How to Run an Online Raffle (And Combine It with an In-Person Draw)

A woman holding a prize draw ticket next to wrapped gift boxes and a raffle drum

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March 16, 2026

Running a raffle—online, in person, or both—is one of the most reliable fundraisers a nonprofit can run.

Online raffles are an easy way for nonprofit organizations to raise money. But merging in-person and virtual raffle fundraisers is where it’s at.

Most of the thousands of raffles conducted using the Eventgroove online fundraising platform are hybrid—that is, a mash-up of an online raffle and in-person raffle.

So, if you’re looking to boost your reach, this raffle fundraising idea is a winner! By combining the two formats, you can engage both online and in-person audiences while raising more money for your great cause.

Below, we’ll detail how to combine an online raffle with an in-person raffle, pass on tips for hybrid raffle success from our customers, and share practical advice to help make your event a breeze.

Why Should You Combine an In Person and Online Raffle?

By selling raffle tickets both in person and online, you can reach more people and build greater momentum. Supporters can share your raffle website on social media and via email, expanding your reach far beyond your local area. The result? More ticket sales, more awareness for your cause, and a better shot at hitting your fundraising goal.

When to Use a Hybrid Raffle

A hybrid raffle is a great fit for many types of fundraisers, particularly when:

You’re hosting a local event but want to include out-of-town supporters.
You have a mix of tech-savvy and offline supporters.
You want to build pre-event excitement through early online sales.
You need flexibility in your ticket sales window (online tickets can be sold over a longer period).

Before You Launch: Get the Basics Right

Define your fundraising goal. Prospective raffle participants want to know who or what their money is going to help. The more specific you can get, the better. Do you need $1,000 for classroom art supplies? $5,000 to upgrade the animal shelter health clinic? A clear goal makes it easier for supporters to say yes.

Set your ticket price. An accurate ticket price is essential to your raffle’s success. Use our raffle ticket calculator to figure out how many tickets you need to sell and at what price, factoring in your goal and any costs like printed raffle tickets.

Organize your prizes. The simplest prize is cash—in which case a 50/50 raffle is your best bet, where half the proceeds go to your cause and the rest constitutes the prize. (Note: 50/50 raffle legality varies by state.) For item prizes, baskets are always a big hit. Think themed bundles: self-care, date night, remote work essentials, or local experiences. You can source prizes by reaching out to local businesses or pulling together items yourself. Be crystal clear when asking for donations—people love saying yes when they know exactly how they’re contributing. Need inspiration? Browse our raffle prize ideas.

Pro tip: Sell sponsorship of your raffle by offering logo placement on your fundraising page, or by naming the sponsor during your virtual drawing.

What You’ll Need to Get Started

To run a hybrid raffle smoothly, gather the following ahead of time:

A virtual raffle platform
Custom printed raffle tickets for in-person ticket sales
A CSV template or system to track and upload physical ticket entries
QR codes linked to your raffle website
Printed posters, postcards, or signage with QR codes
A basic marketing plan for email and social media

How to Run an Online and In-Person Raffle Together

Once you’ve selected your raffle platform, follow the steps below to run a hybrid raffle. These instructions are tailored to the Eventgroove platform, which is designed to help nonprofits manage both in-person and online fundraisers with ease.

Before you begin, check your local raffle laws—not all areas allow online raffles or raffles in general.

Set up your raffle website

During setup, check the box that indicates you plan to sell both digital and physical tickets. If you later decide to offer online tickets only, simply uncheck it.

Set ticket numbers for each ticket type

Next, set the ticket numbering format for each type. In the first raffle setup section, expand “More Options” to define your starting numbers. Online tickets will be labeled with a “W” prefix and printed tickets with a “P.” You can customize these—for example, online tickets starting at 500 and printed ones at 1. All entries will be combined in the drawing regardless of type.

Start marketing your hybrid raffle

Promote your raffle both online and in person. Share your raffle website on social media, email, and word of mouth. For in-person engagement, print materials like posters, postcards, or vinyl banners with QR codes that link to your online raffle page work especially well.

Start selling tickets

Online ticket sales are automatically tracked by Eventgroove. For physical tickets, use the CSV template available in the “Enter Physical Entries” section of your dashboard to record in-person sales. When the raffle closes, upload the completed CSV to include all entries in your final drawing.

Run your drawing

Use the Eventgroove random number generator to select your winners automatically, or draw them manually if preferred. Either way, your raffle participants—online and in person—will all be included in the drawing.

Go live for the draw

Live stream the winner selection on social media and embed a video on your raffle page. It builds anticipation—and gives sponsors a moment in the spotlight too.

Tips for Hybrid Raffle Success

Sell virtual tickets in person

Set up a QR code on your phone that links to your Eventgroove raffle page. That way, when someone wants to pay with a credit card in person, they can scan and purchase a digital ticket right then and there.

Double-check your physical entries

Before closing ticket sales, leave enough time to review your CSV file for typos, formatting issues, or missing fields. This will help avoid errors when uploading to the Eventgroove platform before the drawing.

