Gone are the days when school raffles meant endless paperwork and volunteer burnout. For the past three years, digital solutions have been transforming these traditional fundraisers into streamlined success stories. Let's explore how your school can achieve impressive results with less effort.
Success Stories
"We were a little anxious using an online raffle, but were thrilled with the result."
- Linda, St Scholastica's College
"We were happy with the money raised for our Rowing Club and will certainly be using Raffle Link again in the future."
- Andrew, Lourdes Hill College
The 4Ps of Successful School Raffles
1. Planning
Perfect Timing
- Launch at term start for maximum engagement
- Avoid holiday periods
- Aim for 9-10 weeks of "engaged" selling time
- Prepare during previous term or holidays
Regulatory Compliance
- Keep prize pools under $5,000 to avoid permit requirements in most states
- Each state has unique regulations
- Seek expert advice for compliance
Know Your Audience
- Consider both school and wider community
- Align prizes and pricing with your demographic
- Plan promotion channels accordingly
2. Prizes
Success Stories
- Lourdes Hill College: Raised $5,000 offering semester tuition fees
- Marcellin College: Generated $24,000 with tuition fees/shopping voucher option
- Knox Grammar: Raised $16,000 with just a $1,000 first prize
Prize Strategy
- 3-8 prizes is optimal
- Focus on first three prizes
- Consider combining smaller donations into themed packages
- Include non-school-specific prizes to attract wider community
3. Pricing
Best Practices
- Set single ticket price at 0.1% of total prize pool
- Charge premium for unique, sought-after prizes
- Create compelling package deals
- Consider your community's spending capacity
- Use sales data to refine future pricing
Sample Package Structure
- Single ticket: $10
- 3 tickets: $28
- 5 tickets: $45
- 10 tickets: $80
4. Promotion
Multiple Channels
- School website
- Social media
- Email campaigns
- SMS/push notifications
- Newsletters
- Notice boards
- Take-home flyers
Community Outreach
- Local letterbox drops
- Shopping center displays
- Market stalls
- Local newspaper coverage
- Partner school connections
- Business partnerships
Promotion Tips
- Share regularly (minimum twice weekly)
- Vary content and formats
- Highlight prize sponsors
- Showcase fundraising goals
- Emphasize winning odds
- Make content easily shareable
- Track promotion impact
Success Metrics
- Average online transaction: $42
- Single email blast results: Up to $2,530 (Glenaeon School)
- Partner network sales: 420 extra tickets ($1,670) through bank partnership
Success in school raffles isn't about working harder—it's about working smarter. By following these proven strategies and embracing digital tools, you can achieve impressive results while reducing administrative burden.
