundraisers online or in person with ease. List items, manage bids, accept payments, and track results—all in one place. The right platform saves time, boosts donations, and delivers a seamless experience for bidders and organizers alike.

auction site comparisons

Best Charity Auction Software Sites

A comparison of 12 charity auction platforms (like CharityAuctionsToday, BiddingOwl, Auctria, OneCause) — covering pricing models, features, and strengths — so nonprofits can pick the right tool.

auction site comparisons

Top 20 Best Online Auction Sites Review

Explore the top 20 auction sites: some focus on fundraising (CharityAuctionsToday, BiddingForGood), others are broad marketplaces (eBay, LiveAuctioneers), plus specialized art & property platforms.

compare top auction sites

CharityAuctionsToday vs. SilentAuctionPro

A side-by-side comparison of CharityAuctionsToday and SilentAuctionPro — showing that CharityAuctionsToday emphasizes easy setup, mobile bidding, per-auction pricing, and online tools, while SilentAuctionPro leans into event management, ticketing features, and in-person or hybrid events.

compare top auction sites

CharityAuctionsToday vs. BiddingOwl

This article breaks down strengths of each platform: CharityAuctionsToday offers mobile bidding, real-time updates, branding, and analytics; BiddingOwl covers core auction basics with fewer bells and whistles but lower entry cost.

How To

How to Choose a Donor Management System

This guide helps nonprofits pick donor software — centralizing donor info, automating emails, offering reports, integrating with other tools, and scaling securely. It’s for teams seeking smarter workflows and stronger donor relationships.

auction site comparisons

CharityAuctionsToday vs. GalaBid

Both platforms support auctions, ticketing and fundraising, but GalaBid’s feature access is tiered and includes tipping; CharityAuctionsToday gives more access, lower friction, and public marketplace reach.

auction site comparisons

CharityAuctionsToday vs. Givebutter

Compares CharityAuctionsToday and Givebutter: both offer auctions, donation pages, ticketing, and donor tools. CharityAuctionsToday focuses on built-in SMS/email reach and integration, while Givebutter leans on tip-based “free” model + donor management.

auction site comparisons

CharityAuctionsToday vs. Clickbid

Compares CharityAuctionsToday and ClickBid: both support mobile bidding and payments, but CharityAuctionsToday offers event-based pricing and simplicity, while ClickBid provides subscription model, live streaming, ticketing, and more advanced features.

compare top auction sites

CharityAuctionsToday vs. Auctria

CharityAuctionsToday vs Auctria: both offer mobile, silent, live, and hybrid auctions with custom pages and notifications. CharityAuctionsToday emphasizes ease and flexible pay-per-event pricing; Auctria uses subscription tiers and bidder caps.

auction site comparisons

CharityAuctionsToday vs. OneCause

CharityAuctionsToday vs OneCause: both offer core fundraising features and support. But OneCause’s pricing and tier structure limit auction tools at lower levels, while CharityAuctionsToday bundles features (like text-to-give) into plans more accessible to small orgs.

Guides

Online Auctions Guide: The Definitive Guide to Online Auctions

A step-by-step manual for nonprofits to run an online auction—choose your format, source items, set bidding rules, launch the event, manage payments, and wrap up — all to maximize reach and revenue online.

Auction Best Practices

Maximizing Impact: Nonprofit Art Sales Strategies

Learn how nonprofits can turn art into fundraising: get donated pieces, set smart tiers, mix auction formats, tell artist stories, and drive broader reach. You’ll sell more and engage supporters on mission.

Auction Best Practices

Essential Silent Auction Rules and Guidelines

Silent auctions drive fundraising success when built on smart rules: set clear start and end times, display fair‑market values and bidding increments, require bidder registration, and enforce final‑sale policies. Follow these to boost fairness, transparency & bids.

Auction Best Practices

What Are Silent Auction Bid Sheets?

A silent auction bid sheet is a form for each item where bidders write their name/number, bid amounts, and contact info — organizers later pick the highest bid. It’s used by nonprofits to track bids and help run auctions smoothly.

FAQ

Innovative Canadian Fundraising Ideas

This article outlines creative fundraising strategies for Canadian organizations—mixing in-person and online ideas like charity runs, scratch cards, auctions, and donor recognition—to raise more and build stronger community ties.

How To

How to Write a Sponsorship Letter

A concise playbook for writing sponsorship letters—start by aligning your mission with the sponsor’s values, explain your event’s impact, offer clear benefits, and ask clearly—helping nonprofits win partner support.

