Looking for a fun, engaging way to stir up support for an upcoming fundraiser? A raffle is a great option. Combining the exhilaration of winning with the selfless spirit of giving is a surefire way to maximize engagement, reach your fundraising goals, and spark a community-wide desire to give back. Read on to discover how to do a raffle from planning to execution.
What Is a Raffle, Exactly?
In short, a raffle is a lottery-style fundraiser. Participants purchase numbered tickets, which are then randomly drawn to determine the winner of a given prize.
If you’ve never hosted or participated in a raffle before, this brief description may raise a host of questions. How does one organize a raffle? What prize(s) should you offer? How can you get the word out? If you find yourself overwhelmed with such questions, don’t fret! Taking things step by step is a great way to ensure success.
How to Host a Raffle: The BasicsÂ
Hosting a raffle may seem intimidating, but we’ve got your back. Let’s dive a bit deeper into the logistics of hosting a raffle so that you can get yours up and running.
Establishing Your GoalsÂ
The first step to hosting a raffle is to establish your purpose and set attainable goals.
What cause is your raffle fundraising for? What is your monetary goal? How much community engagement would you need to reach that goal?
These questions should serve as your starting points and inform your decisions as you move forward in the planning process.
Assigning Roles to Your Team
After you’ve determined your baseline, you can start making important logistical decisions.
One of the most important elements of hosting an event is delegating. Do you have a staff member with an eye for promotional materials? Is a colleague of yours well-suited for day-of coordination?
Leveraging your team members’ talents is a great way to maximize efficiency while putting the “fun” back into “fundraising.”
Gathering Raffle Prizes
If you’re raising money for a cause, odds are that you’d prefer not to spend too much on a raffle prize. As such, the first step to curating your raffle prizes should be to leverage your local partnerships.
Many businesses, especially nonprofits, raffle off donated gifts. Consider community organizations that most clearly align with your cause.
If you’re going to purchase your raffle prize, it should be informed by your raffle’s goals and your target audience. For instance, if you’re raising money for a dog rescue, choose something that your target audience might enjoy, such as luxury treats or local pet-service gift certificates. Considering these factors can help to engage well-aligned donors.
Deciding on Tickets
How much should each ticket cost? When determining your raffle tickets, you should consider the following three things:
- Your Target Fundraising Goal: Consider how many ticket sales you’d need to secure in order to achieve your goal.
- The Value of Your Prize(s): Think about how much the average person would be willing to pay for a chance to win your prize(s).
- Your Audience’s Spending Capacity: Choose prizes that align with your audience’s wants, while also ensuring your raffle does not alienate potential donors.
Another easy way to reach your fundraising goals is to offer tiered bundles to maximize revenue. For instance, a single ticket may cost $5, but donors can purchase 5 tickets for $20. Tiered bundles can help you reach your goals faster.
Ironing Out the Details
Now that you’ve considered the basics, you can solidify the details. Your selected cause, fundraising goals, and local community should influence your date, time, and location. Consider days, times, and locales with heavy foot traffic.
Another important factor to consider is the legality of your raffle. The laws and regulations surrounding raffles vary from state to state. Some states require raffle organizers to acquire permits and/or licenses. Check out your state’s specific regulations to ensure that your raffle is up to code.
How to Host a Raffle Without Tickets: Collect Shoes from Guests
Imagine a raffle where your community members’ charitable donations result in two positive outcomes. Think about it: if you host a shoe drive fundraiser and a raffle simultaneously, you can count shoes donated to your cause as raffle entries, thereby doubling the event’s positive impact.
Funds2Orgs pays your organization for shoes collected, and with no out-of-pocket cost to you. This means that you (and your charitable cause) get paid to keep shoes out of landfills.
Even better, Funds2Orgs makes the process easy by providing pre-made marketing materials, social media visuals, and collection boxes. A combined shoe drive fundraiser and raffle is a great way to bring your community together around your fundraising efforts while contributing to the world at large.
A Shoe Drive Fundraiser Takes Any Raffle to the Next LevelÂ
Now that you’re well-equipped with the tools that you’ll need to organize your own raffle, you should consider methods for making your raffle stand out. Organizing a simultaneous shoe drive fundraiser and raffle can boost your raffle’s success, helping you meet your fundraising goals while giving back.
Interested in learning more about hosting a shoe drive fundraiser alongside your raffle? Contact a member of our team to get started!Â
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