School fundraisers are a necessary evil, especially when you’re an elementary school teacher. You have to find creative ways to ask for money from your students to cover the costs of running your school and its programs. The good news is that there are several ways you can go about asking for money while still making it seem like a fair reward for the students who donated. To help you figure out the best way to get your students involved in your school fundraiser, here are some ideas for raffle prizes for your school fundraiser:
What is a Raffle?
A raffle is a method of fundraising that involves selling tickets that entitle the buyer to a chance to win one or more prizes if certain conditions are met. The main condition is that the winner must be drawn from all the ticket holders, which makes raffles a random method of collecting funds. Raffles come in many varieties, including a variety of ticket prices and prize options. You typically make more money from a low ticket price with a small prize than you would from a high ticket price with a large prize. A common, low-cost option for selling raffle tickets is a door-to-door fundraiser. You can also create an online raffle.
What is the Purpose of a Raffle?
The purpose of a raffle is to create a sense of giving among your students. Selling raffle tickets is a voluntary activity that allows you to collect funds without requiring them to physically give you money. Instead, they have to buy tickets to enter the drawing. This way, they still feel like they are ‘winning’ something even if they don’t have to pay you. Even better, they can use the ticket money to buy things they need or want—from school supplies to snacks to field trips.
Make Cash the Prize
Cash can be a great prize for a school fundraiser. You don’t have to limit the cash amount to anything specific, but keep in mind that it can be a high-pressure subject for some students. If cash is a trigger for a student, you want to be as supportive as you can while still addressing the issue head-on. You can also offer other prizes alongside cash prizes. For example, you might hold a bake sale during which you sell cookies for a specific price and in specific sizes. You can still charge the same price for the cookie but tell the students that they can choose a cookie or cash as the prize. This way, you’re still collecting the money from the cookie sale, but it’s a little less direct.
Make Merchandise the Prize
Another type of prize that can work well in a school fundraiser is merchandise. You can choose to sell school-branded merchandise like t-shirts, fridge magnets, or posters. You can also sell other types of merchandise such as art supplies, accessories, or snacks. Note that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) protects you from using school connections to sell products that students don’t need. So you can sell branded pencils and notebooks, but you can’t sell pens or papers that the students don’t need. You can also offer a raffle for merchandise if you’re also holding a bake sale. Buy a large amount of branded merchandise at a low cost. When the students buy raffle tickets, they’re also buying the chance to win the branded merchandise.
Make Stationery or Food the Prize
Another option for selling raffle tickets is to give them a chance to win a prize worth a certain amount of money. You can sell raffle tickets for a set amount of money and then draw a winner at a specified time. You can also set a deadline for how soon after the ticket purchase a winner can be selected. If you choose this option, you can also give the winner the option to choose a raffle ticket as their prize. You can also sell raffle tickets with a mini-guess of what the prize is an assignment. Draw a winner, and then have your prize description changed. This way, you’re still giving the students a chance to win a prize worth a certain amount of money, and they’re also learning a little bit about guessing what the prize will be.
Conclusion
Raffle prizes are a great way to raise money for your school. Whether you choose cash, merchandise, or some other type of prize, a raffle will give your students a chance to win something, whether it’s a tangible prize or an emotional one. There are many ways to choose a raffle prize, so don’t be afraid to try a few and see what works best for your situation. You can also contact raffle companies like First Prize Raffles for more information or assistance.
ALSO READ
