The Paddle Bump: One of Several Places Where Money is Hiding at Your Gala
Throughout every gala fundraiser, there are moments where your non-profit can encourage donors to make small additional gifts. Taken together these incremental gifts can add up significantly. At many events over the past year, I have employed several strategies to help clients raise anywhere from $20,000 and up more than they would have otherwise. Today I’m highlighting one of those opportunities – the Paddle Bump.
Paddle Raise Pro-Tip: The Genius of the "Paddle Bump"
When it comes to the Paddle Raise portion of your gala, every detail matters. This is the heart and soul of the fundraising portion of your event, where donors give directly to your mission with no expectations of getting something in return. These donors are critical regardless of whether their gift includes a comma or not. They are engaging in your mission. They are opting in to your cause. What you do with them after that to retain them is critical (and the topic of a future post).
As a seasoned charity auctioneer, I’ve seen firsthand how seemingly minor adjustments can result in major gains for your organization. One of my favorite strategies is what I call the “paddle bump.” It’s a small, clever move that makes a big impact—and it’s so effective that it often generates more than enough extra revenue to cover my fee. In other words, it’s like getting your auctioneer for free!
What Is a Paddle Bump?
A paddle bump is a simple concept: instead of using round numbers for your paddle raise levels (e.g., $10,000, $5,000, $2,500), you incorporate a unique number into each level. For example, your top level might be $10,530 instead of $10,000. Why $530? Perhaps it reflects the number of families your nonprofit served last year, the square footage of a new building you’re funding, or some other meaningful statistic. It’s a small tweak, but it has a big psychological impact.
Here’s the genius of the paddle bump: Donors who were planning to give $10,000 will almost always give $10,530 instead. The same goes for donors at the $5,000 level, the $2,500 level, and so on. That extra bump feels incremental to the donor, but it adds up fast for your organization.
Why It Works
The paddle bump is effective for a few key reasons:
It Tells a Story: Incorporating a unique number tied to your mission gives donors a deeper emotional connection to their gift. They’re not just giving $10,000—they’re giving $10,530 to represent the number of kids impacted by your programs. That storytelling element makes their gift feel more meaningful.
It Feels Intentional: A specific number suggests that your organization has thoughtfully calculated exactly what it needs to fund its mission. Donors appreciate that kind of transparency and intentionality.
It’s a Low Barrier: For high-capacity donors, the extra $57, $75, or even $530 feels like a small, manageable addition to their gift. They almost don’t even notice it. That’s why they’re almost always willing to go along with it.
Real Results
As the title suggests, there are numerous points throughout your gala where extra money is hiding. This is just one of them. In my experience, organizations that incorporate a paddle bump into their paddle raise consistently bring in more money than those that don’t.
How to Implement a Paddle Bump
Ready to try the paddle bump at your next gala? Here’s how to make it work:
Choose a Meaningful Number: Think about your organization’s story and the impact you’re highlighting at the gala. Is there a key statistic that could inspire your paddle bump amounts? Numbers tied to your mission are always the most compelling. Recently I had a client whose paddle raise was focused on bonuses for teachers. The private school had 75 teachers -- perfect number for a paddle bump. And it worked. 118 people raise their paddles and at $75 extra per paddle, we raised an extra $8,850.
Choose Your Number Wisely: $17 just doesn't add up like $75 does, so be sure to consider a number greater than 50.
Let’s Math It Up: If you have 300 guests at your event, you have roughly 150 giving units (i.e. couples). Maybe a few more. Typically, about half of those who can give will give in the paddle raise. That's 75 paddles raised. When you add a $75 bump, it quickly adds up to an extra $5,625. Let's say you have 500 guests, 250 potential donors, 125 paddles raised and your bump is 57 because you provided 57 clients with housing in the past year. $7,125 extra.
What if your video and/or speaker prior to the paddle raise really crushes it. What if your auctioneer brings great emotion and energy to the paddle raise. Maybe this convinces more people to raise their paddle. Using the numbers above but factoring in 60 percent of possible paddles are raised you get an extra $6,750 and $8,550, respectively.
The Higher the Level, the Larger the Bump: Let's say your bump number is 75. At the higher levels, the placement of the number can come somewhere other than the end. Example: $10,000 donors are just as likely to give $10,750. $5,000 donors will almost always give a larger bump, too, so make that $5,750. Once you get below $2,500 (which in this case would be $2,750), drop the bump to the end so that $1,000 donors are asked for $1,075. Then go to $575, $275, $175.
Prepare Your Crowd: Let your audience know upfront that the paddle raise levels are tied to your mission. For example, you might say, “Tonight, you’ll see the number 75 a lot in our paddle raise. That’s because every dollar represents the impact we’re making together as we strive to ensure bonuses for our 75 teachers.”
Make sure the speaker or video prior to the paddle raise does some of the heavy lifting for you by including the bump number in the scripting.
Engage Your Auctioneer: Make sure your auctioneer understands the reasoning behind the paddle bump and is ready to present it with enthusiasm. Their energy and storytelling will help donors embrace the concept.
The Bottom Line
The paddle bump is a small adjustment that can deliver big results. It’s an easy way to inspire generosity, deepen donor engagement, and raise more money for your mission. And who doesn’t love the idea of essentially getting their auctioneer for free?
If you’re ready to elevate your paddle raise with strategies like the paddle bump, let’s connect. And be sure to ask me or Dani about the other places where money is hiding in your event. Together, we can turn your next gala into a record-breaking success.