How To

How to Make a Compelling Case for Support

This article shows how to build a persuasive case for support by combining impact stories, hard evidence, urgency, and a clear call to action — so donors understand why now, why you, and how to help.

FAQ

Essential Steps for a Nonprofit Development Plan

Learn the non-profit development process: clarify mission, run a SWOT, involve stakeholders, plan diversified revenue, build donor retention, manage volunteers/board, handle legal finances, and track outcomes to evolve.

How To

How to Use a Big Board at Your Next Auction

Display an auction leaderboard publicly (in person or on screen) that tracks high bids for each item, updates live, and highlights popular items — this transparency encourages more bids and keeps the event dynamic.

fundraising ideas

Creative Ideas for Birthday Fundraisers

Turn your birthday into a cause-driven event: set a fundraising goal, host themed parties or virtual challenges, use matching gifts or incentives, and promote via social media to celebrate while raising support.

How To

How to Hold a Successful Charity Poker Tournament

Learn how nonprofits can run a charity poker tournament—navigate laws, set goals and structure, recruit sponsors, promote effectively, and manage volunteers—to raise funds while delivering a fun, competitive event.

How To

Interactive Experiences to Do at Fundraising Golf Tournaments

This article shows nonprofits how to layer in interactive elements — like live boards, sponsor-driven games, AR contests, and photo stations — so golf fundraisers become memorable, more social, and more profitable.

How To

5 Giving Tuesday Email Templates

This article offers nonprofits five ready-to-use email templates for Giving Tuesday — from warm-ups to urgent asks and thank-yous — plus best practices to boost opens, clicks, and donations using storytelling, personalization, and timing.

Donations

Businesses That Will Donate to Fundraisers

A practical guide showing nonprofits how to partner with local businesses—grocery stores, restaurants, service providers—for in-kind donations, event sponsorship, or matching gifts to boost fundraising impact.

Auction Best Practices

7 Creative Auction Ideas to Raise More

Discover 7 creative auction ideas—like themed events, experiential packages, interactive games, risk-free items, and unique formats—that help nonprofits spark excitement, broaden reach, and boost bids.

Auction Best Practices

Understanding the Basics of Chinese Auctions

Learn how a Chinese (chance) auction works: attendees buy tickets, drop them next to items they want, and winners are drawn at random. It’s a fun, accessible format for nonprofits to raise funds without aggressive bidding.

auction site comparisons

13 Top Charity Online Auction Sites For Your Fundraiser

There are many charity auction platforms available — each offers different features, fees, and donor experiences. This guide reviews top auction sites, comparing key factors like cost, ease of use, integrations, mobile bidding, and customer support so nonprofits can make an informed choice.

How To

How to Run a Silent Auction: Your Ultimate Guide

Learn the full silent auction process: recruit volunteers, source items, pick a venue or platform, structure bid sheets and rules, orchestrate the bidding and closing, then announce winners and thank supporters — all to maximize fundraising success.

Guides

Your Guide to Online Charity Auctions

This guide shows how nonprofits can host auctions online: choose a platform with mobile bidding & secure payments, promote broadly, and analyze results to improve revenue.

Auction Best Practices

60 Silent Auction Item Ideas

Explore 60 curated silent-auction item ideas—from spa days and cooking classes to gadgets and getaways—that help nonprofits offer something for everyone, boost engagement, and reduce unsold items.

How To

How to Create Effective Marketing Plans for Schools: A Step-by-Step Guide

This article shows school leaders how to craft a marketing plan—segment your audience, audit your position, set measurable goals, deploy multi-channel tactics, budget wisely, and monitor metrics—for stronger enrollment and fundraising.

top platforms comparisons

Top Silent Auction Software

This guide reviews top silent auction software options (CharityAuctions, GiveSmart, OneCause, Handbid) by their core features—bid management, mobile bidding, analytics, and payments—so you can pick the right tool for your nonprofit’s event.

fundraising ideas

Nonprofit Fundraising Strategies for Success

A guide for nonprofits on fundraising: set clear goals, know your audience, use tech & storytelling, secure corporate partners + grants, and thank donors to build engagement and sustainable funding.

Fundraising

Creative PTO Fundraising Ideas for Schools

This article gives PTOs and PTAs dozens of fundraising ideas — seasonal events, online auctions, custom merch, business sponsorships, eco initiatives, and more — to grow school funds and community engagement.

