Florida Raffle Laws in 2026: What Nonprofits Need to Know About Online Raffles and RaffleGives

Florida nonprofits are always looking for ways to expand fundraising, reach new supporters and reduce the administrative work associated with traditional campaigns. From youth organizations and community foundations to veterans groups and charitable associations, many organizations have strong local networks but limited staff and marketing resources. Digital fundraising technology can help those organizations reach supporters more efficiently, but raffle fundraising requires a different level of legal consideration than ordinary online donations.

Florida permits qualifying nonprofit organizations to conduct charitable drawings by chance under specific statutory conditions. Those rules establish important requirements for entry, advertising, prize awards and the treatment of participants. They also create a distinction that nonprofit leaders must understand before considering an online raffle or a cash-prize fundraising campaign.

RaffleGives provides digital fundraising tools designed to simplify campaign management, reporting and community outreach. For Florida nonprofits, the opportunity is to use those capabilities where the proposed fundraising arrangement is legally authorized, while maintaining the transparency and organizational oversight required by state law.

Quick Answer: Are Nonprofit Raffles Legal in Florida?

Yes. Florida Statute § 849.0935 permits certain federally tax-exempt organizations to conduct charitable drawings by chance, provided they satisfy the statute and applicable provisions of Florida's charitable solicitation laws.

However, Florida nonprofits cannot require a purchase, donation or payment as a condition of entering a charitable drawing. Organizations may suggest voluntary donations, but people who do not contribute must not be excluded or treated less favorably in the drawing.

This means a conventional paid-entry raffle, including a typical 50/50 raffle in which purchasing a ticket is required to win, cannot simply be launched under Florida's charitable drawing exception. Online entry and digital fundraising must be evaluated against these same restrictions, along with any applicable payment-processing and solicitation requirements.

The primary legal authority is Florida Statute § 849.0935.

Florida Raffle Laws at a Glance

Requirement	Florida Rule
Are nonprofit drawings permitted?	Yes, for qualifying organizations
Primary governing law	Florida Statute § 849.0935
Eligible federal exemptions	501(c)(3), (4), (7), (8), (10) and (19), with a current IRS determination letter
Is a purchase required to enter?	No. Requiring payment or a donation is prohibited
Can organizations suggest donations?	Yes, but donations must remain voluntary
Must nonpaying entrants be treated equally?	Yes
Are cash prizes addressed?	Yes, including disclosure of the source of prize funds
Are online paid ticket sales expressly authorized?	No general authorization for mandatory paid entries under § 849.0935
Are disclosures required?	Yes, including rules, organization details, prize funding and drawing information
Is FDACS registration relevant?	Yes, Chapter 496 requirements or applicable exemptions must be reviewed
Can RaffleGives be used?	Potentially, for an approved configuration that satisfies the applicable requirements

These distinctions are important because the term raffle is frequently used to describe several different fundraising arrangements. A charitable drawing that accepts optional donations is not legally identical to a paid-entry lottery or a conventional ticket-sales-based 50/50 raffle.

For Florida nonprofits, selecting the correct fundraising structure should come before selecting the software used to manage it.

Understanding Florida Statute § 849.0935

Florida's primary charitable raffle provision is § 849.0935, titled Charitable, nonprofit organizations; drawings by chance; required disclosures; unlawful acts and practices; penalties.

The statute creates an exception to Florida's general lottery prohibition for qualifying nonprofit organizations conducting drawings by chance. A drawing involves entries submitted by members of the public, from which one or more winners are selected randomly.

The exception is conditional. Organizations must satisfy the statute's requirements and comply with applicable provisions of Chapter 496, which regulates charitable solicitation.

Who Can Conduct a Charitable Drawing?

Florida's statute recognizes organizations exempt from federal income taxation under Internal Revenue Code sections 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(7), 501(c)(8), 501(c)(10) and 501(c)(19), provided they have a current IRS determination letter. The statute also addresses their bona fide members and officers.

This is broader than the assumption that only 501(c)(3) charities can conduct drawings. Depending on the organization and its qualifications, certain social welfare, social club, fraternal and veterans organizations may also fall within the statutory definition.

