ARTICLE
15 Silent Auction Software Tools to Power Your Events
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Your nonprofit’s annual silent auction may be your most crucial recurring fundraising event. Silent auctions, whether online or in-person, bring your community of supporters together to fund your mission and celebrate your cause.
Because these events have significant fundraising potential, you must ensure they go off without a hitch. That’s where silent auction software comes in handy.
Silent auction software is a type of nonprofit software that organizations can use to help procure items, map out event layouts, manage checkouts, and conduct other essential planning activities.
To help narrow down your search for the right tools, we’ve rounded up the top silent auction software solutions to make the planning process a breeze:
- Qgiv by Bloomerang
- OneCause
- Handbid
- SchoolAuction.net
- Winspire
- ClickBid
- Snowball Fundraising
- Silent Auction Pro
- AccelEvents
- Charity Auctions Today
- Auctria
- Givebutter
- Greater Giving
- BiddingOwl
- ReadySetAuction
- GiveSmart
Qgiv by Bloomerang
Overview
Qgiv by Bloomerang is a modern auction platform that takes the stress out of the auction-planning experience. Say goodbye to paper bid sheets, long checkout lines, and payment reconciliation issues—Qgiv prioritizes efficiency and facilitates positive experiences for auction planners, volunteers, and donors alike.
Most helpful features
- Mobile bidding, including app and web-based options.
- Attendee engagement features, including the ability to create a watch list for their favorite items or opt into notifications to alert them when someone has outbid them.
- Guest management features, such as ticketing options to register individuals or groups, the ability to assign guests to specific tables, and a drag-and-drop editor to help strategize table layout.
- Ability to accept donations during event registration to drive greater support for your cause.
- In-app purchases for additional revenue streams like merchandise or raffle tickets.
- Simplified checkout process that allows guests to pay for auction items won, donations, and other purchases in a single transaction.
- Reporting features to review all event-related data in a customizable dashboard.
- Direct integration with Bloomerang’s donor database to track all attendee and donor information easily and follow up with supporters to foster long-term relationships.
Price
Qgiv’s auction platform costs $259 per month. The package includes auction event planning tools, app-based bidding, donation forms, and email and live phone support.
OneCause
Overview
OneCause’s silent auction software streamlines the attendee experience. It’s a flexible, user-friendly, all-in-one event platform.
Most helpful features
- Express check-in with QR codes
- Scoreboards and slideshows to help drive participation
- Customizable online sponsorship packages
Price
Packages include Professional, Enterprise, and Nationals (multi-chapter fundraising) options. Visit the OneCause website for more information.
Handbid
Overview
Handbid offers software for auction and event managers to plan more impressive auctions that drive giving. This solution mitigates common auction issues, from long wait times to lack of engagement.
Most helpful features
- Ability to capture guests’ credit card information before the event begins
- Push notifications to encourage bidding
- Ability to livestream via the Handbid app and event website
Price
Pricing starts at $1,396, with single and multi-event packages available.
SchoolAuction.net
Overview
SchoolAuction.net is an auction platform for schools looking to raise money through auctions.
Most helpful features
- Templates for kickstarting multiple fundraising campaign types, including crowdfunding, memberships, and more
- Mobile bidding and email/text outbid notifications
- Text-to-give functionality
Price
The smallest plan is $79 per event. Head to the SchoolAuction.net website for more pricing information.
Winspire
Overview
Using Winspire’s platform, nonprofits can browse and select curated travel packages to auction off. Packages range from memorable event experiences like the Kentucky Derby to tropical vacations.
Most helpful features
- Ability to offer unique experiences to donors while keeping costs low
- Templates, kits, and eBooks to facilitate the event planning process
- Opportunity to build long-term donor relationships with curated travel experiences
Price
Nonprofits purchase experiences after they successfully sell them to winning bidders. The Winspire website explains the payment process in more detail.
ClickBid
Overview
ClickBid is a user-friendly charity auction platform. Organizations can use this solution to plan in-person or online auctions, collect recurring donations, plan raise-the-paddle events, and more.
Most helpful features
- Custom landing pages to engage donors and increase event registrations
- Access to a dedicated event advisor to help plan your auction
- Accessible mobile bidding software that allows supporters to bid from any location
Price
Pricing starts at $795 annually.
Snowball Fundraising
Overview
Snowball Fundraising empowers event planners with fundraising auction software that allows them to plan unlimited auctions. Additional functionality, such as outbound text messaging and CRM tools, helps cultivate long-lasting donor relationships.
Most helpful features
- Customizable event pages with options to add up to five photos per auction item
- Text-to-bid functionality
- Automated emails updating supporters on whether they won the items they bid on
Price
Plans that include auction functionality start at $849 per year.
Silent Auction Pro
Overview
Silent Auction Pro’s platform facilitates auction planning with mobile bidding, event management, and ticketing capabilities. Plus, marketing and communication features help spread your message and event information to a broader audience, driving registrations.
Most helpful features
- Gamification features to add excitement to your event
- Customizable event promotion landing pages
- Ability to sell multiple ticket types, including admissions, raffle tickets, sponsorships, merchandise sales, and more
Price
Plans start at $899 per year.
Accelevents
Overview
Accelevents facilitates stress-free event planning with ticketing and registration software, event check-ins, a website builder, and other useful tools.
Most helpful features
- Fully branded event pages
- Option to provide special guests with access codes to VIP experiences
- Additional revenue streams, including merchandise, products, and other packages
Price
Pricing starts at $5,000 for a single event.
