<p>I’m the treasurer for a non-profit. There seems to be a correlation between the size of the jackpot and the size of temper flare-ups. We have a weekly drawing, but because of the criteria to win, the jackpot usually goes unclaimed for several months, increasing each week. I’ve got people telling me that new members shouldn’t be allowed to participate because they haven’t been contributing. Others believe existing members, who don’t usually participate, shouldn’t be able to buy tickets when the jackpot gets too large, for the same reason. I just want to keep it simple. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>if there are no writen rules, then you will have no ground to stand on regardless of the decision you make. </p>
<p>Have you considered turning it into a “Subscription” lottery? Where you have to pre-pay for X number of weeks to even enter? Then the newbies and the cherry pickers would all contribute a little more. </p>
<p>Justa thought.</p>
<p>Are you saying your non-profit offers a weekly prize to outsiders? Or that ya’ll who work there participate in a lottery?</p>
<p>My initial, with no deep thoughts, reaction is that as a non-profit your goal is to make money, so sell as many tickets as you can, no limits.</p>
<p>We don’t really have any rules, but have gotten to the point where we need some. I’d like to keep it simple. It’s our own club fundraiser, so it doesn’t involve “outsiders”, but apparently some members feel that some of their fellow-members are “outsiders” when it comes to this raffle.</p>
<p>I’ll have to check into a “subscription” lottery. That might work, if it’s not too difficult to administer.</p>
<p>Lotteries result in winners and losers, and are destructive of community. </p>
<p>Wouldn’t it just be easier to pocket the money each week, and start afresh? That way, there will be more winners, people will feel good about participating, and you’ll get your dough.</p>
<p>Sounds like some people need to be reminded of what a “fundraiser” is. I agree with somemom on this.</p>
<p>Until the group approves written changes in the bylaws, I think you can defend the practice of giving half the proceeds to the person who holds the winning ticket, whomever that may be.</p>
<p>We had a winner today, and thankfully, it was neither a new member, nor a newly playing member. I want to prevent any resentment in the future. Smaller jackpots was one of my ideas, too, mini.</p>
<p>We’ve done lots of 50/50 s as fund raisers. Best ways–weekly, or other pre-determined time limit (say monthly).
Raffle drawings for gift cards is good–run raffle long enough to make a profit on a card (but also within a time frame).<br>
One lottery/raffle that suits your needs of people adding in at the last minute and upsetting others:
200 friends tickets–(or variation thereof with fewer friends or smaller pots)–sell ONLY 200 tickets (people can buy as many as they want but total for lottery is restricted to 200) for $20 each giving organization $4000. Once tickets are sold a drawing is held each week for 10 weeks for a prize of $100 (total $1000 in prize money). On week 10 another ticket is also drawn for $1000 prize (the second $1000 prize money). Tickets go back into the pot even when they win so your chance is always 1:200 and you can in theory win every week . Profit to organization is $2000. Caveat: it needs to be explained clearly so people realize they have a chance to win EVERY week for 10 weeks plus a grand prize of $1000. Change the amounts (ticket price/prize money) accordingly to fit the budgets of your organization.</p>
<p>Gah, the things that become contentious! The other way to do it is to accumulate the chances. In other words, leave the older tickets in the pot so that those who bought tickets each week have those chances still count for the big draw. Yes, it still makes it possible for the big pot winner to be someone who waltzes in and buys one ticket, but everyone who has been supporting the pot from day one, still has the older tickets in there for more chances to the pot.</p>
<p>The other way is to draw each week until there is a winner.What sort of criteria does ther have to be in order to win anyways? We kept our 50/50 simple. Just drew a ticket out of the pot.</p>
<p>I’m really interested in your criteria to win that keeps the pot growing from unclaimed prizes. That seems to be a major flaw in your lottery. “Need to be present” is the only one I can think of off-hand and it is not a very good one for most instances except for one time event lotteries.</p>
<p>In order to encourage attendance, they need to be present at the weekly meeting AFTER the ticket is purchased. If they’re name is drawn that next week, and they’ve met the single purpose of the club (easy to monitor), they get a chance to draw a colored marble. Right now the colored marble is 1/52, but I could reduce the number of marbles. So I guess one must win two drawings to get the money.</p>
<p>Keeping past entries in the drawing is another great idea, because it rewards the steady players.</p>
<p>If the money is going to stay in the pot, the entries should, too. IMHO.</p>
<p>If the purpose is to encourage attendance then a ticket should be pulled until a winner is announced. Don’t keep the pot growing. All tickets pulled should be notified “You would have won if you’d only been here!”</p>