FAQ

Why There’s No Such Thing as a Free Auction Site

While “free” auction platforms attract fundraisers, hidden costs always exist—platform tipping, payment processing, ads, or premium features. A truly free, quality auction site doesn’t exist.

keep your donors

Effective Strategies for Boosting Donor Retention

Discover proven donor retention tactics: welcome donors well, communicate with relevance, demonstrate the result of gifts, thank often, provide perks, and listen—so your nonprofit builds a reliable base of repeat support.

General Auction Info

Types of Auctions for Fundraising

This guide explains fundraising auctions: from high-energy live events to silent, sealed-bid, hybrid, and chance models—each with pros/cons in reach, cost, and engagement.

Donations

Free Text-to-Give for Nonprofits: The Hidden Costs

The article warns nonprofits that “free” text giving isn’t without cost — fees are baked into transactions, advanced features cost extra, or donors absorb the burden, all undermining transparency and results.

Guides

The Ultimate Guide to Text-to-Give Fundraising for Nonprofits

This guide explains how nonprofits can use text messaging to drive donations—with keyword setup, seamless giving flows, smart promotion, and measurement—to reach mobile audiences and grow support.

top platforms comparisons

The Top 5 Best Text-to-Give Platforms for Nonprofits

This guide reviews five platforms that let supporters donate via SMS, detailing fees, strengths, and ideal scenarios, so nonprofits can match capabilities to their budget and goals.

How To

End-of-Year Charitable Giving Deadline Approaches

As December 31 nears, donors must finalize gifts and get receipts for tax deductions. Nonprofits should remind supporters, accept electronic giving, collect proper documentation, and plan smart asks to maximize year-end revenue.

top platforms comparisons

How Much Does Text-to-Give Cost?

Text-to-give services typically charge a monthly fee (starting ~$19) plus transaction fees (often 2.2 %–3.5 % per gift). Some platforms bundle unlimited texts; others add hidden costs, so always check for extra feature or processing surcharges.

How To

How to Set Up Text-to-Give Tools for Churches

Learn how a church can launch text giving: choose a tool, set account + banking, define keywords (e.g. “GIVE”), allow fund selection, test the process, teach your team, and publicize it to the congregation.

top platforms comparisons

How Much Does Donor Management Software Cost?

Donor management software costs vary—from free tiers to premium plans. Small orgs might pay $20–$150/month; mid-sized, $200–$500+; enterprise setups or custom installs can run much higher. Hidden costs include onboarding, data migration, and added features.

how to use social media

Best Practices for Creating Year-End Giving Social Media Posts

Plan year-end social posts around themes: reflect on mission, showcase results, ask with urgency, and thank donors. Use strong visuals, clear donation links, and split tests to maximize reach and conversions.

How To

How to Ask for Donations During the Holiday Season

This guide shows how nonprofits can tap into holiday generosity: define clear targets, craft emotional storytelling, offer limited-time matching, reach donors via email & social media, and thank them with impact reports.

How To

How Does Text-to-Give Work for Nonprofits?

Supporters simply text a keyword, follow the link, give payment details, and your nonprofit receives their gift. This streamlined flow boosts convenience and encourages impulse donations.

FAQ

Do Donor Management Systems Sell Data?

This article explains that though selling raw donor data is rare, data sharing (for integrations, analytics, or benchmarking) is possible. Nonprofits should insist on data ownership, vet providers, and review terms.

Fundraising

45 Holiday Donation Drive Ideas

Creative drive ideas for nonprofits during holidays — e.g. themed giving days, matching challenges, gift-card programs, virtual fundraisers, and partnerships — to boost seasonal giving and donor engagement.

End of Year

50 Subject Lines for End-of-Year Giving Emails

Browse 50 end-of-year subject line templates tuned for nonprofit appeals, along with best practices like including deadlines, donor names, and emotional verbs to lift open rates.

Fundraising

How Much Does School Auction Software Cost?

School auction platforms typically cost $500–$1,500 per event or annually for entry-level plans, $1,500–$5,000+ for mid-tier, and $5,000+ for premium solutions with full branding and custom support.

how to keep donors

What Nonprofit Donors Want

Nonprofit donors today expect accountability, measurable outcomes, ease of donation, alignment with their values, and meaningful acknowledgment of their gifts.

FAQ

How Much Does Live Auction Software Cost?

