A calendar raffle is one of the most effective low-overhead fundraisers a UK charity can run, with most well-promoted raffles raising £1,500 to £7,500+ net.
- Register your calendar raffle as a small society lottery with your local council before selling a single ticket: £40 initial fee, £20 annual renewal.
- Stay within the Gambling Act 2005 limits: £20,000 ticket sales per draw, £250,000 annual aggregate, at least 20% of proceeds to your cause, maximum single prize £25,000.
- Gift Aid does not apply to raffle ticket purchases, do not factor a 25% top-up into your revenue projections.
- Source prizes from local businesses to push your profit margin above 85% and keep cash outlay near zero.
- Run it on Zeffy and keep 100% of what you raise: no platform fee, no transaction fee, no credit card fee. Ever.
Table of contents
A calendar raffle is one of the simplest fundraisers a charity can run, and one of the most profitable. Supporters buy a numbered calendar, and that number enters them into every single draw for the entire raffle period. Daily, weekly, or monthly, their number stays in the pool the whole time. One calendar can even win multiple times. It is recurring excitement for supporters and steady income for your organisation. Whether you are raising money for a school PTA, a village hall, or a community charity, calendar raffles consistently bring in £1,500 to £7,500+ with minimal overhead.
What is a calendar raffle?
Estimated Net Profit
$2,900
58% profit margin
Quick Reference: Profit Scenarios
Assumes $1,000 prize budget, $2/calendar printing, and $100 in other costs.
| Calendars Sold |
@ $5 |
@ $10 |
@ $20 |
@ $50 |
| 100 calendars |
-$800 |
-$300 |
$700 |
$3,700 |
| 250 calendars |
-$350 |
$900 |
$3,400 |
$10,900 |
| 500 calendars |
$400 |
$2,900 |
$7,900 |
$22,900 |
| 1,000 calendars |
$1,900 |
$6,900 |
$16,900 |
$46,900 |
A calendar raffle is a fundraiser where supporters purchase a numbered calendar that enters them into every draw during the raffle period. Unlike a traditional raffle where you buy tickets for a single drawing, a calendar raffle gives supporters multiple chances to win, daily, weekly, or monthly, all from one purchase.
Here is how it works:
- 1. Your charity creates numbered calendars. Each calendar has a unique number printed on it.
- 2. Supporters buy a calendar. That number becomes their entry for the entire raffle period.
- 3. Drawings happen on a set schedule. You draw a winning number daily, weekly, or monthly, whatever you have chosen.
- 4. Winners go back in the pool. Winning does not remove someone from future draws. One calendar can win multiple times throughout the raffle.
This is what makes calendar raffles different from regular raffles. Supporters are not buying a single shot at a single prize. They are buying ongoing excitement, a reason to check in every day or every week. That sustained engagement is invaluable for charities building community. The calendar itself doubles as a physical reminder of your organisation. It hangs on someone's wall or sits on their desk for weeks or months, keeping your mission visible.
Calendar raffle profit calculator
Calendar raffles have some of the best unit economics in fundraising. Before you launch, it is worth running the numbers so you know exactly what you are building toward.
Use the calculator below to estimate your profit based on your pricing, volume, and costs. All figures are shown in pounds sterling.
Estimated Net Profit
$2,900
58% profit margin
Quick Reference: Profit Scenarios
Assumes $1,000 prize budget, $2/calendar printing, and $100 in other costs.
| Calendars Sold |
@ $5 |
@ $10 |
@ $20 |
@ $50 |
| 100 calendars |
-$800 |
-$300 |
$700 |
$3,700 |
| 250 calendars |
-$350 |
$900 |
$3,400 |
$10,900 |
| 500 calendars |
$400 |
$2,900 |
$7,900 |
$22,900 |
| 1,000 calendars |
$1,900 |
$6,900 |
$16,900 |
$46,900 |
Quick reference: profit scenarios
The table below shows net profit across common ticket price points and sales volumes. Assumptions: £1,000 prize budget, £2 per calendar printing cost, and £100 in other costs (marketing, postage, supplies).
