What are 50/50 Raffles? Your Guide to Fundraising Success!

3/17/2026

Looking for a simple, high-energy way to raise money for your cause? A 50/50 raffle (also known as a cash raffle) is an easy-to-run fundraiser that creates instant excitement—and with the right prize ideas, it can draw even more support. 

In this guide, we’ll break down how a cash raffle works, how to run a 50/50 raffle, and give you practical tips on how to price 50/50 raffle tickets, build buzz, and host a successful fundraiser from start to finish.

What is a 50/50 Raffle?

In a 50/50 raffle, every ticket sold adds to a shared cash prize — at the draw, one winner takes half and your charity takes the other half.

The cool thing about a 50/50 raffle is that the more entries you get, the more the pot grows. That ever-growing cash prize winds up motivating yet more people to buy tickets. After all, who doesn’t want to win a bunch of money?

Since the money raised is split between the winner and your cause, a 50/50 raffle might not raise as much as a traditional raffle. But the ROI (return on investment) is off the charts. Printed raffle tickets are your only cost, but you can even offset that by lining up a sponsor to advertise on the back. Plus, you don’t have to go hunting for raffle prizes. The cherry on top? Your lucky winner commonly donates part or all of their prize money back to the cause.

How Does a 50/50 Raffle Work?

In a 50/50 raffle, participants buy numbered tickets, each contributing to the prize pool. At the end, one ticket is drawn at random — that holder wins 50% of the total raised, and the other 50% goes to your organization.

1. Participants Purchase Tickets: Each raffle ticket sale contributes to the prize pool. For instance, if a ticket costs $5, that amount is split in half—50% goes to the winner, and 50% goes to the organization.
2. Collect and Track Sales: If you’re running an in-person raffle, use printed raffle tickets with numbered stubs to keep track of entries. If you add an online raffle component, make sure your fundraising platform can manage both digital and paper ticket sales.
3. Build Excitement: As tickets sell, the prize pool increases. Regularly update participants about the current prize amount to generate excitement and encourage additional sales.
4. Draw a Winner: At the end of the raffle, a winning ticket is drawn at random. The lucky ticket holder receives 50% of the total funds collected, while the other 50% goes to your organization.
5. Celebrate the Winner: Make the drawing an exciting event! Whether it’s at an in-person gathering or via a live stream, create anticipation and celebrate when the winner is announced.

How to Run a 50/50 Raffle

1. Set up your tickets. Each raffle ticket has a numbered stub — one half goes to the buyer, the other goes into the drawing bucket. At the draw, you pull a stub and match it to the ticket holder.
2. Online Ticket Sales: Use a fundraising platform to create a raffle page where supporters can purchase tickets anytime. Share the page throughout your social media channels. 
3. Bundle Deals: Inspire supporters to buy more tickets through bulk purchase discounts. An example of this would be to sell five tickets for $25 versus $8 for a single ticket.
4. Promote on Social Media: Blast your fundraising page across your social media networks to pump up those ticket sales. Just make sure online raffles are legal in your state. If you can’t run an online raffle, use social media to spread the word anyway. Just be extra clear with how and when people can buy tickets. 
5. Emphasize Your Cause: On your tickets, raffle page, event marketing materials, and within your social media posts, remind participants that every ticket sold supports your organization’s mission.
6. Clear rules: Make sure the rules for your 50/50 raffle draw are unambiguous and easy to find. A terrific place to stash them is on your nonprofit organization’s fundraising page. It’s also a good idea to share them on social media. 
7. Set a Deadline: Create urgency by having a set deadline, and develop a sense of FOMO by sharing regular countdowns to spur last-minute purchases.
8. Make the draw a spectacle: When it’s time to pick the winning raffle ticket, make it an event. If your 50/50 raffle is part of a larger event, get the crowd excited! Periodically remind the crowd how much they’ll win and when you’ll conduct the draw. Be sure to livestream the draw or use Facebook/Instagram Live—it’ll make followers who didn’t buy tickets promise themselves they will next time. Plus, it’s great content, and every charitable organization could use some of that.

With these tactics, you’ll boost ticket sales and ensure your 50/50 raffle reaches its full fundraising potential.

Tips for a Successful 50/50 Raffle

1. Legal Check: Make sure you’re playing by the rules. 50/50 raffles are legal in most US states but rules vary — check your state’s raffle laws and rules before running one.
2. Taxes: There is a real possibility that winners may owe taxes on their prize — it’s worth mentioning this upfront so no one is surprised.
3. 50/50 Raffle Tickets: You know what they say, the ticket makes the raffle! Great-looking, custom-printed raffle tickets can give your fundraising efforts a boost by imparting a professional feeling to your fundraiser.
4. Ticket Type: If you’re running a 50/50 raffle within a bigger event, consider raffle roll tickets. But keep in mind that these tickets don’t have space for participants to fill out their contact information. As a result, finding the winner if they aren’t there at the draw can be tricky. When you use roll tickets, consider making it a rule that all who enter have to be present at the drawing. 

A 50/50 raffle is a really effective, efficient, low-resource way to reach your fundraising goal and stir up excitement and awareness for your cause. Just remember to review your local raffle laws and prepare well, and you’ll be on your way to a successful fundraiser.

Conclusion

A 50/50 raffle is a fun, flexible, and cost-effective way to raise money for your cause. By combining smart promotion strategies with creative 50/50 raffle prize ideas, you can boost ticket sales, engage your community, and create an exciting event that delivers results.

If you’re gearing up to host a 50/50 raffle that captivates your audience and maximizes your fundraising potential, order cash raffle tickets and take the first step towards a successful fundraiser!