Bid for Birds FAQ

To donate an item, contact bidforbirds@abcbirds.org. Certificates can be emailed to bidforbirds@abcbirds.org. Mailed items can be sent to ABC’s fulfillment center:

Grassroot Communications
Attn: Kim Nguyen – American Bird Conservancy Auction
6223 Bealeton Road
Bealeton, VA 22712

ABC reserves the right to refuse any item. In general, items such as alcohol, weapons, live animals, items that are difficult to store, including frozen or refrigerated items, and items that are illegal for sale in the United States, such as ivory or counterfeit items, will not be accepted. Questions can be directed to bidforbirds@abcbirds.org.

Please follow these step-by-step instructions to register as a bidder.

Please follow these instructions to place a bid on auction items.

Please follow these instructions to view bids and saved items, update payment information, and more.

You must be 18 years of age or older. Individuals directly involved in administering the auction or determining winning bids are not eligible to bid on auction items.

We can only ship physical items within the U.S. If you are bidding on a certificate that can be sent over email, we can send it anywhere.

You will receive an email to the email address you registered with. If you registered with a mobile phone number, you will also receive a text message (SMS).

• Registered Bidder (Email only)– Sent when a bidder registers for the auction. Includes a link to the auction page and a reminder of the auction start time.
• Highest Bidder (Email only)– Sent when a bidder becomes the current highest bidder on an item.
• Reserve Price Not Met (Email only)– Sent when a bid below the reserve price is placed within 24 hours of the auction end time.
• Outbid (Email and SMS) – Sent when a bidder has been outbid, with a link to increase their bid.
• Second Chance (Email and SMS) – Sent when an item you bid on becomes available as a second chance offer, with 72 hours to complete the purchase.
• Item Won (Email and SMS) – Sent when a bidder wins an item.
• Item Extended (SMS only) – Sent if an item you bid on (but did not win) is extended.

No, you will not receive a notification after the auction ends if you didn’t win an item. However, you will receive notifications during the auction if you’ve been outbid on an item, giving you a chance to place another bid before the auction closes.

You do not need to do anything. The item will be shipped to the shipping address you filled out, or emailed to you if it is a certificate.

ABC can return the item or hold on to it for use in a future auction or raffle, at your election. If the minimum price is not met, the donor may elect to complete the sale to the highest bidder at the highest bid received.

You will not be charged for any items that you do not win.

All funds will go towards ABC’s mission to conserve wild birds and their habitats, including protecting the most endangered bird species, working with landowners to improve conservation practices on their lands, combatting threats to all birds (such as pesticides and collisions with glass), and building capacity in the bird conservation movement.

ABC’s fulfillment center will ship physical items within 3-4 weeks. Certificates will be emailed within 2-3 weeks.

Only the portion of your winning charity auction bid that exceeds the item’s fair market value is tax-deductible. If you pay an amount equal to or less than the item’s value, you cannot claim a deduction. Review official guidance on IRS Charity Auctions for more details. Please note that ABC cannot give tax advice and we recommend consulting a tax professional.

Yes, donating an item to ABC can be tax deductible, but your deduction is usually limited to your tax basis (what you paid for the item) rather than its fair market value. According to the Internal Revenue Service, you cannot deduct the higher resale price if it sells for more than you paid, and donating personal services or the temporary use of property (like a vacation home) yields no deduction at all. Please note that ABC cannot give tax advice and we recommend consulting a tax professional.

You can donate directly to ABC either by clicking on the “Donation” category in our auction item lineup, or visit our main donation page here.

If you would like to renew your membership, please visit our membership renewal page. To access your membership information and/or make changes to your email subscription, please visit our Membership Portal. Whatever you decide, thank you!

No, auction bids and ABC membership are separate, with their own distinct benefits. If you’d like to become a member (or renovar), please visit our Membership page. One other difference worth noting: membership dues are generally fully tax-deductible, while a winning auction bid is only tax-deductible for the amount above the item’s fair market value — so if you win an item valued at $50 with a $75 bid, only the $25 difference would typically qualify.