11 Questions You Should Ask Before Choosing Fundraising Software
With so many fundraising software solutions available, it can feel overwhelming to decide which one is right for your nonprofit. The truth is, the differences often come down to details: support, pricing, data access, training, and equipment. Asking the right questions can help you separate the best auction software from platforms that may leave you with hidden fees or limited support.
At Auction & Event Solutions, we’ve been empowering nonprofits since 1989. To help you make the best decision, here are 11 essential questions to ask before choosing your fundraising software partner.
1. Do you provide on-site staff support?
Fundraising events move fast, but having on-site support makes them seamless. Having reliable support ensures a smooth check-in experience, live troubleshooting, and less stress for your team.
Our on-site support services include event managers who handle setup, train your volunteers, and oversee the event from start to finish. Where other providers may only offer remote support or outsource to contractors, Auction & Event Solutions proudly provides on-site support with consistency and expertise.
2. What technology and equipment do you provide on-site?
Don’t let outdated – or lack of – technology limit the success and flow of your event. Tablets, printers, and routers are the backbone of modern event fundraising. Without them, you may face connectivity issues and long donor lines. Depending on your organization’s size and budget, on-site equipment can be a huge factor in deciding on an auction and event solution.
Auction & Event Solutions provides event equipment such as tablets, bid paddles, routers, printers, and displays that come pre-configured and tested.
3. How long can we access our data, and in what formats?
Event data is critical for understanding donor behavior, gauging the success of your event, and improving future fundraising. Some providers limit access or charge extra fees, leaving nonprofits without the insights they need.
Auction & Event Solutions gives you full, unrestricted, long-term access to your donor and event data — with zero fees attached.
With AES, you get:
- Unlimited data exports
- Complete donor + payment history
- CSV and Excel reporting at no additional charge
- Permanent access, even as your years of events grow
- Transparent reporting through Auction Conductor
4. Do you charge a percentage of revenue or pass fees to donors?
Hidden costs are one of the biggest frustrations nonprofits face with software providers. Many platforms deduct a percentage of revenue or charge additional ticketing fees directly to your donors.
Auction & Event Solutions takes a nonprofit-first approach to pricing. We never take a cut of your fundraising revenue, and we don’t pass on surprise “support” or “data access” fees. Our model is transparent and built for fundraising success.
We also provide the option to prompt users to cover standard credit card processing fees (not required).
5. Are there recurring subscription or renewal fees?
Recurring subscriptions can drain your budget, especially when platforms lock you into long-term contracts with automatic renewals or hidden add-on costs.
When you partner with Auction & Event Solutions, you only pay for the services you actually need, whether that’s auction software, event equipment, or on-site support. We don’t trap you in rigid subscription cycles or spring renewal surprises on your budget. That transparency allows your organization to plan confidently and invest more of your resources directly into your mission.
6. Do you provide one-on-one training?
Even the best software won’t succeed if your staff and volunteers don’t know how to use it. Some providers leave you with generic support articles or limited training access.
Auction & Event Solutions takes a hands-on approach. We offer one-on-one training to ensure your team is comfortable before event day, plus a library of tutorials and resources so your staff always feels supported.
7. What is your guaranteed response time for support requests?
Fundraising events move quickly – your support team should keep pace. At Auction & Event Solutions, YOUR event manager provides responsive phone and email support, backed by proactive, on-site event management.
Our seasoned event managers identify and address potential issues before they affect your guests or donors. No generic help line or call center queue.
8. Can you print bidder paddles, receipts, and item displays onsite?
Flexibility is key to nonprofit fundraising. Last-minute updates like new guests, additional items, or donor requests are inevitable. Without onsite printing capabilities, those changes can become major headaches, forcing you to scramble or compromise on professionalism.
With Auction & Event Solutions, onsite printing is included as part of our event equipment solutions. We can print custom-designed bidder paddles, receipts, and professional item displays right at the event. This ensures your materials look polished and that you can make real-time adjustments without disrupting the flow of the evening.
9. How do you support live auctions and paddle raises?
Live auctions and paddle raises are some of the most high-energy, high-stakes moments of a fundraising event. But without experienced support, they can also be chaotic — leading to missed bids, delayed tallies, and lost revenue.
Auction & Event Solutions brings decades of expertise to these moments. Our event managers use proven workflows to capture every paddle raise and track every bid with precision. By combining trained staff with reliable technology, we ensure accuracy and speed to maximize fundraising results and protect your organization from costly mistakes.
10. Do you offer resources beyond the software?
Software alone isn’t enough to guarantee event success – that’s why it’s important to partner with an organization that offers full fundraising event support. Unfortunately, many providers stop at giving you a login, leaving your team to manage logistics alone.
Beyond software, we provide full auction management support — including event strategy, volunteer guidance, simplified nonprofit payment solutions, and on-the-ground staff to equip nonprofits with everything they need to succeed. When you partner with Auction & Event Solutions, you gain a trusted partner invested in your mission.
11. What consultative expertise do you offer?
We have a vast network of preferred partners, auctioneers, event vendors, and best practices for fundraising after 30 years of experience. We can help recommend and refer your committee to supporting service providers where needed! We won’t leave you flying blind.
Choosing the Best Auction Software for Your Nonprofit
Not all platforms are created equal. By asking these 10 questions, you can better evaluate your options and make sure you’re partnering with a provider that puts your nonprofit first.
At Auction & Event Solutions, we believe in transparency, nonprofit-first pricing, reliable support, and full data access. That’s what makes us the trusted choice for organizations nationwide. Schedule a demo today to learn more!
Ready to see it in action? Learn more about our fundraising software for nonprofits and what it can do for your next event.
Check out our full auction software comparison to see how Auction & Event Solutions stacks up against other providers.