Live auction software costs depend on features like real-time bidding, payments, analytics, and support. Typical pricing models are subscription or per-event licensing—expect basic plans from ~$297/event plus processing and platform fees.

End of Year

5 Templates to Boost Year-End Giving

Here are five plug-and-play email templates for your year-end campaign—holiday spirit, last-call countdown, match offer, tax incentive, and thank-you message—to simplify outreach and boost donations.

auction site comparisons

Understanding Charity Auction Review Sites

Review aggregator sites compare charity auction platforms by gathering user feedback, features, and pricing—but many run “pay-to-play” models, so be wary and cross-check ratings.

fundraising ideas

Easy Fundraising Ideas for Sports Teams

A playbook of fast, high-impact fundraisers for sports teams—peer campaigns, merch sales, tournaments, clinics, local sponsorships & online auctions—that help cover gear, travel, and team costs while engaging community support.

FAQ

What to Do with Leftover Silent Auction Items

Leftover auction items don’t have to go to waste. You can repackage them, host a bonus online auction, offer “buy now” deals, repurpose them for internal use, or donate them — and use these moves to deepen relationships and clean up inventory.

fundraising ideas

12 Fundraising Ideas for University Clubs

This article offers university clubs creative fundraisers—social events, branded gear, online crowdsourcing, campus services, and business tie-ins—to build funds and visibility.

How To

How to Tell Whether an Auction Site is Legit

Verify legitimacy by checking for clear terms & fees, contact info, past auctions, accreditation (e.g. auctioneer associations), user reviews, and secure payment options—red flags include vague rules, no credentials, or pressure to pay off-platform.

End of Year

Do University Clubs Pay Taxes on Fundraising Money?

University clubs don’t automatically avoid taxes—if they meet IRS rules and qualify (e.g. 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(7)), fundraising may be tax-exempt. But income from unrelated business activities can be taxed under UBTI rules.

Auction Best Practices

Tips for Effectively Displaying Auction Items

Display your auction items to catch attention: use good lighting, themed groupings, clear labels, and visual storytelling. Place high-value pieces in high-traffic spots and protect them while keeping them visible.

FAQ

Why Do Schools Have to Raise Funds?

Because standard funding is limited, schools lean on fundraising to support arts, field trips, facility upgrades, clubs, and other non-core needs that the base budget can’t afford.

How To

How to Win a Silent Auction: Tips for Guests & Hosts

To win, research item value, set a strict budget, bid odd amounts, monitor quietly, and time a final snipe just before closing. Leverage tech (apps/alerts) and stay strategic—not emotional.

auction site comparisons

Is it OK to Have More Than One Fundraising Platform?

Yes — using multiple fundraising platforms can broaden reach, diversify donor pools, and hedge against platform risk. But it adds complexity: messaging, branding, data syncing, and coordination must remain consistent.

fundraising ideas

Back to School Fundraiser Tips

This guide shows schools how to make back-to-school fundraisers work—through event tie-ins, sponsorships, merchandise, contests, and smart promotion to tap community energy.

How To

How to Make Your School Fundraiser Findable

Boost your school fundraiser’s SEO by choosing locale + event keywords, optimizing titles/meta descriptions, creating quality content, structuring pages well, and promoting via social/local links — to help more donors discover your cause.

How To

How to Avoid School Fundraiser Burnout

This guide shows schools to avoid burnout: share leadership, schedule breaks, reuse proven formats, automate where possible, limit new projects, and prioritize mental health so fundraisers stay sustainable.

How To

How to Make the Most of Charity Auction Software

This guide shows nonprofits how to maximize their auction platform: set it up carefully, promote smartly, use features like mobile bidding and pop-corn extensions, analyze results, and run smooth payment & follow-up workflows.

FAQ

Are Silent Auction Items Tax Deductible?

You can deduct the portion of your silent auction bid that exceeds the fair market value of the item—if the nonprofit is tax-qualified and gives you a written acknowledgment.

Auction Best Practices

Are Online Auction Sites with Apps Better?

Auction platforms with apps offer real-time bidding, push notifications, and ease of use, making them more effective than browser-only sites at keeping bidders active and reducing friction.

Case Studies

Give n' Glow: Nonprofit Spotlight

Learn how founder Samantha Asprelli turned her passion for beauty into impact — Give n’ Glow’s mission is to go beyond basics and help women feel dignified through skincare and cosmetics.