Note on Gift Aid: Gift Aid does not apply to raffle or lottery ticket purchases. HMRC treats a raffle ticket as payment for goods or services (the chance to win), so the 25% top-up cannot be claimed on these sales. Do not add a 25% uplift to your revenue projections. (HMRC, Donating to charity: Gift Aid)
|
| 100 | -£700 | £700 | £1,700 | £2,200 |
| 250 | -£75 | £1,650 | £3,650 | £4,650 |
| 500 | £1,150 | £3,400 | £7,900 | £10,150 |
| 1,000 | £2,900 | £7,900 | £17,900 | £22,900 |
Key takeaway: at £10 per calendar, you need at least 250 sold to clear a meaningful profit with a £1,000 prize budget. At £20 per calendar, 250 sales puts you at £3,650 net. Pricing matters more than volume at smaller scales.
Real-world scenario examples
Here is how the numbers play out in practice across three common scenarios:
Scenario 1: Small community group, modest goals
- 250 calendars sold at £10 each
- Prize budget: £500 (mix of donated and purchased)
- Net profit: £1,700 (68% margin)
Scenario 2: Mid-size charity, strong local business support
- 500 calendars sold at £10 each
- Prize budget: £0 (all prizes donated by local businesses)
- Net profit: £4,400 (88% margin)
Scenario 3: Active PTA or village-hall committee with strong local-business support
- 1,000 calendars sold at £10 each
- Net profit: £6,900 (69% margin)
The real power move is prize sourcing. Local businesses love donating prizes to calendar raffles because they get visibility on the calendar itself, in your social media posts, and at winner announcements. A restaurant donates a £50 gift card; you feature their logo on the calendar. Your prize budget could drop to £0, and your margin could exceed 90%.
These estimates are based on typical calendar raffle structures. Actual results vary by organisation size, location, and promotion effort. Always check UK small society lottery requirements before launching (see the legal requirements section below).
How much can you make? Results by format and ticket price
Your raffle format, daily, weekly, or monthly draws, affects both your prize budget and your supporter engagement. Here is how each format compares.
|
| Daily | 28 to 31 draws/month | £5 to £10 | £1,500 to £4,000 | You have an active social media presence and can post winner announcements daily |
| Weekly | 4 to 52 draws | £10 to £20 | £2,500 to £6,000 | You want steady engagement without the daily logistics; best balance for most small charities |
| Monthly | 12 draws/year | £20 to £25 | £3,000 to £7,500+ | You can source a few high-value anchor prizes (weekend breaks, electronics, experience days) that justify a higher ticket price |
Weekly formats tend to hit the best balance: enough draws to maintain excitement, manageable prize sourcing, and a ticket price that is easy to justify. Monthly formats work well when you can land a few high-value prizes, think weekend breaks, electronics, or experience packages, that justify a £20 to £25 calendar price.
Daily formats are high-energy but require more logistics. If you have an active social media presence and a team that can post winners every day, daily draws generate enormous engagement.
6 creative calendar raffle ideas
Not all calendar raffles look the same. Here are six proven formats to match your community, your timeline, and your goals.
1. 365 Days of Giving
A full-year daily drawing, one winner every single day for 365 days. This is the marathon version. Keep daily prizes in the £10 to £25 range and save larger prizes (£100+) for the first of each month. This keeps costs manageable while maintaining excitement.
2. 52 Weeks of Local Love
A weekly drawing for an entire year, with every prize sourced from local businesses. Each week highlights a different business, a bakery, a gym, a bookshop, a restaurant. It is part fundraiser, part community celebration. Approach businesses with a sponsorship deck showing how many calendars you plan to sell. The visibility angle sells itself, their name on 500+ calendars hanging in local homes.
3. Holiday Countdown
A 30-day December calendar with daily draws leading up to Christmas or New Year. This taps into the natural excitement of the holiday season and makes a great gift. Prizes can be holiday-themed, gift hampers, tree ornaments, hot chocolate kits. Start selling in early November and position it as a "gift that gives back."
4. New Year, New You
A January wellness-themed raffle with weekly or daily prizes related to health and self-improvement. Think gym memberships, yoga class passes, healthy meal kits, wellness subscriptions, or fitness gear. January is when local gyms and health food shops are actively looking for new customers, they will be happy to donate prizes in exchange for visibility.
