CharityAuctions

CharityAuctions brings bidding, guest records and checkout into one fundraising workspace. Its current pricing makes an online auction the base product and charges separately for many gala modules, so a useful comparison starts with the exact list of activities your event will run.

Fundraising & Auction Registration & Ticketing Paid

5% of funds raised, or $499 setup + 3%; optional modules $49–$199

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Tool Nutrition Label

Founded 2007

Headquarters Not publicly confirmed; vendor describes a Chicago-area team, United States

Company Size Vendor describes a small founder-led team; headcount not confirmed

Funding Not publicly confirmed in the sources checked

Pricing Model Alternative success-fee plans plus separately priced fundraising modules

Free Trial Free private event preview; no credit card required

Contract No commitment advertised for setup exploration; confirm event and refund terms

Attendee Capacity Unlimited bidders advertised; operational guest capacity not independently tested

Mobile App Browser workflows; a current native organizer app was not verified

Offline Capability Not verified

Data & Compliance Not publicly confirmed in the sources checked

Expertise Level Beginner

Event Types

School auctionsBenefit galasCommunity fundraisers

Key Integrations

Stripe (Native) PayPal (Native)

Support Channels

Help centerEmailProduct expertPlan-dependent event setup support

Best For

+ Nonprofits running an auction alongside a ticketed benefit
+ School committees that want a private preview before launch
+ Organizers budgeting individual fundraising modules in advance

Not For

− Teams expecting every gala module in the base percentage fee
− Organizations requiring verified disconnected bidding and checkout
− Buyers relying on the retired optional-tip or Custom 0% plan descriptions

Key Capabilities

✓ Build online, live and hybrid auction catalogs

✓ Let guests bid in a phone browser without an app

✓ Send outbid notifications and maintain watchlists

✓ Add ticket sales, attendee records and table management

✓ Add paddle raises, direct giving and raffle workflows

✓ Use optional QR check-in and live-event checkout tools

✓ Export bidder, bid, revenue and payment records for follow-up

Honest Limitations

Modules add to the base auction cost

Ticket Sales, Attendee Management, Paddle Raise and Fund a Need each list $99; several other modules list $49, and Golf Outing Management lists $199.

A zero organizer bill is fee pass-through

The current help page retires optional tips and the separate Custom 0% plan. Passing approved fees to bidders changes the payer; processing and contracted fee treatment still need confirmation.

Item presentation needs a preview

Rachel H.'s 20 January 2026 G2 account wanted more than five item images. Rosanne B.'s 15 December 2025 account wanted better sponsor presentation. These dated preferences do not establish current hard limits.

Manual payment records are not disconnected operation

The vendor allows cash/check payments to be marked offline. That wording does not verify that browsing, bidding or check-in works without a connection.

Pricing Breakdown

Plan	Price	Details
Nothing Out of Pocket	5% of funds raised	No upfront software cost; online auction included. Optional modules and applicable processing are separate.
Prepay and Save	$499 setup + 3% of funds raised	Alternative to the 5% plan; online auction included, with setup/configuration support.
Fundraising Modules	$49, $99 or $199 per listed module	Choose the modules needed; these are flat add-ons, not additional success-fee tiers.

Cost at Common Event Sizes

100

attendees

$250 or $649

Hypothetical $50 raised per person: first figure is the 5% plan, second is $499 + 3%; excludes modules and processing.

500

attendees

$1,250 or $1,249

Hypothetical $50 raised per person: first figure is the 5% plan, second is $499 + 3%; excludes modules and processing.

1000

attendees

$2,500 or $1,999

Hypothetical $50 raised per person: first figure is the 5% plan, second is $499 + 3%; excludes modules and processing.

Hidden Costs to Watch

! Applicable payment-processing charges need confirmation
! Ticketing, check-in, sponsors and giving modules can add separate fees
! Confirm taxes, consignment-item costs and refund/chargeback treatment

Build a full event worksheet before comparing fees: auction proceeds, ticketing, guest management, giving moments, check-in and sponsor presentation can each affect the bill. A private preview is useful for testing that plan with volunteers and confirming how guests move from bidding to payment.

The fit assessment follows documented scope. Reviews are dated individual accounts; no hands-on product test or vendor interview is claimed.

Sources

CharityAuctions feature list — Official source; checked 2026-09-20.
CharityAuctions pricing — Official source; checked 2026-09-20.
Current plans and module explanation — Official source; checked 2026-09-20.
CharityAuctions company background — Official source; checked 2026-09-20.
Rachel H. — G2 original review — 20 January 2026; coordinator, mid-market; 5/5. Describes years of auction use, notifications and billing; wants additional item images. Incentive/verification labels not visible in captured card.
Rosanne B. — G2 original review — 15 December 2025; board director and gala co-chair, small business; 5/5. Reports five years of use and a sponsor-showcase preference. Incentive/verification labels not visible in captured card.

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Pairs Well With

Canva

The fastest way for most event teams to produce polished promo assets and decks, though it is still a design platform rather than a true event-ops tool.

Event Marketing Freemium

Create item signs and sponsor artwork for the auction's upload workflow.

DonorPerfect

Nonprofit CRM software connecting donor records with invitations, event registrations, gift processing and reporting, with module and payment costs to confirm.

Fundraising & Auction Analytics & Insights Event Planning & Management Paid

Keep long-term donor stewardship in a separate CRM, using a verified export/import reconciliation.

Alternatives

Givebutter

Free-to-use nonprofit fundraising platform with event ticketing, donation forms, donor CRM, auctions, messaging, and campaign pages.

Registration & Ticketing Free

Compare for broader donation campaigns and event fundraising.

32auctions

Online silent-auction software with a free 20-item allowance, optional per-auction upgrades, and distinct standard and bidder-supported payment models.

Fundraising & Auction Freemium

Consider for a simpler online silent-auction focus.

Qgiv

Bloomerang Fundraising platform for nonprofit donation forms, event registration, peer-to-peer campaigns, auctions, text fundraising, and donor CRM integrations.

Fundraising & Auction Freemium

Compare for organizations combining established donation programs and auctions.

Questions to Ask the Vendor

1
Which exact modules are included in our event quote?
2
Does the success fee apply to tickets, donations, cash and checks as well as auction sales?
3
What processor fees, taxes and refund deductions apply?
4
What does a bidder see when we pass through fees?
5
Can we preview our item images, sponsors and table assignments?
6
Which event-night actions continue if internet service drops?

How we research tools

We research each tool by reviewing official documentation, pricing pages, and user feedback from Trustpilot, G2, and Capterra. If something's out of date or inaccurate, use the link below to flag it.

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