Why Prize Draws Are Reinventing Fundraising (And How You Can Join the Movement)

💥 Raise more. Engage more. Unlock game-changing impact.

Imagine this: an intimate performance by your favourite artist. No VIP exclusives. No high-ticket barriers. Just a fair chance for every supporter—no matter their budget—to win their way in.

That’s the magic of a prize draw—and it’s rewriting the rulebook on charity fundraising.

At Crowdfunder, we’ve seen first-hand how prize draws are transforming the fundraising landscape. They’re inclusive, exciting, and incredibly effective. Whether you’re a grassroots charity or a global superstar, prize draws open the door to unlimited reach, buzz, and funds.

Here’s why prize draws on Crowdfunder are becoming the go-to strategy for fundraising that actually works—backed by real-world success stories from Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Glastonbury, and more.

1. 🚀 Raise More by Removing Limits

Traditional fundraising formats come with caps—venue size, ticket numbers, or a single high-value auction winner.

Prize draws break those limits. There’s no upper limit on how many people can enter, and that means no ceiling on how much you can raise.

🎸 Coldplay’s Crowdfunder prize draw raised around £350,000 in just 48 hours. Instead of selling 300 tickets to a small show, they offered 150 pairs of tickets as prizes. Over 17,000 fans entered. That kind of reach—and impact—would’ve been impossible with ticket sales or auctions alone.

More entries = more impact. And everyone gets to feel like they’re part of something special.

2. 🎟️ The “Golden Ticket” Effect: Why FOMO Fuels Success

Exclusive, money-can’t-buy experiences drive massive engagement. From private gigs to backstage access, a once-in-a-lifetime prize creates a thrill that traditional formats can’t compete with.

✨ Ed Sheeran’s Union Chapel draw raised over £150,000 for the mental health charity Shout. No tickets were sold—just a chance to win a seat at an intimate acoustic set for a lucky few. The result? A social media frenzy and thousands of new supporters for the cause.

These draws spark conversation, ignite excitement and offer a story people love to share. In the right hands, your campaign can go viral overnight.

3. 🤝 Fundraising That’s Fair and Accessible

Prize draws are open to everyone. Whether someone donates £5 or £50, they’re in the running—and that sense of having a chance is powerful.

While donating more can increase someone’s chances (through more entries), everyone has the opportunity to win. That accessibility drives far more engagement than traditional ticketing or exclusive auctions.

🎪 Glastonbury’s Crowdfunder prize draws have raised over £2 million for charities like Oxfam and War Child. Fans who couldn’t normally afford tickets had the same chance of winning as anyone else. That kind of inclusivity builds goodwill, community—and serious donations.

More people. More energy. More positivity. That’s what fair fundraising looks like.

4. 📣 Prize Draws Go Viral (Auctions Don’t)

Auctions and ticket sales are static. Prize draws? They’re built for buzz.

From Reddit threads to Instagram reels, we’ve seen prize draws snowball into full-blown movements. Supporters become promoters. Media outlets pick up the story. Your cause gets the spotlight it deserves.

🎤 Coldplay’s campaign exploded across fan forums and socials. Thousands of new supporters discovered Crisis, the homelessness charity they were supporting, simply by entering the draw—and as a result, more money was raised. That combination of awareness and action is what makes prize draws so powerful.

This isn’t just fundraising—it’s movement-building.

5. ❤️ From One-Night Gig to Lifelong Supporters

Here’s the kicker: even if someone doesn’t win, they walk away inspired.

Fans who enter to see Ed Sheeran discover Shout’s mental health work. Coldplay fans learn about Crisis’s fight to end homelessness. That awareness can turn into lasting support.

🎁 Prize draws don’t just raise money—they build communities of supporters.

They spark new connections between fans and causes. And that’s how one campaign can turn into something far more powerful: a long-term relationship.

6. 💚 Why Crowdfunder Is the Best Place to Run a Prize Draw

Running a legal, high-impact prize draw might sound tricky—but that’s exactly what Crowdfunder was built for.

Here’s why we’re the trusted home for some of the UK’s biggest and best prize draws:

✅ Purpose-built for fundraising – We’ve supported prize draws for Coldplay, Glastonbury, Ed Sheeran and more
✅ No platform fees – Our optional tipping model means you keep more of what you raise
✅ Legal and compliant – We include free entry routes and ready-made terms & conditions templates to keep your draw above board
✅ Scalable for success – From 500 to 50,000 entries, we’re built to handle it
✅ Marketing support and trust – Get coaching, visibility, and access to a highly engaged community of backers

📈 In short, Crowdfunder gives you the tools and trust to go from “great idea” to “record-breaking campaign.”

It’s Time to Rethink Fundraising

Prize draws aren’t just a trend. They’re a smarter, fairer, more engaging way to raise money, build communities, and drive positive change.

🎉 So if you’ve got a special gig, a golden-ticket moment, or an unforgettable experience—don’t just auction it off.

Prize it. Share it. Let everyone in.

Because when everyone has a chance to win, everyone wins.

👉 Ready to run a prize draw for your cause?

🎁 Start your campaign here
💬 Or talk to our team about bringing your idea to life.

Let’s unlock the power of the crowd.
Let’s raise more. Do more. Fund Positivity.