How to get businesses to donate items for your online raffle

Donated raffle items can lower campaign costs, attract more entries, and introduce your nonprofit to potential business partners. 

The opportunity is significant: US corporations gave an estimated $43.67 billion to charitable causes in 2025, and corporate giving has increased 60% over the past five years.

Still, successful prize outreach requires more than sending the same letter to every local business. You need a legal raffle plan, a clear prize wish list, the right contacts and a request that explains how the business and your community will benefit.

This guide explains how to ask restaurants, retailers, service providers and other companies to donate raffle prizes. It also covers follow-ups, donor acknowledgements, and long-term relationship building.

Because raffle laws differ by location, treat this article as general fundraising information rather than legal or tax advice.

How do you get businesses to donate raffle items?

Start eight to twelve weeks before your raffle. Confirm that your organization can legally run and promote an online raffle, then create a list of prizes that fit your audience.

Approach businesses with a clear, personalized request. Name the product, service, gift card or experience you would like, explain what the raffle supports and state the donation deadline. Offer recognition on your raffle page, emails or social media, but promise only what you can deliver.

Prioritize businesses that already know your organization, serve your supporters or have a connection to your mission. Follow up once or twice, record every response and send a written thank-you after receiving a prize.

How to get raffle items donated at a glance

1. Before asking businesses for raffle donation items

Start with the purpose of your raffle, not the prize.

Businesses are more likely to respond when they understand what the raffle will fund. A request tied to a visible outcome is easier to support:

• $5,000 to provide free museum visits for local schools
• $12,000 to conserve an artwork or historic object
• $25,000 to update an interactive science exhibition
• $50,000 for the public phase of a capital campaign

Set a fundraising goal, estimate the number of participants and decide how many prizes you need. One strong prize can be more effective than a long list of low-interest products. 

A well-positioned giveaway prize can raise 5 to 25 times its value, although actual results depend on the prize, audience, promotion and local rules. 

Also confirm that your organization is permitted to run the campaign. Raffle laws differ by state, and permission to hold an in-person raffle does not always include online ticket sales. 

For example, California permits qualifying nonprofits to conduct raffles but does not allow raffle tickets to be sold online. 

2. Decide which raffle items to request

Choose prizes based on your supporters rather than your staff’s personal preferences. Review your membership data, previous event attendance, donor ages, family status and location.

Good prizes share four qualities: they are easy to understand, useful to the audience, simple to deliver and valuable enough to attract attention.

Experiences often work particularly well because businesses may be able to provide them at a lower direct cost than cash. A hotel may donate a room during an off-peak period. A restaurant may provide a tasting menu. A theatre may offer seats for a performance that has not sold out. A photographer may donate a weekday session.

3. Build a targeted list of businesses

Do not begin with a generic list of every company in town. Prioritize businesses with a clear connection to your organization.

Look first at current corporate members, sponsors, vendors, event partners and employers represented on your board. Review donor and member employment information when it has been collected with suitable consent. Docents, volunteers and staff may also have useful professional connections.

Then add businesses that:

• Serve a similar audience
• Operate close to your institution
• Have supported local schools, charities or cultural events
• Sell products related to your raffle theme
• Have a formal community-giving program
• Would value exposure to your members, visitors or email subscribers

Rank prospects by relationship strength, mission fit, audience fit, likely prize value and application deadline. Warm introductions should come first. 

4. Prepare your raffle donation request

A business should be able to understand your request in less than two minutes. Keep the main message short, then attach or link to supporting information when needed. 

Keep the initial email between roughly 100 and 200 words. Address the correct person, explain why you chose the company and request one specific prize. You can also give two alternatives, such as a $100 gift card or a product bundle of similar value. 

Avoid promising sales, new customers or a specific level of publicity. Instead, state exactly what you can provide: logo placement, a donor listing, social mentions, inclusion in a campaign email or recognition.

Example letter asking a business to donate an item

Subject: Raffle prize request to support free museum visits for local pupils

Dear Jordan,

I am writing on behalf of Harbour City History Museum, a nonprofit organization serving more than 30,000 visitors each year.

This autumn, we are holding an online fundraising raffle to raise $10,000 for free museum admission and transport grants for local schools. We would be grateful if Riverside Hotel would consider donating a one-night stay for two as a raffle prize.

The campaign will run from September 5th to October 5th. Your business would be recognized on the campaign page, in our raffle emails and through social media posts to our members and local supporters.

We can collect the voucher at a convenient time. Our nonprofit documentation and campaign information are attached.

Would you be available for a brief call next week, or could you let me know whether this request should be directed to another member of your team?

Thank you for considering it.

