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You’ve procured enticing items, set up a simple bidding system, and printed invitations. However, to maximize your success, it’s essential to take additional steps to streamline your planning process and event execution.
To implement these additional steps, you’ll need access to the best silent auction software for your event. With the right suite of tools, your nonprofit can make your next silent auction a success.
Here’s a list of solutions to help you determine the tools and software your nonprofit may benefit from:
Qgiv by Bloomerang | Best overall silent auction software for nonprofits
Overview
Qgiv by Bloomerang is a powerful solution for nonprofits looking to optimize their silent auctions and manage donor relationships effectively. With the Qgiv by Bloomerang fundraising suite, you can create a seamless fundraising experience that maximizes both donor engagement and auction revenue.
Qgiv by Bloomerang streamlines the auction process with its intuitive platform and mobile bidding app, while also providing deep insights into donor behavior and engagement that enhance your overall fundraising strategy.
Top features
- Easy Event Setup and Guest Registration: Simplify event preparation and registration.
- In-App and Web-Based Check-In/Checkout: Streamline check-in and checkout processes.
- Real-Time Bidding and Outbid Notifications: Keep bidders engaged with live updates and alerts.
- Maximum Bid Settings: Manage bid limits effectively.
- Fully Integrated Event Management: Handle multi-guest ticketing and other logistics.
- Easy Item Setup: Quickly add auction items and manage options.
- Fund-a-Need, Raffle, and “Buy Now” Options: Provide multiple ways for guests to contribute.
- On- and Off-Site Bidding: Enable participation from anywhere.
- Data Reporting and Smart Reports: Access detailed performance insights and donor analytics.
- Engagement Meters and Constituent Timelines: Understand donor behavior and track engagement.
What we love about Qgiv by Bloomerang
Qgiv by Bloomerang allows for a comprehensive approach to fundraising. The fundraising software’s auction tools make running an engaging and efficient auction easy. Combined with Bloomerang CRM, you can use Qgiv by Bloomerang to generate engagement metrics that provide valuable insights into donor behavior. Qgiv by Bloomerang’s capabilities ensure a more informed strategy for both managing events and nurturing donor relationships, leading to increased support and revenue for your organization.
Pricing
Qgiv by Bloomerang’s silent auction software costs $259 per month or $687 per quarter, plus processing and other transaction fees.
Confetti | Best for entertainment activities
Overview
Confetti combines entertainment and philanthropy to provide donors a unique and enjoyable way to support your cause. The platform hosts a variety of customizable virtual activities, such as trivia nights, game shows, and interactive challenges, designed to foster team spirit and encourage active participation. This software uses technology to seamlessly connect you to your virtual auction attendees, creating an event that transcends geographical boundaries.
Top features
- Hundreds of virtual activities to choose from
- Customized invites to send to auction attendees
- Simple user interface
What we love about Confetti
Confetti not only helps you raise funds, but it also strengthens relationships among your community members. The user-friendly platform allows your team to easily set up and manage event activities while providing a seamless experience. This is an innovative solution to add some excitement to your online fundraising auction event.
Pricing
Confetti has a Pay As You Go plan, a Plus plan starting at $2,500, a Pro plan starting at $10,000, and an Enterprise plan with custom pricing.
Double the Donation | Best for gift matching
Overview
Double the Donation is a leading provider of matching gift and volunteer grant solutions. Their comprehensive database lists thousands of companies that your donors can search for to easily check their eligibility and submit their match requests. Incorporating a matching gift tool into your auction allows you to double donations during your auction and increase event revenue without extra solicitation.
Top features
- A matching gift database that covers over 24,000 match-eligible companies
- An autosubmission tool that simplifies matching gift request submissions
- Integrations with over 100 platforms (including Qgiv) to streamline giving
What we love about Double the Donation
It’s easy to overlook matching gifts while planning your auction event. Double the Donation’s database makes it simple for donors to look up their companies and submit match requests. Simply embed the matching gift search tool into your organization’s website and direct your auction guests to the appropriate page so they can look up their company.
Pricing
Double the Donation Standard plan starts at $999 per year.
