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A raffle is a contest in which people buy one or more chances to win a prize and the winner is selected through a random drawing. Of all of the fundraisers out there, raffles are by far one of the easiest to conduct. Basically you just need to supply a prize or prizes and sell tickets.
Raffles are easy to organize and the tickets are generally easy to sell. However, because raffles are a type of lottery, there are laws that govern this type of fundraising (refer to "Raffle Laws & Requirements" below). Before you commit, see what's involved in planning a raffle fundraiser. This will help get you started.
Planning a Raffle
FORM A COMMITTEE
Form a committee of volunteers that can assist you with the planning and execution of the raffle. You will need assistance contacting potential sponsors, collecting prizes/donations, printing and selling tickets, and other planning details.
SET A FUNDRAISING GOAL
By setting a goal, you will be better able to put together a program that helps you reach it. Are you conducting this fundraiser in order to purchase specific supplies, programs, or equipment for your school? You may only need to raise a few thousand dollars to run enrichment programs for the year, or you may be working toward raising several thousand for new computer or playground equipment.
TYPES OF RAFFLES
The ideas for raffles are endless. Keep in mind that many states require a special permit/license for raffles, especially raffles $5,000 and over, so it's important that you check your state's laws and regulations.
- Monetary Raffle: Monetary raffles can be arranged for just about any price range. Example 1: Sell 300 raffle tickets for $100 per ticket. Income is $30,000. First Prize-$10,000; Second Prize-$5,000; Third Prize: $2,500. Fourth Prize: $500. Profit is $12,000. Example 2: Sell 400 raffle tickets for $25 per ticket. Income is $10,000. First Prize-$3,000; Second Prize-$1,500; Third Prize-$750. Fourth Prize: $250. Profit is $4,500. Or, set the prizes at a monetary percentage of the money collected from the raffle. For example, first prize wins 25%, second place wins 15%, and third place wins 10%. Fifty percent of the collected funds will go to the school fundraiser.
- Fifty-Fifty Raffle: A monetary raffle where half of the money collected goes to a single winner.
- Single-Prize Raffle Option 1: Sell inexpensive raffle tickets (i.e. $1.00) and offer just one item as the prize. In this case the prize does not need to be a high dollar item, but we do recommend that it be something the kids will want to win. Your draw for this type of raffle is that the kids will encourage the parents to buy a chance to win and the parent will want to support your fundraiser with an inexpensive purchase. And again, try to ask for the item to be donated or ask a company to sponsor its purchase. For example, in December have a large airblown inflatable holiday lawn decoration (6'-8'). Video game systems, bikes, or stereos are all items a child would love to have.
- Single-Prize Raffle Option 2: Sell inexpensive raffle tickets (i.e. 1 for $5.00 or 6 for $25.00) and offer just one item as the prize. In this case the prize is a more expensive item. One school I visited raffled off a Bose Wave Radio (retail value approximately $500) and raised over $4,000 on this one raffle.
- Multiple Prizes Raffle: Sell inexpensive raffle tickets (i.e. $1.00) and offer three or four items as raffle prizes, with the largest item as the First Prize. These can be just about anything, depending on the theme of your raffle (i.e. electronics, trips, or tickets to professional sporting events).
- Squares Raffle: Draw a grid of 50 or 100 squares on a piece of paper. Number each square with a unique number (1 to 50 or 1 to 100). Sell squares for $5, $10, $15, or $20 each. Set the prizes at a monetary percentage of the money collected from the raffle. For example, first place wins 25%, second place wins 15%, and third place wins 10%. Fifty percent of the collected funds will go to the school fundraiser. The draw to this type of raffle is that everyone can see that only a limited number of squares are sold so the chance of winning is high.
- Calendar Raffle: A calendar raffle runs for an entire month. Create a calendar and designate one prize to be given away on each day of the month. Draw one name each day to win that prize. Try to obtain sponsored prizes (i.e. gift certificates, electronics, sports equipment, etc.). Monetary prizes (i.e. $25, $50) can be given away if you cannot obtain donated prizes for each day, but these will eat into your fundraising profits. Sell calendars for $10, $15, or $20 each.
- Gift Basket Raffle: See Gift Baskets.
- Holiday Tree Raffle: See Holiday Trees.
SPONSORSHIPS
Sponsors are a key element in reaching your fundraising goal. Sponsors are businesses and individuals that donate money, products, or services to help offset the cost of the fundraiser. In this case, you would be seeking sponsors to donate the prizes or sponsor the purchase of the prizes that you will raffle off.
- As a school, you automatically have a vast network of parents available to you. Utilize these contacts and have them ask their companies to donate a product or service as a raffle prize. If a parent works for an electronics store, have them ask the store to donate products and equipment to give as prizes. If a parent works for a hotel, have them ask the hotel to donate a one or two-night stay.
- If you have a specific prize you would like to obtain as the primary raffle prize, send letters to local businesses, from small merchants to large corporations, requesting sponsorship.
- Follow-up all requests with phone calls.
If you obtain a corporate sponsor for a raffle prize, be sure to acknowledge the donation in your printed promotional pieces (i.e. tickets, flyers, posters, etc.).
