Maximize participation and keep your hybrid raffles running smoothly by accepting all payment types, including cash and check.
Many nonprofits focus solely on online ticket sales, assuming all supporters are comfortable paying by credit card. In reality, a real portion of your audience still prefers cash or check, especially at in-person events. If you ignore these options, you risk lost revenue and frustrated donors.
This guide explains how to run hybrid raffles that combine online, in-person, and offline payments in one system, without the limitations that come with a lot of free or tip-based tools.
Why Hybrid Raffles Need Cash and Check Support
Hybrid raffles combine the advantages of online ticketing with the traditional in-person experience. Allowing cash and check purchases helps with:
- Inclusivity: older donors or those uncomfortable with digital payments can still participate.
- Higher revenue: more ticket options mean more sales.
- Simplified events: donors can pay on-site without missing the raffle.
Free and tip-based tools built around online-only payments often can’t process cash or check tickets in the same system. That leaves nonprofits either turning away offline donors or tracking those sales by hand, which adds work and room for error.
Challenges With Free or Tip-Based Tools
Many “free” raffle tools advertise no upfront cost, but they come with real limitations:
- Tip friction: a large preselected tip at checkout is friction the donor has to actively undo, and that friction can cost more in lost conversions than a visible fee ever would.
- Limited raffle types: a lot of these tools only support simple online ticket sales, with no support for baskets, ball drops, or Queen of Hearts.
- Traffic handling: software not built to handle high-volume, deadline-driven traffic can slow down right when it matters most.
- Payment restrictions: most rely on Stripe as the only processor, which prohibits raffles involving regulated prizes like wine, bourbon, cigars, and firearms.
Nonprofits need software built to handle every payment type and every event size without falling over.
Step-by-Step: Accepting Cash and Check in a Hybrid Raffle
Step 1: Choose the Right Software
Use raffle software built for hybrid events, like Chance2Win, that supports:
- Online, cash, and check payments
- Integrated ticket tracking across all payment types
- Support for regulated prize categories through Flux and Fortis via Authorize.net
- A unified drawing pool for hybrid events
Step 2: Set Up Ticket Options
- Define ticket prices for each payment method
- Assign unique ticket numbers for online and offline sales
- Track all entries in one unified system
Step 3: Record Offline Purchases
- Collect cash or checks at the event and log them through a manual entry system or a tablet connected to your raffle software
- Make sure every entry is logged with a ticket number and donor information
- Keep records audit-ready and transparent
Step 4: Combine Online and Offline Pools
- Combine online, cash, and check tickets into one drawing
- Display real-time totals where you can, to keep momentum going
- Avoid duplicate ticket numbers to keep the drawing fair
Step 5: Run and Document the Drawing
- An automated drawing helps prevent errors
- Log results for both online and offline tickets
- Share audit-ready reports with your board or, where required, regulators
Tips for Smooth Cash and Check Integration
- Use clearly marked collection points at events
- Provide receipts for every cash or check purchase
- Train volunteers on proper recording procedures
- Test your setup with a small batch of entries before the event
These steps cut down on errors, improve the donor experience, and keep your records in good shape.
Conclusion
Accepting cash and check payments in hybrid raffles isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s part of maximizing participation, revenue, and donor trust. A lot of free or tip-based tools don’t support offline sales well. Chance2Win is built to handle every payment type in one place.
For more on running hybrid events, see our guide to hybrid fundraising, or explore how online raffles work.
Related reading: hybrid fundraising best practices.
Related reading: hybrid fundraising best practices.
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