Gratavid | Best for thank-you videos
Overview
Gratavid is a leading platform for creating and sending personalized video messages to donors. The software enables you to enhance donor engagement by crafting customized thank-you videos that you can send directly to your supporters. With Gratavid’s user-friendly tools, organizations can record, edit, and distribute video messages, creating a personal touch that strengthens donor relationships and encourages continued support.
Top features
- Easy-to-record video messages
- Automated delivery across channels
- Integrations with industry-leading platforms like Bloomerang
What we love about Gratavid
Gratavid’s platform simplifies the process of creating and sending personalized video messages, making it easy for your organization to enhance its donor relations. The ability to quickly generate and distribute heartfelt video thank-yous ensures that each donor receives a unique and memorable acknowledgment and can significantly increase engagement and support.
Pricing
Contact Gratavid for pricing.
DonorSearch | Best for donor research
Overview
DonorSearch provides advanced donor prospect research and analytics tools. The platform offers comprehensive data on potential high-value donors, including wealth indicators, philanthropic history, and giving capacity. With DonorSearch’s solutions, your nonprofit can more effectively identify and engage with prospective major donors, utilizing in-depth profiles and insights to tailor its auction outreach and fundraising strategies.
Top features
- DonorSearch Ai, which uses predictive artificial intelligence to assess giving likelihood
- MLR Score, which measures affinity to your nonprofit for individuals
- Data appends, allowing you to enrich your existing donor data with demographic details
What we love about DonorSearch
DonorSearch’s robust data and advanced analytics provide a strategic advantage for identifying and engaging high-value prospects. The platform is user-friendly and offers comprehensive profiles that simplify the process of researching potential donors, empowering nonprofits to personalize their approach and maximize their fundraising efforts. It also has a built-in integration with Bloomerang, so you see valuable insights on donors all in place.
Pricing
Contact DonorSearch for pricing.
TrueGivers | Best for data stewardship
Overview
TrueGivers offers data on donor insights and engagement and enhances your nonprofit’s ability to build meaningful relationships with supporters. The software provides valuable data on donor behaviors, preferences, and engagement metrics, enabling you to tailor outreach strategies and optimize fundraising efforts. With TrueGivers, you gain access to comprehensive donor profiles and analytics that help identify trends and opportunities for deeper engagement.
Top features
- Data and donor stewardship dashboard
- Fully automated deceased suppression
- Instant data appends
What we love about TrueGivers
TrueGivers’ platform offers powerful analytics and engagement tools that make it easy to understand and connect with your donors. Plus, with the built-in Bloomerang integration, your donor data can be scanned nightly for the most up-to-date database!
Pricing
Contact TrueGivers for pricing information.
Mailchimp | Best for multi-channel marketing
Overview
Mailchimp is an all-in-one marketing platform that can help you build your nonprofit’s brand and find supporters. This software enables you to gather all of your audience data, keep all of your assets in one place, create integrated campaigns across all channels, and analyze your audience engagement so you can market better with each campaign.
Top features
- Email marketing
- SMS marketing
- Social media marketing
What we love about Mailchimp
Mailchimp helps you collect data about your donors and turn those insights into action. Promote your auction across email, social media, landing pages, postcards, and more with Mailchimp.
Pricing
Mailchimp has multiple monthly pricing plans depending on features and the number of contacts, including a free plan to get you started.
Constant Contact | Best for email marketing
Overview
Constant Contact is an email marketing software with hundreds of mobile-optimized, customizable email templates that can help build your brand, catch supporters’ attention, and stand out from the crowd.
Top features
- Email marketing with templates
- Marketing automation
- eCommerce
What we love about Constant Contact
Constant Contact offers more than 100 beautifully designed email templates for your nonprofit. Each one is mobile responsive and provides the flexibility you need as you create your content.
Pricing
Constant Contact pricing plans start at $12 per month.
Buffer | Best for social media management
Overview
Buffer is a social media management system that helps you draft your posts, coordinate with your team, and plan your social media marketing campaigns, all within one platform. You can use this software solution to further market your silent auction event by planning your content using scheduling tools, managing access to each social account, and building your brand to drive conversions.