5. Back-to-School Bonanza
A September calendar with daily or weekly draws featuring school supplies, family experiences, and child-friendly prizes. Perfect for school PTAs and youth-focused charities. Think stationery bundles, bookshop gift cards, and family cinema passes. Sell at school registration events, autumn term welcome nights, and through parent email lists.
6. Foodie's Year
A 12-month calendar with one big monthly food-related prize. Restaurant gift cards, cooking class vouchers, gourmet food hampers, meal delivery subscriptions. Each month could have a culinary theme, summer fete specials in July, hearty British classics in October, Christmas hampers in December. Feature each month's restaurant prominently on the calendar design to attract higher-value prize donations.
How to run a calendar raffle: step-by-step guide
Step 1: Choose your format and theme
Decide on your timeline (daily, weekly, or monthly draws), duration (one month, a quarter, or a full year), and theme. Match it to your community. A school PTA might go with Back-to-School Bonanza. A community charity might choose 52 Weeks of Local Love.
Consider your capacity honestly. A 365-day raffle means 365 drawings. If you are a small team, a monthly or weekly format is more sustainable.
Step 2: Set your pricing and prize structure
Most calendar raffles price between £5 and £25 per calendar. The sweet spot depends on your community and your prize value.
- £5 to £10 per calendar: accessible to everyone, high volume potential
- £10 to £20 per calendar: a good middle ground for quality prize packages
- £20 to £25 per calendar: works when prizes are substantial (electronics, experience days, larger gift cards)
Map out your full prize list before you start selling. Supporters want to know what they could win.
Step 3: Design and print your calendars
Your calendar needs to look good enough that people actually want to hang it up. Include:
- Your charity's name, logo, and mission statement
- The unique raffle number (prominently displayed)
- Draw dates and prize descriptions
- Sponsor and business logos if you have sourced donated prizes
- Rules and contact information
- Your local council registration number (required on all small society lottery tickets)
Use tools like Canva for design and a local print shop for production. Budget £1.50 to £3.00 per calendar depending on quantity and quality. Canva offers a free plan for registered charities.
Step 4: Sell calendars
Five tips to maximise sales:
- 1. Set a goal and track it publicly. "We have sold 312 of our 500 calendars!" creates urgency.
- 2. Mobilise your volunteers. Give each trustee or volunteer a pack of 20 calendars to sell through their networks. This is a natural fit for peer-to-peer fundraising.
- 3. Sell at events. Community gatherings, farmers' markets, school events, church services, anywhere your supporters gather. Offer contactless tap-to-pay at fetes and summer fairs; most UK supporters no longer carry cash, and accepting only cash at the door leaves money on the table.
- 4. Use social media. Post countdown updates, feature prizes, highlight sponsors. Make it feel exciting.
- 5. Offer online purchasing. Use a platform like Zeffy to sell calendars online and reach supporters who cannot buy in person.
Step 5: Run the draws and announce winners
Make each drawing an event. Even a 30-second Facebook Live video of you pulling a number from a hat builds excitement. Tag winners (with their permission), congratulate them publicly, and remind everyone that their number is still in the pool for next time.
Keep a public log of winners, on social media, your website, or a shared document. Transparency builds trust and keeps people engaged. You can pair Zeffy with any online raffle generator to run your draws.
Step 6: Thank supporters and share results
When the raffle ends, close the loop. Share your total raised, what the funds will support, and a genuine thank-you to every participant, sponsor, and volunteer. This is also your setup for next year. A strong close makes the next one easier to launch.
Calendar raffle rules and legal requirements
This is the section most organisers skip, and the one that can shut your raffle down before it starts.
Gift Aid does not apply to raffle or lottery ticket purchases. HMRC treats a raffle ticket as a payment for goods or services (the chance to win), so the 25% Gift Aid top-up cannot be claimed on these sales. For your donate page and Christmas appeal, Gift Aid still applies normally. (HMRC, Donating to charity: Gift Aid)
One regulator, three categories
Calendar raffles where tickets are sold to the public in advance are legally small society lotteries under the Gambling Act 2005, regulated by the Gambling Commission. (Gambling Commission, Licences for small society lotteries)
There are three categories to know:
- 1. Incidental non-commercial lotteries, the draw is conducted entirely at an event (for example, a school fete tombola). No registration is required.
