How to Run a 50/50 Raffle at School: A Simple PTO Guide
October 19, 2026 · 8 min read
By The I Survived Room Parent Team
A 50/50 raffle is about the simplest fundraiser a school can run: people buy tickets, the money goes into one pot, one ticket is drawn, and the winner takes half the pot while the school keeps the other half. No inventory, no catalog, no boxes of cookie dough in your garage. It works best at an event that already draws a crowd, like a family night, a carnival, a sports game or a school play.
Before you sell a single ticket: check your school and local rules. Raffles are a form of gaming in many places. Depending on where you live, you may need a permit or license, and there may be rules about who can sell tickets, who can buy them, how the drawing works and how you report the money. Your school or district may have its own policy too. Ask your principal and your PTO treasurer first, and contact your state or local licensing office if you're not sure. This guide covers the logistics. It is not legal advice.
Key Takeaways
Check your school and local rules first. Permits, ages and who can sell vary by state, city and district.
Pair it with an event. A 50/50 raffle sells best where people are already gathered and in a good mood.
Keep the math visible. Post the pot total during the event. A growing number sells tickets.
Use simple, numbered tickets and a seller log. Every ticket and every dollar should be easy to account for.
Draw in public and record everything. Two adults count the money, two adults witness the drawing.
Grab the free kit. Our 50/50 Raffle Flyer and Tickets printable has a flyer, a seller log and tickets, and you can make your copy in Canva.
What is a 50/50 raffle?
It's a cash raffle with a built-in split. Every ticket sold goes into one pot. At the end, one ticket is drawn. The winner gets 50% of the pot and the school keeps 50%. If you sell $600 in tickets, the winner takes home $300 and the school earns $300.
People like it because the prize grows as more tickets sell, so everyone in the room is cheering for the pot to get bigger. Schools like it because there's almost nothing to buy up front. Your costs are tickets, a cash box and a few volunteers.
Do you need a permit to run a raffle at school?
Maybe. That's the honest answer, and it's why the rule-check comes first. In many places a raffle is regulated as gaming, and the rules can cover:
Whether your group needs a license or permit, and how far ahead to apply
Whether your PTO or PTA needs nonprofit status to hold a raffle
Who can sell tickets (often adults only) and who can buy them
Whether the buyer has to be present to win
Whether you can sell tickets online
How the drawing must be run and recorded
Whether you need to report the results afterward
Your school district may also have its own policy, and some schools don't allow raffles on campus at all. So start with three quick conversations: your principal, your PTO treasurer and, if needed, your state or local licensing office. If you're part of a state PTA, they often have guidance for member groups. Our PTO useful links post has a section on nonprofit basics and where to look.
The right raffle raises money for the library. The wrong raffle raises questions at the board meeting.
How do you run a 50/50 raffle step by step?
Here's a simple timeline that works for most school events.
4 to 6 weeks before
Confirm your school and local rules, and apply for any permit you need.
Pick the event. Family nights, carnivals, spring concerts and home games all work well.
Decide your ticket price and any bundles (more on that below).
Choose your drawing time and whether winners must be present.
Recruit 3 to 6 adult volunteers: sellers, a cash counter and a drawing witness.
2 to 3 weeks before
Print or order numbered tickets. Our kit has printable tickets with stubs, 10 per page.
Fill in the flyer with your date, price and drawing time, and send it home or post it in the class chat.
Set up a seller log so each seller signs out a range of ticket numbers.
Event day
Set up a table near the entrance or the food line, where the crowd passes.
Give each seller a numbered range, a pouch and an apron if you have them.
Post the pot total on a whiteboard and update it every 20 to 30 minutes.
Close sales 10 minutes before the drawing.
Count the money with two adults, record the total and calculate the winner's half.
Draw the winning ticket in public, with a witness.
After the event
Pay the winner using the method your treasurer approves, and get a signed receipt if your rules call for one.
Record the drawing results in your log.
Thank everyone and share the total.
How much should 50/50 raffle tickets cost?
Keep it easy to pay and easy to make change. Common setups include:
$1 per ticket. Great for family events with lots of kids' allowance money floating around (if your rules let kids buy).
$2 per ticket, or 3 for $5. A popular middle ground.
$5 per ticket, or 5 for $20. Better for adult-heavy events like a gala or a game.
"An arm's length" for $10 or $20. Sellers stretch a strip of tickets from fingertip to shoulder. It's a crowd favorite and gets people laughing.
