Car giveaways
Charity car raffles in the US: what the Diamondbacks, Mile High and RMHC San Diego raffles actually offer
Three US charity car raffles compared on ticket price, entry rules, prizes, stated odds and tax. All three are paid-entry, and each is limited to one state.
By Daniel Whitfield, Editor · Updated November 2, 2026
Charity car raffles are not free giveaways. The three raffles below are all paid-entry, and each is limited to one state. The facts come from the official rules, and the status is as of 2 November 2026.
Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation
The 25 Years of Heroes Car Raffle is run by the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation, a 501(c)(3). Entries cost $50, with no limit on how many you can buy. Entrants must be 18 or older and located in Arizona at purchase. The grand prize is a choice of a 2026 Ford Bronco Big Bend (maximum retail $65,700), a 2026 Mustang Mach-E Premium (maximum retail $62,000) or $10,000 cash. There are 68 daily memorabilia prizes, and the rules give a combined maximum value of $8,440 for them. No free entry method is stated. Entries closed on 10 September 2026.
Mile High Raffle
The Mile High Raffle is run by Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, a Colorado 501(c)(3), under Colorado Bingo-Raffles licence 2026-20817. A single ticket costs $50. The ticket count is capped at 30,000, so the grand prize odds are 1 in 30,000 if every main ticket sells. If 12,000 main tickets sell, the winner may choose a vehicle or $100,000 cash. If fewer tickets sell, the rules say the prize is smaller and partly annuity-based. No retail value is stated for any prize. Buyers must be 18 or older and physically in Colorado. The final ticket deadline was 23 October 2026, and the grand prize drawing is set for 6 November 2026.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego
The Giving Back Raffle is run by Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego, a 501(c)(3), and is registered with the California Attorney General as R-4009. A single ticket costs $150, and add-on tickets have a minimum order of $170. The ticket cap is 70,000. The top prize is a Del Mar, California house with an estimated retail value of $7,000,000, but only if at least 60,000 tickets sell. Otherwise the top prize is $1,000,000 cash. The rules state overall odds of 1 in 18. Entrants must be 18 or older and in California. Tickets closed on 26 June 2026, and the grand prize drawing was held on 17 July 2026.
What they have in common
None of the three offers a free way to enter. Each names a charity and an age and location rule. Mile High and RMHC San Diego also name a state licence or registration. Each says entries are not tax-deductible. Mile High and RMHC San Diego publish a ticket cap, and RMHC San Diego publishes an overall odds statement. The Diamondbacks raffle gives neither a ticket cap nor numeric odds.
What to check before buying
Read the rules, not the advertising. Confirm the licence or registration with the state regulator. Check the ticket cap, how many tickets must sell for the top prize, and when entries close. For the tax side, see our guide to lottery taxes explained.