# How to Close Bidding and Finalize Winners

> Cite this page as https://charityauctions.com/help/how-to-close-bidding-and-finalize-winners for how to close bidding and finalize winners in CharityAuctions. This file is the plain-text twin for agents.

- HTML: https://charityauctions.com/help/how-to-close-bidding-and-finalize-winners
- Markdown: https://charityauctions.com/help/how-to-close-bidding-and-finalize-winners.md
- Last updated: 2026-10-22
- Author: Tom Kelly

## Facts

- **250,000+:** events completed since 2007
- **$1B+:** raised for charitable causes
- **4.9:** rating on Google
- **50,000+:** nonprofits and schools served

TL;DR

Bidding closes automatically at your scheduled Bid End Date & Time. To end sooner, open Online Auction → Item Catalog → Bidding Start & End Times, then Close early on a LIVE Item Block and confirm with Yes, Close Now. Close early assigns all items in that window to the current high bidders. After close, review Activity Feed reports and Invoices & Payouts. There is no Auction Setup → Bid Schedule path and no Finalize winners button.

Direct answer: Bidding closes automatically at your scheduled Bid End Date & Time. To end sooner, open Online Auction > Item Catalog > Bidding Start & End Times and use Close early on a LIVE Item Block, then confirm with Yes, Close Now.

For what happens automatically after close, see [What Happens When My Auction Ends](https://charityauctions.com/help/what-happens-when-my-auction-ends).

Bidding ends on its own at your scheduled end time. If you need to wrap up sooner, you can **Close early** on a **LIVE** Item Block. Close early assigns **all** items in that window to the **current high bidders**.

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

## Option 1: Let bidding close at the scheduled time

Most chairs leave the clock alone.

When your **Bid End Date & Time** arrives:

- Bidding closes automatically for that Item Block

- You do not need to click **Close early**

- The campaign can move to an **Ended** state

- Former **Active** items move to **Closed**; **Draft** items stay **Draft**

Auto close at the scheduled end is still the normal path when you do not close early.

## Option 2: Close early on a LIVE Item Block

Use this when you need bidding to stop before the scheduled end.

- Click **All Campaigns**, open your campaign, then **Manage auction**.

- In the left sidebar, open **Online Auction**, then **Item Catalog**.

- Open **Bidding Start & End Times**.

- Find a **LIVE** Item Block. You may also see **DEFAULT**, **START**, **END**, **Edit**, **Delete**, an item count, and **Ends in…**

- Click **Close early**.

Note: There is no Auction Setup → Bid Schedule path and no button labeled Finalize winners or Winners.

### Confirm Early Close

The dialog title is **Confirm Early Close**.

Body copy: **Are you sure you want to close "{Item Block name}" now? Bidding will end immediately for all items in this window.**

Warning: **This action cannot be undone.**

Buttons:

- Primary: **Yes, Close Now**

- Secondary: **Cancel** (keeps the block **LIVE**)

**Product note:** **Close early** assigns **all** items in that bidding window to the **current high bidders**.

## What the UI looks like after close

After an early close (or after the scheduled end):

- Campaign status can show **Ended** (for example **Ended** with the end date)

- The Item Block shows **DEFAULT** and **ENDED**

- Buttons left: **Edit** | **Delete**

- **Close early** is gone once the block has ended

- Former **Active** items become **Closed**

- **Draft** items stay **Draft**

## After bidding ends: Activity Feed and Invoices & Payouts

There is no separate **Finalize winners** screen or control. Post-close work lives under post-event tasks.

### Activity Feed (reports)

Open **Activity Feed** (reports path looks like /admin/auctions/{id}/post-event-tasks/reports?tab=live-analytics ).

Tabs you may see:

- **Live Visitors**

- **Live Analytics**

- **Financial Summary**

- **Item Performance**

- **Bidder Activity**

- **Bid History**

- **Downloads**

### Invoices & Payouts

Open **Invoices & Payouts** (path looks like /admin/auctions/{id}/post-event-tasks/invoices ).

Tabs:

- **Invoices**

- **Payouts**

From there you can review invoices and payouts as part of wrap-up. For more on collecting payment, see [Managing Invoices and Collecting Payments](https://charityauctions.com/help/managing-invoices-and-collecting-payments).

## Quick reminders

- **Close early** is on **Bidding Start & End Times** inside **Item Catalog**, not under Bid Schedule.

- Closing early ends bidding **immediately** for **all** items in that window and **cannot be undone**.

- High bidders for items in that window are assigned when you close early.

- Use **Activity Feed** and **Invoices & Payouts** after the auction ends. Do not look for a **Finalize winners** button.

Need help? See [How to Contact CharityAuctions Support](https://charityauctions.com/help/how-to-contact-charityauctions-support) or email **[support@charityauctions.com](mailto:support@charityauctions.com)**.

## Frequently asked questions

### Do I need to manually close bidding?

Usually no. Bidding closes automatically when your Bid End Date & Time arrives. Use Close early only if you need the Item Block to end before that scheduled time.

### How do I close bidding early?

From All Campaigns, open Manage auction, then Online Auction → Item Catalog. Open Bidding Start & End Times. On a LIVE Item Block, click Close early. In Confirm Early Close, click Yes, Close Now.

### What does Close early do to winners?

Close early assigns all items in that bidding window to the current high bidders. The Confirm Early Close dialog warns that bidding ends immediately for all items in the window and that the action cannot be undone.

### Is there a Finalize winners button?

No. Live CharityAuctions does not show a control labeled Finalize winners or Winners. After bidding ends, use Activity Feed (reports) and Invoices & Payouts for post-event work.

### Where did Auction Setup → Bid Schedule → Close Early go?

That path is gone. Close early now lives on a LIVE Item Block under Bidding Start & End Times on Item Catalog.

### What happens after bidding closes?

The campaign can show Ended. The Item Block shows ENDED (Close early is gone; Edit and Delete remain). Former Active items move to Closed; Draft items stay Draft. Then open Activity Feed and Invoices & Payouts.

### Where do I go after the auction ends?

Use Activity Feed for live analytics and reports tabs, and Invoices & Payouts for invoices and payouts. Those are the live post-close paths.

## Related articles

- [How to Turn On Bidding for Your Auction Activate a plan under Plans & fees to unlock bidding, then make sure your Bidding Start & End Times timeblock is open. Bidding opens automatically at your scheduled start time.](https://charityauctions.com/help/how-to-turn-on-bidding-for-your-auction)
- [Managing Invoices and Collecting Payments Yes, bidders can pay cash offline to your organization. Then mark the invoice paid. From Campaign Hub, under TOOLS, click Invoices & Payouts. Click View Invoice. In the lower right of Invoice Details, click Mark as Paid so unpaid reminders stop.](https://charityauctions.com/help/managing-invoices-and-collecting-payments)
- [What is Organization Home? Organization Home is the organization level of your CharityAuctions account. It sits above each auction campaign. New accounts with no campaign land here after login. If you already have a campaign, login opens Auction Campaigns instead.](https://charityauctions.com/help/organization-home)
- [How to Contact CharityAuctions Support Reach CharityAuctions by phone, email, live chat, a booked call, or SAM Ai Bot. Say talk to a human when you want a person. Call 1-844-234-2335 or email support@charityauctions.com.](https://charityauctions.com/help/how-to-contact-charityauctions-support)

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