How to Turn Your Fundraising Event Paddle Raise Into a Million Dollar Campaign Strategy
Fundraising Event Strategy by Samantha Swaim
Most organizations treat their gala paddle raise as a single moment in time—a climactic 15 minutes where donors raise their paddles and open their hearts. But what if that moment was actually the centerpiece of a six-month campaign that could raise seven figures?
This isn’t theory. This is a proven strategy that transforms your annual fundraising event from a one-night affair into a strategic campaign that builds momentum, deepens relationships, and multiplies impact.
But let’s be clear from the start: this strategy requires a foundation. You need a donor base with capacity and a few key major supporters who already believe in your mission. Without these relationships in place, you’re not ready for this leap. And that’s okay, build those connections first then come back to this roadmap.
The Million Dollar Framework
Here’s the truth about raising a million dollars: it’s not about finding a thousand people to give $1,000. It’s about orchestrating a cascading series of commitments that build trust, create momentum, and inspire others to step up.
The timeline: Six months before your event
The goal: $1,000,000
The strategy: The Anchor Gift Cascade
Step 1: Secure Your Anchor Gift (6 Months Out)
Your first move happens half a year before anyone walks into your gala. You approach one of your most trusted major donors—someone who has both capacity and deep commitment to your mission—with an invitation to make transformational impact.
The Anchor Gift is Typically $100,000 - $500,000
But here’s what makes this different from a standard major gift ask: you’re inviting this donor into a strategy, not just making an ask. Share your vision openly:
“We’re building a campaign around this year’s event with a goal to raise $1 million. Your gift will be the foundation—the anchor—that establishes credibility and builds trust with other donors. We’re going to leverage your commitment to inspire multiple matching gifts, multiplying your impact many times over.”
This transparency is essential. Your anchor donor needs to understand that their gift isn’t just about the dollars, it’s about what those dollars will unlock in others.
Why this works: An anchor gift sends a powerful message to every other prospective donor: someone you trust has already said yes. It removes the fear of being first. It demonstrates that leadership has already stepped up. It creates social proof and builds confidence.
Step 2: Build Your Prospect Map (5 Months Out)
With your anchor secured, you now develop a strategic prospect map. This isn’t a wish list—it’s a tactical plan identifying specific individuals who will create a cascade of matching commitments.
Your prospect map could include:
Another donor at $100,000 (to match your anchor gift)
This is a peer match—another leader stepping up at the same level
This donor should be someone with similar capacity and connection to your mission
Two donors at $50,000 each (combined, they match your anchor)
These gifts together equal your anchor, creating a powerful collaborative match
Look for donors who might stretch to this level when they know they’re part of a matching pair
Four donors at $25,000 each (combined, they match your anchor)
At this level, you’re building a leadership circle
These donors see themselves as part of an exclusive group making collective impact
Notice the pattern: Each tier combines to match your original $100,000 anchor gift. You’re not just stacking gifts, you’re creating mirrored commitments that validate each other.
Step 3: Secure Your Matches in Sequence (Months 5-3)
Now begins the most critical phase: securing these commitments in strategic order.
Approach your prospects with this narrative:
“A leadership donor has committed $100,000 as an anchor gift for our campaign. They’ve challenged us to find matching support, and I immediately thought of you. Would you consider joining them at [this level] to match their commitment and inspire others?”
The sequence matters:
Start with your $100,000 match prospect first. When secured, you now have $200,000 committed and can tell the next donors that you have TWO leadership gifts in place.
Approach your two $50,000 prospects next. Frame it as joining a growing circle of leadership: “We have two donors at $100,000, and we’re looking for two partners who together will match their combined commitment.”
Approach your four $25,000 prospects. By now, you have significant momentum: “We have major leadership commitments totaling $300,000, and we’re building a leadership circle of donors at $25,000 who will match this support together.”
Secure 2/3 of your ten $10,000 prospects in event lead up. You have a strong base of high dollar donors that will raise the bar. Now it is time to generate your in person tipping point. You want to know you have at least 2/3 of those gifts secured at $10,000 with paddles guaranteed to go up.
At this point, you have almost $500,000 pre-committed—halfway to your goal—and you haven’t even sent the invitation to your event yet.
