Auctions and raffles are some of the most reliable fundraising formats for a cat rescue, largely because they give donors something tangible in return — which tends to widen participation beyond just your most committed supporters and into a broader, more casual donor base.
Raffles: Simple and Effective
A straightforward pet raffle, run either online or during an in-person event, works especially well layered onto an existing holiday campaign like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or year-end giving. Common pricing is $1 per single ticket, with a small volume discount like $5 for three tickets to encourage larger purchases without making the entry feel expensive.
The 50/50 Raffle Format
A 50/50 raffle is a tried-and-true structure: sell tickets at the entrance of an event, with half the proceeds going to the winner and half to the nonprofit’s overhead costs. Many winners even donate their half back to the organization on the spot, effectively turning the whole raffle into a straight donation drive with an extra layer of excitement and a real chance of winning built in.
Auction Ideas That Work
Pet-themed art — caricatures, paintings, or photography of people with their pets — makes for a genuinely popular auction item, especially when the artist and the rescue split the proceeds. After a dog walk or similar event, offering a raffle or silent auction with items donated from local businesses is an easy way to squeeze more fundraising out of people already on-site and in a giving mood.
Gift cards and dog boarding credits work well as both auction items and raffle prizes — they’re easy for local businesses to donate and genuinely appealing to bidders, since they represent real, usable value rather than a novelty item that might just sit unused.
Combining Formats for a Bigger Event
Pet-friendly raffles, silent auctions, and even pet talent shows can be combined into a single event, layering multiple fundraising opportunities on top of a single ticketed gathering rather than running them as separate efforts requiring their own promotion and logistics.
See our broader guide to hosting a fundraiser for a cat rescue for other event formats beyond auctions and raffles specifically, and a quick check of your state’s raffle permit requirements is worth doing before finalizing your event plans.
Promoting Your Raffle or Auction Effectively
Even a well-designed raffle or auction underperforms if too few people know about it. Sharing prize photos on social media well before the drawing date, sending a dedicated email to your existing donor list, and asking auction-item donors to promote the event to their own customers or followers all meaningfully widen the pool of participants beyond your rescue’s usual audience. A countdown in the days leading up to a drawing — ‘three days left,’ ‘final hours’ — also reliably drives a late surge in ticket sales as people who were planning to buy eventually get around to actually doing it.
In-person events benefit from clear, visible signage near the raffle table itself, since a portion of ticket sales at any event comes from attendees who simply notice the table and prizes on their way to something else, not necessarily anyone actively looking to participate ahead of time.
Tracking Success and Staying Compliant
After each raffle or auction, track total tickets sold, net proceeds after prize costs, and which specific prizes or items drew the most interest — this data makes planning your next event considerably easier and helps you steer future prize selection toward what has actually worked before, rather than guessing.
Because raffles are legally classified as a form of gaming in many states, checking your specific state and local permit requirements well before the event date is worth the extra step. Requirements vary considerably — some states require simple registration, others a formal gaming permit — so confirming this early avoids a last-minute scramble or, worse, an event that runs afoul of local law.
Recruiting Volunteers to Run the Event
Even a modest raffle or auction needs hands beyond a single organizer — someone to sell tickets, someone to track which items came from which donor, and someone to manage the actual drawing or bidding process. Recruiting a small volunteer team well ahead of the event, and giving each person a clearly defined role, prevents the common last-minute scramble where everyone is doing everything at once and nothing runs smoothly.
Volunteers who’ve helped with a previous fundraiser are also a good source of honest feedback on what worked and what didn’t — asking them directly after the event closes, while details are still fresh, tends to surface useful improvements for the next one.
Choosing Between an Online and In-Person Format
Online raffles reach a wider audience and require far less setup than an in-person event, but they lose the in-the-moment energy of a live drawing that often drives impulse ticket purchases. Many rescues find success combining both — selling tickets online in the weeks leading up to an event, then holding the actual drawing live in front of an audience, which gives online buyers a reason to tune in or show up and gives the event itself a memorable closing moment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should raffle tickets cost?
Common pricing is $1–$5 per ticket, often structured so a single ticket costs $1, while $5 buys three tickets — a small volume discount that encourages people to buy more without feeling pressured.
What is a 50/50 raffle?
A tried-and-true format where half the ticket sale proceeds go to the winner and half go to the nonprofit’s overhead costs — many winners even donate their half back to the organization on the spot.
What makes a good auction item for an animal rescue event?
Gift cards, dog boarding credits, and pet-themed art (including caricatures of people with their pets) all work well, especially when a local artist splits proceeds with the rescue rather than donating the full item.
When is the best time to run a pet raffle?
Holiday campaigns — Thanksgiving, Christmas, and year-end giving season — tend to work especially well as a raffle add-on to existing fundraising pushes, since people are already primed to give during those windows.
Do these events require special permits?
Depending on your state and locality, raffles specifically often require a permit or registration, since they can be legally classified as a form of gaming — it’s worth checking local rules well before the event date.
Help Us Raise Funds
Cats By The Tracks welcomes donated auction items and raffle prizes for our fundraising events.