---
title: How to Set Up and Display Your Live Auction
description: In this article, we will provide you with a detailed step-by-step guide on how to set up your live auction.
---

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1. [Help & Learning](https://help.trellis.org/?hsLang=en)
2. [Silent & Live Auctions](https://help.trellis.org/silent-live-auctions?hsLang=en)
3. [Set Up Your Auction](https://help.trellis.org/silent-live-auctions?hsLang=en#set-up-your-auction)

# How to Set Up and Display Your Live Auction

## In this article, we will provide you with a detailed step-by-step guide on how to set up and display your live auction items.

### **How to Add Live Auction Items**

1. In the **Builder Sidebar**, select **Silent & Live Auctions**.
2. Toggle **Enable Auctions**.
3. Click **Auction Items**, then click **Add Item** in the top-right corner.
4. Set the **Offering Type** to **Live**, fill in your item details, and click **Save**.

- - In the **Tags/Categories** field, simply enter the tag or category that you want to use, and then press enter. This will automatically generate and assign the tag to your item. Please note that currently, there is no feature to delete existing tags, but you can easily replace them by retyping or entering a new tag.
    - **Attachments** via email are commonly utilized for intangible items like **electronic gift cards.** These attachments are exclusively sent to the winning bidder.
    - Organizations can choose to include **additional fees**, either fixed or a percentage, to cover costs such as shipping. If there are any additional fees, a note will be visible to the donor when they place a bid. However, it is highly recommended that organizations also include this information in the item description to ensure that donors are well-informed.
    - In the **"Connected Sponsors"** field, you have the option to type in and search for the sponsors you have previously added, and then link them to the item. This allows you to easily connect the sponsors to the items in your silent auction.

![](https://help.trellis.org/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Aug-27-2026-08-41-55-9862-PM.png?width=670&height=171&name=image-png-Aug-27-2026-08-41-55-9862-PM.png)

**Pro Tip:** Use the **Listing ID** field as your key identifier to keep items organized, especially if you have a large auction catalog.

### **How to Showcase Your Live Auction Items**

1. In the **Fundraiser Builder**, click the blue **+** button to add a new section.
2. Select **Live Auction Preview**.

![](https://help.trellis.org/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jun-02-2026-09-31-46-7636-PM.png?width=670&height=375&name=image-png-Jun-02-2026-09-31-46-7636-PM.png)

Live auction items **do not have their own dedicated page** the way silent auction items do and donors cannot click into the items. 

---

### **Frequently Asked Questions**

#### **Can I bulk upload my auction items?**

Yes,**[this article](https://help.trellis.org/auction-items-and-sponsors-bulk-upload?hsLang=en)**walks you through the steps to requesting an auction item and sponsor bulk upload.

#### **Can donors bid on live auction items online?**

No. Trellis no longer supports online bidding for live auctions. 

#### **How do I process payments after the live auction ends?**

See our article on**[How to Process Payments for Your Live Auction Using the Sales Entry System](https://help.trellis.org/how-to-run-a-hybrid-live-auction-using-trellis?hsLang=en)** for next steps.

#### **Can we do a blind bidding for live auction items?**

While our platform does not have a dedicated blind bid feature, you can use this workaround to accomplish a similar result.

1. Create your item as a silent auction item, but make it clear in the title and description that it's a live auction item.
2. In your auction settings, enable Anonymous Bidding so all bids on all items are anonymous. This can only apply to the entire auction, not specific items.
3. When your silent auction opens, you can collect bids on your live auction item the same way you usually would for silent auction items.
4. Before your silent auction closes, switch the item type your live items from silent, to live. This stops silent auction bidding on those items, but does not close the item and charge the winner. Make sure you publish your fundraiser for these changes to go into effect.
5. Continue the bidding via your live auction at your event where it left off from silent auction bids!

