Raffle Alternatives for Fundraising: How to Raise More Without Another Boring Ticket Draw

Quick Answer

The best raffle alternatives for fundraising are sweepstakes, silent auctions, giving games, and online challenges. These options keep the excitement and community feel of a raffle while avoiding legal restrictions and giving you more flexibility to raise money. Sweepstakes work well for broad audiences, auctions attract higher value donors, and giving games add a fun, interactive element to any event.

Key Takeaways

• Sweepstakes let people enter without buying a ticket, making them easier to promote legally and online.
• Silent auctions and mystery boxes often raise more than raffles by encouraging larger contributions.
• Giving games and donation challenges create real-time energy that keeps supporters engaged.
• These creative fundraising alternatives work for both small grassroots campaigns and large nonprofit events.
• Choosing the right format depends on your goal, budget, and how much you want to involve your audience.

Why Raffles Aren’t Always the Best Fundraising Option

Yes, raffles can be fun, a few tickets, a big prize and a bit of suspense make for a fun evening. But do it one too many times, people start getting bored, ticket sales slow down and fewer people get excited. And in some places, the legal red tape makes it more work than it’s worth. And while your most loyal supporters may be showing up each time to support your cause, it’s difficult getting new blood.

When this starts happening the worst part is, you’re simply making enough money to get by. And it’s not sustainable, especially if you’re looking to grow your nonprofit. Meanwhile, other groups in the same town are pulling in five or ten times more using creative and low cost ideas that spark curiosity and real participation, and word of mouth is spreading.

But raffles aren’t your only source of funds, and even though they’ve stood the test of time and you’ve even come up with creative ways to sell more tickets, they might not even be your best option anymore. Donors are tiered of the same old thing. They want something that sparks excitement and something they can interact with. Something fun. Something more than just buying a ticket and keeping their fingers crossed.

And that’s where our list of raffle alternatives for fundraising comes in! Our alternatives include sweepstakes, silent auctions, giving games and online challenges that raise more money without the legal headaches of traditional raffles. And the best part, most of these ideas are just as simple as running a raffle, even easier sometimes, but they can put the excitement back into your events and get people motivated to come and share your events again.

Why Traditional Raffles Are Losing Their Spark

Raffles are awesome because they’re low cost, easy to set up and everyone understands how one works. But those same strengths can also become weaknesses over time.

• Limited excitement. Once supporters know what’s coming, the novelty fades.
• Legal rules. Many states and countries have strict regulations about raffles. You can’t just wing it.
• Low return on effort. By the time you secure prizes, sell tickets and chase down logistics, the payout can feel small.
• No story. A raffle often doesn’t connect emotionally with your cause beyond “buy a ticket.”

This is more about today's donors than anything else. Donors want more than a transaction. They want experiences, community and connection. Raffles can’t really do all that. So that means your fundraising has to grow with them.

Where Alternatives Shine

The best raffle alternatives for fundraising don’t just fund your cause, they give people experiences they can connect with. A mystery box wall at a local festival. A livestream giving game where people get to vote in real time. A sweepstakes that opens the door to a prize everyone really wants, without forcing them to buy their way in.

These kinds of events:

• Bring in fresh energy and new supporters.
• Give you more room to tell your story.
• Work both online and offline.
• Keep things fun without getting tangled in raffle laws.

This isn’t about setting the past to the side, it’s about updating it and making it better.

Understanding the Purpose Behind Raffles and How to Replace One Strategically

It’s best to first understand why raffles work so well so when we come up with ideas, we can keep those reasons in the alternatives as well. It’s not the ticket. It’s not even the prize. What keeps people buying those little paper slips year after year is something that’s far more important and personal to them, anticipation, community and the feeling that their small action matters.

Raffles give the ticket holder a quick hit of hope. A five dollar ticket might turn into a big reward. And if it doesn’t, it still connects them to something more important, that school fundraiser or the local shelter. Causes they can care about. Plus it’s a shared communal moment, everyone’s waiting for the draw together and crossing their fingers while chatting with their neighbors. That’s the real magic.

But here’s the catch: over time, raffles can start feeling more like routine than excitement. And routine doesn’t raise much money. That’s why smart fundraisers are moving beyond raffles. Not to lose that spark, but to reposition it in new and more effective ways.

