Oh, the good old 50/50 draw... (We wish we could have commissioned Stompin' Tom Connors to write that one while he was still with us.)

We all love watching the jackpot climb... But prize raffles can cause quite a stir, too.

Like, imagine winning a Corvette.
Or a new RV.
Or a dream home.
OR tickets to Taylor Swift's sold-out Eras Tour (one of the quickest sell-out raffles we've ever seen was for a set of these babies.)

Prize raffles have their advantages (one being you don't have to go splits with the winner), but if you still want to hype up a 50/50 jackpot... Add one.

The Rotary Club of Wasaga Beach supports all kinds of community groups through their multi-prize raffle, which includes a Corvette and half the 50/50 jackpot (which hit over $144,000 in 2023.)

What's a "50/50 add-on"?

For organizations raffling off major prizes, there's an option to add a 50/50 draw so supporters can buy two separate ticket packages and qualify for both the grand prize and half the 50/50 jackpot (and no one knows how big that prize will be 'til draw time.)

Examples of effective prize + 50/50 combo raffles:

Airdrie Health Foundation raffling off a Ford Mustang plus half the 50/50 jackpot.

Aspire Special Needs Resource Centre raffling off a Dodge Hornet GT vehicle, a diamond ring, $2,500 cash — plus half the 50/50 jackpot.

Baseball Québec raffling off multiple vacations (Florida, Arizona, Ottawa, Toronto...) plus half the 50/50 jackpot.

 

Shake it off, raffle it off. The Foundation for Prader-Willi Research raffling off Eras Tour concert tickets with an added 50/50 draw.

Should you add a 50/50 draw to your prize raffle?

We hesitate to say "yes" (there's always an exception...)

But yes, if you're running a prize raffle, there's little risk in adding a 50/50 draw since:

- There are no costs to recuperate (you're building your own prize $)

- There's no pressure for supporters to buy the extra package, it's just an option

Another perk to adding a 50/50: People love watching and talking about a growing jackpot.

Update your supporters on how the jackpot's climbing with social media posts, emails,  etc.

How do I add a 50/50 draw to my prize raffle?

Depending on your region, you likely need a fresh licence. Anytime you're updating your raffle program's prizing (adding a 50/50 draw, adding Early Bird draws, etc.), this is the first thing to look into.

So, start by figuring out if you need a new licence and apply for that.

Then we'll add the second draw to your raffle page (nothing technical needed from you, just that licence) and you're good to start promoting it.

Start raising more with a 50/50 add-on 

There you have it, you may have just uncovered a gap in your fundraising strategy (and a plan to solve it.)

If you're ready to add a 50/50 draw to your prize raffle and see how much more you can raise for your cause, let's chat about it.