How to Get Your Board on Board with Sweepstakes Fundraising

So you’ve just discovered this amazing new nonprofit fundraising platform called TapKat, and now you’re itching to get started with a sweepstakes! Awesome — we think you’re on the right track, and the nonprofits who have successfully raised millions of dollars and brought in thousands of new donors on our platform all agree! 

There’s just this one tiny thing: now you have to get your board, well… on board!

Many experienced board members aren’t yet familiar with sweepstakes fundraising, or they may have misconceptions about it. Here are some talking points you can take into your next board meeting that will have you and them feeling enthusiastic about getting started with your TapKat sweepstakes. 

And remember — you can always schedule a demo with one of our team members. We’ll walk you through the platform, and answer any questions. We’re here to help!

Let’s Clear Up Misconception #1: TapKat Sweepstakes Are Not Raffles

Often, board members mistakenly confuse sweepstakes with raffles, and get worried about the heavy restrictions and regulations placed on raffles. 

Rest easy: sweepstakes are not raffles, and in fact, we’ve written extensively on this topic to clear up any misconceptions. Here are some important differences: 

• Sweepstakes are not classified as gaming, and are regulated at the federal level rather than state by state (as raffles are). This means…

  • Sweepstakes are legal in all 50 states and U.S. territories. 

  • Sweepstakes have NO licensing or registration requirements. 

  • Sweepstakes allow a nonprofit to give away (almost) any prize. 

  • Sweepstakes can be freely marketed across state lines, and on the internet. 

  • Sweepstakes impose no restrictions on how or when the raised money is spent.

• Sweepstakes must have a free entry option. This is built into your TapKat sweepstakes site, so there’s no extra work for your organization.

TapKat Sweepstakes Engage Current and Lapsed Donors (in the Best Way Possible!)

Donors love TapKat sweepstakes. We could recount many anecdotal stories about how energized donors get about the prospect of winning a brand new convertible or trip of a lifetime, but here are two things to keep in mind: 

• Nearly 24% of donors will enter a sweepstakes more than once,

• Of the donors who enter a nonprofit’s sweepstakes during year one, a high percentage of those donors will also enter their sweepstakes in year two. That’s why our repeat clients see growth from one year to the next. This pattern will tend to continue for as long as your nonprofit runs sweepstakes. 

The level of engagement among donors is impressive, and we’ve seen nonprofits with sluggish lists suddenly start to pick up when a sweepstakes is introduced. 

TapKat has tested and perfected tools like promo codes and flash contests to help your nonprofit re-engage donors who have entered once, inspiring them to enter again. Using exciting, descriptive text and enticing photos of your prize will also go a long way to motivate donors to jump in and participate. 

Remember: sweepstakes fundraising is a home run for donors because they have a chance to support a cause they love while giving themselves an opportunity to win the prize of a lifetime. For them, it’s a win-win! 

TapKat Sweepstakes Draw in New Donors 

99% of TapKat sweepstakes attract and retain new donors, simple as that.

When you promote your sweepstakes through email, social media, and paid promotions, people who aren’t currently donors to your nonprofit will catch wind and join in on the fun. This is why we advocate for prizes that are highly desirable and often difficult to obtain (note: that doesn’t necessarily mean super expensive — check out this blog post about picking great prizes for more insight). 

The best part? Your nonprofit retains the contact information for all sweepstakes entrants. This is huge for nonprofits: it means that you’re building a database of donors who are interested in your sweepstakes, and who will very likely return next year and donate again if you run a similar sweepstakes. 

One of our nonprofit clients grew their mailing list from around 800 names to over 40,000 names over the course of six years. Each year, they ran a sweepstakes with a similar prize, and each year, their mailing list grew. That list is gold: these are the people who want to help you keep doing the important work of your nonprofit! 

TapKat Sweepstakes Prizes are on Consignment

We encourage our nonprofits to select prizes that are on consignment. Essentially, this means that rather than purchasing a prize before your sweepstakes begins, you raise money first and then purchase the prize with a portion of the funds raised. 

This is another reason why sweepstakes are more effective for nonprofits than raffles; most states require that nonprofits provide proof of ownership of the prize before the raffle begins. 

We love prizes on consignment because they ensure that your nonprofit takes on zero financial risk. If your sweepstakes doesn’t meet a minimum raise, your prize will be one half of the net amount of money raised. In other words, there’s always a winner! Trust us: no donor is going to get upset about winning a big fat check! 

TapKat Sweepstakes are Designed to Eliminate Upfront Costs for Your Nonprofit

We want your sweepstakes to be a no-brainer and a win-win for your nonprofit, which is why TapKat sweepstakes are structured such that there are no upfront costs associated with the fundraiser. 

• Prizes are on consignment. Unless your prize has been donated, there is no need to purchase a prize up front. 

• There is no cost to set up your sweepstakes page or start receiving donations. TapKat charges a small percentage of each donation that comes in, and our payment processor, Stripe, charges a transaction fee. When you make money, we make money! If you make no money, we make no money. 

• With a minimum raise in place, you’re protected. There’s no chance you’ll end up having to purchase a prize your nonprofit can’t afford, thanks to the minimum raise. If you don’t hit that number, the sweepstakes prize turns into a percentage of your total raise. 

With no upfront costs, getting started with a TapKat sweepstakes can be an easy yes.

Get Started with Your TapKat Sweepstakes

Ready to get started fundraising with TapKat? It’s easy to get started: sign up for a TapKat account today!