Display FAQs on your Campaign Page to make it easier for donors to participate in your Auction.
If your donors aren’t used to participating in online auctions, consider displaying FAQs that anticipate their questions and give them peace of mind. This can increase participation and help you raise more funds.
We’ve provided several common FAQs below that you can copy and paste or use as templates.
Why should I add FAQs to my Auction Campaign Page?
Adding FAQs to your Auction Campaign Page helps donors understand the bidding process, reduces confusion, and increases participation. Clear answers to common questions build donor confidence and make it easier for first-time auction participants to engage with your fundraiser.
How do I add FAQs to my Campaign Page?
This Knowledge Base article will walk you through how to add FAQs to your Campaign Page: How-to: Add FAQs to Your Campaign Page.
If you like, you can add the Articles for Donors listed at the end of this article to your FAQs to give donors further guidance.
How do donors place bids on Auction items?
The instructions you give your donors for placing a bid will depend on the Auction style you select:
English-Style
How do I bid on an item?
Find the item you’re interested in and select Place bid, then enter the amount you want to bid. Select Add to cart, then check out to submit your bid. Please note: your bid won’t be officially submitted until you’ve completed the checkout process.
Proxy Bidding
How do I bid on an item?
This Auction uses Proxy Bidding, so the bidding process will be different from a traditional auction.
Find the item you’re interested in and select Place bid, then enter the maximum amount you’re willing to bid on that item (this is your max bid). Don’t worry, you won’t bid this amount right away.
Select Add to cart, then check out. Please note: the system won’t start bidding for you until you’ve completed the checkout process.
After you check out, the system will take over and bid the lowest amount possible to keep you in the winning position until your max bid is reached. If someone outbids your max bid, you’ll be notified by email. If you want to stay in the running, you can increase your max bid.
How can donors update or increase their bids?
Instructions for rebidding will also depend on the Auction style you select:
English-Style
If I’m outbid, how can I re-bid?
You’ll receive an email notification whenever you’re outbid. If you’ve enabled SMS notifications, you’ll also receive a text. The email or text will include a link you can follow to update your bid.
You can opt into SMS notifications whenever you place a bid or re-bid.
Proxy Bidding
If I’m outbid, how can I re-bid?
This Auction uses Proxy Bidding, so the system will re-bid for you until your max bid is reached. When that happens, you’ll get an email notification. If you’ve enabled SMS notifications, you’ll also receive a text. The email or text will include a link you can follow to update your max bid.
You can opt into SMS notifications whenever you place a bid or re-bid.
How do donors cancel a bid?
Donors can’t cancel a bid on their own, so you’ll need to let them know how to contact you so you can do it for them:
How do I cancel or withdraw a bid?
If you need to cancel a bid for any reason, let us know! Click on the Contact Organizer button in the bottom right corner of the screen, and we’ll cancel the bid for you.
How can donors update their payment information?
Donors can update their payment information anytime from their RallyUp account:
How can I update my payment information?
Log into your RallyUp account, click on your initials in the top right corner of the screen, then select My Account. Click on the My Bids tab and find the bid in question. Click on the three-dot menu on the right, then select Edit Payment Information.
If you aren’t able to update your payment information yourself, click on the Contact Organizer button in the bottom right corner of the screen and we’ll update it for you.
What optional Auction features should I explain to donors?
You’ll only need the following FAQs if you enable Buy It Now or Auction Gifts, or if you’re auctioning off multiples of the same item:
Buy It Now
Can I buy an item instead of bidding for it?
If an Auction item has a Buy It Now button, you can click on that button to buy the item outright instead of bidding for it.
Auction Gifts
Can I still support your cause even if I don’t win any Auction items?
Absolutely! When you check out, you’ll be asked if you’d like to give an Auction Gift, which will only be charged if you don’t win any Auction items. You can set your Auction Gift amount to whatever you’d like.
Items with Multiple Quantities
Is there a different bidding process for Auction items with multiple quantities?
Auction items with multiple quantities will have multiple winners. The bidding process will be the same whether there are multiples of an Auction item or not. You’ll need to bid an amount over the current bid displayed on the site to stay in the running. Note that if you win one of these items, you will only be charged for the amount you bid. This means that you may pay a different amount than other winners.
Additional Knowledge Base Articles
Articles for Organizers
Understand: Auction Bidding Styles
How-to: Add Buy It Now to Your Auction Items
Understand: Bidding on Auction Items with Multiple Quantities
Articles for Donors
How-to: Edit or Increase Your Bid
How-to: Update Credit Card Information for Auction Bids
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between English-Style and Proxy Bidding auctions?
English-Style auctions require bidders to manually place each bid and respond when outbid. Proxy Bidding automatically bids on behalf of participants up to their maximum bid amount, making it easier for bidders to stay competitive without constant monitoring.
Do I need to include all these FAQs on my Campaign Page?
No, only include FAQs relevant to your specific Auction setup. If you’re not using Buy It Now, Auction Gifts, or multiple quantities, you can skip those sections and focus on the core bidding, rebidding, and payment FAQs.
How do SMS notifications work for auction bidders?
Bidders can opt into SMS notifications when placing or updating their bids. They’ll receive text alerts when they’re outbid, allowing them to respond quickly and stay competitive without constantly monitoring the Campaign Page.
Can donors cancel their own bids on RallyUp?
No, donors cannot cancel bids themselves. They must contact the Campaign organizer using the Contact Organizer button, and the organizer can then cancel the bid on their behalf through Campaign management tools.
Should I customize these FAQ templates for my organization?
Yes, you can customize these templates to match your organization’s voice and specific Auction setup. Consider adding your organization name, adjusting language for your audience, and including any unique features or policies specific to your fundraiser.