Step 4: Build Your Middle Tier (Months 3-2)
With your major commitments secured, you now expand to middle-tier prospects. These are donors capable of gifts between $5,000 and $15,000.
Create opportunities for these donors to participate in the matching structure:
$5,000 donors (20 gifts = $100,000, again matching your anchor) secure at least 1/3 of these gifts in advance of your event to assure paddles go up and momentum continues.
Now we’re on a roll!
By continuing the matching framework, you help every donor see their gift multiplied. They’re not just giving—they’re unlocking matching dollars and inspiring others. Here’s a little tracking tool that our nonprofit friends use to report their progress with committee and board members:
Step 5: Choreograph Your Event Night (The Event)
Here’s where everything comes together. Your paddle raise isn’t a cold ask anymore—it’s the culmination of months of relationship building and strategic commitments.
Your program should:
Celebrate your anchor donor (with their permission) and thank them for their leadership and vision
Reveal the cascade of matches already in place, building excitement and demonstrating that leadership has already stepped up
Make your paddle raise ask in tiers, starting high and working down:
“Who will join us at $25,000?”
“Who will match them at $10,000?”
“Who can step up at $5,000?”
Continue down to accessible entry points
If pre-pledged donors are not in the room raise a proxy on their behalf at every level you ask for giving so that you SHOW support to your room.
Acknowledge matches in real time: “That gift just unlocked another match!” This creates electricity in the room.
Thermometer: Use a thermometer to show the progress toward the big audacious goal. Drop each matching level so the thermometer climbs in big leaps each time another match is unlocked.
The psychology shift is profound. Donors aren’t being asked to save the day—they’re being invited to join a movement that’s already in motion.
KEY TO SUCCESS:
A critical key to your success will be hiring a professional benefit auctioneer that can execute your strategy and make it feel exciting and not confusing.
Step 6: Follow Up and Close (Weeks After Event)
Your campaign doesn’t end when the gala does. In the weeks following:
Personal thank you calls to all major donors, especially your anchor and match donors
Follow up with paddle raise commitments to secure pledge payments
Reach out to prospects who couldn’t attend with a summary of the evening’s success and a final opportunity to participate
Celebrate milestone moments as you cross $750K, $900K, and finally $1M
The Real Magic: What You’ve Actually Built
Yes, you raised a million dollars. But you’ve done something more valuable: you’ve created a community of leadership donors who now see themselves as partners in your mission.
Your anchor donor knows their gift was the catalyst for exponential impact. Your matching donors feel the power of collaborative giving. Your paddle raise participants experienced the thrill of being part of something larger than themselves.
And next year? You have a foundation of committed major donors to build on. Your million-dollar campaign becomes your new baseline.
Final Thoughts: The Prerequisites for Success
This strategy works, but only if you have the right foundation:
✓ Existing major donor relationships with demonstrated capacity
✓ A compelling case for support that justifies bold asks
✓ Organizational readiness to steward these relationships for the long term
✓ Leadership buy-in from your board and executive team
✓ Time to execute this strategy properly (minimum 6 months)
If you’re missing any of these elements, this isn’t your next move. Build your foundation first. Cultivate those key relationships. Clarify your impact story. Then come back to this roadmap.
But when you’re ready—when you have those few key supporters who truly believe in your mission—this strategy will transform not just your fundraising event, but your entire approach to building sustainable support.
Because at its heart, this isn’t about extracting dollars from donors. It’s about inviting people into a shared vision, showing them their gift matters, and building trust through transparency and strategy.
And that’s the kind of fundraising that changes everything.
If you want to dive into this further we have some great resources coming up!
The Fundraising Elevator Podcast:
Click to subscribe and tune into the upcoming episode 96 with Brandon Lenzi who will share his anchor gift strategy, case study, and success. Releases November 19th.
Upcoming Webinar: The Future of Matching with Pooya Pourak at MatchNice
Click to register for this free upcoming webinar on October 22nd that looks at the current trends and research in matching gift strategy.
Elevate Conference: School for Your Fundraising Event
Register today to join us March 3 + 4, 2026 for this two-day deep dive into your fundraising event. Join expert speakers that will help you find a path to raising more at your fundraising events.
