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Can our Florida nonprofit legally run a 50/50 raffle?

Use the free tool — Nonprofit Compliance FL

What Florida law actually says

Florida allows a drawing by chance — including a 50/50 raffle — only under one statute: Fla. Stat. §849.0935. This is the only legal path. There is no separate "50/50 exception" — a 50/50 is treated as a raffle under this same section.

Who is allowed to run one

Only organizations exempt under 501(c)(3), (4), (7), (8), (10) or (19) may run a raffle under §849.0935. If your organization's federal exempt status isn't confirmed, this tool will not tell you a raffle is legal for you — you need to know your status first.

• If you're still forming or unsure of your status, that has to be settled before you plan a raffle.
• A Florida nonprofit corporation is formed at sunbiz.org; federal 501(c)(3) recognition is a separate IRS application. Donations aren't tax-deductible until the IRS letter arrives.

The disclosures you must print

Under §849.0935, the following must appear printed on tickets and on any advertising for the drawing:

• That no purchase is necessary to enter
• The sponsor's name
• The full rules
• The date, time and place of the drawing
• How winners will be notified

Running a raffle without meeting §849.0935 is a misdemeanor. Follow the printed-disclosure rule exactly — there's no partial compliance.

Why your other filings matter here

Before you fundraise at all in Florida — including through a raffle — Florida's Solicitation of Contributions Act (Fla. Stat. ch. 496) generally requires registering with FDACS first, unless you're a bona fide religious institution or a small all-volunteer group raising under $25,000 a year. FDACS is the only one who can confirm whether you're exempt from registration.

Sales tax on raffle activity

If you also sell concessions, merchandise or tickets to an event alongside the raffle, that can still require collecting sales tax, separate from your Form DR-5 exemption certificate (valid five years, then renewed). Ask the Florida Department of Revenue about your specific sales.

What to do next

The free tool reads your own answers — your organization type, whether your exempt status is confirmed, and what you're planning — and tells you whether the raffle path looks open to you, what disclosures you need to print, and whether your FDACS registration and other filings are current first. Nothing is stored. This is not legal advice — confirm your exempt status with FDACS and the IRS before running a raffle.

Nonprofit Compliance FL explains Florida and federal nonprofit filing rules in plain language; it can be wrong, and it is not legal or tax advice. Dates are computed from the fiscal year you enter; confirm with the agency. Statute references are to Florida Statutes and IRS guidance as published. Nothing you enter is stored.