How to Plan and Run a Raffle Fundraiser (Free Guide + Planner)

Running a raffle is one of the fastest ways to raise money for your nonprofit. Supporters buy tickets, you draw a winner, and your cause keeps the proceeds. Whether you're running it online, in person, or a mix of both, this guide walks you through everything: choosing a raffle type, handling permits, setting ticket prices, selling online, promoting your event, and drawing winners.

In this article:

• Raffle Revenue Planner — estimate your revenue in 60 seconds

• How does a raffle work?

• Online vs. in-person raffles

• How to run a raffle in 10 steps

• Run your raffle on Zeffy

• How much does it cost?

• Real examples from Zeffy nonprofits

• FAQ

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Raffle Revenue Planner

Use the planner below to model your raffle. Pick your type, set your ticket price and quantity, and see what you'll raise. When you're ready, create it free on Zeffy.

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Now that you've got a target, let's walk through how to make it happen — step by step.

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How does a raffle work?

A raffle is a lottery-style fundraiser. Supporters buy numbered tickets, and one or more tickets are randomly drawn to win prizes. It's simple, familiar, and gets people excited to participate.

Here's the basic flow:

Nonprofits use raffles to raise money for everything from youth sports equipment to emergency shelter programs. They work because they're low-barrier (a $5 ticket feels easy to buy) and high-energy (everyone loves the chance to win).

Before you launch, you'll want to check your state or province's raffle laws. Most jurisdictions let nonprofits run raffles, but the rules vary. More on that in Step 3 below, or jump straight to our raffle laws by state guide.

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Online raffle vs. in-person raffle — what's the difference?

Raffles used to mean a roll of paper tickets and a fishbowl at a community dinner. That still works, but most nonprofits today run their raffles partially or fully online. Here's how the two compare:

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Why most nonprofits are moving online

The short answer: you sell more tickets to more people with less work.

An in-person raffle is limited to whoever shows up. An online raffle reaches your entire email list, social media following, and anyone your supporters share the link with. Your uncle in another state can buy a ticket at 11 PM from his couch. That's reach you'll never get with a paper ticket roll.

Online raffles also eliminate the operational headaches. No printing, no manual numbering, no chasing cash, no "I lost my ticket" conversations. Platforms generate numbered e-tickets automatically, process payments instantly, and track every sale in real time.

The best approach for most orgs is a hybrid. Sell online in the weeks leading up to your event to build momentum, then sell in person at the event itself. This way you capture both the advance online buyers and the impulse buyers in the room.

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What's different about running an online raffle?

If you've only done in-person raffles before, here are the things that change when you go online:

Everything else — choosing prizes, setting prices, following the law, drawing fairly — works the same whether you're online, in person, or hybrid. The 10 steps below cover all three.

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How to run a raffle in 10 steps

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Step 1 — Set a clear fundraising goal

Start with a number. How much do you want to raise, and what will it fund? A specific goal ("$3,000 to send 15 kids to summer camp") does two things: it gives your team a target and gives your supporters a reason to buy tickets.

Use the revenue planner above to reverse-engineer your goal. Plug in different ticket prices and quantities until the net revenue matches what you need.

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Step 2 — Pick your raffle type

Not all raffles work the same way. The right format depends on your audience, your event, and how many prizes you can offer.

Most popular types:

Looking for something more creative? We put together a full list of raffle ideas for fundraisers.

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Step 3 — Check your local raffle laws

This step isn't glamorous, but it's important. Most states and provinces let registered nonprofits run raffles, though the specific rules vary by jurisdiction. Some require a license or permit. Others limit how many raffles you can run per year, cap prize values, or restrict online ticket sales.

What to look up:

The best place to start is your local government or gaming authority. They'll point you to the right forms.

We've also compiled a state-by-state guide to nonprofit raffle laws so you can quickly check the rules where you operate.

Timing tip: Most states require 30 days to process a raffle permit. Some need 60 or 90. Build this into your timeline before announcing anything publicly.

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Step 4 — Set your budget and ticket pricing

Your budget comes down to three things: how many tickets you'll sell, what you'll charge per ticket, and what your prizes cost.

Typical raffle ticket pricing:

A common approach is to price tickets at 5-15% of the prize's retail value. If you're raffling a $500 gift card, $5 to $10 per ticket feels right.

Bundle pricing works. Offering deals like "3 tickets for $25" (instead of $10 each) encourages people to spend more per purchase. Many organizations find that 30-40% of buyers take the bundle when one is offered.

Want to play with the numbers? The revenue planner at the top of this page lets you model different ticket prices, bundle deals, and prize budgets to find your sweet spot.

For a deeper dive, check out our guide to pricing raffle tickets.

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Step 5 — Source prizes and sponsors

Your prizes can make or break a raffle. The good news: you don't always have to pay for them.