Best wishes, Maya Thompson,

Development Manager,

Harbour City History Museum

Phone number

Email address

Example phone request

“Hello, my name is Maya, and I am calling from Harbour City History Museum. We are orgnizing an online raffle to fund free school visits this autumn. Because your hotel supports local tourism and community events, I wanted to ask whether you might donate a one-night stay or gift voucher as a prize. We would recognize the hotel on our campaign page, in member emails and on social media. May I send you a short written request with the dates and details?”

The purpose of the call is usually to find the right contact and gain permission to send the request. Do not try to deliver a five-minute speech while the person is serving customers or handling another task.

5. Personalize, send and follow up

Address the request to a named person wherever possible. 

Open with the relationship. Mention that the owner is a museum member, the company previously sponsored an exhibition, the business is located in the same neighborhood, or a board member recommended the introduction.

Then connect the requested item to the business:

“Your family attraction would be a strong match for our members, many of whom visit with children.”

Send requests through the channel the business prefers. Some companies require an online form, proof of charitable status, and several weeks for review. Others will respond more quickly to a personal email or in-person visit during a quiet period.

Follow up professionally

Send one brief follow-up about five to seven business days after the first request. If there is no response, follow up once more before the donation deadline. More than two or three unanswered messages can create a poor impression.

A useful follow-up is direct but easy to decline:

“I wanted to check whether you had an opportunity to review our raffle prize request. We are confirming prizes by August 15th. I am happy to answer questions, and I understand if this campaign is not a fit for your current giving plans.”

What to do when a business says no

A refusal may relate to timing, budget, policy or donation volume rather than your mission. Thank the contact, then consider one suitable alternative:

• Ask for a lower-cost item or smaller gift card.
• Request a discount or partial donation.
• Ask when the next donation cycle begins.
• Offer a paid or in-kind sponsorship package.
• Ask the business to share the raffle with customers.
• Keep the relationship positive for future campaigns.

Do not present every alternative at once. That can make a polite refusal feel like the start of a negotiation.

6. Confirm, promote and deliver donated prizes

Confirm and document every prize

Verbal promises are not enough. Record the business name, contact, prize description, stated retail value, restrictions, expiry date, transfer method and recognition agreement.

For physical items, collect the prize before launching the campaign when possible. For services and experiences, obtain a signed certificate or email explaining:

• What is included
• What is excluded
• Available dates
• Blackout dates
• Booking instructions
• Age or location restrictions
• Whether gratuities, travel or taxes are included
• Whether the prize can be transferred

Promote prizes and recognize business donors

Treat the donor as a community partner, not simply a source of free merchandise. Use the company’s correct name, logo and preferred social handles. Tag the business only after receiving approval.

Recognition should be proportional. A $50 gift card may receive a donor listing and social thank-you. A major travel package may merit campaign-page branding, email recognition and inclusion in a press release.

Deliver prizes to winners

Tell winners how and when they will receive their prizes. Do not send a winner to a business without first notifying the donor and confirming the redemption process.

For high-value prizes, collect the winner’s full legal name and any tax information required by your adviser. 

Build a long-term business relationship

After the drawing, send the business a personalized thank-you that includes the amount raised, number of participants and program outcome. Share photographs or campaign results that the company may use internally.

Add the contact to your stewardship plan, with permission. The next opportunity might be a membership partnership, exhibition sponsorship, employee giving campaign, corporate volunteer day or capital campaign conversation.

Turn donated items into a successful online raffle with BetterWorld 

BetterWorld provides online raffle tools with branded pages, ticket bundles, prize images, countdowns, live reporting, automated confirmations and winner notifications. 

More than 100,000 nonprofits, organizations and fundraisers trust the platform.

BetterWorld’s Free plan has a 0% platform fee. Standard card processing is 2.9% + $0.30, and BetterWorld reports that more than 95% of donors choose to cover processing costs when asked. 

Request a demo or sign up now for free!  

FAQs

1. What businesses are most likely to donate raffle prizes?

Local restaurants, independent retailers, hotels, attractions, spas, artists and service providers are often good prospects because they can donate products or unused capacity. Existing vendors, sponsors, corporate members and board-connected companies should usually be approached first.

2. How far in advance should you ask? 

Begin eight to twelve weeks before the raffle. Large companies may need more time because they use fixed application cycles. 

3. Can a nonprofit reject a donated prize? 

Yes. Reject items that are unsafe, unlawful, impractical, inconsistent with your mission, or outside your acceptance policy. 

4. Are online raffles legal in every state? 

No. Eligibility, licenses, advertising and online ticket rules vary widely, so check your state gaming regulator, attorney general, local authority and legal adviser before launch.