Organizing a Car Raffle

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Organizing a Car Raffle
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Organizing a Car Raffle

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

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Car Raffle Basics

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

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Obtaining a Prize Donation

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

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Obtaining a Prize Donation

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

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Obtaining a Prize Donation

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

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Obtaining a Prize Donation

• Automotive dealers and large retail stores with
  automotive sections
• Large hardware stores (they tend to be involved
  with racing, and may also be willing to sell
  tickets)
• Car Manufacturers
• Fortune 500 companies in your area
• Professional Sports Teams
• Businesses in your area that have shown interest
  in your cause
• Corporations that have a connection to members of
  your board

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Obtaining a Prize Donation

• The goals of the organization and/or specifics of
  the fundraiser
• The background of the organization
• Exactly how the donations is going to be used
• How realistic your fundraising plans are and what
  your budget looks like
• How the efforts of the fundraiser will be
  monitored and evaluated
• How their company can be showcased in a positive
  manner

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Obtaining a Prize Donation

• Also, a business plan, marketing plan, or other
  documents may be required. Promotion of the event
  will also be key, so that the sponsors can get
  the recognition they deserve.
• Tip Solicit items via e-mail. Over the past few
  years this has proven to be a highly successful
  strategy. It's quick, costs next to nothing, and
  doesn't take a lot of time (whereas phone calls
  can be quite time consuming).

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Purchasing the Prize Vehicle

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

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Purchasing the Prize Vehicle

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

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Selling Tickets

• A maximum of 5,000 tickets should be sold. This
  entices participants with excellent odds, so be
  sure to mention this statistic to possible
  purchasers.
• Each volunteer should receive a pre-determined
  number of tickets. That person is responsible for
  the sale or return of ALL tickets given to them
  by the team leader or point person.

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Selling Tickets

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

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Selling Tickets

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

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Price Point

• The price set for tickets can make or break a
  raffle fundraiser. The ticket price needs to be
  high enough to reflect the value of the prize,
  and to raise the funds needed. However, it
  shouldnt be so high that no one will want to buy
  a ticket!

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Price Point

• Again, you have to know your audience. What are
  your supporters willing to pay for a ticket? For
  some luxury prizes and/or audiences you may need
  to charge 50 or 100 a ticket. But remember, the
  lower your ticket price, the more tickets you
  need to sell to make a good profit. For an
  economy vehicle, a ticket price of 20 or 25 is
  the norm.
• This is why having a big prize is so important.
  You can charge a higher ticket price for big
  ticket prizes, thus creating even more profit for
  your organization.

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Promotions

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

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Promotions

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

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Promotions

• Retailers to inquire for sales permission
  include
• Car Dealerships
• Motorcycle Shops
• Automotive Stores
• Grocery Stores
• Warehouse Stores
• Department Stores
• Malls
• Gyms
• Restaurants
• Bars
• Apartment Complexes

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Rules

• Youll want to set some rules or guidelines for
  the raffle. Examples may include
• There is no limit to the number of tickets an
  individual can purchase.
• To avoid any fraud or perception of fraud, no
  employees of your organization or any
  organization associated with the raffle can be
  eligible for prizes.

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Good Luck!!!