Tips on How to Do Raffles

You can use admission tickets for raffle entries.

Raffles are an effective and simple way to raise money for your group, charity or organization. However, state laws sometimes restrict what groups may conduct raffles and how the proceeds must be distributed. Planning and researching can ensure your raffle's success, and careful accounting is almost always necessary. Whether you want to raffle off your quilting club's fall effort or raise money for a mission trip, there are several basic tips to follow to make your raffle a success.

Instructions

1. Contact your state's attorney general or gaming commission for information on state laws regarding raffles or games of chance. Some states require licenses to conduct raffles and some states do not. If required, obtain a license and fulfill all other state requirements.

2. Determine what object you will raffle off. Ask local businesses to donate gift certificates or merchandise, or purchase a popular tablet computer or entertainment equipment to raffle. Consider a 50-50 raffle, where the winner receives half of the proceeds. Rare items or items in demand among your target audience will help make your raffle successful.

3. Set a date and time for the raffle. Some raffles are held in conjunction with other fund raising events, and are limited to attendees at the event. Some raffles sell tickets for a week or more in advance and hold a drawing on a set date. Check state law to see if you can require that winners must be present to win.

4. Publicize the raffle. Advertise in your school newspaper. Set up fliers and posters. Send emails and social media announcements to your local community.

5. Track ticket sales carefully. If more than one person is selling tickets, make sure they each keep a log of how many tickets they sell.

6. Use specialized raffle ticket wheels, if available. Some office supply and other stores sell rolls of tickets that have one ticket with a number that the raffle ticket purchaser keeps and one ticket that is entered into the raffle. This is convenient for a raffle held at an event where you can just draw and read the number. Otherwise, have ticket purchasers write their contact information on a regular ticket.

7. Have a neutral party conduct the drawing. The person drawing the tickets should not be a raffle entrant or close friend or family member of any raffle entrants, if possible.

8. Keep a full accounting log of the number of tickets sold, amount spent on advertising and prizes, as well as distribution of the proceeds. This may be required for tax or other purposes.

References

• Bucks County Community College: Fundraising Ideas and Tips
• Western Oregon University: Conducting Fundraising Raffles
• University of Maine System: Guidelines for the Operation of a Raffle
• Mount Holyoke University: Massachusetts Raffle Regulations