The Prize Raffle is really a “Chinese Raffle.” This is how it works:
Ask for donated prizes from family/friends and local businesses. i.e. - Gift certificates from restaurants, gift baskets from Mary Kay, Avon, etc. I would recommend at least 5 donated prizes. This works like a silent auction. Each donated prize needs an enclosed container of some sort that allows people to put their ticket(s) into. An hour before the dinner ends, have the drawing for each prize. People need not be in attendance because their name and number will be on the back of the ticket.
At the door, ask people to purchase tickets for the prize raffle or “Chinese Raffle” items. You will need a single roll of tickets. Each person will have to put their name and phone number on the back of the ticket. Charge $.50 - $1.00/ticket. (We charged $1.00 per ticket, $4.00 for 5 tickets, $8.00 for 10 tickets, etc.) Make sure they get a discount for every 5 tickets they buy.
Allow people at their own leisure to participate in this raffle. Make sure each prize has a detailed description of what the prize is and who/where it came from. Don’t forget to tell people the time of the drawings (an hour before the end of the dinner).
You can also Google “Chinese Raffle” to obtain a much better description.
The 50/50 can be done multiple ways. We did it this way:
People had the option of buying their tickets when they first came into the door. Most people didn’t buy their tickets until right before each raffle.
You will need a double roll of tickets- one for the person and one to go into the drawing container. Name and phone numbers are not needed for the 50/50 unless they will not be in attendance for the raffle. We had a raffle every hour. You could have a raffle every half hour (depends on the amount of people present). You’ll want to make 2 announcements before each raffle. The first will be made in order to allow people a last chance at buying tickets for the raffle. The second announcement will be made in order to warn people that the raffle is about to take place. During each raffle, announce the amount the winner will receive. Choose random people to draw the ticket and read off the ticket number (for added excitement). You’ll find that most people will donate their winnings to you or will use their winnings for the next 50/50. In the end, you usually end up with most, if not all of the 50/50 money.
There are of course different ways of doing each of these types of raffles. You could also consider auctions/silent auctions.