CharityBids, creators of the world’s most advanced auction platform specifically for non-profits, has launched an auction app for charities to use exclusively on Facebook.

The CharityAuctions Facebook application allows non-profits to raise funds by embedding an auction interface directly on their Facebook page, enabling users to bid on good-cause items without leaving social network’s environment. Fans and supporters can easily share their bidding activity, and of course, thanks to Facebook’s algorithm magic, auction administrators can specifically target particular audiences with certain items or causes.

Israel Schachter, Co-Founder and CEO of CharityBids, said: “Few charities are properly utilizing the power of social media platforms such as Facebook. By making use of this simple fundraising app, charities will now be able to engage their supporters through their Facebook fan page, take advantage of Facebook’s viral marketing tools and gain support from millions of people that are otherwise beyond their reach.”

The app itself is clean and uncomplicated, offering embedded video capabilities to allow charities to spread their message in a rich media context and integrate auctions with existing campaigns.

However, a few design aspects could be tweaked to increase the user count. While standalone auctions on individual charity pages are clear-cut, the amalgamation of every current auction on the CharityBids homepage and Facebook page makes it very difficult to determine which items are benefitting which charities. Beneath the ‘splash’ item users are shown which charity the proceeds will go to, but otherwise it’s necessary to click on auction items individually to discover that information. If you consider that users will likely be using this app to support a cause close to their heart, it’s not so user-friendly. Similarly, while there is a search function for items on offer (in categories such as automotive, electronics, experiences and so on) there’s no search function for corresponding charities and causes. Designing in functionality in this manner may help pull in curious observers.

Nonetheless, CharityBids itself has found a great deal of success of late, partnering with THE VAULT, Golf Tournament Association of America, MVP|NY and Acteva, for a variety of progressive reasons, so it’s likely that the CharityAuctions app will only evolve in the future.