5 Types of Raffles to Help You Raise More

There’s no shortage of types of raffles for fundraising, and each has its own set of unique benefits. Whether it’s a 50/50 raffle, a cash raffle, a non-cash raffle, a reverse raffle, or an online raffle that takes your fundraiser virtual, raffles provide a fantastic opportunity for organizations to get people excited and raise the funds they need.

But what type of raffle should your organization go with for its next fundraiser? Let’s take a look at the options.

5 Types of Raffles

At Raffle Rocket, we specialize in helping charities, non-profit organizations, and faith-based groups raise money through fun, lucrative, and engaging raffles. Here’s a look at some popular types of raffles your organization could run:

1. Online Raffle

How It Works:

While there are several types of raffles that can be effective for your organization, hosting them online using a platform like Raffle Rocket makes them significantly easier to manage.

Unlike traditional raffles, where hard-copy tickets need to be sold and stored carefully by participants who then need to check to see if their number was called, Raffle Rocket makes the entire process smoother.

Whether you’re hosting a 50/50 draw or offering a cash or non-cash prize, tickets can be sold online and will be emailed to anyone who purchases them. They can track the winners on your raffle site via Raffle Rocket, and they’ll be informed automatically if they win.

Benefits:

Online raffles make every step of the process easier. With Raffle Rocket, you can choose between three types of raffles, promote your fundraiser through email and social media ,and then sell tickets directly to participants online.

Take Your Fundraising Up a Notch: Raffles can also be hosted at the same time as silent auctions using Bid Beacon, and your organization can streamline its fundraising efforts with CommuniBee, a community management suite.

Who It’s Best For:

Whatever types of raffles you’re considering, hosting an online raffle makes every step easier for both organizers and anyone looking to purchase tickets. Raffle Rocket works with organizations big and small to maximize the potential of their raffles.

It’s essential to note that not all jurisdictions permit raffles, and licenses are typically required. It’s important to check with your local gaming authority to learn about raffle eligibility in your jurisdiction.

2. 50/50 Raffle

How It Works:

In a 50/50 raffle, the winner gets half the total of the money that’s raised from ticket sales. The more money that’s raised, the more the winner takes home at the end of the draw.

These are among the most popular types of raffles, and with Raffle Rocket, the total pot is updated online as tickets are sold, letting people know exactly what they stand to win if their ticket is drawn at the end of the 50/50 raffle.

Benefits:

With a low buy-in cost, participants stand to take home significantly more than they spend on their tickets and are even incentivized to encourage others to participate. The more tickets sold, after all, the bigger the prize.

For organizations, a 50/50 raffle is also low-risk, as the prize comes from the tickets sold and money doesn’t need to be spent on prizes, unlike some other types of raffles.

Who It’s Best For:

50/50 raffles are popular among sporting teams, nonprofits hosting events, and various other organizations. They are common at major sporting events, with hockey teams like the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers hosting game-day 50/50 draws that benefit their charitable organizations, but they are equally popular among smaller organizations looking to fundraise.

3. Cash Raffle

How It Works:

With a cash raffle, your organization puts up a lump sum of money as the prize, and people buy tickets for a chance to win. The cost of entry is considerably less than the amount they could win, incentivizing them to earn big.

Benefits:

For organizations that host a cash raffle, they don’t need to hand over 50% of their profits, as is the case with a 50/50 draw, and that means there’s an opportunity to bring in significantly more money.

Cash raffles do require a lump sum to be available for the winner, so it’s essential to ensure your team drives sales and that you generate more revenue from tickets than you’re giving away.

Who It’s Best For:

For organizations expecting to generate a high volume of ticket sales, cash raffles are extremely popular and can be one of the most lucrative types of raffles. Even smaller lump sum prizes can drive ticket sales, as the risk-reward for potential participants is attractive.

4. Reverse Raffle

How It Works:

Many organizations may not be aware of reverse raffles, but they’re a fun, unique type of raffle that can draw serious attention. Instead of selling as many tickets as possible, organizations offering reverse raffles limit the number of tickets sold and offer them at a higher price point.