---

- [Admin & Reporting](https://help.trellis.org/admin-reporting?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Welcome to Trellis](https://help.trellis.org/admin-reporting?hsLang=en#welcome-to-trellis)
    - [Understanding Fees](https://help.trellis.org/admin-reporting?hsLang=en#understanding-fees)
    - [Understanding British Columbia Provincial Sales Tax](https://help.trellis.org/admin-reporting?hsLang=en#understanding-british-columbia-provincial-sales-tax)
    - [Reports & Exports](https://help.trellis.org/admin-reporting?hsLang=en#reports-exports)
    - [Troubleshooting](https://help.trellis.org/admin-reporting?hsLang=en#troubleshooting)
- [Set Up and Manage Your Banking](https://help.trellis.org/set-up-and-manage-your-banking?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Add Your Banking Details](https://help.trellis.org/set-up-and-manage-your-banking?hsLang=en#add-your-banking-details)
    - [Understanding Your Payouts](https://help.trellis.org/set-up-and-manage-your-banking?hsLang=en#understanding-your-payouts)
- [Tax Receipts](https://help.trellis.org/tax-receipts?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Set Up Your Tax Receipts](https://help.trellis.org/tax-receipts?hsLang=en#set-up-your-tax-receipts)
    - [Manage Your Tax Receipts](https://help.trellis.org/tax-receipts?hsLang=en#manage-your-tax-receipts)
- [Build and Design Your Fundraiser](https://help.trellis.org/build-and-design-your-fundraiser?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Build Your Fundraiser](https://help.trellis.org/build-and-design-your-fundraiser?hsLang=en#build-your-fundraiser)
    - [Fundraiser Settings](https://help.trellis.org/build-and-design-your-fundraiser?hsLang=en#fundraiser-settings)
    - [Manage Your Fundraiser](https://help.trellis.org/build-and-design-your-fundraiser?hsLang=en#manage-your-fundraiser)
    - [Live Event Views](https://help.trellis.org/build-and-design-your-fundraiser?hsLang=en#live-event-views)
- [Messaging & Campaigns](https://help.trellis.org/messaging-campaigns?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Automated Messages](https://help.trellis.org/messaging-campaigns?hsLang=en#automated-messages)
    - [Creating Messaging Campaigns](https://help.trellis.org/messaging-campaigns?hsLang=en#creating-messaging-campaigns)
    - [Manage Your Messaging Campaigns](https://help.trellis.org/messaging-campaigns?hsLang=en#manage-your-messaging-campaigns)
    - [Analyze Your Messaging Campaigns](https://help.trellis.org/messaging-campaigns?hsLang=en#analyze-your-messaging-campaigns)
    - [Donor Experience](https://help.trellis.org/messaging-campaigns?hsLang=en#donor-experience)
- [Event Ticketing](https://help.trellis.org/event-ticketing?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Set Up Your Event Tickets](https://help.trellis.org/event-ticketing?hsLang=en#set-up-your-event-tickets)
    - [Manage Your Attendees](https://help.trellis.org/event-ticketing?hsLang=en#manage-your-attendees)
    - [Post-Event Management](https://help.trellis.org/event-ticketing?hsLang=en#post-event-management)
    - [Donor Experience](https://help.trellis.org/event-ticketing?hsLang=en#donor-experience)
- [Sponsorships](https://help.trellis.org/sponsorships?hsLang=en)
- [Silent & Live Auctions](https://help.trellis.org/silent-live-auctions?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Set Up Your Auction](https://help.trellis.org/silent-live-auctions?hsLang=en#set-up-your-auction)
    - [Manage Your Auction](https://help.trellis.org/silent-live-auctions?hsLang=en#manage-your-auction)
    - [Auction Close](https://help.trellis.org/silent-live-auctions?hsLang=en#auction-close)
    - [Donor Experience](https://help.trellis.org/silent-live-auctions?hsLang=en#donor-experience)