Bundles move more tickets. Most people who buy one ticket would happily buy five if the deal is clear and the line is short.
How do you keep track of tickets and money?
This is the part that keeps your treasurer happy, and it's simple if you set it up before the doors open.
Use numbered double tickets. The buyer keeps one half and the other half (with their name and phone or email) goes in the drawing bin.
Sign out ticket ranges. Each seller logs the ticket numbers they start with. When they turn in their pouch, you log the last number sold and the cash collected. The numbers should match the money.
Two adults count. Always. Even if everyone trusts everyone. It protects the volunteers as much as the money.
Keep the pot separate. Don't mix raffle cash with bake sale cash or ticket money for the event itself.
Write it all down. Total collected, winning ticket number, winner's half and the school's half.
Our free 50/50 Raffle Flyer and Tickets kit includes a seller log with 12 rows and a drawing record, plus a flyer with a "check your school and local rules" box built right in. The flyer and log are fillable, and the tickets page prints 10 per page with stubs. Prefer to design your own? Open the product page and click Make your copy in Canva to edit the template.
How do you choose and announce the winner?
Make the drawing a moment. Gather people near the stage or table, give a 5-minute warning, and announce the final pot total first. Then:
1. Mix the stubs well in a bin, a bucket or a big bowl.
2. Have a neutral person draw. A teacher, the principal or a kid (if your rules allow) is a fun choice.
3. Read the number out loud twice and show it to the witness.
4. If your rules allow "no need to be present," call or email the winner right away, and draw a backup in case you can't reach them in the time your rules allow.
Post the winning number afterward in the class chat or the school newsletter so people who left early can check.
Can you sell 50/50 raffle tickets online?
Sometimes. Online sales can grow the pot because grandparents and friends can buy from anywhere. But online raffles are often regulated differently from in-person ones, and some states restrict them. This is another "check your school and local rules" moment. If online sales are allowed where you are, look for a platform built for licensed raffles and read the fees and terms closely so you know exactly what the school keeps.
How do you get more people to buy tickets?
Say the pot out loud. "The pot is up to $420!" sells more tickets than any flyer.
Put sellers where people wait. The food line, the bleachers and the entrance are gold.
Let kids help in rule-friendly ways. They can make the pot sign or cheer, even if adults handle the money.
Give it a deadline. "Last call in 10 minutes" works every time.
Share it ahead of time. A short note in the class chat a few days before tells families to bring cash. Our class group chat etiquette guide has tips for posting without starting a thread of 47 replies.
Half the pot goes to the winner. The other half goes to the school. And 100% of the questions go to you.
What can room parents do to help?
If the PTO is running the raffle, your part is usually small and very helpful:
Share the flyer and the date in your class chat.
Remind families to bring cash, or share the approved payment method.
Volunteer for one 30-minute selling shift, or find one parent from your class who will.
Cheer loudly at the drawing.
If you're stretched thin, that's fine too. Our post on how to say no as a room parent is right here when you need it.
Is a 50/50 raffle right for your school?
It's a strong choice when you already have an event, a few dependable adult volunteers and rules that allow it. It's a weak choice if your school doesn't allow raffles, if the permit takes longer than your timeline, or if your crowd would rather just donate. For those families, a no-sell option like our funny "Can I Just Write a Check?" fundraiser form might be a better fit. For more ideas sorted by effort, see our PTO fundraiser ideas guide.
FAQ
What's a good goal for a school 50/50 raffle?
It depends on the crowd. A small family night might raise a few hundred dollars for the school, and a big game or carnival can raise much more. Set a goal based on how many people you expect and what an average buyer spends.
Can kids buy or sell raffle tickets?
It depends on your local rules. Many places limit raffle sales and purchases to adults, so check before you plan around kids selling.
Does the winner have to be present?
Only if you say so, and only if your rules allow the alternative. Print your choice on the flyer and the tickets so nobody is surprised.
Can we donate our half of the pot to a specific project?
Yes, and saying so helps sales. "Our half buys new library books" is a great line for the flyer. Make sure your treasurer tracks it.
Is this legal advice?
No. We're room parents, not lawyers. Check your school and local rules, and ask your licensing office or district if you have questions.
More Fundraiser Guides
Silent Auction Guide for Schools + 60 Basket Ideas Families Bid On
Read-a-Thon Planning Guide: Pledges, Logs, Prizes and Timeline
Questions or ideas? Email us at contactus@isurvivedroomparent.com.
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