Chapters use RMEF gun events to raise funds beyond their regular big game banquet. While the exact structure of each RMEF gun event may vary slightly, all gun events cover two to three hours and feature a high-odds firearm raffle. Below, we’ll explore best practices and ideas as shared by RMEF staff and volunteers for hosting these types of events.
Primary Raffle
The primary draw of these events is typically a high-odds raffle with a ticket price of $100 to $300 per entry. The goal for a gun event is to have all primary raffle tickets sold before it takes place. Depending on your ticket price, chapters have advertised 1-in-5, 1-in-10 or 1-in-15 odds to win a firearm. Much of the responsibility of building out the raffle and in finding the firearms for it is up to the regional director. Just like a chapter banquet, a calculated profit margin should be met and the prize expense must be determined based on expected revenue. Regional directors are able to build these raffles with no risk, where organizers can advertise that an additional firearm will be given away after a certain number of tickets are sold.
As a gun event raffle example, one chapter sells tickets for $100 each and limits ticket availability to only 200. Organizers have 20 prizes and can advertise the raffle as 1-in-10 odds to win. If it sells out, the raffle will gross $20,000 and with approximately $8,000 in prize expense ($400 per item average) and the net will be $12,000 with a 60 percent N/G ratio. The price of a ticket, number of tickets available to sell and number of prizes given away can all be adjusted to fit what your chapter expects to generate.
Secondary Raffles
With a goal of selling out the primary raffle before the event, there should be other opportunities for attendees to buy more raffle tickets the night of the gathering. These raffles should feature various price points like $20, $50 and $100 raffles. The never-ending and progressive raffles make great additions to a gun event. Raffles can also offer merchandise incentives with a raffle purchase, like a knife raffle.
Silent Auction
Gun events typically feature a silent auction with similar items and approaches used in a regular banquet. Feature the same no-risk, high-reward items like Quigley-Ford scopes, HGA trips and Proof Research barrel, in addition to other merchandise that is ordered or donated for the gun event. Also, use special silent auction bidding incentives, such as the 10-item gun raffle or yellow line raffle.
Merchandise Order
When ordering merchandise for a gun event, it is best to work with your regional director to assemble your primary raffle. RDs have access to various vendor options, so use them to help determine which items are available and at the best price.
Event Registration
The event promotion and invitation process can use many of the same tactics as a regular RMEF chapter banquet. Event mailers and emails can help promote the event with sales managed by a committee ticket chairperson. Event posters and face-to-face networking and promotion are also extremely successful in selling tickets and gaining attendees.
Event Packages
Many gun events choose to offer pre-event packages, including various benefits and incentives such as a couple’s package, table packages or other tiered packages. Chapters have built-in raffle tickets, merchandise incentives, event sponsorships and meals into these packages. As with other RMEF packages, the more spent by attendees, the more they receive in return.
Donation and Sponsorship Opportunities
Gun events are great opportunities for chapters to approach donors to support RMEF though sponsoring, donating merchandise or underwriting an item. As mentioned above, the RMEF event sponsor program can be built into higher levels of an event ticket package. They can also be sold independently at the event. For the top prizes on your primary raffle, donors can underwrite and be recognized for providing those items. Every raffle offers the opportunity to have a presenting sponsor of that raffle at your gun event. There are even cases where donors have underwritten the entire primary raffle and are recognized as the presenting sponsor through printed materials and event banners.
Facility
Choosing the right facility is critical to your event’s success. One that offers food and beverages will help ensure your attendees stick around for the duration of the evening. Staff and volunteers who previously hosted these events prefer such facilities, like sports bars, breweries, BBQ restaurants and golf course clubhouses. These events often benefit the business by bringing in customers on a weeknight that isn’t typically as busy. When considering facility options, it is recommended to first consider the businesses that already support RMEF since they are more than willing to host and accommodate your event needs.
Scheduling
Most gun events are held on a weeknight, no matter the time of year, making it easy for volunteers to host and supporters to attend. Since the agenda is shorter, they typically begin at 6 PM or 6:30 PM, and can finish by 8 PM to 9 PM. There is typically a social hour before the scheduled drawing for the primary raffle, allowing attendees to buy other raffle tickets and bid on any silent auction items. Many of these events also piggyback on sports events, such as Thursday Might Football or college basketball games.
Staffing
The number of volunteers needed to staff a gun event is minimal compared to an RMEF chapter banquet. Since most merchandise is related to firearms, an event is often fully set up within an hour or two.
Raffle Laws
As with any raffle, consult with your regional director on the legality of specific raffle regulations within your state.