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How to Choose the Best Online Raffle for Charity, Nonprofits, Schools & More

Raffles are one of the very best tools for schools, charities, non-profits and religious organizations to bring in money and meet their fundraising goals. They’re easy to run, can have low costs and are enjoyable for everyone who participates.

But what type of raffle is best? Charities, nonprofits, and schools all have different needs, and picking the right type of online raffle will help you maximize the money you bring in with your fundraiser.

Key Takeaways

  • There are three main raffle types: 50/50 draws, cash prize raffles, and non-cash prize raffles—each suited to different organizations and goals.
  • Knowing your audience is everything: the right raffle type depends on who’s buying tickets and what will motivate them.
  • Low upfront costs don’t mean low returns—50/50 and donated-prize raffles can bring in strong revenue with minimal financial risk.
  • In most Canadian and U.S. jurisdictions, you’ll need a raffle license before you can sell tickets online.
  • The right platform makes all the difference: easy ticket sales, live tracking, and built-in promotion tools help you hit your fundraising goals faster.

What Types of Raffles Are There?

There are three main types of raffles, each of which has its own unique set of advantages. Picking the right online raffle for a charity, non-profit, school, or religious organization depends on your target audience, the resources you have available and the prizes you have available. 

The three types of raffles are:

  • 50/50 raffle: With a 50/50 raffle, the winner takes home half of the money you raise through ticket sales while your organization takes home the rest. It ensures there’s little risk, since you don’t need to put up money or prizes in advance.
  • Cash prize raffle: Your organization puts up a lump sum of money, and the winner takes it home. A cash prize raffle is as simple as that, and unlike a 50/50 raffle, organizations get to keep all of the money they raise through ticket sales.
  • Non-cash prize raffle: Whether it’s a trip somewhere luxurious, sports memorabilia, or tickets to a sold-out concert, the prizes in a non-cash raffle get people excited to buy tickets.

The Best Online Raffle for Your Organization

Best Online Raffle for Charity

Best type of raffle for charities: 50/50 raffle.

Here’s why:

  • Easy to organize: An online raffle for charity doesn’t need to be hard, and with 50/50 raffles, it’s as simple as selling tickets online using Raffle Rocket. You can email potential buyers directly, promote your raffle on social media or out in the world, and buyers log in to purchase their tickets. It’s not any more complicated than that.
  • Low upfront costs: For charities working on a budget, 50/50 raffles are great because the prize is half of ticket sales. You don’t need to put up cash or spend money on prizes and then hope you sell enough tickets to recuperate those costs. 
  • Live tracking: The size of the pot is updated online with Raffle Rocket, which lets people know how much they stand to win and incentivizes them to buy more tickets
  • Can be held alongside other fundraisers: Online 50/50 raffles can easily be held as part of another fundraiser, whether that’s a carnival, a gala dinner or a sports event. They don’t distract from the rest of the event but can be a great way of bringing in additional funds.

What You Need

The most important challenge is getting the word out so that the total pot grows and both the winner and your charitable organization take home enough funds to make it worthwhile. 

In most jurisdictions in Canada and the U.S., you will require a raffle license to host an online 50/50 raffle, but once you’ve acquired a license, setting up your raffle online is easy and intuitive.

Online Raffles for Nonprofit Organizations

Best type of raffle for nonprofits: Cash raffle.

For non-profit organizations looking to reach new heights with their fundraising goals, a cash raffle is a great way of getting people excited and raising more money. It’s an easy sell, after all. Who doesn’t like the idea of winning a nice stack of cash that you can spend on whatever you want?

Here are some of the cash raffle features that make them so popular with non-profits:

  • Easy to organize: An online raffle for nonprofits doesn’t need to be hard, and running a cash prize raffle means you don’t need to spend time seeking out prizes. You just need to choose the right amount that will go to the winner.
  • Easy to understand: When running online raffles for nonprofits, cash prize raffles are an easy sell. Everyone understands exactly what’s available to the winner, and tickets can be easily purchased online and emailed to participants.
  • Legal requirements: In Alberta, as an example, the prize you provide needs to be a minimum of 20% of the total ticket value of your draw, which is the total value of all the tickets available in your raffle.

What You Need

Hosting a cash prize raffle is easy. Once you have your license, you set up your landing page and clearly advertise how much the winner will receive. You will need:

  • A lump sum prize: How much will you be offering as the prize for your cash prize? You want it to be enough that people get excited to buy tickets, but you don’t want it to be so much that you’re not bringing in a profit from sales. Use Raffle Rocket’s prize planning template to find the right amount.
  • The right pricing strategy: How much are tickets going to cost? It should be reflective of the prize, with many organizations choosing to sell tickets at 1/100th the cost of the cash prize. That means if you’re offering up $500 to the winner, a ticket would cost $5.
  • Proper communication: Once you start a cash prize raffle, you’re on the hook for the prize money. That makes it imperative that you sell enough tickets to cover that cost, and you’ll want to see more to meet your fundraising goals, too. 

Tip: Using Raffle Rocket, you can advertise your raffle online, through e-mails and with a QR code that can be printed and distributed.

A nonprofit meets to discuss its next fundraiser and which type of raffle it should run.

