Getting Started · 3 min read

Fund-a-Need terms explained

Fishing Above, matching challenges, and the Basic / Stretch / Dream goals — in plain language.

Every term you'll meet on the Event Setup screen, with an example of what to type. The same definitions appear in the app behind the small "?" buttons and in the Start Here walkthrough.

1. 1

   Fund-a-Need

   The Fund-a-Need (sometimes called a paddle raise or special appeal) is the part of the night where the auctioneer calls out dollar amounts and guests raise a paddle to pledge. Pledge Pal tracks those pledges as they happen and shows the running total.

2. 2

   Level

   A level is a single giving amount — $10,000, $5,000, $1,000, and so on. You create one row per level. Levels always sort themselves highest to lowest, so you can add them in any order. Example: Six levels from $10,000 down to $250 is typical for a gala.

3. 3

   Fishing Above

   Fishing Above is where the auctioneer goes hunting for a gift larger than — or simply different from — your printed levels. Because the amount isn't known in advance, the Tally Person keys it in on a numeric keypad instead of tapping a level button. Add it once and it sits at the top of your levels. Example: The auctioneer asks 'who will start us at $25,000?' — that pledge is entered as a Fishing Above amount.

4. 4

   Matching challenge

   A matching challenge is a pledge from one donor (or a small group) to match what the room gives, up to a cap. Turn it on in Event Setup, set the amount, choose whether it applies to the whole Fund-a-Need, one level, or a level and everything below it, and decide how it appears on the Auctioneer and Audience screens. Example: A board member offers $50,000 to match every pledge at the $1,000 level and below.

5. 5

   Basic goal

   Basic is your must-hit target — the amount that covers the program you're raising for. For each level, enter how many pledges at that amount you need to reach it. Example: At the $1,000 level, Basic might be 5 pledges.

6. 6

   Stretch goal

   Stretch is the realistic-but-great result: what a strong room delivers. It should always be higher than Basic. When the total crosses it, every screen updates to show the room they've passed it. Example: At the $1,000 level, Stretch might be 8 pledges.

7. 7

   Dream goal

   Dream is the best-case number — the one nobody expects but everybody wants. Setting it gives the auctioneer something to push toward once Stretch is passed, and gives the room a reason to keep going. Example: At the $1,000 level, Dream might be 12 pledges.

8. 8

   Tally Person

   One person watches the room and taps a level each time a paddle goes up. They scan a QR code to open the Tally view — no login, no app to install. Everything they enter appears instantly on the Auctioneer and Audience views.

9. 9

   Overall Fund-a-Need goals

   The Overall Fund-a-Need goals panel adds every level together — both the number of pledges (Tally) and the dollars (Total) — for Basic, Stretch, and Dream. You never type these numbers in; change a level and they recalculate.