When contacting donors have the ticket printing cost information on hand including the name of the printer so that you can tell the donor exactly what they will be paying for.  If you are meeting in person you can bring an order form with you and have the donor write the check right then. Cheap yet professionally printed raffle tickets are available. These provide ample space for a donor’s name to appear on every ticket.

A few questions to ask:

• How much of your proceeds can be used for administrative  expenses?
• Are there any limitations on raffle prizes?
• What information needs to be printed on your raffle ticket?
• Who can sell your raffle tickets?

Plan your first raffle in advance as agencies will require time to process your license.

A licensed attorney that is familiar with non-profit issues in your area can offer the best advice to keep your organization out of trouble.

Some facts and links to the states’ rules on raffles:

California – Offers extensive online information, online registration for charitable organizations that want to hold a raffle. In California 90% of the proceeds must go to the charity which must be registered as a non-profit in the state.

Florida – The state allows non-profit charity raffles with strict rules of conduct. For example there cannot be a required contribution or price but there can be a printed suggested donation on the raffle tickets.

Kentucky – The Department of Charitable Gaming that deal with raffles and other games with extensive online information and training sessions.

Georgia – The county sheriff issues raffle licenses contact the county in which you will conduct your raffle.

Ohio – The state does not require a special license to hold a raffle, but you must be a non-profit organization registered with the IRS

New York – Non-profits in New York State must have a games of chance identification number and make sure that your are conducting the raffle in a municipality that has passed a local games of chance law. You must also get a raffle license from your local town or village clerk.

Texas – In Texas your non-profit must be in existence for at least 3 years and be registered with the IRS. Religious organizations must be in existence for 10 years before they can hold a raffle.

• Have raffle committee members reach out to their contacts, associates and friends.
• Ask your members and volunteers to suggest possible donors that they may know personally. Ask them to make the contact.
• Ask local businesses that have some relation to the raffle event or organization or that sell to the demographic of event attendees.
• Work with related organizations and ask if they can suggest donors for your raffle prizes.
• In addition to a raffle prize ask for support items such as goody bags, stickers, etc.
• Mention that gift certificates are great prizes
• Soliciting via email can save time but you may want to send a letter depending on the donors comfort level with email.
• follow up is critical

Here is a sample letter with the main elements of a raffle prize request. Just replace the underlined text with your information.

Date

Insert Name of Vendor,

I am contacting you on behalf of the name of your organization. We are the local chapter of the include if you are a sub-chapter of a larger organization, with members from all over your regional area coming together to main purpose of your group.

Every year we hold a “Name of your Event” where we have list some of the exciting activities that will take place at this event. This event is our biggest fundraiser every year with proceeds going to support club activities and list specifics of how the funds will be used such as membership in other associations.

This year we are expecting as many as expected number of people. They will enjoy more about your event activities in location/city and state during date or week of month.

We are asking your support this year with a donation to the raffle prize. Prizes in the past have included examples of prizes.

Prize donors will receive recognition of their generosity in our newsletter, website, printed on the raffle ticket itself, in the event program and live at the event. This is an excellent marketing opportunity for your company to be in front of target demographic group (auto enthusiasts, wealthy landowners, etc).

Thank you for your generous support,

Invite all your volunteers, sponsors and donors to your raffle event,  and urge them to RSVP right away. If they are selling raffle tickets ask them to make an announcement on their own facebook pages.
Invite friends who are not on facebook by adding their emails to the invite guest list.
Ask people who can’t come to your raffle event to say they are. Friends who live too far or are not really interested in attending the event, but support the cause, can help spread the word to their network. People who’s network match your target demographic are good to invite and ask them to lend their popularity to the cause.
Ask a small number of people who all share a lot of common friends to RSVP at once. This can create the impression that an event is even more popular.

If you want to sell your raffle tickets directly via your events page just create a donation button in PayPal – I’ll address that in another article soon – and link to that directly from the description of your event. You will need to mail the raffle tickets, but you may make some extra sales.

Your facebook event page will remain online after the event is over so you can update the page with your raffle winners. You can recognize your sponsors, prize donors and the volunteers that sold the most raffle tickets. Your cause’s page and event page can continue to gather fans for your future raffles and other events.