How Does a Paddle Raise Work?

What a paddle raise is

A paddle raise is the part of the program where guests give at a range of levels by raising their bid paddle. They can give once or several times, at whatever level feels comfortable. Nobody wins an item. Every dollar goes to the mission.

You will hear it called many names: Fund-a-Need, Fund-the-Mission, the appeal, the live ask, Open Your Heart, Fund-a-Cause, Bid from the Heart. The mechanics are the same. (More on the Fund-a-Need appeal here.)

Why it matters so much

A live auction may have a handful of active bidders and one winner per item. The paddle raise is the one moment when everyone in the room can take part, including guests who have never heard of your organization before tonight. In many cases, it is responsible for the majority of the money raised in the room. Our goal is always 100% participation.

How it runs, step by step

1. The mission moment. Prepare the room with a powerful, emotional message right before the ask: a brief speaker or a short video. This should be the pinnacle of the program, with clear, compelling storytelling. Keep it brief so the energy carries straight into giving.

2. The levels. The auctioneer calls out giving levels, starting high and working down. The amounts are agreed ahead of time between your organization and your auctioneer, based on your event history and this year’s information.

3. The paddles. A guest who wants to give at a level raises their paddle and holds it up until the auctioneer reads off their number. Bid spotters are critical here: they encourage guests to keep their paddles up until every number has been called.

4. The close. The final level is sized so nearly everyone in the room can join in. Participation at the bottom matters as much as the dollars at the top.

5. The record. Two dedicated record keepers, seated away from distractions, log every paddle number and amount. As a backup, make an audio recording of all live fundraising on a phone, or ask your AV team to record it. Our free Fund-a-Need recording sheet is built for exactly this.

Where it belongs in the program

The paddle raise goes either just before or just after the live auction. Wherever it lands, it needs the room’s full attention. From experience, all fundraising should be complete by about 9:00 PM. Temporarily close the bar, the silent auction, and any games so every eye is on the stage.

Set up the room to give

• A bid card for every guest. Firm, matte, white cardstock, at least 5.5" × 8.5", with bold black numbers you can read from the stage anywhere in the room. Cards can be linked for couples. Free bid card templates here.
• Bright lighting. The room should be brighter during fundraising so the auctioneer and spotters can see every paddle. Make sure spotlights do not blind the stage.
• Clear sound. A professional system that reaches every corner, with at least one wireless microphone so the auctioneer can move through the room.
• Enough spotters. Generally one for every 50 guests, trained before doors open.
• Visuals on screen. Dollar levels, a reminder of the cause, or a running total.

Questions to answer before the event

• What program or need is the appeal for?
• What is our goal, and how does it compare to previous years?
• What dollar levels will reach that goal?
• How will we create an emotional connection right before the ask?
• At what time in the program will it happen?

After the event

Thank every donor promptly and personally. It is the single most important step in building next year’s room.