Hold your own Raffle and raise money the old fashioned way.

Raffles

A raffle is one of the easiest fundraisers to

initiate. It also requires less volunteer

hours to plan and conduct than any other

event or fundraiser.

Deciding To Hold A Raffle

Some see a Raffle as a form of "games of chance" so this fundraiser may not be right for your organization. Others may decide to hold a Raffle in conjunction with another event much like a mini-version of a silent auction; the difference being, that you offer only one or two large items to be won.

A Raffle could be a part of offering a Door Prize to the participants that have paid to attend one of your events. This could be accomplished since the attendee has a ticket purchased to enter the event. This ticket could have it's own individual number printed on it to identify the ticket holder.

Items To Offer

Here is where you can be very creative and utilize the talents and resources from your group membership.

Your perfect item or items to raffle should be from what you do best. Are you in a quilting club? Offer a giant quilt made by all members or raffle off several well made quilts.

Does your nonprofit offer services for children? Then offer a handmade Doll House or Play Set to be auctioned off.

Free Tip: You will probably attract attention to certain segments of the population that might want to become a member or volunteer if they like what they see. For instance, the doll house that you made will probably attract those that have a love for kids.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital successfully conducts raffles for their Dream Home® Giveaway and raises some serious funds with their well planned raffles.

Your raffle selection of items is endless. Consider the following: quilts, cash, vacations, collectibles, coins, limited edition guns, bikes or motorcycles, cars, shopping sprees, or anything of unique and extraordinary value.

Don't ever offer anything ordinary, cheap, or that can be readily picked up elsewhere or your raffle will be a flop. It is suggested that you and other members have a brain-storming session to select the best item that you will offer.

Ticket Sale Raffle

For this typical raffle, you must send your members out and have each sell a certain amount of tickets to achieve results. You are using your "sales team" to make the sales as opposed to acquiring a ready stream of donors at an event with a huge crowd.

Raffle At An Event

Football games are a great way to collect

50 cents or $1 for a chance to receive one

of several homemade cakes. Display your

delicious cakes right after people buy their

game tickets and enter the gate. Other

items will work as well, but keep it food

related since people may be hungry and

be more inclined to purchase food items.

For college and pro football games you may want to consider offering larger items like vacations, cars, or an exotic item like a date with a movie star.

A fair is also a great spot to place a booth and auction off a great item as the hundreds and thousands pass by. Remember, most folks at a fair have come with money to spend.

Door Prize Raffle

A Banquet can offer an additional way to earn money after your attendees enter in and pass by your set up raffle table. Offer a few free door prizes like table arrangements (or flowers) that will be given away for free using the number they already have on their entry ticket. This will attract attention to your raffle table.

TPG Rewards has a way to offer low costing items too. However, for the really big item, you charge only $2, or $5, or $10 per chance at winning the best prize.

Also, think about speaking conferences, seminars, and performing arts concerts as other events to hold raffles.

Get Online Assistance

There are several companies that can help your organization maximize your efforts and potential profits. They are relatively inexpensive, but be sure that they fit within your guidelines and they do not take too much of your monies raised.

In the United States, because of the many gaming and lottery laws, you are not likely to find a single source for raffle prizes so you will have to organize a committee to secure your prizes locally.

You can post your raffle results on your own website and direct your winners to the site to see if they won. This will keep you from having to contact winners. Announce your plans prior to your ticket sale that you will post the winners on the website.

Printing your tickets may require some special printing arrangements by you. You may try your local printer or check out these great online resources for printing tickets. TicketPrinting.com is one of the top online printers or PrintBox.com has a Raffle Ticket Software that is ideal for most groups or check out KwikTickets.com where there are many ticket types to choose from and order.,

Don't Overlook More Benefits

Don't overlook another valuable outcome from holding a raffle. Names...Names...Names. Names are just as valuable as the money you raise. Make sure that the form or ticket that they fill out includes a "check box" that allows them to sign up for your free newsletter.

Your free newsletter will educate these potential donors on the many great ways that you are making a difference. Later on in each newsletter of course you have a pledge card and/or return envelope for your supporter's convenience.

Even if they don't check the box to receive your newsletter, you may still send them a receipt and include a post card for them to have one last time to sign up for it.

Accounting

You must determine the legality of your raffle and that you are not violating any local or state ordinances that deal with raffles. Find out if your group meets state raffle or gaming requirements at the U. S. State Charity Officials website or the National Association of Attorneys General website. States will have their own raffle and lottery rules like Texas lottery rules, Louisiana Office Of Charitable Gaming and California Raffle Laws are just a few online information sites that you should check out. Review a few more state Charitable Gaming regulations here. Check with your state Revenue Office for raffle or charity gaming rules in your particular state.

See the IRS site on allowable Tax-Exempt donations. Of course the winner of the Raffle will not receive any tax deductions since a benefit to the contributor would have occured. The IRS in the United States requires that the Fair Market Value of an item be deducted from the contribution. Non-winners are not allowed to deduct a donation from their taxes either since they had a 'chance' to receive a direct benefit *.

Try The Online Alternative To Raffles

With more than 3,000 customers, online auctions powered by cMarket have generated huge funding successes without the need for raffles. It has allowed organizations, both large and small, to identify new sources of income and, at the same time, build mission awareness and heightened caring for their cause. cMarket works with national non-profit organizations such as United Way, JCC, Junior Achievement, Catholic Charities, The PTA and The American Red Cross among others. See if it's right for your group. See our Auction Resources which may be a more easier way for you to profit than raffles.

To Raffle Or Not To Raffle, That Is The Question

Charitable gaming and raffles have been around a long time, but regulation are getting more strict with each passing year. After all, raffles, bingo and charitable gaming events are forms of gambling and states are looking for more revenues and are especially more strict toward rules aimed at charities.

While these events bring in good revenues with a well organized program, it might be better for your organization to choose a nonregulated way of raising funds for your group and therefore avoid any legal ramifications. Try a good social media program like GiveZooks! to raise funds as an alternative.

Finally, make sure you have your legal documents posted or available for review at your raffle event should anyone ask to see it.

Note: We do not offer raffle consulting services or legal expertise with regards to raffles so it will be a waste of your time to contact us for advice on conducting a raffle.

* Costs of raffles, bingo, lottery, etc. You · The cost of meals you eat while you per- property has increased in value, you may have form services for a qualified organization, to make some adjustments to the amount of cannot deduct as a charitable contribution unless it is necessary for you to be away your deduction. See Giving Property That Has amounts you pay to buy raffle or lottery from home overnight while performing the Increased in Value, later. tickets or to play bingo or other games of services. For information about the records you must chance. For information on how to report gambling winnings and losses, see De- · Adoption expenses, including fees paid to keep and the information you must furnish with ductions Not Subject to the 2% Limit in an adoption agency and the costs of keep- your return if you donate property, see Records Publication 529 Page 7.