Free tool

Paddle raise script generator.

Input your nonprofit's name, the cause you're raising for tonight, and your tier amounts. Get a 90-second auctioneer script that you can hand to your emcee. Free forever — no signup.

90-second script

Ladies and gentlemen, we have one more moment together tonight — and it's the one that matters most.

To open us, we have a leadership gift of $5,000 already committed to tonight's cause. That's the floor we're building from tonight.

What we're raising tonight is going to the mission we're all here for. Not someday. This year. So here's what I'm asking:
We're going to start at the top. $10,000. If you can be at $10,000 tonight, raise your paddle high. Stand up if you can. Let everyone in this room see what leadership looks like for tonight's cause.
Next, $5,000. Paddles at $5,000, please. Look around — your neighbors are with you.
Next, $2,000. Paddles at $2,000, please. Look around — your neighbors are with you.
Next, $1,000. Paddles at $1,000, please. Look around — your neighbors are with you.
And finally, $100. Every paddle counts. If you're at $100, raise it high. Whether this is your tenth gift of the year or your first — you are part of this.

Thank you. Thank you. Every dollar raised tonight goes directly to the mission we're all here for. Tonight's goal is $50,000 from the 150 of you in this room — and from where I'm standing, we're going to crush it.

Give your auctioneer one more round of applause. And tonight's cause, thank you for what you do.

Paddle-raise best practices

  • Top tier first. Always start at the highest amount. The "anchoring effect" makes every subsequent tier feel more reasonable.
  • Lead with a committed gift. A pre-secured leadership gift removes the social risk of being the first paddle up. Always have one ready.
  • Use the room. "Stand up if you can" at the top tier creates the visible social proof that drives the next 30 paddles.
  • Name the cause every cycle. Donors give to a mission, not a number. The script names your cause four times in 90 seconds for a reason.
  • End with applause for them, not you. The closing line shifts gratitude back to the room. People give more next year when they feel celebrated.

Run the paddle raise this script just wrote

Live tier prompts, big-screen scoreboard, real-time totals.

CharityFundraiser's Show Director gives your emcee one-tap tier prompts and projects the running total to the room. Flat 2%, no setup.

Plan your fund-a-need