Raffle Policy for University Fundraising Efforts Revised

UB Seal on Crosby Hall.

Published December 2, 2020

Overview

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The University at Buffalo permits departments, entities, and organizations to conduct raffles to raise funds in support of university related activities. Raffles must be conducted in accordance with university, state, and tax reporting requirements.

Policy Revisions

The policy was updated to:

  • Specify, as a university requirement, that raffle tickets may not be purchased with a university credit card (PCard)
  • Comply with changes in the NYS Gaming Commission Guidelines for Conducting Raffles:
    • Allow raffle drawings to be conducted on the premises of another authorized organization and a games of chance commercial lessor; previously, raffle drawings were required to be conducted on university premises
    • Allow payment for the purchase of raffle tickets to be made with check, credit and debit card; previously only cash was accepted
    • Require all proceeds derived from the conduct of raffles to be deposited into a bank account maintained by the authorized organization (UBF); previously, this deposit requirement was not specified
    • Increase the maximum single prize in a raffle from $100,000 to $300,000
    •  Add a requirement that a series of raffle prizes may not exceed $500,000
    • Increase the maximum aggregate value of prizes that an organization may award in any one calendar year in all the different types of raffles combined from $2,000,000 to $3,000,000
    • Revise the definition of Raffle Category for Category 1 Raffles to include raffle(s) in which the university derives cumulative net raffle proceeds of at least $30,000 from all raffles conducted during the calendar year or between $5,000 and $29,999 for any raffle; previously, Category 1 Raffles were those in which the cumulative net proceeds for all raffles conducted during the calendar year will meet or exceed $30,000  
    • Revise the definition of Raffle Category for Category 2 Raffles to include raffle(s) in which the university derives less than $5,000 in net raffle proceeds from any single raffle and less than $30,000 in net raffle proceeds from all raffles conducted during the calendar year; previously, Category 2 Raffles were those in which net proceeds derived from a single raffle will meet or exceed $5,000 or the cumulative net proceeds for all raffles conducted during the calendar year will meet or exceed $20,000, but will not meet or exceed $30,000
    • Eliminate Category 3 Raffles from the definition of Raffle Category; previously, Category 3 Raffles were those in which net proceeds derived from a single raffle will be less than $5,000 and the cumulative net proceeds for all raffles conducted during the calendar year will not meet or exceed $20,000

Applicability

This policy applies to all raffles conducted by or on behalf of university departments, entities, and organizations as a form of university fundraising efforts for university purposes.

Guidance

Contact Phone Email
Ashley Butcher 716-645-1521 ambutche@buffalo.edu
Christopher Decker 716-645-8740 cdecker@buffalo.edu