- 2. Small society lotteries, tickets sold to the public in advance. Register with your local council, not the Gambling Commission. This covers the vast majority of charity calendar raffles.
- 3. Large society lotteries, ticket sales above £20,000 for a single draw or £250,000 annually. These require a Gambling Commission operating licence.
Small society lottery requirements
If you are running a calendar raffle where tickets are sold in advance, you are almost certainly running a small society lottery. Here is what you need to know:
- Register with your local licensing authority (council) before selling any tickets. The fee is £40 for initial registration and £20 for annual renewal.
- Single draw cap: ticket sales must not exceed £20,000 per draw.
- Annual aggregate cap: all lotteries run by your society must not exceed £250,000 total in any year.
- Proceeds to the cause: at least 20% of proceeds must go to your charity's good cause.
- Maximum single prize: no single prize may exceed £25,000.
- Post-draw return: submit a return to your local authority within 3 months of the final draw.
Who can run a small society lottery?
The society must be established for charitable, sporting, or other non-commercial purposes. In practice this means:
- A charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (CCEW)
- A charity registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)
- A charity registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (CCNI)
- An unregistered non-commercial society, a village hall committee, a PTA, a community group, or a sports club, provided the society is not established for private gain.
You do not need to be a registered charity to run a small society lottery, but you must be a non-commercial society.
Age restrictions
Society lottery tickets may not be sold to or by anyone under 18.
What must appear on every calendar
Mandatory information on each lottery ticket includes:
- The name of the promoting society
- The name and address of the external lottery manager or responsible person (if applicable)
- Your local authority registration number
Online sales
Society lotteries can be sold online without a Gambling Commission remote operating licence, provided the small-society limits are not exceeded. If your online sales push total ticket revenue above £20,000 for a single draw or £250,000 annually, you will need a remote operating licence from the Gambling Commission.
Key rule: winners stay in the pool
Under the UK small society lottery framework there is no statutory requirement to remove winners from future draws. This is a core feature of the calendar raffle format. The Fundraising Regulator's Code of Fundraising Practice (effective 1 November 2025) expects raffles to be run openly and honestly, disclose the "winners stay in" policy prominently on every calendar and in the terms before purchase. (Fundraising Regulator, Code of Fundraising Practice)
Scotland and Northern Ireland
Small society lottery rules under the Gambling Act 2005 apply UK-wide. If your society is also a registered charity, you must be registered with the appropriate regulator: CCEW for England and Wales, OSCR for Scotland, or CCNI for Northern Ireland.
Sample prize list by budget
Prize sourcing is the single biggest lever for profitability. Here is what a realistic prize list looks like at three budget levels, with specific examples your team can use as a starting point.
Budget-friendly: under £500 total prize budget
These prizes work well for 31-day daily draws or 12-week weekly draws with smaller communities.
- £25 to £50 restaurant gift cards (approach 10 to 15 local restaurants)
- Coffee shop bundles (£20 to £30 value: a bag of beans, a travel mug, a gift card)
- Bookshop or craft shop gift cards (£25 to £50)
- Cinema tickets (2-pack, approximately £25 to £35)
- Beauty salon or barber gift cards (£30 to £50)
- Car wash packages (£20 to £40)
- Garden centre vouchers (£25 to £40)
- Branded charity merchandise (T-shirts, tote bags, mugs: zero cash cost if you have stock)
- Supermarket gift cards, M&S, Waitrose, or Sainsbury's (£25 to £50)
Total budget tip: with 12 donated prizes averaging £30 each, your cash prize cost is £360. Approach 12 to 15 local businesses and aim for 80 to 100% donation coverage.
Mid-range: £500 to £2,000 total prize budget
This tier works well for 52-week raffles or monthly draws with more established communities.
