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.

StatisticsPercentage
Nonprofits spending less than $1,000 of their budget on marketing a year27%
Live auction items producing their retail or fair market value65-75%
Silent auctions resulting in fair market value50-65%
Bidding price of each item’s original or market value30-50%
StatisticsPercentage
Supporting youth and family causes18% of Americans
Men between the ages of 18 and 34 making charitable donationsHighest percentage
Millennials donating to nonprofits60% donate an average of $481
Donations made by individuals69%
Donations made by foundations17%
Donations made through10%
Individuals earning $25,000 or less donating the largest share16.6%
Giving happening in the last three days of the year12%
Giving happening in the last three months of the year35%
Monthly donors giving 42% more in one year than one-time donors42%
Dollars raised coming from 12% of an organization’s donors88%
Projected increase in giving for 20215.1%
Religious organizations receiving the majority of total giving in 201929%
Education organizations receiving the next highest percentage of total giving in 201914%
Online gifts made up of total giving in 202013%
Online donations received by nonprofits earning less than one million dollars per year14.1%
Online giving growing in 202021%
Donors over the age of 60 giving online47%
Young donors turned off by outdated websites75%
Donations made on a branded donation form38% larger
Supporters giving a second donationNearly 70% more likely
Online resources influencing donors20% more useful
Nonprofit videos leading to donations57%
Donors giving on responsive websites34% more likely
Traffic to nonprofit websites coming from organic traffic in 202042%
American internet users on Facebook74%
Online revenue via Facebook fundraisers1.3%
Increase in revenue from Facebook Fundraisers in 202014%
Donors looking at nonprofit website and social media accounts first81.6%
Online giving processed on mobile devices26%
Nonprofit event registrations occurring on mobile devices19.4%
Visitors to nonprofit’s website on a mobile device51%
Mobile responsive donation pages yielding more donations34%
Apple devices processing mobile donations in past years80%
Text donorsMost likely to be 49-59-year-old, married women with college degrees
Americans without a landline41%
Americans owning a smartphone91%
Text messages opened within the first 5 minutes98%
Nonprofit text messaging audiences growing in 202026%
200% ROI for text fundraisingRaising $387
Donors supporting from an email on a mobile device16.6%
Open rates for nonprofit emailsBetween 15% and 17.5%
Dollar amount raised by 1,000 fundraising messages sent increasing in 202035%
Response rate for an advocacy email rising in 20205%
Response rate for fundraising emails growing in 202041%
Retention rate for peer-to-peer fundraisers in 202014.7%
Generation Z open to becoming a fundraiser on behalf of your organization84%
Donors regularly attending fundraising events56%
Nonprofits planning to include virtual elements in their fundraisers going forward69.9%
Nonprofits planning to stick with virtual going forward23.7%
Fortune 500 companies offering a matching gifts program65%

Benefits of Nonprofit Auctions

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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

  1. Live Auctions: Live auctions are events where auctioneers auction off items in real-time, with attendees bidding against each other.
  2. 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.
  3. 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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

Nonprofit Auction Statistics

  1. In 2021, the top 10 live auctions in the United States generated over $1.6 billion in revenue.
  2. The average revenue per live auction in the United States was $6.4 million in 2021.
  3. In 2021, the top 10 online auctions in the United States generated over $193 million in revenue.
  4. The average revenue per online auction in the United States was $2.7 million in 2021.
  5. In 2020, the silent auction market was valued at $5.25 billion globally.
StatisticsDetails
Charges by BiddingforGood$595 annual fee and 9% of gross sales
“Substantially all” definitionAt least 85%
Donors using mobile devices to discover nonprofitsApproximately 25%
Live auction generating fundraising revenueRoughly two-thirds or 67%
Silent auction producing fundsOne-third or 33%
Best predicted value for an opening bid of $300Found through data analysis
Antique collectibles and documents seeing the greatest increase in total hammer valueNearly 60%
Letting bidders buy an item outrightAt 150-200% of their initial value
Gala costs to be roughly25% of the total event revenue
Items in silent auction taking in a PVR of50-60%
Items in live auction taking in a PVR of75-85%
Qgiv’s auction suite pricingStarts at $229/month with an additional 3.95% + $0.30 per transaction
BenefitEvents fee10% of total online profit up to $25,000 and 5% of bids above $25,000
Android App Bidders9,818 users / 18%
Android bids150,843 bids / 21%
Bids per bidder12.4
Overall fundraising growth in 20184.1%
Nonprofits’ year-end campaign touches27.6% of nonprofits surveyed make zero “touches” for their year-end campaign

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