Email Marketing for Fundraising: Crafting Compelling Campaigns for Your Raffle

Introduction

If your non-profit is running a 50/50 raffle and you're not using email marketing to promote it — you're leaving money on the table. Email remains one of the most powerful tools for engaging donors, sharing updates, and driving raffle ticket sales.

This guide will show you how to write and send compelling emails that turn attention into action — while keeping things simple and effective for your team.

Why Email Works for Raffle Promotion

Unlike social media or paid ads, email goes directly to your donor’s inbox — a space where engagement is higher and distractions are fewer.

Here’s why email matters:

High ROI: Email generates $36 for every $1 spent on average
Personalized: You can speak directly to past supporters
Trackable: Opens, clicks, and ticket purchases are easy to measure
Scalable: Works for campaigns of all sizes

If you’ve launched your raffle with RaffleGives, you already have access to donor emails and built-in tools to help manage outreach.

Best Practices for Fundraising Email Campaigns

Use Clear, Compelling Subject Lines

Your subject line determines whether someone opens the email or deletes it.

Examples that work:

“Support our mission. Win cash today.”
“You could win $1,000 — and help our cause”
“3 days left: Enter our 50/50 raffle now”

Tools like Constant Contact or Mailchimp can A/B test subject lines — but RaffleGives provides ready-to-send templates tailored for raffle campaigns.

Keep Your Message Focused

Your reader should immediately understand:

What the raffle is
Why it matters
How to enter

Structure:

Hook (e.g., “You could win cash and support local families.”)
Mission (e.g., “This fundraiser helps us feed 100 students this fall.”)
CTA (e.g., “Buy tickets now before time runs out.”)

Use short paragraphs and bold CTAs. Keep it mobile-friendly.

Include Visuals and Progress Updates

Images help tell your story. If you’re using RaffleGives, embed a screenshot of your growing prize pool or countdown clock.

Other ideas:

Photos of your team, community, or beneficiaries
A graphic of how many tickets have been sold
A spotlight on past winners or donors

Sample Email Timeline

To help structure your campaign, follow this proven cadence:

Email #	Timing	Purpose
1	Launch day	Announce raffle + how to enter
2	3–5 days after launch	Share progress + early results
3	Midway point	Build urgency + referrals
4	Final 72-hour push	Use countdown + prize reminder
5	Day after drawing	Announce winner + thank donors

This schedule keeps your raffle top of mind without overwhelming your list.

Tips for Strong Calls to Action (CTAs)

Your CTA is what drives clicks. Make it clear, direct, and linked.

Good examples:

Buy Your Raffle Tickets Now
Support Our Cause — Enter Today
Claim Your Chance to Win + Give Back

Avoid vague language like “Learn More” — use action verbs tied to the raffle.

Segment and Personalize

Not all supporters are the same. If you’re using a tool like Mailchimp or Constant Contact, you can send different emails to:

Past raffle participants
First-time donors
Board members or major givers
Volunteers

Even simple personalization like “Hi Sarah” increases open and click-through rates.

Monitor Performance

Pay attention to:

Open rate: 20–30% is average
Click-through rate: 2–5% is strong
Unsubscribes: Keep it under 1%
Conversion rate: % of recipients who buy tickets

If something isn’t working, test a new subject line, add urgency, or simplify your CTA.

Use Automation if Possible

If you have a large list, set up automation so each new ticket buyer receives:

A thank-you message
A referral link
A follow-up reminder to share the campaign

RaffleGives handles much of this for you automatically, which saves your team time.

Internal Articles to Support Your Strategy

Continue your raffle success with these additional guides:

Final Thoughts

Your email list is one of the most valuable assets in your fundraising toolkit. With the right message, cadence, and platform, you can increase engagement, boost ticket sales, and deepen supporter relationships.

And best of all — you don’t need to be a copywriter to succeed.
RaffleGives gives you the tools to send great emails that work.