# 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, live event tools, and golf outing software. 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: 2026-10-03 - Author: Tom Kelly Complete event and auction management 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. Auctions, galas, and golf outings included. You do not need a paid events team to use it. Test it together before you decide. - No app required for guests - Built for school and community events - Free to build and test ## Workspace preview Bright Futures Foundation. Spring school auction. Event ready. Everything is connected. Tickets, bidders, donations, and payments in one event workspace. - **124:** guests - **$18,450:** raised - **8 days:** to event - **68/100:** ticket sales - **47:** silent auction items live - **Set:** Fund-a-Need giving levels - **Ready:** QR code check-in ## One system, no patchwork Built for every moment before, during, and after event night. - **250K+:** events completed - **$1B+:** raised for causes - **4.9:** Google rating - **+43%:** average revenue increase ## The full event journey One connected system from planning through payment. 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. ## Feature suites ### 01 Plan and set up #### Guided setup - A 5-step wizard walks you through auction creation in order - Basic details, items, bidding window, look and feel, pickup - No manual to read, no step skipped #### Campaign Hub - One dashboard for your whole auction - Setup checklist, activity feed, and quick navigation - Draft, preview, and promote controls in one place #### Clone auctions - Clone an entire auction to reuse it year after year - Settings, items, and structure carry over - Edit anything after cloning #### Invite your team - Add co-chairs and volunteers with their own access - Organization-level invites, not just per auction - No shared passwords passed around #### Ownership transfer - Transfer ownership from one member to the next - The auction account stays in your organization - Built for chair turnover year to year #### Custom branding - Add your logo, banner image, and colors - Your event page looks like your organization - Skip it now and add it later #### Custom URLs - Custom URLs for your event and auction pages - Easy to say from the stage and print on signs #### Preview before launch - See your event page on desktop and mobile - Exactly what donors will see, before anything is public - Share the preview with your committee #### Event setup and scheduling - Event name, dates, and bidding windows - Online, live, or hybrid auction formats - Shareable auction page and event link ### 02 Auction and bidding #### Item catalog management - Item images, descriptions, and fair market value - Categories and sub-categories - Search, filters, saved views, and Quick Add - Items, Categories, and Donors tabs #### Clone items - Clone any item to relist it in seconds - Photos, description, and settings carry over #### 8 item statuses - Active, Pending, Draft, Featured, Closed, Sold, View Only, and hidden - Feature star items to highlight them - Draft items stay hidden until ready #### Bid panel controls - Starting bid and max bid with show toggle - Quantity: multiple units, multiple winners - Estimated value with show-to-bidders toggle - Buy Now price, plus Buy Now Only mode #### Rich item descriptions - Full rich-text editor with tables and colors - YouTube and Vimeo embeds, image upload - AI-assisted titles and descriptions #### Advanced item settings - Reserve price and custom bid increments - Popcorn Bidding soft close for last-minute bids - Per-item tax rate settings - Shipping with printable shipping labels #### Donor and certificate tools - Full donor form with visibility control - Print-ready gift certificates with redemption instructions - Expiration dates and signature lines - Item terms shown in their own tab #### Multiple bidding windows - One item can run in several time blocks - Separate online and live-event windows - Name each window to tell them apart #### 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 #### 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 #### Auto-bid - Set your max and automatic bidding keeps you in the lead - Never lose an item because you looked away - Works on every timed auction #### Quick-pick bid amounts - One-tap bid buttons for the next increment - Bidding takes seconds, not minutes - Real-time updates with no refresh needed #### Bid confirmation dialog - Guests confirm before a bid is placed - No accidental taps on big amounts #### My Bids dashboard - Bidders track everything they are winning in one place - Live status on every item - Deep links bring bidders straight back to the item #### Outbid alerts and watchlists - Email or SMS alerts when bidders are outbid - Direct path back to the item - Watchlists for items guests care about #### Catalog visibility and sharing - Early catalog access for registered guests - Pre-event item browsing and favorites - One link for bidders across devices ### 03 Tickets and guests #### 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 #### Buyer registration setup - Auto-close registration when it ends - Auto-assign bidder numbers - One checkout for bulk tickets - QR codes printed on tickets #### Discount codes - Percentage-off codes for tickets - Usage limits and start/end dates - Apply to all tickets or specific types #### Custom registration questions - Required fields: name, email, phone - Add your own custom questions - Collect meal choices and more at signup #### Ticket reports - Total sales, revenue, and average order value - Record offline cash and check sales - Export reports for your records #### 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 - Scan guest QR codes with your phone to check them in - Mobile QR-code check-in on phones or tablets - Manual attendee-list check-in when needed - Confirm details and activate guest bidding #### Check-in onboarding flows - Four guest paths from door to auction - Welcome screens with bidder number and table - Card-on-file capture for post-event invoicing - Preview the flow before event night #### 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 ### 04 