Frequently Asked Questions

Sunrise Fundraising is designed to be flexible and adaptable to a wide variety of events. Whether you're running a small community auction, a large gala, a school fundraiser, or a corporate event, our platform can be customized to fit your needs. We support silent auctions, live auctions, online-only events, and hybrid formats. See all supported fundraiser types or contact us to discuss your specific event requirements.

Absolutely! Schools, PTAs, and smaller community nonprofits are among our most successful users. We've designed the platform to be affordable, easy to use, and scalable—perfect for organizations with limited budgets and volunteer staff. Our pricing plans are structured to work for organizations of all sizes, and our intuitive interface means volunteers can learn the system quickly without technical training. Many schools and PTAs run multiple fundraisers throughout the year using our platform.

We offer two main plans: Standard Plan (best for a single fundraising event) and Premium Plan (best for ongoing or multi-event fundraising). The Standard Plan includes one event site, ticketing, mobile bidding, auction tools, donations, guest management, reporting, and secure bank-processed payments. The Premium Plan includes everything in Standard plus unlimited events throughout the year and phone support 7 days/week. Ask your bank representative about Sunrise Fundraising and which plan is right for your organization. View detailed plan information.

Payments are processed securely through your local bank, giving organizations and supporters a seamless, trusted experience. Payment processing fees are separate from platform fees and are determined by your bank's payment processing agreement. These fees are standard across the industry and are transparently displayed. All fees are clearly outlined before you sign up, and you'll see exactly what fees apply to your account. Ask your bank representative about Sunrise Fundraising and payment processing fees specific to your organization.

Most organizations can set up their first auction or gala in 30-60 minutes using our step-by-step setup wizard. The basic setup—creating your event, adding items, and configuring settings—is quick and straightforward. More complex events with custom branding, multiple item categories, and advanced features may take 2-3 hours. Our guided setup process walks you through each step, and you can save your progress and return later. Many users find they can set up subsequent events even faster. Learn more about our setup process.

Yes! Our platform is specifically designed for non-technical users. If your staff and volunteers can use email or social media, they can use Sunrise Fundraising. The interface is intuitive, with helpful tooltips and guidance throughout. Most volunteers can learn the basics in under 30 minutes. We provide comprehensive documentation, video tutorials, and training resources. Many organizations train their volunteers in a single session before the event. Our support team is also available to help with any questions. See how easy it is to use.

Sunrise Fundraising supports all these fundraising types and more. You can run silent auctions, live auctions, online-only auctions, or hybrid events that combine in-person and online bidding. The platform also supports raffles, fund-a-need (raise-the-paddle) campaigns, general donations, and giving campaigns. You can combine multiple types in a single event—for example, running a silent auction alongside a fund-a-need appeal and a raffle. Our flexible platform adapts to your event format. Explore all supported fundraiser types.

Yes! Sunrise Fundraising is a comprehensive event management platform. In addition to auctions, you can sell event tickets, reserve tables, manage sponsorships and sponsor packages, and offer add-ons like drink tickets, meal upgrades, or VIP experiences. All of these can be managed from one dashboard, and guests can purchase everything in a single checkout process. This makes it easy to maximize revenue from your event while providing a seamless experience for attendees.

No app download required! Bidders can participate directly from any smartphone, tablet, or computer using their web browser. Our platform is fully mobile-responsive and optimized for all devices. Guests simply visit your event URL and can start bidding immediately—no downloads, no account creation required (unless you choose to require it). This makes participation easy and accessible for all your guests, regardless of their device or technical comfort level.

The bidding experience is designed to be intuitive and engaging. Guests see a clean, easy-to-navigate interface showing all auction items with photos and descriptions. They can browse by category, search for specific items, and place bids with just a few taps. Real-time updates show current bids, and automatic outbid notifications keep guests engaged. The interface is visually appealing and works seamlessly on mobile devices, making it easy for guests to participate whether they're at the event or bidding remotely.

Check-in and checkout are designed to be fast and efficient. For check-in, you can use our mobile check-in app to quickly scan tickets or look up guests by name. Checkout is equally streamlined—guests can view their purchases, add donations, and complete payment all in one place. The system automatically calculates totals including winning bids, tickets, add-ons, and donations. Payment processing is quick and secure, and guests receive email receipts immediately. Many events complete checkout in under 2 minutes per guest.

Absolutely! Customization is a key feature of our platform. You can add your organization's logo, choose custom colors that match your brand, customize event pages with your messaging and imagery, and personalize all email communications. This ensures a consistent brand experience for your guests from registration through post-event follow-up. Advanced customization options are available for organizations that want complete control over the look and feel of their event.

Yes, Sunrise Fundraising offers integrations with popular donor databases and CRMs. We provide API access for custom integrations and have built-in connectors for common platforms. Data can be exported in standard formats (CSV, Excel) for easy import into your existing systems. This ensures your donor information stays synchronized and you maintain a complete view of your donor relationships across all platforms. Learn more about our integrations or contact us to discuss your specific CRM needs.

Exporting data is simple and comprehensive. After your event, you can export all data including guest information, bidder details, winning bids, donations, payment information, and more. Exports are available in CSV and Excel formats, making it easy to import into accounting software, donor databases, or use for your own analysis. You can export complete datasets or filter by specific criteria. All exports are available immediately after your event ends, and you can access them anytime from your dashboard.

We provide comprehensive reporting to help you understand your event's performance. Reports include revenue breakdowns by category (auction items, tickets, donations, etc.), bidder participation statistics, top-performing items, donor engagement metrics, and financial summaries. You can view reports in real-time during your event and access detailed post-event reports. All reports can be exported for further analysis or sharing with your board or stakeholders. This data helps you make informed decisions for future events.

Reliability is critical for fundraising events, and we've built our platform with this in mind. Our infrastructure is designed to handle high-traffic periods, with 99.9% uptime guarantee and scalable architecture that automatically adjusts to demand. We've successfully supported events with thousands of simultaneous bidders. Our system includes redundancy, real-time monitoring, and automatic failover to ensure your event runs smoothly even during peak bidding times. We also provide dedicated support during your event to address any issues immediately.

We provide comprehensive training and support throughout your event journey. Before your event, you'll have access to setup guides, video tutorials, documentation, and optional one-on-one training sessions. Our support team is available via email and live chat. Premium plan customers get phone support 7 days/week. During your event, we offer dedicated event-day support to ensure everything runs smoothly. Many organizations also schedule a pre-event walkthrough with our team. Learn more about our support options.

All payments are processed securely through your local bank. Payments are collected immediately when guests complete checkout. Refunds can be processed directly through your dashboard—simply select the transaction and issue a refund. The refund will be processed back to the original payment method, typically within 5-7 business days. Chargebacks are handled through your bank's standard dispute process. We provide tools and guidance to help minimize chargebacks, and our support team can assist if issues arise.

Funds are typically available in your account within 2-3 business days after your event ends. The exact timing depends on your bank's processing schedule. All funds are automatically transferred to your designated bank account. You'll receive notifications when transfers are initiated and completed. For events that end on weekends or holidays, transfers begin on the next business day. This quick turnaround helps you access your funds promptly to support your cause.