Nonprofit Auction Statistics, Trends And Facts 2023

Nonprofit organizations rely heavily on fundraising to support their mission and operations. One popular fundraising method is hosting auctions, which can be both fun and effective in generating donations.

In this blog post, we will share nonprofit auction statistics that can help organizations plan successful auctions in 2022 and beyond.

Key Nonprofit Auction Statistics 2023 – MY Choice

In 2020, the online fundraising platform GiveSmart saw a 50% increase in online auction revenue compared to the previous year.
Nonprofit auction platform BiddingForGood has raised over $400 million for nonprofits since its founding in 2003.
OneCause, another nonprofit auction platform, reported that its clients raised over $225 million in 2020, a 33% increase from the previous year.
Greater Giving, a fundraising platform that offers auction and event management tools, has helped nonprofits raise over $6 billion since its inception in 2002.
Mobile bidding is becoming increasingly popular among nonprofit auction platforms. GiveSmart reported that in 2020, 87% of their clients used mobile bidding for their events.
Nonprofit organizations that use auction platforms to raise funds for their causes can typically expect to keep between 80-90% of the proceeds, with the remaining percentage going towards platform fees and transaction fees.
In addition to auctions, nonprofit platforms may also offer other fundraising tools such as donation pages, ticketing and registration, and peer-to-peer fundraising.
According to a survey by Nonprofit Hub, 79% of nonprofit organizations use online fundraising platforms, and 57% of those organizations use online auction platforms specifically.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of online fundraising platforms, including nonprofit auction platforms, as many nonprofits have had to pivot to virtual events and fundraising campaigns.
Nonprofit auction platforms are not just limited to large organizations. Many smaller nonprofits, such as schools, churches, and local charities, also use these platforms to raise funds for their causes.

Nonprofit Auctions Stats

An Overview Nonprofit auctions can be live, silent, or online events. These events are typically organized by nonprofits to raise funds for their charitable activities. The items up for auction can vary widely, from unique experiences and luxury goods to one-of-a-kind art pieces and collectibles.

Statistics	Percentage
Nonprofits spending less than $1,000 of their budget on marketing a year	27%
Live auction items producing their retail or fair market value	65-75%
Silent auctions resulting in fair market value	50-65%
Bidding price of each item’s original or market value	30-50%

Statistics	Percentage
Supporting youth and family causes	18% of Americans
Men between the ages of 18 and 34 making charitable donations	Highest percentage
Millennials donating to nonprofits	60% donate an average of $481
Donations made by individuals	69%
Donations made by foundations	17%
Donations made through	10%
Individuals earning $25,000 or less donating the largest share	16.6%
Giving happening in the last three days of the year	12%
Giving happening in the last three months of the year	35%
Monthly donors giving 42% more in one year than one-time donors	42%
Dollars raised coming from 12% of an organization’s donors	88%
Projected increase in giving for 2021	5.1%
Religious organizations receiving the majority of total giving in 2019	29%
Education organizations receiving the next highest percentage of total giving in 2019	14%
Online gifts made up of total giving in 2020	13%
Online donations received by nonprofits earning less than one million dollars per year	14.1%
Online giving growing in 2020	21%
Donors over the age of 60 giving online	47%
Young donors turned off by outdated websites	75%
Donations made on a branded donation form	38% larger
Supporters giving a second donation	Nearly 70% more likely
Online resources influencing donors	20% more useful
Nonprofit videos leading to donations	57%
Donors giving on responsive websites	34% more likely
Traffic to nonprofit websites coming from organic traffic in 2020	42%
American internet users on Facebook	74%
Online revenue via Facebook fundraisers	1.3%
Increase in revenue from Facebook Fundraisers in 2020	14%
Donors looking at nonprofit website and social media accounts first	81.6%
Online giving processed on mobile devices	26%
Nonprofit event registrations occurring on mobile devices	19.4%
Visitors to nonprofit’s website on a mobile device	51%
Mobile responsive donation pages yielding more donations	34%
Apple devices processing mobile donations in past years	80%
Text donors	Most likely to be 49-59-year-old, married women with college degrees
Americans without a landline	41%
Americans owning a smartphone	91%
Text messages opened within the first 5 minutes	98%
Nonprofit text messaging audiences growing in 2020	26%
200% ROI for text fundraising	Raising $387
Donors supporting from an email on a mobile device	16.6%
Open rates for nonprofit emails	Between 15% and 17.5%
Dollar amount raised by 1,000 fundraising messages sent increasing in 2020	35%
Response rate for an advocacy email rising in 2020	5%
Response rate for fundraising emails growing in 2020	41%
Retention rate for peer-to-peer fundraisers in 2020	14.7%
Generation Z open to becoming a fundraiser on behalf of your organization	84%
Donors regularly attending fundraising events	56%
Nonprofits planning to include virtual elements in their fundraisers going forward	69.9%
Nonprofits planning to stick with virtual going forward	23.7%
Fortune 500 companies offering a matching gifts program	65%

Benefits of Nonprofit Auctions

Increased Revenue: Nonprofit auctions are a popular fundraising method because they can generate significant revenue for an organization. According to a study by the National Auctioneers Association, nonprofits can expect to raise up to 50% more through an auction than through traditional fundraising methods.
Donor Engagement: Nonprofit auctions offer a unique opportunity to engage donors by providing them with an interactive experience. Attendees can bid on items and compete with each other, making the event more engaging and memorable.
Marketing: Nonprofit auctions also offer an opportunity to market the organization and its mission. Through the auction items, nonprofits can showcase their cause and highlight their impact on the community.
Community Building: Nonprofit auctions can bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds and interests to support a common cause. These events can help build a sense of community among donors and supporters.

Types of Nonprofit Auctions

Live Auctions: Live auctions are events where auctioneers auction off items in real-time, with attendees bidding against each other.
Silent Auctions: Silent auctions are events where attendees can bid on items placed on tables. Bids are recorded on bid sheets, and the highest bidder wins the item.
Online Auctions: Online auctions are events where items are auctioned off through an online platform. Bidders can participate from anywhere, making it easier to reach a broader audience.

Trends in Nonprofit Auctions

Mobile Bidding: Many nonprofits are now using mobile bidding platforms to make bidding easier for attendees. Mobile bidding allows attendees to bid on items using their smartphones, making the process more convenient and streamlined.
Hybrid Events: In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many nonprofits have started organizing hybrid auctions that allow for both in-person and online participation. This approach has helped nonprofits reach a broader audience and increase revenue.
Luxury Items: Nonprofits are increasingly offering luxury items at auctions, such as high-end watches, designer handbags, and luxury vacations. These items can attract high-end donors and help increase revenue.
Donor Data: Nonprofits are now using donor data to personalize the auction experience and provide more targeted marketing. By analyzing data on donors’ interests and giving history, nonprofits can curate items that are more likely to attract bids.