Boost Funds With These 10 Raffle Basket Ideas (+3 Fundraising Alternatives)
Raffles Take Fundraising To The Next Level
One of the biggest challenges nonprofits face is finding new and engaging ways to fundraise for their cause. Luckily, raffle baskets are an instant crowd-pleaser for any event and are fully customizable to your budget, event, and audience! Let’s dive into some of our favorite raffle basket ideas and other fundraising activities.
Why Do Raffle Baskets Work?
Once you’ve incorporated raffle baskets into an auction, you can understand why nonprofits keep returning to them. These curated baskets are thoughtfully stocked with donated goods, offering higher returns for lower costs to help nonprofits amplify their causes. Here are just three of the reasons we love incorporating raffle baskets:
- They’re Easy Revenue Generators: By calling on donations from local businesses in your community, raffle baskets keep the cost low and prize value high. The low overhead of procuring donations makes raffle baskets a lucrative fundraising idea.
- They Boost Donor Engagement: Nothing gets the crowd going like a friendly game of luck! The low cost of raffle tickets means donors with budgets of all sizes can get involved. A diverse selection of baskets helps you appeal to various interests in your guest list, promoting even more engagement.
- They Encourage Community Involvement + Donations: Raffle baskets are a great way to get your community involved and nurture meaningful relationships. Local restaurants, small businesses, and other establishments benefit from the exposure at fundraising events and are willing to chip in. This outreach can also lay the groundwork for future sponsorships and larger donations!
10 Raffle Basket Ideas To Help You Win At Your Next Event
Couples Staycation
This raffle basket idea may just be the night’s most coveted prize! Give a lucky couple a one-night stay at a local hotel, dinner for two at a nice restaurant, and a bottle of champagne for the ultimate staycation.
Tourists In Your Own City
It’s common to overlook all that your city has to offer. Partner with local attractions and businesses to provide a day filled with everything from tours to historical landmarks!
Gameday Basket
Delight sports fans with tickets to your local college team, fan apparel, and other memorabilia. Top it off with some delicious gameday snacks and you’ve got yourself a winner!
Foodie Basket
Source non-perishable goodies from local food and specialty shops, giving guests an eclectic taste of home. Be sure to strike a balance between novelty items and classic foodie favorites!
Wine + Cheese Basket
Perfect for guests 21+ and up, wine and cheese pairings are a total crowd-pleaser! Local wine and cheese selections will be a delicious prize for anyone to take home.
Pet Lover Basket
Show our furry friends some love with their favorite treats, a gift card to a local pet shop, toys, and essentials like bowls and food. Offer both dog and cat baskets to appeal to all pet owners!
Self-Care Basket
You can’t put a price on relaxation. Help one lucky winner unwind with a day of indulging in their favorite self-care activities: a trip to the spa, a plush robe, and of course, some products for at-home self-care.
Fitness Basket
For health enthusiasts, you can partner with local gyms for free trials or class packages, reach out to nutrition shops for supplement samples, and include workout gear or a fitness watch to get the crowd buzzing!
Outdoor Basket
Create an adventurous fundraising experience for the wild at heart with all the outdoor essentials. Think Yeti water bottles, camping equipment, hiking socks, and hammocks. Plus, you can lean into non-perishables by including trail mix and other delicious snacks.
Movie Night Basket
Now playing: your most successful fundraiser yet! Set the scene for the perfect movie night with tickets to your local theater, buttery popcorn and snacks, and of course, a cozy blanket to wrap it all up. This raffle basket idea is great for any budget or audience!
Raffle Alternatives
Some states have regulations excluding raffles from charitable events and fundraisers. If you can’t do a raffle in your area, we’ve rounded up three equally fun and engaging raffle alternatives for your next event!
Themed Games: If your event has a theme, get creative with your games! Sell tickets to a ring toss for a carnival, put on a sack race for a hoedown, offer trivia prizes for a Hollywood soiree, or go full-on murder mystery for an immersive experience.
Mystery Box or Wine Pull: Another game of chance, mystery box/wine pull activities are always a hit with the crowd! Set a flat price per box or bottle and let donors choose from a selection of pre-packaged wine bottles or other mystery gifts. Everyone gets to feel like a winner!
Pledge Wall: Create a visually appealing “pledge wall” where attendees can write their donation commitments on cards and stick them on the wall for everyone to see. This encourages others to match or exceed donations, creating a friendly competition.
Streamline Event Planning & Maximize Your Funds With Auction & Event Solutions
No matter what kind of event you’re planning, day-of logistics can make or break your donor experience. From our raffle software* to event management solutions, AES is proud to be your trusted fundraising partner. We simplify everything from registration and ticketing to bidding and on-site support. We’re here to help you before, during, and after your event so you can focus on what matters most: your cause.
*Where not prohibited by state gaming and licensing restrictions
