Raffle Tickets – Tips and Best Practices

Are you looking for ways to increase revenue at your events?

Selling raffle tickets can be a great option.

Raffles are a fun and easy way for guests to get into the spirit of the evening. Here are some things to consider in creating a successful raffle.

How do I sell the tickets?

You can sell raffle tickets the traditional way, as paper tickets, or you can invite your guests to purchase electronic tickets with their phones.

Paper Tickets – If your guests need paper tickets to keep:

1. Purchase rolls of double raffle tickets at your local office supply store.
2. Create bid sheets where guests can write their bid number or name and the quantity of tickets they are buying.
3. Tear off the number of tickets the guest purchases and separate the two strips. Give one to the guest and keep the other.

Electronic Tickets – This works if you’re using mobile bidding for your event:

1. Set up your bidding site to sell raffle tickets.
2. Invite your guests to purchase raffle tickets via their phones.
3. Have your Bid Assistants circulate through the room to help anyone who needs it.

Note: Keep in mind that most states regulate or even may prohibit raffle tickets sales. So if you’re planning to use mobile bidding to sell your raffle tickets, be sure to check your state’s laws about raffles.

How do I choose the winner?

Paper Tickets – Select the winner by hand:

1. Throw all the duplicate tickets in a bowl (separate them all first).
2. Have a “celebrity” at your event reach in and grab a random ticket to choose the lucky winner!

Electronic Tickets – Select the winner with a random number:

1. Create a spreadsheet to compile all raffle tickets sold—one ticket per line.
2. Use a random number generator website (such as org) to choose the number of the winning ticket.

How can I promote the raffle tickets?

There are several ways to boost your raffle sales:

• Prior to the event, place a prominent announcement on your website about the raffle and highlight the grand prize.
• Give your guests a deal if they purchase multiple tickets (1 ticket for $10 or 5 tickets for $40).
• Use elaborate signage at the event to attract guests.
• If you are using Greater Giving’s Storefront tool, have your volunteers walk around with their tablets and sell tickets. It’s always helpful to give the volunteers something to help them stand out from the crowd, like a balloon attached to their wrists or a flashing pin.

Share your success story

Have you held a raffle at your fundraising event? What worked and what didn’t? What prizes did you offer? How did you promote the raffle? We’d love to hear your ideas. Share your experiences in the comments below.