Good Works Indy is proud to feature this guest blog from our partners at Auctria. 

What is a Paddle Raise?

A Paddle Raise is a fun, energetic in room experience that generates unrestricted dollars for a nonprofit. Usually this in-person event specific endeavor is created to support a chosen program, project or an objective that can be identified and explained by a fabulous auctioneer while on stage. 

Make sure to announce this event addition as a way to entice your guests to attend your event while ensuring they know to be ready to open their wallets and support your fundraising objective. 

Use your social platforms, a well structured email campaign and your event website to promote this in-person addition to your event. 

What Does it Take to Execute a Successful Paddle Raise?

A successful fundraising event doesn’t happen by chance—it’s built on a few critical foundations. Proper planning sets the strategy and timeline, while a great auctioneer brings energy, clarity, and momentum to the room. Advanced donor support ensures the highest numbers for your paddle raise are pre-determined and your biggest donors are set to get the bidding started. 

This thoughtful planning ensures guests feel confident to spend their money and donors feel cared for, during and after the event. Pair that with a strong event website that clearly communicates details and drives engagement. The real star of the planning process should be an efficient check-in process that creates a smooth first impression which will leave your attendees feeling invigorated instead of bogged down by the process before the event begins.

When you carefully consider the elements that go along with a paddle raise then you will have the recipe for an event that feels professional, seamless, and your guests will be primed for giving.

• Proper Planning
• A great Auctioneer 
• Advanced Donor Support 
• An Efficient check-in Process

Proper Planning  

A successful paddle raise starts long before the first paddle goes up. Proper planning is essential to set clear goals, align your messaging, and prepare your team to confidently guide donors through the moment that matters most. From building the right giving levels to training speakers and anticipating donor questions, thoughtful preparation creates momentum, minimizes friction, and allows generosity to flourish. When every detail is planned with intention, the paddle raise feels seamless, inspiring, and powerful—turning a single moment into meaningful impact.

Use your Donor Data to Your Advantage

Use your donor data in the planning process. The donors you approach for those pre-planned high level giving requests should be differentiated from those who will be sent standard communications and donor asks. Really hone in on your data and consider who to highlight as a champion for your organization. 

When deciding what levels to set for your paddle raise, assess the historical giving data of your organization so you aren’t overstretching the support of your current database. The goal is to maximize every giving level. Consider this – if your donors don’t typically give $10,000 then why are you setting this as a giving level? 

Time Your Paddle Raise with Care

Consider the flow of your entire event and time the paddle raise carefully. Where does this revenue generator fall in the flow of your event? In relation to the food service, your impact video and if there are additional asks or games – what should your planning priorities be? Consider where your organization will gain the most monetary benefit. If the Dessert Dash has always been a huge revenue booster then consider where in relation to that portion of the event, your paddle raise will happen or choose just one instead of both. Most in room gamification activities are activators and energizers for the bigger asks like the paddle raises or in room auctions so be sure to carefully consider the timing of the entire evening. 

When you lead with your mission and asking for donations will never feel cold and transactional. Getting results from the paddle raise is sure to follow.

The Benefit of A Great Auctioneer

A great auctioneer is the heartbeat of a successful paddle raise. With the right blend of energy, clarity, and empathy, they set the tone, build excitement, and confidently guide donors through each giving level. An experienced auctioneer knows how to read the room, pace the moment, and create urgency without pressure—making donors feel inspired rather than obligated. Their ability to tell the story, celebrate participation, and keep momentum high can dramatically increase engagement and giving, transforming the paddle raise into a shared, powerful expression of support.

Why Should a Nonprofit Use an Auctioneer for a Paddle Raise?

A nonprofit should use an auctioneer for a paddle raise because this moment requires skilled leadership, confident pacing, and emotional connection. A Paddle Raise can be a great way to build excitement and encourage donations! A professional auctioneer knows how to command the room, clearly explain giving levels, and maintain momentum so donors feel energized and engaged. They are trained to read the audience, adjust in real time, and create urgency without making guests uncomfortable. Most importantly, a strong auctioneer elevates the storytelling—connecting the cause to the ask—so donors feel inspired to give generously. The result is a smoother experience, higher participation, and a more impactful paddle raise overall.

How Do You Find the Right Auctioneer?

Finding a qualified auctioneer starts with looking for experience, specialization, and proven results—especially with nonprofit fundraising and paddle raises. Here’s how to do it effectively:

• Look for nonprofit-specific experience. Not all auctioneers are the same. Prioritize those who regularly lead charity auctions and paddle raises and understand donor psychology, storytelling, and giving levels.
  
• Ask for referrals. Other nonprofits, event planners, venues, and fundraising consultants are often the best sources for trusted recommendations.
  
• Check credentials and training. Membership in professional organizations like the National Auctioneers Association can indicate formal training, ethical standards, and ongoing education.
  
• Review videos or attend an event. Seeing an auctioneer in action is one of the best ways to assess their energy, pacing, and ability to engage a room.
  
• Ask the right questions. Inquire about their paddle raise strategy, how they customize giving levels, how they handle different audience sizes, and their track record with similar organizations.
  
