How to Run a 50/50 Raffle Fundraiser (That Practically Runs Itself)

Hosting a 50/50 raffle? This guide shares everything you need to know—from ticket pricing to prize rules—so your next fundraiser runs smoothly and successfully. 💰🎫 #RaffleFundraiser #FundraisingMadeEasy #5050Drawing

Need a simple, fast, and totally stress-free fundraiser that works with any school event? A 50/50 raffle might be the easiest money your PTA ever makes. No baking, no decorating, no setup—just a roll of tickets and a crowd of people who love a good win-win.

Here’s the deal: Families buy raffle tickets, and at the end of the event, one lucky winner gets half the jackpot—while the other half goes straight to your school or group. The more tickets you sell, the bigger the prize—and the bigger the boost to your fundraiser!

You can run a 50/50 raffle on its own or pair it with just about anything—bingo night, a spaghetti dinner, the school carnival, or even a Friday morning carline with a volunteer and a coffee cart. It’s quick, fun, and always brings in more than you’d expect.

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💡 What Is a 50/50 Raffle Fundraiser?

A 50/50 raffle is one of the simplest fundraisers you can run. Here’s how it works:

• Supporters buy raffle tickets—usually for $1 each or in bundles (more on that in a minute)
• All ticket money goes into one big pot
• At the end of the event, 50% of the total raised goes to the winner, and the other 50% goes to your PTA or school fund

So if you sell $400 worth of tickets, the winner gets $200, and your school keeps the other $200. It’s simple math—and a big motivator for people to buy more tickets as the pot grows.

It’s easy to organize, doesn’t require a lot of volunteers, and works with both in-person and online communities (as long as your local laws allow). Plus, the excitement of a cash prize? That’s hard to beat.

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📝 What You’ll Need to Get Started

You don’t need much to pull off a successful 50/50 raffle—just a few basic supplies, a solid plan for selling tickets, and a way to draw and announce the winner.

🧾 Here’s your starter checklist:

• Raffle tickets – A numbered roll of double stub tickets works best (one for the participant, one for your draw). You can buy these online or at an office supply store.
• Cash box – For ticket sales at events. Don’t forget a float with small bills if you’re accepting cash.
• Mobile payment option – If your school uses Venmo, PayPal, or a PTA-approved app, set up a quick way for people to pay digitally (and note how many tickets they bought).
• Clear jar, box, or raffle drum – This is where the draw tickets go. A see-through container builds excitement!
• Printed rules or signage – Include the ticket prices, when the drawing will happen, and where proceeds are going.
• Volunteers – You’ll need at least one or two people to sell tickets and collect names if the draw isn’t happening live.

💡 Optional but helpful:

• A small whiteboard or sign to update the growing prize total
• A cute printed “Buy your tickets here!” sign to draw attention
• A school-approved envelope or tracking sheet to keep digital payments and ticket numbers organized

Whether you’re running it at a single event or selling tickets over a few days, staying organized from the start makes the rest of the process a breeze.

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💵 How Much to Charge and Ways to Sell Tickets

One of the best parts about a 50/50 raffle? It’s totally flexible. You can keep it super simple with $1 tickets or offer bundle deals to encourage bigger purchases (and bigger payouts!).

💲 Common pricing options:

• $1 for 1 ticket
• $5 for 6 tickets
• $10 for 15 tickets
• $20 for 35 tickets (a fun “big spender” option!)

These bundles feel like a deal—and most families will round up their purchase to get “just a few more” tickets. More tickets = more funds for your school and a bigger prize for the winner!

📍 Where and How to Sell:

• At events – Set up a ticket table at your next PTA night, movie night, or game day
• Carline or pickup – With admin approval, volunteers can walk the carline with tickets and a mobile payment option
• In the school office – Let families stop in and buy tickets during the week
• Online (if allowed in your state) – Use a simple Google Form and payment link to collect entries; just be sure you’re following local raffle regulations
• Send flyers home – Include a return envelope for cash/check purchases

💡 Pro tip: Display a “Jackpot Total So Far” sign near your ticket table. As the prize pot grows, so does the excitement!

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📣 How to Promote Your 50/50 Raffle

The secret to a successful 50/50 raffle? Build the buzz. Even though it’s a simple fundraiser, it can bring in big earnings when people get excited about the prize—and about supporting the school.

🏫 Promote at School:

• Backpack flyers – Send home a simple flyer with the how-to, prize details, and ticket pricing
• Morning announcements – Short, fun reminders like: “Buy your raffle tickets—winner takes half!”
• Posters and signs – Place them near the front office, lunchroom, or ticket table
• School newsletter and app – Include order deadlines and live drawing info

📱 Promote Online:

• Social media countdowns – “3 days left to grab your 50/50 raffle tickets!”
• Jackpot updates – “We’ve already raised $375! Winner takes half!”
• Winner reveal post – Post a photo of the winning ticket (and the prize amount!) after the draw
• QR code for online payments – If you’re collecting payments digitally, share a scan-to-buy code

🎤 Promote Live at Events:

• Make short announcements at assemblies, PTA meetings, spaghetti dinners, or sporting events
• Ask a student or staff member to do a quick shoutout
• Keep your ticket sellers visible—raffle table + a big “YOU COULD WIN CASH!” sign = attention

💡 Pro Tip: Show what the money raised will help with. “Funds raised support field trips and classroom supplies!” gives buyers that feel-good reason to get involved.

