Fundraiser raffle tickets are a great way to generate excitement and support for your nonprofit cause. A successful fundraiser raffle requires careful planning and a wide range of promotional tools. The most effective approach is to meet supporters where they are  online and in-person by offering multiple ways for them to participate. By doing this, you will increase participation and set the stage for future fundraisers.

The first step is to get some high-value items as your raffle prizes. This could include cash, merchandise, services such as child care for an evening or window washing, trips, or appliances like microwaves and VCRs. These are usually donated by your organization's supporters, friends and families. Typically, many more tickets are sold than the number of prize available, so a person's chances of winning are small.

Next, make your tickets affordable. A typical price for a raffle ticket is fifty cents, although you can choose any pricing structure you wish. Ideally, you should have volunteers distribute the tickets. This gives them a sense of ownership and allows you to tap into their networks. The volunteers can go door-to-door or desk-to-desk in workplaces, neighborhoods and familiar communities. This approach may not generate as much money as a 50/50 raffle, but it is a good way to get your nonprofit in front of people who may not otherwise be exposed to your work.

When you print your raffle tickets, have them numbered. Although it costs a bit more to have the printer number each ticket, this will make your life a lot easier and is well worth the investment. It's also important to have the tickets perforated so that the ticket stub is easily separated from the body of the ticket. Some organizations try to save money by not having their tickets numbered, but this is an unwise choice. It will take longer for your volunteers to hand out and keep track of, and donors may be reluctant to give their donations when the tickets are not clearly marked.

Once the tickets have been sold, it's time to draw a winner. You can do this in-person at your fundraising event or online during a livestream. Livestreaming is particularly effective because the potential for winning a prize keeps people engaged throughout your program. Be sure to announce the winners during the livestream and include the results in a follow-up thank you letter for your donors.

Finally, after the raffle, don't forget to show your appreciation for your donors and volunteers by throwing an appreciation party or giving out awards to the top sellers. Also, be sure to send a report to your sponsors with facts and figures about the outcome of the raffle, including event attendance, total amount raised for your cause, traffic to your website, media coverage, etc. This will help ensure your sponsors will want to support your fundraiser again in the future. To do this, you can use the Givebacks app to easily export all donation and ticket information.