- Spa day packages (£100 to £150)
- Weekend hotel stays (donated or purchased, £150 to £300)
- Sports or concert tickets (2-pack, £75 to £200)
- Local experience packages (cooking class, wine tasting, craft workshops: £80 to £150)
- Electronics accessories (wireless earbuds, phone chargers: £50 to £100)
- Fitness class memberships (1 to 3 months, £60 to £150)
- Pet grooming packages (£50 to £75)
- Grocery or meal delivery subscription (1 to 3 months, £60 to £150)
- National Trust or English Heritage family day passes (£30 to £60)
- Afternoon tea vouchers at a local hotel (£40 to £80)
Total budget tip: mix 3 to 4 purchased anchor prizes with 8 to 10 donated items. A £200 spa package combined with 10 donated restaurant and experience prizes keeps your cash outlay under £500 while delivering a strong prize list.
Premium: £2,000+ total prize budget
This tier supports monthly draws with high-value prizes or a 12-month calendar with big monthly anchor prizes.
- Weekend break packages (£300 to £600)
- Rail travel or airline gift cards (£200 to £500)
- iPad, tablet, or laptop (£400 to £800)
- Smart home devices (Amazon Echo, Google Nest Hub: £100 to £200)
- Season tickets to a local sports club (£200 to £600)
- Golf foursomes at a premium course (£200 to £400)
- Home improvement gift cards, B&Q, Wickes, or Homebase (£100 to £300)
- West End theatre tokens or experience vouchers (£100 to £300)
- High-end restaurant tasting menus or chef's table experiences (£200 to £500)
- John Lewis or M&S gift cards (£100 to £250)
Total budget tip: at this tier, one or two anchor prizes drive the calendar's perceived value. A £500 weekend break as the January prize justifies a £25 calendar price and can push total revenue well past £10,000 for 500 calendars sold.
Real results: calendar raffle results
UK calendar-raffle results vary by community size, timing, and how actively the raffle is promoted. Most small charities raising under £500k a year see £1,500 to £7,500 net on a well-promoted raffle, in line with Fundraising Regulator-coded UK practice.
The most consistent factors in high-performing raffles are:
- Local business prize support: donated prizes push margins above 85%.
- Active social media: daily or weekly winner announcements drive mid-raffle sales as supporters see friends winning.
- Community networks: PTAs, village halls, and church groups with tight-knit local followings consistently outperform. Your existing supporters are your best sales force.
- Seasonal timing: aligning the raffle with a community event or the Christmas season reduces the selling effort dramatically.
Free calendar raffle template
Planning your calendar raffle from scratch takes time. A ready-to-use template means you can skip the blank-page problem and start selling faster.
The free Google Sheets calendar raffle template below includes:
- Numbered calendar grid (customisable for any month or year)
- Participant tracking (name, number, payment status)
- Winner log with draw dates
- Revenue and cost tracker with automatic profit calculation
Note on currency: the template uses placeholder currency fields. Edit the currency cell to £ before you share it with your team.
If you want a designed printable version to hand out at events or post to supporters, Canva's free plan for registered charities lets you customise a calendar layout, add your raffle numbers, and export as a print-ready PDF. Include your charity's logo, draw dates, prize descriptions, sponsor logos, and your local council registration number.
Calendar raffle best practices
1. Be transparent about everything
Post your rules, prize list, draw schedule, and how funds will be used. Transparency is not just good practice, it drives sales. Supporters give more when they trust where the money goes. The Fundraising Regulator's Code of Fundraising Practice (effective 1 November 2025) expects raffles to be run openly and honestly, with clear records kept throughout.
2. Source prizes from local businesses
This is the single biggest lever for profitability. Donated prizes mean higher margins and stronger community ties. Approach businesses with a clear value proposition: "Your logo on 500 calendars in local homes, plus social media mentions at every drawing."
3. Use social media as your engine
Post before, during, and after. Count down to launch. Make daily or weekly winner announcements. Share behind-the-scenes footage of the draw. Post supporter testimonials. Tag winners and sponsors. Make it a running story, not a one-time announcement.
4. Check legal requirements first
Review the Gambling Commission's small society lotteries guidance before you start planning. You will need to register with your local council before selling any tickets. Keep records of ticket sales, prize values, and draw results.
5. Submit your post-lottery return
Submit your post-lottery return to your local licensing authority within 3 months of the final draw. The Fundraising Regulator's Code of Fundraising Practice expects raffles to be run openly and honestly with clear records from start to finish.
