How to Choose the Right Online Raffle Platform for Your Nonprofit

Online raffles are an incredible fundraising tool. They draw in massive crowds because people love the excitement of winning prizes.

However, picking the wrong platform can ruin a campaign before it even starts.

Moving beyond basic features is vital to pick a tool that is legal, affordable, and easy for your team to run.

The core features every online raffle website must have

When browsing software, look for these non-negotiable tools:

• Mobile-first checkout: Over 70% of buyers will use their phones to buy tickets. The checkout process must be smooth and fast.
• Certified random drawings: Drawing physical tickets out of a hat can create legal issues for online games. You need certified random number generators to protect your organization and keep things entirely fair.
• Ticket customization & bundling: The system should let you sell packages, like one ticket for $10 or three for $25. This simple step vastly increases your average order size.
• Real-time dashboards: You need to keep track of sales and remaining tickets dynamically as the event moves forward.

Payment processor rules for online raffle websites

Many nonprofits make the mistake of setting up a raffle using standard Stripe or PayPal accounts without reading the fine print. These major processors have strict rules regarding charitable gaming.

If they catch you running an unapproved raffle, they can freeze your account and hold your hard-earned funds indefinitely.

To stay safe, choose a platform with built-in compliant gateways, or secure written pre-approval from your processor before you sell your first ticket.

Additionally, always clearly state on your checkout page that raffle tickets are not tax-deductible under IRS rules.

Pricing decoded: Tips vs. fees

Raffle software generally uses one of two payment structures:

• The donor tipping model: Platforms like DoJiggy do not charge the nonprofit a platform fee. Instead, they ask the ticket buyer for a voluntary tip at checkout. This saves your budget, but it can occasionally confuse older supporters.
• Flat & percentage fees: Other platforms take a flat monthly rate or a small percentage (usually 3% to 5%) of your total sales. This is often preferred if you want a traditional, clean checkout experience without asking donors for extra tips.

Managing the hybrid system

Most raffles are not 100% digital. Nonprofits often sell physical paper tickets at live events while running an online campaign simultaneously.

Look for platforms that handle this hybrid model smoothly.

The software should allow you to log manual entries, process offline cash payments, and provide custom QR codes so volunteers can quickly pull up the mobile checkout page on-site.

Turning buyers into donors

Raffle ticket buyers are often one-time participants who are motivated by the prize rather than your mission. Once the drawing ends, they tend to disappear.

To bridge this gap, select software with built-in donor tracking tools. The platform should automatically create donor profiles, offer email messaging tools, and integrate directly with your donor database (CRM).

This allows you to follow up with participants and transition them into long-term supporters.

Top 4 online raffle websites to consider

Depending on your exact goals, here are four strong options:

• DoJiggy: Best for viral social sharing and online raffles where supporters sell tickets via their own pages.
• RallyUp: Great for complex setups, custom pricing tiers, or 50/50 campaigns.
• GalaBid: Perfect for hybrid gala events where you want to mix raffles with live auctions.
• Givebutter: Outstanding for long-term donor management and syncing buyer history with your primary CRM.

Conclusion: Choose the best online raffle website

Choosing the right platform balances safety, budget, and donor experience. Look for secure payments, easy ticket bundles, and donor tracking tools. Check your local laws and launch your raffle with confidence.