Organizing a Car Organizing a Car RaffleRaffle

Organizing a Car RaffleOrganizing a Car Raffle

Raffles are one type of fundraiser where Raffles are one type of fundraiser where you have almost total control over the you have almost total control over the expenses expenses and and income you raise. income you raise. Raffles might seem simple but, like Raffles might seem simple but, like any fundraising effort worth doing, any fundraising effort worth doing, raffles should be well planned and raffles should be well planned and organized. Undertaking the raffle of organized. Undertaking the raffle of an expensive item like a car requires an expensive item like a car requires even more careful advanced planning.even more careful advanced planning.

Car Raffle BasicsCar Raffle Basics

Before deciding to hold a car raffle, it is Before deciding to hold a car raffle, it is essential that you be aware of what will be essential that you be aware of what will be involved in the process. Unlike a 50/50 raffle involved in the process. Unlike a 50/50 raffle or the raffle of a smaller prize, the costs or the raffle of a smaller prize, the costs involved in a car raffle could be much involved in a car raffle could be much higher. While it would be ideal to have a car higher. While it would be ideal to have a car (or the cost of) donated by an individual or (or the cost of) donated by an individual or corporation, your organization must also be corporation, your organization must also be aware that the cost of the prize may have to aware that the cost of the prize may have to be provided by your agency. In addition, be provided by your agency. In addition, there may be some expenses involved with there may be some expenses involved with printing tickets or advertising the event.printing tickets or advertising the event.

Obtaining a Prize Obtaining a Prize DonationDonation

It is an ideal situation to find a donor/s It is an ideal situation to find a donor/s willing to incur the expense of the willing to incur the expense of the vehicle. This will allow your organization vehicle. This will allow your organization to make a 100% profit on ticket sales. to make a 100% profit on ticket sales. While you may already have a While you may already have a relationship with a wealthy individual relationship with a wealthy individual that would be willing to make the that would be willing to make the donation, corporate sponsorship will donation, corporate sponsorship will more than likely be a must to make this more than likely be a must to make this fundraiser successful.fundraiser successful.

Obtaining a Prize Obtaining a Prize DonationDonation

Corporations are a major source of giving on an Corporations are a major source of giving on an international scale. Whether they give from their international scale. Whether they give from their corporate foundations or with corporate corporate foundations or with corporate sponsorships, corporations generally want more sponsorships, corporations generally want more than a “feel-good” for their part of the bargain. than a “feel-good” for their part of the bargain. Philanthropy is good business. Favorable public Philanthropy is good business. Favorable public opinion is a sought after goal in both the for-profit opinion is a sought after goal in both the for-profit and non-profit industries. Aligning with a good and non-profit industries. Aligning with a good cause benefits the company by boosting good cause benefits the company by boosting good will, perhaps increasing sales, raising visibility, will, perhaps increasing sales, raising visibility, and creating a sense of benevolence and and creating a sense of benevolence and involvement that may help them attract good involvement that may help them attract good employees. employees.

Obtaining a Prize Obtaining a Prize DonationDonation

You’ll want to find out which You’ll want to find out which corporations give in your area. Also, corporations give in your area. Also, larger companies such as the car larger companies such as the car manufacturers may participate in manufacturers may participate in corporate giving. Some types of corporate giving. Some types of corporations to ask for sponsorship corporations to ask for sponsorship may include:may include:

Obtaining a Prize Obtaining a Prize DonationDonation

Automotive dealers and large retail stores with Automotive dealers and large retail stores with automotive sectionsautomotive sections

Large hardware stores (they tend to be involved Large hardware stores (they tend to be involved with racing, and may also be willing to sell with racing, and may also be willing to sell tickets)tickets)

Car ManufacturersCar Manufacturers Fortune 500 companies in your area Fortune 500 companies in your area Professional Sports TeamsProfessional Sports Teams Businesses in your area that have shown interest Businesses in your area that have shown interest

in your causein your cause Corporations that have a connection to members Corporations that have a connection to members

of your boardof your board

Obtaining a Prize Obtaining a Prize DonationDonation

The goals of the organization and/or The goals of the organization and/or specifics of the fundraiserspecifics of the fundraiser

The background of the organization The background of the organization Exactly how the donations is going to be Exactly how the donations is going to be

usedused How realistic your fundraising plans are and How realistic your fundraising plans are and

what your budget looks likewhat your budget looks like How the efforts of the fundraiser will be How the efforts of the fundraiser will be

monitored and evaluatedmonitored and evaluated How their company can be showcased in a How their company can be showcased in a

positive mannerpositive manner

Obtaining a Prize Obtaining a Prize DonationDonation

Also, a business plan, marketing plan, or Also, a business plan, marketing plan, or other documents may be required. other documents may be required. Promotion of the event will also be key, so Promotion of the event will also be key, so that the sponsors can get the recognition that the sponsors can get the recognition they deserve.they deserve.

Tip: Tip: Solicit items via e-mail. Solicit items via e-mail. Over the past Over the past few years this has proven to be a highly few years this has proven to be a highly successful strategy. It's quick, costs next to successful strategy. It's quick, costs next to nothing, and doesn't take a lot of time nothing, and doesn't take a lot of time (whereas phone calls can be quite time (whereas phone calls can be quite time consuming).consuming).

Purchasing the Prize Purchasing the Prize VehicleVehicle

If you are unable to obtain sponsors to If you are unable to obtain sponsors to cover the cost of the prize, your cover the cost of the prize, your organization will have to budget for organization will have to budget for incurring this expense. You may already incurring this expense. You may already have money available from holding have money available from holding previous fundraising events, or you may previous fundraising events, or you may want to work out a deal with a local want to work out a deal with a local auto dealer to order the vehicle and pay auto dealer to order the vehicle and pay for it with profits from ticket sales.for it with profits from ticket sales.

