Raffle ticket prizes are crucial in helping you attract more people to your fundraising event. Keep reading for 15 unique raffle prize ideas, plus a free sample of a raffle prize donation letter which can be customized for your organization!
If you’re stuck on what a good raffle prize is and wondering how to get free prizes for your charity raffle, we’re here to help!
In this article, we’ll help you choose prizes that will appeal to your donor base and provide tips to successfully get them donated. We’ve also included a sample raffle prize donation letter that you can customize for your next event.
Raffles can be a simple and affordable way to raise funds for your nonprofit. You can hold a raffle by itself or incorporate it into an existing event.
Choosing the right raffle prize can mean the difference between hundreds to thousands of dollars. Here are a few ways to ensure your prize fits your audience and encourages more participation.
Before soliciting raffle items for your event or campaign, understand your donors’ interests and financial capabilities. Consider details like age, hobbies, and gender.
Pro tip: If you have a significant number of female donors, a Mother’s Day raffle is an excellent option. Remember to include details on the items inside and the value of each basket to excite donors.
For example, Amarillo’s Better Birth Initiative’s Mother’s Day raffle sold tickets for women to win a luxury hamper worth $1,000, and included details of the prizes on their Donorbox Events page.
Wondering how to get raffle prizes donated? One of the first places to look for suitable prizes is current and past event sponsors. Many businesses will be willing to give in-kind donations on top of their financial contributions.
Your event sponsors should already fit your donors’ interests, so contact them to see if they have any items that they’d be willing to donate!
Is there a popular family event or activity near your location? Is there an exciting concert happening? If you’re looking for raffle prize ideas for families, tickets to concerts or popular local events make for great prizes and will draw in a crowd!
Now that we’ve looked at how to get raffle prizes donated and the best way to ensure they align with your supporters, let’s spotlight 15 raffle ticket prize ideas based on various budget categories that will fit the requirements of every nonprofit.
Spa services are a popular raffle item because they are at once well-known and rare. Not only are they good raffle prizes for adults, but donors will likely jump at an opportunity to win a facial, massage, manicure, or pedicure.
Another easy raffle prize is a gift basket. Get creative and make one that fits a specific event, or create a few that cater to different donor types. Include one or two gift cards in each raffle basket to increase the value!
Pro tip: Your nonprofit may receive several low-value gift cards from several businesses. Create themed gift baskets to increase the value of these gift cards and encourage more donor interest.
New City Arts did an excellent job with this for their Spring Dinner Raffle. A $10 raffle ticket gives donors the chance to win packages that include gift cards, weekend getaways, and other items.
Parents are always looking for something to get the kids out of the house. Memberships for a local museum or fun activity are great raffle prize ideas for families.
Another popular raffle prize idea for families, couples, and individuals is a gift certificate for a quality meal. A night out without the kids is a dream for many couples. If you can find gift certificates to a high-end restaurant, this raffle ticket can bring in a large sum.
Signed memorabilia from popular athletes is still an excellent raffle prize. While most won’t raise a lot, you can usually find a small number of individuals who’ll jump at the chance to add these to their collection.
You may be surprised, but electronics can be an excellent money-raiser for your nonprofit raffle. One of the most popular electronics you can raffle is a gaming computer.
Gamers are always looking for the newest technology. If you can find a quality gaming computer to raffle, you’ll have a great chance at raising money for your organization.
Pro tip: Approach smaller independent companies and ask them to build a computer for your raffle in exchange for publicity.
Vacations are good raffle prizes for adults, and for good reason. Who doesn’t want the chance to get away? You don’t have to solicit airlines and hotels to find an expensive vacation package.
Most donors will jump at the chance for a weekend getaway. A log cabin, beach resort, or Airbnb within driving distance will catch the attention of many donors.
Appliances and home repairs are other great raffle prize ideas for family members. Homeowners are often stunned by the cost of these items, and they inevitably happen.
Local home repair businesses may provide a gift certificate for their services as a marketing tool. Larger companies like Home Depot, Target, Costco, and Big Lots may provide gift cards and products for your raffle.
Jewelry can be another exciting raffle prize for your audience. Women’s events and Mother’s Day are excellent opportunities to raffle this item!
Jewelry businesses and individuals may have a unique item they’re willing to donate for this raffle.
Pro tip: To get the most out of this raffle prize, promote the value and brand to your donor base and sell reasonably priced tickets to help donors feel like they’re getting a deal.
