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Seeking to augment a declining budget, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs created an innovative fundraiser that exceeded the department’s goals. The Great Chicago Fire Sale, the first charitable eBay auction sponsored by a municipality, raised more than $242,000 for arts and cultural programs in the city.

Conceived by local television journalist Burt Wolf, The Great Chicago Fire Sale was held over several weeks in December 2004. The auction featured memorabilia, services, and experiences unique to the city. Top sellers included a fully catered wedding at the Chicago Cultural Center, an original 1960s Playboy Bunny costume, a drawing by architect Frank Gehry, and the chance to dye the Chicago River green. The specially designed auction site received more than 60,000 visits, and 6,343 bids were placed on the nearly 500 items available. The funds raised will help support the Chicago Cultural Center Foundation, which presents 1,000 fine arts programs to the public each year; Gallery 37, which provides job training in the arts to local young people; and Cultural Grants, which awards funding to Chicago artists.

The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs is a cabinet-level municipal department solely dedicated to providing arts and cultural services. Cultural Affairs serves the people of Chicago by nurturing, enhancing, complementing, and marketing Chicago's cultural resources. It achieves these goals by presenting cultural and educational programming and administering cultural grants.