Nonprofits use raffle tickets to raise money and spread the word about their missions. Raffles allow them to get to know potential supporters and convert one-time donors into recurring donors. Using a variety of marketing strategies can increase the number of people who buy tickets and make the raffle successful. Many organizations hold a raffle drawing as part of another event, such as an auction or dance, to attract more people and maximize profits.
A small committee is responsible for planning the raffle and selecting prize items. The committee members can be volunteers, staff or board members. The group should decide what the maximum ticket price will be and whether to include a donation option. Some organizations choose to include both, giving participants the choice of how much they want to contribute. The committee should also establish a date and time for the raffle drawing, which should be printed on the tickets.
The committee should ask the group's most reliable and committed workers to distribute tickets and sell them to friends, family, coworkers and acquaintances. It is important to have a large number of people selling tickets because the more people who take and sell them, the more likely it is that your organization will reach its financial goal. To ensure success, the committee should call the volunteers every week to check on ticket sales and remind them of the deadline for returning stubs and cash. The committee should praise those who are doing well and encourage those who are struggling.
If your nonprofit organization is affiliated with a local business, you can partner with them to promote the raffle and sell tickets. Some examples of partnerships are giving away gift cards to a restaurant or providing front-row seats at a concert in exchange for advertising the raffle. Local artists may be interested in donating their work as a raffle prize.
Prizes are a key element in the success of a raffle. Families often appreciate memberships to museums or other family-friendly activities, while individuals are drawn to dinner certificates at restaurants and other high-end prizes. A vacation home, a sports car or an autographed piece of memorabilia are other popular prizes for raffles.
The committee should advertise the raffle through flyers and posters at local businesses that are willing to donate prizes, as well as at other community events, such as carnivals and festivals. Local newspapers and lifestyle magazines may also print articles about the raffle, which will help spread the word. In addition, the committee should set up booths at shopping centers and in local businesses to sell tickets. At each venue, the raffle items should be displayed with a jar next to them where participants can place their tickets. At the end of the event or the specified end date for the raffle, a ticket is drawn out of each jar and the winner is contacted. If there is no winner, the winning ticket is re-drawn and the process is repeated until the winner is found.
