TicketRunQuick answer: The generator above is set up for a turkey raffle: “Turkey Raffle” with the prize, the draw date, the price and a pickup line, in autumn orange. Change the wording, choose your number range and download the PDF, 10 tickets to a page with matching numbered stubs. Draw a few days before Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 26, 2026) so winners have time to thaw a frozen turkey.
How a turkey raffle works
A turkey raffle is a small, friendly fundraiser held in the weeks before Thanksgiving. Tickets are cheap, often a dollar or a bundle such as 6 for $5, and the prizes are turkeys or Thanksgiving dinners. Many groups draw several winners, one turkey each, so lots of people have a chance. Each buyer keeps a numbered ticket, the stub with their name and phone number goes in the drum, and the winners are drawn on the day.
Choose the prize: a frozen turkey or a gift card?
| Frozen turkey | Grocery gift card | |
|---|---|---|
| Appeal | The classic prize, great for photos and posters | Winners choose their own bird, or skip it |
| Storage | Needs a freezer until pickup | None |
| Pickup | Winners must collect it in a set window | Can be handed over or mailed later |
| Sponsors | A local grocer or farm may donate the birds | Easy for a store to donate |
A “Thanksgiving dinner basket” with stuffing, cranberry sauce, potatoes and a pie, plus a turkey or a gift card, makes a bigger first prize.
Draw early enough to thaw
A frozen turkey takes days to thaw safely in the fridge. The USDA's rule of thumb is about 24 hours in the refrigerator for every 4 to 5 pounds, so a 15-pound bird needs around three days. Hold the draw the weekend before Thanksgiving, print the pickup deadline on the ticket, and keep the turkeys frozen until the winners collect them.
Run the draw
- Print the tickets and give each seller their own number range.
- Sell: tear off a stub for every ticket sold and keep it with the money.
- Draw day: put all the stubs in one container, or use the raffle winner picker with your range. Add one prize per turkey in the picker and each winner is taken out of the next draw, so nobody wins twice unless your rules allow it.
- Call the winners who aren't there, and confirm the pickup time.
Running a Christmas raffle too? Christmas raffle tickets are set up the same way.
Check your local raffle rules. Raffle and 50/50 laws vary by state, province and country: some require a licence or limit raffles to registered charities and nonprofits, and some restrict prices, prizes or online sales. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Supplies for printing
The ticket maker is free. For running the draw on the day, organizers usually need:
- Raffle drums and ticket tumblers on Amazon
- Cash boxes with a lock on Amazon
- Colored cardstock for tickets on Amazon
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Related free tools
- Gift certificate template with stub: numbered certificates for donated prizes or sales.
- Free invoice generator: bill sponsors and vendors for your event.
- Baseball fielding rotation generator: rotate positions fairly for your youth team.
- Printable game score sheets: score sheets for a family game night fundraiser.
Frequently asked questions
When should a turkey raffle be drawn?
The weekend before Thanksgiving works well: close enough to build excitement, early enough for winners to thaw a frozen bird. Thanksgiving is on Thursday, November 26, 2026.
How much should turkey raffle tickets cost?
Many groups charge a small amount, such as $1 a ticket or a bundle like 6 for $5, and draw several winners. Low prices and many prizes keep it friendly.
Can one person win more than one turkey?
That's your rule to set; print it on the ticket. Most groups allow one prize per person. The TicketRun winner picker removes each winning number from the next draw.
Do I need a permit for a turkey raffle?
Raffle rules vary by state, province and country, and some require a permit or limit raffles to nonprofits. Check your local rules before you sell tickets.
More ticket types and guides
Last updated · Written by the Rooh Sites team. General information, not legal advice.