- [Donations](https://help.trellis.org/donations?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Set Up Your Donations](https://help.trellis.org/donations?hsLang=en#set-up-your-donations)
    - [Donor Experience](https://help.trellis.org/donations?hsLang=en#donor-experience)
- [Items for Sale](https://help.trellis.org/items-for-sale?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Set Up Your Items for Sale](https://help.trellis.org/items-for-sale?hsLang=en#set-up-your-items-for-sale)
- [Raffles & 50/50](https://help.trellis.org/raffles-50-50?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [How to Run a Raffle](https://help.trellis.org/raffles-50-50?hsLang=en#how-to-run-a-raffle)
    - [Running a Raffle in the USA](https://help.trellis.org/raffles-50-50?hsLang=en#running-a-raffle-in-the-usa)
    - [Managing Your Raffle](https://help.trellis.org/raffles-50-50?hsLang=en#managing-your-raffle)
    - [Draw Winner & Reporting](https://help.trellis.org/raffles-50-50?hsLang=en#draw-winner-reporting)
    - [Donor Experience](https://help.trellis.org/raffles-50-50?hsLang=en#donor-experience)
- [Raiser's Edge NXT Integration](https://help.trellis.org/raisers-edge-nxt-integration?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Integration Set Up](https://help.trellis.org/raisers-edge-nxt-integration?hsLang=en#integration-set-up)
    - [How the Integration Works](https://help.trellis.org/raisers-edge-nxt-integration?hsLang=en#how-the-integration-works)
    - [Constituent Matching](https://help.trellis.org/raisers-edge-nxt-integration?hsLang=en#constituent-matching)
    - [Gift Sync](https://help.trellis.org/raisers-edge-nxt-integration?hsLang=en#gift-sync)
    - [Event Participation Sync](https://help.trellis.org/raisers-edge-nxt-integration?hsLang=en#event-participation-sync)
- [Sales Entry System (SES)](https://help.trellis.org/sales-entry-system-ses?hsLang=en)
- [Check-In Tool](https://help.trellis.org/check-in-tool?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Introduction to the Check-In Tool](https://help.trellis.org/check-in-tool?hsLang=en#introduction-to-the-check-in-tool)
    - [Managing Attendees](https://help.trellis.org/check-in-tool?hsLang=en#managing-attendees)
    - [Event Day](https://help.trellis.org/check-in-tool?hsLang=en#event-day)
    - [Post-Event Management](https://help.trellis.org/check-in-tool?hsLang=en#post-event-management)
- [Fund-a-Need](https://help.trellis.org/fund-a-need?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Set Up Your Fund-a-Need](https://help.trellis.org/fund-a-need?hsLang=en#set-up-your-fund-a-need)
    - [Manage Your Fund-a-Need](https://help.trellis.org/fund-a-need?hsLang=en#manage-your-fund-a-need)
    - [Manage Pledges Post-Event](https://help.trellis.org/fund-a-need?hsLang=en#manage-pledges-post-event)
- [Security, Privacy & Technology](https://help.trellis.org/security-privacy-technology?hsLang=en)
- [New Features!](https://help.trellis.org/new-features?hsLang=en)
- [Resources for a Successful Fundraiser](https://help.trellis.org/resources-for-a-successful-fundraiser?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Pre-Event Planning](https://help.trellis.org/resources-for-a-successful-fundraiser?hsLang=en#pre-event-planning)
    - [Trellis Feature Spotlight](https://help.trellis.org/resources-for-a-successful-fundraiser?hsLang=en#trellis-feature-spotlight)
- [Support Resources for Donors](https://help.trellis.org/support-resources-for-donors?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Getting Started](https://help.trellis.org/support-resources-for-donors?hsLang=en#getting-started)
    - [Checkouts](https://help.trellis.org/support-resources-for-donors?hsLang=en#checkouts)
    - [Participating in an Auction](https://help.trellis.org/support-resources-for-donors?hsLang=en#participating-in-an-auction)

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