Scratch Card Fundraiser vs. Online Raffles: What’s Better?
One of the main advantages of running an online raffle is how quick and easy it is to set up—especially when using a platform like Raffle Rocket. While scratch card fundraisers are fun, they do involve a bit of extra planning and costs on your end.
Read along as we compare these two types of fundraisers to help you decide which is the best fit for your next event.
Key Takeaways
- Scratch card fundraisers work well for small, in-person events but are limited by physical distribution.
- Online raffles offer greater reach, allowing you to sell tickets beyond your immediate community.
- While both options have relatively low startup costs, scratch card fundraisers require upfront card purchases and manual tracking.
- Online raffle platforms reduce volunteer workload and automatically track ticket sales, payments, and winners.
Scratch Card Fundraisers vs. Online Raffles
Both raffles and scratch card fundraisers are popular fundraising tools for charities, non-profits, and religious organizations. We’ll break down the details of each, along with their advantages and challenges, below.
How Do Scratch Card Fundraisers Work?
In a scratch card fundraiser, participants scratch off dots on a card to reveal different donation amounts, then donate the amount they reveal. The amounts can vary, but should be kept relatively low, under $100 in most cases. Some printing companies that sell these cards will also send you coupon packs, which you can give to participants as a thank-you for their donation.
Advantages of a Scratch Card Fundraiser
A scratch card fundraiser is easy to understand. Their simplicity is a huge appeal, and they get immediate satisfaction. Here are a few key reasons why people love this type of fundraising:
- Immediate results: When someone buys a scratch card, they can immediately scratch it to find out how much they’ll be donating. Some scratch card fundraisers include prizes under certain dots, which can be a bonus.
- Good for certain audiences: Most scratch card fundraisers involve selling physical cards, so participants don’t need to have access to a computer or cellphone.
- Easy for in-person events: If your scratch card fundraiser is part of a larger event, it can be a great way to supplement other money you raise.
Challenges of a Scratch Card Fundraiser
While scratch card fundraisers are fun and straightforward, they do have some limitations.
- Limited reach: Because scratch cards are physical, they must be distributed in person. That naturally limits participation compared to online fundraising options that can reach supporters beyond your immediate community.
- Upfront costs: Organizations usually need to purchase pre-printed cards from a supplier. Depending on customization, there may also be design, shipping, or bulk order requirements.
- Manual tracking: You’ll need a way to keep track of who is donating, which can be challenging when compared to online raffles where everything is tracked for you.
How Do Online Raffles Work?
In online raffles, numbered tickets are sold, and each one represents a chance to win a prize in a draw held at the end of the fundraiser. Prizes can include cash, trips, local goods, or, in the case of a 50/50 raffle, half of the proceeds from ticket sales.
Advantages of an Online Raffle
Running a raffle is a great way for charities, non-profits, and religious organizations to raise money. The more tickets you sell, the more money you bring in, and people are incentivized to buy more because it gives them a better chance at winning.
Whether you’re running a cash raffle, a non-cash raffle, or a 50/50 draw, running an online raffle has a number of distinct advantages.
- Easy to market: With Raffle Rocket’s digital platform, you can promote your raffle through social media, email, or in physical form by printing off a QR code that takes people directly to your raffle’s landing page.
- Wide reach: You can keep your raffle small and invite-only, or expand it so anyone in your jurisdiction can buy tickets and maximize the number of people who participate.
- Higher engagement: Online raffles make it easier for participants to buy tickets, share the fundraiser with friends, and receive notifications and reminders, which can increase participation and excitement.
- Simple setup and management: Raffle Rocket’s online platform is specifically designed to make running a raffle simple.
Challenges of Online Raffles
While there can be challenges with online raffles, using the right online raffle platform can solve them.
- Trust and transparency: You will need to clearly state how winners are selected, when the draw will happen, and how prizes will be delivered. Raffle Rocket makes all of this easy, making the information easy to find for your guests.
- Technical Setup: Some online raffle platforms can be overly complicated, clunky, and simply not user-friendly. Raffle Rocket allows you to set up a raffle in a matter of minutes and is easy to use for both your organization and event guests!
Scratch Cards vs. Online Raffles Features
Online Raffles with Raffle Rocket
Scratch Card Fundraisers
Ease of Use
Simple to set up for organizers and easy to buy and sell tickets
Simple for participants to play
Set Up
Simple-to-use setup with online tutorials and customer service to guide you through process
Printing and distributing scratch cards can be time-consuming
Managing Your Fundraiser
Easy to track ticket sales through Raffle Rocket’s online platform
Distribution of scratch cards must be done manually and you need to keep track of donations manually
Costs
Transparent 4.9% platform fee; can drop as low as 2.5% with plan, plus a payment processing fee
Costs of printing and distributing can add up quickly
Marketing Requirements
Inform potential raffle ticket buyers through e-mail, social media, or printed ads
Organizers must connect with potential participants on their own
An Easier Way to Raise More
Scratch card fundraisers are a fun way to bring in revenue for your organization, but they can be limited in scope when compared to online raffles, and they come with more startup costs.
Hosting an online raffle with Raffle Rocket makes it easy to promote your raffle, show off prizes, sell tickets, and collect payment.
FAQ
Which is more profitable: scratch cards or online raffles?
Online raffles are typically more profitable than scratch card fundraisers because they can reach a wider audience, sell larger quantities of digital tickets, and promote through email and social media. Scratch cards are limited to in-person sales, which restricts volume and total revenue potential.
Are scratch card fundraisers legal?
Scratch card fundraisers are legal in many regions, but they may require permits or compliance with local gaming laws. Regulations vary by state or province, so organizations should check licensing requirements and reporting rules before running one.
How much does it cost to run an online raffle?
The cost to run an online raffle with Raffle Rocket is 4.9%. Some platforms also charge a flat fee, but Raffle Rocket does not. While there are costs involved, online raffles often generate higher overall revenue due to expanded reach.
Do online raffles reach more donors than in-person fundraising?
Yes, online raffles typically reach more donors because tickets can be purchased from anywhere within your jurisdiction and promoted through email, social media, and sponsor networks. In-person fundraising is limited to event attendees, while online raffles allow organizations to expand beyond physical boundaries.
Start setting up your own online raffle fundraiser!
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