Give a Little Receive a Lot by Patrick Tackwell
Give a Little Receive a Lot by Patrick Tackwell
Raffling off prizes is one of the oldest ways non-profit organizations have received additional funding. It gives those that purchase raffle tickets a sense that if they give a little they can receive a lot. It is a small way to make a community feel a sense of unity. Many raffles include thing such as “win a date with and eligible bachelor/bachelorette”, or “win one of Miss Daisy’s home made apple pies”. While these are perfectly fine, the way to really boost ticket sales would be to visit local businesses.
A non-profit could go to a local spa and ask the owners if they would like to donate a session to the raffle. This would be initiative for people to buy a ticket, because they would feel a one dollar ticket gives them the opportunity to receive what would be a fifty dollar massage. The winner would get a forty-nine dollar value while the locally owned spa would receive business and publicity from the non-profit. The non-profit would both receive money for the raffle and be praised for helping local business. Win-win-win.
Take this idea to the local bakery, mechanic, and antiquities shop. Ask for a cake from the bakery. The mechanic can donate a free oil change. The antique dealer can give an item worth very little or that is just esthetically pleasing. From this one raffle the non-profit has boosted the local economy, boosted ticket sales, and gave a great value for the winners.
Now the demographic of the raffle has also expanded. It once was for members of the non-profit. Now the raffle has made its way to the spa, bakery, mechanic, and antique shop. The owners of each business would feel obliged to buy a ticket after donating. The employees will be informed of the donation and may be enticed to buy a ticket as well. If the clients and customers of the businesses were to find they could win a product or service from a business they already go to, they would surely want a ticket. Going to just these four businesses has expanded the number of demographics 13 fold. The original demographic of those in the non-profit will purchase tickets. Now there are also four business owners, four separate business's employee base, and four separate business’s customer base. Add any friends and family the different demographics might tell and the raffle is a guaranteed success.
This returns to the idea of unity. The raffle no longer is just about connecting the church, or the activists, sports groups, or whatever group is holding the event. This has now truly become a community effort. Five separate groups have come together for something bigger than any group could accomplish separately. The non-profit has now increased their ticket sales while boosting the local economy. Each group has now been introduced to four other groups of potential supporters. Best of all, the support doesn’t have to stop there. The raffle holders can contact as many local businesses as they please. This would only continue to increase demographic, ticket sales, and support from and for other groups in the community. Simply put, raffling is just good business.
Help Patrick Tackwell's pursuit of a scholarship award by clicking the “sharing is caring” buttons – click on this link:
http://raffleticket.com/blog/give-a-little-receive-a-lot/
Contributed by Patrick Tackwell
December 18, 2015