Best Local Raffles in Fort Wayne, IN: 2026 Local Guide
Photo: Brett Sayles / Pexels
Compare Fort Wayne 2026 charity raffles by ticket cost, prizes, age rules, and claim deadlines in one guide.
The notable local raffles in Fort Wayne for 2026 centered on four charity drawings. They were the Northrop Big Orange Pride 50/50, McMillen Health's Bourbon and Bingo 50/50, Child Evangelism Fellowship's Bowl-a-thon Raffle, and Junior Achievement's Purse-ology raffles. A 50/50 raffle is a charity drawing where the winner receives half of ticket sales.
Each was a nonprofit fundraiser tied to a fall event, not a free gift. Tickets required purchase, buyers had to be 18 or older, and each drawing offered only a chance to win.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on October 10, 2026.
How did the Northrop 50/50 work?
According to Northrop High School Band Boosters, tickets were $5 each, five for $20, and 40 for $100 toward a $25,000 goal. Sales ran August 7 through October 2, 2026, as described on the Northrop band raffle page. The drawing was October 2, 2026 at about 8:30 p.m.
at Northrop High School, 7001 Coldwater Rd. Winners did not need to be present, and the grand prize was one-half of gross ticket sales.
What did Bourbon and Bingo include?
According to McMillen Health, the 5th Annual Bourbon and Bingo fundraiser was October 3, 2026 at Parkview Mirro Center. The evening included dinner, bourbon tasting, 10 bingo rounds, and a silent auction, plus a cash-only 50/50 raffle, as listed on the McMillen Health Bourbon and Bingo event page. That structure matters for savings planning.
Admission covered entertainment and food, while raffle tickets were separate and final sale. Buyers paid cash for the 50/50 chance.
What could purse bingo and bowlers win?
According to Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana, the 6th Annual JA Purse-ology was September 29, 2026 at Parkview Mirro Center, 10622 Parkview Plaza Dr. The ages 21 and older event offered 10 rounds of designer-purse bingo plus raffles and extra bingo cards sold at the event, as listed on the Junior Achievement Purse-ology event page. According to Child Evangelism Fellowship of North Central Indiana, the 2026 Beautiful Feet Bowl-a-thon Raffle sold $1 tickets or an arm-length for $10, with 14 tickets online.
Prizes included Fort Wayne Zoo four-packs, Indiana Beach passes, and a handmade quilt, as listed on the CEF Bowl-a-thon raffle page.
Who could buy tickets and what limits applied?
Indiana limits charity gaming to licensed nonprofits, according to the Indiana Gaming Commission. That category covers bingo, raffles, door prizes, festivals, and pull-tabs, while unlicensed raffles are treated as illegal gambling. Practical limits affected every purchase:
- Buyers had to be 18 or older, and Northrop limited buyers to U.S. citizens or residents.
- Tickets were cash-only and final sale, with no credit cards for the Junior Achievement raffles.
- Northrop winners had 30 days to claim with photo ID and IRS Form W-9.