Auction Rules

AUCTION OVERVIEW

The M-A Foundation for the Future (MAFFF) online auction will take place from Friday, March 6, 2026, at 5pm until Sunday, March 15, 2026, at 9pm.

The online auction will include not only all parties and M-A faves but will also be home to MANY other not-to-miss auction items in ALL categories (Getaways, Restaurants & Food, Wine, Tickets & Sporting Events, etc.) that will be available for bid/purchase online. The online auction opens at 5pm on Friday, March 6, 2026, and ends at 9 pm on Sunday, March 15, 2026. The online auction will be hosted on Bid Pal (MAFFF’s auction software partner).

If you are the winning bidder for any items at the end of the online event on March 15, the email address you used to register will be used to notify you of your winning bid and the credit card used to register will be charged for any winning bid(s). If you have any questions, please email the MAFFF office at admin@mafoundation.org.

TYPES OF BIDS

There are two ways that auction items sell: (1) “Highest Bidder Wins,” (2) “Buy a Spot.”

Highest Bidder Wins

Certain auction items will sell to the person who has bid the highest amount of money at the time the auction ends. If you hold the highest bid at closing time, your credit card will be charged and you will receive an email from MAFFF/Bid Pal within 72 hours of the auction event. This will be your only receipt. You will not receive another receipt from the MAFFF office.

Buy a Spot/Item

“Buy a Spot” is a buy-it-now style of selling. The “Buy a Spot” auction items have a limited number of spots or items that sell for a fixed price, such as a dad’s pickleball party with 40 spots for $150 per person, or an M-A hat for $40. Please note that for parties, each spot purchased is for one person (e.g., one student OR one adult); therefore you will need to buy multiple spots for a family or couple.

When you bid on a “Buy a Spot” item, you are buying it outright in the moment you make the bid and your credit card will be charged at that time. It is the same as making a purchase at an online merchant site, even though it is called a bid. When your purchase is processed, you will receive an email from MAFFF/Bid Pal, which will be your only receipt.

When a “Buy a Spot” event sells out, no additional spots are available. For some “Buy a Spot” parties/events, there may be a waitlist available if you were unable to purchase a spot. You can inquire by emailing the MAFFF office at admin@mafoundation.org..

FUND-A-NEED GUIDELINES

The online auction will also include an opportunity to donate to support this year’s Fund a-Need. All Fund-a-Need donors will be provided with a tax receipt once the donation is completed/received by MAFFF. Fund-a-Need donations are gifted to M-A along with the annual grant funds.

AUCTION ITEM SALES TERMS

All items are sold “AS IS” and all sales are final. A bid on an item constitutes a non-refundable, binding agreement to purchase the item. All auction purchases are final and not refundable or exchangeable. Gift certificates are not redeemable for cash. Any dispute or claim arising from or relating to the purchase is between the donor and the winning bidder. MAFFF recommends that you review the value, use, restrictions and expiration dates before bidding to avoid any potential disappointment. Please study the descriptions of auction items for dates, special conditions, and limitations. Please bid carefully.

CREDIT CARD PROCESSING FEES

Credit card processing fees will be added to all purchases including event tickets and auction items unless a donor opts out. This enables more funds to be included in MAFFF’s end-of-year grant to M-A and ensures the success of this year’s event. Fees are added at the time the credit card is charged for any purchases. For event ticket sales, the credit card processing fees are approximately 3%. If you have any questions regarding the credit card processing fees, please contact Ann-Marie Meacham, Executive Director, at admin@mafoundation.org.

AUCTION ITEM RECEIPTS AND TAX TREATMENT

Please keep your email receipt for ticket purchases, Fund-a-Need donations, and winning items, as it is the only receipt you will be provided. Watch for this receipt to the email address provided when you registered for the online auction. Auction items are almost never tax deductible. If you buy an item that is available generally in the marketplace for more than its face value, the difference might be deductible. The amount of the auction price in excess of the item’s fair market value may qualify as a charitable deduction. Consult your tax advisor for specific details.

LIMITATIONS ON AUCTION ITEMS

Unless otherwise specified, all auction items and services must be redeemed from their donors by March 2027, (one year from the online auction end date). Winning bidders of services, parties, and other activities are responsible for contacting the donor to make arrangements. Please watch your email for your receipt and a notification of winning from MAFFF/Bid Pal.

In consideration of our generous donors, please observe the limit on the maximum number of participants for an auction item and do not request duplication of an item from a donor. Individuals are not permitted to duplicate their offers unless prior arrangements are made with the Auction Committee.

Please be advised that activities, services, and products in this auction are not sponsored by MAFFF. MAFFF cannot guarantee your purchases and accepts no liability or responsibility for any activities, services, or products purchased at the auction, including, but not limited to, failure of delivery, failure of performances, and/or claims for personal injury. Both event hosts and bidders/attendees understand that MAFFF is neither responsible nor liable for any incident, including injuries or property damage, that occurs in relation to any privately hosted party or activity.

AUCTION ITEM PICK-UP

If you are the successful winner of an auction item, most items will be available for pick-up the following week. An auction committee member will be in touch to schedule pick up for your item(s).

MAFFF will hold unclaimed auction items until June 1, 2026. After this date, unclaimed items may be re-auctioned to the next highest bidder. For any questions regarding auction item pick-up, please email the MAFFF office at admin@mafoundation.org.

GUEST LIST PARTIES

The MAFFF office will provide a list of party guests and waitlists to the party host via email. The MAFFF staff will be busy with the online auction and closing out winning bids in the days following the event and will plan to notify the party hosts in order of the party dates beginning in late March. The goal is to have all notifications sent to party hosts by late April 2026. Thank you for your patience.

If you have won a spot at a party or group activity, expect to be contacted by your host, who will provide more details prior to the event. If you have not heard from them, feel free to email the MAFFF office at admin@mafoundation.org.

POLICY ON CANCELED PARTIES

MAFFF strongly discourages hosts from canceling parties, as it disappoints guests who have purchased tickets. In the event that the host must cancel a party due to an unforeseeable event (e.g., moving out of state, etc.), guests who purchased tickets will have the choice of turning their purchase into a donation to MAFFF or receiving a refund. Hosts and guests will work with the MAFFF office to execute as needed.

PHOTO RELEASE

By purchasing a ticket to the MAFFF 2026 party or parties, you voluntarily give permission for MAFFF to publish images and videos taken at the event on www.mafoundation.org and all of MAFFF’s social media platforms. By allowing MAFFF to use pictures taken at the event, you are supporting MAFFF’s effort to the benefit of all students at Menlo-Atherton High School.

Event rules updated March 5, 2026.