Giving and donations #### Donation button - Customizable donate button on your event page - Your button text, colors, and placement - Fundraising goal with offline-raised tracking - Preset and custom amounts with min/max #### Donation options - Accept donations as part of the event flow - Anonymous giving allowed - Running total display toggle - Custom thank-you message after payment #### 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 #### Paddle raise - Fundraising goal as a progress bar on the TV - Custom words on the big screen - Ask amounts from $100 to $10,000, reorderable - Live gift-entry workflow with gifts log #### Fund a Need - Multiple projects, each with its own goal - Guests pick a project and give toward it - Big-screen view with live progress - How-it-works video for your emcee #### Mobile pledging for guests - Guests can pledge directly from their phone - Guests can hide their names if they prefer - No paper pledge cards or manual entry - Connect pledges to the same bidder record #### 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 #### More ways to give - Text-to-give keyword donations - Recurring donations - Round-up donations at checkout - Corporate matching gift tracking #### Works with your complete program - Sequence a Fund-a-Need with silent or live auction items - Use the same guest registration and payment flow - Support in-room, online, and hybrid participants - Track gifts alongside the rest of the event revenue ### 05 Raffles and games #### 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 #### Raffle prizes - Prize name, description, and photo upload - Price per ticket, ticket limits, drawing date - Guests can buy tickets toggle #### Drawing and winner workflow - Ticket numbering and entry tracking - Drawing workflow and winner selection support - Option to show the winner's name to guests - 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 #### More game formats - 50/50 raffle format - Golden ticket raffle - Wine pull, heads-or-tails, and other party games #### 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 ### 06 Event night operations #### 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 #### Live event kiosk - Volunteer tools for tablets and phones at the venue - Guest check-in with QR scanner - Walk-in registration with texted auction links - View-only live bids with invoice generation #### Leaderboards on the big screen - Six board views: totals, items, donors, paddle raise, Fund a Need, thank-you - Public no-login URL with live totals - QR code to scan and give - Custom heading, text, and colors #### 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 ### 07 Money, reports, and data #### Integrated payment collection - Card, check, PayPal, and available payment methods - Apple Pay and Google Pay - Payment tools built into the event workflow - Card-on-file options at registration #### Pass fees to bidders - Let bidders cover the processing fees - Bring your cost down to 0% - 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 #### Winner invoice by SMS - Winners get their invoice by text the minute bidding closes - One tap to the Pay Now page - No searching email for the bill #### My Wins - Winners see everything they won on one page - Pay for all items in one checkout - Receipts ready to download #### Invoices and payouts - Winner invoices and organizer payout tracking - Cash and check recording at the door - Refunds and partial refunds #### Event and auction reporting - Item performance and bidding activity - Revenue, payment, guest, and ticket reporting - Profit and loss per item - 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 - Lapsed donor and retention reports #### Tax-ready records - IRS-compliant tax receipts with fair market value - Year-end giving statements - Bidder and donor exports for follow-up #### Data portability - Export your data to CSV - API access and webhooks - Zapier integration - Options to import and export event data ### 08 Promote, communicate, and recognize #### 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 #### Promote tools - Share link, QR code, and social graphics generated for you - Post-ready assets for Facebook and email - Drive bidder traffic before event night #### Message Blast - Email and text your guest list - Pre-schedule email and SMS blasts ahead of time - Message template library to start from - 500 free credits, then 5 cents each #### Re-engagement - Abandoned bidder re-engagement emails - Automated alerts that bring bidders back - Thank-you emails for purchases and donations - Post-event thank-you automation #### Sponsor logos - Logo upload or name-as-text display - Tappable logos that link to sponsor websites - Placement on every page, item pages, and receipts - Sort order and show/hide controls #### Feedback and follow-up - Post-event survey tool - Segmented messaging to bidder groups - Share updates on the event website ### 09 Integrations #### Payments - Stripe and PayPal payment connections #### Accounting - QuickBooks and Xero - DonorBooks listed among existing connections #### Marketing and CRM - Constant Contact - Mailchimp - Salesforce - DonorPerfect, Bloomerang, and Little Green Light ### 10 Support and training #### 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 #### Auction Success Manager - A dedicated manager on the Prepay plan - Coaching on best practices and revenue strategy #### Self-serve help - Knowledge base and help center - Live chat support - Video tutorials and planning resources ### 11 Risk-free auction items #### Risk-free auction items - Browse risk-free consignment travel and experiences - Pay $0 unless it sells - Add packages to your package list, no sales call - Expand your item options without extra vendors #### Full kit with every package - Listing copy written for you - Display sheet for the table - Auctioneer script and briefing - Promo graphics for social and email #### Works your way - Works online, on paper bid sheets, or with a live auctioneer - Add fundraising experiences alongside event items - Keep item planning connected to your auction ## Golf outing software New: golf outing software Golf outings, run like the rest of your event. Charity