What is a paddle raise? How to run a fund-a-need at your event

A paddle raise is a live appeal for gifts during a fundraising event, also called a fund-a-need. A speaker names a giving level, guests raise numbered bid paddles to give that amount, and the speaker steps down to the next, lower level. Guests receive nothing in return, so every paddle is a gift to the cause.

This guide is for small teams at nonprofits, churches, and veteran posts who want to add a paddle raise to a dinner or gala. It explains how the appeal works and how it differs from an auction. Then it walks through seven steps, from picking the need to thanking the last donor.

How does a paddle raise work?

A paddle raise works by moving the room down a ladder of giving levels, from the largest gift to one almost anyone can give. Some groups call it a fund-the-mission or a special appeal. The basic flow looks like this:

1. A short story or video shows the need.
2. The speaker names what the money will do.
3. The speaker calls the top giving level and waits for paddles.
4. Volunteers record each bidder number that goes up.
5. The speaker steps down to the next level and repeats.
6. The last level is small enough that nearly everyone can join.

Each guest gets a paddle with a number at check-in, and that number is how you know who gave what. The paddle raise usually comes after dinner, before or after a live auction, while the room is full and paying attention.

How is a paddle raise different from an auction?

In a paddle raise nobody wins an item, while in an auction guests bid to take something home. People often mix up the two, and the difference changes how you plan and how you thank people.

Question	Paddle raise	Silent or live auction
What guests get	Nothing in return, it is a gift	An item or experience
What you need	A clear need and a good speaker	Donated items
Who joins	Anyone at any level	Only people who want the item
Receipts	Generally treated as a gift	Part of the bid may be a gift

Because guests give only because they care about the cause, a paddle raise is one of the simplest ways to raise money at a dinner. It is also easy to get wrong if you skip the planning. For taxes, the rules on what counts as a gift can change, so check current IRS guidance and confirm with your accountant before you send receipts. If you are also planning an auction, see our guide on how to run a silent auction.

1. Pick one clear need guests can picture

Choose one need that guests can see in their heads, because a paddle raise works best when people can picture what their gift does. "Support our programs" is vague. "Send a child to summer camp" gives people something to imagine.

When you can, tie each giving level to something real. For example:

• $2,500 sponsors a family's housing for a month.
• $1,000 sends four kids to camp.
• $250 buys school supplies for a classroom.
• $50 provides a week of meals.

Only use numbers you can stand behind. If you are not sure what a dollar amount buys, ask your program staff before the night.

2. Set giving levels from your goal and your guest list

Set your levels by starting with your goal and looking at who is coming and what they have given before. Your top level should stretch your most generous guests while staying within reach of at least one of them.

Here is a worked example. Say your goal is $20,000 and you plan five levels:

• 2 gifts at $2,500 = $5,000
• 5 gifts at $1,000 = $5,000
• 12 gifts at $500 = $6,000
• 10 gifts at $250 = $2,500
• 30 gifts at $50 = $1,500

That adds up to $20,000. Your real counts will be different, but the exercise shows how many paddles you need at each level.

3. Line up a lead gift before the night

Ask one or two of your closest supporters ahead of time to raise their paddle at the top level, since silence after the first ask can stall the whole room. Some may also agree to match gifts at a lower level.

The lead gift gets paddles moving, and a match gives everyone else a reason to join in. Only announce a match if the donor has agreed to it in advance.

4. Write and time a short script

A good paddle raise script is short enough to fit on one page and covers the story, the ask, the levels, and the thank-yous. Your speaker does not need to be a professional auctioneer. A clear script and a warm voice will do.

Open with one person or family, told in under two minutes. Then make the ask plainly: "Tonight, we are asking you to help send 100 kids to camp." Walk through each level with what it does, and call out bidder numbers as paddles go up. Close by thanking the whole room and sharing the total if you have it.

Practice once out loud and time it. A paddle raise often moves faster than you expect.

5. Brief your spotters on their sections

Spotters are volunteers who watch the room and record every paddle, so give each one a section of tables and a way to log bidder numbers at each level. A phone or tablet works better than a clipboard, because the totals add up as you go.

After each level, the spotters confirm their counts with one lead. Mistakes here mean missed gifts or wrong receipts, so take it slowly.

6. Collect every gift before guests leave

Collect gifts the same night, because a paddle raise is only finished when the money is in. A few ways to do it:

• Collect a card at check-in so gifts can be charged after the event.
• Or send each donor a link to complete their gift that evening.
• Give every donor a clear total before they go.
• Follow up within a day with anyone who hasn't paid.

7. Thank every donor, at every level

Thank every donor within a few days, whatever they gave. A $50 gift from a young family matters as much as a top gift. Send a personal note to your top donors, and tell everyone what the room raised and what it will do.

A paddle raise checklist

• Pick one need and tie levels to what they fund
• Set levels from your goal and your guest list
• Secure a lead gift, and a match if you can
• Write and time a short script
• Assign spotters to sections and brief them
• Give every guest a numbered paddle at check-in
• Collect every gift before people leave
• Thank every donor and share the total

Common questions

Is a paddle raise gift tax deductible?

Because guests receive nothing in return, a paddle raise gift is generally treated as a gift rather than a purchase. The rules on what counts as a gift can change, though. Check current IRS guidance and confirm with your accountant before you send receipts or tell donors what they can deduct.

When should the paddle raise happen during the event?

Most groups hold the paddle raise after dinner, while the room is full and focused. It often sits just before or just after a live auction. Put it in your run of show so the speaker, the spotters, and any story video are ready at that moment.

How many giving levels should a paddle raise have?

Use enough levels to step down from your top stretch gift to an amount nearly everyone in the room can give. The worked example in this guide uses five. Fewer levels keep the appeal moving, and the last one should be small enough that families on a budget can still raise a paddle.

Who should lead the paddle raise?

Anyone with a warm voice and a clear script can lead it, so you do not need a professional auctioneer. Many groups choose a board member, pastor, or longtime volunteer the room already knows. Have them practice out loud once and time the script before the event.

A paddle raise is one night in a year of giving

The guest who raises a paddle at your gala may be the same parent who registered for camp in June and gives again in December. When every ticket, bid, and gift lands on one household record, you know who they are before you say thank you, and next year's ask can start from what they actually did.

Bless Events runs paddle raises alongside silent and live auctions on the Pro plan, with gifts going straight to your own Stripe account.