Answers, straight ahead.
The questions we hear most — about fit, setup, pricing, donor experience, and how the money moves. Still curious? Email our support team.
Will this software work for an event like ours?
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, or a school fundraiser, 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.
What types of fundraising activities can we undertake?
Sunrise supports silent, live, online-only, and hybrid auctions — plus raffles, fund-a-need campaigns, general donations, and giving campaigns. You can combine multiple types in a single event, like running a silent auction alongside a fund-a-need appeal and a raffle. Explore all supported fundraiser types.
Is this a good fit for schools, PTAs, and smaller nonprofits?
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 structure works for organizations of all sizes, and our intuitive interface means volunteers can learn the system quickly without technical training.
What does it cost — and which plan should we pick?
We offer two plans: Standard (best for a single fundraising event) and Premium (best for ongoing or multi-event fundraising). Standard includes one event site, ticketing, mobile bidding, auction tools, donations, guest management, reporting, and secure bank-processed payments. Premium includes everything in Standard plus unlimited events throughout the year and phone support 7 days a week. Pricing varies based on your bank's agreement. Ask your bank representative about Sunrise Fundraising. View detailed plan information.
What payment processing or transaction fees should we expect?
Payments are processed securely through your local bank. Payment processing fees are separate from the plan price and are determined by your bank's payment processing agreement. These fees are standard across the industry and 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 fees specific to your organization.
How long does it take to set up our first auction or gala?
Most organizations can set up their first event in 30–60 minutes using our step-by-step setup wizard. Basic setup — creating the event, adding items, and configuring settings — is quick. More complex events with custom branding, multiple categories, and advanced features may take 2–3 hours. You can save progress and return later. Learn more about our setup process.
Can non-technical staff and volunteers learn the system quickly?
Yes. If your staff and volunteers can use email or social media, they can use Sunrise. The interface is intuitive, with helpful tooltips and guidance throughout. Most volunteers learn the basics in under 30 minutes. We provide comprehensive documentation and video tutorials, and our support team is available to help with questions.
Does it support tickets, tables, sponsorships, and add-ons?
Yes. Beyond 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. Everything is managed from one dashboard, and guests can purchase everything in a single checkout.
Do bidders need to download an app?
No app required. Bidders participate directly from any smartphone, tablet, or computer using their web browser. The platform is fully mobile-responsive and optimized for every device. Guests just visit your event URL and start bidding — no downloads, no required account creation.
What does the bidding experience look like?
It's designed to feel intuitive and engaging. Guests see a clean, easy-to-navigate interface with photos and descriptions for every item. They can browse by category, search, and place bids with a few taps. Real-time updates and outbid notifications keep the energy high throughout the event.
How smooth are check-in and check-out on event night?
Fast and efficient. Use our mobile check-in to look up guests by name. Check-out lets guests view purchases, add donations, and complete payment in one place — with winning bids, tickets, add-ons, and donations all calculated automatically. Many events average under one minute per guest at check-out.
Can we customize the event site and emails with our branding?
Yes. Add your organization's logo, choose brand colors, customize event pages with your own messaging and imagery, and personalize every email communication. The result is a consistent brand experience from registration through post-event follow-up.
Does this integrate with our CRM or donor database?
Not directly. Data can be exported in standard formats (CSV, Excel) for easy import into your existing systems, so your donor information stays synchronized across platforms.
How do we export guest, bidder, and donation data?
After your event, export guest info, bidder details, winning bids, donations, and payment information — in CSV or Excel. Exports are available immediately after your event ends and any time afterward from your dashboard. Filter by criteria or pull a complete dataset.
What reporting is available to analyze performance?
Reports cover revenue by category (auction items, tickets, donations), bidder participation stats, top-performing items, donor engagement, and full financial summaries. Reports are live during the event and available in detailed form afterward — all exportable for your board or stakeholders.
How reliable is the system during high-traffic bidding?
Reliability is critical for fundraising events, and we've built Sunrise with that in mind. Our infrastructure handles high-traffic periods with a 99.9% uptime target and automatic scaling. We've supported events with thousands of simultaneous bidders. The system includes redundancy, real-time monitoring, and automatic failover — and we provide dedicated support during your event.
What training and support do we get?
Before your event: setup guides, video tutorials, documentation, free weekly webinars for all customers, and optional one-on-one training sessions for Premium customers. Our support team is available via email. Premium customers also get phone support seven days a week — including event nights, when a real person is on call to make sure everything runs smoothly.
How are payments, refunds, and chargebacks handled?
All payments are processed securely through your local bank, and are collected immediately at checkout. Refunds are processed directly from your dashboard — select the transaction, issue a refund, and it returns to the original payment method within 5–7 business days. Chargebacks follow your bank's standard dispute process, with support from our team.
How quickly do we receive funds after the event?
Funds are typically available in your account within 2–3 business days after your event ends, depending on your bank's processing schedule. All funds are automatically transferred to your designated account, and you'll receive notifications when transfers are initiated and completed.