[MR] Silent Auctions vs. Raffles

[GM Miller]

Greetings unto the populace,

I am a volunteer with my local rescue squad. As a Paramedic, I am expected to be an officer and show leadership, as well as help with day-to-day operations. One of the things I do for the organization is fund raising.

I have done just about everything imaginable besides selling doughnuts and door-knocking to try and raise funds. Experience tells me this:

A live or silent auction tends to bring in much more cash (2-3X that of a raffle). However, much more time and effort must be spent in the management of the auction itself, and the logistics of getting your items to auction organized, and keep up with bids/winners.

A raffle on the other hand is quite simple in the running. All you need is a place and person to sell tickets, and an item(s) of value that will be raffled. The best raffles I have personally held, that don't involve BIG ticket items (like motorcycles, cars, big screen TVs) are 50/50 drawings, where one ticket is pulled in the end, and the winner recieves 50% of the day's take. Most of the time, the winner will turn around and donate the winnings back to the fund drive! Otherwise you need a few (3 or 4) really nice things to draw attention, and make people want to take a chance on it.

I don't know about the legalities here in North Carolina, but I do know that every elementary school, high school, fire department, the Lion's Club, the Rotary Club, the Moose lodge, and the Shriners all do raffle tickes and 50/50 drawings everywhere I've been in the state. I have never heard of anyone having to report the raffle to the state, nor have to get any kind of permit. I think that it's safe to say, that if you are legitimately raising money for something like the hurricane relief, that you will be unmolested by the law.

My 2c worth, I hope this helps.

In servive to Atlantia,
Lord Gavius