Learn how to run a charity raffle or sweepstakes for a nonprofit organization as an individual fundraiser on RallyUp.
RallyUp is a fundraising platform for nonprofit organizations. If you are an individual who wants to host a charity giveaway, such as a fundraising raffle or sweepstakes, on behalf of a charity organization, you’ll need to contact the organization, request permission, and have them invite you to fundraise on their behalf through RallyUp. Advocates cannot run Raffles or Sweepstakes on their own. Because these campaign types come with legal requirements that the beneficiary organization is responsible for, the organization must be registered with RallyUp to oversee the Campaign and receive the funds.
Are you a for-profit business? CSRs can run offline raffles on their own. For online raffles or sweepstakes, the benefiting organization must invite you to fundraise on their behalf through RallyUp. See: Understand: CSR Fundraising for US 501(c) Organizations
What should I know before running a charity raffle or sweepstakes as an individual?
- Online raffles are prohibited in Alabama, California, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin. If the organization you’re fundraising for is located in one of these states, consider running a Sweepstakes instead.
- If the organization you’re fundraising for is domiciled in New Zealand, you won’t be able to run an online Raffle.
Step 1: How do I get permission from the organization to run a charity giveaway?
Start by reaching out to the nonprofit organization you want to raise money for and let them know about the giveaway you would like to run on their behalf. (If you’ve already done this, skip to Step 2.)
Here are some details you’ll want to share with them:
- Your name and contact information
- The prize(s) you will give away and their value
- How you will conduct and promote the giveaway
If the organization approves your request to run a giveaway for them, you’re ready to move ahead to Step 2 below. If the organization does not approve your request, the reason is likely due to the giveaway’s legal requirements. The organization may not be qualified to run an online giveaway, or they may only be allowed to run a certain number of giveaways per year.
Step 2: What steps does the organization need to take to invite me?
The organization will first need to register on RallyUp if they haven’t already. Then, they’ll invite you to set up the fundraiser by adding you as one of their Advocates. You’ll want to send them links to these instructions to help them get started:
How-to: Get Started by Creating an Account and Registering Your Organization
How-to: Allow Supporters to Run Raffles or Sweepstakes for Your Organization
What happens after the organization invites me?
You’ll receive an invitation via email when the organization has registered and added you as an Advocate. Once you accept that invitation, you’ll be ready to start creating your charity raffle or sweepstakes, and the funds you raise will go directly to the organization.
- Open the invitation email from the organization and click on CREATE CAMPAIGN:
- Create your account using your own first and last name (you don’t need to enter the name of the organization):
You’ll be taken to Campaign Setup as soon as you create your account.
- Once you’re in Campaign Setup, select the fundraising Component(s) you want to use:
- Complete all other steps in Campaign Setup. When you’re done and ready to start fundraising, go live:
Keep in touch with your contact at the organization throughout the fundraiser. Remember that they need to be aware of any major changes to your Campaign’s details or your promotional strategy. While you are generously donating your time to set up and manage the fundraiser, they are ultimately responsible for the legal compliance and reporting requirements.
How do I get started?
If you’re ready to host a charity raffle or sweepstakes for a nonprofit, start by reaching out to the organization you want to support. Once they register on RallyUp and invite you as an Advocate, you can begin building your Campaign right away.
Need help? Our team is available via chat on our website during normal business hours. Just click the purple message button on the bottom right of your screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an individual run a charity Raffle or Sweepstakes without organization approval?
No. Advocates cannot run Raffles or Sweepstakes without being invited by the benefiting organization. The organization must register on RallyUp and add you as an Advocate before you can create these campaign types. This requirement exists because the organization is legally responsible for compliance with raffle and sweepstakes regulations.
Can I run a charity Raffle or Sweepstakes for a personal cause?
No, you cannot run a Raffle or Sweepstakes for personal causes. These fundraisers must benefit a charitable organization that meets legal requirements.
Why does the nonprofit organization need to approve my giveaway request?
The organization benefiting from the giveaway is legally responsible for compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. They must approve your request to ensure they can legally run the giveaway and meet any licensing or reporting requirements.
What if the charity I want to help isn’t registered with RallyUp yet?
The organization will need to register on RallyUp first before you can run a fundraiser for them. Send them the instructions on how to create an account and add you as an Advocate so you can set up the giveaway on their behalf.
Who receives the funds from a charity Raffle or Sweepstakes?
All funds raised go directly to the registered charitable organization, not to you as an individual. Once the organization invites you and you create the Campaign, they remain the legal beneficiary and recipient of the funds.
Do I need to stay in contact with the organization during my fundraiser?
Yes, you should keep in touch with your contact at the organization throughout the fundraiser. They need to be aware of any major changes to your Campaign details or promotional strategy, as they are ultimately responsible for legal compliance and reporting requirements.