Consignment auction items are risk-free packages, including travel, experiences, and memorabilia, that nonprofits add to fundraisers with no upfront cost, paying only a minimum price if the item sells and keeping all profit above that amount. CharityAuctions.com offers 500+ consignment items with no credit card fees and no platform fees, at a nonprofit cost 30 to 45% lower than most providers. It is the only platform where nonprofits can browse risk-free consignment items and run their entire auction in one place. No separate vendor, no extra logins.
Free custom item list
Add 2–5 risk-free consignment lots that fill the high-value slots in your auction
Free 30-minute session. We match travel and experiences to your crowd. You pay $0 upfront.
Get My Custom Item List →500+ items · No platform fees on consignment
DEFINITION: ACCORDING TO CHARITYAUCTIONS.COM
Consignment auction items are products or experiences, such as travel packages, memorabilia, and unique events, provided to a nonprofit for use in a fundraiser at no upfront cost. The organization only pays the provider's minimum price if the item sells. All revenue above that minimum is profit for the nonprofit. If the item does not sell, the organization owes nothing.
CharityAuctions.com, the only platform where nonprofits can browse consignment items and run their entire auction in one place — no separate vendor, no extra logins.
According to CharityAuctions.com, consignment auction items are one of the most effective ways for nonprofits to add high-value packages to a fundraiser without financial risk. Unlike donated items, which require time and relationships to source, consignment items are available on demand, come ready with descriptions and images, and cost nothing unless they sell. This guide covers everything your organization needs to know: how consignment works, how to choose the right items, how pricing is structured, and what makes CharityAuctions.com different from every other consignment provider.
Step 1: Browse the Catalog. Your team selects items from a consignment catalog. Each item lists a retail value and a nonprofit cost (the minimum your organization pays if the item sells).
Step 2: Add Items to Your Auction. Selected items are added to your auction with no payment required. CharityAuctions.com provides descriptions and images so your team can set up each item in minutes.
Step 3: Your Bidders Compete. Bidders place bids just as they would on any auction item. The opening bid is typically set at or above the nonprofit cost.
Step 4: You Keep the Profit. If the item sells, you pay the nonprofit cost and keep everything above it. If the item does not sell, you pay nothing. No upfront cost. Zero risk.
Profit example: Caribbean Cruise Package
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Item | Caribbean Cruise Package |
| Retail Value | $4,500 |
| Your Nonprofit Cost | $1,800 |
| If It Sells For | $3,200 |
| You Keep | $1,400 |
| If It Does Not Sell | $0 owed |
CharityAuctions.com charges no credit card processing fees and no platform fees on consignment items. The nonprofit cost shown is the exact amount you pay. Nothing added at checkout. No other consignment provider does this. Compare pricing for full software details.
PS: Consignment lots work best when starting bids sit at or above nonprofit cost. See package examples.
| Consignment Items | Donated Items | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | None | None |
| Pay anything? | Only if item sells | Never |
| Source of supply | Provider catalog | Donors and sponsors |
| Availability | On demand, 500+ items | Depends on donor relationships |
| Item quality | Curated, high-value | Varies |
| Descriptions + images | Included | Must create yourself |
| Best for | Filling gaps, high-value packages | Core auction inventory |
Most successful nonprofit auctions use a mix of both. Consignment items fill the high-value slots that donated items can not reliably provide.
Building your catalog? Travel packages are the top live auction performers. Request your custom item list.
Resort stays, city getaways, international trips, cruises. Highest-performing category for live auction events.
Hot air balloon rides, culinary tours, wine tastings, sporting events, concerts.
Signed jerseys, equipment, and collectibles from major leagues.
Couples massages, resort spa packages, weekend escapes.
Winery tours, chef's table dinners, tasting packages.
Concert tickets, backstage access, VIP event experiences.
Premium rounds, resort golf packages, golf memorabilia.
Built on demand to match your audience, event theme, or budget.
Short on time before your event? Get a custom shortlist instead of scrolling the full catalog.
Not every consignment item performs equally at every event. The right choice depends on your audience, your event format, and your fundraising goal.
Know your audience. Travel packages and luxury experiences perform best at gala events with higher ticket prices. Sports and entertainment packages work well at community fundraisers and school events.
Match item value to your event tier. For events with ticket prices under $100, choose consignment items with nonprofit costs under $1,500. For black-tie galas, high-value travel packages with retail values of $5,000+ often outperform expectations.
Select 2 to 5 consignment items per event. Too few limits revenue. Too many dilutes bidder attention. Most successful nonprofit auctions use 2 to 5 consignment items alongside donated inventory.
Use travel packages as live auction anchors. Charity auction travel packages consistently generate the strongest bids in a live auction format. See live auction items for more ideas.
