How to Organise a Charity Raffle and Raise More Money

A charity raffle can be an excellent way to raise additional money for your chosen cause while giving supporters the chance to win some fantastic prizes. Whether you're preparing for a marathon, taking on your first half marathon or completing another fundraising challenge, a raffle gives friends, family, colleagues and local businesses another opportunity to support your efforts.

You don't need to organise a large event or spend a fortune on prizes to make it worthwhile. A raffle can be a standalone fundraising activity or part of something you're already planning, such as a quiz night, race night, or running club social. With donated prizes, a little preparation and some enthusiastic supporters, it could become one of your most successful fundraising activities.

Why Organise a Charity Raffle?

A raffle gives people another way to contribute towards your fundraising without needing to make a large donation. For a relatively small amount of money, supporters get the chance to win something worthwhile while helping a cause they care about.

It can also introduce your fundraising campaign to people who might not otherwise hear about it. Local businesses can contribute prizes, friends can help spread the word and people attending another fundraising event can get involved. For runners who have already been asking friends and family for sponsorship, a raffle offers a different approach to raising money.

Check the Rules Before Organising Your Raffle

Before you start selling tickets, it's important to understand the rules that apply where you're organising your raffle. Charity raffles are regulated differently around the world, and requirements can vary between countries, states, provinces and local authorities.

In some places, small raffles held during fundraising events may be permitted without formal registration, provided certain conditions are met. Elsewhere, organisers may need permission, registration or a licence, even when all the proceeds are intended for charity.

There may also be restrictions covering ticket prices, age limits, prizes, online sales, advertising and how winners are selected. Selling tickets in advance or through social media can be subject to different requirements from selling them at an event, so don't assume that every method of selling tickets is permitted.

Check with your local gambling or lottery regulator before making arrangements, particularly if you're planning to sell tickets online or reach supporters in different locations. Your chosen charity may also have fundraising policies or guidance that can help you organise a raffle that meets the relevant requirements.

Find Prizes People Would Love to Win

The prizes you offer can make a big difference to the success of your raffle. You don't necessarily need expensive rewards, but it's worth finding a selection that people will be excited about winning.

Local businesses are often a good starting point. Restaurants and cafés might donate meal vouchers or afternoon tea experiences, while salons and spas could offer treatments. Independent shops may be willing to contribute gift cards, and hotels, theatres or local attractions might provide experiences or tickets.

If you're raising money through a running challenge, consider approaching running shops, sports clubs and fitness businesses. Running shoes, sports massages, gym memberships and personal training sessions could all make great prizes. Food hampers and other donated gifts can help provide a varied selection.

How to Ask Businesses to Donate Prizes

Don't be afraid to approach businesses and ask for their support. Many receive fundraising requests throughout the year, but a friendly, personal explanation of your challenge and chosen charity can help your request stand out.

Introduce yourself, explain what you're fundraising for and describe how the raffle will work. Be clear about what you're asking for, whether that's a gift voucher, a product or an experience, and let the business know when the raffle will take place.

You can also offer to recognise their contribution by mentioning them on social media, displaying their name at the event or thanking them when the prizes are drawn. Businesses that support local fundraising often appreciate being acknowledged, particularly when their contribution reaches potential new customers.

Start approaching businesses well before your planned event. This gives them time to consider your request and allows you to promote the prizes you've secured.

Keep Your Fundraising Costs Low

One of the advantages of a raffle is that it doesn't have to cost much to organise. If businesses and individuals donate the prizes, you can keep expenses to a minimum and direct more of the money raised towards your charity.

Avoid buying expensive prizes unless you're confident the additional ticket sales will justify the cost. Simple promotional materials, free social media posts and help from volunteers can also reduce your expenses.

Keep a record of the money collected, any costs involved and the amount passed to your charity. Being transparent about the results helps supporters understand how their contributions have made a difference.

How to Sell More Raffle Tickets

Once you've secured your prizes, the next challenge is encouraging people to take part. Good promotion, clear information and a straightforward way to purchase tickets can all help increase your fundraising total.

Promote Your Raffle Before the Event

Start building interest as soon as you've confirmed the prizes and the arrangements for your raffle. Share photographs of the rewards, introduce the businesses that donated them and explain how the money raised will support your chosen charity.