Nevertheless, federal tax exemption alone is not sufficient. The organization must also meet Florida's raffle requirements and any applicable charitable solicitation obligations.

Why the Free-Entry Requirement Matters

Florida law prohibits organizations from requiring an entry fee, donation, payment, proof of purchase or other substantial consideration as a condition of entering a charitable drawing or being selected to win.

The statute permits organizations to suggest a minimum donation. However, that suggested amount cannot become a mandatory price for participation, and the organization cannot discriminate between contributors and noncontributors.

This requirement fundamentally affects the economics of a Florida charitable drawing. A nonprofit may use the event to encourage voluntary support, but it cannot make the opportunity to win conditional on contributing.

It also means that a nonprofit should not describe a required payment as a donation in an attempt to avoid the law. The actual conditions of participation matter more than the label placed on the transaction.

Can Florida Nonprofits Conduct Online Raffles?

Florida's charitable drawing statute does not establish a comprehensive framework expressly authorizing conventional paid online raffle ticket sales. It addresses which organizations may conduct drawings, what disclosures are required and which practices are prohibited.

A nonprofit may be able to use a website to communicate information about an authorized drawing or facilitate an appropriately structured participation process. However, that does not mean every online raffle format or payment arrangement is automatically permitted.

An organization considering digital participation should determine how free entries will be accepted, how voluntary contributions will be handled, how entrants will be treated equally and whether its specific online procedures satisfy applicable law.

The distinction is particularly important for organizations that want to sell digital raffle tickets. Technology can make online payments easy, but payment convenience does not change Florida's prohibition on requiring consideration for entry.

For a national overview of these differences, see Can Nonprofits Sell Raffle Tickets Online?.

Are 50/50 Raffles Legal in Florida?

A conventional 50/50 raffle typically involves participants purchasing entries, with a portion of ticket revenue awarded to the winner and the remainder retained by the fundraising organization.

That familiar structure raises significant legal concerns under Florida's charitable drawing law because payment cannot be required for entry. An organization cannot simply rely on § 849.0935 to operate a mandatory paid-entry 50/50 raffle.

Florida law does contemplate cash prizes and requires disclosure of the source of the funds used to award them. However, the presence of a cash-prize provision does not eliminate the free-entry requirement or authorize every prize calculation method.

A nonprofit considering a drawing with a cash prize connected to voluntary contributions should obtain Florida-specific legal review of the complete structure. The review should address entry equality, prize funding, promotional language, payment processing and the prohibition against conditioning prizes on contributions.

Compliance tip: Do not launch a conventional paid-entry 50/50 raffle in Florida based solely on the fact that charitable drawings are permitted. The proposed arrangement must satisfy the actual statutory requirements.

Florida's Required Raffle Disclosures

Florida requires specific information to be conspicuously disclosed in brochures, advertisements, notices, tickets and entry blanks associated with charitable drawings.

Organizations must communicate the rules governing the drawing, their full legal name and principal place of business, and the source of funds used to award cash prizes or purchase other prizes.

They must also disclose the date, hour and place where the winner will be selected and prizes awarded, subject to the statute's limited exception for materials not offered more than three days before the drawing.

Finally, promotional materials must disclose that no purchase or contribution is necessary.

These disclosures are not optional marketing details. They are part of the statutory framework governing the drawing and should be incorporated into the organization's campaign planning.

A digital campaign page can help centralize this information, but the nonprofit must verify that the actual disclosures are complete and accurate. Merely using an online fundraising platform does not establish compliance.

Florida nonprofit raffle compliance checklist showing five steps: verify eligibility, confirm FDACS requirements, provide free entry, publish required disclosures, and conduct a fair drawing.

Practices Florida Nonprofits Must Avoid

Florida law contains several additional restrictions designed to protect participants and maintain the integrity of charitable drawings.

Organizations may not predetermine or rig the winner, condition a drawing on receiving a minimum number of contributions, discriminate against noncontributing entrants or arbitrarily reject valid entries.