DETERMINE THE PRIZES
Contest winners are determined through a random drawing. Prizes are given away to contest winners. These may be a sponsored purchase, a donated item, or half the money collected from a contest (also known as a 50/50 raffle). With the exception of a 50/50 raffle, we do not recommend buying the raffle prizes with the proceeds collected from the ticket sales. This cuts into your fundraising profit and you may not reach your fundraising goal if you do not sell the amount of tickets you hoped to sell. Raffle off donated prizes or sponsored purchases.
Your raffle prizes can be based on a theme with the theme determined by the largest prize you have to offer. A large First Prize draws in sales so you'll want to first seek this primary prize. Large screen televisions or other electronics, trips, tickets to a professional sporting event, and of course money all make great prizes that draw attention to your raffle. Let's say you are able to get a large screen TV or a surround-sound system donated as your primary prize. Other prizes you may then want to have are a stereo, DVD player, or Ipod. If you are raffling off a large item (i.e. car) it's a good idea to consult with an attorney.
Get creative when seeking prize donations. Contact all types of businesses and ask for gift certificates or products. Some large resorts will donate overnight stays to nonprofit fundraisers if you write to them well in advance. Ask parents to donate as well. A chef may donate a night of cooking for a party of 10. A landscaper may donate a day of residential landscaping. A season ticket holder may donate their tickets to a professional game. Be creative!
Here's a great raffle idea: Purchase several lottery tickets and hang them together in the shape of a wreath, car, airplane, football, tree, or anything really! It makes the tickets a little more interesting and gives you a way to display them.
PRINTING RAFFLE TICKETS
Raffle tickets can be printed on your own or by a professional printer. Of course, printing them yourself is less expensive, but unless you have someone in your organization familiar with printing and graphics, you may want to consider using a professional printer. If you do choose to print the tickets yourself, print on a colored heavier weight or card stock paper.
Printing your tickets with an outside printer would likely give your tickets a more professional appearance, thus adding to the legitimacy of your raffle. Printers generally have ticket forms that you can choose from and simply input your information, they can print on just about any color and weight paper, and they can print unique numbers on each ticket. Scroll to the top of this page for links to online raffle ticket printers.
Raffle tickets are printed with two sections. The first section is for the buyer to fill in their contact information (name, address, and phone number). The seller submits this section of the ticket to be included in the raffle drawing. The second section of the ticket lists the details of the raffle - name of the charitable organization, date and place of the drawing, the dollar amount of the donation, and the prize(s) to be awarded. Give this section to the buyer. Some states require that you print directly on the ticket that the buyers need not be present at the drawing to win.
Numbered tickets add to the credibility of the tickets and are a requirement of some states. Both sections should have printed (not handwritten) the same unique number (i.e. Ticket No. 0045). Raffle ticket software can be purchased to make numbering easier.
RAFFLE TICKET SALES
Laws governing the sale of raffle tickets vary state by state. A good place to start is by contacting your local city hall, police department, or state department. Since this is considered a lottery in many states, tickets should be sold to adults only and only adult members of your organization who shall receive no financial remuneration should sell tickets.
That being said, sell, sell, sell! Motivate your sellers by encouraging them to reach the goals you've set.
- Encourage parents to purchase tickets themselves and to sell to their family, friends, and co-workers.
- Set up a sale table where students are picked up and dropped off at school.
- Set up a sale table at school sponsored events (sporting events, dinners, crafts fairs, etc.).
- Ask your local grocery store, bank, or church if you can set up a table to sell tickets one afternoon.
- Ask local businesses to purchase tickets in support of your fundraiser.
- Pair your raffle drawing day with another school related event (i.e. sport event, pancake breakfast, vendor sale) so that a large audience is already present which will generate last minute sales.
- Energize your sellers from the beginning. Encourage them to reach a particular sales goal by a set date. If you plan to sell tickets for 4 weeks, perhaps set a sales goal at 2 weeks prior to the drawing to sell more than half the tickets.
As you distribute tickets for sale, keep a log of which raffle numbers are given to whom to sell. As ticket stubs are received back, you may also want to keep a written log of which ticket numbers were sold to whom. By doing this, you can confirm that there are no duplicate numbers.
Begin selling tickets approximately one month prior to the drawing. You may want to allow for at least two months selling time if high dollar prizes are involved.
THANK YOUR SPONSORS & SELLERS:
Please remember to always send a thank you note to any company that contributed a product or service as a prize. It shows your appreciation and will help maintain a good working relationship with the sponsor. Let them know how much money you were able to raise for your school due to their support.
A letter can also be written to your local newspaper, thanking your sponsors and sellers for a successful fundraiser. This will serve as additional publicity for your corporate sponsors as well as publicity for your fundraiser.
RAFFLE LAWS & REQUIREMENTS
Raffle laws and requirements vary state to state. The state, county or city government may require applications, licenses, or permits to conduct a raffle. A fee usually applies. Each state also has different requirements about what types of organizations are allowed to hold a raffle and how the raffle is to be conducted. Conducting a raffle is currently illegal in some states (Arkansas, Hawaii, Kansas, Utah, and Wyoming) so please check with your city hall, police department, or state department. The following links are intended to get you started in researching your state's laws and regulations on conducting a raffle, but it is by no means comprehensive and PTO Ideas is not responsible for the content once you link to another site.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
>
Scroll to the top of this page for links to online raffle ticket printers.
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PTO Ideas has provided you with ideas for planning an event. This information should not be used as a legal reference and may not be all-inclusive. We suggest consulting with the head of your school or any other essential professional.
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