Getting Started with CharityAuctions

TL;DR

Keep night one simple. Create your free account, open Organization Home, create one campaign, Activate a plan and set Bidding Start & End Times, add a small set of items (or Risk Free from My Lot), share the auction URL, use Display Sheets with SCAN TO BID if you are in-room, then end on schedule or Close early and finish in Activity Feed and Invoices & Payouts. Skip tickets, raffle, and paddle raise on night one. Guests need no app.

CharityAuctions is the easiest charity auction software to use. Most chairs are volunteers with other jobs. Keep night one simple: one campaign, items, a share link, and optional table Display Sheets.

Create your free account when you are ready. You do not need a private demo or a sales call to start.

SAM Ai Bot answers from help articles like this one. Use the live labels below.

The simple path (night one)

Create your free account at charityauctions.com.
Open Organization Home.
Create one campaign (skip extra Fundraising Modules for now).
Activate a plan under Plans & fees, then set Bidding Start & End Times on Item Catalog. Bidding opens automatically at your scheduled start time.
Add items to the campaign, or open Organization Home → Risk Free Items, build My Lot, then Add to campaign.
Share the auction URL so guests can bid in a phone browser. No guest app.
If you are in-room, print Display Sheets with SCAN TO BID for the tables (separate from the share URL).
Let bidding end on schedule, or Close early on a LIVE Item Block and Confirm Early Close if the room needs to wrap.
Afterward, use Activity Feed and Invoices & Payouts.

That is enough for a first silent auction.

What to skip on night one

Leave these for later:

Tickets
Raffle
Paddle raise
Extra Fundraising Modules you do not need yet

A tighter list of good items beats a warehouse of weak lots. You can grow modules after the first event feels easy.

Create your free account

Go to charityauctions.com and Create your free account (or Create Your Free Account). Sign in at charityauctions.com/auth/login.

New accounts with no campaign land on Organization Home. If you already have a campaign, login may open Auction Campaigns; click Organization Home in the left nav when you want the org overview.

See What is Organization Home?.

Activate bidding (not Publish Auction)

Bidding unlocks when you Activate a plan under Plans & fees in Campaign Hub, and guests can bid when your Bidding Start & End Times timeblock is open.

There is no Publish Auction unlock step in the current UI.

Full walkthrough: How to Turn On Bidding for Your Auction.

Items: your donations and/or Risk Free

Add your donated items in the campaign Item Catalog.
If inventory is thin, open Organization Home → Risk Free Items, add packages to My Lot, then Add to campaign (or download Available Assets for an off-site night).

You only pay if an item sells. You do not need a CharityAuctions auction site just to use Risk Free.

See Using Risk Free Consignment Items.

Share the link (and Display Sheets if in-room)

Share URL: copy the auction URL and send it by email, text, social, or your website so guests can bid early from a browser.
In-room: print Display Sheets with SCAN TO BID and place them on item tables. That QR flow is distinct from the share URL.

See How to Share Your Auction With Bidders.

End bidding and wrap money

Normal path: bidding ends at your scheduled Bid End Date & Time.
Early wrap: Close early on a LIVE Item Block, then Confirm Early Close.
After close: Activity Feed (reports) and Invoices & Payouts.

See How to Close Bidding and Finalize Winners.

Soft close

Ready to try the simple path? Create your free account.

Need a human? See How to Contact CharityAuctions Support. Email support@charityauctions.com.

Frequently asked questions

What is the easiest way to set up our first event?

Create your free account, open Organization Home, create one campaign, Activate a plan and set Bidding Start & End Times, add items (or Risk Free packages from My Lot), share the auction URL, use Display Sheets with SCAN TO BID if you are in-room, then let bidding end on schedule or Close early. Afterward use Activity Feed and Invoices & Payouts. Skip tickets, raffle, and paddle raise on night one.

Do guests need to download an app?

No. Guests bid from a phone browser using your auction URL or by scanning SCAN TO BID on Display Sheets. There is no guest app install.

How do we turn bidding on?

Activate a plan under Plans & fees in Campaign Hub to unlock bidding, then set Bidding Start & End Times on Item Catalog. Bidding opens automatically at your scheduled start time. There is no Publish Auction step in the current UI.

What if we do not have donations yet?

Solicit local gifts and/or open Organization Home → Risk Free Items, add packages to My Lot, then Add to campaign (or download Available Assets for an off-site night). You only pay if an item sells.

Should we set up tickets, raffle, or paddle raise on night one?

No. Keep the first event to one campaign, items, share link, and optional Display Sheets. You can add tickets, raffle, and paddle raise later.

How do we wrap up after bidding ends?

Let bidding end on schedule, or Close early on a LIVE Item Block and Confirm Early Close. Then use Activity Feed and Invoices & Payouts. There is no Finalize winners button.

Where do we start after signup?

Organization Home. From there create one campaign, or open Risk Free Items to Build My Lot. New accounts with no campaign land on Organization Home after login.