Pick-a-square board (100 squares)

A 10x10 board; buyers choose a square, and a number is drawn when the board is full or on a set date.

Typically raises

$400

$150–1,000 per eventest.

About $133 per organiser hour

Based on one 100-square board at $5

Is it right for us?

Money
Under $500
Work
An afternoon
Helpers
1–2 people
Lead time
2–3 weeks
Red tape
Light

Fairly common: a familiar paper board, seen at clubs and offices

People
1-2
Organiser time
2-4 [Estimate]
Lead time
1-2 weeks
Up-front cost
A printed board; prize usually donated. Low.
Risk
Low: the prize is usually donated.

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

Less usual for: Primary or intermediate school, High school, Church, Community group, marae or service club

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

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

How it works

The money, as an example sum

Sell at $5 a square, keep $5, so 80 squares = $400. 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 x $5 = $500 turnover; prize >= $100 (20% rule). Several separate boards can run across an event.

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

Step by step

  1. Print the board with the society, purpose, price, prize, draw date and place.
  2. Sell squares in person; write buyer names and phones on the board or a log.
  3. If the board isn't full by the draw date, draw only from the sold squares.
  4. Draw publicly (numbered tokens from a bag or the free tool's draw screen).
  5. Announce and publish the result.

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

A lottery: society-run, prize fixed in advance and at least 20% of turnover, Class 1 up to $500. Sell in person; orders taken by Facebook comment or message are remote selling, not allowed for Class 1 or 2.

Make more from it

Stack it: on its own, about $400. With the add-on above, roughly

$1,100est.

What you can get donated

Prize from a local business.

Tips

  • Keep separate boards' money separate; each board is its own prize.

Watch out for

  • Posting the board online and taking 'pick 47 for me' comments.
  • Drawing 1-100 when only 60 squares sold.

Pick-a-square board (100 squares): checklist

0 of 10 done

Before

  • The rules

On the day

After

A lottery: society-run, prize fixed in advance and at least 20% of turnover, Class 1 up to $500. Sell in person; orders taken by Facebook comment or message are remote selling, not allowed for Class 1 or 2.

Ticks are saved in this browser only.

Goes well with

Also pairs with: club prizegiving, sports-day canteen

Sources

  1. dia.govt.nz
  2. dia.govt.nz

Researched October 2026. All fundraising ideas

* 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