They must promptly notify selected winners at the addresses provided on their entry forms and award all prizes offered. The statute also prohibits false or misleading promotional materials and cancellation of the drawing.

These rules have practical consequences for fundraising teams. For example, an organization should not promise that a drawing will occur only after a particular fundraising target has been achieved.

Similarly, it should not offer better chances of winning exclusively to people who contribute money. Any proposed entry allocation or contribution-related benefit must be evaluated against the statute's equal-treatment requirements.

A properly documented process helps protect the organization, its volunteers and the public.

Florida FDACS Registration and Charitable Solicitation Requirements

Florida's charitable solicitation framework is administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, commonly known as FDACS.

Under Chapter 496, many organizations soliciting contributions in or from Florida must register and renew their registrations annually unless an exemption applies. Certain organizations may qualify for alternative treatment, including eligible small charitable organizations and specified exempt institutions.

FDACS explains that some small organizations with less than $50,000 in contributions during the preceding fiscal year, volunteer-led fundraising and no disqualifying professional fundraising arrangements may use its small-charity filing process instead of ordinary registration.

Other exemptions may apply depending on the organization's legal status and activities. For example, bona fide religious or educational institutions may fall outside certain registration requirements.

Nonprofits should therefore avoid assuming that every Florida charity must complete the identical FDACS registration process. The correct question is which Chapter 496 obligations apply to the specific organization.

Organizations should also review required charitable solicitation disclosures, including registration information and the statutory notice explaining that state registration does not imply endorsement or approval.

Official resource: FDACS Solicitation of Contributions.

Charitable Drawings Are Not the Same as Commercial Sweepstakes

Florida separately regulates commercial game promotions under § 849.094. These generally involve promotions conducted in connection with the sale of consumer products or services.

FDACS explains that qualifying charitable drawings conducted under § 849.0935 are not considered game promotions under § 849.094.

This distinction matters because the registration and bonding requirements associated with certain commercial sweepstakes should not automatically be applied to nonprofit charitable drawings.

Likewise, registering a commercial game promotion does not establish that a nonprofit's proposed raffle satisfies § 849.0935.

Why Florida Nonprofits Should Consider RaffleGives

Florida's fundraising environment creates a strong need for technology that helps organizations manage campaigns efficiently while maintaining clear records and organizational oversight.

RaffleGives was designed specifically for nonprofit cash and 50/50 raffle fundraising. Its capabilities include branded campaign pages, digital ticket management, Stripe-connected payments, campaign reporting and Ambassador tools that help supporters distribute fundraising opportunities.

For Florida organizations, these capabilities may provide value when used as part of a legally approved fundraising arrangement. However, RaffleGives' standard paid-ticket workflow should not be assumed to satisfy Florida's no-purchase requirement without appropriate review and configuration.

The strongest reasons for a qualifying Florida nonprofit to consider RaffleGives involve operational efficiency, community reach, financial visibility and a platform built around nonprofit fundraising.

1. A More Professional Fundraising Experience

Supporters are increasingly comfortable discovering causes and interacting with nonprofits through digital channels. A branded campaign page can provide a consistent destination for information about an organization's mission, fundraising purpose and participation procedures.

Rather than distributing disconnected promotional materials, an organization can direct supporters toward a centralized experience. This can make campaign communications easier to coordinate and reduce confusion about the fundraising organization.

For Florida campaigns, that experience must clearly explain the free-entry process and distinguish voluntary contributions from any conditions of participation.

2. Greater Reach Through Existing Supporters

Many nonprofits already have valuable relationships with volunteers, board members, community partners, previous contributors and program supporters.

RaffleGives' Ambassador Program provides shareable links and QR codes that can help organizations expand campaign awareness through those existing relationships. This distribution model can be particularly useful for community organizations that have limited advertising budgets but strong local networks.

For Florida, Ambassador responsibilities must be structured carefully. Volunteers should not represent voluntary contributions as mandatory ticket purchases or engage in activities prohibited by applicable charitable gaming or solicitation rules.