Where to get prizes:

When prizes are donated, every dollar of ticket sales goes directly to your mission. In the planner above, set the prize budget to $0 to see the difference.

Need ideas? Here are 33 raffle prize ideas that actually work and 77 raffle basket ideas.

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Step 6 — Choose your raffle platform

You need somewhere to sell tickets, track participants, and manage your raffle. You've got options, and they vary a lot in cost.

What to look for in a raffle platform:

Most raffle platforms charge 3-6% in platform fees plus payment processing on top. On a $2,000 raffle, that's $60 to $120 that never reaches your cause.

Zeffy is the only 100% free raffle platform for nonprofits. There are no platform fees, no transaction fees, and no credit card fees. Your nonprofit keeps every dollar raised. Set up your raffle on Zeffy

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Step 7 — Set up your raffle

Once you've picked your platform, it's time to build your raffle page. Here's what to include:

On your raffle form:

On your tickets:

Most jurisdictions require specific information on raffle tickets. Depending on where you operate, that may include:

Online platforms like Zeffy generate numbered e-tickets automatically. Each buyer gets a unique, scannable ticket with a QR code delivered to their email. No printing, no manual numbering. How to set up a raffle on Zeffy

Running online and in-person sales together? You can. Zeffy lets you reserve a ticket number range for paper tickets (say, 1 to 500) and start online tickets at 501. That way, every ticket has a unique number regardless of how it was sold. Managing hybrid raffle sales

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Step 8 — Promote and sell tickets

Your raffle won't sell itself. Here's what works:

Online:

In person:

What gets people to buy:

If you're using Zeffy, you can send automated reminder emails to supporters who haven't purchased yet and schedule follow-ups before the drawing date.

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Step 9 — Draw the winner

This is the fun part. A few things to keep in mind:

How to draw fairly:

Important: Zeffy doesn't include a built-in winner drawing tool. This is by design. Gaming authorities in most jurisdictions require the draw to happen separately from the ticket sales platform. You can export your full participant list from Zeffy's dashboard and use any random name or number picker to select the winner. More on drawing a winner

Our free online raffle generator is a quick option. Paste your participant names or ticket numbers and spin to draw.

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Step 10 — Report, thank, and follow up

The raffle doesn't end when the winner is drawn. This step is where you turn one-time ticket buyers into long-term supporters.

Right after the drawing:

Within a week:

For next time:

Zeffy handles tax receipts automatically and exports detailed sales reports in one click, so you're not manually chasing data after the event.

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Run your raffle on Zeffy — here's how

Setting up a raffle on Zeffy takes about 5 minutes. Here's the quick version:

1. Create your raffle form

Go to Fundraising > Campaigns > Create > Raffle. Add your raffle name, description, dates, and a banner image. Detailed setup guide

2. Configure tickets and pricing

Add your ticket types (individual, bundle, early bird). Set quantities, prices, and any purchase limits. Zeffy generates sequential e-tickets automatically. Start tickets at a custom number

3. Add custom questions

Running a multi-prize raffle? Add a question like "Which prize would you like to be entered for?" so you can filter entries by prize at drawing time. Multi-prize raffle setup

4. Customize and share

Match your form to your brand colors and logo. Translate it to Spanish (US) or French (Canada) if needed. Then share the link anywhere: social media, email, your website, or as a QR code on flyers.

5. Track sales and draw your winner

Watch sales in real-time from your dashboard. When it's time to draw, export your participant report and use a random name or number picker to select the winner. Need a tool for the draw? Use our free online raffle generator — paste your names or ticket numbers and spin to pick a winner. Zeffy tracks every ticket sold, every payment processed, and every receipt generated.

What's included (all free):

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How much does it cost to run an online raffle?

That depends on your platform. Here's what you'd actually pay on a $2,000 raffle:

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Estimates based on published rates as of 2026. Actual fees may vary by plan or transaction volume.

Zeffy covers all transaction and credit card processing fees through optional donor tips. Your nonprofit never pays a cent.

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Real raffles on Zeffy — what's actually possible

These are real nonprofits running real raffles on Zeffy. No hypotheticals.

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Louisville Metro Police Foundation — $136,500 raised

The Louisville Metro Police Foundation in Kentucky ran a cash prize raffle with 5 ticket tiers and 4 bundle options. They sold 1,436 tickets across 1,141 orders over about 4 months.

What made it work: Multiple price points gave supporters options, and bundles drove up average revenue per buyer. On a platform charging 5%, they would have lost $6,825 in fees. On Zeffy, they kept every dollar for their law enforcement community programs.

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Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation — $245,020 raised

A youth sports organization in Illinois used a 50/50-style cash raffle to send Team Illinois to nationals. They sold 12,362 tickets over a 2-month sales window, generating nearly a quarter-million dollars.

