10 Scratch Card Fundraising Ideas That Keep Donors Engaged

The format itself does most of the work, but the campaigns that substantially outperform average are the ones that add something to it. The ten ideas below are what separate a group that hands out cards and hopes from a group that runs a genuine campaign.

Big Fundraising Ideas has provided scratch card fundraisers to schools, teams, and community groups since 1999. This guide covers how the format works and ten ways to run it better.

How a Scratch Card Fundraiser Works

• Fast and Interactive: The reveal turns a donation request into a brief, enjoyable exchange.
• Predictable Math: About $100 per completed card makes goal-setting straightforward. Twenty participants, each completing one card, is roughly $2,000.
• Small Amounts, Wider Reach: Because individual donations are small, more people say yes than would to a larger fixed ask.
• No Delivery Day: There is no product to sort or distribute, eliminating the heaviest stage in most campaigns.

Ten Ideas That Raise Participation

1. Break Down the Goal

Establish a strong foundation by ensuring that participants are clear on the fundraiser’s purpose and, more importantly, that they understand how both they and the group will benefit from the funds raised. Help participants understand that when a card is completed and all the dots are scratched, they or the group makes between 80% and 90% of the $100 they collect.

2. Give Participants an Opening Line

The most common reason a card goes uncompleted is that the participant did not know what to say. Give every participant one sentence to open with: who they are, what the group is raising money for, and what the supporter does. Practice it once at the kickoff. A participant with a rehearsed opening completes cards at a noticeably higher rate than one improvising at a front door.

3. Lead With the Cause, Not the Card

Supporters give to the reason, not the mechanic. A participant who explains that the team is raising money for tournament travel before producing the card converts better than one who leads with the card and then explains the cause. The card is how the donation happens. The cause is why.

4. Use the Personalization

Cards are personalized with the group's name and photo, and that is not decoration. A supporter looking at a card carrying the school name and a team photo is looking at something specific rather than a generic fundraising item. Point it out during the ask, particularly with supporters who have a connection to the school.

5. Let Supporters Give More if They Want To

Some supporters will offer more than the dot reveals. Participants should be told in advance that this is fine and how to record it. Groups that never mention the possibility leave money on the table from the supporters most likely to give.

6. Expand Who Carries a Card

Most groups distribute cards only to students or players. Parents, grandparents, coaches, and staff all have networks that no student can reach. A parent who takes a card to their workplace opens an entirely separate pool of supporters, and workplace networks tend to complete cards quickly.

7. Pair Cards with an Event You Are Already Holding

A concert, game night, pancake breakfast, or spirit night puts a large number of supportive people in one room. A card table at the entrance captures donations from people already in a giving frame of mind, with no additional event to plan. This is the highest-yield idea on the list for the least added effort.

8. Run a Real Kickoff

Distribute cards at a meeting with everyone present, rather than handing them out individually over the course of a week. Explain the goal, demonstrate the ask, and set the deadline in the same session. Groups that distribute cards passively see far more cards go uncompleted. See small group fundraiser kickoff tips for guidance.

9. Add a Competition

Recognize the first participant to complete a card, the most supporters reached, and the top-performing team or grade. The recognition matters more than the prize. Announcing progress publicly during the campaign sustains effort through the middle stretch where activity normally flattens.

10. Report the Result and Thank Supporters Publicly

Announce the total raised and what it funded. Thank participants and supporters by name where possible. Groups that close the loop find the following year's campaign meaningfully easier, because supporters who saw the last promise kept give more readily to the next ask.

Timing and Goal Setting

Based on approximately $100 gross per completed card. Actual totals depend on completion rate. Minimum order is 10 cards.

Groups needing a larger total generally distribute more cards per participant rather than extending the campaign. A longer selling window does not usually produce more completed cards because the deadline drives completion. For more on campaign length, see how long a school fundraiser should run.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money can a scratch card fundraiser raise?

Approximately $100 gross per completed card. Twenty participants, each completing one card, is roughly $2,000. Groups needing more generally distribute additional cards per participant rather than extending the campaign. See scratch card fundraisers for current program details.

How does a scratch card fundraiser work?

Each participant receives a card with 50 scratch-off dots, personalized with the group's name and photo. A supporter picks a dot, scratches it, and donates the small amount revealed. Completed cards are returned to the group coordinator.

Can scratch cards be personalized?

Cards from Big Fundraising Ideas are personalized with the group's name and photo. That personalization is worth pointing out during the ask, since a supporter with a connection to the school responds differently to a card carrying its name than to a generic fundraising item.

How long should a scratch card campaign run?

About one week for most groups. Scratch cards close faster than product fundraisers because there is no purchase decision and no order to record. Extending the window rarely produces more completed cards, since the deadline is what drives completion.

Do supporters need cash?

Not necessarily. Many groups accept whatever payment method their organization already uses alongside cash, which removes a common obstacle. Confirm what your group's treasurer is set up to handle before the campaign opens rather than during it.

Can young children participate?

Yes, with adult supervision, the format suits them unusually well. Because the card names the donation amount, a young participant does not have to decide what to ask for or negotiate, which is exactly what makes direct asks difficult at that age.

Are scratch card fundraisers cost-effective?

They are among the most efficient formats available because there is no product to manufacture, ship, sort, or deliver. That absence of logistics is also why they suit groups with very few volunteers. See running a fundraiser with few volunteers.

Can small groups use scratch cards successfully?

Yes. The minimum order is 10 cards, so a group of fifteen can run a genuine campaign. Small groups often achieve higher completion rates than large ones because participation is easier to track and follow up on individually.

What is the best way to promote a scratch card fundraiser?

Run a real kickoff with everyone present, give participants a rehearsed opening line, pair the campaign with an event the group is already holding, and announce progress publicly during the week. Passive distribution is the single largest cause of uncompleted cards.

Author Bio

Clay Boggess has been designing fundraising programs for schools and various nonprofit organizations throughout the US since 1999. He’s helped administrators, teachers, and outside support entities such as PTAs and PTOs raise millions of dollars. Clay is an owner and partner at Big Fundraising Ideas.