For example, instead of trying to sell 1,000 tickets at $1 each, you’d try to sell 10 tickets at $100 each. Then, the winner is not the person whose ticket is called first; it’s the last person whose ticket has not been called. Generally, the prize will be known beforehand.

Benefits:

Reverse raffles are appealing to participants because, with fewer tickets being sold, they have a better chance of winning. This makes it one of the more unique types of raffles, allowing for the possibility of hosting one after another as word of mouth spreads and more people become interested in getting in on the action.

Who It’s Best For:

Any organization that can host a typical raffle can choose to host a reverse raffle, but they can take more time and resources to organize than many other types of raffles. Organizations looking to host raffle fundraisers continuously could consider reverse raffles, as the excitement from one often carries over to the next.

5. Non-Cash Raffle

How It Works:

Instead of a cash prize, the winners of a non-cash raffle take home appealing items. Maybe it’s an amazing trip to a bucket list destination or a dream home, a car, or signed sports memorabilia from your local team. The prizes can be displayed before tickets are sold, driving excitement and sales.

Benefits:

Non-cash raffles can bring in lots of revenue from ticket sales, with your organization keeping the profits. While it’s true that non-cash prizes can still cost money, they can also be donated, making your fundraiser even more profitable.

Seeing amazing prizes also gets people excited. Who wouldn’t want to buy a couple of tickets if it meant they had a chance to go on a once-in-a-lifetime vacation?

Who It’s Best For:

Non-cash raffles are ideal for non-profit organizations, charities, and faith-based groups, particularly those that can solicit donated prizes from their communities.

For organizations with larger fundraising goals, non-cash raffles are highly effective, especially when high-value prizes are available that can drive participation and ticket sales from outside their traditional donor bases.

How to Choose the Right Type of Raffle for Your Fundraiser

Every type of raffle offers different benefits, and choosing the right one for your organization will depend on what you’re looking to achieve and what you believe works best for your community.

There are a couple of questions you should ask when considering types of raffles:

What are your fundraising goals?
Are volunteers needed to host your raffles? How many might be available to help and how many are required?
Does your organization have partnerships or connections in your donor base or your community that would be willing to donate desirable prizes?
Will this raffle be a standalone fundraiser or part of a larger event?
Will this raffle run concurrently with a silent auction, and how can they be integrated?
How much should the raffle tickets cost?
Is your fundraiser taking place in a jurisdiction where online raffles are allowed?

Answering these questions can give you a better idea of which type of raffle is best suited for your organization. Cross-reference your answers with the details from this guide, and you’ll find the right raffle to help you raise more.

Raise More with Raffle Rocket

There are many types of raffles you can choose to help your next fundraiser meet all its goals. Working with Raffle Rocket makes it easy. We offer 50/50 raffles, cash raffles, and non-cash raffles that can be run online. You can also feature early-bird prizes which can be a combination of cash and non-cash prizes for added excitement!

Our platform makes it simple to get set up, sell, and buy tickets, as well as inform participants of the results. Plus, we have the best pricing on the market. Get all of your questions answered by emailing [email protected], or take the first step to a successful raffle by signing up online.

FAQs About Raffle Fundraisers

What is the most popular raffle item?

This depends on the type of raffle you choose to run. Cash prizes are universally appealing, while gift baskets, the latest tech gadgets, and trips are all popular non-cash raffle prizes. Meanwhile, splitting the pot in a 50/50 raffle is another great way to get people excited and buy tickets.

What is an alternative to raffles?

If you’re considering running a fundraiser but aren’t sure that a raffle is the right choice, consider a silent auction instead. Bid Beacon has helped organizations raise over $31 million since 2018.

What is another name for a 50/50 raffle?

It’s common to use the terms ‘50/50 raffle’ and ‘50/50 draw’ interchangeably.

5 Types of Raffles to Help You Raise More