Case Studies

Nonprofit Spotlight: Rainbow Youth Project

Rainbow Youth Project supports LGBTQIA+ youth through a 24/7 suicide hotline (~3,000 calls/month), transitional housing, legal aid and emergency funeral funds — all staffed by volunteers who don’t take salaries.

Volunteers

Top 10 Volunteer Management Software Picks

A roundup of the top volunteer management platforms (Bloomerang Volunteer, SignUpGenius, VolunteerMark, POINT, Golden, etc.), comparing features like scheduling, communication, donor syncing, and pricing.

fundraising ideas

Creative Holiday Giving Campaign Ideas for Nonprofits

This article presents 15 festive campaign ideas—from holiday auctions and wishlist drives to 12-Days-of-Giving and corporate round-ups—plus guidance on branding, segmentation, and multi-channel promotion.

Case Studies

Variety the Children's Charity of Illinois Case Study

Variety IL runs major events (gala, golf) with silent auctions that use popcorn bidding to extend hot items — e.g. a $25 doll sold for $500. Their auctions average $1,081 per item, raising $15,143 to help 2,500+ kids.

Schools

7 Fundraising Platforms for Schools

Highlights 7 digital fundraising tools for schools — like 99Pledges, GiveCampus, Snap!Raise, Bonfire — comparing fees, ease, and fit for school clubs & events.

Guides

A Guide to Salesforce for Nonprofits

Salesforce for nonprofits comes in two flavors: NPSP (free, open-source, highly configurable) and Nonprofit Cloud (paid, with built-in features). Eligible nonprofits can access free licenses via Power of Us.

Auction Best Practices

Top 10 Auction Item Ideas: What’s a Good Auction Item?

Winning auction items share three traits: exclusivity, emotional appeal, and perceived value. Examples from the article: VIP access, luxury travel, bespoke art, dining events, rare memorabilia, and adventure packages.

auction site comparisons

Why Choose CharityAuctionsToday?

For nonprofits with limited staff and budget, CharityAuctionsToday makes auctions accessible: intuitive setup, integrated donor & payment tools, promotional resources, and real support — not just software.

Guides

A Guide to Social Media Ads for Nonprofits

This guide shows nonprofits how to run effective social ads: define your audience, keep messaging clear, use emotional stories, test variations, pick platforms your donors use, and refine based on performance.

How To

How to Promote Church Fundraisers

This guide shows churches to get traction: schedule mentions in worship, share stories via email & social, involve leaders & groups, use posters/graphics, and leverage partnerships to amplify fundraising events.

How To

How to Promote School Fundraisers

Use every available outlet—website, social media, flyers, email, school texts, PA announcements—to build awareness before, during, and after your school fundraiser. Document and celebrate wins.

How To

How to Set a Fundraising Goal

A fundraiser goal gives you direction, motivates donors, and helps you measure progress. To set a goal: align with your purpose, assess past performance and resources, choose a specific target (money, number of donors, participation), add a deadline, and share it clearly.

How To

How to Create Effective Fundraising Communication Materials

Effective fundraising materials don’t overwhelm — resonate by knowing donor motivations, combining emotion + data, using visuals smartly, crafting direct CTAs, keeping your brand voice, and refining based on feedback.

FAQ

What are Planned Gifts?

Planned gifts include bequests, charitable remainder or lead trusts, and naming nonprofits as beneficiaries of life insurance. They let donors support causes long term with tax & estate planning benefits.

fundraising ideas

10 Creative Booster Club Fundraising Ideas

This article gives booster clubs 10 imaginative fundraiser ideas—from merchandise sales and auctions to community events and affinity partnerships—designed to energize donors and diversify income.

fundraising ideas

10 Creative Fundraising Ideas for School Clubs

This article outlines 10 creative club fundraisers: host a talent show or game night, sell branded gear, offer services (e.g. yard work), run movie nights or raffles, host sports tournaments, bake sales or flower sales — and always promote & thank.

FAQ

Is Your Donation Page Ready for the Holidays?

To maximize holiday giving, makeover your donation page: use emotional images, set goal meters, offer gift in honor options, streamline donation flow, display suggested gifts, and leverage countdowns or matching offers.

fundraising ideas

Creative Food Drive Ideas

This article gives fresh food drive ideas: decorate your donation box, run a scavenger hunt or neighborhood block party, set up virtual or Amazon wish lists, partner with business drop-offs, and add friendly team competitions.