Online Raffles for Schools

Best type of raffle for schools: Non-cash prize raffle.

When considering online raffles for schools, it’s fun to get creative with the prizes. Hosting a non-cash prize raffle can be a great way to offer prizes that get whole families excited. 

  • Fun prizes: Whether it’s tickets to a concert or sporting event, or gift baskets from local businesses, non-cash prize raffles let you have fun with your prizes and tailor them to your audience.
  • Family-friendly: Your prizes don’t just need to appeal to kids. Parents are the ones who will be spending money on tickets, after all, so prizes that get them excited are ideal.
  • Themed prizes: Online raffles for schools can be creative and tie their prizes to the reasons why they’re fundraising. Are you raising money for a class trip? Gift certificates for the destination would be great. Fundraising for a sports team? Private lessons would be perfect.

What You Need

The great thing about online raffles for schools is that they come with a built-in community to help you sell tickets. 

  • Donated prizes: Many local businesses will be willing to donate prizes to help with your raffle. This keeps upfront costs down and can ensure you have great prizes that don’t cut into your profits from ticket sales.
  • Be cost-conscious: Great prizes can drive ticket sales, but it’s important that you don’t spend so much money on prizes that you take away from your fundraising goals. Picking the right prizes is important, and your budget should inform what you offer.
  • Connect with the community: Whether you’re looking to sell tickets to parents of students or to people outside your school community, Raffle Rocket allows you to email them directly, advertise on social media or print out a QR code that can be added to flyers.

Online Raffles for Religious Organizations

Best type of raffle for religious organizations: Non-cash prize raffle.

Churches, mosques, synagogues, and other religious organizations often have tight budgets and rely heavily on their congregation to make fundraising work. A non-cash prize raffle is a natural fit. Prizes can be sourced from within the community itself, keeping costs low while creating something that feels personal and meaningful to participants.

Here’s why non-cash prize raffles work so well for religious organizations:

  • Community-sourced prizes: Members of your congregation are often happy to donate goods, services, or experiences as prizes. Homemade items, professional services, restaurant gift cards, or weekend getaway packages can all make compelling prizes without costing your organization a cent.
  • Inclusive and family-friendly: Religious communities span all ages and backgrounds, and non-cash prizes can be chosen to appeal to a wide range of people—from family experience packages to wellness gifts to locally crafted goods.
  • Tied to your mission: Prizes can reflect your organization’s values. Fundraising for a mission trip? Offer a travel-themed prize bundle. Supporting a food bank initiative? A prize basket from local vendors keeps the community spirit front and center.
  • Flexible timing: Non-cash prize raffles work well as standalone events or as part of existing gatherings like community dinners, holiday services, or seasonal celebrations, making them easy to weave into your calendar.

What You Need

Religious organizations have a built-in advantage: an engaged community that wants to see the organization succeed.

  • Donated prizes: Reach out to congregation members and local businesses early. Most will be glad to contribute, especially when the cause is clear and close to home.
  • A raffle license: Like all raffle types, you’ll need to obtain the appropriate license from your local gaming authority before selling tickets.
  • The right communication channels: Use Raffle Rocket to email congregation members directly, share your raffle on social media, or print a QR code for your weekly bulletin or notice board.
A group of fundraising professionals at a nonprofit looks at the results of their online raffle and celebrates.

Ready to Run a Raffle That Actually Raises Money?

Whether you’re raising funds for a charity, a school, a nonprofit, or your congregation, the right raffle makes all the difference—and the right platform makes it simple. Raffle Rocket handles everything from ticket sales and live tracking to winner notifications and promotion, so you can focus on what matters: your cause.

Start your free raffle today at Raffle Rocket—no experience needed.

FAQ

What are good raffle ideas for church fundraisers?

Churches have consistent fundraising needs, and raffles are a great way to raise funds. Non-cash prize raffles are particularly popular with churches, as prizes can be donated by members of the congregation and can showcase their creativity and skills. Both cash-prize raffles and 50/50 raffles are popular with churches, too.

Are licenses required for all types of raffles?

Generally speaking, yes. In most jurisdictions across Canada and the U.S., approval from the local gaming commission or state/provincial authorities is required.

How do I know how many tickets to sell?

A good starting point is to work backwards from your fundraising goal. Add together your target profit and your prize cost (for cash or non-cash raffles), then divide by your ticket price. Raffle Rocket’s prize planning template can help you find the right balance.

Can I run more than one type of raffle at the same event?

Yes, many organizations combine a 50/50 draw with a non-cash prize raffle at the same event to maximize ticket sales and give participants more ways to win. Just make sure each raffle has its own license if required in your jurisdiction.

What's the best way to promote a raffle online?

Social media posts, email campaigns, and shareable QR codes are the most effective tools. Raffle Rocket lets you do all three from one platform. Regular updates on the growing prize pot (especially for 50/50 draws) help build momentum as the draw date approaches.

How do online raffles work for people who aren't tech-savvy?

Raffle Rocket is designed to be simple for both organizers and buyers. Participants can purchase tickets via a direct link or QR code, and tickets are delivered by email. If you want to take your raffle offline, you can sell physical tickets and manually track it on our platform.

Start setting up your own online raffle fundraiser!

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