Online raffle bill aims to boost fundraising for Ohio nonprofits and local agencies

A local volunteer’s effort to support the Wayne County Dog Shelter has inspired state legislation that could restore a vital fundraising option for nonprofit and public safety agencies such as animal shelters and fire and police departments across Ohio.

Brock Yoder, an employee of the Wayne County Engineer’s Office and volunteer with PAWS for the Wayne County Dog Shelter, contacted State Rep. Meredith Craig (R-Smithville) after learning current Ohio laws require raffle tickets to be sold in person to buyers.

Craig, joined by Rep. David Thomas (R-Jefferson), introduced legislation that would explicitly legalize the online sale of raffle tickets for qualifying nonprofit groups. The bill seeks to modernize Ohio’s raffle laws — written long before the internet era — and provide organizations with a secure way to reach supporters locally and statewide.

“Rep. Thomas and I introduced the bill; it’s been assigned to the House Finance Committee, and the chairman agreed to do both a sponsor and proponent testimony in one hearing,” Craig said. “This was a little unusual. Typically, they are (separate hearings), but some fire departments are very concerned because they have taken out loans to purchase equipment and are losing money every day that we don’t make this practice legal.”

Yoder’s outreach brought to light a problematic roadblock facing fundraising efforts. 

“Many nonprofits depend on raffles to raise money, and we want to ensure they can continue doing that safely and legally,” Yoder said.

The change, if enacted, could be transformative for the Wayne County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center, which often operates at or above capacity. PAWS is raising funds for a mobile adoption trailer that would allow shelter staff and volunteers to bring adoptable dogs to public events throughout Wayne County.

“Online raffles could make a real difference for animal welfare,” Yoder said. “They give people a chance to help from wherever they are while supporting a cause that benefits the whole community.”

Craig said the legislation aligns with a broader goal of empowering local organizations to meet community needs through self-sustaining fundraising rather than relying solely on tax revenues.

If passed, the bill includes an emergency clause and could take effect by Thanksgiving, allowing groups like PAWS for the Wayne County Dog Shelter to resume their online fundraising efforts without delay.

“This is a good example of something that needs to be handled appropriately,” Craig said. “This is an overreach of state government, and when I ran for office, I ran on a platform of reducing regulatory burdens and putting more control back into our local government. As soon as I heard about it, it didn’t take much convincing for me to initiate a bill. I talked extensively with the Attorney General’s Office to determine the issue and that we needed legislation.”

Dan Starcher is the public communications coordinator for Wayne County.