Social media, workplace communications, running clubs and community groups can help spread the word. Even where ticket sales are restricted to the event itself, you can let people know what prizes will be available and how they can participate.

If advance ticket sales are permitted under the rules that apply to your raffle, explain clearly how supporters can purchase them. Make sure any online payment or ticketing arrangements also comply with the relevant requirements.

Make Ticket Sales Easy on the Day

If you're holding your raffle at an event, choose a visible location where people can find out about the prizes and purchase tickets. A table near the entrance or another busy area can work well, particularly if volunteers are available to help.

Display the prizes wherever practical and make ticket prices easy to understand. Where permitted, you could consider offering ticket bundles to encourage supporters to purchase more than one entry.

A few announcements during the event can also remind people about the raffle and when the draw will take place. Keep the atmosphere friendly and enjoyable rather than making attendees feel pressured to participate.

Get Local Shops and Businesses Involved

If you own a shop, café, restaurant, salon or another customer-facing business, you may already have an opportunity to introduce your fundraising to a wider audience. The same applies if a friend, family member or colleague runs a local business and is willing to help.

Displaying a poster or sharing details of the raffle through the business's social media channels can help generate interest. A QR code linking to your fundraising page also gives customers an easy way to learn about your challenge and make a separate donation.

Before asking a business to sell tickets or collect raffle payments, check whether this is permitted under the rules in your area. Promoting a raffle and selling tickets are not necessarily treated in the same way.

Promote the Charity, Not Just the Prizes

While the chance to win something is an important part of a raffle, don't forget to explain why you're raising money. People are often more willing to support a fundraising activity when they understand the cause and the person behind it.

Share your story, explain why you've chosen the charity and tell supporters about the challenge you're taking on. If the charity has provided examples of how donations support its work, these can help demonstrate the difference the money could make.

You can also encourage people to visit your fundraising page if they'd like to contribute without entering the raffle. This gives supporters another option and helps keep your wider fundraising campaign at the centre of the activity.

Restaurant vouchers are great prizes for raffles

Combine Your Raffle With Another Fundraising Event

A raffle doesn't need to be a standalone event. Combining it with another fundraising activity can be an effective way to raise extra money without having to organise a completely separate occasion.

Quiz nights are particularly well suited to raffles. Guests are already gathered together, the prizes can be displayed throughout the evening and the draw can provide an entertaining finish to the event.

Other possibilities include running club socials, community coffee mornings, workplace fundraising days, charity dinners and sports club presentations. Rather than creating another event from scratch, you can make the most of an audience that's already coming together.

Make the Raffle Draw Fun

The draw itself should be something people look forward to, rather than an afterthought. Give it a place in your event schedule, display the prizes and create a little anticipation before announcing the winners.

You could invite a sponsor, event organiser or another supporter to draw the winning tickets. Thank each business or individual who donated a prize and make sure the winners are announced clearly.

It's also important to have a fair and transparent process for selecting winners and distributing prizes. Explain when the draw will take place, how winners will be contacted and how prizes can be collected if someone isn't present.

Thank Your Supporters and Share the Results

Once the raffle is finished, take the time to thank everyone who helped make it happen. That includes the people who bought tickets, volunteers who helped with the event and businesses or individuals who donated prizes.

Share the amount raised through your fundraising page or social media accounts, and explain how it has contributed towards your overall target. Supporters enjoy seeing the results of their involvement, particularly when they've helped you reach an important milestone.

A personal thank you to prize donors is also important. Building good relationships with local businesses and supporters could be valuable if you organise another fundraising activity in the future.

Final Thoughts

A charity raffle can be a great way to increase your fundraising total while giving supporters an enjoyable opportunity to get involved. With donated prizes, thoughtful promotion and a clear connection to your chosen cause, it can generate valuable additional income without requiring a large budget.

Whether you organise a raffle on its own or combine it with a quiz night, running club gathering or other event, the important thing is to plan carefully, follow the rules in your location and make the experience enjoyable for everyone involved. Every ticket sold can bring you another step closer to your fundraising target and help your chosen charity continue its work.

Have A Listen

Check out this podcast from Riley James who organised a fantastic raffle and raised thousands for his charity.