Raffles are a great way to raise money for a cause. They can also be used to connect with donors and build a relationship with them over time. To make a raffle successful, you must choose attractive prizes and promote it well.

Nonprofits can offer a wide variety of prize options, including custom art pieces and reserved parking spaces. They can also use gift cards to attract more participants.

Organizing a raffle

Organizing a raffle can be a fun and compelling way for nonprofits to raise funds. However, before starting to sell tickets, organizations should determine their goals and decide what type of event they will hold. They also need to find a prize that will appeal to participants and attract attention.

To promote the event, they should create a small committee to solicit prizes from local businesses and artisans. They need to explain why it is important for them to donate and stress the publicity the organization will receive. They should also make sure that the prizes are of sufficient value and meet legal requirements.

Other factors to consider include selecting a date and venue for the drawing and setting reasonable ticket prices. The organization should also keep records and follow all legal requirements. They should also avoid sending raffle tickets in the mail, as this violates postal regulations. Instead, they can post them on their website or social media accounts.

Selling tickets

Ticket sales are key to a successful fundraising raffle. Using the right prizes, allowing enough time, setting a reasonable ticket price, and offering bulk discounts can maximize ticket sales. It is also important to promote your raffle online, on social media, and through email. This will help reach new and targeted audiences.

Organize your ticket sellers and create a system to track tickets and donations. For example, use numbered print raffle tickets to keep track of ticket distribution and sale. Some organizers add a friendly competition by rewarding the top seller with a prize. It’s also a good idea to post weekly goals for your ticket sellers.

It’s a good idea to wear heart on your sleeve, and have a plan for handling mistakes. Volunteers might accidentally give away more tickets than they sell, or someone could fold a ticket or spill something on it. It’s a good idea to have a date by which all ticket stubs and cash are due, and to call volunteers who don’t turn them in.

Choosing a prize

Choosing the right raffle prize is essential to getting supporters excited about your event. Larger prizes tend to draw more attention and can generate higher ticket sales, but they are also more expensive.

Smaller prizes that are affordable can also get your audience’s attention. For example, a free shopping spree at a local boutique can be an attractive prize for fashion lovers. Alternatively, you can offer a personal styling session with a professional seamstress.

Other unique raffle prize ideas include a trip to a local winery, brewery, or sporting center. You can also provide a gift basket of green cleaning products or a membership to a discount store. Those interested in cooking can enjoy a culinary or baking class. Local photographers and Instagram influencers often sell editing presets that make great gifts.

Ticket holders pay to drop tokens into a box, and the prize they win depends on where their token lands. This type of game is a fun way to raise funds, and it works well for events with an outdoor element.

Drawing a winner

In some cases, the winner of a raffle must be selected by hand. This can be done in a number of ways. Some of these methods involve a physical drawing in front of a crowd and may require that the winners are verified by a designated person. Others may be used in a closed environment, such as an office. Depending on your state or province’s regulations, you may also need to use a random name picker to select the winner of your raffle.

You’ll see all ticket purchases on the Tickets page, including their sequential ticket numbers, as well as an option to export this data to CSV or spreadsheet format. If you’ve enabled a ticket bundle, ticket numbers will be assigned in order across all ticket rates in your campaign. This means that a ticket number in a bundle may not belong to a raffle ticket. This is okay; just make sure to mix up the tickets before the draw.