Our local club is looking at a new annual fund raiser to generate funds for the year. We have done a draw-down for a little over 10 years and would like to really try something different. The draw-down has run its course and ticket sales have slowly dwindled.

Since we don’t have a water way to do a radar run or some kind of snowmobile event, it is hard to do that type of event.

Here are a couple of ideas we are tossing around:
- Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament
- Meat Raffle

We would really like to do the Texas Hold ‘Em Tourney, but we are not sure on the laws and if it is legal. I have contacted a company that we would hire to come in and organize and run the tournament for us, but we are not a 501 c 3 tax exempt organization, so they will not do it.

What does your local club do to generate funds for the year? I would really like some fresh ideas to bounce off the other board members.

Thanks guys.

We do the usual Wisconsin Chili/Brat feed with door prizes.....good attendance if snow is on the ground, crappy if not.

Other clubs do a "Garbage Can Feed" which is fun. Garbage can over a fire with "whatever" thrown in to make a stew. Tends to draw the curious in...

some of the local clubs hold like ribeye dinners and fish fries otherwise selling calenders (not approved for under 18) lol.

best is to have a gun raffle during opening weekend of deer hunting our local bar kickapoo inn. usally has 3 guns,door prizes,place is packed friday before opening till about 10:00 pm . good food,raffle,cost 10.00 buck to win a gun. or 80% of money choice of winner.
i know hunting season is over but. easy way to raise cash only need table to display guns ,tickets, three or four people to do.


another club does 20 guns, 1 per week 20.00 a ticket. that what they say it works better.they go to gun show also.

We do the gunboards...put them in bars that are business members. We did find that only deer rifles sold tickets. Shotguns, turkey guns, etc. not so much on interest.

great thread!

Dumb question- what's a gunboard? (Quit laughing.....I said it was a dumb question.......)

We were looking into a gun raffle as adjoining clubs have had great success with them but none of us board members evn know how to get something like this started.

An adjoining club (bman's club) raffles off a sled every year and i believe that is very successful.

On top of our poker run we also do a daily number lottery-based ticket. You get your number for every day of the month of March and if it comes up in the lottery you win the amount on the ticket... or something like that.

Worst case scenario you guys could knock-off a liquor store.....


Keep the ideas coming guys!

Think of a football board with a bunch of numbered squares. You buy a square for $X.00, and if it's the square they pick, you win rifle! Sometimes they pull a concealed number off of the back to win, else they pull numbered balls out of a tumbler. Depending on local laws, you may need a license for gambling.

Oh that makes sense. Thanks. That's actually a great idea that has never come up!

yes use hunting rifles .
start by stopping in local sporting/gun stores .not gander mountain ,bass pro etc.will have to fill out form and get approval.most big chains won't donate. just like helping the local snowmobile club. start buying from local business him for your hunting, fishing ,etc . yes you will pay more. but when you go to ask for donations you will find him easier to give since you are a good customer. alot of small places won't donate if you never buy anything from them.it a give and take thing.send people his way have them say you sent them.so he know he got business from you.
also have people get firearm from gun place that gave the gun.so proper background check is done. and gun is regester to them.and might buy somelse from his store.

Dumb question- what's a gunboard? (Quit laughing.....I said it was a dumb question.......)

same as this but all about guns.

i noicted you are from il which is a foid card state. whcih has alot of firearm laws. is your club in ill or wi.?

I belong to a club in Adams County whom has done the gun raffle for so many years that it became old! People got tired of it because everyone does it! We have been doing a meat/cash raffle for about 3 years now with good success, however I think it is getting old also. Ticket sales were less this year, probably due to the economy & fewer people at the actual raffle. Yet the club came out ahead!
Thought about a winter brat/burger fry which would probably go real well if we could depend on the trails to be open the weekend of the fry?? However, no guarantee there!!
We are also looking for some ideas, maybe a summer brat/burger fry set up at a high traffic area. This may work out well??

In the past our club has set up a booth at Octoberfest, selling sweet corn.
We could clear about $3000. They didn't do it last year because of lack of volunteers.
Maybe we can get it going again this year.

Our club has a poker run, steak feed, ham dinner , but our biggest fund raiser is our annual Christmas party auction. Somone or two goes around and gets donations from local buisnesses and alot of people bring items to the party. Somone acts as auctioneer and everybody has a good time. It all starts off with a big potluck dinner. At the next meeting we decide who to give the money to. Usually it goes to a scholarship fund. We also sell ads for our trail map, and have donation cans at local buisnesses. The groomers pretty much pay for theselves as the state pays an hourly rate for grooming. The operators are all voulenteers. If we make 1000 bucks at an event, it was a success.

How do you organize your poker runs to discourage people from trading cards amongst themselves?