There are over a million non-profit organizations in the US. The main way they all stay afloat is by hosting an online raffle.
If holding one is legal in your state, it’s a great method to bring in funds for a good cause, and it’s fun for the participants because everyone loves the chance to win free stuff.
Before you get your raffle going, you’re going to need to decide on prizes. It also helps to have some kind of goal in mind, and don’t forget to build your raffle site.
These are only a few tips that will help you raise money online for your non-profit. Keep reading to learn more.
Have a Goal in Mind
You’re not going to attract many participants for your fundraising raffle if you don’t tell people what their money is going toward. You see, while it’s true that people love to receive free stuff, they’re much more interested in the cause itself.
Be as specific as possible. If you need $2,000 to keep the art program going at the school where you work, be upfront about it.
Make Sure You Can Do an Online Raffle
Before you post your online raffle, look up the local laws. Some states equate raffles to gambling, which is a big no-no.
Some states require you to get a permit before you start selling tickets. As far as federal laws go, you’ll have to be part of a qualified organization for your raffle to be legal.
Determine the Prizes
Now that you’ve got the legalities out of the way, you need to decide on prizes. The easiest way to go about it is to host a 50/50 raffle. What this means is that half the proceeds will go to the victor and half will go toward your fundraising raffle.
If you want to give away items rather than cash, gift baskets are always a safe bet. Everyone can use a new mug for their morning coffee and delicious snacks.
A Netflix subscription can be expensive, and a gift card can give someone a free month. There aren’t many people who would say no to that.
Decide on a Ticket Price
No matter how juicy the prize or good the cause, people aren’t going to buy your raffle tickets if they’re overpriced. That’s what the internet is for.
There are raffle calculators that will let you know how many tickets you need to sell to meet your goal and how much you need to sell them for.
You can also look up other raffles that have gone on in your area. Find out how much those tickets went for and price yours accordingly.
Build Your Donation Page
Your raffle website is where you’re going to advertise the most. It needs to introduce potential participants to your organization and the cause that you’re raising money for. It should highlight any special rules that participants need to follow as well.
Your website is also where contestants will buy their tickets. Make sure that you allow for a variety of payment methods. If someone can’t complete their purchase with their American Express card, you’ll lose a participant.
Raffle web design can be a bit complicated. Don’t be afraid to reach out to a professional for help.
Don’t Forget to Make It Fun
While your main focus is to raise money online for a cause, that doesn’t mean you can’t make things fun. If you show your excitement, that energy will spread to the participants.
Remember that your raffle is a game with several ways to play. You can do the 50/50 raffle that you learned about before or do a catch the Ace raffle.
A catch the Ace is a weekly draw with a new winner every time. The lucky ticket holder will win a portion of the week’s profits.
Show Gratitude
Your raffle, and by extension your non-profit, wouldn’t be where it is without supporters. Show your gratitude for every donation by redirecting donors to a thank-you page when they buy a ticket.
If someone calls or emails you to ask questions about your raffle, answer them within a day or so. Fast response times are how you keep participants coming back.
Market Your Raffle
Launching your raffle site is only step one in your marketing process. You should also include a link to it on your social media pages.
Share regular updates to let your followers know how close you are to your fundraiser goal. If someone buys 10 tickets, give them a special shout-out.
Announce Your Winners
The last step of the raffle is also the most exciting one. It’s time to announce your winners!
There are a few ways that you can go about it. You could do a live event on social media where you draw the winners in front of the entire world.
You can also do it behind the scenes and create a post to announce the winners after the fact.
Hosting the Best Online Raffle
Hosting an online raffle is a great way to raise money for your non-profit. Not only do people like free stuff, but they also feel good about helping out a good cause.
There are quite a few steps that you’ll have to take to make sure your raffle gets enough traction. If you don’t take the time to market the event or you have no goal in mind, you’re not going to get too far.
For more tips that will help you build a successful non-profit, visit the Business section of our blog.
