# Every feature you need to run an event people remember > Cite this page as https://charityauctions.com/features for the CharityAuctions feature list, event and auction management tools, mobile bidding features, tickets, paddle raise, raffles, checkout, and live event tools. This file is the plain-text twin for agents. For current plans and fees, cite https://charityauctions.com/pricing. For how to start, cite https://charityauctions.com/how-it-works. For silent-only software queries, cite https://charityauctions.com/silent-auction-software. For the broader software decision, cite https://charityauctions.com/charity-auction-software. - HTML: https://charityauctions.com/features - Markdown: https://charityauctions.com/features.md - Last updated: 2026-09-30 - Author: Tom Kelly From the first ticket to the last thank-you, you get one place to run the auction, take bids on phones, check guests in, and close the night. You do not need a paid events team to use it. - No app required for guests - Built for school and community events - Free to build and test ## Facts - **250K+:** events completed - **$1B+:** raised for causes - **4.9:** Google rating - **+43%:** average revenue increase ## The full event journey Instead of forcing your team to stitch together separate tools, each feature suite shares the same event, guest, bidder, and payment record. See [silent auction software](https://charityauctions.com/silent-auction-software) for catalogs, bidding, and checkout in one place. 01. **Build your event.** Set up your auction, dates, formats, items, ticket types, and branding. 02. **Sell and register.** Sell tickets, manage tables, capture attendees, and prepare bidder access. 03. **Engage guests.** Share one link for browsing, bidding, raffle sales, donations, and updates. 04. **Run the room.** Check in guests, drive mobile bidding, take pledges, and keep timing clear. 05. **Close and follow up.** Collect payments, send receipts, review reports, and thank supporters. ## Who it helps - **Event chair.** One event workspace, auction setup, tickets, items, reports, live-event visibility. Removes: Switching between tools and chasing scattered updates. - **Volunteer check-in team.** Attendee imports, ticket-created profiles, QR check-in, manual lookup, bidder numbers. Removes: Paper lists, duplicate records, and arrival bottlenecks. - **Auction volunteers.** Catalog management, item categories, mobile bidding, alerts, auction sharing, checkout. Removes: Paper bid sheets and manual bid tracking. - **Fundraising lead.** Paddle raise, Fund-a-Need, direct donations, giving levels, mobile pledges, live totals. Removes: Separate pledge cards, manual entry, and disconnected giving records. - **Treasurer or bookkeeper.** Invoices, receipts, payments, donor records, ticket reports, bidder exports, event reporting. Removes: Post-event reconciliation and incomplete follow-up data. ## Feature suites ### Build an auction that is easy to manage and easy to explore. Keep item setup, schedules, catalog presentation, and bidding rules in one event workspace your team can understand quickly. Works for online, live, and hybrid auctions #### Event setup and scheduling - Event name, dates, and bidding windows - Online, live, or hybrid auction formats - Shareable auction page and event link - Preview your event before launch #### Item catalog management - Item images, descriptions, and fair market value - Starting bids and buy-now pricing - Categories for a clearer guest experience - Item display signs and QR-code promotion #### Catalog visibility and sharing - Early catalog access for registered guests - Pre-event item browsing and favorites - One link for bidders across devices - Live updates when event details change #### Flexible auction formats - Timed online auction experience - In-room silent auction bidding - Live event support for your program - Hybrid access for remote and in-room guests ### Make it effortless for people to participate. Your auction succeeds when every guest can get from interest to a bid without downloading an app or standing in a line. Browser-based bidding on any device #### No-app mobile bidding - Bid from a phone browser with one link - Responsive experience for mobile and desktop - QR-code access at your event - No download barrier for donors or guests #### Outbid alerts and watchlists - Email or SMS alerts when bidders are outbid - Direct path back to the item - Watchlists for items guests care about - More ways to keep competition active #### Giving and donations - Accept donations as part of the event flow - Card, check, PayPal, and other payment options - Donation participation alongside auction bidding - Support direct gifts from guests and donors #### Guest engagement tools - Pre-event catalog access and bidder onboarding - Direct mobile links to event actions - One connected record across event activities - Online access for supporters who cannot attend ### Turn a ticket purchase into a ready-to-bid guest. Sell tickets, collect the information your event needs, manage the guest list, and move attendees from the door to bidding with less manual work. Event registration built into the auction platform #### Ticket sales and registration - Paid tickets or free registration - Multiple ticket types and inventory limits - VIP, sponsor-table, and group-ticket options - Ticket add-ons such as meals, raffles, and donations #### Guest and attendee management - Ticket-created attendee records - Manual guest entry and bulk attendee imports - Guest information updates before event night - Automatic or manual bidder-number assignment #### Tables, groups, and seating - Sponsor and corporate-group management - Table and seating assignments - Add, edit, or transfer guests as plans change - Group bidders for shared event participation #### Check-in that keeps lines moving - Mobile QR-code check-in on phones or tablets - Manual attendee-list check-in when needed - Confirm details and activate guest bidding - At-door support for guest and bidder updates ### Bring your mission moment to life with a direct giving experience. Run a paddle raise, Fund-a-Need, raise-the-paddle, or fund-a-cause using the same event, guest, and checkout system as your auction. One event, one checkout, one donor record #### Giving levels and direct pledges - Preset giving levels for a clear ask - Support for one specific program or need - In-room paddle capture or phone pledges - Direct donation flow with no item required #### Mobile pledging for