Re: 50/50 Raffle at Charity Event - Keep or give back?

before this thread I had no idea that you were suppose to donate it back- I would have kept it all

If I did win now, I'd donate part of it back but not the whole thing- I am sure this is why I am not invited to many charity events

Re: 50/50 Raffle at Charity Event - Keep or give back?

I have never heard that you were supposed to give back the "winnings" to the charity before this thread. I know many people in fundraising and will have to inquire if this is the norm. They have never shared this one with me, but then I have never won those 50/50 raffles either.

Re: 50/50 Raffle at Charity Event - Keep or give back?

I didn't realize you were suposed to give it back either. I have never won one though. However, I know somone who won the same one two years in a row (over $15,000) each time, and it was on a ticket she split with others. I know they never gave anything back...they didn't get any flack for it. Now I know.

Re: 50/50 Raffle at Charity Event - Keep or give back?

Re: 50/50 Raffle at Charity Event - Keep or give back?

Re: 50/50 Raffle at Charity Event - Keep or give back?

I didn't even know people do that. I'd have definitely kept it. I'd probably think twice about it now. But anytime myself or my friends have won something, we bought something for everyone with it. Like my friend won the costume contest last Halloween and got like $100. He bought a round of shots for the bar! Of course that wasn't for charity, but same goes if it was.

Re: 50/50 Raffle at Charity Event - Keep or give back?

Honestly I won twice at a charity event and here's what I did SHameful I know, but honest....

The 1st time I won it was a local new charity that was just getting started and I won the 50/50. I donated it back because they need the money, and they ar ethe only charity around that was doing this. It was a motorcycle run and it was as inexpensive as it could be without being cheap ya know like we ar enot here for a show we need to raise money, but you're paying $50 a ticket so here's some good food and music. I couldn't keep it.

The 2nd time I won was a HUGE charity event I had to go to and we did the 50/50 on a whim. I won,a nd I kept the money. The tickets we're $$$$$$ and it cost $$$$$$ to host this. I find this so wasteful. I overheard an organizer bashing me for not returning it because don't I know how much this event cost to put on? Screww you lady don't host an event you can't afford to raise money.

So the point is if it's local and tasteful yes I donate it back, but if it's all show and glitz nope, I won it and it's mine. I go with the theory don't do a 50/50 if you can't afford to lose that money, just as some will say it's just donating a dollar. Just SAY that or do something else like $1 for a cookie, or $1 for a candycane.

Re: 50/50 Raffle at Charity Event - Keep or give back?

I am thinking about this in relation to 2 different types of charity events.

Large/ non-profit org event (like the type where you pay $1000 a table)

AND

Small/ community events (John Smith has X disease/ family needs $ to help w/ medical bills)

With the first, there may be an expectation that you give the $ back, particularly if you are going there as a representative for a compnay.

With the second, people usually pay $10 or whatever to get in, pay for discounted food, do raffles for prizes and a 50/50. With these events, I've never seen or heard of people giving back the $.

Re: 50/50 Raffle at Charity Event - Keep or give back?

Message edited 10/24/2011 2:39:08 PM.

Re: 50/50 Raffle at Charity Event - Keep or give back?

I go to smaller events and a few times have witnessed people giving back the 50/50 money. I thought it was such a nice gesture and would probably do the same (I usually don't participate in 50/50 though, I go for the prizes in the chinese auctions). I never heard of it being looked down upon to not give the money back.

Re: 50/50 Raffle at Charity Event - Keep or give back?

Posted by headoverheels

Posted by Jennie0898

Posted by lulugrrl

I didn't realize you were suposed to give it back either. I have never won one though. However, I know somone who won the same one two years in a row (over $15,000) each time, and it was on a ticket she split with others. I know they never gave anything back...they didn't get any flack for it. Now I know.

No one would EVER say anything to the winners for not giving back to the charity, but I can tell you that those who work for the charity would be a little put out that nothing was donated back.

Interesting.

I never knew that it was expected that you give something back.

I'd keep it all, probably. My feeling is that the only part that the charity should "expect" would be 50 of what was donated by the people who purchased the tickets.

I have no problem donating to charity but if I buy a ticket to try and win something, I'm not giving it back if I win.

Re: 50/50 Raffle at Charity Event - Keep or give back?

Ok, this whole thread is an eye opener. I always played with the hopes of winning. Now I doubt I will ever play. I have no problem giving money for a charity, but lets call it what it is. What's with all the code speak, and people looking down on someone for winning a prize and having the audacity for keeping it.

Re: 50/50 Raffle at Charity Event - Keep or give back?

Message edited 10/24/2011 3:08:53 PM.

Re: 50/50 Raffle at Charity Event - Keep or give back?

Re: 50/50 Raffle at Charity Event - Keep or give back?

Re: 50/50 Raffle at Charity Event - Keep or give back?

I'd give back half.

My friend won a 50/50 at his block party. The money goes into a pot on the block that they use to do the block party every year. I think he kept a little and gave back most of it.

I agree the point is to raise money but the point of playing is to win, so i'd give back half.

Re: 50/50 Raffle at Charity Event - Keep or give back?

Re: 50/50 Raffle at Charity Event - Keep or give back?

Posted by PrincessP

Posted by lovemyfamily88

Posted by Jennie0898

Posted by lovemyfamily88

Whats the point if you give it back. Don't have a raffle then. I really don't get it. Why do a 50/50 raffle if u expect the money back. Raffle off something else. Never won one but if I did I wouldn't give any of it back.

It's a method of fund raising...

I understand its a method of fundraising. But it seems really ridiculous to have a raffle and then look down on anyone who doesn't give the money back.

I agree with this.
I work for a non profit as well as a Social Worker. I dont believe that people look down on people that keep the $ that they won in a 50/50. Sorry, if thats the way it works then why should anyone even play into it. the 50% of the pot is more then reasonable of a profit to give to charity. Only when I read LIF threads do I see people putting a damper on things that are supposed to be fun. I do a basket auction at my job and the people DO take home the baskets. Maybe they should give them back so the consumers can use the gifts. To me that would be absurd. Big deal if they keep the $.

Re: 50/50 Raffle at Charity Event - Keep or give back?

Winning is fun. Giving it back is much more fun. I never went to a charity expecting to get something. I go to give. I think that's the eye opener for me in this thread.

Re: 50/50 Raffle at Charity Event - Keep or give back?

i would keep it. i never thought to give money back that i win.

Re: 50/50 Raffle at Charity Event - Keep or give back?

Keep it mostly.
If its small, donate back
If its considerably larger, half and half.

I have worked with charity for battered women's shelters for over a decade. 50/50 was how we raised money. I have never expected nor anticipated the return of the winnings for the donation.

I think maybe once or twice it was given back and generally thats because the person who won was loaded anyway. They had put in a large amount and donated the winnings back. Others kept it.

The charity was grateful for any and every penny we could give.

Re: 50/50 Raffle at Charity Event - Keep or give back?

Re: 50/50 Raffle at Charity Event - Keep or give back?

We do these at work. We never expect people to give back the winnings. The way we see it, we just got more money than we had before the raffle. Every penny counts. That's it.

Re: 50/50 Raffle at Charity Event - Keep or give back?

Posted by Marcie

For a charity event...I would give it back

Re: 50/50 Raffle at Charity Event - Keep or give back?

I think someone won at the Trinca's benefit at Blue lastnight and gave the 1500 back to help the family. I thought that was wonderful!!