Why Simply Ditching the Raffle Isn’t the Answer

If you just decided to stop holding raffles without replacing them with something else that has that same emotional hook, you’re not going to get the response you’re hoping for. People need something to look forward to. They want to feel like their contribution could lead to a moment of surprise or celebration. That’s why the best raffle alternatives are more than just some random event, they’re strategically chosen to replicate that emotional pull in a fresher and more flexible way.

Think about it like this:

• A raffle gives people a shot at winning something.
• A well designed alternative gives them an experience they’ll remember.

You’re not tossing out the core idea, you’re just updating the packaging.

What Raffle Alternatives Can Offer (That Raffles Don’t)

Here’s where alternatives really stand out. While a raffle is usually a one and done drawing, many alternatives build in more engagement with fewer legal headaches that also often lead to a much bigger return.

Your raffle might raise a few hundred bucks while a sweepstakes, challenge event or giving game can bring in thousands while creating experiences people actually talk about and want to be involved with. That’s a big difference.

A Little Psychology Goes a Long Way

All great marketing is based off of emotions. That’s why if you want to build a better fundraiser, don’t just focus on the format, focus on the feeling you want to create.

• Anticipation: give people a reason to stay curious like a mystery envelope wall or daily prize reveals.
• Community: create a shared experience rather then just a transaction.
• Perceived value: make the reward feel exciting regardless of its cost.

Imagine if you replaced your annual raffle with a “Spin-to-Win” giving game at a local fair. Supporters donate $10 for a spin. Prizes range from free coffee to a private dinner for two with a local celebrity chef. How many people do you think would love to gamble the ten bucks for a chance to win something super cool? Plus they see instantly if they’ve won which can push them to buy more spins if they really want a certain prize. You still selling a chance, you’re just doing it a bit differently.

Low Barrier and High Engagement Raffle Alternatives

Just because you’re adding another layer of excitement to your event it doesn’t mean you need a huge budget or a big team to run a successful fundraiser. Some of the best alternatives are actually simple, fun and easy to set up, even for small organizations. Our list of options below keeps that same raffle excitement but add new layers of interaction, flexibility and reach.

Sweepstakes Campaigns (Legal + Scalable)

A sweepstakes may seem a lot like a raffle, but there is one huge difference that makes them much better at getting people involved and spreading reach, they allow people to enter without buying anything. That means your campaign will be a lot easier to promote, legally cleaner and often more successful even monetarily.

Here’s how it works. Instead of selling raffle tickets, you offer people a chance to win a prize, maybe a weekend getaway or a dinner package just for entering. But you also give them the option to donate. And believe it or not, most will since it’s a charitable cause. It’s a subtle shift that can lead to a big payoff when done right.

But understand the law here, “in the donation-sweepstakes context, a business or charity always has to provide a free method of entry (AMOE) along with a donation method to avoid being an illegal lottery.”

A few practical tips if you try this:

• Make sure your terms and conditions are clear and accessible.
• Always allow free entry as it’s what makes it a sweepstakes and not a raffle, and legal.
• Pick a prize that feels exciting but doesn’t break the bank.

This format works beautifully on or offline which means your reach can go far beyond your local community.

Giving Games or Spin-to-Win Boards (Interactive + Instant Gratification)

Imagine harnessing that energy of anticipation that raffles are known for and giving it a serious boost that equates to immediate fun and engagement. That’s exactly what giving games do! Instead of passively buying a ticket and waiting, participants get to do something, and that sense of interaction makes a huge difference in how much they give.

One of the simplest versions is a spin-to-win board. Usually it consists of a brightly colored wheel with different colors equating to super cool gifts. People pay a small fee, like five or ten dollars to spin and win. Every spin wins something, even if it’s a small prize. It might be a gift card, a locally donated item or a small branded keepsake. The gifts don’t even matter that much. It’s the adrenaline rush the player gets and the chance to win something instantly.

This approach works well because:

• Every donor feels like a participant and not just a number.
• The energy stays high throughout your event.
• You can scale it up or down depending on your capacity.

Giving games are perfect for:

• Community fairs and local festivals.
• A lively side station at galas or bowlathons.
• Virtual events with digital spin wheels and livestream hosts.

Keep your format fast, visual and fun and your crowd will naturally keep coming back for “just one more spin.”