Adventure prizes are donor-specific, but if you cater to a younger crowd, these prizes can be very popular. Skydiving, circus classes, sailing, and other adventures are rare enough that people don’t know where to get them.
Donors are also more willing to pay $50 or $100 for the chance to win these types of adventures than the $500 or more that it takes to sign up on their own.
If you’re wondering what are good raffle prizes, this is one of them. Vacations are an excellent raffle prize option with the potential to bring in lots of donations! If you can find a package that includes flights and accommodation, people will be willing to spend more on the raffle ticket.
Camp Fire Green Country sold 100 raffle tickets at $100 to their donors for a four-night all-inclusive Cancun vacation or a 3-night golf/spa package in Scottsdale, Arizona. The exclusivity and affordability of the raffle ticket made it a popular fundraiser!
Have you seen the cost of gas lately? Imagine how many people would be willing to buy a raffle ticket to go gas-free for a year. There are a few restrictions you’ll want to add and communicate with donors before they purchase a ticket.
Determine prize specifics such as the quantity of gas they can get each month and any age or location criteria.
Cars and motorcycles can be another popular raffle prize, but make sure they have the right crowd and prize. People who love cars and motorcycles are very picky about the brand and type.
Promote your event to a larger audience to make up the difference if you don’t have a popular brand.
Pro tip: Make sure you are transparent about the taxes the winner must pay after the raffle. If an individual is surprised by this amount, they may share their frustrations with your organization on social media and you could lose donors.
Cash prizes will always be a rewarding raffle prize for the winner and your nonprofit. The popularity of the lottery shows that few will turn down the chance to win money.
Award cash prizes with 50/50 raffles, reverse raffles, and other raffle ticket sales.
Sportsmen for Charity has found great success with their cash raffle over the years. Donors can purchase tax-deductible raffle tickets for a chance to win $500 to $15,000.
Boost Event Revenue with Donorbox Events
Throwing a party can become expensive, but special occasions call for the best.
Your donors have likely been faced with an anniversary or birthday and have no idea how to celebrate. Offer a raffle prize to throw a party at a unique location or to win a free party tent.
If you’re wondering how to get raffle prizes, here are three tips to get you going.
Make a list of individuals and businesses to solicit. Determine the best way to connect and appeal to these donors.
Businesses are more interested in marketing opportunities. If you’re stuck on what companies will donate raffle prizes, find out who their target market is and see which organizations would be most interested in your donor base.
Pro tip: Don’t be afraid to have lots of options! We love how One Life to Love features many different raffle items on their Events page.
Each appeal should be different. When reaching out to individual donors, appeal to their interest in your mission. Share how their prize donation helps your organization.
Businesses may be interested in your mission, but they primarily care about reaching a new audience. Tailor your outreach to the business. How do event attendees fit their target market? Be specific about your needs and what they can receive in exchange for the gift.
Send personalized emails or letters to individuals and specific people in the business. If you don’t receive a response within a week or two, follow up with a phone call. Keep it professional, but find a way to connect with them.
Businesses donate to nonprofits for marketing. Highlight the chance to display their name and logo on banners, programs, and other marketing material. Some businesses may give more to have a table or speaking opportunity at your event.
Virtual events also give sponsors a chance to share a video or commercial with a wider audience.
As the next step, we want to help make it even easier for you to solicit a raffle prize. Use this sample raffle prize donation letter and customize it to fit your needs.
We hope these tips and ideas on how to get raffle prizes – and which work best for your donor base and budget – will inspire and empower you to plan an exceptional raffle event.
Donorbox is here to take your raffle event to the next level! As you’ve seen in various examples throughout this article, Donorbox Events helps you sell event tickets online and boost your revenue.
Sign up today to start fundraising in minutes!
For more fundraising ideas, tips, and free samples, check out the Nonprofit Blog. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to receive a handpicked collection of our best resources in your inbox.
Approach local businesses that would be interested in your current donor base and ask them to donate raffle prizes in exchange for marketing opportunities during your virtual or in-person events. Create tailored donation appeals and be clear about what they will receive in exchange for their gifts.
Consider raffle prizes specific to the demographics and interests of your donors. Great raffle prize ideas include vacation packages, a restaurant voucher, spa packages, tickets to concerts or local events, and memberships to museums or fun activities.
Kristine Ensor is a freelance writer with over a decade of experience working with local and international nonprofits. As a nonprofit professional she has specialized in fundraising, marketing, event planning, volunteer management, and board development.
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Kristine Ensor