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Running a successful raffle fundraiser is an excellent way to rally your school community while raising essential dollars for activities, programs, and resources. But where do you start to make sure all of your efforts will get results?
Fundraisers who have run raffles will tell you a well-thought-out plan, creativity, and getting community support are the keys to a successful raffle. From prize selection to social media promotion and outreach, each part of the planning process is important to get right.
Every type of school fundraiser is built to raise money, but they’re also doing something else very important – bringing your community together to work toward a common goal. That unity and shared purpose is great for boosting school spirit and keeping parents and families, teachers and staff, and the whole community engaged in your mission.
Like all of your fundraising efforts, your raffle fundraiser should be part of a larger strategic fundraising strategy that makes sure you’re not relying on all of your fundraising dollars to come from one single fundraiser.
Much like sweepstakes, there are legal considerations you’ll need to take into account if you want to run a raffle fundraiser. You’ll need to make sure a raffle is in compliance with your local laws and regulations.
Make sure you research the rules around running a raffle in your state, locality, and school. Know if you are required to obtain any permits or licenses, adhere to age restrictions, or follow specific regulations around prize distribution and ticket sales. If you need to, consult with legal experts to clarify any questions you have and ensure compliance.
As you get started planning your raffle fundraiser, an important first step is to outline your goals and objectives. Having a clear end game will help guide any decisions you are making as you put together the details of your raffle.
If you’re raising money for a specific project or activity, factor that cost and any other raffle-related costs into your goal. That number will help you know how to price your raffle tickets.
Put together your timeline with deadlines for each phase of your raffle fundraiser, from prize solicitation and ticket sales to marketing efforts and drawing day. This will help make your fundraiser run smoother by reducing stress and preventing last-minute emergencies.
Write up clear and concise terms and conditions for your raffle that make clear the rules for participation, prize collection, and any disclaimers you need to include.
Recruit parents, caregivers, teachers, staff, students, and community leaders to be part of your raffle team and assign roles and tasks to make sure you have all the support you need for your fundraiser to go off without a hitch.
The most successful raffles have a wide assortment of prizes that appeal to lots of different people and interests. Having a good mix of high-value items like vacation packages, unique experiences, and event tickets along with lower-value prizes like themed baskets, spirit wear, and gift cards to local businesses will generate tons of excitement across your community.
Sourcing raffle prizes also gives you a great opportunity to collaborate with local businesses. Ask them to support your fundraiser with donations, sponsorship, or helping to promote it to the community.
It goes without saying that the more tickets you sell for your raffle, the more money you raise for your mission, so promoting your raffle to the widest audience possible is key to your success. You’ll want to use every channel you have available including:
Depending on how long your ticket sales are open for, you can create a sense of urgency and excitement through limited-time offers, early bird specials, or other promotions to incentivize a purchase.
If you’re having a live raffle drawing event to award winners with their prizes, set up a virtual event as well so you can involve as many people in your community as possible. A welcoming and festive atmosphere that incorporates different types of entertainment is the perfect way to keep people engaged and excited.
Whether your drawing takes place in-person or virtually, you’ll want to clearly explain the drawing process to ensure transparency and trust, and you’ll want to already have a plan in place for how and when the prizes get distributed.
Once your raffle fundraiser is over, make sure you compile all of your plans, notes, learnings, and ideas for next time so you can pass them on to whoever may run the next raffle fundraiser. They’ll definitely thank you for it!
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