golf tournaments get their own toolkit: registration, live scoring, sponsorships, and fundraising, all connected to the same platform as your auction. ### G1 Tournament website and branding #### Branded tournament site - Custom branded event website - Tournament setup wizard - Custom logo, images, and vanity URL - Course information page with map directions #### Discovery and sharing - Events listing directory for discovery - Event QR codes - Photo gallery and social links - Website analytics ### G2 Registration and payments #### Player registration - Online registration for singles, pairs, and foursomes - Captain registers and pays for the whole team - Custom questions: shirt size, dietary, handicap - Free and complimentary packages #### Pricing controls - Promo and discount codes - Early-bird registration tiers - Event capacity management - Pass transaction fees to golfers and sponsors #### Registration admin - Track pending cash or check payments - Register players from the admin dashboard - Bulk roster upload and Excel import - Auto-generated email confirmations #### Golfer self-service - Golfers manage and edit their own teams - Player portal for sign-up and substitutions - Payouts by check or ACH deposit ### G3 Pairings, tee times, and flights #### Pairings builder - Drag-and-drop pairing builder - Hole assignments - Automatic pairings by handicap, flight, or group - Bag drop list export #### Flights and tee sheets - Automated flighting with manual override - Flights and tee times shared instantly with players - Multi-flight tournament support - Tee sheet management #### Player communication - Personalized texts with tee time, hole, and partners - Season point races and standings ### G4 Live scoring and leaderboards #### Live scoring - Live scoring via free mobile app - App-free scoring from a phone browser via QR code - Digital scorecards, hole-by-hole scoring - Score entry from phones with real-time tracking #### Leaderboards - Live leaderboards on the event website - Live TV leaderboards for the clubhouse - Team logos and player images - Remote viewing links and spectator access #### Formats and results - Scramble, best ball, Stableford, match play, stroke play, skins, quota - Multiple formats in the same round - Skins game management - Contest holes: closest-to-the-pin, long drive #### Handicaps - GHIN handicap integration and sync - Automated scoring and handicapping - On-course scoring stations - Instant final results with automated tie-breaking ### G5 Sponsorships #### Sponsorship packages - Custom packages built and sold online - Customizable tiers and levels - Online sponsorship payments - Sponsors upload their own logos at registration #### Sponsor visibility - Sponsor logo ticker on the homepage - Automatic logo display after checkout - Assign sponsors to specific holes - Custom ad banner inside the scoring app #### Sponsor admin - Sponsor logo and asset collection - Sponsor invoicing and payment tracking - Top-tier placement across website, app, and documents #### Sellable extras - Pin flags, hole signage, hole-in-one insurance - Hole-in-one contests ### G6 Tournament fundraising #### Donations - Direct donations on the tournament website - Donations from the registration page - Donation progress bar toward goal - Text-to-donate and scan-to-donate QR codes #### Donation admin - Standalone collection with tax-deductible confirmation - Automatic charitable receipts - Charitable donation letter builder - Round-up purchases to benefit the cause #### Auction and store - Full online auction tied to the tournament - Outbid notifications by text and email - E-commerce store: mulligans, apparel, merchandise - Checkout upsell for add-ons #### On-course games - Mulligans, raffle entries, hole-in-one contests - Closest-to-the-pin contests - Raffle ticket sales - Dinner, bar, and club rental sales #### Reuse and coaching - Clone past tournaments to reuse configuration - Fundraising specialists for coaching - Automated PDF invoicing ### G7 Event day, communication, and reporting #### Event-day operations - Real-time check-in with live counter synced across devices - Multiple check-in stations without duplication - Printable scorecards, cart signs, pairing sheets, bag tags - Easy close-out: reconcile registration, payments, payouts #### Communication - Integrated email and push notifications - Built-in text messaging - Graphic email marketing and templates - Thank-you emails for purchases and donations #### Reporting and admin - Real-time event data in the admin backend - Revenue, expenses, and net proceeds in one dashboard - Full reporting with spreadsheet exports - Unlimited admin users, shared access with the course ## See the feature suite in your own event You do not need to learn everything before you can start exploring. Create your free account with real or made-up event details, then see how the guest experience, event workspace, bidding, and fundraising tools could fit your cause. ## What it means for your team One feature suite supports every event role. Each person on your team sees the part of the platform that makes their work easier, while the underlying guest and event information stays connected. - **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. - **Golf tournament chair.** Registration, pairings, live scoring, sponsorships, tournament fundraising. Removes: Spreadsheets, paper scorecards, and day-of chaos. ## Feature list questions Common questions before you explore the full platform. Here are the answers we hear most from chairs who are still deciding. ### 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. ### Does CharityAuctions handle golf outings too? Yes. CharityAuctions includes golf outing software with online registration, live scoring, leaderboards, sponsorships, and fundraising, all connected to the same event platform. ## Ready when you are See the complete event experience before you commit. Create your free account, then test tickets, bidding, giving, and checkout from one workspace. Nothing public until you say so. No credit card. One-click deletion. No follow-up unless you ask. ## Next step - Try for Free: 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