The $26,000 Fundraising Idea That Takes 3 Minutes

(And Why Your Next Event Needs a Paddle Drop)

So picture this: It’s a Saturday afternoon, and I’m getting a text from Chris Hensley, one of the most brilliant fundraising auctioneers we know. He needs help sourcing an exotic trip package for an event that night. We bounce some ideas around, land on the Amalfi Coast, and I think, ‘Cool, hope it works out.’

Fast forward later that evening. Chris texts back: ‘We raised $26,000.‘

Wait, what?

From one decision. One three-minute segment at the end of the event. One thing most nonprofits aren’t doing yet.

It’s called the paddle drop, and if you’re not using it, you’re literally leaving tens of thousands of dollars on the table.

What the Heck is a Paddle Drop?

Here’s the setup: Your event is basically done. Silent auction? Check. Live auction? Crushed it. Paddle raise? Already wrapped. Your event planner is 30 minutes from their first drink of the night, everyone’s starting to relax, and you’ve got 300-400 people who just spent an evening learning about your mission.

Now’s when you say: ‘We’ve got one more way for you to give.‘

The paddle drop is simple. For a set amount—let’s say $150—guests drop their bidding paddles into bags that volunteers are passing around the room. All the paddles go into one draw. One paddle wins an amazing prize. Maybe it’s a trip to Paris. Maybe it’s the Amalfi Coast. Maybe it’s Iceland.

The sexier the trip, the more ‘oohs and ahhs’ you hear from the stage. And trust me, those oohs translate directly into money.

Why This Works (The Data Doesn’t Lie)

Chris has been tracking this across events all fall, and here’s what he’s found: Almost exactly 30% of people will drop their paddles.

Do the math:

300 people in the room = 90 paddles
90 paddles × $150 = $13,500
Pay $4,000 for the trip package
Net: $9,500

And that’s being conservative. Chris routinely sees $20K-$30K from paddle drops because he’s implementing two critical pro tips that most people miss.

Pro Tip #1: Add the Bump

Your paddle drop doesn’t have to be $100. In fact, it shouldn’t always be $100.

Chris worked with an organization celebrating their 84th year of service. Instead of the standard $100 paddle drop, they’re doing it at $184.

If they get the same 180 paddles they got last year? That’s going from $18,000 to over $32,000. Nearly double the revenue. Same effort. Same three minutes.

The more glamorous the package, the higher you can price it. People will pay $150-$200 for a shot at the Amalfi Coast. Match your price to your prize.

Pro Tip #2: VIPs Collect the Paddles (This is HUGE)

Here’s where it gets really interesting.

When regular volunteers collect paddles, Chris sees about 22% participation.

When well-liked, well-respected people in the room—beloved board members, former event chairs, respected staff—collect the paddles? 30% participation.

That’s an 8-point jump. On a 300-person event, that’s 24 more paddles. That’s an extra $3,600+ just because the right person is walking around with the bag.

Think about it: You’re way more likely to drop your paddle when someone you know and respect is standing right in front of you asking. It’s social proof in action.

Who Actually Gives in a Paddle Drop?

This is the part that really matters for your donor pipeline.

Sure, some people who already gave in the paddle raise will throw in another $150. Chris jokes it’s like the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup calling your name at the checkout—you’ve already spent money, what’s a little more?

But here’s what’s more valuable: The paddle drop catches people who haven’t given yet.

Maybe they’re first-time guests. Maybe they bid on a silent auction item and lost. Maybe they’re attending as someone’s plus-one and want to honor their host. The paddle drop gives them an easy, low-barrier entry point to support your mission.

And here’s the kicker—once they give, even just $150, you can steward them. You can bring them back. You can turn them into repeat donors.

Chris shared a story about a Northwestern donor who gave $250 at an event in 1994. Through decades of engagement, that donor has now given $94 million. Events matter. First gifts matter. The paddle drop gets people in the door.

The Mechanics: How to Actually Do This

Timing: Right after the paddle raise ends. Don’t put it in your program. Keep it as a surprise so people don’t see a lower giving level and hold back during the paddle raise.

The Script: ‘I have one more thing. It’s called the paddle drop. For $150, drop your paddle in the bags our volunteers are carrying. We’re going to draw one paddle in the next 90 seconds, and that person wins a trip to the Amalfi Coast.’

While volunteers collect:

Show gorgeous photos of the destination on your screens
Describe the package in detail (villa overlooking the ocean, infinity pool, etc.)
Repeat the key info multiple times—people learn differently, and they’re not all listening
Call out the odds: ‘Your odds right now are about 1 in 40!’ (That 2.5% chance sounds pretty good)
Remind couples to drop both paddles to double their chances

The Draw: Bring all paddles to the stage, draw the winner, announce it, and boom—you just raised $20K+ in three minutes.

Important: Make it crystal clear—multiple times—that dropping your paddle means you’re giving $150. Put it on the screens. Say it repeatedly. You’ll still get some chargebacks from confused guests, but repetition minimizes it.

One More Thing: Training Your Audience

If you’re doing a paddle drop for the first time, people might be confused. ‘What’s this? It’s not in my program.’

But here’s the beautiful part: When 50-60% of those guests come back next year (because you did an amazing job stewarding them), they’re already trained. They expect it. They’re asking Chris in the cocktail hour, ‘Are you doing that paddle drop thing again? What’s the trip this year?’

That’s when you know you’ve created something sustainable.

The Bottom Line

A well-executed paddle drop can bring in $20,000-$30,000 in just three minutes of stage time.

Look, I get it. Adding something new to your event feels risky. You’re already juggling so much. But this isn’t complicated. It’s three minutes. It requires a great prize package (we can help you source those, by the way) and some intentional volunteer selection.

And it works.

$26,000 in one night. Three minutes of stage time. One text conversation on a Saturday afternoon.

If you’re planning an event and you’re not doing a paddle drop, you’re leaving money on the table. Real money. Money that could fund programs, hire staff, expand your impact.

Don’t leave it there.

Want to talk through how a paddle drop could work at your next event? Connect with Chris Hensley – he’s the expert on making this work seamlessly.

Looking for amazing paddle drop packages? Browse curated travel experiences and premium prizes – we’ll help you find the perfect prize that gets
those ‘oohs and ahhs.’

Your event should work as hard as you do. Let’s make it happen.

P.S. — Three events in a row. That’s the magic number. According to data scientist Nathan Chappell (author of The Generosity Crisis), the greatest determinant that someone will become a major donor is attending three events consecutively. The paddle drop gets first-timers in the door. Stewardship brings them back. That third year? That’s when the real relationship begins. Don’t underestimate the power of these ‘small’ touches.