Auctions

Technology has become increasingly user-friendly. Donors from Baby Boomers and Gen X to Gen Y and Millennials have become more digital-centric. The smartphone has become an indispensable part of everyday life, making it completely normal to use as a tool during a special event rather than struggling to keep track of old-fashioned paper and pen bid sheets...

Martin Shkreli wants you to punch him in the face. Well, not you, in particular. But it could be you—if you're the highest bidder in this, um, unique charity auction. If you're not familiar with Shkreli, you may know him better as the "most hated man in America." He's the smarmy pharma bro who jacked up the price of a life-saving drug by 5,556 percent, allegedly helmed multiple Ponzi schemes, and turned a congressional hearing into a clown show...

When last we checked in on Dryer Lint Donald Trump, he was running unopposed in the race for the coveted title of "artistic work most likely to simultaneously instill existential horror and admiration." But now, finally, he has a challenger. Enter, Dryer Lint Hillary Clinton. Artist Sandy Buffie, creator of the dryer lint monstrosity, plans to auction the sculpture alongside her Trump to raise money for charity...

Look, there are some headlines you just hope you never have to write, but because we have now seen unspeakable terror, we felt we had no choice. It's like a horror movie where the only way to free yourself from the curse is to pass it to another person. We're sorry. But anyway, here it is, a bust of Donald Trump made from 30 gallons of dryer lint, which if all goes well will be auctioned for charity...

Benefit auctions, popping up every spring like Park Avenue tulips, have become about as ubiquitous as art fairs and openings. Charity sales are the primary means by which artists can pack a philanthropic punch, but they can be an exasperating staple of New York’s art-world calendar, burdening the artists who donate work with drawbacks and…

Lionel Messi is one of the world's best-known sports figures and one of the most famous people on the planet. So when the soccer star donated his cleats to an Arab television station, to later be auctioned for charity, it seemed like a nice gesture. Autographed Messi gear fetches big bucks online, so it's reasonable to assume it'd do the same for charity. Little did Messi know, his gift would cause an international incident...

The Pioneer Bar in Sitka, Alaska, has held its last "slave auction." For nearly three decades, the bar has commemorated the state's transfer from Russian control by hosting an event where locals can auction off two hours of their time for yard work or chores. The winning bids are donated to local charities. But on…

Ringo Starr seems to be on a bit of a cleaning binge. And that can be a chore when you own an estate in London, one in Beverly Hills and another in Monaco. Last week, the Beatles drummer announced that he was preparing to publish a new book of never-before-seen photographs he took of the…

There’s nothing like an experienced charity auctioneer’s coaching when it comes to a high-profit fundraising auction. And I was quite impressed with the tips that Sherry Trular of Red Apple Auctions shared with us in our Highly Profitable Fundraising Events series. Here are Sherry’s top nine points to help you raise the most money possible out of your auction: You need a great sound system. You need terrific lighting. Run your silent auction like a store. Run your live auction like a high-end boutique …

Got a fundraising silent auction coming up? Silent auctions are a bit like the story of the little girl with the curl in the middle of her forehead: When they are good they are very, very good; when they are bad they are horrid. With that, here are the characteristics of the good, the bad, the ugly and the easy in regard to fundraising silent auctions.