How to Run an Online Raffle in 10 Steps

Online raffles make it easier than ever to reach a larger audience, sell tickets 24/7, and choose a winner with the click of a button. Whether you're fundraising for your school, nonprofit, or sports team, an online raffle can simplify the process while helping you increase participation and revenue. This guide walks you through 10 steps for running a successful online raffle.

1. Check Your State & Local Raffle Laws

Before launching an online raffle, make sure it complies with the laws and regulations in the location where you plan to operate. Raffles are usually considered a form of gambling or gaming, which means they may be regulated by state or local laws. Some jurisdictions allow raffles only for certain nonprofit or charitable organizations, while others may require registration, permits, reporting, or compliance with specific rules governing how the raffle is conducted. Find out online raffle rules by state here.

2. Set a Fundraising Goal

A clear goal makes it easier to decide how many tickets to sell, how much to charge, and what prize to offer. Things to consider, include:

• Fundraising target

• Prize costs

• Platform or processing fees

• Marketing expenses

• Number of potential supporters

• Expected number of tickets sold

3. Choose an Exciting Prize

An appealing prize can play a big role in attracting participants to your raffle, and the best prizes are ones that appeal to your audience. Examples of popular raffle prizes:

• Once-in-a-lifetime vacation packages

• Gift cards

• Sports or concert tickets

• Restaurant experiences with a private chef

• Spa or wellness packages

• Donated products or local services

Consider asking local businesses to donate prizes. Sponsorships and donated items can help reduce your fundraising costs and give businesses an opportunity to support your organization and increase their visibility.

4. Determine Your Ticket Price

Offering multiple-ticket packages can encourage supporters to purchase additional entries. Examples of tiered packages could be:

• 1 ticket: $20

• 5 tickets: $85

• 15 tickets: $250

• 40 tickets: $750

5. Choose an Online Raffle Platform

An online raffle platform can simplify the logistics like managing ticket sales, participants, payments, and winners. When comparing platforms, here are features to look for.

• Online ticket sales

• Mobile-friendly checkout

• Secure payment processing

• Automated ticket delivery

• Real-time sales tracking

• Automated winner selection

• Email or text communication

• Fundraising and reporting tools

• Custom branding (if this is something you’d like)

6. Create Your Raffle Rules

Before selling tickets, establish clear rules for your raffle. Participants need to understand how the raffle works, what to expect, and the terms and conditions. Important details you should include in your raffle rules are:

• Geographic or age restrictions

• Required legal disclosures

• Ticket price

• Start and end dates

• Prize details

• How the winner will be selected

• When and how the winner will be notified

• How the prize will be delivered or claimed

• What happens if the winner cannot be reached

7. Create an Online Raffle Page

Your raffle page is where supporters will learn about your fundraiser and purchase tickets, so make it both informative and engaging. Use high-quality photos of the prizes, highlight past stories, and explain how every ticket purchase helps support your cause. 

8. Promote the Raffle

Start promoting your raffle before ticket sales open to build anticipation, and continue sharing it regularly throughout the campaign to keep it top of mind for people. Reach supporters through multiple platforms, including:

• Email newsletters

• Social media

• Flyers

• Raffle page

• Text messages

• Community groups

• Local business partners

• In-person events

9. Track Ticket Sales & Engage Supporters

Monitor ticket sales throughout the campaign and look for opportunities to increase participation. If sales are slower than expected, you might need to change your strategy. Ideas for increasing participation are:

• Offer limited-time discounts on tickets (e.g., for the next 24 hours offer discounts on ticket packages)

• Have a ticket giveaway (e.g., anyone who purchases the 40-ticket package is automatically entered to win an additional 40 tickets)

• Partner with local influencers to host a social media contest.

• Use countdown timers to create urgency

• Pitch to local media to expand your reach

• Send out a press release highlighting the impact of your cause

10. Select & Announce the Winner

Use a fair and transparent method for selecting the winner that complies with your raffle rules and applicable laws. If your online raffle platform offers an automated drawing feature, this can help simplify the process and create a clear record of how the winner was selected. After selecting the winner:

• Verify the winning ticket

• Contact the winner

• Announce the winner (if you organization has permission to do so)

• Award the prize and document that it was successfully delivered or claimed

• Thank everyone who participated and recognize their support

• Share the fundraising results

• Complete any required reporting or recordkeeping associated with the raffle

• Save important raffle records, including ticket sales, winner information, and prize documentation

Contact BlueTree Marketing to Make Your Next Online Raffle a Huge Success

Let BlueTree Marketing help you attract more participants, increase ticket sales, and reach your fundraising goals with our Passport to Paradise Raffle. Contact us to learn more and what vacation packages your audience would be most attracted to. The best part is there is zero-risk to your organization! You only pay if the trip sells.

FAQs

• Why does social proof make people more likely to donate?

  Humans naturally look to the behavior of others when making decisions. Seeing friends, peers, or even strangers donate validates the choice and reduces hesitation. It creates trust and a sense of community.

• How many tickets should I sell?

  The number of tickets depends on your fundraising goal and prize value. Limited ticket quantities create urgency and increase the chance of winning, which often drives higher sales. However you can sell as many tickets as you want.

• How can fundraisers encourage more giving?

  Focus on creating emotional engagement through storytelling, social experiences, and clear ways attendees can see the impact of donations. Making donors feel part of the mission is more effective than highlighting financial incentives.

• Is it legal to do an online raffle?

  Online raffles are legal in many U.S. states, but they are heavily regulated and the rules vary by state. 

• How long should an online raffle last?

  The ideal raffle length depends on your audience, fundraising goal, prize, and promotional strategy. A good rule of thumb is to run a raffle anywhere between two to four weeks.

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