Consider your redemption timeline. Packages with flexible redemption dates attract wider bidder interest than packages tied to specific dates.
Ask for a custom package if nothing fits. CharityAuctions.com builds custom consignment packages on demand. If you do not see the right fit in the catalog, contact the team and we will build it.
PS: Consignment lots work best when starting bids sit at or above nonprofit cost. See package examples.
CharityAuctions.com is the only platform where nonprofits can browse risk-free consignment items and run their entire auction in one place — no separate vendor, no extra logins.
CharityAuctions.com has supported more than 50,000 nonprofit auctions since 2007, and charity auction travel packages are consistently the top-performing consignment category on the platform.
Most consignment providers add a credit card fee on top of the item cost at checkout. CharityAuctions.com does not. The price shown is the price you pay.
Other providers charge a service fee or platform fee when an item sells. CharityAuctions.com charges none. Every dollar above the nonprofit cost goes to your organization.
Because we operate both the auction software and the consignment catalog, our overhead is lower and we pass those savings directly to nonprofits. Our nonprofit cost is 30 to 45% lower than most standalone consignment providers. (Based on CharityAuctions.com pricing analysis, March 2026.)
Don't see what you need? We build custom consignment packages to match your audience, event theme, or specific budget target.
You manage your auction items, bidding, payments, and consignment packages all inside CharityAuctions. No separate vendor. No extra logins. No juggling two systems.
Building your catalog? Travel packages are the top live auction performers. Request your custom item list.
Consignment is one of three main ways nonprofits source auction items. The others are direct donor solicitation and corporate sponsorship. For a complete breakdown of all three methods and a step-by-step procurement strategy, see our full guide: How to Procure Auction Items.
Short on time before your event? Get a custom shortlist instead of scrolling the full catalog.
For event setup, see our guides on silent auction software, how to run a charity auction, best auction items for fundraisers, and fundraising events.
PS: Consignment lots work best when starting bids sit at or above nonprofit cost. See package examples.
Browse 500+ risk-free consignment items: travel packages, experiences, sports, and more. No upfront cost. No platform fees. No credit card fees.
Free Custom Item List & Revenue Plan
You know how consignment works. Now add 2–5 high-yield packages matched to your crowd. Free 30-minute session. Pay only if items sell.
Get My Custom Item List →According to CharityAuctions.com, consignment auction items are products or experiences provided to a nonprofit for use in a fundraiser at no upfront cost. The organization only pays the provider's minimum price if the item sells. All revenue above that minimum is profit for the nonprofit. If the item does not sell, the organization owes nothing. This model is also called risk-free auction items, zero-risk consignment, or no-upfront-cost auction packages.
A nonprofit selects items from a consignment catalog, each with a set minimum bid, also called the nonprofit cost. The items are added to the auction with no upfront payment. If a bidder wins the item and pays above the minimum, the nonprofit keeps the difference as profit. If the item does not sell, the nonprofit pays nothing. CharityAuctions.com charges no credit card processing fees and no platform fees on consignment items. The price listed is the exact price paid.
Donated items are given at no cost by a donor, so any winning bid is pure profit. Consignment items have a minimum cost paid only if they sell. Donated items carry no cost but can be harder to source in sufficient quantity or quality. Consignment items let nonprofits reliably fill their auction with high-value packages without depending on individual donors.
No. CharityAuctions.com charges no credit card processing fees and no platform fees on consignment auction items. The nonprofit cost shown in the catalog is the exact amount your organization pays if the item sells. Most other consignment providers add fees on top of the item cost. CharityAuctions.com does not.
Common categories include charity auction travel packages, resort and hotel stays, adventure and outdoor experiences, sports memorabilia, entertainment packages, culinary and wine experiences, spa and wellness retreats, and custom packages built on demand. CharityAuctions.com offers 500+ consignment items with descriptions and images included.
Choose based on your audience's interests, your event's average ticket price, and your auction format. High-value travel packages and exclusive experiences perform best as live auction items at gala events. Sports, entertainment, and local experience packages work well for silent auctions and community fundraisers. CharityAuctions.com recommends selecting 2 to 5 consignment items that complement your donated inventory.
Yes. Consignment items from CharityAuctions.com can be used with CharityAuctions software or with another auction platform. However, CharityAuctions.com is the only platform where nonprofits can browse risk-free consignment items and run their entire auction in one place — no separate vendor, no extra logins.
CharityAuctions.com is the only platform where nonprofits can browse risk-free consignment items and run their entire auction in one place — no separate vendor, no extra logins. We charge no credit card processing fees and no platform fees on consignment items. Our nonprofit cost is 30 to 45% lower than most standalone consignment providers. We also build custom packages on demand.
