Raffles

2/26/2019 8:11 am

"...Add revenue by selling raffle tickets..." (2/26/2019, a suggestion from the 2018-19 Fundraising Survey)

In the state of Tennessee, you must apply and register to host a raffle. Only qualified organizations (as a 501(c)(3), the SSES PTO is qualified) who have been tax-exempt for at least five years (the SSES PTO has been tax-exempt since 2005) are eligible to apply to operate one annual game of chance. Applications must be approved by a two-thirds vote by the General Assembly. The non-refundable filing fee is $100-$550 and based on the event gross. For an event that occurs between July 1 and June 30, the application would have to be submitted between July 1 and January 31 of the previous year. Therefore, since we missed the January 31, 2019 deadline, the SSES PTO is not eligible to apply to hold a raffle for the 2019-2020 school year. If the 2019-2020 PTO Board decides to pursue a raffle (that would have to be held in the 2020-2021 school year), they would need to submit the paperwork and filing fee to the TN Secretary of State between July 1, 2019 and January 31, 2020. (Source: https://sos.tn.gov/charitable/gaming-faqs)

A handful of Williamson County School PTOs hold an annual raffle with great success and significant preplanning. These raffles are usually for big ticket items, such as a car or a trip, that are donated so that the PTO receives 100% (minus the filing fee and costs of advertising and printing) of the raffle proceeds. If you or someone you know is interested in donating an item that the Sunset Elementary PTO could use for a raffle in the following school year, please email ptosunsetelementary@gmail.com.