Mystery Box or “Envelope Pull” Walls (Suspense + Predictable Revenue)

Mystery pulls are a great low cost way of selling the equivalent of a ticket, only it’s an envelope or a box. Only this idea gives the added bonus of creating excitement surrounding the thrill of surprise as the player doesn’t know what they’ve won until the package is opened. So instead of waiting for a drawing, supporters get an instant reveal that keeps the energy flowing.

Here’s how it works. Set up a wall or table display with sealed envelopes or small boxes. Each one contains a random prize, some small and some extra special to add even more excitement. Participants pay a set amount (say $20) to pick one knowing they’ll walk away with something. It could be a gift card, a donated item or even an awesome grand prize like a signed football jersey that adds extra excitement.

Why this format works so well:

• Predictable revenue: you know exactly how many envelopes you’ll sell in advance.
• Built-in suspense: people love the moment of reveal.
• Simple setup: all you need are envelopes, prizes and a little fanfare.

These types of fundraiser are perfect for galas and other in-person events as well as any type of community based fundraiser. Also, since everyone wins something, it seems more like a fun game than a gamble which makes it an easy “yes” for your supporters.

Fundraising Challenges (Viral + Community Driven)

If raffles create anticipation then challenges create momentum! They turn passive participation into something people actually want to become a part of and watch. And the format is simple, instead of buying tickets, supporters are invited to take part in or fuel a challenge. It could be donation dares, a livestream countdown or a community mini contest. No matter what you choose, challenges create an immediate feedback loop that fuels contagious energy.

Why this works:

• Expands your reach: challenges are inherently shareable and work well on social media.
• Clear, time-limited goals: urgency drives participation.
• Built-in storytelling: people love seeing real moments and not just transactions.

This approach is perfect for social media attention. People can even upload their own videos making for some great user generated content that shows how much fun your organization is while also benefiting a worthy cause.

Why These Work So Well

Each of these alternatives are just a fresh repackaging of the same things that make raffles so awesome, anticipation, community and reward. They just do it in a more updated and exciting way. Plus they’re easy to launch, flexible and don’t require complicated infrastructure or large cash reserves. Whether you’re a tiny grassroots organization just starting out or a mid sized nonprofit, these formats can scale up or down to fit your available resources.

Premium Fundraising Alternatives That Inspire Donors

Once you’ve tried our low barrier options like sweepstakes or spin wheels, there’s a whole other level waiting for you to explore and use. Our premium fundraising alternatives aren’t about spending more money on your event, but rather they’re about creating deeper and more memorable experiences for donors. But they do work better if your organization already has a loyal base or a little infrastructure to lean on. And while raffles give people a thrill, these premium alternatives give them a story they’ll tell to friends and family afterward.

Live & Silent Auctions (Digital and In-Person)

Auctions have a built in superpower that raffles don’t, donors can give way more than the “price of entry” that’s attached to a raffle ticket. During an auction someone might give $25 while someone else could give $2,500. This is the major reason why auctions consistently outperform raffles when it comes to total dollars raised. And that’s not to mention how they also bring out the best kind of energy.

A silent auctions get people excited and motivate them to hover around bid sheets or tap their phones at an online event with plenty of bids if you have the right prizes. This is when you hit up both private and corporate donors and secure some great gifts that your supporters would really want to bid on. This creates an energy and competitive environment that raffles just can’t match.

Just imagine running a hybrid auction with in-person and online bidding. This is truly the best of both worlds as you can have people at your event bidding and anyone one else that wants to join from anywhere in the world that has an internet connection. And you can auction off anything from local art to private dinners with local celebrity chefs. You just might need to find a way to send the online winners their gifts.

Here are a few pointers if you try this:

• Mix small, medium and “wow” prizes to keep everyone in the game.
• Make bidding frictionless with mobile bidding platforms like Paybee.
• Consider a hybrid event to reach both local and remote supporters.

You’re not just fundraising. You’re hosting a moment. Check out our free silent auction bid sheet that you can tweak to make your own here.

Exclusive Experience Packages

Physical prizes are great, but what really motivates bidders are exclusive experiences! They’re magnetic. When people get the chance to do something they can’t just buy they seriously perk up.

