Hamper raffle (class-contributed or donated)
Each class or family contributes one item to themed hampers (Christmas, Easter, pantry, pamper), which are then raffled.
Typically raises
$800
$200–2,500 per campaignest.
About $76 per organiser hour
Based on one hamper worth $150-$500
Is it right for us?
- Money
- $500–2,000
- Work
- A few evenings
- Helpers
- 3–6 people
- Lead time
- 1–2 months
- Red tape
- Light
Everyone’s done it: class hamper raffles are a school classic
- People
- 1 organiser, class reps to collect items, sellers
- Organiser time
- 6-15 [Estimate]
- Lead time
- 3-6 weeks
- Up-front cost
- Baskets and wrapping $10-$40 per hamper [Estimate]; low risk.
- Risk
- Low: $10-$40 a hamper for baskets and wrapping.
How it works
The money, as an example sum
Take about $840, pay about $40 of costs, and you keep about $800 per campaign: the typical result for one hamper worth $150-$500.
From the typical figure on this page. Your result will differ.
Where the money figure comes from
[Estimate] Hamper retail value $150-$500 sets a cap of $750-$2,500 printed per hamper (20% rule). an NZ fundraising guide calls it 'the classic raffle prize'.
Last checked October 2026. Ran this? Tell us what you raised and we’ll use real results to improve the figures.
Step by step
- Choose themes and a target value per hamper.
- Send home a one-item request list per class with a drop-off date.
- Value the contents at shelf prices and photograph each hamper.
- Set the ticket cap from the total hamper value.
- Print tickets listing each hamper as a prize.
- Sell in person and display the hampers at pick-up or reception.
- Draw publicly and deliver.
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 3–4 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 2: prizes up to $5,000 and all tickets printed worth up to $25,000. Run by a club or society, with the money going to community or charitable purposes. Prizes at least 20% of ticket value; sold in person only, every ticket numbered (our rule: on paper). Prizes over $5,000 need a Class 3 licence
Class 2 lottery run by a society: prizes at least 20% of tickets printed times price, sold in person only (our rule: a numbered paper ticket for every entry), no alcohol in hampers, public draw and results within a week.
Make more from it
Draw it at a gala or end-of-year event
lifts last-minute sales (estimate)
people buy when they can see the hampers
What you can get donated
Families (one item each), local shops (vouchers, products), a supermarket (gift card).
Tips
- Displaying the real hamper where parents pass sells tickets.
- Red Cross NZ: package prizes attractively and use photos.
Watch out for
- Wine, beer or RTDs slipped in by a well-meaning family.
- Perishables kept too long before the draw.
Hamper raffle (class-contributed or donated): checklist
0 of 11 done
Before
While it runs
After
Class 2 lottery run by a society: prizes at least 20% of tickets printed times price, sold in person only (our rule: a numbered paper ticket for every entry), no alcohol in hampers, public draw and results within a week.
Also pairs with: school gala
* 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