We're wrapping up this month's product update with two enhancements that solve very different challenges. First, we've made a series of meaningful improvements to our auction functionality based on client feedback. Second, we're introducing our new Gmail Connector, bringing donor intelligence and CRM data directly into your inbox.

Let's take a closer look.

Auction Enhancements

Many auction platforms help you run the event. CharityEngine helps you turn auction participation into long-term fundraising intelligence.

Because auction management is built into the platform, participation history is stored on the constituent record alongside donations, events, volunteer activity, and other supporter interactions. Whether a constituent won an item, placed multiple bids, or finished as a runner-up, that information becomes part of their fundraising history.

The result is a more complete picture of supporter engagement and more opportunities for meaningful follow-up after the event ends.

Paddle Number and Bid Tracking for Live Auctions
CharityEngine now automatically generates bidder paddle numbers, allowing staff to quickly record and track bids during live events. Paddle-based bidding helps improve accuracy, simplifies bid management throughout the event, and streamlines post-auction reconciliation.

Live Bid Feed and Fundraising Thermometer
During the event, you can display a real-time feed of incoming bids alongside a fundraising thermometer that updates in real time as bidding progresses. It's a simple way to keep attendees engaged and fundraising goals front and center throughout the evening.

Improved Online Bidding Experience
We've also made several enhancements to the online bidding experience based on client feedback, including:

• Simplified login experience
• Removal of session timeouts during bidding
• Redesigned bidding pages
• Prominent real-time outbid notifications
• Elimination of credit card pre-authorization during bidding

Together, these changes remove common points of friction and make it easier for supporters to participate throughout the auction.

Introducing the CharityEngine Gmail Connector

Fundraisers spend a significant portion of their day in email. The new CharityEngine Gmail Connector brings key donor insights directly into Gmail, reducing the need to switch between systems while preparing for outreach or responding to supporters.

Incoming and outgoing Gmail messages can be automatically tracked within constituent records, ensuring communication history is captured without requiring manual data entry.

As you work in Gmail, CharityEngine automatically displays key donor information alongside each conversation, giving you immediate context before you hit reply.

The Gmail Connector gives fundraisers instant access to information that would otherwise require opening a CRM record. Before responding to a donor, you can quickly see:

• First gift
• Most recent gift
• Largest gift
• Lifetime giving total
• Most recent constituent activity
• Upcoming scheduled activities

Having this information readily available helps fundraisers personalize outreach, prepare for conversations, and stay on top of important follow-up activities without leaving their inbox.

By bringing donor communications and constituent intelligence together in a single workflow, teams can save time, improve collaboration, and maintain a more complete view of every supporter relationship.

To learn more about the Gmail Connector, check out our latest Help Center article.

Moving Forward Together

These enhancements reflect a broader investment in helping nonprofits thrive. Whether it's making auction events easier to manage or bringing donor intelligence directly into the tools your team already uses every day, our focus remains the same: reducing operational friction and helping organizations build stronger relationships with their supporters.