Steps to Hold a Raffle

• Set a Fundraising Goal
• Determine the Prize
• Select a Drawing Date
• Select Ticket Selling Price
• Organize Volunteers
• Order Raffle Tickets
• Raffle Drawing
• Raffle Thank You

Set a Fundraising Goal

The first step in holding a raffle is to determine how much money your organization needs to raise. This could be determined a number of ways depending on the purpose of the raffle. Some charities set fundraising goals by looking at finances from the previous year to determine operation costs for the next year. Perhaps you are holding an annual summer picnic for your organization and the raffle sales are for covering the cost of this one event.

Other ideas include raising money for a cause such as cancer where the fundraising goal is unlimited. Other charities try to match or increase the donation amount from the previous year. At some events there is a graph for the public to view with a line that moves up every time a donation is made.

Determine the Prizes

Depending on the size of the organization and the fundraising goal the raffle prizes may vary from a restaurant gift card to a new home. When soliciting for prizes it is best to ask people you know and to ask face to face. Have your committee members and volunteers donate prizes from their businesses, employers, family, friends, and other vendors.

Major sponsors may want an incentive to donate and offering to put their logo or sponsor information on the raffle ticket is a great way to entice their donation. Their donation is tax deductable and their logo on the raffle ticket shows they are a business that is involved in the community.

Another fundraising option is to ask your organization's members to bring items to donate at the fundraiser. This is great for smaller events or groups that have social meetings on a regular basis. There are several prizes that can be purchased at a low price which the raffle sales can compensate for.

Select a Drawing Date

The raffle drawing date depends on the goals of your organization. Smaller organizations may hold the raffle and draw the prize the same day as their event. For larger fundraisers it is best to sell raffle tickets at least one month before the drawing date.

Select Ticket Selling Price

Determine how many tickets need to be sold at a certain selling price to meet your raffle goal. Ask acquaintances if they would be willing to pay that price for a raffle ticket with the prizes being offered. Many organizations offer a discount when a person buys a certain amount of tickets. For example, each ticket costs $1.00 and when you buy six tickets it only costs $5.00.

Organize Volunteers

After recruiting volunteers estimate a realistic goal of raffle tickets each volunteer can sell. Make sure that the number of tickets sold will meet your fundraising goal. If the number of tickets sold seems unrealistic you can solicit for better prizes or change the cost of the raffle tickets.

Order Raffle Tickets

Order your raffle tickets through Raffletickets-4u.com to ensure fast delivery of your custom tickets. Your raffle tickets will be perforated and numbered on each end so that your volunteers will have a raffle ticket number that matches a participant's stub. We recommend that you order 20% more raffle tickets you need so you do not run out before the drawing.

Raffle Drawing

The day to draw a winning ticket has arrived and we wanted to give you some extra tips to help your event run smoothly. About 15 minutes before the drawing, announce a last call for raffle ticket purchases. Once those last few people purchase their tickets it is time for the drawing.

When holding a raffle where participants are in attendance select a member of the audience to draw the winning ticket numbers. This person should be appealing to the audience and could be a child, senior citizen or local celebrity. When participants do not have to be present for the drawing be sure to contact the winning ticket holders in a timely manner. Announce the name of the winner to the crowd for each prize that is drawn.

Raffle Thank You

Thank the raffle participants for supporting your organization. Let them know that their donation supports the organization's cause and tell them how the money will be used. Some charities tell the participants how many tickets were sold, how much money was raised and if any more is needed to meet the fundraising goals of the organization.

Your volunteers worked hard to sell tickets and find sponsors to donate prizes, so be sure to thank them. A great incentive to have volunteers for your next raffle is to present a prize to the volunteer who sold the most tickets. Keep the stub information to build your organization's mailing list and to ask participants to purchase tickets when holding your next raffle.