How To Make a Raffle

Holding a raffle is an easy way to make some money for your favorite charity, non-profit organization or community or school sports team. Raffles are less time-intensive to organize than other types of fundraisers and less expensive to run. Raffles can help boost your overall profits if held as part of a larger fundraising event. The quality of the prize being awarded will play a large part in the success of your raffle, in addition to the dedication of your sales force.

Things You'll Need

• Prizes Raffle tickets

Instructions

1. Find out if raffles may be legally held in your state. The website on raffles laws listed in Resources provides a listing of states and their laws regarding raffles.

2. Decide on a prize or prizes for the raffle. Prizes should be enticing enough to make people want to buy tickets. A large-screen TV, video gaming systems or a vacation are types of prizes that are particularly popular.

3. Try to get prizes donated once you have narrowed your list to several prizes. Ask members of your planning committee to contact local businesses and ask for either an outright donation of a raffle prize (in return for free advertising) or a contribution that will allow you to purchase prizes.

4. Choose a time frame for raffle sales. If you are already holding another event, you may want to sell raffle tickets at that event to maximize sales.

5. Select a prize for the raffle tickets. The more expensive the prizes, the more expensive the cost of the tickets should be. You may want to offer special pricing, such as one ticket for $5 or three tickets for $10 to convince people to buy more tickets.

6. Obtain the raffle tickets. You will need to purchase two-part, numbered tickets. The winner will need to show her half of the winning ticket in order to claim the prize. If the prize will not be drawn at an event where the winner must be present, purchase tickets that allow buyers to write their names, addresses and telephone numbers on the half of the ticket that you keep. The second website listed in Resources allows you to print tickets using your own computer and printer for free.

7. Hold a meeting with your entire group to explain the raffle and distribute raffle tickets to each seller. Consider offering a small prize to the person who sells the most raffle tickets.

8. Assign several people to supervise groups of raffle salespeople. Ask the supervisors to check in with the salespeople weekly to determine the success of overall raffle sales.

9. Set a deadline for raffle salespeople to turn in the money they have collected, along with their tickets. Appoint someone to count money collected and verify the ticket sales.

10. Draw the winners' names and notify them that they have won the raffle. If possible, take a photograph of the winners claiming their prizes and submit the photograph to local newspapers.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask local businesses if you can sell raffle tickets outside their establishments. Consider selling tickets during local sporting events or other community events where you'll find a crowd.

References

• Step by Step Fundraising
• Profit Quests Fundraising

Resources

• Raffle laws
• Raffle Printer