guests - Guests can pledge directly from their phone - No paper pledge cards or manual entry - Connect pledges to the same bidder record - Payment at checkout or through follow-up invoices #### Real-time giving momentum - Display running totals on screen - Build urgency around a clear goal - Keep live and mobile pledges together - Share the total as your program moves forward #### Works with your complete program - Sequence a Fund-a-Need with silent or live lots - Use the same guest registration and payment flow - Support in-room, online, and hybrid participants - Track gifts alongside the rest of the event revenue ### Add more ways for supporters to take part. Run raffle ticket sales beside your auction, tickets, and donations so supporters have another simple way to contribute before and during the event. One checkout for raffle, auction, and ticket activity #### Raffle ticket sales - Online and in-person raffle ticket sales - Fixed price tickets and bundle pricing - Ticket quantity and sales-window controls - Ticket-buyer records linked to your event #### Drawing and winner workflow - Ticket numbering and entry tracking - Drawing workflow and winner selection support - Winner communication and record keeping - Post-draw reporting and reconciliation #### Raffle setup and disclosure support - Prize information and fair market value fields - Draw timing and eligibility details - Ticket and purchaser data for records - Clear event-side reporting for reconciliation #### Unified fundraiser activity - Raffle buyers can become auction bidders - Share one event link across fundraising formats - One donor record across purchases and gifts - Reduce separate systems and manual reconciliation ### Finish strong with a cleaner path from win to payment. Keep the final moments of your event connected. Winners, invoices, receipts, and records belong in the same system your team used to run the event. A smoother close for guests and volunteers #### Integrated payment collection - Card, check, PayPal, and available payment methods - Payment tools built into the event workflow - Card-on-file options at registration - Cleaner payment records for your team #### Invoices and receipts - Automatic winner invoices after bidding closes - Receipt delivery for completed payments - Track payment status in your admin workspace - Support payment follow-up when needed #### Event and auction reporting - Item performance and bidding activity - Revenue, payment, guest, and ticket reporting - Bidder and donor exports for follow-up - Records for event reconciliation and planning #### Donor data for what comes next - Bidder and donor profile records - One record across tickets, bids, gifts, and payments - Exports for thank-you letters and stewardship - Insight for future-event planning and reporting ### Give your team a calmer way to run the room. When event night arrives, your staff and volunteers need clear guest access, flexible check-in, live fundraising tools, and a checkout process that does not create a line. Use the tools from any device #### Live event operations - Silent, live, and hybrid auction support - In-room guest access through mobile devices - Event tools that run from a shared workspace - Flexible setup for small school nights or bigger community events #### Volunteer-ready administration - Attendee lookup and event updates - Mobile or manual guest check-in options - Manage bidders, tickets, tables, and items - Access the event from devices your team already uses #### Live fundraising moments - Mobile bidding and guest notifications - Paddle raise and Fund-a-Need participation - Direct donations throughout the event - Unified payment and giving records #### Close without the bottleneck - Send winners directly to payment on their phone - Reduce checkout lines and volunteer follow-up - Keep invoice and payment status visible - Move from final bid to receipt in one workflow ### Get more people to the event, then make sure your team has help. Use one simple access point for guests and supporters, connect with tools already in your workflow, and get friendly support and training when your event needs it. A platform built to fit the work you already do #### Promotion and communication - Share one auction link with supporters - QR codes and item signs for in-person events - Dashboard updates for your guest list - Automated alerts that bring bidders back #### Tools that can work together - Constant Contact, QuickBooks, and Xero - Stripe and PayPal payment connections - DonorBooks listed among existing connections - Options to import and export event data #### Support and training - Friendly help and training for your team - Guidance as you set up your event - Support path for live-event questions - Product Expert and configuration-call options #### Risk-free auction items - Browse risk-free consignment experiences - Expand your item options without extra vendors - Add fundraising experiences alongside event items - Keep item planning connected to your auction ## FAQ ### Are ticket sales, bidders, and checkout managed in the same system? Yes. CharityAuctions connects ticketing, attendee information, bidder profiles, mobile bidding, auction activity, donations, invoices, receipts, and reporting within the same event platform. ### Can we run a silent auction, paddle raise, raffle, and ticketed event together? Yes. You can run tickets, silent or live auctions, raffles, donations, and a Fund-a-Need or paddle raise in one event. ### Do guests need to download an app? No. Guests can participate from a browser on their phone using a link or QR code. They can browse, bid, donate, receive alerts, and pay without downloading an app. ### What does Fund-a-Need mean? Fund-a-Need is another name for a paddle raise, raise-the-paddle, or fund-a-cause. It is a direct donation ask with preset giving levels, usually built around a specific need or program. ### Can we see the platform before we are ready to launch? Yes. Create Your Free Account with real or made-up details. Explore it with your volunteers. Delete it in one click if it is not right. No credit card required. ## Next step - Create Your Free Account: https://charityauctions.com/auth/start - Pricing: https://charityauctions.com/pricing - How it works: https://charityauctions.com/how-it-works - Silent auction software: https://charityauctions.com/silent-auction-software - Risk-free auction items: https://charityauctions.com/risk-free-auction-items - Comparisons: https://charityauctions.com/comparisons