The objective is to help more people discover the organization's mission and authorized fundraising opportunity, not to bypass legal entry requirements.

3. Better Campaign Reporting

Fundraising leaders need reliable information to understand campaign activity and reconcile financial results. Manual processes can become difficult to manage when multiple volunteers are involved.

RaffleGives provides reporting and tracking capabilities that can help organizations monitor digital campaign activity. For an approved Florida configuration, appropriate records would also need to distinguish free entries from voluntary contributions and demonstrate that participants were treated fairly.

That distinction is essential. An organization must be able to explain both how funds were collected and how winners were selected.

4. Direct Stripe-Connected Payments

RaffleGives allows qualifying organizations to connect their own Stripe accounts rather than requiring the platform to hold nonprofit funds.

This structure can support financial transparency and give organizations direct access to their payment information. However, the use of Stripe does not establish that a particular charitable gaming transaction is lawful or permitted under the processor's policies.

Florida organizations should obtain confirmation that their proposed contribution, payment and drawing arrangements are permitted before activating payment collection.

5. No Monthly Subscription or Upfront Platform Fee

RaffleGives' standard pricing model does not require a monthly subscription or upfront platform fee. The standard platform fee is 8% of gross ticket sales, with Stripe payment-processing charges separate.

This model can be attractive to nonprofits that want to avoid recurring software commitments. However, Florida's voluntary-contribution framework does not necessarily fit the standard gross-ticket-sales pricing model.

Before proceeding, Florida organizations and RaffleGives should establish an approved operational and commercial arrangement that addresses how contributions, fees and free entries will be handled.

The absence of upfront software costs is valuable, but legal suitability must remain the first consideration.

What a Florida Nonprofit Should Confirm Before Using RaffleGives

A Florida nonprofit interested in digital drawing-based fundraising should complete a structured review before announcing a campaign.

Review Area	Questions to Resolve
Organizational status	Does the organization qualify under § 849.0935?
Charitable solicitation	Is FDACS registration, a small-charity filing or an exemption applicable?
Entry requirements	Can every eligible person enter without payment or contribution?
Equal treatment	Are free and contributing entrants treated equally?
Cash prizes	Is the proposed prize structure and funding method lawful?
Digital process	Are online entry, recordkeeping and drawing procedures permissible?
Payments	Does the processor permit the proposed arrangement?
Platform fees	Are vendor compensation and fee deductions permissible?
Disclosures	Are all required notices included in campaign materials?
Winner selection	Does the drawing method comply with applicable requirements?

This review should occur before launching a paid campaign or collecting funds through a raffle-related checkout.

It is particularly important when the organization wants to conduct a 50/50-style cash drawing. The nonprofit should obtain written legal guidance addressing its proposed arrangement rather than relying on general descriptions of Florida raffle law.

How Florida Nonprofits Can Build Stronger Fundraising Campaigns

A nonprofit does not need to begin with ticket sales to benefit from a more organized digital fundraising strategy. Organizations can strengthen their existing supporter networks, improve campaign communications and create more consistent fundraising experiences.

The first step is to define a clear purpose. Supporters should understand what the organization does, what the campaign will support and why their participation or voluntary contribution matters.

Next, the organization can develop a communication plan that reaches its existing supporters through email, social media, community partnerships and volunteer outreach. Each message should be accurate, consistent and easy to understand.

A digital platform can help coordinate these activities, but technology works best when it supports an already well-defined campaign. Organizations should establish legal eligibility and operational responsibilities before asking volunteers to promote the drawing.

For additional strategies, read How to Increase Raffle Ticket Sales Without Spending More on Advertising. Its audience activation and campaign measurement principles can inform nonprofit outreach, although Florida drawing participation must follow the state's specific legal requirements.

Common Florida Raffle Mistakes to Avoid

One of the most common mistakes is assuming that nonprofit status creates unrestricted raffle authority. Florida's law identifies specific eligible organizations and imposes conditions that must be satisfied.

Another mistake is advertising a raffle as a conventional paid-ticket fundraiser while providing no genuine free-entry opportunity. A statement saying that no purchase is necessary is not sufficient if the actual participation process requires payment.