That might mean a behind the scenes tour of your animal shelter where they get to work with the animals one on one, or giving away a private dinner with a local chef with no one else around. Experiences like these don’t need to be extravagant, they just has to feel special and unique.

A few ideas to spark inspiration:

• VIP passes to an event.
• Personal meet and greets with community leaders.
• One-of-a-kind local experiences like guided hikes, workshops or tastings.

These work beautifully as auction items and can not only rasie some serious funds, they brand your charity as one that cares and offers memorable experiences that last your donors a lifetime. That’s priceless!

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Campaigns

How awesome would it be if your supporters ran your fundraiser themselves and you didn’t need to do a thing? Just think if each supporter were to tap into their own network of family and friends to advertise your mission and financial needs. That would be a tremendous amount of reach. And it is possible with peer to peer fundraising.

Here’s how they work. A volunteer creates their own fundraising page for their birthday and asks friends to donate instead of buying gifts. A local business launches a mini campaign to rally their customers. A team of parents sets a collective goal to support their kids’ sports program. And all of these have links going back to your donation pages. These kinds of campaigns can gather a huge amount of momentum if your supporters are passionate enough. And all with practically no work from you or your staff!

Peer-to-peer fundraising isn’t new but it’s growing fast because:

• It builds trust through real relationships.
• It gives your cause a human face.
• It scales without requiring a massive team.

Platforms like Paybee make it easy for supporters to launch their own campaigns using pages and links you control. You just provide the story and tools and they bring their network of family, friends and colleagues. It’s the perfect system.

Micro Event Fundraising (Dinner Clubs, Concert Nights)

Some of the most effective fundraisers don’t look like fundraisers at all. They feel like casual nights out with friends and family. They’re usually intimate and low stress gatherings that spark conversation and connection while raising serious funds. You can kind of think of them as the direct opposite of a sprawling gala.

Just imagine if you’re a human trafficking charity and you hosted a backyard farm to table dinner with just 25 guests. At $50 per person that’s already $1,250 minus food costs. Add a small silent auction or raffle on the side and you can bank a lot more, and all while just chilling and having a great time.

These are also fantastic events for seriously bonding and growing your donor relationships. People are often relaxed and open and are more willing to hear about your mission and efforts. Plus due to the ambiance, you can take your time talking to each guest and really get to know them in a friendly environment. If you’re looking to deepen your ties with your donors, this is probably the best way to do it while still raising funds.

Here are a few other ideas:

• House concerts or acoustic nights.
• Pop-up dinners hosted by volunteers or chefs willing to donate their time.
• Sip and paint nights or guided workshops.

These events work because they give donors something they feel, not just something they win. And when people have a memorable experience tied to your cause, they’re more likely to give again.

Why Premium Alternatives Work So Well

Premium fundraising alternatives don’t mean you need to spend a truck load of cash, they mean events that build deeper relationships and bring in larger donations.

Premium fundraising alternatives don’t just bring in bigger donations, they build deeper relationships. When people bid at an auction, win an experience, or gather at an intimate dinner, they feel more personally invested and associate positive feelings and memories with your organization. That feeling sticks and can keep people involved for years to come.

Modern Online First Fundraising Alternatives

The internet has changed fundraising forever, and some of the best raffle alternatives for fundraising are happening entirely online, and they’re often cheaper, faster to launch and easier to scale. This is especially powerful for small nonprofits or campaigns with a limited team. You don’t need a huge production budget. You just need the right idea and a smart way to get it in front of people.

Digital Raffle Style Games (But Legally Compliant)

Online raffles can turn into legal nightmares if you aren’t completely aware of all the local laws and federal guidelines when it comes to them. But digital sweepstakes and raffle style games let you run fun prize driven campaigns online while staying completely compliant. This is because people can enter without needing to buy a ticket. This slight difference keeps it on the right side of most state and federal regulations and lets you promote your fundraiser more freely without the fear of legal entanglements.

A few smart moves if you try this:

• Make your prize something people actually want and not just leftover merch.
• Keep your entry process dead simple. Use one landing page with clear rules, done.
• Set a deadline so there’s urgency.

This is the closest online cousin to a raffle with the same excitement and less friction.

Social Media Challenges + Donation Matching

If you’ve ever watched a simple online trend blow up, you already understand why challenges work. They tap into two powerful forces, community participation and shareability on social media. And you’re not asking anyone to buy something, so there’s really little friction to get people involved.

