A prospective client called me a few days ago. “We conduct a silent auction, a live auction, and a reverse auction,” she said.
A reverse auction? That was a new one for me.
Perhaps more than any other activity during an auction fundraiser, cash appeals are called a variety of names.
Let’s describe it so we all understand what it is: A cash appeal is a direct request of the audience, asking them to make a cash donation to fund the organization. Similar to a street busker passing a hat to collect money for his performance, a charity is inviting guests to raise their hand and support the mission.
Though one could argue that there are differences between a Fund a Need and a paddle raiser, most groups use the words interchangeably.
If you’re trying to find the best name for an appeal, here are some I’ve heard used.
- Special Appeal /Cash Appeal / Live Appeal
- Paddle Raise / Raise the Paddle
- Gift from the Heart
- Dutch Auction
- Mission Call / Mission Moment
- Fund a Need / Fund an Item / Fund a Program/ Fund a Scholar (also, Dollars for Scholars — see below) / Fund a Cause / Fund the Mission / Fund the Fight / and just, Funda or Funda Need
- Call to Action
- Challenge Grant
- The Challenge
- The Ask
- Love Offering / Love Gift
- A Bid Down
- Paddles Up
- Bid Cards Up
- Lightning Round Auction
- Make a Difference
- Bash Cash
- A campaign name, such as “Be Great,” “Everybody Wins,” or “Share the Night”
- The need being raised, like “Dollars for Scholars” for financial aid, or “Leadership in Teaching” for teacher grants
- The Shakedown (a tongue-in-cheek reference only)
- And now, The Reverse Auction
Which sounds good to you? Are you using a name I’ve not listed? I suspect that regional differences may play a role in what you call it.
That said, what you call an appeal isn’t usually a problem, unless you are calling it a different name every time.
Select a name, and stick with it.
You and your auction committee should always refer to it by that name so you, other committee members, and your guests do not become confused.
Once you’ve selected a name, the hard work begins. Namely, what are the best ways to run a well-received Fund a Need?
How do you run a well-received Fund a Need?
In my master course called “Fabulous Fund a Needs,” you’ll learn all the details.
- How to select the best need that speaks to the crowd.
- How to fit the concept gracefully into the event.
- How to collect all the money that’s pledged (the back-end process).
- You’ll even learn what to say to comfortably make an ask. (Scripts make it easy.)
Hundreds of nonprofits have used my system to launch and develop a Fund a Need. Learn more at Fabulous Fund a Need Secrets.