• Ensure cultural and mission fit. A great auctioneer should align with your nonprofit’s tone, values, and audience—not overpower them.
  

A qualified auctioneer doesn’t just run the paddle raise; they partner with you to maximize participation, confidence, and impact.

Advanced Donor Support 

Your donors are the best resource for your paddle raise so pre-planning and securing the highest levels of giving prior to the event by collecting the donation through your event website in advance and asking them to simply raise their paddle at the event will allow you to plan for those unrestricted dollars as well as building the in room momentum that is necessary for any paddle raise. 

Consider who will want to be celebrated after the event is over, how long have they been giving and has their donor impact increased over several years or are they simply committed to micro-giving over many years? 

Secure the High Level Donations in Advance

Don’t just rely on the word of your donors. Secure the dollars in the form of a donation before the event begins then ensure your donors just have to raise their paddle and grab the recognition they so deserve. By carefully cultivating relationships and guaranteeing the donations, your paddle raise is sure to be a grand success!

Ask in Person. Your donors won’t want to give large sums of money based on an email, if your database is not accustomed to doing so, prioritize the personal touch to really highlight the proven benefit of the relationship to your donor in relation to your organization. 

Ensure you Prioritize a Personal Connection

Take your favorite donors for lunch or invite them for a private tour of your facility. Highlight what you’re asking for using specific details, and explain how their dollars will break down and become real impact. Know your organization’s expenses related to the objective of the paddle raise and have the dollars and cents ready for review when approaching high level donors. 

Don’t overwhelm your donors with emotion. Focus on the impact and translate that to a directed dollar amount then present the bonus of the paddle raise activity. 

An Efficient Check-in Process

The goal of any in person event is to get guests in the room efficiently and spending dollars toward your cause right from the get go. 

Volunteer Training

Volunteer training is so important because your volunteers are so important and so special. The last thing an event manager wants is to have unhappy guests that take their frustration out on your dedicated volunteers. 

Training your volunteers on the check-in process can elevate any event, and when done with care and consideration to the time of your volunteers – your guests will get in the room quickly and your volunteers will feel appreciated. 

• Test your tech in advance
• Make sure your volunteers are equipped with the right tools and the right technology to the job efficiently  
• Consider check-in cheat sheets that can be on hand and ready for the night of the event 
• Encourage volunteers to use any training tools provided by your event software

Auction teamwork roles are tasks should be outlined clearly. Diverse skills of the volunteers only enhance the outcome of the fundraiser. Consider splitting or combining duties depending upon the number and type of volunteers that step forward.

Plan out the Check-in Process in Advance

There are some fundamental questions that you as the event organizer can ask the nonprofit ahead of the event. Consider the following to support your planning process. 

Will you have an express check-in process? How will this work? Are you responsible for sending out the communications and instructions on how individuals can check into the event ahead of time to avoid the lines? 

Consider creating multiple check in stations, a short line for those who have participated in the pre-check-in process, another for those who do not have a ticket at all and a third for those who simply have a ticket but have not yet checked in. 

Label the Check-in Tables Clearly 

By categorizing your audience at check-in, you will get your guests in, they will feel seen instead of standing still and waiting in line and they will be energized from the beginning to give their money to your very worthy cause. 

Finally have volunteers moving down the lines to check people in who have their E-tickets on hand. Why make a guest wait when you can scan them in, and get them spending. 

Ensure your guests are asked if they would like to have a credit card on file and the tools to be able to grab that information quickly during the check-in process or require one at registration to ensure a smooth checkout experience.

Your Event Website Should Work For You

From planning, to donor recognition, to volunteer training and check-in. Your event website should be the tool that works for you at every step of your event. Your Auctioneer should know the software and feel confident interacting with it and your volunteers should have the right permissions to do their job without being able to delete your entire event website. 

Remember, it’s more than a paddle raise – this is an event experience which requires careful planning, a talented and well chosen auctioneer, advanced donor support with secured donations before the event even begins and technology that enhances your guest experience from check-in to check out. 

______________________

Laurie Hochman is the Director of Business Growth and Strategy at Auctria, an event fundraising platform used by thousands of nonprofits to run auctions, galas, and community fundraisers—raising over $1 billion to date. Laurie has a unique vantage point: she sees what works across thousands of nonprofit events each year, spanning causes, sizes, formats, and communities. This broad perspective allows Laurie to identify patterns, trends, and proven strategies that consistently turn fundraising events into powerful relationship-building experiences. Her expertise focuses on how nonprofits can design events that engage supporters, activate boards and sponsors, and convert event attendees into long-term donors and ambassadors.

A frequent conference speaker and webinar host, Laurie Hochman brings real-world insight, clarity, and practical guidance to nonprofit professionals—helping them create impactful events that build donor relationships that last. She has a passion for helping groups exceed their fundraising goals. After using Auctria for many auction fundraisers, she joined the team to help others boost their auction fundraising for many wonderful causes. Auctria has been utilized to raise over $1,250,000,000, – yes that’s 1.25 Billion dollars!. “The beauty in what is done with the money raised with Auctria is what motivates me every day to help auction teams succeed.  Hope all your bids soar!”

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