Real rooms.Real raises.

The challenge

This veteran support organization had never run a Fund-a-Need. Almost all of its revenue came from the live auction.

What we did

We added a Fund-a-Need appeal to the program for the first time. We built the giving levels with the team and placed the appeal where the room would be most engaged.

The result

Live auction revenue held steady, and the paddle raise brought in even more than the live auction did. Total funds raised rose 102% over the prior year.

The challenge

Gift cards rarely reach face value in a live auction. Guests know exactly what they are worth, so bidding stalls early.

What we did

Instead of selling the gift card to one bidder, we made it the prize in a Last Paddle Standing game, so many guests could play for it.

The result

The gift card raised 12.25 times its face value.

The challenge

A paddle raise usually announces one overall goal. Donors tend to give what they planned to give, whatever the total says.

What we did

In our planning meetings, we set a goal for each giving level. On the night, we tracked gifts in real time and told the room how close we were at each level, not just overall.

The result

Donors changed their planned giving to help close each level. To measure it, we listened to the recording and added up every gift made after a level’s progress was announced. Those gifts came to more than $15,000.

The challenge

This organization, which builds supportive communities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), had several safari trips available. The team assumed it could only sell one.

What we did

We helped them craft the ask for multiple trips, then planned how to present a buyer’s choice to the audience, so more than one bidder could win.

The result

Selling the extra trips raised more than $20,000 beyond what a single sale would have brought in.