Top features
- Kanban-style boards to track content
- Scheduling tools connected to various social media platforms
- Analytics dashboards to improve performance
What we love about Buffer
Buffer’s platform is highly collaborative. Drafting posts and sharing feedback allows you to refine content as a team.
Pricing
Buffer’s pricing plans range from a free plan to $120 per month based on your nonprofit’s needs.
Winspire | Best for item procurement
Overview
Winspire’s unique platform offers a diverse range of travel and experience packages for fundraising auction events. This software provides your nonprofit with high-quality auction items, such as luxury vacations, exclusive experiences, and memorabilia, to be featured in fundraising events.
Top features
- More than 200 unique Experiences to choose from
- Custom package options based on your donor base
- No upfront costs
What we love about Winspire
Winspire integrates with various fundraising formats, including live and silent auctions, providing flexibility for your organization. This software’s innovative approach can help you elevate your silent auction prizes by offering enticing experiences that motivate your attendees to bid generously. Plus, you can add your selected packages directly with Qgiv’s auction platform!
Pricing
Winspire only requires payment for won experiences, so pricing depends entirely on the experience you choose.
Handbid | Best for livestreaming
Overview
Handbid provides software for mobile auction and fundraising solutions. This technology allows organizations to host live and silent auctions, track bids in real-time, and engage bidders through their smartphones with livestreaming options.
Top features
- Custom auction websites, interfaces, and bidding apps
- Real-time livestreaming
- AirCodes to streamline check-in
What we love about Handbid
Handbid offers an easy-to-use experience for managing and executing auctions via mobile devices.
Pricing
Handbid’s pricing starts at $1,396 plus processing fees.
OneCause | Best for auction scoreboards
Overview
OneCause is a silent auction software provider that offers a suite of tools designed to enhance the efficiency of your auction events. With OneCause, you can manage event operations, engage bidders through interactive features, and boost revenue through mobile and online experiences.
Top features
- Mobile bidding
- Live and silent auction management
- Auction scoreboards
What we love about OneCause
OneCause’s real-time scoreboards build excitement by showing current bids, demonstrating donation progress, and thanking donors for their support.
Pricing
Contact OneCause for pricing.
Snowball Fundraising | Best for text-to-bid
Overview
Snowball Fundraising is a top solution for managing and executing online auctions. The platform offers a suite of tools designed to streamline the auction process.
Top features
- Item cataloging
- Text-to-bid
- Real-time bid tracking
What we love about Snowball Fundraising
With Snowball Fundraising, your organization can set up and run online auctions with a user-friendly interface.
Pricing
Snowball Fundraising’s pricing for auctions starts at $849 per year plus fees.
Silent Auction Pro | Best for auction games
Overview
Silent Auction Pro is a software solution for organizing and managing silent auctions. The platform can help you set up and run silent auctions while allowing you to focus on engaging your bidders.
Top features
- Online auction management
- Bid tracking
- Auction games
What we love about Silent Auction Pro
With Silent Auction Pro’s user-friendly interface, you can streamline auction logistics and add engaging features to your auction.
Pricing
Silent Auction Pro’s pricing starts at $449 per year, plus 2.0% of event proceeds.
ReadySetAuction | Best for bidding valets
Overview
ReadySetAuction helps simplify the auction process for managing everything from item procurement to bidding to checkout. While ReadySetAuction provides mobile-optimized event pages for mobile bidding, it doesn’t offer a silent auction app.
Top features
- Otto-Assisted Bidding Robot to automate bidding
- Proxy eBidding powered by volunteer bidding valets
- eCatalog Access Period for pre- and post-bidding options
What we love about ReadySetAuction
ReadySetAuction aims to make bidding as simple as possible and cater to different attendees’ needs.
Pricing
ReadySetAuction pricing plans start at $1,099 per year.
ClickBid | Best for virtual paddle bidding
Overview
ClickBid is a silent auction platform that provides item listing, bidding, and donation management options. While the nonprofit auction software offers mobile-friendly auction catalogs, it doesn’t provide a silent auction app.
Top features
- Virtual paddle bidding
- Real-time notifications
- Automated checkout
What we love about ClickBid
ClickBid supports various auction types, such as in-person, online, raise the paddle, and silent.
Pricing
ClickBid pricing plans start at $795 per year.
