Fund-A-Need Programs and Special Appeals for Your Charity Auctions

What is a Fund-A-Need program or special appeal?program. Their task is to paint the canvas with
These programs are quite simply pledge orcompelling images for their fundraisers' attendees."
donation methods that are utilized most often byAccording to DiNardo Fund-A-Need program
non profits and charities to focus on a specialpledge increments can start at whatever level the
cause. The Fund-A-Need program is mostnonprofit chooses. Increments may start as high
effective when delivered in charity auctions thatas $100,000 dollars or as low as $1,000 dollars and
are designed to support the beneficiarygo even lower from there. This is the individual
nonprofit.  The Fund-A-Need program or specialchoice left up to the nonprofit development
appeal is also known by many other names suchofficer and her/his auction committee. "The key
as Fund-A-Cause, Fund-A-Cure, Helping Hands andcomponent ensuring the overall success of the
Raise Your Paddles to name a few. Fund-A-NeedFund-A-Need program is to locate a donor who is
programs and special appeals are recognized bywilling to pledge the opening dollar amount and
charities and nonprofits alike as extremelyincrement chosen by the charity. This process is
effective tools for generating significant revenuereferred to as ‘planting a seed' and must be
literally within minutes.done months before the charity auction," says
Creating a Fund-A-Need program may be an easyDiNardo. Mr. DiNardo also notes that the most
task for some nonprofit development executiveseffective Fund-A-Need programs play upon
and a challenge for others. The idea is to focuspeople's emotions and their hearts.
the Fund-A-Need program on one special cause.The timing and delivery of the Fund-A-Need
For example, the funding of a children's autismprogram is crucial. Never start or end a fundraising
unit in a hospital may represent the overall specialevent or charity auction with a Fund-A-Need
cause. Each individual pledge increment within thatprogram. "Starting a fundraising event with a
Fund-A-Need program represents an even moreFund-A-Need program is like having a fireworks
focused idea and concern. Examples of theseshow during the day," says DiNardo. He also
might be to provide counseling services, outdoorexplains that ending a fundraiser with a
educational opportunities, or appropriate learningFund-A-Need program is also a huge mistake, as
materials for autistic children and may be specifieda portion of the event attendees may have
for each individual pledge increment in thealready left the event by that time.  "The energy
Fund-A-Need program.created in the room is vital for the success and
DiNardo & Lord Auctioneers is one of thedelivery of the Fund-A-Need program. This energy
country's most renowned charity firms. Companyis mostly created by the benefit auctioneer," says
founder, Tom DiNardo, advises, "DevelopmentDiNardo. Research has shown that most
officers are like artists confronted with a blanksuccessful Fund-A-Need programs are delivered
canvas when it comes to creating a Fund-A-Needtypically in the middle of charity auctions.