Purchasing the Prize Purchasing the Prize VehicleVehicle

When choosing the right prize to offer, When choosing the right prize to offer, kknow the demographics of your now the demographics of your audience and find raffle items that will audience and find raffle items that will appeal to them. appeal to them. For example, an For example, an environmental group could raffle off a new environmental group could raffle off a new Prius hybrid car and a men's group might Prius hybrid car and a men's group might raffle off a Harley Davidson motorcycle. If raffle off a Harley Davidson motorcycle. If you will be selling to mainly working class you will be selling to mainly working class people you’d probably want to consider an people you’d probably want to consider an economy vehicle, while for a wealthier economy vehicle, while for a wealthier group would prefer a luxury car.group would prefer a luxury car.

Selling TicketsSelling Tickets

A maximum of 5,000 tickets should A maximum of 5,000 tickets should be sold. This entices participants with be sold. This entices participants with excellent odds, so be sure to mention excellent odds, so be sure to mention this statistic to possible purchasers.this statistic to possible purchasers.

Each volunteer should receive a pre-Each volunteer should receive a pre-determined number of tickets. That determined number of tickets. That person is responsible for the sale or person is responsible for the sale or return of ALL tickets given to them return of ALL tickets given to them by the team leader or point person.by the team leader or point person.

Selling TicketsSelling Tickets

Always mention your organization and Always mention your organization and the cause you stand for. People want the cause you stand for. People want to know where their money will be to know where their money will be going and who it will be supporting. Be going and who it will be supporting. Be sure to have a few stories of success sure to have a few stories of success on hand to share with possible donors. on hand to share with possible donors. Appeal to their emotions by sharing Appeal to their emotions by sharing personal experiences you’ve had with personal experiences you’ve had with the organization.the organization.

Selling TicketsSelling Tickets

REMEMBER-Raffle tickets are cash! REMEMBER-Raffle tickets are cash! Please make your sales team aware Please make your sales team aware of the absolute necessity of this fact. of the absolute necessity of this fact. If lost, tickets must be paid for or If lost, tickets must be paid for or found and returned. found and returned.

Price PointPrice Point

The price set for tickets can make or The price set for tickets can make or break a raffle fundraiser. The ticket break a raffle fundraiser. The ticket price needs to be high enough to price needs to be high enough to reflect the value of the prize, and to reflect the value of the prize, and to raise the funds needed. However, it raise the funds needed. However, it shouldn’t be so high that no one will shouldn’t be so high that no one will want to buy a ticket!want to buy a ticket!

Price PointPrice Point Again, you have to know your audience. Again, you have to know your audience.

What are your supporters willing to pay for What are your supporters willing to pay for a ticket? For some luxury prizes and/or a ticket? For some luxury prizes and/or audiences you may need to charge $50 or audiences you may need to charge $50 or $100 a ticket. But remember, the lower $100 a ticket. But remember, the lower your ticket price, the more tickets you your ticket price, the more tickets you need to sell to make a good profit. For an need to sell to make a good profit. For an economy vehicle, a ticket price of $20 or economy vehicle, a ticket price of $20 or $25 is the norm.$25 is the norm.

This is why having a big prize is so This is why having a big prize is so important. You can charge a higher ticket important. You can charge a higher ticket price for big ticket prizes, thus creating price for big ticket prizes, thus creating even more profit for your organization.even more profit for your organization.

PromotionsPromotions

Show your prize off! Show your prize off! This is a fundraiser that should be This is a fundraiser that should be

advertised heavily to sell tickets quickly. advertised heavily to sell tickets quickly. Drive up demand by having photos of the Drive up demand by having photos of the car in your advertising, on your website, or car in your advertising, on your website, or in your flyers. If using flyers as a in your flyers. If using flyers as a promotional tool, be sure to include a photo, promotional tool, be sure to include a photo, car information, a contact person, price of car information, a contact person, price of tickets, number of tickets to be sold, date tickets, number of tickets to be sold, date and time of raffle, and sponsors you wish to and time of raffle, and sponsors you wish to advertise.advertise.

PromotionsPromotions

Post these flyers throughout the Post these flyers throughout the community and print out smaller community and print out smaller flyers to distribute to individuals. flyers to distribute to individuals. Solicit businesses in your area that Solicit businesses in your area that will allow you to sell tickets for a day. will allow you to sell tickets for a day. Focus on retailers who get a great Focus on retailers who get a great deal of customers throughout the deal of customers throughout the day. day.

PromotionsPromotions

Retailers to inquire for sales permission include:Retailers to inquire for sales permission include: Car DealershipsCar Dealerships Motorcycle ShopsMotorcycle Shops Automotive StoresAutomotive Stores Grocery StoresGrocery Stores Warehouse StoresWarehouse Stores Department StoresDepartment Stores MallsMalls GymsGyms RestaurantsRestaurants BarsBars Apartment ComplexesApartment Complexes

RulesRules

You’ll want to set some rules or guidelines You’ll want to set some rules or guidelines for the raffle. Examples may include:for the raffle. Examples may include:

There is no limit to the number of There is no limit to the number of tickets an individual can purchase.tickets an individual can purchase.

To avoid any fraud or perception of To avoid any fraud or perception of fraud, no employees of your fraud, no employees of your organization or any organization organization or any organization associated with the raffle can be eligible associated with the raffle can be eligible for prizes.for prizes.

Good Luck!!!Good Luck!!!