Buy-a-square grid (no-prize version)

Sell squares on a grid or picture (a field, a waka, a building) at a flat price; filled squares carry names.

Typically raises

$1,000

$200–5,000 per campaignest.

About $143 per organiser hour

Based on about 100 squares at $10-$50

Is it right for us?

Money: $500–2,000
Work: A few evenings
Helpers: 1–2 people
Lead time: 2–3 weeks
Red tape: None

Uncommon: a visual twist that most supporters haven't seen

People: 1-2
Organiser time: 4-10
Lead time: 2 weeks
Up-front cost: $30
Risk: low
Who can use it: Without a prize it is a donation with recognition.

Can suit, but rarely run by: Kindy or early learning, Primary or intermediate school, High school, Sports club or team, Church, Charity, Community group, marae or service club, Kapa haka, choir, theatre or band

When: Summer (Dec–Feb), Autumn (Mar–May), Winter (Jun–Aug), Spring (Sep–Nov)

How big a job: A few evenings, 1–2 people

How it works

The money, as an example sum

Sell at $10 a square, keep $10, so 103 squares = $1,030, or about $1,000 after about $30 of costs. That’s about the typical result.

Using the figures on this page. Your prices and costs will differ.

Where the money figure comes from

ESTIMATE: e.g. 100 squares at $10-$50.

Last checked October 2026. Ran this? Tell us what you raised and we’ll use real results to improve the figures.

Step by step

Design the grid around the thing being funded.
Fix a price per square.
Sell at events and online; write names in as they pay.
Display the completed grid.
Thank everyone.

Getting the word out

Even a well-run plan fails if nobody hears about it. There are two asks, and the first one goes out first.

Ask for help: Members to share it with people they know.
Ask people to buy: People to buy a square, a number or a brick.
When to start: Ask for helpers first, as soon as the date is set. Start the public ask about 1–2 weeks out, and book newsletter and paper notices before that: small newsletters close early.

Where to put it

Asking people yourselfMost yeses come from someone asking directly. Give every member a short message they can send to family and workmates.
Email lists and group chatsYour members’ email list and the class, team or church group chats. Short, with one date or one link.
School, club and church newslettersYour own newsletter is free and read by the families most likely to say yes. Check when it closes.
Local Facebook pages and community groupsPost in your town’s community page and local groups (check their rules), and share from your group’s own page.

The full guide to getting the word out: every channel from flyers to the evening news, with lead times and costs.

What you’ll need

Place: Not neededNone needed
Landowner’s permission: Not needed
Council permit: Not needed
Food rules: Not neededNo food sold
Alcohol: Not neededNo alcohol sold
Gambling rules: Not neededNot gambling

Without a prize it is a donation with recognition, not gambling. A score-match squares game with a cash prize is a lottery and must be society-run.

Tips

A picture that 'fills in' as squares sell shows progress well.

Watch out for

Adding a prize without checking the gambling rules.