Yes. Your contest can have an entry fee, and it can be any amount that you wish.
If you choose to have an entry fee, you can specify the amount in the setup document that will be sent to you after you sign up with us.
Our thoughts on various entry fee scenarios:
No entry fee:
Skipping the entry fee can boost participation—more people are likely to enter, and in turn, more friends and family may be asked to vote. It’s also a smart approach if you're focused on growing your supporter list for future outreach.
Having an entry fee:
An entry fee helps attract committed participants—those who are more likely to actively engage and promote their entry. If you choose to have an entry fee, $5.00 is the most commonly used amount on our platform.
Having a high dollar entry fee ($20+)
Ultimately, entry fees can limit participation, so it's important to ask yourself the following:
- Do you have a donor base where a $20+ entry fee won’t deter their participation?
- Or do many of your supporters have tighter budgets, making a $20+ entry fee a potential barrier to them participating?
If you decide to have an entry fee that's $20+, here are some suggestions to encourage participation:
- Award at least one prize at random, so every entrant has a shot at winning, regardless of votes.
- Offer something in exchange for your entry fee (e.g.— San Diego Humane Society's $25 entry fee includes a free 2026 calendar).
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Award votes with the entry fee — this adds value to your entry fee and shifts the mindset from “paying to enter” to “starting with votes", which can make your supporters feel like they're already in the game (and it might give them extra motivation to rally support from friends and family).
A better alternative to a high dollar entry fee:
Encourage minimum donations with an Entry Promotion — With an Entry Promotion, you can offer bonus votes to entrants who make a minimum donation during the entry process. For example, give 25 bonus votes for a $25+ donation (or set your own threshold and reward). This can be used whether or not you charge an entry fee.
Why it works: It encourages higher giving without excluding anyone. Supporters can still enter at any donation level, but the bonus votes provide a strong incentive to give more upfront.
Want help setting this up? Just reach out!
Important:
We provide the platform for donate-to-vote fundraising, but it's up to you to know and abide the laws and regulations concerning running a donate-to-vote fundraiser in your state or province. We cannot provide any legal counsel, guidance, or advice in this area.