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Run a Paddle Raise or a Live Auction at your Event

To boost on-site fundraising at your event or gala, consider incorporating a Paddle Raise or a Live Auction. 

A Paddle Raise invites guests to give at set levels, while a Live Auction, ideally led by a professional auctioneer, encourages competitive bidding on high-value items live.

Both options are easily managed through BetterUnite.

Before the Event

  • Paddle Raise Setup: In Edit Event > Offers > Giving Levels, create Giving Levels (e.g., $20,000, $10,000, $5,000, $2,500 etc.). You can make them visible with descriptions, images, or videos, or keep them hidden for internal use and use Quick Add during the ask to record the winning bidder(s).

giving level

  • Live Auction Items: In Auction > Add Item, create Live Auction items that will be presented during your event. Guests will place their bids in-person using bidder paddles. However, you can still highlight these items by setting them to View Only and including descriptions, images, or videos. Alternatively, you can keep the items hidden for internal use and use Quick Add during the live auction to record the winning bidder(s).

live auction example

  • Bidder Paddles: Prepare numbered paddles for guests to raise during bidding or giving. You may auto-generate paddles for your guest list or manually assign bidder paddle numbers during check-in. 

  • Pre-Authorization: Collect credit card pre-authorizations during ticket purchase, pre-event, or during check-in to enable smooth checkout.

During & After the Event

  • During the Live Auction and Paddle Raise, navigate to Manage Carts > Quick Add to enter contributions as paddles go up. You may also enter these contributions after the program has concluded.

  • Guests can check out in real-time or later, including offline payments like cash or check.

Need Additional Help?

We're here to assist you in any way we can. Don't hesitate to reach out to support@betterunite.com

Let's go do some good.