Organizations may also overlook the difference between charitable solicitation registration and authorization to conduct a drawing. FDACS registration addresses important fundraising obligations, but it does not eliminate the restrictions in § 849.0935.

Finally, nonprofits should avoid relying on a technology provider's general marketing claims as proof of compliance. The organization must understand its own legal responsibilities and verify that the platform's actual configuration supports them.

Careful preparation is more valuable than discovering these issues after a campaign has launched.

Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Raffle Laws

Are raffles legal for nonprofits in Florida?

Yes. Qualifying organizations may conduct charitable drawings by chance under Florida Statute § 849.0935. They must comply with the statute's requirements, including the prohibition against mandatory payment for entry.

Can Florida nonprofits sell raffle tickets online?

Florida's charitable drawing exception does not authorize requiring payment for entry. A conventional online ticket-selling model should not be treated as automatically lawful merely because the organization qualifies to conduct charitable drawings.

Can Florida nonprofits run 50/50 raffles?

A conventional 50/50 raffle that requires purchasing an entry raises significant concerns under § 849.0935. Any proposed cash-prize drawing funded by voluntary contributions requires careful review of entry equality, prize funding and other statutory restrictions.

Is a free-entry option required?

Yes. Florida law prohibits requiring an entry fee, donation, purchase or contribution as a condition of entering or winning a charitable drawing. Noncontributing entrants cannot be discriminated against.

Can a nonprofit suggest a donation amount?

Yes. The statute permits organizations to suggest a minimum donation, but contributing cannot be mandatory and cannot provide preferential treatment in the drawing.

Do Florida nonprofits need to register with FDACS?

Many organizations soliciting contributions must register under Chapter 496, but exemptions and alternative filing provisions exist. The organization should determine which requirements apply to its legal status and fundraising activities.

Does RaffleGives automatically make a Florida raffle compliant?

No. RaffleGives provides fundraising technology, but compliance depends on the organization's eligibility, the specific campaign structure, the platform configuration and applicable law. Florida organizations should obtain approval for their proposed arrangement before launching.

Can Florida nonprofits use digital fundraising tools?

Yes, nonprofits can use digital technology for many authorized fundraising and administrative activities. Whether a specific drawing, entry process, payment method or cash-prize arrangement is lawful requires a separate analysis.

Does Florida require a special commercial sweepstakes registration for every nonprofit raffle?

No. FDACS distinguishes charitable drawings under § 849.0935 from commercial game promotions under § 849.094. Applicable charitable solicitation requirements must still be reviewed.

Florida Fundraising Requires the Right Legal Structure and the Right Technology

Florida offers qualifying nonprofit organizations a lawful framework for charitable drawings, but that framework is more restrictive than many nonprofit leaders initially expect. The state's prohibition against mandatory payment for entry affects traditional ticket sales, digital raffle platforms and conventional 50/50 fundraising models.

Those requirements do not eliminate the value of modern fundraising technology. They make it more important for organizations to select tools that support transparent administration, clear communication and properly documented participation.

RaffleGives offers a purpose-built digital fundraising platform with branded campaign pages, reporting, Stripe-connected payments and Ambassador distribution tools. For Florida nonprofits, these capabilities should be evaluated in the context of a legally approved campaign rather than assumed to authorize a standard paid-entry raffle.

The best fundraising strategy combines strong community relationships, effective technology and a clear understanding of the law. When those elements work together, nonprofits can spend less time managing fragmented processes and more time supporting the missions that matter.

Explore Digital Fundraising With RaffleGives

Looking for a more efficient way to organize nonprofit fundraising and activate your community?

RaffleGives helps qualifying organizations manage authorized digital cash and 50/50 raffle campaigns through a centralized platform designed for nonprofit fundraising.

No monthly subscription. No upfront platform fee. Performance-based pricing.

Florida organizations should first confirm that their proposed drawing, payment structure and platform configuration satisfy § 849.0935 and applicable charitable solicitation requirements.

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