builderall




I?ve spoken with many nonprofit leaders that tell me their board is against having a paddle raiser. 

They worry it?ll feel awkward.

They don?t want guests to feel pressured.

They?re concerned it might make the event uncomfortable.

Those concerns usually come from a place of care for the guests in the room. But skipping a paddle raiser doesn?t actually make your event more comfortable.

It makes it far less successful.

Let?s look at why.


The Most Important Fundraising Stream in Your Gala

One of the tools I use with nonprofit teams is the Fundraising Streams Matrix. It helps clarify which parts of the fundraising produce the biggest impact.

The matrix looks at four factors:


Across all four of those categories, the paddle raiser consistently rises to the top.

First, it has the highest participation. Every guest in the room has the opportunity to give because the giving levels can go all the way down to an accessible amount.

Second, it often produces the largest amount of funds raised. In my experience, and in the experience of many of my colleagues, paddle raisers regularly raise two to five times more than the live auction.

Third, it delivers the highest return on investment for your team. If you spend five hours chasing silent auction items that might raise a few hundred dollars, those same five hours could be spent cultivating a few key donors to become paddle raiser plants. That effort can generate thousands.

Finally, it creates an incredible amount of energy and excitement in the room. When donors see others raising their paddles for a cause they care about, generosity becomes contagious.

Why Skipping the Paddle Raiser Costs You Money

When organizations decide not to include a paddle raiser, they?re usually trying to avoid discomfort.

But the reality is that decision removes the highest-performing fundraising stream from the entire event.

A helpful way to think about this is like building a campfire.

If you start by throwing small twigs and pine needles into a pile and trying to light it up, it?s very hard to get a fire going. That?s what happens when a gala focuses mainly on things like silent auctions, games, and small add-on fundraisers.

But when you start with a large, dry log, the fire catches quickly. Everything you add afterward only makes it bigger.

Your paddle raiser is that big log.

Without it, you?re trying to build a fire with the smallest pieces of kindling.


The Power of Social Giving

One of the biggest misconceptions about paddle raisers is that they pressure donors.

In reality, they create an opportunity for social giving.

When people attend a gala, they?re usually there because they care about the organization. Watching others step forward and give often reinforces that shared commitment.

Imagine looking across the room and seeing someone you respect raise their paddle for $500. Maybe they?re someone whose life looks a lot like yours. 

Seeing them give helps validate that the cause is worthy of support. Suddenly it feels natural to participate as well.

That?s why generosity in a paddle raiser often builds momentum. Each gift encourages the next.


Anonymity Is the Enemy of Generosity

One of the most important lessons I?ve learned working with nonprofit galas is this:

Anonymity is the enemy of generosity.

Quiet donation methods like QR codes, envelopes, or passive asks rarely produce the same results as a clear, visible invitation to give.

A paddle raiser allows donors to see each other participating. That visibility builds confidence and momentum.

And time after time, when organizations try a paddle raiser for the first time, they?re surprised by what happens.

Large gifts appear that no one expected. Sometimes donors step forward with $10,000 gifts simply because they were invited to give in a clear and meaningful moment.


A Hidden Benefit: Discovering Your Major Donors

There?s another benefit that many organizations don?t realize until after their first paddle raiser.

It reveals the true giving capacity in the room.

When donors raise their paddles publicly, you gain valuable insight into who is ready and willing to invest deeply in the mission. That information becomes incredibly helpful for future donor stewardship.

A paddle raiser doesn?t just raise money in the moment. It helps you identify the donors who may become your most committed supporters over time.


Bringing It All Together

Boards often resist paddle raisers because they want guests to feel comfortable. But removing that opportunity doesn?t protect your donors.

It simply removes one of the most powerful ways they can participate.

Paddle raisers generate the highest participation, the highest return on investment, and often the highest revenue of any fundraising stream in your gala.

And most importantly, they allow donors to step forward and be part of something bigger.

Including a paddle raiser  may feel uncomfortable in the short term but I?ve seen time and time again how it will serve the mission in the long run.


If you?ve struggled to convince your board to try one, check in with them to see if any of the reasons above resonate with them.


And if you?d like more practical gala strategy tips like this, subscribe to our newsletter.