Charity giveaways

A charity sweepstakes usually works like a store giveaway with donations in place of merch: a larger gift earns more entries, and a mailed card or form earns a few. The free route is the reason these count as sweepstakes rather than raffles. Some nonprofits do run true raffles under state charity rules, tickets only, and we don't list those. A charity car giveaway is a common format, often run by an outside fundraising company.

Donation sweepstakes split the money, and the charity may receive only part of it after prize costs and the fundraiser's fees. The rules or the charity's own disclosures may show the split, so read them if the cause matters to you. Don't assume money given for entries is tax deductible, and ask a tax professional if it matters. A winner still owes income tax on the prize, and our guide to the catch covers how that works.