What made it work: Youth sports parents are a built-in audience that's already engaged. They offered 2 ticket types, kept the price accessible, and promoted through their existing community. The selling window (May to July) aligned perfectly with the competition deadline, creating natural urgency.

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Give Thanks Foundation — $212,267 from a single prize

The Give Thanks Foundation in Ohio raffled off a 2025 C8 Corvette in their "Drive Dreams, Empower Futures" campaign. With just 1 ticket type and 1,222 tickets sold, they raised over $212,000 for their community service programs.

What made it work: One high-value, aspirational prize. A Corvette doesn't need explanation — people saw it and wanted in. At roughly $175 per ticket, this was a premium raffle that attracted serious buyers. The prize did the selling.

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What these three have in common

Data based on actual Zeffy raffle forms. Revenue figures reflect total ticket sales processed through the platform.

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FAQ

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How does a raffle work?

Supporters buy numbered tickets for a chance to win one or more prizes. At a set date and time, tickets are randomly drawn and the winners are announced. The nonprofit keeps the ticket revenue (minus any prize costs) to fund its mission.

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Do I need a license to run a raffle?

In most states and provinces, yes. Registered nonprofits and charities are typically eligible, but you'll need to apply for a raffle permit or license from your local gaming authority. Processing times range from 30 to 90 days, so plan ahead. Check the raffle laws in your state for specifics.

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Can I sell raffle tickets online?

Many jurisdictions allow online ticket sales, but not all. Check with your local gaming authority first. If online sales are permitted, platforms like Zeffy let you sell tickets, generate e-tickets, and track everything digitally. Even where online sales aren't allowed, a platform helps you manage ticket numbering, payment processing, and reporting.

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How much should I charge for raffle tickets?

A good starting point is 5-15% of your prize's retail value. Community raffles commonly price tickets between $1 and $20. High-value prize raffles can go higher ($50 to $100+). Offering bundle deals (like "3 for $25") encourages people to buy more. For detailed guidance, read our raffle ticket pricing guide.

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What's the best platform for online raffle tickets?

It depends on your needs, but cost is a big factor. Most platforms charge 3-6% in fees. Zeffy is the only 100% free raffle platform for nonprofits, which means every dollar raised goes to your cause. It supports e-tickets, bundle pricing, in-person sales, and all major payment methods.

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How do I pick a winner for a raffle?

Use a random selection method: a random number generator, a physical ticket pull, or a raffle drawing tool. Have a second person witness the draw, and consider recording or livestreaming it for transparency. Most platforms (including Zeffy) don't include a built-in drawing tool due to gaming authority licensing requirements, but you can export your participant list and use any random picker.

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Are raffle ticket purchases tax-deductible?

Generally, no. In both the US and Canada, raffle ticket purchases are not considered tax-deductible donations. However, sponsors who donate prizes may be eligible for a tax deduction. If you're issuing tax receipts to prize sponsors, make sure the receipt clearly distinguishes between the donation and the raffle. Zeffy generates tax receipts automatically and lets you configure eligibility per ticket type.

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Can I run a raffle with both online and in-person ticket sales?

Yes. The key is making sure every ticket has a unique number regardless of how it was sold. On Zeffy, you can reserve a number range for paper tickets and set online tickets to start at a higher number. This keeps everything clean for the drawing. Learn how to manage hybrid raffle sales

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What's a 50/50 raffle?

A 50/50 raffle splits the ticket revenue in half: 50% goes to the winner and 50% goes to the nonprofit. It's popular because there's no prize to source. The prize IS the pot, and it grows as more people buy tickets. Zeffy supports 50/50 raffles with a live sales thermometer that shows the growing prize pool. How to configure a 50/50 raffle

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Can the raffle organizer buy tickets?

No. To maintain fairness and legal compliance, anyone involved in organizing the raffle (committee members, staff handling tickets) should not participate as buyers. Restrict entries to people outside the organizing team.

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How do you do an online raffle for free?

Use a free raffle platform like Zeffy. Create a raffle form, add your ticket types and prices, and share the link. Buyers purchase tickets online, receive numbered e-tickets by email, and you track everything from a dashboard. Zeffy covers all payment processing costs, so there are zero fees to your nonprofit. You can set up and launch an online raffle in under 10 minutes. Create a free online raffle

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What's the difference between an online raffle and an in-person raffle?

The core mechanics are the same: sell tickets, draw a winner, keep the proceeds. The difference is how you sell and manage tickets. In-person raffles use paper tickets sold at a physical location. Online raffles use digital e-tickets sold through a platform, which lets you reach a wider audience, sell tickets 24/7, and automate tracking and reporting. Most nonprofits today use a hybrid approach: selling online in the weeks before an event and in person on the day. See the full comparison above

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