Turn your event’s biggest fundraising moment into your biggest success.
Get your special appeal right, and you’ll exceed your goals. Miss the mark and you’ve missed your biggest fundraising opportunity at your event.
The right strategic approach removes the guesswork and creates the conditions for donors to give generously. This isn’t about hoping for the best—it’s about ensuring your special appeal delivers the revenue your mission deserves.
We use data, strategy, and proven techniques to identify the right donors, craft the right story, and execute the right ask. Remove the guesswork and create conditions for donors to give generously.
Perfect For:
Organizations ready to strategically approach their most important fundraising moment of the year.
What You Get From Us:
1) Data-Driven Appeal Foundation
Review of your giving history to assess your room’s true potential
Analysis of past special appeal performance and donor patterns
Strategic recommendations based on your donor data and event capacity
2) Appeal Story + Strategy Development
Review of your current special appeal story with specific improvement recommendations
Develop a giving challenge and matching gift strategy to amplify your fundraising
Pre-commitment solicitation guidance to build momentum before your event
3) Ask + Collection Execution Plan
Strategic giving level recommendations based on your donor analysis
Challenge gift deployment strategy for maximum impact
Donor recognition approach that encourages additional giving
Complete appeal logistics planning
Professional ask and collection script for seamless execution
The Bottom Line
A great special appeal strategy turns your event's most important fundraising moment into success with a systematic approach that consistently delivers results. You'll have the tools, the script, and the confidence to make your biggest ask of the year.
Testimonials
What Clients Say About Us
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Our work together to consider how to move our appeal collection from a passive envelope pre-set at the table to an active appeal with bid cards and an auctioneer not only dramatically increased the energy of our event, but also yielded very significant returns in donations and overall donor participation. Before working with Swaim Strategies, we were fearful that our event had passed its peak; now, we have the momentum we need to set even higher event goals. We could not have been more impressed and pleased with the support we got to make this shift.
James Howell, Catholic Charities, Director of Development
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When we were looking for video storytelling support for our appeal, Swaim Strategies was there to help us think through which stories to tell and why. They worked closely with us during pre-production, filming and editing to make sure we captured the best, most impactful content. Now, instead of hoping for nice stories to come along, we actively seek stories focused on the deep connections made at CAT. This change has been transformative to our fundraising, our audience engagement and our relationships with the people whose stories we’ve shared.
Heather Svoboda, Cat Adoption Team at ASPCA, Communications & Development Manager
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Sam and Kristin, you two really rock. I have never seen a smarter set of fundraising pros.
Special Appeal + Paddle Raise Strategy - Frequently Asked Questions
What is a special appeal at a fundraising event?
A special appeal is the dedicated fundraising moment during your gala when you make your biggest ask of the evening. It’s typically when 60-80% of your event revenue is raised through direct donor pledges, matching gifts, and challenge opportunities. This strategic moment transforms your event from a social gathering into a powerful fundraising vehicle.
How much can a strategic special appeal raise compared to an unplanned ask?
Organizations using data-driven special appeal strategies typically see 40-70% increases in their fundraising results compared to unstructured approaches. By analyzing your giving history, identifying the right donors, and executing proven techniques, a strategic appeal can help you exceed your fundraising goals rather than leaving money on the table.
What makes a special appeal successful?
Successful special appeals combine four critical elements: data analysis of your donor capacity, a compelling story that connects to your mission, strategic giving levels that encourage maximum participation, and flawless execution with professional scripts and timing. The right approach removes guesswork and creates conditions for generous giving.
When should we start planning our fundraising event's special appeal?
Begin planning your special appeal strategy at least 8-12 weeks before your event. This timeline allows for thorough donor analysis, pre-commitment solicitation, story development, and securing matching or challenge gifts that amplify your results. Early planning ensures your biggest fundraising moment delivers maximum revenue.
How do matching gifts and challenge gifts work in a special appeal?
Matching and challenge gifts create urgency and multiply donor impact during your appeal. We develop strategic deployment plans that reveal these gifts at optimal moments, encouraging increased participation and larger donations. When executed correctly, a $50,000 challenge gift can generate $150,000 or more in total contributions.
What donor data do you analyze for special appeal planning?
We review your complete giving history, past special appeal performance, donor capacity analysis, and event attendance patterns. This data-driven foundation helps identify optimal giving levels, potential major donors for pre-commitments, and the true fundraising potential of your audience.
Who should deliver our special appeal ask at the event?
The most effective special appeals use a combination of voices: a mission speaker (client) who shares impact and a professional auctioneer or fundraising host who manages the technical execution. We provide complete scripts and coaching for all participants.
What's included in special appeal strategy consulting?
Our comprehensive service includes donor data analysis, appeal story development with specific improvements, giving level recommendations, matching gift strategies, pre-event solicitation guidance, professional scripts for seamless execution, and a complete logistics plan. You receive the tools, strategy, and confidence to maximize your event’s biggest fundraising moment.