If you're raffling multiple prizes:

Make sure the prize names in your CSV match exactly what you’ve entered in your Eventgroove dashboard.
If you have a lot of prizes, such as in a basket raffle, give the system extra time to draw winners—it may take a few minutes to cycle through all entries and prizes.

Changing the closing date?

On Eventgroove, you must make that update before ticket sales end. Once the raffle is closed in the dashboard, you won’t be able to change the end date.

Questions We Often Hear from Raffle Organizers

Can I still do a hybrid raffle with just one prize?

Absolutely. Hybrid raffles work great even with a single prize. The format helps you reach more people regardless of how many items you’re raffling.

What if most of my sales are online?

That’s completely fine. You can upload even a few physical entries—it’s still worth it if it helps involve different groups of supporters.

Is promoting a hybrid raffle more complicated?

Not really. Use a mix of online and offline marketing—just be sure everything points to your raffle website. Printed materials with QR codes can be especially helpful in driving awareness.

After the Raffle: Follow Up

Don’t stop engaging supporters once the raffle ends. Send a thank-you email, post your winners, and share the impact your fundraiser will make. It’s a great way to show appreciation and build momentum for your next campaign.

Ready to Try a Hybrid Raffle?

Combining online and in-person raffles can elevate your next fundraiser. Like peanut butter and jelly, they’re great alone—but even better together. Launch your online fundraising raffle today!

Still weighing your options? Explore other fundraising formats like a charity sweepstakes.

How Selling Prom Tickets Online Works

Creating a ticket sales page takes no time, and you can customize it so it matches your prom theme and school branding. Here’s the shape of it:

Create the event. Name (Enchanted Forest Prom, 2026), date, venue, capacity, dress code, anything else students should know.
Set ticket types and prices. Most committees do one student ticket plus one guest or date. Some add an early bird ticket tier at a $10 discount for the first two weeks.
Grab a shareable link. Drop it in the school newsletter, add it to a QR code on your prom posters, then drop it into the school’s socials and the committee group chat so everyone can share within their networks, and the principal’s morning announcements.
Collect the money. Card and digital wallet payments flow straight into your account, whether someone pays in person at school or at the door on prom night.
Scan tickets at the door. Each student arrives with their printed prom tickets or a digital version. A volunteer scams them using their phone.

6 Things to Look For in a Prom Ticketing Service

Not every ticketing platform is set up for school events. Three things that matter:

Real-Time Data: Student planners and faculty advisors need to monitor sales and revenue, and access updated attendee reports.
Clear Fees: Every platform makes its money through fees. These fees can be passed on to buyers or absorbed by the school. In addition, when credit cards are involved, processing fees always apply but may not be included in your free ticketing platform’s service. When these are not included in the platform price, you’ll need to organize online payments separately, which can result in a much higher per-ticket cost on your end.
Online and physical tickets: Printing prom tickets is something many schools do – they’re a great memento of the night, and make the experience more special. Make sure your platform’s capabilities include tracking and scanning both printed and digital tickets.
Easy attendee check-in: Look for a platform that lets you scan without an app or special equipment. When faculty can scan tickets using their mobile phone‘s browser, getting up to speed takes less time.
Attendee management: You’ll want to track students as they enter, leave, and return. Ensure your service can support this.
Ticketing adaptability: Creating ticket bundles, reserved seating, and comp codes for VIPS means your chosen platform needs to be flexible.

What to Charge For Tickets To Prom and When to Sell

On average, a prom ticket costs between $55–$125. The exact number depends on the venue, what the night includes (DJ, photos, dinner, flowers, and the like).

Pre-prom ticket sales strategies

Early Bird discount. Knock $10–$15 off the standard price for the first 2–3 weeks of sales. An early bird ticket strategy rewards students who buy first, builds momentum, and gives your committee how the night is tracking weeks before prom.
Group bundles. Offer a small discount for friend groups buying 4 or 6 tickets together. Ticket bundling speeds up sales and they nudge friend groups to commit early.
Reserved tables. If you want groups to sit together, set up your ticketing with reserved seating and sell whole tables as a single package.
Day-of door pricing. Charge $10–$15 more at the door than online to encourages families to pre-buy.

When to sell tickets

Open sales 6–8 weeks before prom, switch from early bird to standard pricing 2–3 weeks in, and close online sales 24–48 hours before the dance so you can finalize the catering count.

A note on the platform side: Eventgroove’s setup is free, and the service fee on paid tickets is small (2% + $0.75 per ticket). You can pass that fee on to ticket buyers, and for free events, there are no fees at all.

If you’re looking for an efficent and easy way to sell school dance tickets and manage your attendees, we’d love it if you gave Eventgroove a try. Our ticketing platform is free for organizers, with low ticket-buyer fees, no hidden charges, and no contracts. Plus, we’re also online printers, so you order custom prom tickets, VIP badges, and flyers all in one place.

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How to Run an Online Raffle (And Combine It with an In-Person Draw)

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