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Get to Know Carrie Frugé, the Austin Auctioneer Helping Nonprofits Raise Millions

Through her charity auctioneering company Biddy Up, Frugé brings heart, momentum and a strong female voice to fundraising events across Austin and beyond

Carrie Frugé of Biddy Up
Carrie Frugé of Biddy Up serves as auctioneer at the Elizabeth Ann Seton Board’s Boots & Bling Gala, which supports the mission of Ascension Seton. (Photo by Intrinsic Moment Pictures)

There is no limit to generosity — or to a raised paddle. At charity auctions, guests are wined, dined and entertained, all with a shared goal of raising funds for deserving nonprofits. Much of that energy depends on the auctioneer, whose voice must billow through the room fast enough to keep the energy alive, and warm enough to make every guest feel the mission personally. For the past nine years, Carrie Frugé of Biddy Up, a local bespoke charity auctioneering company, has served as that voice — blending urgency with empathy to make generosity the loudest thing in the room.

Frugé’s path to auctioneering was not linear. Trained as a computer science engineer, she began her career in software sales. Her perspective shifted after joining Leadership Austin, a nonprofit that connects and develops community changemakers across Central Texas. “My time with Leadership Austin inspired me to use my talents for community benefit,” she says. After attending auction school at her sister’s suggestion, her first event revealed the impact the work could have.

What began as volunteer work gradually grew into Frugé’s full-time calling as she leaned into what felt like both passion and purpose. Today, Biddy Up has raised more than $30 million for nonprofits and partnered with over 100 organizations.

Guests bid during the 2026 UMLAUF Garden Party, an annual fundraiser supporting the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum.
Guests bid during the 2026 UMLAUF Garden Party, an annual fundraiser supporting the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum. (Photo by JLeinter Photography)

Making an impact

A defining element of her work is bringing a strong female presence to a traditionally male-dominated field, where women make up only about 16% of auctioneers. Frugé describes her style as “aggressive sales with the spirit of cheerleading,” centered on connection, energy and the diversity of the missions she serves — especially organizations supporting women, children, pets and the arts.

At the heart of Biddy Up is a belief in the power of collective action in a single room, in a single night. “We can’t change the world,” she tells audiences as she prepares to launch into her signature fast-paced chant, “but in this moment tonight, we can come together and make a huge change right now.”

Looking ahead, Biddy Up has multiple local and international auctions lined up for 2026, with millions already raised and paddles still rising as momentum continues to build.

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