6. Follow up with every buyer
After the raffle, email every calendar holder with results, impact, and a genuine thank-you. Include a link to donate further or sign up for your next event. Your raffle supporters are now warm leads for future fundraising.
7. Plan for next year on day one
Keep detailed notes on what worked and what did not. Track which prizes got the most excitement, which sales channels performed best, and what your actual costs were. The second raffle is always easier, and more profitable.
How to start your calendar raffle on Zeffy
Zeffy is used by 100,000+ charities and not-for-profits that have raised over £2 billion combined, with £0 in platform fees, transaction fees, or credit card fees. Your organisation keeps every pound you raise. Supporters can add an optional voluntary contribution to Zeffy at checkout, but that is entirely their choice. Zeffy is 100% free for charities.
Here is what you get with Zeffy's raffle tools:
- Built-in raffle setup: custom ticket types, pricing tiers, and descriptions
- Online and in-person sales: share a link for online purchases or use Zeffy at live events
- Automatic email confirmations and ticket records: sent to every buyer instantly, no manual reconciliation
- Donor management: track who bought calendars, follow up easily, and build your supporter list for future fundraisers
- Compatible with UK small society lottery requirements: raffle ticket setup, draw management, and ticket records all from one place
- Gift Aid handled correctly elsewhere on Zeffy: raffles are excluded by HMRC, so Zeffy does not apply Gift Aid to ticket purchases
Getting started takes about 10 minutes. Create your free account, set up your raffle, and start selling.
Frequently asked questions
How many calendars should I print?
Start conservatively. For a first-time raffle, print 10 to 20% more than you expect to sell. If you plan to sell 200 calendars, print 220 to 240. Running out early is frustrating and loses revenue; having a modest surplus is manageable. Track your sold numbers publicly to create urgency as you near your target.
Can winners win more than once?
Yes. That is a core feature of the calendar raffle format. Under the UK small society lottery framework, there is no statutory requirement to remove winners from future draws. One calendar can win multiple times throughout the raffle period. You must disclose this policy clearly on every calendar and in your terms before purchase, as required by the Fundraising Regulator's Code of Fundraising Practice.
Do I need a licence to run a calendar raffle?
For most charity calendar raffles, where tickets are sold to the public in advance, you are running a small society lottery under the Gambling Act 2005. You do not need a Gambling Commission licence. Instead, register with your local licensing authority (council) before selling any tickets. The fee is £40 for initial registration and £20 for annual renewal. If your ticket sales for a single draw exceed £20,000, or your annual total across all lotteries exceeds £250,000, you will need a Gambling Commission operating licence. (Gambling Commission, small society lotteries)
Can I sell calendar raffle tickets online?
Yes. Society lotteries can be sold online without a Gambling Commission remote operating licence, provided you stay within the small-society limits (£20,000 per draw; £250,000 annually). Before selling online, confirm your registration with your local council covers the full promotion period. A platform like Zeffy lets you sell tickets online and in person from the same raffle, with automatic email confirmations sent to every buyer.
What if I do not sell all my calendars?
You have a few options. You can hold a smaller raffle with the calendars sold and adjust your prize structure accordingly (keeping to the 20% minimum to your good cause). You can extend your selling period if time allows. Or you can roll unsold calendars into your next event. The most important thing is to run the draw as advertised, do not delay the draw date without notifying ticket holders. Keep detailed records of all unsold inventory.
How do I collect payment?
Offer as many payment options as possible. Most UK supporters no longer carry cash, so accepting only cash at the door leaves significant revenue on the table. Use a platform like Zeffy to accept card payments online and in person via tap-to-pay on a mobile device. At fetes and summer fairs, contactless payment is now the expected default. For supporters who prefer it, you can also accept bank transfers or cheques, but card and digital wallet options will generate the most sales.
What is the best platform for a calendar raffle?
Zeffy is free for UK charities, with no platform fee, no transaction fee, and no credit card fee. You keep every pound raised. Zeffy handles online and in-person ticket sales, automatic buyer confirmations, and donor records, all in one place. Other platforms typically charge 3% to 10% per transaction, which erodes your margin significantly on a raffle priced at £5 to £25 per calendar. You can learn more about Zeffy's raffle tools at zeffy.com/en-gb/home/online-raffle-nonprofit.
.webp)
