Reward your top donors and boost your fundraising power by turning their entries into a star! We've found that the contests that bring in the most fundraising dollars usually have prizes that feature the winners in a big way. It could be on a month in a wall calendar, on a beer label on a custom brew by a favorite local brewery, or on a billboard, snowboard, van wrap or on the cover of a magazine. We've even run contests where the winners were featured in a wall mural painted by a local artist, making them a permanent part of their community.
Why do the above prizes work so well?
Because they give the winner celebrity status, and are considered to be "priceless". It's difficult to assign a dollar value to them, so there is no limit when it comes to their fundraising value among your audience and supporters.
| 👉 All prize fulfillment is up to you/your organization. GoGo Photo Contest does not provide any design, printing, or prize fulfillment services. We stick to what we're good at, which is providing the best in-class support for our donate-to-vote fundraising platform. |
🙅 Why we do not allow cash prizes (and why a cash prize is a bad idea anyway)
In some states or provinces, offering a cash prize may be restricted by local laws or fundraising regulations. While we can’t provide legal advice, it’s important to confirm that any prize structure you choose complies with the rules in your area.
From a fundraising perspective, we’ve also found that cash prizes are less effective for a few key reasons:
- Donors prefer that their contributions go directly to your organization and the cause you’re supporting, rather than being paid out to someone else as a cash prize.
- Cash prizes have a fixed, obvious value, which can unintentionally place a cap on giving. Since many participants donate primarily on their own entry in hopes of winning, they’re often less inclined to donate more than the perceived value of the prize. This can limit your overall fundraising potential.
| ✅ Prizes that feel unique or offer winners a moment in the spotlight are often more effective at driving excitement, engagement, and donations than cash prizes. |
Examples of "Priceless" prizes:
Click on each link to jump to the corresponding section:
- Wall Calendars
- Wine/Beer/Beverage Labels
- Pet Treat Packaging
- Vehicle Wrap
- Billboards
- Wall Mural
- Photo Books/Coffee Table Books
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Other Prize Ideas (Custom Portraits, Gift Baskets, etc)
Wall Calendars
Many animal welfare organizations pair their contests with a calendar, featuring winning entries on the monthly pages and often awarding the top vote-getter the coveted cover spot.
So why do calendars work so well? They create instant local celebrities while keeping your organization’s mission front-of-mind all year long in homes across your community.
More information about running a Calendar Contest➛
San Diego Humane Society has run their annual Photo Fundraiser since 2014
Wine/Beer/Beverage Labels
A growing popular prize option have been beer and wine label contests, where the winning photo(s) appear on bottles of beer or wine (or other beverages- we've even seen root beer!). This works especially well with any wine tasting events or galas that your organization might have.
Getting a local brewery or winery on board to develop a special brew or wine named after the winners makes for an extra special fundraiser that also involves the community.
More information about running a Beer/Wine Label Contest➛
No Kill South Carolina's 2021 Rescue Brew Contest
Pet Treat Packaging
Featuring the winning pet of your contest on Dog Treat Packaging is a fun twist on the beverage label contest!
Farm to Pet & Live Like Roo Label Contest
Vehicle Wrap
Does your organization have a car, shuttle, or van that is used in daily operations? Featuring the winners on a vehicle wrap is a great way to show off your contest winners.
Hawaiian Humane Society's Love Drives Us – Alumni Van Wrap Contest
Billboards
Featuring your contest winners on a local billboard is an excellent way to boost the star power in your prize package.
Leon County Humane Society's Paw Prints Calendar Contest Fundraiser
Wall Mural
Honor your contest winners while showcasing local artists by featuring the winners of your contest in a wall mural within your community.
Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County's 2024 Mural Muse Contest
Photo Books/Coffee Table Books
Partner with a local photographer to celebrate the pets rescued from your organization (or people in your community!), and have the photographer offer a "mini photoshoot" at a set donation amount (suggested $100-$150). Then, upload those portraits to your GoGo Photo Contest and run a contest where the winners are placed on the cover and other prominent pages within your exclusive photo book.
Pitbulls and Peanut Butter Coffee Table Book Cover Contest 2024
Other Prize Ideas (Custom Portraits, Gift Baskets, etc)
A portrait session and prints from a favorite local pet photographer, or a custom painted portrait by a local artist is another excellent way to give your winners celebrity status.
Donated gift baskets or prize packages from local businesses can also work if you want to run a smaller contest, and you keep your fundraising expectations in check. While this idea might not bring in huge fundraising dollars, it can still be a really fun way to engage your constituents and community.
All of the above contests and prizes are examples only, and are not a guarantee of contest and fundraiser performance or success.