Auctria | Best for smaller events
Overview
Auctria is fundraising auction software that focuses solely on auctions. It provides three ways to bid: through a website, through its silent auction app, and through text messaging.
Top features
- Customizable auction websites
- Reporting and analytics
- Integrations with payment gateways and third-party platforms
What we love about Auctria
Since Auctria is simple to use and doesn’t require complex integrations or configurations, it’s great for small events and organizations that don’t need advanced functionality.
Pricing
Auctria pricing plans range from free to $750 per year.
Accelevents | Best for hosting different events
Overview
Accelevents is a silent auction software that facilitates various fundraising formats, including auctions, raffles, and virtual events. The platform offers mobile-bidding options through a web platform, their silent auction app, and text bidding.
Top features
- Online ticketing
- Customizable registration forms
- Live streaming
What we love about Accelevents
Accelevents supports various types of events, allowing your team to use the same platform for different initiatives.
Pricing
Accelevents pricing starts at $499 per auction, raffle, or fund-a-need, plus $1 per bidder. There’s an additional price of $49 per month for text-to-give, plus 1% of the donation amount.
Top features to look for in silent auction software
To narrow your search for silent auction software, look for a solution that includes:
- Mobile bidding. Mobile bidding apps empower attendees to easily participate in your auction right from their phones. They can place bids, opt into notifications so they know when they’re outbid, build a watch list of their favorite items, and so much more—all from the palm of their hand.
- Guest management. Easily manage logistics and make a positive first impression on attendees. Ensure your solution enables event registration, check-in, and table assignments to make the process seamless.
- Donation appeals. Collect additional donations beyond bids. Configure your silent auction software so you can accept contributions during registration, when supporters are most engaged.
- Event purchases. Let auction guests purchase raffle tickets and merchandise directly from your silent auction app. Qgiv by Bloomerang’s solution provides attendees with unique QR codes they can display to event staff for item purchases.
- Streamlined checkout. Your donors don’t want to wait in long lines just to be able to leave at the end of the night. Instead, your guests should be able to check out directly from your app in a single transaction.
- Reporting tools. Reporting tools allow you to measure auction success, pull bidding reports, and check whether any attendees have any open payments.
Getting started with Qgiv by Bloomerang’s silent auction software
To kick off your next silent auction using Qgiv by Bloomerang’s auction tools, follow these steps to get started:
- Set up your auction. Create your auction event page on Qgiv. Add your auction items, configure bidding options, and customize your auction page to match your branding.
- Promote your auction. To attract bidders, share links to your auction page on social media, through email campaigns, and via other communication channels. Advertise your big-ticket items to boost excitement surrounding your event.
- Monitor and manage the bidding process. During the auction, use Qgiv by Bloomerang’s monitoring tools to track bidding activity, answer your attendees’ inquiries, and ensure a smooth process. Take advantage of real-time reporting to stay updated on how your auction is going.
- Close and settle your winning bids. Once the auction concludes, close out the event through the Givi app or Virtual Terminal. Manage payments, send notifications to your winners, and gather feedback for future improvements.
- Evaluate your silent auction’s performance. After your event, assess the performance using Qgiv by Bloomerang’s analytics and reporting features to understand what worked well and identify areas for improvement.
Final thoughts
Mix and match different software combinations to meet your nonprofit’s silent auction needs. Technology will keep advancing, so use it to personalize and simplify your donors’ auction experience. With the right software, your next silent auction is guaranteed to be a success!
Additional resources
Check out these additional silent auction software resources:
- Silent Auctions | The Ultimate Guide for Your Next Event. Check out this guide to host the ultimate silent auction.
- The Top 12 Mobile Bidding Software Options to Consider. Learn the differences between app-based and web-based mobile bidding to discover which solution is best for your organization.
- 100 Themed Silent Auction Basket Ideas for Fundraisers. Use these 100 silent auction ideas to motivate your bidders!
- 40Exciting Raffle Prizes to Spice Up Your Events. Take a look at these raffle prize ideas to get your attendees excited for your event.
- 50+ Awesome Auction Item Ideas for Your Next Fundraiser [Updated]. These auction item ideas can help you boost bids at your next silent auction!
