Get to ‘Yes’ easier with a Fund-a-Need ask
Feel the energy surge as paddles fly. Live in the room, Fund-a-Need brings your biggest needs front and center to your in-person event.
Add Fund-a-Need to Your Campaign
What Fund-a-Need means for you
Donors love it
- Donors feel connected to tangible causes
- Supporters give more and more often
- You get a fast-fundraising spike
- Perfect when you’ve got one shot to rally the room
- Trusted by major donors who value privacy and control
Organizers count on it
- Perfect for live events using paddle raises
- Showcases specific needs or causes
- Drives higher engagement and repeat giving
- Can be run on its own or as part of a larger campaign
Staff rely on RallyUp’s iconic ease-of-use
- Simple to run, still gets top-tier results
- Make one clear ask with Fund-a-Need and show it on screen
- RallyUp handles the rest: tracking, checkout, and follow-up emails
- No stress. No spreadsheets. Raise more without doing more
Why RallyUp Fund-a-Need matters more than ever
- Generic asks fall flat. But when donors know exactly what they’re funding, a fire truck, a scholarship, a clean water well, they show up big.
- RallyUp Fund-a-Need connects a donor to a specific need or cause. Anyone with one clear, fundable need – big or small – chooses Fund-a-Need.
- Unlike general donations, Fund-a-Need appeals to donors’ desire for direct impact. It incentives people to give more, and often multiple times.
Generosity is contagious
Let guests bid, buy, and donate in every activity: Auctions, Raffles, Sweepstakes, Storefront, event tickets, Crowdfunding, A-Thon pledges, and roll it all into a single Event Balance. More ways to give, one charge to close.
Features enjoyed by everyone
Connect donors to a clear purpose
Donors respond to clarity. When they know their gift is funding a specific need, like a piece of equipment or a local service, they’re more motivated to give generously.
Live Display
Get the room to lean in, not zone out. Build excitement by letting donors see their names, tiers, and a fundraising thermometer in real time on screen or livestream.
Anonymous giving
Some donors love the spotlight. Others don’t. Give supporters the freedom to give how they’re most comfortable – public recognition or total privacy.
CRM & reporting integration
Stop guessing who gave. Get every gift logged automatically. Make post-event reporting easy and accurate, with full donor transparency and zero spreadsheet wrangling.
Flexible checkout
Don’t let a complicated checkout kill the moment. Allow on-the-spot giving, then handle payment with automatic billing or self-checkout after the event.
Theme customization
Keep your campaign page fully on brand. Match branding across your page to keep the experience professional.
Encourage multiple gifts
Encourage repeat generosity by removing the “just a one-time pledge” barrier and letting donors give more than once.
Built-in follow-up
Show gratitude quickly and meaningfully without adding to your to-do list.
Designed for any event format
Whether you’re hosting a gala dinner, a virtual fundraiser, or a livestream, Fund-a-Need works flawlessly.
Host in-person events
Run virtual events
Connect online and remote attendees
Bundle with Raffles, Storefront, and more
The flow of a Fund-a-Need
- Enable Fund-a-Need in your campaign (just like Raffles or Auctions).
- Create donation tiers by need (e.g., $5,000 for a fire truck, $2,500 for supplies).
- Choose your display: show tiers onscreen at the venue or via livestream.
You have one goal: fund your current need. You fire up a Fund-a-Need.
- 7:42 PM – Emcee introduces the need: $25,000 for you specific need.
- 7:46 PM – First $5,000 paddle goes up. Applause.
- 7:50 PM – $2,500, $1,000, $500 levels fly. The thermometer jumps.
- 8:00 PM – The room hits the goal. Crowd cheers.
(RallyUp handles the rest)
- Collect paddle raises or digital gifts at each level.
- Automatic checkout or let donors complete it afterward – your call.
- RallyUp takes care of tracking, receipts, and follow-up emails.
Funded before anyone finished their coffee.
Easy on the budget
Fund-a-Need used to be expensive to run. What was once a premium, staff‑heavy feature with outside vendors and extra fees is now built into RallyUp and easy on costs. No contracts, no subscriptions, and no up-front costs.
Need a hand?
Our fundraising experts will create your campaign for free. Answer questions online or talk to a Fundraising Expert!
What happens next?
We simplify the ask. You multiply the gifts.
Join hundreds of events that raised more with one simple ask
Frequently Asked Questions
Fund-a-Need is a live fundraising technique where donors give to a specific cause during an event. Presenters announce a clear need (like “$25,000 for a new fire truck”), attendees raise paddles at different giving levels ($5,000, $2,500, $1,000), and contributions display in real-time on screen. RallyUp’s platform automates tracking, checkout, and follow-up emails.
Fund-a-Need on RallyUp has no upfront costs, no contracts, and no monthly fees. The only costs are standard credit card processing fees (similar to industry rates). Organizations can choose to pass platform fees on to donors or absorb them.
Setting up a Fund-a-Need takes 5-10 minutes. The process involves:
- Enable Fund-a-Need in your campaign
- Create donation tiers (e.g., $5,000, $2,500, $1,000)
- Set up your display preferences
- Preview in draft mode
RallyUp also offers free campaign setup by fundraising experts.
Yes. Fund-a-Need works for:
- In-person events (traditional paddle raise)
- Virtual events (online-only fundraisers)
- Hybrid events (in-person + remote attendees)
- Livestreams (learn how)
The live display shows on venue screens or streams online so all participants see real-time results.
No. Donors can choose anonymous giving or public recognition. RallyUp lets supporters select their comfort level:
- Public display with name and amount
- Partial anonymity (amount shown, name hidden)
- Complete privacy (no public information)
This flexibility increases participation from donors who prefer different visibility levels.
Yes. Fund-a-Need bundles with:
- Silent and live auctions
- Event ticketing
- Raffles and sweepstakes
- Crowdfunding campaigns
- Peer-to-peer fundraising
All activities run on the same campaign page. See all RallyUp fundraising activities.
RallyUp automatically tracks all donations with:
- Real-time donor names and amounts
- Complete transaction history
- Exportable reports (Excel/CSV)
- Detailed donation analytics
- CRM-ready data formatting
No manual spreadsheets or data entry required.
Yes. Donors can give multiple times at different levels during the same event. For example, someone might give $1,000 initially, then raise their paddle again for $500 later. This repeat giving feature significantly increases total fundraising compared to single-pledge formats.
RallyUp Event Balances offer flexible payment timing:
- Self-checkout by each attendee during the event
- Automated checkout of each attndee’s donations – no waiting or lines – at the end of the night
- Post-event payment (organizer runs charges after the event)
RallyUp’s Fund-a-Need includes features that typically cost extra:
- No vendor fees (built into platform)
- Real-time live display with fundraising thermometer
- Automatic donor tracking and CRM integration
- Flexible checkout options (immediate or delayed)
- Anonymous giving capability
- Free expert setup assistance
- No contracts or monthly subscriptions
Previously premium features are now standard and affordable.
Customize your Fund-a-Need with:
- Colors and fonts matching your brand (customize fonts)
- Logo and banner images (formatting guide)
- Custom domain (setup instructions)
- Branded emails to donors (add your brand)
Full white-label capabilities keep the experience professional.
Promote using these RallyUp tools:
- QR codes for print materials
- Text-to-give keywords
- Email campaigns to your donor list
- Social sharing with shareable campaign links
- Livestream notifications for virtual attendees
Multi-channel promotion maximizes attendance and giving.
Yes. RallyUp provides:
- Free campaign setup by fundraising experts
- Live chat support during business hours
- Phone consultation available
- Extensive help documentation with step-by-step guides
Support is included at no cost.