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⚖️ Legal Stuff to Consider

Before you start selling tickets, it’s important to check whether your state, school district, or PTA bylaws have any rules about raffles. A 50/50 may be simple, but it still counts as a game of chance—and some places have guidelines for how it must be run.

✅ What to check before you launch:

• Does your state require a raffle license or permit?
  Some states (like New York and California) have stricter rules around nonprofit raffles. Others are more relaxed—but it’s always better to double-check.
• Are you allowed to sell tickets online or outside the school?
  Online raffles are a gray area in some regions, so check whether you’re limited to in-person sales only.
• Who can buy tickets?
  Some jurisdictions limit raffles to adults over 18.
• How should you advertise the rules?
  Most states require you to display:
  • How much tickets cost
  • When the drawing will happen
  • Who can enter
  • That 50% of proceeds go to the winner, 50% to your fundraiser
• What does your school or PTA insurance cover?
  Your organization may already have raffle guidelines in place—check with your treasurer or district contact.

💡 Pro Tip: If this is your first time running a raffle, ask your school’s front office or PTA board if a permit is already on file from a past event. You might already be covered!

Don’t let the legal side scare you—it’s usually just a matter of filling out a quick form or following some basic display rules. Once you’ve ticked those boxes, you’re good to go!

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🎉 Drawing the Winner

Now for the fun part—announcing who takes home the prize! Whether you’re drawing the winning ticket at a big event or livestreaming it online, here’s how to make sure the process is fair, clear, and exciting.

📅 Choose When and Where:

• At a school event – Great for spaghetti dinners, carnivals, bingo nights, or assemblies
• End-of-day drawing – Wrap up the raffle after a few days of sales, even if it’s not tied to an event
• Livestream it – Post the drawing live on your school or PTA Facebook/Instagram page (just make sure it follows your raffle rules!)

🎟️ How to Do the Draw:

• Have all purchased tickets in a clear box, bin, or raffle drum
• Ask a trusted volunteer or student to draw the winning ticket
• Read the ticket number clearly (and name, if you collected them)
• Announce the prize amount and make it official—“Congrats! You just won $168!”

💡 Pro Tip: If you sold tickets online or collected payments digitally, make sure each entry is tracked and added to the draw before you go live.

📣 Don’t Forget to:

• Post a winner announcement in your school newsletter, social media, and on flyers
• Contact the winner directly to deliver the prize
• Publicly share how much was raised for the school—families love knowing their $1 tickets added up to something amazing!

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💡 Fun Ways to Boost Participation

A 50/50 raffle is already exciting, but with a few little extras, you can turn it into something everyone wants in on. These ideas help drive more ticket sales and keep your community engaged throughout the fundraiser.

🎯 1. Offer Early Bird Bonuses

Give anyone who buys tickets before a certain date a few bonus entries.
For example:
“Buy by Friday and get 2 bonus tickets!”

💸 2. Build Up the Jackpot Hype

Post regular updates:

“We’ve hit $250! Winner gets $125 and the rest supports new playground equipment!”

Use a whiteboard, poster, or social media graphic to track the growing prize.

🧺 3. Bundle with Another Event

Pair your raffle with something already happening, like:

• PTA movie night
• School dance
• Bingo night
• Family spaghetti dinner
  You’ve already got a crowd—just add tickets!

🏅 4. Offer a “Runner-Up” Prize

If allowed, offer a small second prize (school swag, donated gift card, etc.). It doesn’t reduce your 50/50 prize—it just adds another reason to join in!

📢 5. Get Students Involved

Let students help promote the raffle by designing flyers, updating the jackpot sign, or helping announce the total raised. It’s a great way to make them feel part of the excitement (even if they can’t buy tickets themselves).

💡 Pro Tip: Frame the fundraiser around what the money helps with—“This raffle supports classroom supplies!” sells more than “Just a raffle.”

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💌 Thanking Supporters

Once the winning ticket’s been drawn and the prize handed over, don’t forget the final step—saying thank you. Gratitude helps build trust with your school community and keeps everyone excited for the next fundraiser!

🥳 How to Show Your Thanks:

• Post a big thank-you on social media – Share how much was raised and how the funds will be used (e.g. “Thanks to YOU, we raised $312 for field trips!”)
• Email or newsletter shoutout – Include a recap of the event, the prize total, and a thank-you to everyone who participated
• Announce the winning ticket (and first name, if allowed) – “Congrats to Sarah M. who won $156 in our 50/50 raffle!”
• Thank your volunteers – A quick note or treat to those who sold tickets, tracked sales, or helped with the draw goes a long way

💡 Pro Tip: Mention when your next raffle or event is happening. A great thank-you message sets the stage for even more support next time!