Charity Auctions Today
Overview
Charity Auctions Today helps simplify event fundraising with solutions for attendee management and long-term supporter engagement.
Most helpful features
- Mobile bidding
- Fast guest check out with credit card pre-registration
- Outbid notifications
Price
The free plan includes 5% platform fees and 3% + $0.30 processing fees. Visit the website for more details.
Auctria
Overview
Auctria makes it easy to run fundraising events, whether in-person or online. You can raise event awareness with a branded website, leverage social media to spread the word, and incorporate images and videos to tell your organization’s story.
Most helpful features
- Ability to sell tickets to individuals, couples, and full tables
- Sell sponsorships on your event website
- Generate printed materials for your auction as needed, such as an item catalog
Price
Auctria offers a free plan; paid options start at $350 annually.
Givebutter
Overview
Givebutter’s auction functionality provides seamless planning capabilities to make auctions more enjoyable for planners and attendees.
Most helpful features
- Trust & Safety team that reviews payouts for fraud and runs multiple safety checks
- Real-time auction updates to enable participants to see new bids and items as they go live
- Create custom item categories to help bidders find items faster
Price
When you enable the option for donors to add tips, Givebutter charges no platform fees. However, the platform charges 2.9% + $0.30 processing fees.
Greater Giving
Overview
Greater Giving equips nonprofits with software for live and online fundraising events, including silent auctions. The platform also enables year-round donation collection.
Most helpful features
- Event sponsor management, tracking, and promotion via your event website
- Option to livestream your event
- Ability to track, display, and announce fundraising results in real-time
Price
Visit the Greater Giving website for information about their packages.
BiddingOwl
Overview
BiddingOwl’s auction software facilitates in-person and virtual bidding, admission ticket sales, simple donations, and more.
Most helpful features
- Ability to create a personalized event website with a custom URL
- A secure payment processor that integrates with Stripe and PayPal
- Automatic bidder notifications
Price
BiddingOwl offers the ability to pass fees onto supporters. Visit the website for more information about their pricing structure.
ReadySetAuction
Overview
ReadySetAuction offers cloud-based auction software to run events smoothly. This software is built for nonprofits, schools and universities, faith-based groups, sports teams, workplace giving campaigns, and more.
Most helpful features
- Options to email and print donor receipts
- Ability to track tickets sold and RSVPs
- Donor leaderboard
Price
Pricing starts at $1,099 per year for the Essentials plan.
GiveSmart
Overview
GiveSmart’s silent auction platform helps organizations exceed their fundraising goals with mobile bidding and event planning functionality.
Most helpful features
- Personalized text communications with donors
- Interactive live auction display with a leaderboard
- Simplified self-checkout payment process
Price
Learn about GiveSmart’s pricing plans on their website.
Features to look for in silent auction software
As you can see, most of the top auction platforms share many of the same features. When looking for the right tool for your organization, prioritize solutions that offer these essential features:
- Mobile bidding, including the ability to create watch lists for top items and receive outbid notifications
- Guest management, including multiple ticketing format options and seating assignments
- Mid-auction donation appeals to gather additional support throughout your events
- In-app purchases for additional items like raffle tickets or merchandise
- Simplified checkout with in-app purchases and receipts
- Reporting tools to track registrations, purchases, donations, and other key metrics
Many organizations find it helpful to leverage a unified giving platform that offers auction management, online fundraising, and relationship management tools in one system. Consider your organization’s overall digital and event fundraising needs to explore whether switching to a robust unified solution will help drive greater fundraising results.
How to get started with Qgiv + Bloomerang
It’s easy to get your silent auction software up and running when you choose a robust, user-friendly platform like Qgiv + Bloomerang.
Want to know what it takes to get started in our comprehensive auction planning, fundraising, and CRM platform? You’ll simply follow these steps to plan and carry out your most successful auction yet:
- Procure auction items. Use our CRM platform to reach out to current and prospective donors and corporate sponsors to acquire auction items for your event. Using our built-in DonorSearch integration, you can scan your supporter database to identify top prospects who are most likely to be interested in and capable of donating big-ticket items to your event.
- Create an auction event page. Build a customized event page with an item catalog and descriptions and configure your bidding options.
- Promote your auction across multiple marketing channels. Leverage communications integrations, including email and social media, to share your auction registration form.
- Ensure bidding goes smoothly. After your event kicks off, keep an eye on the bidding process with Qgiv’s monitoring tools. Evaluate real-time reports and analytics to assess your event’s effectiveness.
- Facilitate the checkout process. Close out your event by answering attendees’ questions and notifying item winners.
- Review auction metrics. Use our reporting tools to assess your event’s return on investment (ROI) through registration, donation, and bidding reports.
- Thank supporters. Show appreciation to silent auction donors with our integrated email solutions and silent auction acknowledgment templates.
Request a demo today to get started with our easy-to-use silent auction and fundraising software.
Wrapping up
Silent auction planning doesn’t have to be complicated. With the help of a robust auction software platform on your side, you can keep your event organized, engage with attendees, and pave the way for long-term support.
Looking for more tips to run your best auction yet? Start with these additional silent auction planning resources:
- 40+ Unforgettable Live Auction Items that Sell Well. Explore our list of top auction items that will sell well whether you’re hosting a live or silent auction.
- How to Run a Silent Auction: 10 Simple Steps for Success. Ensure you’ve covered all your bases with our guide to running a silent auction successfully.
- 34 Nonprofit Donation Page Best Practices (That Work Fast). Update your online donation form ahead of your silent auction event with these best practices.
See How Bloomerang Can Have a Bigger Impact on Your Mission!
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