Charity auctions raise money from donated items: a signed shirt, a weekend away, a dinner with the head chef. Online, they reach supporters who can't come to the gala. You can use a charity auction service, or host your own auction software. This guide helps you decide which fits, and shows how to set one up in a self-hosted script.
When a hosted charity platform is the better choice
Self-hosting isn't always the right call. A hosted charity auction service is usually better if:
- You run one event a year and nobody on the team wants to look after a server.
- You need features built for fundraising, such as text-to-bid at a live event, paddle raises, or donor records that sync with your CRM.
- You need it next week. A hosted service takes minutes to set up, and the work of installing and testing your own site doesn't pay off for one evening.
Before you sign up anywhere, compare the fees. Some services charge per event, some take a percentage of what you raise, and some add a fee to the buyer's payment. Our self-hosted vs SaaS comparison covers how to compare those costs fairly.
When self-hosting fits
- Recurring events. A school, club or charity shop running auctions several times a year pays once for the script, not for every event.
- Your own brand and domain. The auction lives at
auctions.yourcharity.org, in your colours, with no other company's branding. - Your supporters' data stays with you. It sits on your server, under your privacy policy.
- No percentage of what you raise. You pay your payment provider's fees, and nothing on top for the auction software.
English or sealed lots
Two auction types suit charity work. Both are in every BidKing edition.
- English (open) bidding works for most lots. Supporters see the current bid and outbid each other, which is part of the fun.
- Sealed bids suit high-value lots and donors who'd rather not bid in public. Each bidder submits their best offer, and the highest wins at the close. See how sealed-bid auctions work.
Set the bid fee to zero on charity lots. A fee on every bid, win or lose, turns a charity auction into something closer to a raffle, and raffles have their own rules in many countries.
Buy Now for "skip the queue" donors
Some supporters would rather pay a fixed price than watch a lot. BidKing's Buy Now option, in every edition, lets you set a price at which anyone can buy the lot outright. Set it at a level you'd be happy to close at, often well above the item's value, since the extra goes to your cause.
Reserve prices protect donated items
A donor who gave a valuable item doesn't want it to go for a fraction of its worth. Set a reserve: if bidding doesn't reach it, the lot ends without a sale. You can then offer it again, or return it to the donor. Decide which before the event, and tell donors.
A few extras worth having
- Anti-sniping (BidKing Pro): a bid in the last few minutes extends the lot, so the closing minutes stay competitive. That usually helps a charity.
- "Notify me" emails (Plus and Pro): supporters get an email when an upcoming lot goes live.
- Payments: 11 gateways come with every edition, including Stripe and PayPal. There's also a manual bank transfer option for donors who prefer it. Put in your own account details before launch, because a fresh install ships with sample ones.
Receipts and tax: check locally
Whether a winning bid counts as a donation, and how much of it, depends on your country's rules. In many places only the amount paid above the item's fair value can be treated as a gift. Rules on receipts, gift-aid-style schemes and sales tax on auctioned goods vary widely.
- Receipts: BidKing records every winning bid and order, but it doesn't issue charitable tax receipts. Plan how you'll send those.
- Advice: ask your accountant, or your charity regulator's guidance, before the event.
- Raffles: if you plan to add a raffle, check those rules separately. Raffles are regulated differently from auctions. Our raffle software cost guide covers the options.
Common questions
Is there free charity auction software?
Some hosted services offer free plans and take their fee from each sale or donation instead. Self-hosted software costs a one-time licence plus hosting, and takes no percentage of what you raise.
Which auction type is best for a charity auction?
English (open) bidding for most lots, and sealed bids for high-value lots or donors who prefer privacy. Set the bid fee to zero for charity lots.
Can BidKing issue donation receipts?
No. It records every winning bid and order, but charitable tax receipts need to come from your own process, following local rules.
How do I stop a donated item selling too cheaply?
Set a reserve price. If bidding doesn't reach it, the lot ends without a sale.