SchoolAuction.net review
Bottom line
SchoolAuction.net is a web-based auction and fundraising platform built for schools and nonprofits. Its clearest strength is The Last Ask, which sends guest tips to the organization rather than the software provider. The main cost to watch is that bringing your own merchant account requires a Plus or Professional plan. It suits school and nonprofit teams that want auctions, donations, and ticketing managed in one tool.
What is SchoolAuction.net?
Schools and nonprofits running benefit auctions often juggle paper bid sheets, spreadsheets, and separate payment tools. SchoolAuction.net is a web-based fundraising platform that brings silent and live auctions, online bidding, donation campaigns, event ticketing, and sponsorships into one place, so a single event can combine several fundraising formats. Its core job is helping an organization raise more from a gala or online campaign without building the process from scratch.
Organizers create an event site from templates, add catalog items, and open bidding to guests in the room and at home. Bidders can use their smartphones to bid and receive outbid alerts by email or text. A Self Check-Out feature lets guests review their cart and pay on their phones at the end of the night. Organizers who want a hybrid event can use the Virtual feature, which places livestreaming video, chat, and bidding on one screen. Registration, reporting, and guest management tools keep the event organized from start to finish.
The platform serves school parent groups, nonprofit development teams, and community organizations that run benefit auctions. Pricing starts at $79, and a free trial is available, though there is no permanent free plan. Paid tiers include Plus and Professional. Card payments run through Deluxe by default, and organizations that prefer their own merchant account need a Plus or Professional plan to use it.
The clearest difference is The Last Ask, an optional tipping step at checkout. The organization sets suggested tip levels, guests can choose one, enter their own amount, or opt out, and the organization keeps 100% of those funds. Many tip-based fundraising tools send guest tips to the software provider instead. The company, Northworld LLC, is based in Portland, Oregon, and has served auction teams since 2004.
Who it's for
- School PTAs and parent groups
- Nonprofit development teams
- Galas with remote online bidding
Who should look elsewhere
- Teams that need a permanent free plan
- Businesses running retail sales outside fundraising events
Typical uses
- Running a school gala with silent and live auctions
- Hosting a hybrid live auction with remote bidders
- Launching a text-to-give donation drive
- Collecting monthly recurring donations from supporters
- Selling sponsorship packages to event sponsors
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