You’re just asking them to do something small and visible then challenge their friends to join in. Remember the ice bucket challenge? Just Add a donation button or match campaign and you’ll be surprised at how fast your challenge can scale.

Here’s how to structure it:

• Pick an action that’s fun or meaningful.
• Create a simple hashtag to make it easy to find.
• Add a clear donation link.
• Line up one or two early supporters to go first.

Just imagine running a “10 for 10” challenge where people film themselves donating $10 while tagging 10 of their friends while challenging them to do the same. You can raise a lot all without spending a dime on advertising. And to really cash in, combine donation matching. When people know their small ten dollar donation is being matched they’ll often act faster and push to get others to do the same. That’s putting this event on steroids.

Why Online Alternatives Work

The biggest reason online alternatives work so well is that’s where people already are. Your supporters scroll, swipe and share all day long. You’re piggy backing on what’s new, hot and trendy and doing it for a good cause. That’s always a great plan. Plus running online events is super convenient and often much cheaper to boot. And scale faster than traditional raffles which give you a huge reach you could never do at locally run events.

How to Choose the Right Raffle Alternative for Your Cause

Not every raffle alternative fits every organization, a flashy auction might crush it for one group and flop for another while a simple sweepstakes could raise more than a gala if it hits the right audience. This is where you need to think and evaluate which sort of event fits your mission, capacity and community. Try to use a strategy for choosing and not just guessing something will work. If you do, you’ll have a lot less stress.

Think in Terms of Effort, Reward and Engagement

Every fundraising idea lives somewhere on a simple triangle:

• Effort: How much time, planning and coordination it takes.
• Reward: How much revenue it can realistically bring in.
• Engagement: How much energy and excitement it creates for your donors.

Low effort and high engagement ideas like spin-to-win games are great for small teams or quick campaigns with limited budgets, whereas high effort and high reward ideas like auctions or micro-events make sense when you’ve got more capacity or a strong volunteer crew ready to back you up.

The best way to decide? Sketch out your top two or three options, then literally rate them on those three factors. It doesn’t need to be fancy. A quick chart on paper will make it clear which ideas give you the best return for the time you can invest.

Match the Idea to Your Audience

Whether you’re established or not, knowing your audience pays of in dividends. This is true for every single event or ask you ever dream of. Communities are different and respond to certain things. For example, a charity that has a lot of successful members would most likely do better with a golf charity event than a simple raffle. But a PTA group might rock the raffle and end up with an empty golf course if they did the same as the charity. It’s really important you get that and ask yourself what would match your own people the best? Here are a few general guidelines to get you going in the right direction.

• Schools often do best with simple, low barrier fundraisers. Think spin wheels, sweepstakes and small challenges families can join together.
• Nonprofits with established donors might lean toward auctions or exclusive experiences as they offer a sense of connection and personal impact.
• Creators or small businesses can benefit from merch drops, peer-to-peer campaigns or online challenges that turn followers into fundraisers while keeping costs and advertising budgets low.
• Faith groups and community orgs often thrive on experiences like communal dinners, community nights or envelope pulls that bring people together.

If your donors love being part of the action then lean into interactive formats. If they prefer supporting quietly from home, try online first ideas like sweepstakes or social media campaigns.

Budget and Timing Matter More Than You Think

Most of our ideas can be pulled off with minimal budgets and man power. But in order to get all you can out of your event, you’re really going to need to match it with your people and resources. So if your budget is tight, choose something lightweight like a mystery envelope wall or a peer-to-peer campaign. If you have a little more to spend or strong sponsorships, auctions or hybrid events can be a much better money maker and lead to an exciting event people will remember.

And don’t forget about timing! Timing a festive event with a seasonal time can help you ride existing momentum. For example, a December event can double as a holiday gift campaign. Or a summer BBQ night might pull in more people than a spring gala ever could.

Step-by-Step Launch Plan for Your Fundraising Alternative

Having an actual plan will always save you time, money and copious amounts of stress! Whether it’s a sweepstakes, a spin-to-win booth, or a micro-event dinner, what sets successful fundraisers apart isn’t luck, it’s good structure. So use our step-by-step launch plan to help you turn your favorite raffle alternative into a real campaign that raises money and gets people talking about your cause.

