Fixing the charity raffle

Everyone -- or no one -- does it?

I recently purchased four $50 raffle tickets to a friend's school's raffle.  Of course I didn't win, but I didn't expect to.  My friend was running the raffle and I wanted to support her school and her in particular.  Later, though, when a group of us were together, she told us that "of course" she fixed who won the raffle.   She made sure the winner was a woman whom she owed "a favor" to and wanted to sort of "get in with" socially.  I was shocked!  My friend doesn't understand why I think this is outrageous.  She thinks it's no big deal and that raffle ticket purchases should be considered donations.  Am I way off base or is my friend?  Should I let her school officials know?  All I know is that I will not support any more raffles she's running.  Anyone else faced this situation? -- Maggie in Darien, IL

NuKazoo readers shared their experiences:

This happened to me in a less formal way. I was manning a trade show with colleagues. In order to increase interest in our booth, we offered visitors a chance at winning a Ping driver if they dropped their business card into a jar in our booth. Our sign called our promotion a "drawing." Anyway, shortly after a key prospect happened by our booth and dropped in his card, my manager suggested we pull his name for the golf club. The idea was that we'd have an excuse to contact him and leave a favorable impression which might grease the skids toward making him a customer. I bristled at the idea, but he softened it by saying we could pull another name also, and that he'd figure out how to get another driver. We did it, and the important prospect got the club. Ya know, having gone through that, if it came up again, I'd oppose the idea. It just isn't right. It's lying. It cheapens all those associated with the contest, and if you have a conscience, you won't feel good about it. While in the end we "followed the rules" by selecting another name, we deceived the first guy because we never told him he won because we made him win. Was he fooled? Probably not, but we took the low road.

--Dennis from Wilmette, IL

Motivation counts here. It's a fact that generally people think of raffle ticket purchases as donations and don't expect to win. If the "fixing" is self-serving on the part of the organizer, then it's wrong. But if the charity wants to reward an important benefactor, then it's not as wrong.

--Jeannie in Iowa City

I helped out with a raffle once and while there was no "fixing" of the winner, there was little concern for ensuring that all ticket stubs were entered into the bin. I remember the organizer saying to a ticket seller who couldn't balance her money with her stubs -- "oh, don't worry about it. The important thing is that we have the cash." Now I regard all raffles as suspect. I still buy tickets, but I've lowered my expectations that they're legit.

--Kathryn, Yardley, PA

When someone wants to donate money, he or she donates money. They don't buy raffle tickets. Anything short of sticking to the advertised rules of the raffle, as well as to the perceived fairness of selecting the winner at random, is wrong! Period! In your case, your friend abused your generosity and that of every ticket holder! The raffle is a sham and you must blow the whistle. Knowledge can be a huge burden, but blame your friend. Don't just stop buying raffle tickets from the charity. Let the organizers know their fundraising event has been compromised. You can be discreet but do the right thing.

-- Traci in Lake Worth, Fla.

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