Pick-a-number board or envelope wall

A board of numbered envelopes or squares (e.g. 1-100); people pick one and give that many dollars.

Typically raises

$2,000

$500–5,050 per campaignest.

About $286 per organiser hour

Based on one partly filled 1-100 board

Is it right for us?

Money: $2,000–10,000
Work: An afternoon
Helpers: 1–2 people
Lead time: 2–3 weeks
Red tape: None

Fairly common: a familiar envelope board at fairs and clubs

People: 1-3
Organiser time: 4-10
Lead time: 1-2 weeks
Up-front cost: $20
Risk: none
Who can use it: As for ‘Fill My Jersey’: a straight donation, no chance element.

Suits: Primary or intermediate school, Sports club or team, Team going to a tournament or tour

Less usual for: Kindy or early learning, High school, Scouts or Guides, One person (athlete, performer, student), Church

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

How big a job: An afternoon, 1–2 people

How it works

The money, as an example sum

Take about $2,020, pay about $20 of costs, and you keep about $2,000 per campaign: the typical result for one partly filled 1-100 board.

From the typical figure on this page. Your result will differ.

Where the money figure comes from

Arithmetic: 1-100 = $5,050; 1-150 = $11,325 (an overseas youth group reported 'over $11,000' from 150 envelopes). Low and typical are ESTIMATES for partial completion.

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 the range to fit the target.
Put the board in a busy place (church foyer, clubroom, school office) and online.
Each envelope holds a short note about the cause.
Cross off taken numbers and keep the graphic updated.
Thank donors and show the finished board.

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

Keep it a straight donation. Drawing a winning number for a prize turns it into a lottery under the Gambling Act.

Tips

Mix it with a 'fill the last 10' push near the end.

Watch out for

High numbers stall; offer to let people combine small numbers to reach the amount they want to give.