Small class or team raffle (Class 1, up to $500)
A quick raffle with a small prize, e.g. a $100 hamper and 250 tickets at $2, run by a society's class or team.
Typically raises
$250
$100–400 per eventest.
About $71 per organiser hour
Based on one raffle capped at $500 turnover
Is it right for us?
- Money
- Under $500
- Work
- An afternoon
- Helpers
- 3–6 people
- Lead time
- 2–3 weeks
- Red tape
- Light
Everyone’s done it: everyone has bought a $2 ticket for a hamper
- People
- 1 organiser, 5-25 sellers
- Organiser time
- 2-5 [Estimate]
- Lead time
- 1-3 weeks
- Up-front cost
- Minimal; printing on a home printer or a $5 bargain-shop ticket book (Red Cross notes ticket books at stationery shops).
- Risk
- Minimal: a ticket book or home printing.
How it works
The money, as an example sum
Sell at $2 a ticket, keep $2, so 125 tickets = $250. 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] Turnover is capped at $500; net = $500 less any bought prize. A $100 prize allows the full $500 (20% rule).
Last checked October 2026. Ran this? Tell us what you raised and we’ll use real results to improve the figures.
Step by step
- Run it under the school or club (the society), not as a private person.
- Pick a prize worth at least 20% of planned turnover.
- Print up to $500 of tickets (e.g. 250 at $2).
- Sell in person over 1-2 weeks.
- Draw publicly (assembly, team training) and tell the winner.
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
- Sellers to take a book of tickets, and businesses to give prizes.
- Ask people to buy
- People to buy tickets.
- 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.
- PostersPosters at the school gate, the clubrooms and shop windows, with the date, place, price and how to pay.
- School, club and church newslettersYour own newsletter is free and read by the families most likely to say yes. Check when it closes.
- Email lists and group chatsYour members’ email list and the class, team or church group chats. Short, with one date or one link.
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
- NeededClass 1: prizes and the value of all tickets printed both $500 or less. If an individual runs it, all the money goes back as prizes. Sold in person only. Our rule: a numbered paper ticket for every entry
Prizes and turnover each $500 or less, one Class 1 session per day per society. Run under the school or club, never as a private person, and sell in person only (our rule: a numbered paper ticket for every entry).
What you can get donated
Hamper items from class families; a voucher from a local shop.
Tips
- Good first raffle for a new volunteer.
- Combine with an Easter or Christmas theme.
Watch out for
- Drifting over $500 of tickets turns it into Class 2, which is still fine but needs the full ticket details.
- A parent running it for their own child's trip.
Small class or team raffle (Class 1, up to $500): checklist
0 of 11 done
Before
On the day
After
Prizes and turnover each $500 or less, one Class 1 session per day per society. Run under the school or club, never as a private person, and sell in person only (our rule: a numbered paper ticket for every entry).
* General fundraising information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Money figures are examples and estimates, not promises. Check current official requirements before you commit. About this guide