My quilting group donated a quilt for a charity auction and it did not bring enough to pay for the fabrics, as you stated; this year we asked them to sell raffle tickets and it made lots more $$$$$$$.
DH just went to a festival and this quilting group auctioned off a handmade, hand quilted one and only got $125 for it. It is so sad when this happens and makes me want to sell online.
delma