Paddle Raise - streamline live giving at your next event

The terms are often used interchangeably at US fundraising events. A Paddle Raise usually describes the live giving mechanic, with a benefit auctioneer or emcee calling out giving levels and event guests raising numbered paddles to make a donation.
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Fund-a-Need is often used when the appeal is tied to a specific program, project or impact. For example, the giving levels might be linked to funding scholarships, meals, equipment or another defined need.
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In practice, a Fund-a-Need can be run as a traditional Paddle Raise or with supporters donating from their phones while the total updates in real time.

Yes. You can customize your giving levels, assign paddles to guests, then enter each paddle number into GalaBid as your auctioneer calls it out.
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The donation can be recorded against that guest during the appeal, so your team has a clear record of who gave and at which level. This lets you keep the traditional in-room Paddle Raise format while using GalaBid to manage the donations and payments behind it.

Yes. Event guests and remote supporters can donate from their phones in real time without downloading a separate app.
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For a Fund-a-Need, guests can respond directly to the appeal from their phones while your team tracks the total as donations come in.

Yes. You can display the live total raised on the big screen as donations are entered or made online.
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This gives the room a clear view of the progress of the appeal and can sit alongside your event branding and other live displays. It works for both a traditional Paddle Raise and a phone-based Fund-a-Need.
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Supporter names and donation amounts can also be displayed on screen.

Yes. Supporters can choose to appear anonymously when they set up their GalaBid account.
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At an event, authorized staff or volunteers can also update a guest’s display preference so their name does not appear on the big screen.

Paddle Raise donations can be added to the guest’s GalaBid invoice, allowing them to pay alongside other amounts they owe from the event, such as auction purchases.
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Where appropriate, your team can also process card payments. This helps keep the Paddle Raise connected to the wider event payment process instead of managing the pledges separately.

Yes. Paddle Raise and Fund-a-Need donations can sit alongside your silent auction, live auction, raffle, ticketing and other GalaBid fundraising activities within the same campaign.
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That means guests can take part in different parts of the event without your team having to manage separate systems for each activity. Your donations, auction activity and payment information can all be managed from the same campaign.