Printed vs. Online Raffle Tickets: Why You Need Both

a blue sky representing the potential of combining an IRL raffle fundraiser with printed raffle tickets with online raffle elements

July 2, 2025

Events, shopping, meetings…almsot everything has shifted online, and raffles are no exception. While online raffle fundraisers are highly effective in sheer reach, they can’t replace the tangible excitement of holding a printed ticket.

The solution? A hybrid raffle approach.

A hybrid raffle combines the convenience of online sales with the tactile experience of printed raffle tickets. By channeling the strengths of in-person expereinces and the unlimited reach of online, this approach positions your nonprofit to reach it’s campaign fundraising goals.

Key Takeaways

  • Hybrid raffles raise more money by combining the best of both worlds: online convenience and in-person excitement
  • Printed tickets reach different donors – older supporters and those who prefer face-to-face transactions you’d miss online
  • Online sales expand your reach globally with 24/7 convenience and easier payment options
  • Physical tickets create buzz through wallet reminders, fridge magnets, and natural word-of-mouth promotion
  • One platform manages both – track printed and online ticket sales together for seamless winner drawings
a printed raffle ticket template for fundraising events wit multi-colored hands.

Why Use Both Printed and Online Raffle Tickets?

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Inclusivity

Not everyone is comfortable with or able to make purchases or donations online. Printed tickets can help you reach out to an older demographic or others who prefer face-to-face transactions and payment over digital. If you  keep your raffle 100% online, these are people you’d miss!

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The Power of Tangibility

There’s value in the physical. A ticket in hand serves as a palpable reminder of the potential win. For some, it also reinforces the validity of your organization and fundraiser—seeing your nonprofit’s information, a picture of the prize, and a website can be reassuring. These elements also serve to stoke anticipation, a feeling that’s hard to capture through an online transaction.

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In-person sales

Printed raffle tickets open up opportunities to spread awareness and build relationships. Interacting with someone face-to-face enables conversation to take place. You can answer questions about your organization, talk about the impact it makes, or initiate conversations around ideas to build on your efforts. These connecting moments are challenging to replicate online and help your nonprofit stay top of mind.
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Visibility and promotion

Tucked into a wallet, left on the kitchen counter, or stuck to a fridge, your organization’s raffle ticket serves as a mini billboard. Each time your supporter sees it,  they’re reminded of your event and mission. This visual cue can spur word-of-mouth promotion, increasing ticket sales and overall reach.

What an Online Raffle Brings to the Table

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Global Reach

Online raffles remove geographic barriers. Supporters from anywhere can participate in your fundraiser, dramatically expanding your potential donor base beyond your local community.

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24/7 convenience

People can buy tickets whenever it works for them – during lunch breaks, late at night, or on weekends. There’s no need to coordinate schedules or find you at an event. 

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Lower barrier to entry

Online payments are often easier for supporters than carrying cash or writing checks, especially for younger donors.
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Built-in legitimacy

Secure payment processing and automated receipts provide the digital equivalent of that trust factor you get with printed tickets. Supporters get immediate confirmation and can easily track their entries

Smiling man using smartphone to purchase raffle tickets online, demonstrating the convenience of mobile fundraising

While online raffles offer significant advantages, the combination of an online raffle and a physical raffle with printed tickets can create a synergy that optimizes the reach, excitement, and overall success of your fundraising event. This approach instills a sense of optimism and hope for a more successful event.

Wrapping Up

Raffles are an opportunity to engage your community, create excitement, and make a real difference for your cause. By combining virtual and IRL elements, you’re reaching more people and raising greater awareness.

Hand-in-hand with that approach are custom-printed tickets. Though they’re old school, they’re a key part of your hybrid raffle fundraising strategy. They can help you reach more people, create a buzz around your event, and ultimately raise more funds. You can even add sponsor ads to the back to cover their cost.

The other side of a successful hybrid fundraising event is managing online sales. For that, you’ll need a raffle fundraising platform. Using both physical tickets and tech, you can create a killer hybrid raffle!

Ready to start? Our nonprofit platform is built to support all your online, hybrid, and in-person efforts! Plus, our integrated print services make it easy to order materials like fundraising raffle tickets for your hybrid fundraiser!

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:
  1. Create the event. Name (Enchanted Forest Prom, 2026), date, venue, capacity, dress code, anything else students should know.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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:
  1. Real-Time Data: Student planners and faculty advisors need to monitor sales and revenue, and access updated attendee reports.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Attendee management: You’ll want to track students as they enter, leave, and return. Ensure your service can support this.
  6. 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.

Want to see Eventgroove in action?

We’d love to show you! Schedule a one-on-one demo with our expert sales team.

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