Step 1: Define Your Fundraising Goal

Clearly decide exactly what it is you want your campaign to achieve. Do you need donations, email sign ups or are hoping to get some new volunteers? It’s important as this decision will effect everything from the format you choose to the number of tickets, envelopes or event spots you offer. It also gives supporters something tangible to rally behind.

A quick way to check yourself:

• Set a target amount.
• Estimate what it will take to hit it your donations, ticket sales, bids, entries, etc..
• Make sure the numbers actually line up with the idea you’re choosing.

Step 2: Choose the Right Format

Once you know what your goal is you’re trying to reach, you need to match it up with an alternative that fits your audience and your resources. If you need fast cash with minimal resources a digital sweepstakes might be your best bet. If you’ve got a strong donor base an auction or experience package can bring in bigger gifts.

And make sure you pay attention to legalities. Some states really regulate raffles heavily and you can get into a lot of trouble if you make a wrong move. Sweepstakes and giving games however are often more flexible and have fewer legal entanglements.

Step 3: Secure Prizes, Sponsors or Experiences

No matter format what you decide on, you’re going to need some prizes or some sort of unique experiences, and preferably ones that grab attention and create excitement for your attendees. This shouldn’t require you to spend a ton of money. In fact, the most effective prizes are often donated. Local businesses, restaurants and community members love the visibility you can offer with these types of events. They get seen and you get something cool to give to the winners. It’s a win win for all involved. Here are a few things to get you thinking in the right mindset:

Ask yourself:

• What would get your audience excited?
• Can you offer an experience money can’t buy like backstage passes, private tours or naming opportunities?
• Who in your network might sponsor or donate it?

This is where creativity and understanding your supporters really pays off.

Step 4: Build Hype with Storytelling and Social Proof

These alternatives depend on reach, and that means people liking, sharing and getting involved in your events. So you need to promote as much as you can.

Start with a clear story. Why are you raising money? What impact will it have? Then repeat that story in different formats all throughout your communication channels using email, social posts, short videos, flyers or anything that gets it in front of people. Then keep the momentum going by layering in social proof like sharing early donations, entries or any testimonials you get.

Here’s a quick and effective approach:

• Announce the fundraiser with urgency.
• Showcase the prize or experience visually.
• Share small updates often rather than one big push.

Step 5: Launch, Measure and Keep Momentum

Once you launch the real work begins, keeping the momentum up. You have to be actively pushing your event and check your progress daily or weekly. Highlight milestones. Celebrate every win, even the small ones. And keep sharing your data with your community to keep them involved ans stay transparent. Measuring all of these KPIs will really help you make better informed decisions on your next event. Track what worked, channels, timing, messaging and what didn’t so you can constantly improve every metric.

And don’t disappear the moment the campaign ends. Send thank yous. Share the impact as it happens to keep everyone engaged. Let people know exactly how their contribution made a difference and share stories from recipients whenever possible. That simple follow up is what turns one time donors into long term supporters.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are raffles legal for nonprofits?

Raffle laws vary by state and country. Sweepstakes and donation challenges are often simpler legally.

2. What’s the difference between a raffle and a sweepstakes?

A sweepstakes allows free entry and avoids lottery laws while a raffle requires paid tickets.

3. How can I avoid legal problems with fundraising games?

Offer a free entry option and post clear rules in simple language. And always check your local laws before launching.

4. Can I combine raffle alternatives in one event?

Yes, of course. Many nonprofits mix sweepstakes, mystery boxes and auctions together to maximize their engagement and potential revenue.

5. Do raffle alternatives raise more money?

Often times they do indeed. Auctions, sweepstakes and challenges can bring in larger donations and new audiences much easier than a raffle can.

Final Thoughts

Raffles have long stood the test of time and can still be profitable, especially if used in conjunction with our ideas above. But they also have a few draw backs like legalities and running the risk of running the same old boring thing time after time. That’s why these alternatives are so important. They give your organization the chance to cash in on raffles without the limitations, and sometimes even easier that holding a raffle. Plus they give your donors a way to feel connected to your cause and experience the joy of participation while seeing their impact in real time. Something raffles just can’t do. So start small. Choose one strategy. Make it fun, make it memorable and watch your fundraising grow beyond the raffle table.

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