Online Auction Websites For Nonprofits

Online Auction Websites For Nonprofits – In this post, we’ll explain how to choose an online auction site for your nonprofit and summarize solutions from major auction software companies.

Your most important task when choosing auction software is to rule out any auction software with “deal breakers.” Below are some questions to get you started.

Online Auction Websites For Nonprofits

TravelPledge Auctions is the perfect software for your online fundraising auction or golf event. Best of all, it’s free!

Best Practices For A Nonprofit Website

Maybe you’re running a basic online auction and want a simple solution. Or maybe you’re having an in-person event with a silent and live auction and need a lot of features.

Consider which of the following features you need for your event (besides bidding and payment functionality) and rule out any solutions you don’t need:

Often the trade-off for multiple features is complexity. Additional configuration is time-consuming, but it can lead to errors such as closing an offer at the wrong time.

Assess your organization’s technical expertise and bandwidth to determine whether feature-rich, yet complex, auction software is right for your event.

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Note that many auction software companies offer an event consultant to help you set up your auction for an additional fee.

Additionally, registration is easy and view the software demo from the provider’s perspective to verify there is no app to download.

Pro tip: Some auction software vendors ask winning bidders to leave an optional tip for the software vendor at checkout, but the software is free for your nonprofit. The “type” model is great for your bottom line!

An auction that expects to raise more than $100,000 in winning bids is likely to prefer a pricing structure with more fixed costs, such as an initial license fee, but little or no payment processing fee.

Of The Best Online Fundraising Platforms For Nonprofits

*Additional fees from payment processors such as Stripe or PayPal apply in almost all cases. Fees are usually between 2.5% and 3.5%. The amount will vary based on your auction software agreement with the processor and if your auction software fee is increased.

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“Let’s stop waiting and put the silent auction online!” Director of Development Letitia said at the Medical Association’s July staff meeting.

Her office is filled with silent auction prizes and her 2020 budget is full of holes. She knew something had to be done.

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COVID-19 forced her to cancel her spring fundraiser. At first, Letitia thought the event could be restarted at the end of the summer, but things didn’t work out that way. She does not know when a live event will be possible and in the meantime she is facing a significant shortfall in income.

She had seen other organizations successfully hold virtual silent auctions, so she knew they could raise money. She didn’t know how to create her own online auction fundraiser.

Many non-profit organizations are in a similar situation. Live events are currently unavailable, but that doesn’t mean you can’t raise money. Online auctions are a great way to generate revenue, build community, and track nonprofits in 2020.

She has perfected her checkout system and is an expert at displaying auction items during live event programming.

Tips To Host A Successful Online Auction

She used the same templates year after year and basically had everything down to a science.

But in the era of COVID-19, fundraising has changed. Instead of focusing on her usual tactics, Letitia had to find a fundraising option that would allow her to raise the same amount.

She still needs items to auction, but instead of a live show, she uses photos and text descriptions to attract bidders.

But to her delight, she discovered that most of the tedious parts of running an auction are covered by software — tracking bids, enforcing minimum increments and managing bidder activity.

Fundraising Auction Platform And Management

But there are advantages to going online, even if you have the option of having an in-person event, including:

A major disadvantage of virtual fundraisers is that it’s hard to match the excitement and engagement built at live events.

So, to create excitement, you need to be very careful about your promotion and engagement strategies. It’s not impossible – just something you need to keep in mind if you decide to implement it.

Letitia already has prizes, so after choosing a bidding platform, she’s ready to start photographing her items and adding descriptions.

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If you’re planning an online auction for your nonprofit from scratch, you should consider whether you’ll run your auction as a stand-alone event or as part of a larger virtual fundraiser. Both approaches have merit. Maybe you’re more comfortable hosting an auction, or maybe it’s easier to create more excitement at an event.

Check out Sharp Again Naturally’s online “memory drive” for inspiration. They combine a 45-minute virtual live event with their silent auction. Attendees are invited to learn about their work, hear their success stories, watch yoga and cooking demonstrations,

To get the most out of your online auction, you need to promote it across your channels. Letitia was created by:

Looking for inspiration? Here’s how Colorado River Headwaters Trout Unlimited describes and advertises its auction on its home page.

Online Silent Auction Training Archives

Whether your nonprofit’s online auction is part of a larger virtual event or spans several days, you need to engage with your supporters.

If you have a virtual event, your presenter will be able to generate the same excitement and interest as they would in person. They can show gift slides and encourage bidding.

Without a side event, you should post updates on your social media and send emails reminding people to bid. Your event software can include text or email messages to bidders, which is another great way to get them involved in the auction.

After the virtual auction ends, it’s time to announce the winners and take the prizes to their new homes. Make sure your gift delivery or pickup instructions are clear so no one has to wonder how and when they will receive their gift.

Charity Auctions Today Software Reviews, Demo & Pricing

Leticia decided to offer contactless pickup to local residents and send packages to winners too far away for that option.

To get fewer questions from bidders about whether they won or not (and to encourage them to bid higher next time!), you can share all the winners publicly, like Peterson Dumesnil House did.

Leticia is confident in her plan and has scheduled a virtual silent auction for her non-profit. While working on it, she followed these best practices.

When communicating about the auction, take the opportunity to clarify your rules. Is there an increase required to bid? How are prizes awarded? Do winners pay for shipping or does the company pay? Write everything down and share with the participants.

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Start with about 20 auction items. You can add more as you get comfortable with the software. However you don’t want to overwhelm your bidders with endless options.

Do not open bids too high. Instead, aim for around 35% of market value – low enough to be tempting, but with plenty of room to bid.

In online auctions, photos are your representation. Make sure they are clear and well lit. Include a view of more than one item and try to give as complete a look as possible.

Are donors willing to give you cash? Make it easy for them! Most good auction software has a donation option for bidders.

Trending Auction Platform Businesses [2023]

Unlike a live event, you can run your online auction over a period of days. This gives more people a chance to bid and allows a longer period for bids to increase.

If you are thinking of starting an online auction without a specialized software platform, stop there.

With payment processing, bid tracking and donor management, online auctions can be too complex for a DIY solution.

Bidding Owl offers custom auction websites, text and email notifications about bidders, and fundraising education and support.

How To Run A Silent Auction: The Step By Step Guide

Known for their easy setup, Charity Auctions Today offers six event features (Attendance Management, Paddle Raising, Mobile Bidding, Online Auction, Cash Donation, Event Tickets), but you can choose only the ones you need.

GiveSmart has the usual mobile bidding features, including outbid text notifications. Donors of auction items can submit their items directly to the system, which automatically generates bid lists.

She saw bids from donors who had never participated before as well as those who were regulars at the annual spring event. She even has some offers out of town!

When longtime donor Harriet arrives to pick up her items, Letitia asks her how she liked the auction. “I think it’s great, but I didn’t want to spend that much on one thing,” Harriet said. “Every time I thought I was done, I got a text saying I’d topped it and I couldn’t let it go! I had to win!”

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The results were so good that Letitia is now considering another online auction next year,

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